Hello Miners! My name is Amanda Barnett, and I am so excited to be teaching 1st grade at Coal Mountain Elementary. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Midwestern State University and have been an educator since 2010. I have experience teaching Pre-K - 2nd grade in other Forsyth County schools. I grew up in Dallas, Texas, and my husband and I moved to Georgia in 2011. We love it here! We have two young daughters, who are also part of the Coal Mountain family. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my family and gardening. I am looking forward to teaching 1st grade at CMES and creating a warm and welcoming environment for all my new students!

Hello Coal Mountain!! My name is Mary Kay Buquoi and I am so excited to start my second year in First Grade teacher! Prior to returning to the classroom; for twelve years I have been using my educational background as the On-Site Owner of The Goddard School in Hickory Flat/Canton. Previous to school ownership, I taught in Forsyth and Dekalb County primarily in the lower grades. I am looking forward to sharing the knowledge I have learned of child development through the preschool setting and putting into play for classroom instruction, focusing on the social emotional aspects of children and their education. I love traveling, running, and spending time with my two children. I am looking forward to an amazing school year!!!

My name is Kayla Collins. I am so excited to continue teaching 1st grade at Coal Mountain. I have taught EIP, 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grade. I enjoy hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking. My husband and I love spending time with our daughter Sydney and our greyhound Sky. I graduated from UGA with an Early Childhood Education degree and received my masters in Curriculum and Instruction from UNG. I am looking forward to another great year at CMES!   

My name is Robin Hall and I am excited for my 11th year at CMES! I have a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.S. Ed. with a focus on Elementary Reading and Literacy. This is my 20th year of teaching and my 9th year in first grade. I have a passion for teaching foundational literacy skills and enjoy helping students feel more confident as readers and writers. I love helping children learn how to think deeply, become amazing problem-solvers, and achieve things they didn’t think possible. My husband and I have 4 kids and 1 dog. We love to spend time together, hang out with friends, and go for hikes. I am looking forward to another great year.

My name is Jessica Plouff and I am so excited to join the Coal Mountain family! I have been teaching for the past 16 years in kindergarten and third grade. I have a bachelor’s degree from UNG and a master’s and specialist’s degree from Piedmont University. I am eager to share my passion for literacy and learning with my new first graders! In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Ryan, and my daughters, Addi and Ella. Our favorite hobbies are hiking, family movie nights, and exploring new places. I am looking forward to a fun year with some sweet first grade miners! 

My name is Aquila Reyes, I am so excited to be part of first grade team again this year. I graduated North Georgia with a B.S. dual certificate in Elementary and Special Education, along with a Reading Endorsement. I also have an associate in Biology and Kinesiology because of my love for the STEM field. I have a passion for learning new languages and exploring other cultures and their history. Outside of school, I love to spend time with my family (all 5 dogs included!) and friends outdoors. I look forward to a wonderful year at CMES with my first grade miners!