Faculty & Staff
STEM Leaders Thrive
at Research Triangle High School
Ellen Apple
Ellen Apple
I am from a family of teachers; mostly in the areas of Special Ed and Science, and I have been teaching Literacy and Language Arts for 11 years, having taken time to also pursue interests in Real Estate and HR. I went to UGA and majored in Psychology and English Education. I live in Durham with my two teenagers, husband, 2 dogs and backyard chickens. I am a lifelong North Carolinian that has somehow remained relatively unattached to any particular basketball team, but really love the color blue…. I’m very excited to be at RTHS and to be a part of students’ success stories! I am currently enrolled in a UNCC master’s program.
Kat Baker
Kat Baker
I graduated from NC State University in 2014 and have been teaching at RTHS ever since. I am a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and a National Board Certified Teacher. I love to learn about other cultures, especially if there is food involved!
Elizabeth Balazs
Elizabeth Balazs
I am originally from SC and have a BA in Communication and Media Studies (Clemson University) and a BS in English Lit and Secondary Education (Illinois State). I have over 17 years in the classroom: IL, NC, GA, and TX. I have called the Triangle home for almost a decade and have taught locally for that time. I have taught all different levels of English and literature, but I truly love advising for the Talos Yearbook and creating curriculum for senior lit here at RTHS.
I have served as an AP Collegeboard Reader for both AP Lang and Lit, and have previously worked as an AIG Coordinator. I have two kids and spend my off hours shuttling them between their music and sports lessons. I enjoy reading, checking out libraries, and walking with our golden retriever in between grading. Fun Fact: I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Literature & Arts with the University of Oxford.
Samantha Boucher
Samantha Boucher
Hi! My name is Sam Boucher (boo-shay) and this is my 4th year teaching but my 1st year at RTHS. I am originally from the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate NY and moved to Carrboro, NC in January 2024 with my partner. I have a BA in English Literature and Creative Writing from Binghamton University, as well as a Masters degree in English Education from Columbia University. I have taught in Colorado, New York, and North Carolina, in grades ranging from 6th to 12th. I also have taught poetry and creative nonfiction workshops to adults. At RTHS, I currently teach English II and Creative Writing. In my time outside of school, I am a writer, a nature-lover, and a yogi. I firmly believe that when a child acquires the ability to put words to the world and their stories within it, they move toward the confidence and love they’ve always deserved. I feel lucky to share the gift of literature with our students at RTHS every day.
Chris Bush
Chris Bush
I’ve lived in NC since 2017 with my wife and our dogs. We moved here from Hawaii where I tutored and taught mathematics at the High School and College levels, while also playing gigs on my saxophone. I have a degree in Music Performance and have taken many post-graduate mathematics classes because I love math too! Our students are what makes this school a pleasure to work at and what sets RTHS apart from other schools where I have taught. I’ve had wonderful experiences since I began here in 2021.
Steve Butera
Steve Butera
I am a graduate of the College of William and Mary, where I earned a BS, magna cum laude, in Mathematics. A native of New Jersey, I have been living and teaching in North Carolina since 2007, teaching mathematics, science, computer science, and robotics at both the secondary and middle school levels. Outside of the classroom, I have worked as an outdoor educator and environmental program coordinator, leading mountain biking and camping trips and facilitating school-wide composting and gardening programs. Here at RTHS, I teach AP Computer Science, Engineering, Multivariable Calculus, and host our Gardening and Computer Programming clubs.
Deepthi Cherukuri
Deepthi Cherukuri
I’m from the Southern part of India and speak Telugu (fluent), Hindi (conversational), English (fluent). It’s been about 9 years since I moved to the U.S. After completing my Master’s in Mathematics at ASU, I continued teaching and developing curriculum for a variety of math courses at different levels—college, middle school, and high school—both online and in person. Prior to that, I worked as a lecturer and content developer in India with a Bachelor’s in Engineering. I relocated during the COVID-19 pandemic and this is my 4th year at RTHS, where I teach AP and Honors-level math courses. Outside of teaching, I enjoy gardening and love the summers in North Carolina.
Kristen Cook
Kristen Cook
I am a former EC (Special Education) teacher turned School Counselor. Throughout my career in education I have worked in both charter and traditional high schools.
Sam Corey
Sam Corey
I joined RTHS in 2022 and am a Theatre Performance graduate of Appalachian State with a Masters in Shakespeare & Performance from Mary Baldwin. When I can find the time, I am a working professional actor in the Triangle. Over the past decade I have taught theatre and circus arts at Duke TIP, Raleigh Little Theatre, Cary Arts Center, Burning Coal Theatre Company, and many more.
