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Faculty and Administration
Laura Bailey teaches students in the sixth and seventh grades and is the instructor for math and science in the Upper School, and also teaches fifth grade science. She has taught middle school math, science, advanced and honors biology, and high school honors chemistry for the past five years at Shiloh Hills Christian School in Kennesaw. Laura has a Bachelor’s Degree from East Carolina University and is currently working toward her Master’s Degree in education. In addition, Laura is a registered licensed dietician.
Mark Barnett, our fourth grade instructor, has six years of teaching experience at Campbell Middle School in Cobb County, where he served as Social Studies Coordinator and Yearbook Advisor. Prior to his teaching career, Mark was the Youth Director at North Springs United Methodist Church for seven years. Mark has a Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia State University.
Lyn Cates, our Head of School, taught at Westchester Elementary School in Decatur City Schools, Decatur United Methodist Kindergarten, Agnes Scott College, and Emory University. For twenty years, she taught and worked in various roles at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta where she developed and implemented a new reading curriculum and taught Children’s Literature and Language Arts. In addition to overseeing the curriculum, Lyn also serves on the Financial Aid and Admissions Committees. Lyn has a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Emory University with a certification in Gifted Education from Georgia State University. Mrs. Cates serves on Wildwood’s Board of Trustees.
Elizabeth Cook, our fifth grade teacher, is the instructor for fourth and fifth grade math, as well as fifth grade language arts. As director of our drama programs, she works with all the Wildwood students, kindergarten through eighth grades. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Music from Georgia State University and has worked in the music industry with Warner Brothers Records. She is currently pursuing additional courses in the educational field.
Nancy Hammer assists in our admissions and development departments and served from 2003 until 2007 as our founding headmaster. Mrs. Hammer taught for twenty years at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and for the last ten of those years was Director of Studies overseeing the curriculum and academic program. She has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Nancy has a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Latin from Wake Forest University, a Master’s Degree in English Education and a Specialist’s Degree in Reading from Georgia State University. Nancy serves on Wildwood’s Board of Trustees, and the Accreditation, Financial Aid, and Standardized Testing Committees.
Lamar Helms, our chaplain, serves as the Associate Chaplain and Music Director of the Big Canoe Chapel. Lamar has a Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Wake Forest University and was ordained into the ministry. He also graduated from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and was conferred with a Master of Divinity degree. Lamar coordinates and directs our chapel programs and Biblical Studies program.
Sylvia Helms is our media specialist and teaches English in the Upper School, as well as eighth grade history. She has been teaching and/or working as a media specialist in various schools for thirty-four years. She has authored and published a research guide for students and has participated in the National Writing Project. Sylvia has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Wake Forest University, a Master’s Degree in English Education from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and a Specialist’s Degree in ELMT from Georgia State University. She also has advanced technology training through Kennesaw State University and works with our technology programs.
Dee Hoover, our student counselor and service project coordinator, has worked as a youth counselor at Northside United Methodist Church in Atlanta. She has also worked with the Georgia Children’s Trust Fund Commission, the Georgia Council on Child Abuse, and Scottish Rite Children’s Medical Center. Dee has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Georgia and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Florida State University.
Rosemary Langway, our Spanish teacher, is a native speaker from Peru. Rosemary teaches Spanish to the students in kindergarten through eighth grade. She attended college in Arequipa, Peru where she graduated from the two-year International Secretarial/English Translator School. Rosemary also has a BSBA degree in economics from the University Catholica.
Melissa Lowrie, our Marketing Director, is instrumental in growing the awareness of our school both within and around our community. Her involvement with civic, religious and social organizations, as well as continuous communications through several county newspapers, keeps Wildwood’s name present in the community. Melissa has an extensive background in marketing, relationship building and liaison responsibilities, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Louisiana Tech University.
Nancy McCullough is our first grade teacher. Prior to teaching at Wildwood, Nancy taught in our kindergarten program. She has also taught seventh and eighth grade history in Pennsylvania. She has been a parent volunteer at both Wesleyan School and The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. Nancy has a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in history from Carnegie Mellon University.
Lea McMillan is an assistant teacher in our first grade program. Lea has three years of teaching experience in Florida and more recently at Cherokee High School in Canton. One of Lea’s unique skills is that she is an instructor of American Sign Language. Lea holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in education from Florida State University.
Lauren Melton, our kindergarten teacher, has sixteen years of experience as an instructor of children at Eastvalley Elementary School in Cobb County, where she headed the Science Task Force and was coordinator and coach for Odyssey of the Mind, and also at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church Pre-School. In addition, Lauren has served as Interim Children’s Minister at Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education from Oglethorpe University.
Judith Morris, our art teacher, has taught art in public schools in Wisconsin, at Wesleyan School in Atlanta, and at Carthage College in Wisconsin. She has had student art work represented during Youth Art Month in Wisconsin at the state capitol, the High Museum in Atlanta, and Sharptop Art Center in Jasper. Judith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin. Judith also conducts an art camp in the summer at Wildwood.
Larry Ruff is Chairman of the Board of Trustees and is a founder of Wildwood. Larry is also our Director on Non-Academic Affairs and serves as the schools in-house legal council, having practiced law for over thirty years. Larry also serves on several committees, including Accreditation, Long Range Planning, Scholarship Development and Financial Development. Larry holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Ohio University and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Emory University.
Pamela B. Ruff, our Director of Business and Financial Affairs, is also a founder of
Wildwood. Pamela oversees financial budgeting, all receipts and disbursements for Wildwood. Pamela also runs Wildwood’s store, The Trading Post. A graduate of the University of Georgia, Pamela holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice. Pamela also graduated from paralegal school and managed the administrative and business affairs of an Atlanta law firm for several years. Pamela serves on several committees, including the Scholarship Committee and The Parents Action Council Board.
Sulaine Sims, our second grade teacher, has over twenty-five years of experience teaching kindergarten through seventh grade. She taught for seven years at the Dorris-Eaton School in Walnut Creek, California. Sulaine holds certification in special education, elementary grades, and early childhood education. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Auburn University and has completed graduate work at the University of West Georgia.
Beth Singleton, our health and physical education teacher, also serves as director of our intramural sports program. She has fifteen years of instructional experience involved in teaching outdoor physical education and recreation programs at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, including serving as Program Coordinator of the Discovery Program. Beth holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Education and Recreation from Prescott College. Beth’s skills and accomplishments include Wilderness First Responder Certification, Instructor - American Red Cross CPR and First Aid, as well as successful climbs of Mount Rainier in 2003 and Mount Kilimanjaro in 2007.
Joy Smith, our third grade teacher, is also the fourth grade science instructor. As a classroom teacher she taught for thirty years in DeKalb County elementary schools, fourth through seventh grades, where she organized educational field trips, implemented drug education programs, served as leader of the 4-H club and sponsor for Odyssey of the Mind, and organized and implemented fine arts programs and performances. Joy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Georgia State University.
Karen Steinberg is our assistant teacher in kindergarten. She has worked for thirteen years as Assistant Director and classroom assistant in a Montessori School in Marietta, Georgia. Karen has a B.A. degree from the University of Colorado.
Darlaine C. Ward, our Administrative Assistant, graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing. Darlaine is the assistant to the Head of School, the Director of Non-Academic Affairs and assists in the Administrative duties of the PreSchool at Wildwood.
Rev 07/07
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