Sue Ford, Music TeacherMarimba Room
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Sue Ford has been on staff at Evergreen since 2003. She is the director of Evergreen's music program, collaborating with teachers to integrate music into classroom expeditions as well as teaching general music classes. She directs the middle school marimba bands (Level I and EMBE Marimba Band), the Instrument Ensemble Class and the Evergreen Community Chorus. She also organizes a series of concerts for the whole school by enlisting parent and community volunteers to perform and assists in organizing community circles. Sue is certified in Orff Schulwerk, Level II and is active in the American Orff Schulwerk Association.
She seeks to learn privately and professionally the many aspects of music and movement education by attending workshops and studying independently. Sue enjoys playing a variety of instruments in a variety of styles. Her experience blends classical, folk, harmony singing, African Balaphone, djembe, and songwriting.
She released a CD of originals, The Water Is Fine, and continues to perform in the community with her band Tongue and Groove and occasionally with Womansong, for which she served as assistant director for seven years. Sue was born and raised in North Carolina and is most grateful for her family. She's been married for over 30 years to professional puppeteer, Hobey Ford and they have three grown daughters.
Mary Ann Athens, Art TeacherLower Deltec
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Mary Ann Athens has taught visual art in North Carolina public schools for 15 years and holds a B.A. in Art from Agnes Scott College and M.A.Ed. from Western Carolina University. Mary Ann is a 2007 National Board Certified teacher in Early/Middle Childhood Art and has worked with young artists of all ages in afterschool and summer art classes. She has also been a lifeguard, camp counselor and wedding singer. She is married to Clay Griffith and they have two children, Will and Virginia.
Jo Smith, Adventure PE Teacher / EverAfter Program Director
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Phone: 828-298-2173 x 248
Jo began teaching Adventure PE in 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Warren Wilson College. She also studied Outdoor Education at Unity College in Maine and attended an 81-day semester course with Colorado Outward Bound School.
This class gave her leadership experience in rock climbing, canyoneering, boating, ice climbing, skiing, winter camping, and group process. With her teaching experience in the classroom, she brings academics into the world of physical education. Jo’s goal is to expose students to learning situations through physical activity.
She was named Teacher of the Year in 2008 and has served on the Health & Wellness Committee, Tech Committee, Board of Directors, and volunteers with Special Olympics. Together with her husband, Kevin Smith, they enjoy outdoor sports, travel, and raising their beautiful son Brodie.
Kevin Smith, Technology TeacherRoom 104
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Kevin Smith has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Warren Wilson. Originally hired as a fourth grade teacher with Evergreen in 2004, he became Technology teacher and also supports the school's social media endeavors. He enjoys rock and ice climbing, backpacking, canoeing, snowboarding, mountain biking and hiking. He and his wife, Jo, have a son, Brodie.
Kriya Lendzion, Middle School Guidance Counselor, Crew Coordinator, Positive Discipline CoachDeltec West
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Phone: 828-298-2173 x 238
FAX: 828-298-2269
Kriya joined the Evergreen community in 2008. She has a Bachelors Degree in Sociology, a Masters Degree in Mental Health counseling, and post-grad studies in "high risk" youth and addictions. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Internationally Certified Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist, a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Licensed School Counselor. Kriya has experience counseling and teaching life skills to youth in alternative school settings with Juvenile Justice, pregnant and parenting teens, high-risk girls, and expelled boys. She has also conducted substance abuse and wellness education with college students, and substance abuse treatment with adults.
Kriya also has a background in intercultural education and various expressive arts, which she weaves into her counseling and life skills education. She also co-chairs the school's Diversity Task Force, Health & Wellness and Service Leadership teams. This year, her son Kai is an Evergreen 8th grader. During working and non-working hours Kriya enjoys dance, yoga, Taiko drumming, singing, gardening, cooking and time spent in the gorgeous nature of North Carolina.
Fynn Crooks, PAL Teacher
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Phone: 828-298-2173
Fynn is working on her Masters degree in Reading Education and Story Telling at East Tennessee State University. Her experience ranges from teaching gifted children in a summer extension program to professional story telling. She is PAL Coordinator, working in the EverAfter program and running the Odyssey of the Mind Team.
Laura Branch, LibrarianRoom 103
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Phone: 828-298-2173 x 237
Laura comes to Evergreen with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies and a Masters in Library Science. She loves reading and sharing books with students so she can inspire them to love to read also. Her library is filled with Curious George dolls and she knows you're never too old for a good read-aloud or a great picture book. Laura also coaches the Evergreen middle school Science Olympiad team which allows her inner science nerd to emerge and she feels blessed to be able to share so many of her passions with our amazing Evergreen students.
Laura loves to travel and is fortunate to be a Delegation Leader for the Asheville chapter of People to People Student Ambassador programs. Each summer she shares the world with these high school students from around western North Carolina and introduces them to people and culture in the hopes that understanding our global neighbors will make for a more peaceful future for us all. So far she's visited five continents and hopes to reach them all someday.
Before coming to Evergreen, Laura worked as a wildlife rehabilitator and she still loves animals. She grew up in Morganton, NC and lives with her amazing husband, four cats, and a dog named Molly.
Come visit her in the library anytime!
Melissa Breck, Fifth Grade Associate Teacher and Health Educator for 5-8Room 227
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Phone: 828-298-2173
Melissa is originally from Connecticut and attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana to study Anthropology and Sociology. After graduating in 2004, Melissa moved to Boston before taking a "gap year" to travel to Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and the Caribbean.
After returning to the States, Melissa moved to Cincinnati and worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer for a non-profit organization to assist "at risk" youth. The following year, Melissa worked as a health educator for Planned Parenthood and taught HIV prevention classes for high risk populations at large public schools, juvenile detention centers and substance abuse treatment centers. Melissa found her new home in Asheville in 2008 and worked as a youth leader for the YMCA and at Evergreen in the EverAfter program and as a substitute teacher.
Last year, Melissa completed her Master of Arts in Teaching at UNC Chapel Hill and immediately moved back to the mountains. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, art projects, West African dance and volunteering in the community. Melissa is thrilled to be part of the Evergreen community again!
Sarah Hartnett, Environmental Education Program Associate, Behavior Support AssociateThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: 828-298-2173
Sarah has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Utah. She has a background in parent education and child development and has worked for various social service agencies over the previous eight years before working at Evergreen.
Sarah is originally from Texas and relocated to Asheville via Illinois in 2004. She is an outdoor enthusiast who loves camping, hiking and backpacking. Sarah has worked in the EverAfter program, was a 5th Grade Associate Teacher for two years and is co-director of the Summercare program at Evergreen.
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