McKenna Crockett
McKenna Crockett
My name is McKenna Crockett. This is my third year teaching and my first at Research Triangle High! In 2019 I received my Bachelors degree from NCCU in Political Science, and then I received my MAT from NC State (GO WOLFPACK) in 2021. I enjoy traveling to new and old places (particularly Graceland in Memphis, TN 🙂) with family and friends, vacationing in the mountains, and spending time with my parents! I fell in love with history when I was in high school, and my goal for the students is to become passionate about our nation’s history and to become involved as civic engagers! They are going to do wonderful things and help shape the future of our country!
Alex Drake
Alex Drake
I came to RTHS as one of the school’s original faculty members in 2012, teaching history and serving as the Athletic Director and President of the Central Tar Heel Conference before assuming the role of Chief Operations Officer in January of 2024. Prior to coming to RTHS, I was a graduate assistant for compliance in the Auburn Tigers Athletic Department. I began my teaching career at Robinson High School in Concord, N.C., where I taught social studies from 2005 to 2010. I earned a bachelor’s degree in history and secondary education from UNC Charlotte in 2005 and a master’s degree in higher education administration from Auburn University in 2012.
Mechia Dupree
Mechia Dupree
I am a seasoned educator with over 30 years of experience in public education, currently serving at RTHS. A native of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, I moved to North Carolina to pursue my undergraduate degree in Psychology from North Carolina Central University (NCCU). After earning my degree, I continued my academic journey by obtaining a Master’s degree in Special Education from North Carolina State University.
Throughout my career, I have taught a diverse range of subjects at both the high school and middle school levels, with an initial focus on science. I have had the privilege of serving in various roles, including over a decade in the Office of Professional Development, where I have been dedicated to supporting teacher learning and growth.
This year marks my first at RTHS, and I am excited to continue contributing to the educational community by fostering an environment of academic excellence and professional development.
Leatha Fields-Carey
Leatha Fields-Carey
I am a member of the first group of North Carolina Teaching Fellows, earning a B.S. in English/Secondary Education from Appalachian State University and graduated summa cum laude from Campbell University with an M.Ed in English/ Secondary Education. A National Board Certified teacher in English Language Arts, I previously taught with Johnston County Schools for twenty years, serving as English department chair, Peer Coaching coordinator, mentor coordinator, School Improvement Team chair, SACS accreditation team chair, and testing coordinator. I was a semifinalist for Johnston County’s Teacher of the Year in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2009. In addition to high school teaching, I also trained lateral entry teachers through East Carolina University’s Project ACT program and have taught part-time at Campbell University.
Kaitlyn Fisk
Kaitlyn Fisk
I have a Bachelor of Science in Physics from NCSU and a Master’s in Education for Secondary Science from CU. I have been teaching now for about 4 years and I love it! It’s great to see students grow and become confident in themselves and their knowledge of science. In my free time, I love photography and music.
Eric Genesky
Eric Genesky
Since I began teaching in 2008, I have taught various core and Advanced Placement courses at the high school level. Thanks to a teaching fellowship at NCSU, I had the opportunity to teach Freshman Composition, which helps me to see how students’ experience in high school informs their post-secondary education.
Alan Goldstein
Alan Goldstein
I spent over twenty years working at PepsiCo World Headquarters as a senior systems design and implementation manager. After extensive international work and travel, I retired and relocated with my wife and son to North Carolina, where I took the opportunity to pursue my love of teaching. I have volunteered extensively, working as a tutor and math specialist in Wake County and as Director of Education at Kramden Institute.
Akiba Griffin
Akiba Griffin
Proud Principal of RTHS. Native New Yorker who loves to shop and travel. I enjoy Karaoke and Concerts and all New York Sports Teams. I love working in education because it allows me to have stake in building tomorrow’s leaders
Sue Hess
Sue Hess
I earned a BA in Spanish with a concentration in Latin American Studies and an M.Ed. in K-12 Foreign Language Education from the University of Florida. I began my career at Newberry High School in Florida teaching Spanish and French and coaching girls’ basketball. After moving to Raleigh, I joined the faculty at Carroll Middle School. In addition to teaching foreign language I have been a fitness instructor and has worked as a college student adviser.
Stacey Kaufman
Stacey Kaufman
After receiving a BS in Physics and an MS in Secondary Science Education from UT (Go VOLS!), I moved to NC to begin my teaching career. I became a Raptor in 2015, when RTHS had its first senior class. Since then, I have enjoyed building the physics and forensics programs. As a mom of three teenagers, I don’t have much free time, but when I do, I enjoy taking trips to the mountains, exploring antique stores, and photographing weddings and events. I absolutely love RTHS, and I can’t imagine teaching anywhere else!
