Middle School

Rob teaches math and coaches football and softball coach at Heathwood. Prior to Heathwood, Rob taught for sixteen years in Long Beach, CA. Rob graduated with a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in History and an MA in Educational Administration from Long Beach State in California.

Lynn Cooper is a Heathwood alumna (’96) and graduated from the College of Charleston in 2000, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in English before earning her Masters of Arts in Teaching from the University of South Carolina in 2004. While at the University of South Carolina, she completed teaching internships at both Mid-Carolina High School and Summit Parkway Middle School. Lynn first joined the Heathwood faculty in 2004, teaching 7^th grade Humanities. She taught in the Middle School for several years and served as a tutor in the Academic Achievement Center before taking a few years off to spend time with her two young daughters, Vivien and Mary Burwell. Lynn returned to Heathwood in 2009 and has taught Composition and Literature, American Literature, World Literature, and English Enrichment at various levels in the Upper School. With her husband Robert (HHES class of ’93), Lynn also serves as a host parent to Coco Yuan, a Heathwood sophomore from Shanghai, China.

Michelle Dillman joined the Heathwood faculty in 2018.  She holds a B.S. from the University of Hawaii and an M.S. from the University of South Carolina and has taught for over 16 years in a variety of private schools settings.  Students in her 7th grade science classes learn to apply the scientific method to real life situations and to make science a part of everyday life.  Her hope is to help students become good consumers of scientific information and become life long learners.  Michelle loves the outdoors and she aims to make every student a “greener” citizen.  

Rich Edwards joined Heathwood Hall in August, 2008.  For the last 25 years, twelve of those at Heathwood, Rich has held a variety of roles, from teaching five history classes in the Middle School to being an athletic director for nine of those years to directing the summer programs at two different schools.  Rich has coached basketball, for boys and girls, and football over that time at every possible level.  Currently, Rich is the Dean of Students/Assistant Head in the Middle School.  He is a graduate of Sewanee and also holds an M.Ed. from Lesley University and a Ph.D. from Capella University. Rich is marred to his wonderful wife, Paige, and they have three children: Thomas (at Clemson), Brooke '21, and Emma '25.  GO HALL!

Jason Giovannone joined the Heathwood Hall faculty in the fall of 2013. Prior to joining Heathwood, Jason collected and tested water samples for an independent lab. He was an educator and avian keeper at Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens. He received his B.S. in Middle School Education from the University of South Carolina.

“I love that we are encouraged to explore and use our campus to enhance our teaching and develop a natural wonder in all of our students. Our beautiful 133-acre campus includes various habitats and learning environments that extend my teaching from a traditional four walled classroom.”

Stacy Gross returned to the Heathwood faculty in the spring of 2015 following a period of several years in which she ran her family’s flooring business. Upon graduating as a “lifer” from Heathwood in 1995, Stacy completed her B.A. in Psychology with a Concentration in Sociology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in 1999. She received an Ed.S and M.Ed in School Counseling from USC in 2002 while working as an ECLC Associate and Afternoon Express teacher. Following completion of her graduate degree, Stacy served as a School Counselor at E.L. Wright Middle School in Columbia 4 years, then remained a stay-at-home-mom to her children until 2011.

Alycia Guevara began her teaching career in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2018 and taught public school there for three years. She then worked with unaccompanied refugee minors coming across the Southern Border of the United States to be reunited with their families in the U.S. She is a dual citizen of the U.S. and El Salvador, and holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish from the University of South Carolina.

Jessica holds both a B.A. and an M.A.T. from Lander University and has more than 15 years of teaching experience in the visual arts; ten+ in middle school, and four in high school. Jessica taught with the Lexington One District After School Arts Program for eight years and in July 2012 joined the Tri-District Arts Consortium faculty in Columbia, as well as the Aiken County Gateway Summer Programs.

In the autumn of 2022, Rev. Christopher Johnson joined Heathwood Hall as the leader of the campus chaplaincy program, bringing with him a wealth of experience and education. Prior to his tenure at Heathwood Hall, he dedicated 12 years to healthcare chaplaincy, where he nurtured his profound understanding of the spiritual needs of individuals. His academic journey encompasses an undergraduate degree in World Religions from Guilford College ('05), along with multiple Master's Degrees in Pastoral Theology from Saint Joseph's College of Maine ('15) and Divinity from Bexley Seabury Seminary ('23).

