staff directory

Mr. Walker brings a wealth of educational leadership experience to LLCS. Prior to joining our team, he served as an administrator with Aiken County Public Schools, where he regularly stepped into the role of Acting Principal while leading instructional and operational initiatives. During his time at Aiken Elementary School, the school achieved a 10-point increase on the South Carolina School Report Card, moving from an Average to Good rating in just one year.

Throughout his career, Mr. Walker has focused on using student achievement data to strengthen instruction, developing teacher leadership, coordinating professional development, improving school culture and safety, managing daily operations, and strategically aligning resources to support student success. His accomplishments include being named Aiken Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year, recognized on the Aiken County Stars of Public Education Honor Court, and becoming a Certified Instructor for Coaching Instructional Capacity. He holds South Carolina Principal Certification and is known for his collaborative leadership and commitment to building strong, effective educational teams.

Michelle Polkey is the Assistant School Leader at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She is in her fifth year of service in administration, and has worked at the school for a total of 12 years. She has 24 years of experience in the education field. She holds a Principal Certification from Lamar University in Texas. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Zoology, a Chemistry minor from the University of Rhode Island, and a Master of Arts in Biology from Central Connecticut State University. She has been married to her husband Joseph for 15 years and they have 1 child who is a senior in high school at LLCS. She enjoys many outdoor activities including walking, swimming, kayaking, and reading. She is passionate about building meaningful student and staff relationships. You can reach Mrs. Polkey at mpolkey@lowcountryleadership.org or by calling our front desk at 843-889-5527 and asking for ext. 163.  

Ms. Schlenker is entering her fifth year at LLCS and 24th year in education. She attended public schools K-12 here in Charleston, SC and received her post-secondary education at the University of South Carolina. She has 3 children; a daughter, Caitlin, who is married, is a graphic designer and lives in Asheville NC with her husband, Matt and their rescue dog, Dale Cooper, a son, Alec, who is also married, is a marketing specialist and lives in Charlotte NC with his wife, Theresa and their Goldendoodle, Lucy and a 22 year old son, Davis, starting his junior year at Carolina majoring in media arts. Ms. Schlenker has taught Career and Technology Education at several schools in the Charleston area, has been a cheerleading coach, DECA Advisor, Business Partner liaison and Project Lead the Way educator. She is currently the Career Specialist at LLCS as well as the CTE coordinator and Community Service coordinator. She is an avid Gamecock fan and loves to attend Gamecock sporting events! 

Kathryn Deemer serves as a Leader of Academics/Curriculum and Instruction at LLCS. With seventeen years of experience in education, she continues to learn something new each year. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education and a Master’s in Leadership Studies from Marshall University. Kathryn is certified in Secondary English and School Administration, and she is also a published author. Outside of LLCS, Kathryn feels most at home at the beach, on a hiking trail, or spending quality time with friends, family, and her dog, Marshall. She is an avid reader and writer, often juggling three or more books at once, and she is always open to new book recommendations. 

Mrs. Attebury has 16 years of teaching experience in grades K–12 and has been part of the LLCS family since February 2020. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Jon, and their two children, Kaylin and Colton. As a family, they enjoy playing with their labradoodle, Axel, and traveling the world. Mrs. Attebury also loves hiking and curling up with a good novel.

Judy Wetzbarger is entering her 5th year as the Math Interventionist at LLCS. She is married to her husband, Bill, and they have a grown daughter, Logan Ann. Outside of school, Judy enjoys shopping, reading, and watching sports. She looks forward to another great year helping students excel in math! 

Mrs. Kivett is excited to serve as an Academic Interventionist at LLCS this year. She truly believes in the school’s mission and feels honored to be part of such a wonderful team. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her husband, family, horses, and dogs. She is grateful to be part of the LLCS community and looks forward to a wonderful school year! 

This is Coach Dentons 2nd year as Athletic Director and Coach to strength and conditioning. He has been LLCS head baseball coach for 8 years. He takes the sports program seriously and is ready to take LLCS athletics to the next level. 

Megan Whitt is the Director of Lowcountry Leadership Pre-School and K-4 Teacher's Assistant.  She has 14 years of experience in the pre-k education field. She has an Associate of Arts with an emphasis in music from Spartanburg Methodist College. From there she completed the Childhood and Family Studies program at Trident Technical College before transferring to Charleston Southern University as an Early Childhood Education major with an emphasis in special education. She has been the choir director for Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church for the last 12 years and has a Pembroke Welsh Corgi named Sadie. 

