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Faculty & Staff
Click here to learn more about our grade school teaching staff.
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Click here to learn more about our preschool teaching staff.
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Click here to learn more about our specials teachers.
Administration
Meredith Moseley
Head of School
Meredith holds a BS in Secondary Social Science Education from the University of Georgia and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Georgia State University. She is a former Social Studies teacher at Tucker High School and Assistant Principal at Meadowcreek and Tucker High Schools. Meredith holds teaching certificates in Social Studies, Educational Leadership, and Gifted Education. She has been involved with SPS since she was 11 where she volunteered during the Summer Fun Camps. She is a former 3 year old class teacher at SPS and has been the Head of School since 2013. She has two daughters Grace and Amelia (both SPS graduates). She enjoys spending time with her girls and husband Chris, watching UGA football, and reading.
Maggie Casner
Assistant Head of School
Maggie holds a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining SPS, she was president of a small technology company. Maggie has served on the board and been an involved volunteer at SPS since her daughter joined the toddler's class in 2011. Her daughter, Charlie, is now enrolled in eight grade at SPS. Her favorite things to do are spending time in the mountains with her family, reading, yoga, and cooking.
Lauren Dellinger
Admissions & Operations Coordinator
Lauren (she/her) is an Atlanta native and a GSU graduate with a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. Now residing in Tucker with her husband Grant, she previously worked in customer service management and in-home childcare before joining the Shallowford administration team in 2019. Lauren is also a piano and general music teacher who works with children in one-on-one private lessons as well as an avid baker who loves to share her creations. In her free time, Lauren likes to read, explore the outdoors, play the drums, and snuggle with her cat and dog.
K-8 Teachers
Stacey LaMadrid
Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Stacey is a native of Georgia. She has studied Business Administration at Georgia Perimeter College and Early Childhood Education at Georgia State University. She is a former Pre-K teacher at Embry Hills Kindergarten and Preschool and taught there for 10 years. Stacey and her husband, George, reside in Atlanta with their two children and two dogs. Her children Nicholas and Isabella attend Lakeside High School. When she is not at SPS, you can find her on a soccer field watching both of her children play for Concorde Fire and Lakeside. She enjoys walking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Georgia Brock
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Georgia started at SPS in the 2023-24 school year as the 1st grade assistant teacher. She loves animals, crafts, cooking , themed costumes and all things colorful. She has been caring for children for four years and has wanted to teach since she graduated high school; Georgia is very excited to be here at SPS as the kindergarten assistant teacher! She enjoys nature, laughing, and close friends. She grew up in Decatur and continues to live there with her cat Tate and family.
Kristina Burnett
First Grade Lead Teacher
Kristina has been a lead teacher here at SPS since 2015. Prior to coming to SPS, she worked at Immaculate Heart of Mary School for 8 years as a first grade teaching assistant, library assistant, and garden coordinator. She also worked as an audiologist at Emory and the Atlanta Speech School. She attended the University of Georgia and earned a B.S. Ed. in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a M.Ed. in both Audiology and Education of the Hearing Impaired. She holds a Georgia State License in Audiology and Georgia Teaching Certification for Early Education, Hearing Impaired and areas of Special Education. Kristina particularly enjoys teaching children to read and also watching students develop a love of reading and writing. Kristina is married and has young adult children, Sophie and Ben. In her spare time, Kristina enjoys spending time with family, watching UGA football, and gardening.
Nardja el-Shabazz
First Grade Assistant Teacher
Nardja is a Decatur, Ga native. She began working as a preschool teacher assistant and dance instructor in 2013. She began her dance training at Decatur School of Ballet at age 6. She became a teacher's assistant at age 13 and progressed through the studio as a substitute teacher and eventually an instructor in 2013. Nardja earned a teaching certification through the American Ballet Theatre in May 2020. She is an ABT® Certified Teacher in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She also completed Horton Technique teacher training through the Ailey extension with Ana Marie Forsythe in July 2021. In her free time, Nardja likes to go to yoga class and spend time with her family.
