Taylor Childers
Our Cooperating Teacher of the Week is Taylor Childers, third grade teacher at Spring Hill Elementary School. Taylor is a native of Ona, WV and a 2008 graduate of Marshall University with a degree in elementary education. Mrs. Childers is married with two daughters, Lyra (6) and Aris (5) and a son, Tennison (3). She is currently in her 9th year of teaching, and 6th year at Spring Hill.
Casey Moore
Our Teacher of the Week is Mrs. Casey Moore. Casey graduated from Marshall University in May 2013 with her BA in Elementary Ed. She will graduate this summer with her master’s degree in Leadership Studies. Casey is currently a 3rd grade teacher at Kellogg Elementary School and is in her 5th year of teaching. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Juston, and their two daughters, Lydia and Clara.
Samantha Stapelton
Our Teacher of the Week is Samantha Stapelton from Wayne Elementary School. Samantha graduated from our COEPD in December 2013 with a degree in elementary education and in December 2017 with a Master’s in literacy education. When she’s not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, shopping and cheering on the Herd and the Steelers.
Jessica Pennington
Jessica Pennington has been a mathematics teacher at Cabell Midland High School’s Freshman Academy for the past 9 years. She is a graduate of Marshall University (where she met her husband in Dr. Isaac’s classroom management course). They have a 5 year old daughter, Ryleigh. Jessica is currently working on her Master’s degree here at Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development in Educational Leadership. She and her husband are football season ticket holders and love exposing their daughter to all things Marshall! She is shown with her current student teacher, Ashley Dunham.
Amanda Hogsett
Amanda Hogsett is a special education teacher at Huntington Middle School. Amanda graduated from Marshall with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in elementary ed and special education. Amanda is married to Alex Hogsett, also a teacher at HMS, and is the mother to two boys, Trenton and Braxton. When she’s not teaching, Amanda enjoys playing the piano, cooking, attending her son’s sporting events and teaching Children’s Church at River Cities Community Church.
Kurt Wright
Kurt Wright is the physical education teacher at Nichols Elementary School. Kurt graduated from Marshall in fall 1999 with a degree in physical education and an endorsement in middle school social studies. Kurt comes from a family of educators. He is married to Karen Wright and enjoys golfing and playing poker in his free time.
Allison Atkins
Allison Atkins is currently completing her 7th year of teaching at Huntington High School, where she teaches 10th grade English and Broadcast Journalism. Allison graduated from Marshall University with undergraduate degrees in English and English education and a M.A. in English. She is married to her college sweetheart and enjoys sharing the love of Marshall with their two children, Abby and Ben. In her spare time, Allison enjoys traveling with family and curling up with a good book.
Larry Butcher
Larry Butcher has been teaching for the past 15 years and is currently a first grade teacher at Central City Elementary School in Cabell County. Larry graduated from Marshall University and holds certifications in elementary education, special education and autism. He is married with two daughters, both of which attend Marshall University. His daughter Emily is actually one of our current student teachers! In his free time, Larry enjoys listening to and playing music, playing PS4, golf and working in the yard.
Gina Gooderham
Gina Gooderham is a 6th grade math instructor and PDS Coordinator at Huntington East Middle School. Gina graduated from Marshall University with degrees in elementary education and math 5-9 and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Leadership Studies. She is also a National Board Certified Teacher and was nominated for this year’s Arch Coal Award. Gina is the proud mother of three—Jake, an accounting major here at Marshall University, Hunter, a sophomore at Cabell Midland High School, and Jenna, a 6th grader at Barboursville Middle. When she’s not teaching, Gina enjoys running, reading, going to movies and traveling. She also loves working with our teacher candidates!
Kathy Galloway-Nutter
Kathy Galloway-Nutter is a special education resource teacher at Southside Elementary School. Kathy holds multiple endorsements in special education and educational leadership. She is currently pursuing her endorsement in autism from Marshall University. Kathy is the proud mother of a 17-year old daughter, Cambria Rose. She calls it a privilege to work with teacher candidates to help develop their teaching skills so they will be motivated to help teachers, families and students during the education process.
Angela Nottingham
Angela grew up an “army brat”, living in Germany and several states before settling down in WV, which sparked her love of social studies. She attended Marshall University and graduated in 2005 with a BA in Elementary Education. Angela has spent her 13 year teaching career in middle school as a social studies teacher, currently teaching at Huntington Middle School. She has been married to her husband, Christopher, for just under 3 years, and they enjoy traveling, pretending to be oenophiles, and playing kickball. In the next 13 years, she hopes to finally get her Master’s degree, get her papers graded in a timely manner, and go to Fiji.