This is her second year at LLCS, and she couldn’t be more excited to work with the students. While new to LLCS, she is entering her 11th year as a high school counselor. For the previous ten years, she served at a school in Dorchester County that focused primarily on Career and Technical Education. She believes in helping students succeed through support, engagement, and listening. Working with students and their families is her passion and the reason she loves what she does.

Outside of school counseling, she is a proud mom to two boys, Preston and Bennett. She loves animals—especially dogs—traveling, and spending time with family. Living in the Hollywood area makes her especially excited to serve the community she calls home.

She graduated from the University of South Carolina (Go Gamecocks!) and The Citadel.

 Melody Keller serves as our school counselor here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She completed her nursing program and earned an Associate of Science Degree from Trident Technical College. Mrs. Keller and her husband Rusty, have two children. Their son graduated from LLCS in 2020 and their daughter who graduated in 2024. Mrs. Keller has been at LLCS since its inception and remains involved in many organizations within the school and community. In her spare time, Mrs. Keller enjoys spending time with her family and friends, volleyball, boating, reading, and traveling. 

She is one of the Kindergarten teachers at LLCS, and the 2026–2027 school year marks her 9th year with the school. She has been married to her husband, Jay, for 21 years, and they have two sons who also attend LLCS: Connor (9th grade) and Joshua (5th grade). The family lives on Johns Island with their dog, Noble.

She graduated from the College of Charleston in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She has taught CD (Child Development/K4) and 1st grade at North Charleston Elementary before taking time off to start her family. After her oldest finished Kindergarten, she returned to the classroom and joined the Navigator family, first as an assistant. Once her youngest entered Kindergarten, she took the leap into a full-time classroom teacher role.

Her educational philosophy is to teach the whole child, taking care to meet the needs of her students from academics to social-emotional development. Each year, she strives to create a warm, homey classroom environment where students grow into a “classroom family” over their 180 days together. She is looking forward to the bonds and learning her new class will share in the 2026–2027 school year.

Lucy Bolduc is excited to join the LLCS family as a Kindergarten teacher!

She graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in Early Childhood Education and is passionate about creating welcoming classrooms where students learn through play, creativity, and hands-on exploration.

Outside of school, Lucy enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and spending time with her loved ones and her dog. She looks forward to a wonderful year of learning and growth with her students at LLCS!

Megan Maciejewski is so excited to be back at LLCS for her second year! This is her 18th year in education, and throughout her career, she has taught Pre-K through 6th grade. The early elementary grades have always held a special place in her heart, and she is especially excited for this year’s first grade adventure! 

She is beginning her fourth year at LLCS and her sixth year as an educator. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a certificate in Special Education. In 2023, she moved to Charleston for the beach and the seafood.

In her free time, she enjoys going for walks, reading a good book, cooking a delicious meal, or spending time at the beach—always with her favorite music playing in the background.

During her time at LLCS, she has loved working closely with her K–2 hallway team, growing and learning together each day. Her heart and passion in teaching are rooted in phonics instruction, her favorite part of the day. She finds it deeply fulfilling to watch her students learn and develop excitement for reading.

This is her fourth year as a teacher and her third year at LLCS. She graduated from Kent State University in Ohio in May 2023 and is certified in Pre-K–5th grade. She also holds a degree in American Sign Language. Shortly after graduation, she moved to Charleston and now loves calling the city her home.

She enjoys going to the beach, spending time outdoors, and reading a good book. Her favorite thing about being a NaviGator is the opportunity to grow and learn alongside her coworkers and to see the positive impact their collaboration has on the community.

Mrs. Brailsford has 22 years of teaching experience. She lived in the Lowcountry for 25 years before moving to Georgia for three years and eventually returning to Charleston to finish her teaching career. She and her husband have two grown daughters and a dog who is like a third child to her. Outside of school, Mrs. Brailsford absolutely loves to swim and jokes that she may have been meant to be a fish! She loves LLCS and is excited to continue her career alongside such a fantastic faculty and school community. 

Elisabeth Vega is in her fourth year teaching at LLCS. She previously taught 2nd grade and is excited to begin her first year as the 3rd grade Reading and Social Studies teacher.

She graduated from Kent State University in Ohio in May 2023. Elisabeth is certified in PreK–5th grade and also holds a degree in American Sign Language.

