By Debbie Adams
Mount Pleasant Elementary School is “In Gear for the New School Year” welcoming several new faculty and staff members for 2021-2022.
Abigail Moomaw is the new school counselor. She will be working with all grade levels individually, in small groups, and in the classroom, on all types of social emotional topics.
She was born and raised in Roanoke City and graduated from Patrick Henry High School.
She went on to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from James Madison University, and then her Master’s in Education from the University of Virginia. She has worked as a school counselor in Franklin County for the past five years.
“I applied with Roanoke County and the opportunity to work at Mount Pleasant fell into my lap, and I knew I couldn’t pass it up!” said Moomaw. “I am so excited and happy to be working at Mount Pleasant because it truly seems like a special and magical elementary school with incredible staff and students. I can’t wait to get to know all of them!”
Harmony Hixon is a remediation teacher working with students to catch them up on reading and math skills—a new position at the school and in Roanoke County. She is a native of Roanoke and graduated from Northside High School. She earned her degree in Elementary Education from Radford University.
Hixon has previously worked for a year as a substitute teacher and then for three years as a Title I instructional assistant.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about Mount Pleasant whenever I share with others that I will be teaching there,” Hixon says.
She and her husband bought their first home this summer and moved to Vinton. Fun fact: “Peacocks are my favorite animal – besides my cat Daisy and my dog Foxy.”
Sue Jolley is teaching Special Education at Mount Pleasant this year. She is originally from Maryland.
Jolley graduated from Roanoke College with a business degree and then earned her Master’s Degree in Education from Hollins University. She is beginning her eighth year of teaching.
She appreciates her good luck in getting the opportunity to teach at Mount Pleasant. “It seems to be a great school. Everyone has been so welcoming to me.”
Jolley loves lacrosse and basketball and is a big Maryland Terps fan.
Harriet Day is an instructional assistant at Mount Pleasant Elementary. She is from Roanoke and a graduate of Northside High School. She studied Early Childhood Education at Virginia Western Community College. She transferred to Mount Pleasant from working as a bus aide on a Roanoke County Special Needs bus. She has spent 40+ years working with children, and especially enjoys working with preschoolers. Her interests outside of school are flower and vegetable gardening, all different kinds of crafts, taking pictures, and reading.
Misty Vickers is working with preschoolers as a social emotional coach in several schools across Roanoke County. She is from Roanoke and a graduate of Staunton River High School. She earned her Bachelor’s of Social Work degree with an emphasis in Child Welfare from Radford University. She has been in the social work field working with children for 15 years.
“I was assigned the school (Mount Pleasant) as part of my rotation and am so excited to be a part of this community,” Vickers said. “The children and staff are so welcoming and friendly.”
