Carroll Reed, Director, holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Mars Hill College (NC) and a Masters of Education Degree from North Carolina State University in Guidance and Personnel Services.  He has completed additional graduate work at North Carolina Central University including his administrative certification requirements.  He is currently certified as a principal and holds several other certificate areas in North Carolina.  Mr. Reed is also a retired Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, having served in the Army Reserve for 36 years.   He retired from the Wake County Public School System in 2003, having served his last 16 years as principal of Fuquay-Varina Middle School.  He has experience as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, and central office director in addition to his principalship experience.  He resides in Fuquay-Varina with his wife, Martha, and has two sons:  Chris is a musician and piano teacher, and John is currently on active duty as a drill sergeant in the United States Army.  His hobbies include fly fishing, golf, and frequent trips to the North Carolina mountains.   Mr. Reed has been the director of Southern Wake Academy since April 2006.

Dave Thomas holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and is currently working on his doctorate in Education and principal's licensure. He received his bachelor's degree from Appalachian State University. Dave has been at Southern Wake Academy since 2004 and has been in education since 2001.  Before joining the administration, he taught PE/Health and Electives and was teacher of the year in 2008. He was also the former athletic director and boys’ basketball coach.  Dave also serves as Assistant Camp Director at Camp Caswell during the summers where he sees around 8500 students every summer. Dave is originally from Old Fort, NC. He has lived in Wake County since 1998 and now resides in North Raleigh. His hobbies are working out, playing sports, and speaking. 

Sherri Powell graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Cum Laude.  She has also completed several classes towards her Masters Degree in Administration at North Carolina State University.  Mrs. Powell is a Certified Grant Specialist, and was previously a bank manager with Centura Bank.  She has been married for 29 years to a scientist and homeschooled her three children, the oldest of which is earning her Masters Degree in Math from UNC, the middle one his electrical engineering degree from NCSU and the youngest is in ninth grade.  Mrs. Powell currently also serves on another school’s PTSA Board, and sings with the praise band at her church.  Mrs. Powell has been with Southern Wake Academy since 2005.

Mrs. Haynes is a graduate of Canton Business College, and also received her certification as a Licensed Practical Nurse from Sarasota Vocational/Technical School, where she maintained a 4.0 average and received the award for Most Outstanding Student.  Mrs. Haynes has been married for 23 years to an electrical project engineer.  She has five children, the oldest of which works for the U. S. government in support of the war on terror, her second child is a graduate of ASU, her third child is in the Marines, her fourth child is enrolled in Wake Tech and the youngest is graduating from Southern Wake Academy and will be attending Meredith.  Her hobbies are writing, reading and camping.  She has been with Southern Wake Academy since November of 2001.

Katherine Avila teaches English II and III, Spanish I, and Freshman Seminar. She holds a B.S. degree in Psychology and a minor in English from Appalachian State University. Before attending Vanderbilt University, where she earned her M.Ed in Secondary English Education (magna cum laude), she lived in Temuco, Chile for six months. While in Chile, she taught English at a private high school. Along with living in Chile, Ms. Avila has travelled to Spain, Scotland, Italy and France. Ms. Avila has her initial teaching license in both North Carolina and Tennessee. 

In 1993 John received his Masters in Special Education from Fayetteville State University, and currently holds a masters level license in Learning Disabled K-12.   Previously he had earned a Masters from the University of Southern California while on active duty with the US Army.  He retired from the Army and has been teaching in Colorado and North Carolina since 1994. He joined SWA in 2007.  His hobbies include skiing and sailing. He lives in Apex with Ellen his wife of 44 years.  She is a retired RN. He has three sons, one an NC State Graduate and father to his grandchildren.  One is a former ECU Student and the youngest graduated from CSU.  “Go Huskies” has become the biggest basketball story in the Buck family since his niece Heather was recruited to go to UCONN. 

Jean Clarkson holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from William Smith College (Dean’s List 1982-1985).  She also holds a Juris Doctorate (Cum Laude) from Suffolk University School of Law.  After working as an attorney for twelve years, she moved to North Carolina where she received her teaching certificate and licensure in Secondary English through the NC Teach program at NC State University with a 4.0 average.  She has been teaching High School English in the Raleigh area for six years.  Ms. Clarkson joined the staff of Southern Wake Academy in August of 2008.  In the 2008/09 school year she taught ninth, eleventh and twelfth grade English.  In the current school year she is teaching ninth and twelfth grade English, as well as Creative Writing.  Ms. Clarkson emigrated from England.

Wesley Keith holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science along with a Minor in History  from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Mr. Keith holds Class A license in social studies, grades 9 – 12 with a highly qualified designation.  He has experience in the banking industry, having served as a manager of personal and business banking for a regional bank. Mr. Keith has also taught at Walter Williams High School in Burlington and Garner Magnet High School. Mr. Keith has taught Social Studies at SWA since 2006 and also served as women’s basketball coach and athletic director.

Winnie Lameck teaches Pre-algebra, Algebra I, Technical Mathematics I, Technical Mathematics II and Digital Photography at Southern Wake Academy.  She attended North Carolina State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in General Education with a minor in mathematics.  She holds an initial license in math from the Department of Public instruction with a highly qualified designation.  She has also served as our Co-Ed soccer Coach, and as a leader in Beta Club, Junior Civitan Club, and as Prom Director.  She serves on the Leadership committee, the Student Interview committee, and the Student Incentive Committee.  Ms. Lameck has been with Southern Wake Academy since its inception in 2000.  She volunteers for the Boys & Girls Club as well as Raleigh Parks & Recreation Youth Baseball League in her spare time.   She is currently working on her counseling graduate certificate at NCSU. Ms. Lameck was originally from Tanzania, Africa.

Shelba J. Levins is the physical education, health, and electives teacher at Southern Wake Academy.  Levins taught at Western Harnett Middle School in Lillington, North Carolina from 2006-2009. In 2004 she graduated from Campbell University with a Bachelor of Science in sports management and a minor in business.  Levins continued her education at Campbell University to receive a Master of Education with an exercise science concentration.  As a teacher, Levins instructs students individually and in classroom settings.  She works with a variety of students who have special needs in order to engage them in regular activities.  Part of her work has included the development of curriculum to accommodate different learning styles and maximize student comprehension. 

Noha Nasrallah teaches Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Functions and Modeling and Computer Applications I at Southern Wake Academy.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Faculty of Sciences University, Lebanon. Ms. Nasrallah holds a North Carolina license from the Department of Public Instruction in Mathematics grades 9-12 with a highly qualified designation.   She is participating in the Leadership committee and has been teaching at Southern Wake Academy since 2001.  Ms. Nasrallah is the President of the Triangle Lebanese Association and teaches Arabic at the Lebanese Educational Center.

Christy Stephenson is a native of Wake County. She has been  in public  instruction for the past 16 years.  Her career began as a Preschool Teacher in Fuquay Varina, NC. In 1993, she began working for Wake County Public School as a teacher assistant in 3rd grade.  She then moved to Lincoln Heights Elementary School in Fuquay Varina as a receptionist.  She joined Southern Wake Academy in 2009 as the Computer Tutorial  Assistant.  She lives in Willow Springs, NC with her husband, Brooks and son, Austin, who is a sophomore at SWA.  She enjoys spending time at the beach with her family. Her hobbies include birdwatching, boating, and traveling in North Carolina.