Laura Smith
Second Grade Lead Teacher
Laura has been the 2nd grade lead teacher at SPS since 2017. She holds a BS in Early Childhood Education from Brenau University, a MS in Teaching Reading K-5 from Walden University, and is Orton-Gillingham trained. Prior to joining SPS, Laura taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, Summer School, and After School in Gwinnett County Public Schools for 16 years. She has also taught Pre-K. Laura's favorite things are swimming and spending time with her immediate and extended family.
Holly Kline
Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Holly has held the assistant teacher position in the kindergarten class, 1st grade class, and now 2nd grade class. Before that, she was working as a substitute teacher in various SPS classrooms. Prior to working at SPS, Holly was a legal assistant at a major law firm here in Atlanta for twenty-six years. She has two grandchildren who started SPS as toddlers and are now in the K-8 school. Holly enjoys spending time with her grandchildren and family.
Justin Bearden
Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Justin is an Atlanta native and University of Georgia graduate who lives in Decatur with his family. He has worked as a Kindergarten, Pre-K, and 1st grade Assistant Teacher at SPS, as well as a 3s and Pre-K Assistant at a small school in Decatur. Justin believes that learning should be fun and engaging and loves seeing students grow and develop throughout the school year. In his free time, Justin enjoys fishing, working in his yard, traveling, and spending time with his family.
Lindsay Mayer
Third Grade Lead Teacher
Lindsay is a native of Atlanta and has an Elementary Education degree with an ESOL endorsement from Kennesaw State University, from which she graduated in 2023. She is excited to be back at Shallowford for another great year after completing her first year of teaching here during the 2023-24 school year! When not teaching Lindsay loves to go hiking, hanging out with family and coaching sports.
Sharon Kimble
Third Grade Assistant Teacher
Sharon studied education at the University of New Orleans. She has a B.A. in English Education with a concentration in Reading and the Language Arts. She has worked in schools in Louisiana, Georgia, and Texas. Sharon taught 3's, Pre-K, and Kindergarten at SPS in the 1990's and returned to Shallowford in 2019 to be the Assistant Teacher in the 1st Grade. She is now the Assistant Teacher in the 3rd Grade. Sharon and her husband, Joe, have three daughters and 5 grandchildren. Four of her grandchildren are former Shallowford students. Sharon enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, and decorating.
Stacia Kratzer
Fourth Grade Lead Teacher
Stacia is a native of Atlanta. She studied Early Childhood Education at Georgia State University, and she also has a Gifted Endorsement and Math Endorsement. Stacia taught third and fourth grades for eight years in Gwinnett County Schools. She also develops curriculum and teacher resources for K-6 learners. She has loved being a substitute teacher at Shallowford Presbyterian School, and she is excited to join the Shallowford family. Stacia enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and dog.
Sherita Brown
Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher
Sherita Brown is an Atlanta native. She started at SPS in the 2023-24 school year as an assistant teacher in both the 4th grade and 6th-8th grade classes. She is now assistant teaching in the 4th grade classroom. Mrs. Brown has always had a passion for creating a more positive space for children and those that are less fortunate, engaging in volunteer opportunities such as Big Brothers Big sisters, Boys and Girls Club, Hosea Feed the Hungry, and many more. In her spare time she is very family oriented. She is also a Cosmetologist of over 15 years. She is an avid traveler, a poet, an artist, and a proud mother to her son Karmyn who has attended Shallowford since his Pre-K year in 2022.
Kevin Smith
Fifth Grade Lead Teacher
Kevin is an elementary educator, with 19 years of teaching experience. He holds Level 6 Georgia Educator Certificates in both Curriculum & Instruction and Early Childhood Education. His degrees include Education Specialist, Master of Arts in Teaching, and Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Georgia. He previously taught in Clarke County School District, Athens Montessori School, City Schools of Decatur, and DeKalb County School District. Kevin joined the SPS staff in 2022 as the Fifth Grade Lead Teacher, and also provides additional tutoring. His two children attend SPS.
Josh Dubin
6th-8th Science & Social Studies
Josh has been teaching with a nonprofit organization in Atlanta since 2016 and is excited to be joining the SPS community. He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2011 with a degree in history and American studies, and has always had a passion for teaching and education. Having grown up in the mountains of Asheville, NC, he enjoys hiking, camping, and cross country running.