Alder Keene
Alder Keene
After graduating from Maryland Institute College of Art with my Masters of Art in Teaching I started my art teaching career as a painter and community artist in Baltimore. Since then I moved to North Carolina (over a decade ago) and have been a visual arts educator for elementary through highschool students. In addition to teaching, I am a practicing artist and love to travel with friends. I’m excited to be back for another year at RTHS
Cornelius Klein-Gloria
Cornelius Klein-Gloria
Born and raised in NYC and ended up in the south in 2010. I started working at Duke as the support lead of a proprietary psychiatric assessment tool for child and adolescents. Since then I have been at many big firms in the area such as NetFriends, NC Mutual Life, and COCG before finding my calling in education at The Exploris School and now Research Triangle High School. I have over 15 years of technical support experience and am one of those millennials without a college degree. I am happily married with two kids.
Danielle LaTour
Danielle LaTour
Hi everyone! A little about me is that I am a military brat and lived in over 20 different states. My side hobbies are nature photography, creating new desserts and reading murder mysteries. I look forward to meet everyone and being a part of the team.
Susie Lee
Susie Lee
I’m teaching Math Boost. I found my enjoyment in working with the high school age group when I was volunteering as a youth leader at church. So, I was grateful when I was given an opportunity to work at RTHS when my son enrolled as a freshman (the class of 2022). I received a BA from Ewha Womans University in Korea and an MA from Biola University in SoCal. Since I’m a native speaker of Korean, I’m happy to help whoever is interested in the language and culture.
Deirdre Lewis
Deirdre Lewis
I am a dynamic arts and administrative profession with years of experience across various industries. My background spans event planning and coordination, arts program administration, human resources, and development. I enjoy contributing my expertise in strategic planning and project execution, in addition to marketing and communications. I am known for my adaptability and organizational skills.
Margaret Majors-Nelson
Margaret Majors-Nelson
mmajors-nelson@rthighschool.org
I am a proud Army veteran with 12 years of dedicated service to our country. After my military career, I transitioned into education and currently work as an Exceptional Children (EC) teacher. I hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a concentration in forensics, blending my analytical skills with a passion for making a difference.
I am also pursuing Adaptive Curriculum Teacher Credits to further my expertise in supporting diverse learners. Beyond my professional life, I am a parent to three wonderful children and a grandparent to one precious grandchild.
Committed to growth, service, and education, I strive to make a positive impact wherever I go.
Tanisha Mills-Silver
Tanisha Mills-Silver
tmills-silver@rthighschool.org
Originally from Halifax County, N.C., I attended UNC-Greensboro for my undergraduate and graduate studies. I have been a school counselor for 6 years and have experience in K-8, comprehensive high schools, and now charter school systems. I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family and friends, and gardening. I am excited to continue to build a community with my Raptors!
Neal Myers-Perry
Neal Myers-Perry
I grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. After earning my history degree from UNC Asheville, my journey as an educator has taken me around the world: from Asheville City Schools, to Sogang University in South Korea, and then back to North Carolina at Central Park School for Children in Durham. After a brief detour into the wild world of Silicon Valley startups, I had the good fortune to return to education, joining the faculty of Research Triangle High School in 2022.
Currently, I am pursuing a master’s degree at UNC Charlotte’s Cato College of Education. I am passionate about fostering a discussion-centered classroom, where students are encouraged to make deep connections between historical events and contemporary issues. I also believe in the power of inquiry-based learning to empower students to become meaning-makers by developing and applying historical thinking skills to complex primary sources and the world around us today. It is a privilege to be part of such a talented team of educators and a welcoming community here at Research Triangle High School!
Shana Nix
Shana Nix
I taught in Cabarrus County for a couple of years. I taught World, American I, and American II, but most of my time was spend dedicated to Civics and Economics. I have taken students abroad to Europe, and would love to do that again.
Neil Oatsvall
Neil Oatsvall
Neil Oatsvall hails from the Triangle and is glad to be back home after over a decade landlocked in the middle of the country. He did his undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina in Asian Studies (Japanese language) and history, and is therefore an unrepentant Tar Heel of the worst sort. He received his masters in history from North Carolina State and his doctorate in history from the University of Kansas. He has published in various outlets, including Agricultural History, Environment and History, Gastronomica: The Journal of Critical Food Studies, and The Journal of Military History. His book, Atomic Environments: Nuclear Technologies, the Natural World, and Policymaking, 1945-1960, was published with the University of Alabama Press.
Sarah Overman
Sarah Overman
Originally from Eastern N.C, I attended UNC Chapel Hill as a Teaching Fellow and English major. I worked in selective college admissions for ten years prior to becoming the Director of College & Career Advising at RTHS. I am passionate about helping students navigate the complexities of college admissions and figuring out what life holds for them post-high school. I love to read, travel, watch college basketball, and spend time with my family.
