Special Education / Meet the Teachers

Crissy Buice
This is Mrs. Buice's 17th year teaching at Chestatee. Mrs. Buice received her Bachelor's from North Georgia College and State University. She double majored in Elementary Education and Special Education with endorsements for Gifted and Reading. Mrs. Buice has taught general education and special education classes throughout the years. She loves being a part of Chestatee's Family!
	Ext. 722455	cbuice@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Leigh Clark
	Leigh Clark is a physical therapist and has been working in the Forsyth County School System since July 2006; previously she worked for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. She travels to several schools in the school system, yet she has had the opportunity to serve Chestatee since her start in 2006. Ms. Clark works with special education students in the educational setting to improve accessibility to their environments. She loves being at the “T” as much as her schedule allows!
	Ext. 722241			lclark@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Cierra Cappon
	Cierra Cappon is so excited to be joining the IRR Team. This will be her second year teaching. She graduated from the University of North Georgia with a bachelor's in early childhood and special education degree with a reading endorsement. Her gift to teaching is building relationships. She is very excited for next year!
	Ext. 722316			ccappon@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Hanna Fyle
This is Hanna Fyle’s 2nd year at Chestatee! She graduated from the University of North Georgia with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education. She can not wait for the amazing relationships she will build this year at the T.
	Ext. 722505	hfyle@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Diane Hansen
This will be Diane Hansen’s 17th year as an educator. Mrs. Hansen received both her Bachelor and Masters degrees from Georgia State University. Her teacher certification was completed at the University of Georgia, and Mrs. Hansen finalized her Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Piedmont College. She is very excited to begin year two at Chestatee, as her first was one for the books. She loves being a Mom, Atlanta United supporter, and Chestatee Eagle.
	Ext. 722455	dhansen@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Lori Holbrooks
This will be Lori Holbrooks' 27 year teaching at Chestatee. Mrs. Holbrooks received her Bachelor's From UNG and her Master's degree from GCU. She has taught all grade levels Pre K - 5th. This year is her 2nd year of the Special Education Department Chair Lead Teacher. She loves all the Chestatee Eagles. Once an Eagle always an Eagle.
	Ext. 722401	lholbrooks@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Lacey McClellan
	This will be Lacey McClellan's 6th year of teaching, and third year at chestatee. She has taught 1st grade, Title, and is now thrilled to be teaching Special Education. She received her bachelors degree from Kennesaw State University.
	Ext. 722166			lmcclellan@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Rhonda McWhorter
	This is Rhonda McWhorter's 17th year teaching and her 5th year at Chestatee Elementary. Mrs. McWhorter received her Master's degree in Middle School Education from University of North Georgia, and she received her Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. She has enjoyed three amazing years at Chestatee teaching 5th grade math and science. This year, Mrs. McWhorter is excited to challenge students by incorporating real-world problem-solving into all academic areas.
	Ext. 722504			rmcwhorter@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Gillian Nurhohen
	Miss Gill, OTR/L, has been a pediatric occupational therapist for over 25 years. This is her 3rd year as an OT at Chestatee Elementary and her fifth year in the Forsyth County schools. Miss Gill graduated with a BSc. in OT from Colorado State University in 1992. She has worked in private practice both in the USA and South Africa helping children. She specializes in Sensory Integration and carried her experience over into the school setting which she so enjoys. Miss Gill loves being a part of the Chestatee Team!
	Ext. 722241			gnurhonen@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Karen McCarthy
This will be Karen McCarthy's 25th year of teaching. This is her 10th year at Chestatee Elementary. Mrs. McCarthy has received her Bachelor's degree in Intellectual Disabilities and her Master's degree in Learning and Behavioral Disorders. In her 25 years, she has taught interrelated education and children with intellectual disabilities at the elementary and middle school levels. She is excited for another year at Chestatee Elementary.
	Ext. 722328	kmccarthy@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Kelly Ortiz
	Kelly Ortiz will be joining the Special Ed team as an IRR teacher. She is a recent graduate from the University of North Georgia majoring in Early Childhood/ Special education with a Reading Endorsement. She has a passion for special education and is very excited to start her first year of teaching at Chestatee Elementary! She and her husband, Abraham, love to watch movies, read books, and go to concerts. Her gift to teaching is creating fun engaging learning that meets her students’ individual learning needs.
	Ext. 722232			@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Kristin Pollock
This will be Mrs. Pollock's 4th year at Chestatee Elementary and her 9th year as a teacher! Mrs. Pollock completed her undergrad from Ball State with a degree in Special Education Intense Interventions. In July 2020, Mrs. Pollock graduated from Georgia Southern with a Masters in Special Education with an Autism endorsement. Mrs. Pollock has taught Kindergarten through 12th grade throughout her time as an educator. She is excited to work with her students this year!
	Ext. 722316	kpollock@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Amanda Pruitt
This will be Mrs. Pruitt's 5th year at Chestatee and 9th year as an educator. Mrs. Pruitt graduated from North Georgia College and State University with a dual degree in Early Childhood and Special Education in addition to her Reading endorsement. She later graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and her Gifted and ESOL endorsements. She has experience teaching 3rd and 4th grade, and providing special education support and early intervention support to 1st through 5th grade and pre-K. She is very excited to continue to support Chestatee students this year!
	Ext. 722320	apruitt@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Jennifer Sirko
Last year, Jennifer Sirko worked as an Interrelated paraprofessional but will be joining us for the 2020-2021 school year as a full time Interrelated teacher. She has six years teaching experience in fourth grade and is excited to be moving back into the classroom after staying home with her four young children. Her husband, Kenneth Sirko, is also a Forsyth County educator and Mrs. Sirko will be bringing her two elementary children to Chestatee! Her gift to teaching is her ability to individualize student needs so that all students are meeting their goals! She can’t wait to see what the new school year brings.
	Ext. 722275	f32390@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Jessica Stanley

This will be Jessica Stanley's 6th year at Chestatee. Mrs. Stanley graduated from of the University of North Georgia with a dual degree in Early Childhood and Special Education as well as her reading endorsement. She believes that getting to know her students and making a connection with each individual student is key. “Once I get to know a child, I am able to push them to meet their highest potential.” Mrs. Stanley is looking forward to this school year.

Ext. 722324

jstanley@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Cheryl Thomas
Mrs. Thomas is excited to start her 5th year at Chestatee Elementary! Mrs. Thomas has her Bachelor's and Master's degrees from UNG. She has three sons that attended elementary, middle school, and high school in our North cluster. All three sons graduated from North Forsyth High School. Mrs. Thomas has worked with preschool through fifth grade students for the past 17 years and is currently an IRR teacher. Teaching was her childhood dream and she is honored to play a role in your child's education at the "T" during the 2020-2021 school year.
	Ext. 722505	crthomas@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Britian Wilson

	Ext. 722241			bwilson@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Deb Warnecke
	Debra Warnecke will be starting her 10th year teaching at Chestatee Elementary. She has taught 1st, 4th, and 5th grades, and all of her career has been at Chestatee. She completed her Undergraduate Degree at North Georgia in Early Childhood and Special Education. She then completed her Master's Degree a year later in Reading, Language and Literacy Education through Georgia State University. She then completed her Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction through Piedmont College. She also has her Reading, Gifted and ESOL endorsements. She is very excited about the upcoming school year and teaching Special Education.
	Ext. 722232			dwarnecke@forsyth.k12.ga.us