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Mrs. Jametta Martin-Tanner

Principal

Phone: 980-343-0035

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Mrs. Beverly Dawkins

Treasurer I

Phone: 9803430035

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Mrs. Lenora Diggs

Data Manager

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Ms. Anita Durr

As the school counselor, I serve as a holistic advocate for my students in their academic, social/emotional and career ventures while promoting academic excellence.  I enjoy the work associated with helping my students reach their full potential as well as witnessing them set and accomplish their goals/dreams as they matriculate through our program. 

This is my 20th year in education and my 6th year as a counselor at Merancas!  I received both my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Counseling & Educational Development. (Go Spartans !!!)

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling through this beautiful and exciting world!  I look forward to working with you this year as we navigate life and academics at the middle college.

Words of Wisdom:  Enjoy this time of your life’s journey.  Visit colleges early.  Lean on OUR PACK when necessary and most importantly, STAY POSITIVE! 

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Mrs. Kimberly Courtlandt

I moved to North Carolina in 2007 to attend UNC Charlotte and never left! While at UNCC, I earned my bachelor’s degree in English in 2011 and a master’s degree in Education in 2013. After graduate school, I taught middle school English while I earned my National Board Certification in English/Language Arts for Young Adults. I then moved on to teach English at Merancas in 2017, where I’ve been ever since. In May 2022, I also earned a graduate certificate in teaching Academically and Intellectually Gifted Children.

In November 2023, I welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world with my husband. She has kept me on my toes since she was born. She’s playful, intelligent, and a true joy to be a mother to. After having her, I decided to transition out of the classroom into the Academic Facilitator role for the 2024-2025 school year. Regardless, I still serve as the advisor to the Merancas chapters of the National Student Council and the Black Student Union.

Whether in the classroom or behind the scenes, helping students learn and develop intellectually brings me immense joy and fulfillment.

Phone: 980-343-0035

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Mrs. Kendall Pauling

I am from the beautiful mountains of Asheville, North Carolina.  I moved to Charlotte to attend UNC Charlotte where I received a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (K-6), and a concentration in English.  I have my National Board Certification in Middle School Social Studies.  I am a mom to two awesome boys and enjoy the crazy adventures they bring.  I am an educator because it is a wonderful experience that challenges me with a new lesson each day. No day is the same as the one before, but each day will always start refreshed and full of new learning opportunities.

I have been a proud Pack member since 2019, serving as the Instructional Accountability Facilitator. At Merancas, I can support you with Technology, State testing, ACT & College Board testing accommodations, CPCC CTE course support, Career exploration, MYEP, and National Honor Society. My door is always open and I look forward to a great school year.

Phone: 980-343-0035

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Mr. Timothy Guilfoyle

Born and raised in the GREAT STATE OF MICHIGAN, but have lived in North Carolina much longer (long enough to forget how cold winter can be up north).
This is my 33rd year in education and 3rd year at Merancas as a member of the Pack!  As you can see, I’ve been an educator for a long time, it’s "the thing" I am meant to do. I am National Board Certified in Science and very active in science outreach. I am most active as a member of the Army Educational Outreach Program through UNCC. Our program travels to different parts of North Carolina to engage students in science research. We currently have an eastern cohort and a western cohort and I am personally responsible for designing Saturday academy programs. We also host the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at UNCC where we judge science oral presentations and posters from students all over the state of North Carolina. 
 
I am also very proud to be an Ambassador for BioInteractive in which I serve as a leader within the science education community and help to educate educators on their curriculum materials as well as help in the development of curriculum.  BioInteractive is part of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), an independent science philanthropy that invests in individuals, institutions, initiatives, and media to advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. My work with BioInteractive is really important to me. Lastly, I serve as co-director for the North Carolina Student Academy of Sciences.
 
I have attended more live concerts in my lifetime than I care to count, love going to festivals and would rather listen to music than watch TV. I am a big Carolina Panthers and Detroit Red Wings fan but support the Carolina Hurricanes and will never give up on the Detroit Lions. 
 
I also love “light” hiking around the trails in NC (especially the Carolina Thread Trail) and enjoying the scenery and peacefulness of nature. Lastly, I enjoy thrifting and antiquing to repurpose things as well as crafting. Believe it or not, I am a bit of an introvert until I feel comfortable in my surroundings.