Walter Price
Walter Price
I have been teaching for 25 years and I hope to continue teaching many more years because the students are just fantastic and they keep me young and motivated. I am originally from Siler City, NC, went to college at Syracuse University, B.S. degree in Computer Engineering and later an M.S. in Secondary Education. Teaching history is such a joy.
Barksdale Pullen
Barksdale Pullen
“I’m a recent transplant to North Carolina after living in Jacksonville, FL for 15 years. I earned my BA in Psychology & Education from the University of North Florida. With a decade of experience in education, I’ve served in various roles including classroom teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal. Currently, I teach Math 1 and AP Psychology, as well as an Instructional Coach. In my free time, I enjoy immersing myself in music, attending concerts, and gaming on my Switch and PS5. I’m also an active member of the Stonewall Raleigh sports league, where I participate in volleyball, bowling, and bocce. When I’m not at school or playing sports, I love spending time with my two cats, Frankie and Kori.”
Christian Rainey
Christian Rainey
- Majored in communication
- From New Orleans
- Love playing soccer and watching sports
Jayshree Sadhwani
Jayshree Sadhwani
I have been teaching Spanish for over 12 years in diverse classroom settings ages K-12. I have contributed to developing curricula and procedures for assessment of Foreign Languages, namely Spanish and French in private schools. I have had experience in teaching Spanish to adults in professional fields and helped in translating technical documents.
Thomas Slusser
Thomas Slusser
I enjoy science because I am curious about how things work! As a cleverly disguised 5-year old, my favorite words are “how” and “why”. I earned a B.Sc. in geology from Western Carolina University. My wife would not let me work with volcanoes, so I earned a M.Sc. in environmental geology from Wright State University. I worked for 20 years in various environmental science jobs in the public and private sectors before trying my hand at formal education in 2021. Initially it was scary and very challenging, and the rewards have been greater than I hoped for. I am blessed and grateful to be part of the RTHS community, and I really enjoy sharing the joys and wonders of the natural world with the emerging leaders of our future!
Angelina Soulasinh
Angelina Soulasinh
I’m a recent graduate from Campbell University and I earned my degree in Sports Communication with a Sport Business minor! One interesting fact is that I got to travel to Los Angeles this past February to work at Super Bowl LVI with the official Super Bowl host Committee! My hobbies include cooking, baking, and singing!
Jessica Stokes
Jessica Stokes
After receiving my undergraduate degree with a masters in English and a minor in Creative Writing, I stuck around UNC at Chapel Hill and tacked on an MAT degree. Then, I spent my first four years of teaching at Southeast Raleigh High School with the New Tech Program. Then, for a brief change, I hopped over to Heritage High School for a year. Then, finally, I found my home here at RTHS, where I am now celebrating my 10th year of teaching!
Denise Williams
Denise Williams
Hi, my name is Denise Williams, and I am thrilled to be teaching biology at Research Triangle High School. Before joining RTHS, I taught biology, chemistry, earth and environmental science, middle grades science, and social studies at a therapeutic boarding school. My teaching approach emphasizes project-based learning and helping students discover the strategies that work best for their success.
I hold two bachelor’s degrees—one in Anthropology and another in Exercise Science—as well as a master’s degree in Criminal Justice. I am also a trained forensic autopsy technician, which has given me unique insights that I enjoy incorporating into my teaching when relevant.
Outside of teaching, I share my home with my beloved fur children—Lucy (a chiweenie), Sunshine (a dorkie), and Barbara Jean Muffin (a Manx cat)—and my two reptilian companions, Big Turtie and Little Turtie, who are painted turtles. I am a Justin Timberlake superfan!
I am passionate about creating a classroom environment where students can grow both academically and personally, and I’m excited to be part of the RTHS community.
Emily Wise
Emily Wise
I first got into the study of English when I took a blind leap into pursuing an English major in undergraduate at College of Charleston, but I threw myself in once I saw how much I loved it. I kept going with a MA in Literary Studies from University of Amsterdam. I moved to NC in 2015 to get an MA in Teaching from Duke. I began teaching in 2016 and have taught all four years of English, film, creative writing, journalism, yearbook, and even art over those years. This is my second year at RTHS, and I teach only freshman English 1. One of the things I enjoy most as a teacher is seeing students find a spark for English and inspiration in high school like I found later. I’ve been known to hook students into a poetry unit with pure enthusiasm. Outside of school I’m a mom, a poet, a quilter, and a runner.
Angela Witherspoon
Angela Witherspoon
I have been teaching for over 30 years. Recently retired, I returned to the classroom because of my love for the profession. I have taught from the foothills to the coast of North Carolina, middle school to post-secondary, and every year has been a learning experience. Not sure how many more years I will stay, but I plan on enjoying them all.