Rev. Johnson's intellectual pursuits reflect his deep-seated passions. His curiosity about Sacramental Theology, Meditation practices, and a comprehensive grasp of Global Anglicanism and Church History underlines his commitment to broadening his knowledge and spiritual insights. Engaging with the contemporary landscape of faith is one of his focal points of interest. This includes open conversations about the intricate intersection of faith and the modern world, as well as the paramount role of grace when engaging with individuals who hold differing viewpoints.

The Episcopal traditions, faith based education, small class sizes, and beautiful campus drew Liza Johnson to Heathwood Hall in 2010.  Her children, Natalie (class of 2025) and Evan (class of 2028), love the nurturing teachers, outdoor education program, and close-knit community. 

Liza holds a B.S. and an M.A.T. from the University of South Carolina.

A native of the U.K., Smiti Lall-Butcher earned a Bachelor of Education at Kingston University in London and worked as an elementary and middle school teacher in England for 10 years before moving to South Carolina with her family. Since arriving in the U.S., she has taught physical science, biology, chemistry, and AP Environmental Science.

A graduate of Clemson University, Teddy Leaman has also worked in France as a teaching assistant and is pursuing an M.A. in French linguistics and pedagogy at Middlebury College. Teddy's academic interests include phonetics, language acquisition, and linguistic anthropology.

Drew completed his undergraduate and Master's degree in Music Education at Auburn University.  During his time at Auburn, he performed in various ensembles and venues, such as the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.  He is also an avid golfer and competes in several local amateur golf tournaments.  He taught in Alabama, Virginia, and Georgia, before coming to Heathwood Hall to be the band director for the Middle School and Upper School.  He also serves as the Head Coach for the Boys Golf Team and Assistant Coach for the Girls Golf Team.

Chris McDuffie joined the Heathwood Hall community in the fall of 2013 along with his two daughters Suyan (Class of 2019) and Gabi (Class of 2025).  He has more than 20 years of experience teaching 8th graders and has taught in Richmond, Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina as well as his hometown of Sumter, South Carolina.  

Chris holds a B.S. and an M.Ed. from The Citadel and an M.A.T. from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 2021, he was named South Carolina Independent Schools Association Middle School Teacher of the Year.

Kenyata McNeil joined the faculty at Heathwood Hall in 2020. Her teaching career began in 2014 when she served as a Substitute Teacher in the public schools of Jasper County. She left the classroom for two years after she was offered a position as a NEPA Planner with the U.S. Forest Service in Missouri. Kenyata returned to the classroom in 2016, teaching Biology and Marine Biology Teacher at Fort Dorchester High School. As a teacher, Kenyata has taught Biology, Marine Biology, AP Research, and Chemistry.  Outside of her teaching career, Kenyata has served as Technical Writer-Editor and Environmental Coordinator.

Before coming to Heathwood, Lauren Meekins spent 16 years in Columbia public schools, working in social studies curriculum, gifted and talented courses, and magnet school programming. Originally from Pawleys Island, SC, she holds a B.A. in History from Furman University and an M.Ed. in Divergent Learning from Columbia College. Her two children, Bryce and Avery, are also Highlanders.

Jonathan was raised in Columbia, graduated with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Carnegie Mellon in 2004, and spent over a decade working as a professional actor based in New York. As an actor, he has been seen Off-Broadway, in regional theaters across the country, and in several national and international commercials. As a singer, Jonathan has performed with Liza Minnelli, Leslie Odom Jr., and others. As a teacher, Jonathan has taught middle school drama in Richland One and high school drama with the Trustus Apprentice Company, and has been at Heathwood since 2017. 

Sally Mourateva graduated from Heathwood in 2008 and went on to major in Spanish at the University of South Carolina. She studied Spanish in Buenos Aires, Argentina and completed her Master in Arts and Teaching in Spanish. Since completion of her MAT, she has taught Spanish in language immersion programs at the middle school and the elementary level in Lexington One and Richland One school districts and at the university level. Her daughter Elena is also a Highlander.

Ryan began teaching middle and high school social studies in Washington State before moving to South Carolina and transitioning into academic technology. He now works with teachers, helping them use technology to expand and enhance students’ learning opportunities, focusing primarily on our 1:1 iPad program. It is his hope that students will grow as learners, citizens, and young men and women through their experiences at Heathwood, and it is his hope that the technology they use here can play just a small part in that development.

Ryan holds a B.A. from the University of Georgia and an M.Ed. from Pacific Lutheran University. 

