By Debbie Adams
Bonsack Elementary School has welcomed several new faculty members for the 2022-2023 school year.
Kathryn Foley has been named as a remediation teacher at the school. She is originally from Salem and a graduate of Salem High School. She majored in English at Mary Baldwin College and is licensed to teach grades PK-6. She earned her Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision (grades K-12) from the University of Virginia
Foley has spent 21 years in the field of education.
“I believe in the value of education, to build a strong foundation and then watch the students bloom and grow as their interests take them,” she said. “It has been an honor to work with so many students and their families.”
She and her husband have been married for 31 years and have two adult children. In her spare time, Foley enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and working in the yard.
Callie Ivanov is the new PEAP teacher at Bonsack. This is an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Pre-K classroom for students with autism.
She grew up in Lynchburg and graduated from E.C. Glass High School. She earned her undergraduate degree in Music Therapy at Radford University in 2014. She is currently working on her Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education.
Ivanov worked in the PEAP classroom as an instructional assistant a couple of years ago and came back as the new teacher this year. This is her eighth year working in ABA.
“I have a huge passion for working with students with autism that have higher needs,” Ivanov says. “I absolutely love working through some behavior and helping them learn. It is amazing to see when a child finally grasps a new concept.”
An interesting fact—Ivanov says she and her husband are big fans of axe throwing. “We also had a baby in March, and she is just the best baby a mom could ask for.”
Jessica Murariu is the English Language teacher at Bonsack Elementary this year, and at Glen Cove Elementary.
“This means that I work with students whose families speak different languages,” she explains. “We work on the skills needed to read, write, listen, and speak in English.”
Murariu comes from Dunedin, Fla., and graduated from Florida State University with a Master’s in Child Development Education. She has been teaching for 18 years.
“I love working with English Language Learners and seeing all the progress they make as they are learning English,” Murariu said. “It is fun when they teach me about their different cultures and traditions, especially the ones that involve food.”
Teresa Nicely is “excited to be returning to Bonsack Elementary after having taught at William Byrd Middle for the past seven years.” She is a Special Education teacher who will be collaborating with first and third grade teachers this year.
Nicely was born and raised in the Roanoke Valley and graduated from Lord Botetourt High School. She earned her Bachelor’s in Social work from James Madison University and her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Radford University. She now has 20 years of teaching experience.
She first came to Bonsack Elementary in 2006. All three of her children attended the school and she lives in the community.
She says she is dedicated to the field of Special Education and wants school “to be a positive experience for all children.” She enjoys working with families to meet the unique needs of her students.
Nicely enjoys traveling with her husband, Ken, and spending time with her three grown children. She also enjoys visiting with family and friends. In addition to going for walks and reading, she is learning to play Pickleball.
Sara Reynolds will be serving as the school psychologist at Bonsack Elementary this year. She is originally from North Carolina and has lived in many cities across that state. She relocated to Roanoke with her family in June.
She is a graduate of Hickory High School in Hickory, N.C. She graduated from Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., with both her undergraduate Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and her graduate MS, SSP Degree in School Psychology. She has 10 years of experience working as a school psychologist.
“Upon being hired by Roanoke County Public Schools, I was fortunate to be assigned Bonsack Elementary as my base school,” Reynolds said. “I will also be serving Herman L. Horn Elementary School and William Byrd High School.
“I chose my profession because I love working with children of all ages,” Reynolds said. “My job keeps me busy, and typically no day is the same. I feel rewarded building relationships with teachers and families, in order to assist with students being happy and successful in the classroom.
“I’m so enjoying living in the Blue Ridge Mountains again and love exploring the beautiful outdoors in the Roanoke area with my husband and son!” Reynolds said.
