Morgantown Learning Academy

Faculty

It is with special care and consideration that we choose our faculty and administration. The unique blend of personalities and professional strengths found in this outstanding group of individuals helps Morgantown Learning Academy offer its students an outstanding education. MLA has set strict guidelines and high expectations for its faculty and administration. Not only must they be certified in the content area that they teach or administer, but they must also be actively involved in personal continuing education goals. The MLA faculty and administration not only meets these guidelines but also enthusiastically searches for ways in which to become better teachers and administrators for your children.

ADMINISTRATION	FACULTY	ANCILLARY FACULTY

Eve Ammons Ward Robert Wiegand Trish Morgan Dowling Sheri Sauro Shelley Riley	Anne Smittle Mary Dumas Erin Lee Carrie McMillen John Montgomery Pat Morgan Corinne Seese Paula Taylor	Sandy Cress Kathy Fisher Liz Rossi

Eve Ammons Ward (eward@learningacademy.org) is a Morgantown native and graduated from WVU in 1993 with a BS in Elementary Education and a MA in Reading. Eve is the Director of Morgantown Learning Academy. Through Eve’s vision, Morgantown Learning Academy has become a reality in our community, serving children in Pre-K through 8^th grade. Under the direction of Mrs. Ward, the school has grown dramatically over the past 12 years to include its own 12-acre campus at 123 Discovery Place, with a thriving Pre-K and elementary school program. In addition, MLA now includes a middle school program that serves 5^th through 8^th grade. In June of 2006 the second phase of campus development was completed with the addition of our elementary gymnasium and additional classroom space. The MLA environment allows children to learn at their own pace while being challenged with hands-on activities with the ability to move beyond grade level. Children at MLA are provided opportunities to excel in math, science, and reading. They have the support system of a small community with the knowledge that they are known and cared about by all the other students and adults involved in their education. Eve’s dedication ensures the personal best for children in the Morgantown community. Eve resides in Morgantown with her husband, Dan, and daughter, Emily.

Robert Wiegand (rwiegand@wvu.edu). MLA Director Bob Wiegand has been actively associated with the school since 1996, at which time his daughter, Tessa, first enrolled in the Pre-K class. Tessa is presently in the middle school class, while his son, Oliver, is in the early elementary class. Bob is a teacher educator at WVU. He is married to Catherine Nolan and has resided in Morgantown since 1974. Dr. Wiegand feels strongly about MLA's role as a provider of educational choice to parents in the Morgantown area as well as the school's unique educational leadership in the area of individualized instruction for all of its students.

Trish Morgan Dowling tdowling@learningacademy.org is the Assistant Director. Trish is a Morgantown native and graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in Art History. She also has an Associates degree in Travel and Tourism. She is a Mosiac Artist and her work can currently be seen at Appalachian Gallery. Trish, most recently, has worked in the financial industry for Salomon Smith Barney. She has over twelve years experience in customer relations in the Hospitality and Travel industry. She and her husband Larry, who works for West Virginia Public Broadcasting, have a daughter, Maeve. They live in Morgantown and spend their time restoring their historic farmhouse, gardening and spending time together.

Sheri Sauro

Sheri Sauro is the Office Manager. Sheri was born and raised in Fairmont. She now lives in Cheat Lake with her husband and daughter, Danielle a freshman at WVU and son, Nick, a junior at University High school. She was the assistant manager of a salon for eight years but decided to be a stay at home mom until her children were grown. Sheri attended a few classes at WVU in 1999 with Diane Holley and is now attempting to fill her shoes at MLA. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, sewing and cooking big family dinners at the holidays. This will be her third year with us.

Shelley Riley joined MLA in 2006 as an office assistant, substitute teacher and gymnasium rental coordinator after being here as a parent for 3 years. Shelley grew up in an Air Force family and spent her elementary years in Germany. She graduated with a BS in Psychology from Virginia Tech and went to work for Marriott Hotels in the DC area. Thereafter, she spent four years working for the Human Resources Department at the University of Tennessee as a Staff Trainer. In 2007, she earned her certification for substitute teaching from WVU. Shelley's husband, Dick, is an accounting professor at WVU and they have three children currently attending MLA (Connor, Andrew, Kelsey). She enjoys traveling and singing.

Erin Lee

Erin Lee is the Pre-K (three year olds) teacher. Erin is an Eastern Panhandle native and taught there for three years before deciding that she had found her calling. Erin graduated from WVU in 2004 with a Bachelor’s in Child Development and Family Studies, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. She has also taught at Pleasant Day School and Marion County Head Start. Erin developed and implemented our Pre-K Pals program and also worked with our day camp. She plans to continue serving families and children at MLA while working toward a Master’s degree.

Carrie McMillen is the Pre-K4 teacher. Carrie graduated from Fairmont State College in 1995 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Child Development. Throughout her schooling, she worked in various centers for practice experience. Carrie worked at Whitehall Nursery School, Sunbeam Child Care Center, and Fairmont Head Start. She also worked as a camp counselor and supervisor for two summers at the Marion County Parks and Recreation Center. After graduation, she worked as a preschool teacher at the West Virginia University Hospital Child Development Center. Carrie has also worked for six months as a substitute teacher for Monongalia County Board of Education. Carrie has completed eight hands-on workshops dealing with elementary education and a one week seminar for WV Pre-K Standards Curriculum throughout her eleven years at MLA. Carrie has taught preschool at MLA for ten years and Kindergarten for one year. Carrie feels that every child is special and should have the opportunity to succeed and be happy. Carrie resides with her husband and daughter, Megan, in Monongalia County.