After previously teaching at Irmo High School, Molly took time off to stay home with her two boys, Pete (Class of 2022) and Cal (Class of 2025). The Petersons joined the Heathwood community in 2009 when their oldest son, Pete, started kindergarten.  Eventually, Molly became an active volunteer in the Heathwood community, chairing both middle and upper school HPA committees, as well as the 2019 Annual Auction.  Molly joined the Heathwood faculty in 2020 as the seventh grade English teacher. Heathwood’s sense of community and small class-sizes make it an ideal place to teach.  Molly has really enjoyed being back in the classroom and particularly loves being in middle school. 

Molly holds a B.A. from Wofford College and an M.A.T. from the University of South Carolina.

Curtis joined the faculty at Heathwood in 2001. While at Heathwood, he has taught Middle School Math and Lower and Middle School PE. He also served as the Assistant Athletic Director for 10 years and earned the SCISA Charles Smith Volunteer of the Year, in 2009. Outside of the classroom, Curtis has coached numerous teams on campus, including Boys and Girls Middle School Basketball, Junior Varsity Girls Basketball, and Girls Varsity Soccer. In 2013, the Girls Soccer team won their first and only State Championship. Curtis earned All-American Honors in soccer while at Hampden-Sydney. He was inducted into the HSC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005. Curtis and his wife, Cheryl have two children, Callie (’27) and Charlie (’29)

Middle School Latin Teacher Pamela Pope joined the Heathwood Hall faculty in the Fall of 1994 and she has taught in both the Middle and Upper Schools. She is also an alumna of Heathwood Hall and the parent of two alumni (classes of 2021 and 2022). Students in her classes are exposed to a variety of teaching methods and assessments in order for the students with their various learning styles to connect with and understand the demanding curriculum.  They are exposed to the ancient history and culture of the Romans while learning the vocabulary and grammatical components of the Latin language.

Pamela holds a B.A. from Mt. Holyoke College and an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.

JuLayne Shiflett graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Physical Education in 1990. During college, she worked as a camp counselor for the Richland County Recreation Commission and after a couple of years took over as the director of Camp Sunshine, a program for special needs children and young adults. She remained the director of this camp until 2006. Her teaching career began in Anderson District Five in 1991, and she soon returned to the Columbia area to teach in Richland School District One. While there, she was a Physical Education/Health teacher and a middle school volleyball and basketball coach.  After teaching and coaching in the public school system, she went back to the University of South Carolina to continue her education in the field of Athletic Training.  In 1997, she became a Nationally Certified Athletic Trainer and began her career at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School.   She is currently the Head Athletic Trainer and a Middle School Physical Education teacher. She is married to George Shiflett, and their daughter is a member of the Heathwood Class of 2025.

Rev. Jeri-Katherine Sipes joined the Heathwood Track & Field coaching staff in Spring 2020, and she began full-time employment at Heathwood as an assistant chaplain, religion teacher and coach in Fall 2021. Before coming to Heathwood Jeri-Katherine served in United Methodist Churches across the Midlands for eleven years, and she coached cross country and track for ten years at Dreher High School, growing the program from a dozen runners to over sixty runners, taking the program from an unranked team to consistently competing as one of the top 5 teams in the state and coaching many state champions and future collegiate runners from the 400m to the 5k. Jeri-Katherine’s interests include the Hebrew Bible, Ecotheology, Theology & the Body, Wesleyan Theology, and Social Justice/Advocacy. She has a passion for learning and sharing her love of God, learning and running with all ages. She is currently enrolled in a Youth Ministry program at Princeton Theological Seminary, hoping to learn and grow into her new role as a youth religious educator. “Heathwood gives me the opportunity to do everything I have been made to do: learn, teach, pastor, coach, run and enjoy God’s beautiful first incarnation–creation. The community and campus at Heathwood are life-giving.” She and her husband, Hiram, have three boys, Hiram Clyde (‘33), Grady (‘35), and Obie (‘37).

Lesa Steedly is a veteran teacher with more than 35 years a of experience teaching ELA, World History, and Math to middle school students. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Middle School certification from The University of South Carolina and an M.A. in Counselor Education from South Carolina State University.  

Jack Sutton joined Heathwood in the spring of 2022 as the Head Librarian. He received a B.A. in English from Clemson University and his M.L.S. from Indiana University. He previously served as the Digital Librarian at the Charleston Library Society. Jack is an alum of Heathwood as part of the class of 2014.

Ashley Webber holds both a bachelor's degree and a master's degree from the University of South Carolina. She is married to her college sweetheart and is this mother of two boys and a huge Gamecock fan.

Ali holds a B.A. from Furman and an M.A.T. from Augusta State University.