Meet Your Teachers

Mr. Andrew Davis teaches 8th grade ELA and Writing. He taught high school English at several schools before working at AMHS. He has a Bachelors in English and a Masters in Education, both from Northeastern University. Outside of school he spends most of his time with his family, and travelling when possible. He loves reading and writing in his spare time and over the summers. He also enjoys spending time in nature away from bustle of people and city living when the weather is warm.

Ms. Catherine Buckley teaches Middle School ELA to grades 6 & 7. This is her first year at AMHS, but her fourth year teaching. She graduated from UMass Amherst with a bachelor's in English and a minor in education. This year, she is starting graduate school at Merrimack College, so she is a student as well. In her free time, she enjoys making jewelry, going on walks, and reading.

Ms. Kaitlin Leaver teaches ELA and Writing to the 6th graders. She is also  the 11th Grade Advisor. Prior to being at AMHS she taught 5th Grade Science, Social Studies, and Health at the Butler School in Avon, and before that she taught 6th and 5th grade at Fort River School in Amherst, MA. Ms. Leaver graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a minor in Education and Kinesiology from UMASS Amherst. She then went on to obtain her Master's Degree in Education from UMASS Amherst as well. She lives in Fall River with her dog Killian and enjoys theatre, reading, hiking, and bingeing a good show, so if you have any recommendations, let her know!

As an Avon resident, Mr. Travis Carter is excited to be joining Avon Middle High School! Mr. Carter has been teaching middle school science in the Greater Boston Area for the past 8 years. In this time, he has grown to appreciate the curiosity and exploration that middle school scholars bring to class. In his free time, Mr. Carter loves building Legos with his two children.

Mrs. Diane Shanks-Correia teaches Middle School Science and STEM, as well as advising Black Student Union (BSU). She attended Wheaton College, Bridgewater State University, and Framingham State University. Her degrees are in Biology, Elementary Education, and she is currently working on a Masters in STEM. She is an avid camper, enjoys kayaking, and has a love for animals. She can often be found with her bearded dragon, Phoenix. 

Mr. Ric Dockendorff teaches Physical Education to grades 8-12, as well as coaching the Girls Soccer Team. The Phys. Ed classes are held in the gymnasium and his office is there as well. Mr. Dockendorff graduated from Scituate High School, then went to Plymouth State University as well as Bridgewater State University, getting his Bachelor's degree as well as Coaching and Teaching Certifications. He received his Masters from Endicott College in Athletic Administration. Prior to teaching in Avon he coached at schools such as Cohasset, Scituate, Rockland and Abington. The Girls Soccer program is run during the fall after school at the Butler field, we begin in August and end in November.

Mr. Guy Enoch's primary teaching assignment is Health for grades 6, 7, 8, and high school (9th and 10th grade). Mr. Enoch graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from Bridgewater State College (now University) and a Master's Degree in Counseling from Boston University. This is his 23rd year of teaching experience. In addition, Mr. Enoch coaches soccer at Boston Latin School. He lives in Boston with his wife, daughter, and two cats.

Mr. Michael Hayes attended Avon Middle High School from 2004 to 2007, then went on to Florida A&M University from 2007 to 2011, and later studied at the University of Massachusetts Boston from 2012 to 2015. Since 2019, he has been the Boys Varsity Basketball Coach and teaches middle and high school gym classes. He is also the Athletic Director. His office is located in the gym, and he also coaches the AAU program for varsity boys' basketball.

Ms. Erin Costello teaches art to students from pre-k to 6th grade and splits time between two schools, working in different classrooms. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, rading, and engaging in any outdoor activities. Before becoming a teacher, Ms. Costello worked as a nanny, dog walker, private art instructor, and bartender. She has a family that includes two sons, a husband, two cats named Potato and Chip, and three siblings.

Ms. Thoa DiChiara teaches high school visual art classes like Metalsmithing, Drawing/ Painting, Fiber Arts, Art Portfolio, and also advises High School Art Club, she also teaches 8th Grade Art. Her classes are on the third floor mixed in with the math classes in room 308. She graduated with the Art Key Award at Bridgewater State University for her bachelors degree and also has her Masters degree from Rhode Island College. She enjoys exploring nature, traveling the world, being a foodie and going to concerts with her friends and family.

Mr. Riarco Ellis studied music at Florida A&M University and is currently a music teacher at AMHS. He has performed in jazz, spiritual, and classical settings for various musical groups as well as supporting non-profit arts organizations through educational instruction and performance.

Miss Bella Bennett is a very proud art teacher who has spent the last two years working in Fall River, MA. She is very excited to be returning to AMHS, where she was an art student teacher in 2023. Outside of school, Miss Bennett runs, rock climbs, knits, spends time with friends, and is part of a pretty mid-tier (but spirited) trivia team. She got her BFA in Photography and her Masters of Art Teaching degrees both from MassArt, and is looking forward to making art with her awesome students-to-be. 

Ms. Emily Frye will be starting her first year teaching and she will be educating the sixth graders on general music! She enjoys building bonds with the students and getting to know them as people, as well as watching them progress. Ms. Frye is a hands-on teacher and wants to get her student playing instruments as soon as possible. They will be using lots of bucket drums this year! She wants to create a bucket drum band by the end of the first term. Outside of school she loves to crochet, sing, and watch reality TV!

Mrs. Lindsay Robertson is a Massachusetts native from Somerset who spent 10 years living in the Mid-Atlantic. A recent graduate of Simmons University, she is now a certified, licensed librarian. Mrs. Robertson now lives in Quincy with Mr. Robertson, a lawyer, their son, a rising 4th grader in Quincy Public Schools, and two cats, Shiitake and Scarlett. Besides being a librarian, she loves spending time with her family, spending time outside, listening to loud rock music, playing RPG video games, and reading lots of science fiction and fantasy. Her most recent favorites are The Girl Who Drank the Moon, by Kelly Barnhill, and Feed by M.T. Anderson. She can’t wait to hear about everyone’s favorite books and to help everyone at AMHS become the savviest information seekers and users.

Ms. Janine Neprud teaches band, chorus, and general music electives to grades 6-12, and is part of the team that runs musical rehearsals. Her classes are in Room 218, and you can meet her in that room before or after school as well. Ms. Neprud earned a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education degree from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and a Masters of Music in Flute Performance degree from UMASS Amherst. Before teaching at AMHS, Ms. Neprud taught elementary school music in Fall River.

Mrs. Amanda Pyne teaches Drama and English to grades 6-12, as well as advising Drama Club and Student Council. Her classes are held in the auditorium, and you can find her office on the stage. Mrs. Pyne graduated from AMHS, then went on to Emerson College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to joining the faculty here, she worked in the Education Department at the Huntington Theatre Company.   

Ms. Kimberly Dolan is a Digital Literacy Teacher. She will be teaching both middle and high school students. She has been in education for 19 years. Ms. Dolan has worked in a vocational school setting, as well as a charter school. She started as a substitute teacher and has filled in for every classroom from automotive to English. (No, she cannot fix anyone's car, lol.) She has a Master's in Education and is licensed in both Business Education and Instructional Technology. But like everyone else, technology can drive her crazy when it is not working correctly, or as fast as we would like it to be. She tries to make her lessons fun and engaging, but more importantly, Ms. Dolan tries to give you the skills you need to be a lifelong learner and have you college and/or career ready (you know, the "real world" we teachers always refer to). Just an FYI: She raised a daughter, who is a Marine Biologist and she seems to be conquering the "real world" just fine.