Kimberly Seipel-Parks

Kimberly Seipel-Parks is the founder of the Yadkin Valley Community School. She serves as Head of School and lead teacher in the Kindergarten through 2nd grade classroom. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with her B.F.A. from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2000. Kimberly taught photography classes at the Technical College of the Lowcountry and USC-Beaufort before returning to her hometown of Elkin. She holds her Montessori credentials from the North American Montessori Center for children ages 6-9. She loves teaching and learning from the school’s youngest students because they are so creative and inquisitive. She is a certified Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) parenting coach and incorporates the strategies for taught in Triple P, such as raising happy, confident kids and encouraging positive behavior, into her classroom.

Joe Dougherty

Joe Dougherty is the lead guide for 3rd through 5th grades. Before joining the Yadkin Valley Community School, Joe taught science at Lewisville Elementary School. He has also taught at the Migrant Workers Head Start in Boonville and as a secondary school English teacher in Nicaragua. His enthusiasm and creativity shine through in his lesson plans, and his laugh is contagious.

In addition to his teaching experience, Joe brings a unique set of skills that will enhance the classroom. He plays the guitar and loves to incorporate music into his lessons. He is also a farmer (which comes in very handy with our garden in the outdoor classroom).

Bachelor of Arts from York College of Pennsylvania
Orton Gillingham Trained
Fluent in Spanish

Perry Lloyd

Perry Lloyd teaches 6th-8th grade language and cultural studies. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in European History at Washington and Lee University. He has been an educator for 35 years serving in positions at Rutherfordton-Spindale High School, Elkin High School, and Bridges Academy. Perry holds certifications in social studies, language arts, and exceptional children. He and his wife Penny have three children and four grandchildren (with another on the way). Perry has recently written and published a book entitled The Ponderings of a Grateful Scribe: Poems, Fables, Parables, Folktales and other Prose.

Whether he is in the classroom, coaching wrestling, leading Sunday School, or writing a book, Perry is always teaching. Having taught both Advanced Placement classes and Exceptional Children classes, he has a true passion for helping children succeed in their own unique ways. When asked about his teaching style, Perry said he is a storyteller, an entertainer, and wants to bring history to life through hands-on projects.

Travis Snyder

Travis joined Yadkin Valley Community School in 2021 as the Middle School Math Teacher. He currently teaches 6th – 8th grade math and science while also serving as the Assistant Head of School. Travis began his teaching career in 2012 as a middle school instructor of math and science at Washington Montessori Public Charter School in Washington, North Carolina. While there, he also helped launch a Montessori high school program and served as the High School Coordinator and Math and Science Instructor during its inaugural year. A family move took Travis to Colorado where he served as the Director of Middle School Education at the Montessori School of Denver. There he was tasked with properly developing a newly-formed urban Montessori middle school program. Travis holds a Montessori Secondary I – II Certification through the American Montessori Society.

Outside of the classroom, Travis enjoys spending time with his wife, three kids, and two dogs. He also enjoys biking, exercising, building guitars, tinkering with anything mechanical, and writing and recording music with his kids.

Education:
MEd in Secondary Montessori Education, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
MFA in Wood Design, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
MA in Maritime Studies, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
BA in Philosophy, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Minor: Science
Montessori Secondary I – II Certification, American Montessori Society

Janet Adams

Janet Adams graduated Summa Cum Laude from the East Coast Bible College campus of Lee University with a Bachelor of Elementary Education degree. She holds her North Carolina license to teach grades K-6. Since 1989, she has taught using the Montessori method at both Statesville Montessori and here at Elkin Presbyterian Preschool. While at Statesville Montessori, she also taught art for grades 1-3 and French for grades K-8. Before that time, she taught behaviorally and emotionally challenged children in Iredell County.

Janet also obtained dual Montesorri credentials for both Elementary 1 and Elementary 2, which include children ages 6-12. In addition to teaching at our school, she instructs Montessori teacher candidates and is the curriculum typist for the Center for Montessori Education of North Carolina in Huntersville.

Her hobbies include, but are certainly not limited to, greeting card making, crocheting and making materials for the classroom. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband, Jeff, moved to our area 7 years ago and reside in State Road. Their son, Josh, and his family also live in State Road. She has three grandchildren.

Lori Rice

Lori Rice has over 14 years of experience. After receiving a Masters Degree in Gifted Education from Converse College and a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from Presbyterian College ,and an Early Childhood Credential, she began her work in the classroom, teaching all disciplines to elementary students and teaching middle school Language and Biology.  When her own son began kindergarten, she decided to make the Montessori transition. Both of her children attended the Montessori school where Lori taught.  While holding a Primary, Lower El , and Upper Elementary Montessori Diploma, Lori continues to pursue her passion for education by training teachers and taking new training herself all of the time to keep her updated on new educational research based ideas on learning.

Kathy Neumark

Katalin Neumark (Kathy) was born and raised in Hungary, Europe, where she finished Semmelweis Medical University. However, after having four children and moving to the US her priority became her family, children, and education. After living in Budapest, Hungary; Los Angeles, CA; and Buffalo, NY, they moved to Elkin in 1998. Kathy taught at the Elkin Presbyterian Preschool for six years, and worked at the Main Street Learning Place for three years.

She joined the YVCS family in 2020 and jumped headfirst into the Montessori method. She loves being outside with the children as much as possible and providing opportunities for creating art, music and movement. Kathy and her husband enjoy hiking, listening to classical and local music, and visiting with family and friends.

Kayla Ellis

Kayla is a licensed and nationally board certified visual arts teacher with a BFA in art education. In NC, she have taught at Surry County Schools, Surry Community College, the Surry Arts Council and currently with Crisanthemum Ceramics. Kayla loves to explore color and design through art, gardening and quilt making. She has two adult children and lives in Mount Airy with a cat named Frida and a dog named Fiona. Kayla believes art is the arrangement of beautiful or meaningful things and looks forward to exploring those ideas and creating with our young artists.