OURLEADERSHIP
Michelle Spaulding, executive Director
Michelle Spaulding is the Executive Director of Carolina Collaborative Prep.
She is a North Carolina Certified P-12 Special Education Teacher with 26 years of experience in the field. This certification has allowed Michelle to help students of all ages and abilities succeed both in the classroom and their personal lives. Prior to CCP, Michelle worked in Laurel Heights Behavioral Health Hospital in Atlanta, Atlanta Public Schools, Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, UCP Easter Seals, Developmental Disabilities Resources, and her own start-up company Soar Tutoring.
Michelle graduated from the University of Georgia in 1995 with a 5 year Bachelor of Science Degree in Special Education. Additionally, Michelle has received certificates in Orton-Gillingham Multi-Sensory Training, TEACCH Fundamentals of Structured Teaching, and Handwriting Without Tears. Her goal in teaching is to help children achieve their maximum potential in all areas of development in a multi-sensory, fun, positive, supportive environment that focuses on the unique learning styles and strengths of the individual learner.
Michelle has lived in Charlotte since 1998. She is happily married with two children and two adorable
mini-schnauzers. She is on the PTSO of her son’s high school and enjoys golf, yoga, reading, playing cards
and going to the beach.
CONSTANTina COPPOLA,
instructor
Constantina (Tina) Coppola earned her BA in Elementary Education and MS in Special Education and
has been a Special Education Teacher for 20 years. She is currently enrolled in Orton-Gillingham training.
Tina started her career in New York as a behavioral therapist for children with Autism (ages ranging from 2-10). She provided 1 on 1 therapy in home settings and in preschools. She became Lead Teacher on cases, provided therapy sessions, created plan books, led monthly team meetings, trained therapists in modified ABA, and trained parents as well.
Constantina worked in the New York Board of Education two years before she got married and
moved to New Jersey where she started her private business in tutoring and provided ABA sessions.
As a stay at home mom to 3 kids, she homeschooled her twin girls while her son was at school. She then homeschooled her son briefly while she and her family moved to the Charlotte area for a better quality of life.
While her kids started a new life in NC, she substituted for a few years in Union County. Tina also received her certification in Mindfulness to help children learn how to regulate their emotions. In 2020, she earned a 200 hour Yoga Teacher Certification, as well as other forms of Yoga Certifications to not only recover from a car accident but to teach others how to manage stress and learn the mind / body connection. She has utilized mindfulness to help her son with mindset and executive functioning and taught equestrian teens Mindful Movement to calm their nervous system and to learn the mind / body connection.
She has volunteered often at her church in Dilworth teaching 8th grade Sunday school, helping with vacation bible school, assisting 4th grade soccer, and volunteering as a chaperone for middle school on Youth Rally trips. She loves working with children and enjoys helping them reach their potential!
CHEYENNE PENNELL,
instructor
Cheyenne Pennell is an Instructor at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Cheyenne graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Secondary Education, and Youth and Communities. In her undergraduate studies, she specialized in Secondary English Language Arts Pedagogy, as well as in Community Service Based Studies. Following her undergraduate degree, Cheyenne became a certified educator, and possesses a current Master’s Level NCDPI Educator’s License in 9-12 English Education.
Cheyenne also received a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a concentration in Secondary Education, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Cheyenne has taught various levels of English Language Arts for over four years. She has also taught Student Government classes. She has worked with children in various literacy programs for over seven years.
Cheyenne is passionate about community service and service learning. In her time as an educator, she has been an advisor for several community-service clubs. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her pets, hanging with her closest friends, and going on day trips.
KIERA GRIFFIN,
instructor
Kiera Griffin is an Instructor at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Kiera graduated from the University of North Carolina Charlotte with a BS in Civil Engineering. Always known for helping everyone she comes in contact with, Kiera started tutoring math while in high school and while attaining her associates degree. After graduating from UNC, she started her own tutoring business focusing on math and reading to help students ranging from pre-k to college who were affected by the pandemic.
Kiera was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. She has always had a love for learning and sharing her knowledge with others.
When not in the classroom Kiera enjoys hiking, reading and trying new restaurants and businesses in charlotte. Kiera is also a certified yoga instructor and birthing and postpartum doula.
SARAH PULLEY,
instructor
Sarah Pulley is an Instructor at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Sarah graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology. After graduation she joined the team at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher as an Outreach Coordinator traveling around the state teaching environmental science classes featuring native NC animal species. After moving to Charlotte she became the Youth Programs Manager at Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden where she continued to foster a fun, inclusive learning environment for all students.
While in university, Sarah studied abroad in Australia which deepened her love of traveling and environmental science and jump started her journey of teaching others.
Victoria McLain,
instructor
Victoria McLain is an Instructor at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Victoria graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. In her undergraduate studies, she specialized in Birth-Kindergarten Education and received a minor in Spanish. While attending UNCG, she tutored students in Biology, Nutrition, and Spanish.
As an undergraduate student, Victoria studied abroad in Puebla, Mexico. During that time, she immersed herself in the culture and served at a local orphanage. After graduating, Victoria taught at the Jewish Community Center in Tampa, FL. After about 4 years, she relocated to her hometown, Charlotte, NC, and began working as a tutor for Beam Tutoring. Victoria enjoys teaching children of all ages, primarily in math, reading, and writing.
In her spare time, Victoria enjoys hiking, traveling, learning new languages, and spending time with loved ones.
Daniel Bernard,
ASSISTANT instructor
Daniel Bernard is an Assistant Instructor in the Upper Academy at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Daniel received a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Furman University and a Master’s in Teaching from Winthrop University. He taught English/Language Arts in the Fort Mill School District in South Carolina for 3 years before spending a year tutoring SAT and ACT prep.
Daniel’s passion for helping young people find their voice stems from vivid memories of being a shy student. He hopes to provide to his students what his own teachers gave him- a source of warmth and encouragement.
A life-long reader, Daniel loves stories of all kinds, particularly movies. He also enjoys long (leisurely) walks in nature.
Daniel is very excited to join the CCP family!
TAYLOR LANE,
ASSISTANT instructor
Taylor Lane is an Assistant Instructor in the Lower Academy at Carolina Collaborative Prep.
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, Taylor relocated to Charlotte, NC in August 2022. Before her move, she received her Bachelor of Science from the University of North Texas. Taylor plans to pursue a teacher's certification in the near future.
Taylor has 10 years of experience working with children. Her experience includes 2 years as a substitute teacher (for Keller ISD where she worked with grades PreK-3rd, 5th and 6th, as well as Special Education) as well as being employed as a Registered Behavior Technician in autism therapy. Her experience with children also includes volunteering at Cook's Children Hospital, nannying, tutoring, and babysitting.
In addition to her career goals and work, Taylor enjoys spending time with her cat, hiking with her dog, photography, painting, and reading. Taylor is so excited to join the CCP family!