Phone: 980-343-0035

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Ms. Cecilia Bullard

I was born and raised in Macon, GA, where I attended a college preparatory school for high school. After graduating from high school, I attended the University of Alabama. ROLL TIDE!!! I started my post-secondary education with a double major in business and French before I realized my true love was learning about history and social sciences. I graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor's in Secondary Education and History and an associate's in general business (I also experienced many SEC and National championships). I helped pilot the edTPA program at the University of Alabama. I received a Master Score for my portfolio, which is still used today as an exemplar for edTPA candidates. 
 
After graduation, I worked in retail marketing, where I could travel, meet new people, and experience new places before settling in Charlotte. I am passionate about learning other cultures through travel, either physically to a new place or through the pages of a book. My love for social studies stems from my parents' focus on academic-centered family outings and vacations. This is a tradition that I have continued into adulthood. Every spring, I plan a trip with my mother to travel to a new historic place. I am always taking travel recommendations for my next adventure.
 
How did I find myself in Charlotte? After growing up in Georgia and attending school in Alabama, I wanted to move somewhere new. Charlotte seemed like a middle ground between city life and a small-town feel. I started my teaching career at Independence High School in January 2020. In my five years at the Big I, I taught American History (both the split 2-semester course and the 1-semester survey course), Civics and Economics, Civic Literacy, and AP US History. I have had the opportunity to serve in leadership positions as PLC lead and LCAC representative. In my experience, collaboration is vital to effective teaching. This past year, I started working towards my master's degree and hope to continue. In addition, I am a certified EPF teacher, having received my certificate from the North Carolina Council for Economic Education. My passion for teaching has grown yearly and solidified that teaching is my calling. My goal as an educator is to prepare my students better to succeed as they enter the real world. I want my students to have the skills and tools to maximize their potential and opportunities for a life that balances happiness and success. I am excited to be a member of the WOLFPACK!

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Mrs. Baria Jordan

I am a Kings Mountain, NC native, proudly representing the 704 area code!  I left the area for a while to attend the great NC State University and spent time teaching in Raleigh. Eventually, I returned home to be near my family after having my son, as family is one of the most important aspects of my life; I wanted my son to have that, too. Math is my passion, and I love exploring applied mathematical concepts in the real world in my free time.  My 14-year-old son, Davin, is my world and brings me joy daily. 
 
This year marks my 16th "first" day as an educator, including eleven years in CMS and the past 4 with the pack! I advise the national math honor society Mu Alpha Theta, Ms. Empowerment, and the Hispanic/Latinx Student Association. I teach Math 3, Math IV, AP Precalculus, and AP Calculus, but I've taught every math class a high schooler can take. I've collaborated with the county to develop curriculum materials for Math 1 and Math 3.  I have also taught summer professional development courses for secondary teachers, covering topics such as Building Student Relationships, Student Ownership, Mastery Learning, and how to utilize Canvas, our learning management system. Additionally, I served as a Change Agent for the CMS Personalized Digital Learning Department, coaching teachers interested in using personalized learning in their classrooms.
 
Teaching is undeniably my passion and purpose, as I discovered while attending NCSU.  I FIRMLY believe ALL students can learn math by making connections and having a growth mindset. My daily goal is to do everything possible to help that happen.

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Ms. Shellie Bryant

I'm Shellie Bryant. I started teaching in 2000-2001 as a Spanish teacher here in CMS at what was J.T. Williams IB Middle School. Then after some time at Olympic HS and Renaissance at Olympic, I moved home to my hometown of Knoxville, TN and taught for 4 years there. I came back to CMS (Renaissance at Olympic again)- this time as an ENGLISH teacher. I've been teaching English since then in CMS and UCPS. I am so excited to be back in a small school setting and to be at the BEST small school, Merancas. 
 
I am a mom, my kids are 6th and 10th graders. We spend a lot of time at Volleyball and Dance. I quilt, knit, and read in my spare time. My favorites are mysteries, sci-fi/fantasy, and non-fiction. I love a good podcast too. 
 
Here at Merancas I teach 11th grade Honors English, AP Lang, and Yearbook! Be on the look out for picture requests and see yourself in the yearbook! 

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Ms. Pamela Jones

Born in Buffalo, New York and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. I earned a B.A in English from Winthrop College and went on to serve my country as a United States Marine. There I earned a M.A. in Human Relations and became a decorated veteran.  While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, I answered to call to become a missionary and a teacher. In 2011, I earned an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership at Liberty University.   Loving service to my God, my country and my community has been the capstone of my life.  I hope to continue to use the gifts effectively to help strengthen student academic and character development.