Our Volunteers
JANE CLAYTON
Instructor
Jane retired from Wake County Public Schools with 30 years as a teacher, career counselor, and assistant principal.
AILEEN RANDALL
Instructor, Steering Committee
Aileen has taught all grade levels in Wake and Orange counties, but she especially enjoys teaching fourth graders because they are very interested and fast learners.
MICHAEL PFEFFER
Graphic Designer
Michael is helping by making logos, and creating original art to enhance our program goals and engage the public. Check out his portfolio.
SANDY HEETER
Instructor
Sandy received her Masters in Social Work at NYU and much of her professional career has revolved around kids.
LAURIE McDOWELL
Instructor
Laurie brings to the program her experience as an elementary school teacher.
HELEN JONES
Instructor
Helen spent 36 years as a nurse, working with all age groups. She retired from UNC Hospitals in 2003.
MARK SHEAR
Instructor
Mark taught middle school Sunday School for 40 years. He also coached youth soccer for 18 years. Also, he worked full-time in youth ministry for seven years.
ALICIA NUNNALLY
Instructor
A lawyer by training, Alicia has been an active volunteer working with kids in the schools, Sunday School, and has volunteered with the NC Museum of Natural Sciences since 2012.
SONJA WILLIAMS
Instructor, Artist
Sonja brings much experience working with both animals and kids to the program. She is a "semi-retired educator" who has taught biology and environmental science, math, and ESL to students from middle school to college.
LINDA PATTISON
Instructor, Steering Committee Chair, Behind the scenes
Linda is a retired Spanish teacher. She is the program leader and manages relationships with both volunteers and schools. She also creates many of the educational materials.
LEE PONTO
Behind the scenes
Lee does not teach in our program; however, what she does makes life so much easier for the instructors. Lee, reliably and very dedicatedly, helps with preparing all the materials to ready student folders, team boxes, instructor manuals, etc.
NANCY BARRINGER
Instructor, Behind the scenes
Nancy ...
JAMIE PARKER
Instructor
Jamie ...
ALLISON BLANCHARD
Instructor, Blogger (Ed)
Allison works at a veterinary clinic in North Raleigh, and with the world renowned ophthalmology department at the NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). Allison will be attending NCSU CVM in the fall.
SHANNON COOLEY
Graphic Designer
Shannon created the graphics used in the Insights to Prevent Dog Bites spinner game and presentation file.
HOLLIE GASPER
Instructor
Holly has a background in teaching young children. Hollie grew up with cats and dogs which came from the local pound. Hollie has fostered many WCAC dogs.
BECKI ROHRBACH
Instructor
Becki as a former teacher brings much to the program. She enjoys sharing her love for animals with enthusiastic and engaged fourth graders.
TRISH RAFFEL
Instructor
Trish has lots of experience in working for animals. She was one of the founding members of a charity called AnimalKind, providing low cost spay/neuter to targeted families in the Triangle.
JAN MAXWELL
Instructor, Artist
Jan is a retired English teacher from Orlando, Florida. She enjoys pursuing painting and drawing her favorite subject: animals.
DAWN FRIEDEL
Instructor, Steering Committee, Blogger (Faye & Scooter)
Dawn is an instructional designer, designing learning experiences. She brings expertise in website development, video and audio production, as well as learning experience design skills.
JUDY AUSTIN
Instructor, Steering Committee
Judy taught first grade for 28 years in Wake and Pitt counties. She helped develop the Kids 4 Critters curriculum.
CAROL REED
Instructor
Carol worked with Handi-Dogs in Tucson, AZ. She home-schooled her two children until fourth grade.
BRITTANY SPRINKEL
Instructor
Brittany grew up with a cat and a dog. She has volunteered before as an after-school tutor and with Best Friends Animal Society and the ASPCA.
JANICE FIRLING
Instructor, Blogger (Scooter)
Janice worked 40+ years as a Speech Pathologist in the schools, hospitals, and rehabilitation clinics. Her love of animals started very early as she was raised on a Kansas farm and had dogs, cats, chickens, sheep, horses, and cows.
TAMARA VAN PALA
Instructor, Blogger (Faye)
Tamara is an attorney and Raleigh native. She has always been interested in public service and volunteer work, especially educating children. Tamara is also an animal lover.
BETH TONELII
Instructor
Beth worked as a TA in the school system and then as a sign language interpreter. She also volunteers at her granschildren's school.
GAIL COLES
Steering Committee
Gail does not teach in our program; however, she has made many invaluable contributions. She gives of her time behind the scenes in readying classroom materials, and in sharing her sweet therapy dog, Kyra, with fourth graders.
RAMONA LEGGETT
Instructor
Ramona ...
CINDY ROBERSTON
Instructor
Cindy comes with a background in teaching fourth grade. She taught math.
JESSICA JACKSON
Graphic Designer
Jessica created the graphics used in the new version of the SAFETYO game.