Amelia Wheelus
6th-8th ELA
Amelia holds a Bachelors of Speech Communication with a focus in Public and Political Rhetoric from Georgia State University. She was also lucky to study at Oxford University in Oxford, England where she focused on Communication, Shakespeare, and Chaucer. She holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina. Before SPS she was a Reference and Instructional Librarian, and a reading and writing tutor. Amelia is married with two daughters both of whom have attended SPS. She loves libraries, reading, writing, and swimming!
Rylen Owens
6th-8th Math
Rylen Owens joined SPS in the 2021-22 school year after several years of working with children of all ages, primarily in special education roles. They received their B.S in Psychology with a concentration in Infant-Adolescent Development from Kennesaw State University. Rylen has a strong passion for educating middle school aged students and helping them to grow socially and emotionally through restorative and conscious discipline based practices. Outside of school, Rylen loves to travel, spend time with their family, and read.
Lauren LaCroix
6th-8th Grade Assistant Teacher
Lauren has been with SPS as a teacher since 2014 and is the Aftercare and Summer Fun Camp Director. She has been married for 22 years and has 3 boys (Alex, Marc, and Matthew) that are no strangers to SPS. They have worked summer camp and have volunteered throughout the years. Her husband, Dave, works for Dekalb County. Lauren enjoys watching UGA football, going to the beach and mountains, and spending time with family and friends.
Preschool Teachers
Lauren Fulmer
2s Lead Teacher
Lauren is originally from Greenville, SC and moved to Atlanta two years ago from Aiken, SC. This is her 1st year teaching at SPS, but her 7th year teaching preschool. She and her husband have two children, Alice and Charlie, who attend Chamblee High School and Chamblee Middle School. Her family recently joined Shallowford Presbyterian, where Lauren teaches Sunday School to the 3s-1st graders, and both kids are involved in the youth. Lauren is very excited for her first year at SPS with the 2s class!
Alix Tucker
2s Assistant Teacher
Bio coming soon
Lourelle Lawrence
5 Day 3s Lead Teacher
Lourelle began teaching at SPS in 2016. She was previously the lead teacher for one of SPS's Pre-K classes, and has taught at St. Bede's as an assistant and lead teacher in the 2's class. A native South African and Smoke Rise resident, she is married with four children and has a furry friend, Rosie the dog. Going to her children's sports games, gardening, nature walks, and Candy Crush are a few of her favorite things.
Sara Lawrence
5 Day 3s Assistant Teacher
Bio coming soon
Charlotte West
MWF 3s Lead Teacher
Charlotte is married with three children. She has served The Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta as a troop leader for 12 years. She has enjoyed being an Elementary Science Olympiad Coach, and Club volunteer for First Lego League, Garden Club, Chorus, and Musical Theater. Charlotte's youngest is a freshman at UGA. Go Dawgs!! She has worked at SPS for 6 years as Preschool Lead teacher. Charlotte is currently working on her CDA certification, she attended CIA (Culinary Arts) and served The Vinings Club for 15 years in their culinary and membership departments.
Nicole Thorp
MWF 3s Assistant Teacher
Nicole holds degrees in English Literature (Carleton College) and Art Education (Art Institute of Chicago). She has taught children of all ages in many educational settings, including children’s museums, preschools and elementary schools, and has also worked in the non-profit arts world for Atlanta Ballet. A New Jersey native, Nicole has lived in Atlanta for over 20 years. She enjoys being part of the Flair Forest neighborhood with her husband and 2 children (SPS preschool alumni). She likes anything involving artistic endeavors, good books, good food and travel adventures. Nicole is excited to return to her 9th year of teaching at SPS.
Elena Murphy
Pre-K Lead Teacher
Elena has a BBA from St. Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana. She has been teaching PreK at SPS since 2012. In addition to teaching PreK, she enjoys teaching STEM concepts to children through Lego model-building classes. Elena is married and has two children and a cat. Both of Elena's children attended SPS. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and backyard birdwatching.
