Hello Knights! My name is Laura Coonan, and I am so excited to teach 4th grade this year. This school year marks my 9th year of teaching. I have had the joy of working with multiple grade levels ranging from Pre-K through 5th grade. Before having my children, I taught 5th grade for three years in California and two years in Georgia. Most recently, I taught Pre-K for three years at a preschool in Johns Creek.

I grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, Irvine, where I earned a B.A. in Psychology and a teaching degree in Elementary Education. My husband and I moved to Georgia in 2007 and had three wonderful children. My daughter, Harper, is a freshman at Lambert High School and a cheerleader on the JV competition team. I also have two boys who go to Brookwood Elementary School – Davis is a 5th grader and Jackson is a 3rd grader. Both boys are very active in sports in our community and enjoy playing football, basketball, and baseball.

I am a big sports fan and love rooting for the Atlanta Braves and UGA football! My favorite thing to do is watch my kids play sports and cheer them on from the sidelines. My family and I also love going to the beach to enjoy boating, swimming, watersports, and soaking in the sun!

My favorite part about teaching is fostering positive, meaningful relationships with my students and their families. I am looking forward to a fun-filled year making lots of memories!

Hello! My name is Candace Crocker, and I am absolutely stoked to begin my second year teaching 4th grade! I earned my Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Special Education at the University of North Georgia. I am a native to Forsyth County as I was brought up in the west Forsyth community I have grown to love. Outside of teaching, I love building relationships with others, staying active, and the simple things in life like a good cup of coffee.

My name is Joanna Danley, and I could not be more excited about working with the 4th Grade team again at Sharon Elementary!  

My husband, Errol and I are Atlanta natives and both grew up in Stone Mountain, GA.  We have been married for nearly 18 years and have two amazing kids, Ethan and Jenna!  Ethan is a rising 7th grader and will continue at Piney Grove this upcoming school year.  Jenna is a rising 4th grader and I am so thrilled to say that she will be joining me in 4th grade as a Sharon Knight!  I know they have great things ahead of them in both of their futures!

I graduated from Atlanta Christian College in 2008 and went on to receive my Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University in 2010.  I began my time in education in Fulton County and worked there for more than a decade.  It was in Fulton County where I worked as a classroom teacher across multiple grade levels and am honored to have taught each and every student that walked into my class.  I can truly say my passion for helping students see the best in themselves has done nothing but grown over the past few years.  My desire to help all students find their true potential has become a lifelong desire of mine, and I’m honored to continue my journey in education at Sharon Elementary!  

I cannot wait to get the 2024-2025 school year started and am so excited to get to know my new rising 4th grade students!

Welcome to fourth grade! We are going to have a blast together as we learn many new skills and become a class family! We will get creative, work hard, and laugh a lot along the way! I cannot wait to challenge you and watch you soar! It’s going to be a lot of fun! Let’s get going!

My husband, Thomas, and I got married on a beach in 2016. Our son, Thomas (You will hear a lot about him!) turned seven this year and will be in second grade here at Sharon! We enjoy trips to the bookstore, exploring new playgrounds, and getting messy together! He really does keep us on our toes, but we LOVE every moment!

This is my 20th year teaching. I have taught 3rd and 4th grade…all at Sharon! I am dual certified, have earned multiple endorsements (gifted, ESL, and reading), and later earned my Specialists Degree in Teaching and Leadership. I am passionate about flexible seating, group projects, having freedom in the classroom, AND Harry Potter!  I LOVE reading books and learning new things, and I am a huge fan of coffee! 🙂 Teaching is my passion, and I cannot wait to see what you can accomplish during our year together!

We will become a class family and have a lot of fun learning this year! I cannot wait to get to know you and make memories together!

Hello Sharon families! I am thrilled to continue teaching at Sharon Elementary School as a 4th grade teacher! This will be my 19th year in the classroom in both public and private. I still cannot believe that! I’ve had the joy of teaching 8th grade ELA, 5th grade, 4th grade, 2nd grade, math intervention 1st-5th grades, and preschool. 

I received my bachelor’s degree from Eastern Illinois University, my masters in education at National Louis University, and my second masters in curriculum and instruction at Western Governors University. I also have my math endorsement. This summer I was selected to be part of an elite math planning team with the district. 

I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to Georgia three years ago. We have family here and we’re happy to be done with harsh winters. My husband is a 25 year retired police officer from the suburbs of Chicago, and is an SRO at Vickery Creek Elementary. We both love being in schools! We have three terrific sons; Logan graduated from the University of Alabama this past May and is working in Tampa. Lucas is a Senior at West Forsyth, and our Noah, forever 15, is an angel in heaven watching over us. 

When I’m not teaching I enjoy everything family, as my husband and I both come from very large families. While we still love our Chicago teams, the Cubs, Bulls, and Blackhawks, we are beginning to cheer for the Braves. 

I can’t wait to meet you all this year!

I am so excited to be back in a homeroom classroom! I’ve missed having my own “family” of students. My goal for my students is for them to have a joyful school experience where they make connections, discover their strengths, and embrace the challenges. I want them to start each day with a smile because they are happy to be at school. My favorite part of teaching is relationship building, so I’m looking forward to getting to know each of my students and their families! 

I’m a military child, so my roots are all over. However, I have spent the majority of my life in Georgia, the place I call home. I earned my B.A. in Psychology from the University of West Georgia and M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education from Mercer University.  I started my career in Forsyth County Schools and have taught at Whitlow Elementary, Mashburn Elementary, and Sharon Elementary in various roles including 3rd grade, Kindergarten Dual Language Immersion, and STEM/STEAM. The professional achievement I am most proud of is becoming a Forsyth County Schools district teacher of the year finalist during the 2021-2022 school year! I would have never imagined that happening but it was a moment that filled my heart with pride and joy.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband and 2 children hiking, camping, cooking, and singing karaoke.  I have a son, Liam, who is a curious and funny 14 year old, and I have a daughter, Layla, who is a fun-loving and social 10 year old.  My kids inspire me daily with their zest for life and dedication to their passions. I have 3 furry children: Pickles (my sweet old girl), Kimchi (my spicy young oversized pup), and Luna (my independent and moody cat). All three keep me on my toes!