Ginger Wilder
In the World Languages Department, Sarah McLaughlin is stepping back to teaching part-time and serving as our senior sponsor. Along with Sarah, Ginger Wilder will be teaching French in the Middle and Upper Schools. Ginger has an undergraduate degree in both French and English from Delta State University and a Master’s in French Literature from the University of Memphis. |
| Ginger Wilder |
Ginger grew up in the Mississippi Delta, but she considers Memphis, TN her home. Her husband is Paul Morelli and he is a jazz musician and professor at Wallace Community College.
Ginger loves to cook and travel. She and her husband are “collecting” all 50 states and all the National Parks. Her favorite foods to cook are nostalgic Southern casseroles and desserts.
In Mrs. Wilder’s words:
I decided to be a teacher when I turned 15 because I fell in love with French in high school. My teacher made her class fun and accessible. She made the language interesting and she introduced me to an art of living I would not have found otherwise. It is my daily goal to create that environment for my own students. I am looking forward to a great year at Houston Academy and I’m very thankful to get to join the family!
Cecilia Ciccarelli
Mrs. Cecilia Ciccarelli is a Houston Academy Alumnae, Class of 2000. She will be the new Extended Day Aide.She has 2 sons. Her oldest is a 10th grader at HA, Bruno Ciccarelli, and he is currently on the football team (Go #70!!). Her youngest son, Bodee Ciccarelli, is 10 years old and currently at Highlands Elementary School in the 5th grade. She hopes he will be a Raider before too long!!
Her husband of 15 years, Charles Ciccarelli is still on Active Duty in the Army as a pilot. Charles has been deployed numerous times to serve our country. The Ciccarellis have lived in Germany (where her oldest son was born) and Virginia before moving back to her hometown of Dothan.
On a personal note, Cecilia loves to paint. She has painted multiple murals in the past 20 years, three of which were in the Lower School building. Two of them are currently still in the breezeway bathrooms. Additionally, she has been a military spouse now for 15 years and takes a great deal of pride in being a supportive "army wife"!
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| Cecilia Ciccarelli |
Cecilia says:
I took this job because I couldn’t think of a better reason to be up at the school even more!! I LOVE HA! I spent my entire childhood here. I completed 4-year old through 12th grade all right here at Houston Academy! My mom was a teacher here for many years. I always felt at home being here! I am so excited to be able to come home!
Natalie Burleson
Natalie Burleson is also a 1989 graduate of Houston Academy.She has an undergraduate degree from Auburn University in Early Childhood Education, and she will be working as a Teaching Assistant in 3P.
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| Natalie Burleson |
Natalie’s’ favorite pastime is being a huge Auburn football and basketball fan.
She’s choosing to come to HA because she likes the challenging academic environment HA creates for her child and the feeling of belonging that HA creates for all our students.
Natalie says hopes to “create an environment where children want to learn and want to go to school and grow academically and socially."
Kelly Fleming
Kelly Fleming will be our Upper School and Middle School Learning Specialist. She holds a BA in General Science from LSU and a Master’s Degree in Psychometry from UAB. |
| Kelly Fleming |
She is coming to HA to “pursue helping teachers and students with areas of support, while maintaining a rigorous academic curriculum striving for college ready students.”
She originally became a teacher because she loved teaching science. Kelly’s mother inspired her to be a teacher. Her mother was a science teacher for many years and she “helped to reveal the many blessings of teaching.”
Amy Griffin
Amy Griffin will be teaching Upper and Middle School Chorus, Drama, as well as working with our musicals. She has a BS from Troy University in Vocal-Choral Music Education and Psychology. |
| Amy Griffin |
In her spare time, Amy enjoys singing, yoga, baton twirling, and drawing.
Amy is a Dothan native, and she is looking forward to living and teaching in her hometown after teaching in Opelika for several years. Houston Academy seems to Amy like a “wonderful place to teach.”
Mrs. Griffin became a teacher because she “wanted to make a positive impact on students' lives.”
Tracy Bergmann
Last, but not least, Tracy Bergmann will be teaching 3P. Tracy has a Doctorate in Educational Administration from the University of Alabama, an Educational Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from Troy University, A Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Troy University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Troy University. She has over 40 years of teaching experience in early childhood education.Tracy has 2 grown daughters, one of whom attended HA. She is married to John Bergmann, who is a helicopter pilot.
Tracy’s hobbies are traveling and reading.
She is coming to teach at HA because, as a parent, she always felt welcomed at Houston Academy.
Tracy explained:
My daughter received a quality education here and continued to be successful throughout college. Houston Academy prepared her for college and she continues to maintain contact with many of her classmates. I wanted to be a part of a school where teachers want to teach and students are motivated to learn. I really like that many of the students start in 3P and stay together until graduation.
Ms. Bergmann became a teacher because as a young child she believed teachers were the most important people in the world. She never considered another profession and started teaching at the age of 21.
Please join me in welcoming all these talented individuals.
Go Raiders!