Carla Cooke
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Carla spent 20 years as a PA in family practice. Having joined SPS as a sub and then transitioning to a Pre-K assistant teacher in the 2022-23 school year, she is excited to continue on in the same role! Carla is married with two children, now 23 and 20, and has 1 dog and 1 cat. She is a member of SPC and loves hiking, reading, baking, and traveling.
Kristen Schafer
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Kristen has a B.S. in Education from Miami University and a Master of Education from Framingham State College. Since 2014, she has taught 2s, 3s, and pre-k at SPS. Prior to SPS, she taught 12 years at Oak Grove Elementary and 5 years in Costa Rica. Kristen is involved with PTO at her daughters’ school and enjoys serving as a Girl Scout leader. In her free time, she enjoys camping, hiking, tennis, and spending time with her family.
Specials Teachers
Katie Carter
Art
Katie has a BFA in Art Education from the University of Georgia. She has 12 years of teaching experience and previously worked in Cobb and Dekalb County Schools. Katie grew up in Tucker, and still lives in the area with her husband, 2 kids, and 3 cats. Besides art, Katie loves hiking, knitting, and reading.
"Coach" Kyle Johnson
Preschool-2nd Grade P.E.
Kyle has been a favorite staff member to SPS children since 2008. A graduate of Mercer University, he has lived in the area for over 25 years with his wife, Laura. He has two children that attended SPS from 2002 to 2009. His daughter Claudia, is a Purdue University graduate, while his son Eric currently attends Clemson University. He is also an assistant coach for the Lakeside High School Varsity baseball and softball teams. He also loves to travel the world and has visited more than 15 countries with his wife and kids. Kyle has a passion for sports and exercise that he enjoys sharing.
Coach Kike Lauva
3rd-8th Grade P.E.
6th-8th Grade Health
Kike is thrilled to join the SPS community as a Health/PE Teacher this year. He has worked teaching in a school setting for 4 years but has always had a passion for teaching children. A Georgia native, he currently resides in Dunwoody with his partner, two cats (Auggie and Fresca), and a dog (Duck). Kike is finishing up his last year at Oglethorpe University, getting a degree in Communications. In his spare time, Kike enjoys dancing ballet, singing, finding new recipes, and hiking!
Lauren Heidingsfelder
Music
Lauren Heidingsfelder (Mrs. H) earned an A.S in Music education in 2001, a B.M. in Music education in 2005 and an M.M. in Music education in 2013. She wrote an article that was published in the centennial issue of the peer reviewed Music Educators Journal in 2014 titled, "The Slogan of the Century". She also published a children's picture book in 2021 titled "Sausage Magic". Lauren has been teaching piano lessons since 2001, guitar since 2007, and ukulele since 2011. She sings as a staff alto with the Dunwoody United Methodist Chancel choir and Musica Gloria. In addition, she has sung with Peach State Opera, Capitol City Opera, the Harrower Opera workshop and the Like the Dickens Carolers. She has maintained a State of Georgia teaching certificate for Pk-12 music since 2005 and has certifications in Musikgarten, Orff and Kodaly methodologies. Lauren lives in Marietta with her partner, two children Novi & Henson, along with her adorable dogs and cuddly cats. In her free time, she has written six novels in two years along with a smattering of short stories and flash fiction. She also writes song parodies (like Weird Al Yankovich) that she posts to her Youtube channel.
Molly Woods
Media Specialist; Library & Technology
Molly holds a BA in English from Ithaca College and a Masters degree in School Library Media from Georgia State. She was a children's book editor in New York before moving to Atlanta, where she has worked as both a freelance writer and a certified Dekalb County schools media specialist. She loves anything having to do with books, cooking, exploring Atlanta, and spending time with her husband and two children (both of whom have attended SPS).
Prue Swerlick
Christian Education
This is Prue's first experience in a school classroom, but she has led children’s Sunday school classes for over 40 years. She loves to hear what children have to say about God and about their faith, and loves sharing her faith with them. In Prue's former life she was a nurse, then a mom, and now a grandmother. Her children attended SPS when it was a preschool only, so she has loved and supported this school for many years! Prue loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, reading, walking her family dog Murphy, and hiking in the Georgia mountains with her husband, Bob.