Our Volunteers
Jane retired from Wake County Public Schools with 30 years as a teacher, career counselor, and assistant principal.
Instructor
JANE CLAYTON
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.
Instructor, Steering Committee
AILEEN RANDALL
Michael is helping by making logos, and creating original art to enhance our program goals and engage the public. Check out his portfolio.
Graphic Designer
MICHAEL PFEFFER
Sandy received her Masters in Social Work at NYU and much of her professional career has revolved around kids.
Instructor
SANDY HEETER
Laurie brings to the program her experience as an elementary school teacher.
Instructor
LAURIE McDOWELL
Helen spent 36 years as a nurse, working with all age groups. She retired from UNC Hospitals in 2003.
Instructor
HELEN JONES
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.
Instructor
MARK SHEAR
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.
Instructor
ALICIA NUNNALLY
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.
Instructor, Artist
SONJA WILLIAMS
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.
Instructor, Steering Committee Chair, Behind the scenes
LINDA PATTISON
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.
Behind the scenes
LEE PONTO
Nancy ...
Instructor, Behind the scenes
NANCY BARRINGER
Jamie ...
Instructor
JAMIE PARKER
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.
Instructor, Blogger (Ed)
ALLISON BLANCHARD
Shannon created the graphics used in the Insights to Prevent Dog Bites spinner game and presentation file.
Graphic Designer
SHANNON COOLEY
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.
Instructor
HOLLIE GASPER
Becki as a former teacher brings much to the program. She enjoys sharing her love for animals with enthusiastic and engaged fourth graders.
Instructor
BECKI ROHRBACH
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.
Instructor
TRISH RAFFEL
Jan is a retired English teacher from Orlando, Florida. She enjoys pursuing painting and drawing her favorite subject: animals.
Instructor, Artist
JAN MAXWELL
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.
Instructor, Steering Committee, Blogger (Faye & Scooter)
DAWN FRIEDEL
Judy taught first grade for 28 years in Wake and Pitt counties. She helped develop the Kids 4 Critters curriculum.
Instructor, Steering Committee
JUDY AUSTIN
Carol worked with Handi-Dogs in Tucson, AZ. She home-schooled her two children until fourth grade.
Instructor
CAROL REED
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.
Instructor
BRITTANY SPRINKEL
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.
Instructor, Blogger (Scooter)
JANICE FIRLING
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.
Instructor, Blogger (Faye)
TAMARA VAN PALA
Beth worked as a TA in the school system and then as a sign language interpreter. She also volunteers at her granschildren's school.
Instructor
BETH TONELII
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.
Steering Committee
GAIL COLES
Ramona ...
Instructor
RAMONA LEGGETT
Cindy comes with a background in teaching fourth grade. She taught math.
Instructor
CINDY ROBERSTON
Jessica created the graphics used in the new version of the SAFETYO game.
Graphic Designer