Nikki Summerfield
Nikki graduated from Marshall University with a degree in elementary ed and has went on to attain a Master’s in Reading Education. She is continuing her education, focusing on autism and special needs. She is currently in her 11th year of teaching and teaches 5th grade at Culloden Elementary School. Nikki and her husband, Cory, have two dogs, Punky and Sophie. In her free time, Nikki is still working, teaching dance fitness classes and as a Younique Makeup direct seller. She also enjoys reading, gardening and babysitting for friends.
Jess Hughes
Our Cooperating Teacher of the Week is Jess Hughes, special education resource teacher, at Village of Barboursville Elementary School. Jess, a graduate of WVU with both her undergrad and graduate degrees, is currently in her 9th year of teaching. She has been married for almost a year to her husband Kyle and they have a cat named Simeon. Jess enjoys working with teacher candidates and helping them grow as they begin their teaching careers. She is pictured with her current student teacher, Mackenzie Watson.
Summer James
Summer James is a 4th grade teacher at Spring Hill Elementary. She is a native of Proctorville, OH. Summer is a 2001 graduate of Marshall University with a degree in Elementary Education Multi-Subject K-8. Ms. James has two children; a son Hayden(20) who plays golf at Cedarville University and a daughter Isabella(11) who is a 6th grader at Fairland Middle School. She is currently in her 17th year teaching, and her 12th year at Spring Hill. She is pictured with her student teacher, Hannah Landis.
Stephanie Ellis
Stephanie Ellis is a fifth grade teacher at Ceredo Kenova Elementary School. She graduated from Marshall University in the Spring of 2010 and is currently in her 8th year of teaching. Her passion is to help students become the best learners they can possibly be, while feeling cared for, loved, and respected. When she’s not at school, she enjoys going to church, spending time with family and friends, traveling, crafting, shopping, and spending time with her Maltese, Fluffy. She is pictured with her student teacher, Rebekah Lambert.
Taylor Justice
Taylor Justice is our first Teacher of the Week for this semester. Can we update the PLC with this info and picture and post to social media? Our Teacher of the Week, Taylor Justice, is a 2nd grade teacher at Ceredo Kenova Elementary School. Taylor comes from a large, very close family where her siblings, Kayla and Casey, are her best friends. She’s been married to her husband Mark for 2 years and they have a dog, Izzy. Taylor is anxiously awaiting her niece’s arrival this June! Taylor received her undergraduate degree in elementary education and her master’s degree in literacy education, both from Marshall University COEPD. Go Herd! She is currently in her 6th year of teaching and has also taught 5th and 3rd grade. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities like camping, hiking and kayaking. She says that teaching her a hard job but it’s the BEST job. She loves what she does and the adventures it brings each day! Taylor is pictured with her student teacher, Ashton McClure.
Danielle Pence
Danielle Pence is originally from Beckley, WV and completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at Marshall University. This is her 10th year of teaching. Danielle, a special education teacher at Altizer Elementary, says that she has found her home there. She’s been married almost 12 years and has 2 children, Wyatt (11) and Savannah (6). In her free time, Danielle enjoys traveling and spending time with family.
Melanie Hughes
Melanie Hughes is a Huntington, WV native and teaches ELA at Huntington High School. Melanie graduated from WV Wesleyan College and Marshall University with undergraduate and graduate degrees in literature, secondary education and writing. Mrs. Hughes has been teaching for 18 years, and currently teaches down the hall from her husband, Chris, at HHS. Melanie has 3 children, 2 puppies and enjoys running and fitness in her free time.
Ashley Brown
Ashley Brown is a music educator at Explorer Academy. Originally from Cross Lanes, Ashley resides in Huntington with her husband Steven with pets. Ashley is a graduate from both bachelors and masters programs here at Marshall University and has been teaching for 7 years. She is specially certified in the Orff-Schulwerk Method of Music Education. In her free time, Ashley enjoys crafting, crocheting and painting. Ashley is pictured with her student teacher, Matt Lyon.
Kelly Cartwright
Kelly Cartwright is a 5th grade teacher at Lavalette Elementary School. Kelly resides in Huntington with her husband, Josh, one year old daughter, Olivia, and 2 dogs. Kelly is a graduate of Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development and has taught special education, 2nd, 3rd and 5th grades in 4 different schools in Wayne County. When she’s not teaching, Kelly enjoys reading, going to the park with her dogs and Netflixing. Kelly is working on a relationship-first approach in her classroom, and has seen the benefits of her students first knowing that they are loved and cared for at school. Kelly is pictured with her student teacher, Madison Smith.