Kaycee Meyer is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and has called Charleston home for the past 10 years. She is excited to begin her 13th year in education and looks forward to another great year of teaching! 

This is Eden Carroll’s second year at LLCS, and she is excited to work with the students. She is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tampa.

Eden is passionate about creating a classroom environment where students can thrive both academically and as leaders. She is especially excited to help implement The Leader in Me program this year, as she strongly believes in empowering students to take ownership of their learning and growth.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys searching for shark teeth, playing pickleball, and spending time with her pet snake, Wybie.

Wendy is returning to LLCS this year as a 4th grade teacher. She is looking forward to being back at LLCS and getting to know her students throughout the school year. She is excited to build relationships with her students and help them grow and succeed in the classroom. 

Mrs. Hernandez is excited to begin her third year teaching 5th grade at LLCS. She is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel challenged, supported, and inspired to grow both academically and personally.

Outside of school, Mrs. Hernandez enjoys spending time with her husband, Jean, and their dog, Maple. She looks forward to another wonderful year of learning and making lasting memories with her students.

Jasmine Winn is entering her 21st year in education, with 13 of those years spent at LLCS. This year, she is transitioning from Middle School Math to 5th Grade Math and Science.

She is excited to be part of the 3–5 team and looks forward to all that the team and her students will accomplish together this year.

Grace Carlson is a kindergarten assistant working alongside Ms. Bolduc This will be her tenth year with LLCS. Born and raised in Charleston, SC, she now lives in the Meggett area. In addition to serving as Ms. Bolduc’s assistant, she also works in Navigation Station, the school’s before- and after-school program. Before joining LLCS, Grace worked as a nanny, giving her extensive experience in caring for children. 

Erica Moss is joining LLCS this year as Mrs. Noe’s Teaching Assistant. This is her first year at LLCS, and she is looking forward to getting to know her students and supporting them throughout the school year. She is excited to help guide and encourage our young NaviGators as they learn and grow. 

She teaches 6th and 7th grade Social Studies and is entering her third year at LLCS. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Connor, their one year old daughter, Aelin, and their three fluffy dogs, Shadow, Charlie, and Koda. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching all kinds of sports, and baking. 

She is beginning her 19th year in education and is excited to continue her journey as a NaviGator. She attended the University of South Carolina and the University of Phoenix. With most of her career spent teaching 6th grade math, she has developed a passion for helping students see the relevance of math in their everyday lives. She enjoys learning alongside her students and looks forward to becoming part of the LLCS community. 

Mrs. Ginn is excited to begin her 3rd year at LLCS and her 21st year in education. She enjoys teaching students and helping them grow into readers, learners, and leaders. She finds middle school to be a pivotal and exciting stage in students’ lives and is honored to play a small part in their growth. She also enjoys running and looks forward to coaching the LLCS cross country team this fall.

Living on Edisto Island, she is grateful for the opportunity to spend time outdoors hiking, kayaking, and reading. She is a proud mother of three grown children and shares her home with two dogs and one cat.

Ms. Jones serves as our Middle School Science (7th) and Math (8th) teacher here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. Ms. Jones has seven years of teaching experience within elementary and middle schools. Ms. Jones is enthusiastic about helping her students achieve their academic goals while creating a fun and welcoming environment where children can learn and excel. She is a graduate of Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology with a Pre-Professional Health concentration. Ms. Jones enjoys traveling, creating memories with family and close friends as well as embarking on new experiences.

Ms. Chadbourne serves as our Middle School Math (8th) and Science (7th) teacher here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. Ms. Chadbourne has worked with Fortune 500 bio-pharmaceutical and medical device companies implementing workforce planning solutions and training high-level executives. Additionally, she has six years of teaching experience in elementary and middle schools. Ms. Chadbourne is passionate about helping her students achieve their academic goals while creating a fun and nurturing environment where children can learn and excel. She is a graduate of Western Carolina University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Pre-Professional Health concentration. Ms. Chadbourne enjoys spending time with close friends and family, walks on the beach, and hiking. You can reach Ms. Chadbourne at: echadbourne@lowcountleadership.org. 

