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"How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me!" - Z ora Neale Hurston
"How can any deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It's beyond me!" - Z ora Neale Hurston
About Me
About Me
Hi! I’m Mrs. Leopard - English teacher, lifelong reader, and firm believer in the power of a good story. I teach high school English and dual enrollment courses, working with students from many backgrounds to build confidence in reading, writing, and critical thinking.
I’m married to my husband, Greg Leopard, a local attorney, and we have two daughters: Julia, a proud University of Georgia graduate, and Emilia, a 2023 graduate of Fox Creek High School who is now a junior at the University of Tampa. Our family also includes two dogs—Coco Chanel, our chocolate lab, and Stinky, our pit bull terrier—who keep life entertaining.
Outside the classroom, I’m an avid runner who has completed more than 30 races over the past decade, and I’m a proud Disney adult who loves storytelling in all its forms. Whether I’m teaching literature, running a race, or planning my next Disney trip, curiosity and creativity are always at the center of what I do.
Why I Teach
I teach because I believe education should open doors, not close them. Too many students come to English class convinced they are “bad readers” or “not good at writing.” My goal is to change that narrative.
I believe learning works best when students feel seen, challenged, and supported. I strive to create a classroom that balances high expectations with empathy, structure with creativity, and rigor with relevance. Literature, for me, is not about memorizing facts; literature is about understanding human experience, developing critical thinking, and learning how to communicate with confidence.
Teaching allows me to combine my love of language with my belief in students’ potential. Watching students discover their voice, gain confidence, or finally see themselves reflected in a text is why I keep teaching, year after year, with enthusiasm, purpose, and a little bit of magic.
Certification:
National Board Certification Adolescents and Young Adults, current
AP Language and Literature Certifications, current
South Carolina Certification, current
Georgia Certification, current
South Carolina ESOL Certification, current
Tech Prep Certification
ADEPT Certification
Teaching Experience:
Fox Creek Charter High School, North Augusta, SC; 2005- current
Silver Bluff High School, New Ellenton, SC; 2002-2005
Jackson High School, Jackson, GA; 1999-2002
T. W. Josey High School, Augusta, GA; 1996-1997
Northeast High School, Macon, GA; 1995-1996
Professional Affiliations:
National Council of Teachers of English
Edgefield Reading Council
PTCA
Phi Kappa Phi
Georgia Teachers Advisory Council to the State Superintendent (Georgia)
Professional Presentations/ Employment
African American Conference, Paine College, Augusta, GA 2017
Advanced Placement National Conference, Houston, TX, 2018
College Board AP English Language and Composition, Reader/Scorer, 2020- current
Education:
Wesleyan College, Macon, GA; B.A. English with Secondary Certification, 1995 graduate
Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA; School of Law, 1999-2000 (coursework)
Augusta State University, Augusta, GA; M. Ed. Leadership, 2010 graduate
Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA; Ed. Specialist Secondary Education in Literature, 2013 (coursework)
Augusta University, Augusta, GA; Post Baccalaureate English, 2017-2018 (coursework)
Ohio University, Athens, OH; M.A. English, 2019 graduate
Clemson University, Clemson, SC; ESOL Certification, 2021 completion
Personal:
Married to Greg Leopard, Augusta, GA; Attorney
Two Daughters, Julia (University of Georgia, c/o 2023, graduate student current) and Emilia (University of Tampa, c/o 2028)
Two Dogs, CoCo Chanel (Chocolate Lab) and Stinky (Pit Bull Terrier)
Hobbies include Running, Shopping, and Going to Walt Disney World to run and shop!
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