Our Graduate Course Facilitators
Erin FitzGerald
Erin FitzGerald currently serves Lexington School District One as the Coordinator of Academically and Artistically Gifted and Talented Programs. Previously, Erin worked as an English teacher and then Assistant Principal for Instruction at Brookland-Cayce High School and as a Curriculum Effectiveness Specialist and Magnet Director in Richland Two. In 2015, Erin was selected to participate in the state’s Gifted and Talented Leadership Institute held at the College of Charleston. Recently, Erin was invited to participate in the 2018 SCASA Center for Executive Education Leadership Platinum Program. Erin has served as an adjunct professor for EDPY 401 through the University of South Carolina and for EDU 591 and 592 through Converse College. Erin’s endorsements include Gifted and Talented and Secondary Administration. She holds a B.A. in Secondary English Education and a M.Ed. in Secondary Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Kristen Gillaspy
Dr. Kris Gillaspy currently serves as the Coordinator for ESOL and Response to Intervention. Before beginning her current role, Kris worked as a middle school English teacher, literacy coach, and middle school house leader. Kris has taught Foundations of Reading, Reading Assessment, Content Area Reading, and Instructional strategies in Lexington One since 2012, as well as for Converse College since 2016. Kris is a certified middle grades language arts teacher and secondary English teacher, a certified secondary supervisor and principal, and has her National Board Certification in Early Adolescent English Language Arts. Kris holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Language & Literacy, a Masters degree in Educational Administration, a Masters degree in Teaching, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of South Carolina.
Misty Johnson
Misty Johnson is a literacy coach at Carolina Springs Elementary School. Before beginning her current role, Misty worked as a third grade teacher, fourth grade teacher, assistant director of student activities, and coordinator of alumni affairs. Misty has taught R2S Instructional Strategies, R2S Content Reading and Writing, and First Year Seminar. Misty is National Board Certified, and her endorsements include: Gifted and Talented, R2S Literacy Teacher, and R2S Literacy Coach. Misty holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina Aiken, and a M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Lee Motley
Lee Motley is a literacy coach at Rocky Creek Elementary School. Before beginning her current role, Lee worked as lead interventionist, fifth grade teacher, literacy coach, second grade teacher, third grade teacher and fourth grade teacher. Lee has taught R2S Foundations in Reading through Converse College since 2015. Lee is elementary certified with endorsements including R2S Literacy Teacher and R2S Literacy Coach. Lee holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Clemson University and a M.Ed. in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. She is currently pursuing an Ed Specialist degree in Literacy from Converse College.
Dr. Lori Poole
Dr. Lori Poole currently serves as the district literacy specialist for Lexington One. Before beginning her current role, Lori worked as a literacy coach for Forts Pond Elementary School. Prior to coaching, Lori was a kindergarten, first grade and fourth grade teacher. Lori has taught Foundations in Reading, Assessment Reading, Content Area Reading and Writing, and Instructional Strategies. Lori is a National Board Certified Teacher, a Safe-T Evaluator, a SC Teacher Mentor and holds a SC Literacy Coach Endorsement. Lori holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in early childhood education from the University of South Carolina Aiken, a Master of Arts degree in divergent learning from Columbia College, and a Doctor of Education degree in instructional leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Jamie Powell
Jamie Powell is the Leadership and Culture Development Coach at Gilbert High School. Jamie has been with Lexington District One since 2001, serving as a middle school and high school English teacher, High School Interventionist, Innovation Coach, Instructional Resource Coordinator, and Assistant Principal. In her current role, she oversees Faculty and Student Crew and other aspects of school culture, facilitates and coordinates professional learning, and provides leadership development for teacher leaders. Jamie has taught the Read to Succeed Content Area Reading and Writing for Administrators course and supported the Aspiring Assistant Principal program with focus on professional writing. She has also collaborated in developing asynchronous professional learning resources for school administrators. A certified secondary and middle level English teacher, Jamie also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education from Erskine College and a Masters degree in Educational Administration from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Liza Speece
Dr. Liza Speece is the Coordinator of World Languages and Immersion for Lexington One. Prior to this position, she was the World Language Teacher Support Specialist. Prior to that, Liza taught Spanish at the elementary, secondary and college levels, third grade Spanish immersion, and ESOL at a variety of levels. She also taught Spanish and Service Learning at Columbia College. Liza has taught R2S Content Reading and Writing, and R2S Content Reading and Writing for World Language Teachers. She also teaches as an adjunct professor at USC in the College of Education. Liza holds a B.A. in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an MAT in Foreign Language Teaching from the University of South Carolina, and Ph.D. in Language and Literacy from the University of South Carolina.