Bonsack Elementary School Principal Melissa Jones has welcomed nine new staff members for the 2017-2018 school year.
Dee Parkinson is now the assistant principal at Bonsack. She grew up in Clarksburg, W.Va., and graduated from Concord University with a BS degree in Business Administration. She earned her Master’s Degree in Vocational and Technical Education from Virginia Tech and became licensed in PreK-12 Administration at Radford University.
She has 25 years of experience in education, which includes 12 years as an assistant principal at Cave Spring Middle School. Prior to that position, Parkinson was a business education teacher at Andrew Lewis Middle School in Salem.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to work at Bonsack Elementary School,” said Parkinson. “The faculty, students, and parents have made me feel so welcome and are truly a joy to work with.”
Jennifer Hall is a PEAP (Pre-Elementary Autism Program) instructional assistant at Bonsack. She comes from Virginia Beach where she graduated from First Colonial High School. She transferred to Bonsack from the REAP (Roanoke Elementary Autism Program) program at Penn Forest. She has worked in the field of education for 10 years.
Hall saad she is happy to be working at Bonsack, where “the staff is delightful.”
In her spare time, Hall said she enjoys working out, Spartan racing, spending time with her family, and cheering on the Washington and Lee Generals football team.
When she lived in Virginia Beach, Hall was honored by being named as the “City of Virginia Beach Volunteer of the Year” working at New Castle Elementary.
Staci Bowman is teaching second grade at Bonsack. She grew up in Salem and graduated from Salem High School. Her degree is from Bluefield College. Bowman taught at Bonsack several years ago and was given the opportunity to return this year. This is her 20th year in education.
“My co-workers and the administration make this school a place I enjoy coming to each day,” said Bowman. “I taught at Bonsack 10 years ago and I’ve kept up with students and past coworkers through lacrosse, volleyball, and social media. The people in this area are great! I love working here.”
Bowman said she loves teaching and in her spare time enjoys lacrosse and “spending time with my two girls.”
Michelle Mullins-Stephenson teaches first grade. She is from Roanoke and graduated from William Byrd High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and her Master’s in Education from Hollins. She completed her student teaching at Bonsack. She was employed as an instructional assistant at Herman L. Horn Elementary before becoming a teacher.
Tiffany Stevens is the speech pathology assistant at Bonsack, working with most grade levels under the supervision of the speech pathologist. She works with students at five different schools during the week, including Bonsack. She previously worked for three years as a teacher in another district.
She is from Roanoke and graduated from Hidden Valley High School.
Stevens received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from James Madison University. Her special interest is in traveling.
Bertha Young is an instructional assistant in the PEAP program. She is from Bedford and graduated from Liberty High School.
Ronda Bowles is new to Bonsack as a nutrition worker.
Becky Akers has joined the staff at Bonsack as an instructional assistant in the PEAP program. Students in the Bonsack PEAP program have one-on-one aides to support their programs.
Amy Herzel is an ELL Resource teacher working with grades K-12 at several schools including Bonsack. She is from New York and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Language and Literature from Binghamton University and her Master’s in Education from Temple University.
Her career in education spans 16 years teaching from Pre-K through higher education.
Herzel says she loves working with students and believes “in the power of education to transform one’s life.”
