Department Chair

Brian Parker

Extension: 20501

Email: brian.parker@orange.k12.nc.us

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Planning

Block 2: Math 1

Block 3: Calculus Honors

Block 4: Calculus Honors

Teacher

Austen Cagwin

Extension: 20508

Email: austen.cagwin@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: UNC-Chapel Hill

Why I am a Teacher: I love getting to know younger people. I think you all have a lot of value you can provide to society and we need to work to mold you into citizens that can change the world.

Favorite Book: All the Light We Cannot See

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Math 3

Block 2: Math 2 Honors

Block 3: Planning

Block 4: Math 2 Honors

Teacher

Jessica Curasi

Extension: 20400

Email: jessica.curasi@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: East Carolina University

Why I am a Teacher: I wanted to become an educator because of the joy I get from helping others understand the content that I have so much love for. Also, part of being an educator is getting the chance to form relationships. Teaching is hard, but it has so many more rewarding aspects than hardships. Teaching has been my dream since I was a little girl, and it is my passion.

Heroes: My heroes are my parents. My parents have always pushed me to do my best in everything that I do. Their parenting skills and dedication to me are the reasons I am where I am today. My parents are both so determined and dedicated with their jobs and with little things outside of their jobs. I strive to have their determination and to always put my best foot forward. My parents are so supportive of me, and I am so lucky to have them to look up to.

Favorite Book: I like to read but don't have a favorite book. The genre I like best is mysteries.

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Planning

Block 2: Math 3

Block 3: Math 4

Block 4: Math 4

Teacher

David Gaddy

Extension: 20509

Email: david.gaddy@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: The Campbell University

Why I am a Teacher: In the short time I have on Earth, I want to make a positive impact on any and every student I come in contact with for their education, but also for their everyday life.

Heroes: My dad is my hero. Dad woke up at 430 am for the first 15 years of my life and worked until 6 pm in the evening Monday through Friday. For the next 18 years of my life, he survived two cancers, multiple heart attacks and stroke, and other health complications. My dad was the model of endurance, perseverance, and laughter in the face of fear, even in his last moments of life. I hope to be half the father, husband, and human that he was.

Favorite Book: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Math 2

Block 2: Foundations & Math I

Block 3: Foundations & Math I

Block 4: Planning

Teacher

Ashley Howard

Extension: 20500

Email: ashley.howard@orange.k12.nc.us

College: UNC Greensboro

What I am a Teacher: As a high school student, I helped one of my math teachers tutor after school. In doing so, I realized that I loved working with young adults and teaching them something that I love so much. Also, I really enjoy the relationships that come from teaching. These relationships allow me to help students navigate this crazy thing we call life. I believe that it is important for students to have many adults to help support and encourage them along the way.

Favorite Book: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Planning

Block 2: Foundations of Math 2

Block 3: Foundations of Math 2

Block 4: Math 2

Teacher

Tikeya McQuillan

Extension: 

Email: tikeya.mcquillan@orange.k12.nc.us

College: High Point University & East Carolina University

Why I am a Teacher: I've always wanted to be an educator. I love connecting with students and helping them become the person they want to be. I want to be more than just an educator. I want to serve as a mentor to my students.

Heroes: My mom and my aunt are my heroes. They are always working super hard and dedicate 100% of their effort to everything they want to accomplish. I've learned my work ethic from them.

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Planning

Block 2: Math 1

Block 3: Math 1

Block 4: Math 4 Honors

Teacher

Mary Beth Smith

Extension: 20505

Email: marybeth.smith@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: Illinois State University

Why I am a Teacher: I am an EC teacher by trade, fluent in sign language. My goal was to teach Math to Hearing Impaired students. I student taught many years ago in a middle school deaf classroom, teaching math and loved it. I continue to teach math, however, the self-contained deaf student classrooms do not really exist anymore.

Heroes: Teachers

Favorite Book: The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Math 1

Block 2: Foundations of Math 1

Block 3: Math 1

Block 4: Planning

Teacher

Katie Thorn

Extension: 20503

Email: katie.thorn@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: UNC Greensboro

Why I am a Teacher: I have a love for math but I also think it’s important for teenagers to have as many adults as possible to help prepare them for whatever they chose to do in life.

Favorite Book: The Bible

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Planning

Block 2: Precalculus

Block 3: Math 3

Block 4: Precalculus

Teacher

Jordan Vaughan

Extension: 20504

Email: jordan.vaughan@orange.k12.nc.us

College: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What I am a Teacher: I hope that my life can make the lives of the people around me better! I also love math! I grew up in a family of teachers and I continuously saw the impact that they had on their students and the community- I couldn't help but to want to be like them!

Heroes: My mom and my Grandmama- they are the most loving and strongest women that I have ever met.

Favorite Book: Where the Crawdads Sing

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Math 3 Honors

Block 2: Math 3 Honors

Block 3: Planning

Block 4: Math 3

Teacher

Kelly Young

Extension: 20502

Email: kelly.young@orange.k12.nc.us

College Attended: North Carolina State University

Why I am a Teacher: I have always enjoyed helping people. Math was always my best subject and I really enjoyed helping my friends understand certain topics in math because it can be a very frustrating subject. I love watching students experience that "AH-HA" moment and really start to enjoy learning.

Heroes: My Me-maw: She is one of the strongest ladies I know. She is the oldest of 7 children and worked the farm while helping her parents with her younger siblings. She raised 3 young children after my grandfather passed away. My Me-maw continued to run the family farm while working multiple jobs in town in order to give her children what they needed. She has always worked so hard her entire life and has always given her family so much love. I am so proud to be her granddaughter and hope to be as strong as she is one day.

Favorite Book: The Westing Game

Classes

Homeroom

Block 1: Math 4

Block 2: Math 4

Block 3: Math 3 Honors

Block 4: Planning