Pat Morgan is a Kindergarten teacher. Pat is a native of Morgantown and a 1982 Graduate of West Virginia University with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources and Education. She and her husband Terry have three children; Trish and Heather are both married, and have given her two wonderful grandchildren. Ted is currently in the Navy stationed in Japan. Pat has spent her life involved in the growth and development of young children through foster parenting, scouting, church, and teaching. Pat and Terry were also the owners of the Morgan Child Development Center. From 1984-1994 this center provided a safe nurturing atmosphere for infants to preschoolers and their families. Pat believes that children grow to their highest potential with love, respect, acceptance, and choices. After the closing of the MCDC, Pat taught for five years at the WVU Hospital Child Development Center before coming to MLA. In her classroom children will be celebrated for their differences, challenged with fun and humor, and supported by their MLA family.

Corinne Seese

Corinne Seese is a Kindergarten teacher. Corinne graduated from WVU in 1993 with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. In the past, she has taught Preschool through 2^nd grade at MLA. She returned to MLA after taking time off to spend with her children. She also spent time teaching BOPARC workshops during the summer and working with MLA’s summer program. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, Rachel and Zachary. She also enjoys sewing, crafting, and hiking.

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Anne Smittle is the Early Elementary School teacher. Anne graduated with honors from WVU with a Bachelor's in History. She has taught Pre-K for five years at a NAEYC accredited school in Virginia and was a substitute teacher in VA and in WV. Anne worked as the Assistant Director at Pleasant Day Schools. She attended ODU to obtain her teaching license in Elementary Education. Anne feels children learn best in a positive, accepting environment. Her husband, Wes, works at Ruby. They have two children: Charlotte is in the Honors Program at UHS and Maggie is in TAG at Cheat Lake Elementary. Her interests are family, reading, writing, exercise, nature, the environment, history, education and chocolate.

Paula Taylor

Paula Taylor is the Middle Elementary teacher.Paula graduated in 2002 with a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from WVU. Paula has been with MLA since January 2002 when she became part of the MLA after-school staff. After completing her student teaching at Cheat Lake Elementary and Middle Schools, Paula served as the MLA after-school coordinator and joined the MLA middle school class as a teacher’s aid. Originally from Charleston, she enjoys spending time with her pets and performing in a local traditional Appalachian Folk band. Paula is looking forward to another year as a teacher at MLA.

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John Montgomery jmontgomery@learningacademy.org is the Upper Elementary School teacher. John received a MA in Elementary Education at WVU and is excited to teach at MLA this year. John has had a wide variety of positions before landing here at MLA. He worked at a local preschool where he developed a teaching style that is truly his own. After graduating with a BA in Physical Education, John worked over ten years teaching gymnastics to a variety of ages, focusing on the preschool age. Before going back to get his MA, he worked in Fairmont designing websites and repairing computers. John stays active by helping out on his children's ball fields, but squeezes in time to play soccer for an adult league in Laurel Point. While John is not on the sports field, he likes to read, run, and lift weights. Bicycling is a favorite and he often takes his children with him when he goes. He helps out at his family farm. He is really looking forward to spending time and energy with the children at MLA.

Mary Dumas is the Middle School teacher and the Faculty Lead Teacher. Mary graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and earned her Master’s Degree from West Virginia University in Gifted Education. She has taught at Morgantown Learning Academy since its inception. She is active in community educational events, including Academic Games. Mary continues to attend workshops, teaching seminars, and conferences in order to stay abreast of the latest developments in educational training. Currently she is one of only five teachers in Monongalia County trained in “Math Scape,” a performance-based math program for Middle School. Mary’s enthusiasm for her profession and her dedication to her students is well known in the Morgantown area. Ms. Dumas enjoys traveling to new places, maintaining her Master Gardener’s status, and spoiling her pug, Widget.

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Sandy Cress is the Art teacher. She is currently working on a degree in Arts and Education at WVU. Ms. Cress is a popular local artist who specializes in sculpture and metalworking with a focus on environmental awareness. She brings her passion for environmental art to all students. Ms. Cress lives with her son and you may see them driving around town in the art car that our students painted.

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Kathy Fisher is MLA’s Spanish teacher.

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Liz Rossi is MLA's Music teacher. Liz is so happy to be working at The Morgantown Learning Academy! A graduate of The University of Michigan's Musical Theatre B.F.A. Program, Liz has Directed, Choreographed, taught and performed throughout the United States and Canada. Director/Choreographer credits include: 42nd Street, Pippin, Crazy for You, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Wizard of Oz, Scrooge, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Warbucks and many many more! Favorite acting roles include "Small Purple Panda" on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, "Jennyanydots" in Cats & "Shirley/Old Lady" in The Producers with WV Public Theatre, and Elmo/Small Understudy in the Sesame Street Live international tour. Among her favorite experiences, Liz was thrilled to work as an intern to Susan Stroman on the Broadway production of big, the musical. In Morgantown she has written, directed and choreographed musical adaptations of Officer Buckle and Gloria (Read-Aloud for Monongalia County) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Brookhaven Elementary School.) Originally from New York, Liz chose to raise her 2 kids (Isadora and Elliot Dotson) in Morgantown, WV where she is a Musical Theatre coach and teaches jazz, tap, Pilates and musical theatre dance at the Morgantown Dance Studio.