Special Education / Meet the Teachers

Crissy Buice
This is Mrs. Buice's 18th 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. 722356	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

	Emily Castleberry
	This will be Emily’s 3rd year at Chestatee Elementary and 4th year teaching in Forsyth county. Emily received her Bachelors in Education from Furman University in Greenville, SC. Before having children, Emily was a private school preschool teacher and Transitional Kindergarten teacher at Carrington Academy. Emily and her husband, John Castleberry have two children who are Chestatee Eagles, William (3rd grade) and Luke (kindergarten). After a few years as a stay at home mother, Emily dove back into her passion for teaching. She began as a paraprofessional at Chattahoochee and then move to Chestatee as Kindergarten Paraprofessional for two years. She is extremely excited about joining Chestatee’s Special Education team as an IRR teacher this school year!
	Ext. 722142			ecastleberry@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Hanna Fyle
Hanna Fyle loves it 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. 722503	hfyle@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Brooke Hagler
This will be Mrs. Hagler's 6th year at Chestatee Elementary and her 15th year as an educator. Mrs. Hagler graduated from Berry College with a degree in Early Childhood Education and an ESOL endorsement. She later completed the requirements for her math and gifted endorsements as well. She is currently completing her master's in Special Education of General Curriculum at Kennesaw State University. She has had the privilege of teaching 1st, 4th, and 5th grades. She is looking forward to her new role on the Special Education team.
	Ext. 722503	bhagler@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Diane Hansen
This will be Mrs. Hansen's 18th year of teaching and there is no place that she would rather be than at Chestatee Elementary! Mrs. Hansen received her B.S.in Psychology and Master of Social Work degrees from Georgia State University, her teaching certification from UGA, and her Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. She has taught at all elementary levels and looks forward to serving in the lower grades this coming school year. Go Eagles!
	Ext. 722267	dhansen@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Lori Holbrooks
This will be Lori Holbrooks' 28th 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 7th year teaching, and 5th year at Chestatee. Mrs. McClellan received her bachelors degree from Kennesaw State University in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. McClellan loves working with all grade levels, and is excited to be serving your kiddos this year.
	Ext. 722166			lmcclellan@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Gillian Nurohen-Doris
	This is Gill Nurhonen -Doris's 4th year at Chestatee. "Miss Gill" graduated from Colorado State University in 1992, with her BSc. in Occupational Therapy degree. She has worked in the pediatric OT field for over 25 years and loves "her kiddos". Miss Gill came from the private practice setting and enjoys spending her days at Chestatee.
	Ext. 722241			gnurhonen@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Karen McCarthy
This will be Karen McCarthy's 26th 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 26 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
	This will be Mrs. Ortiz's 3rd year in special education. This year she will be a Specialized Instruction teacher for SBA. She received her Bachelor's degree through the University of North Georgia. She loves being part of the Chestatee family and can't wait to start the school year!
	Ext. 722232			@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Amanda Pruitt
This will be Mrs. Pruitt's 6th year at Chestatee and 10th 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, providing special education support, and providing early intervention support to Pre-K through 5th grade. She is very excited to continue to support Chestatee students this year!
	Ext. 722320	apruitt@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Jennifer Sirko
Mrs. Sirko will be entering her 8th year teaching and her third year here at Chestatee. She is a proud graduate of Georgia State University with her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She is looking forward to continuing to work with Special Education students here at the T. Chestatee is truly a family she is glad to be a part of.
	Ext. 722202	f32390@forsyth.k12.ga.us

Jessica Stanley

This will be Jessica Stanley's 7th 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 6th 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. 722455	crthomas@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Deb Warnecke
	Debra Warnecke will be starting her 11th 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 both Special Education and Gifted.
	Ext. 722142			dwarnecke@forsyth.k12.ga.us

	Macy Weeks
	Ms. Macy Weeks is going to be joining the special education department at Chestatee! She has previously taught IRR for 2 years in Forsyth County. Macy is also the varsity assistant softball coach at Forsyth Central. She graduated from Georgia Southern University where she played college softball for 5 years. When Macy is not at school, she enjoys spending time outside with her dogs, Milo a Great Pyrenees and Millie a Golden Retriever. She also enjoys hiking, spending time with her family and friends, and coaching. Macy's heart has always been led to teach special education. Her gift to teaching is building positive and in depth relationships with her students and co-workers.
	Ext. 722267			f38151@forsyth.k12.ga.us