He is excited to begin his second year teaching at LLCS, where he will be teaching sixth grade ELA and eighth grade social studies. This will also be his second year in the teaching profession, and he is thrilled to be working with middle school students.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science from Clemson University, followed by a Master of Education in Teaching, Learning, and Advocacy from the College of Charleston. Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, he grew up playing any sport he could, with soccer being his first love and history a close second. He was offered the opportunity to play Division I soccer, but after injuries cut his athletic career short, he completed his studies at other universities.

Outside the classroom, he enjoys being outdoors—often running or cycling on the roads of Charleston. He also loves spending time indoors watching YouTube, movies, and cheering on his favorite sports teams.

Eric D. Pyron, Sr. is the Math Teacher and Leader of Mathematics at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. He has 27 years experience in the education field. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Albany State University (HBCU) and a Masters in Teaching from The University of South Carolina. He is certified in Secondary Mathematics. 

Mrs. Gander attended college in Georgia where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Mathematics, and then went on to earn a Masters of Teaching Mathematics and Science. Mrs. Gander loves teaching math and helping students truly understand and develop a strong mathematical foundation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and watching Georgia Bulldogs football! 

Mr. Callesen has been teaching English for 11 years and Tae Kwon Do for 21 years. He graduated from the College of Charleston with a degree in psychology and later earned his teaching certificate for middle and secondary English. In his free time, he enjoys reading, playing video games, and spending time with family.

This is Mrs. Johnson's 4 year at LLCS. She has been in education for 21 years. With a deep passion for reading and a lifelong love of learning, She strives to inspire that same enthusiasm in others. Outside of the classroom, She enjoys relaxing at the beach or pool, spending quality time with her family, and traveling. Reading is one of her greatest joys.

Susanne King is a high school history teacher and the History Department Head at LLCS. She is entering her 29th year of teaching and has been part of the LLCS family since the school’s beginning. Outside of school, Susanne enjoys spending time with her family. She and her husband have two sons. Her oldest son is married and is the proud father of her granddaughter, with another grandbaby on the way. Her youngest son proudly serves in the U.S. Navy.

Ms. Foreman is excited to begin her second year at LLCS. She loves being part of the LLCS community and is ready to take on another wonderful school year with her students. 

She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Equine Science from SUNY Morrisville and master's degree in Agricultural Education from Texas Tech University. She loves creating hands-on learning experiences that help students build confidence, leadership skills, and passion for agriculture. Outside of school, you'll find her caring for her farm animals, reading a book, or cheering on her favorite hockey teams.

Brian Lemons is the CTE Instructor for Information Technology at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. He has an Associate Degree in Computer Technology at Trident Technical College. He is certified to teach Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses for Information Technology. He has 10 years of experience in the educational field. Before earning his degree, Brian Lemons served in the United States Marine Corps for 4 years.  Mr. Lemons has been married to his wife Desiree for 15 years and they have 2 children: Jacob (15) and Samuel (11). 

Chef Greenawalt, or “Coach Chef” as he is known by many, is celebrating his 10th year at LLCS. He serves as the CTE Chef Instructor for the Culinary Arts Program and as the school’s Food Service Director. He also serves as a Varsity Baseball Assistant Coach. Outside of school, Chef Greenawalt enjoys spending time with his family and being outdoors. He is also a proud LLCS parent, as both of his children attend the school.

Mrs. Veronica Rodriguez is the CTE Digital Art and Design teacher for Middle/High and the Yearbook Advisor at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She is starting her tenth year here at LLCS and her sixth year teaching yearbook. She has been married to her husband Edgar for 26 years and they have two daughters Olivia(21) and Isabel (14), and a dog named Mia. 

She is excited to begin her fourth year teaching at LLCS! She graduated from the College of Charleston in 2004. Before entering education, she spent 15 years as a small business owner, designing and producing children’s clothing, combining her love of creativity and craftsmanship. Today, she brings that same passion into the classroom, where she teaches art and sewing to LLCS students. She looks forward to a year full of creativity, learning, and fun!

Ms. Muldrow is excited to begin her first year at LLCS! She is looking forward to taking on the role of K–12 Spanish teacher and sharing her love of language and culture with students across the school. 

Rhiannon Callesen is a professional dance instructor. She has been teaching dance for 25 years, and teaching at LLCS for nine years. She traveled the US and Canada performing in multiple shows and touring with a dance troupe called 2Extreme. She was in the production of the Nutcracker for 17 years with the Morca Ballet company in Washington state. She was also a professional Flamenco dancer. She was a Swamp Fox cheerleader/dance team member for the Charleston Swamp Foxes arena football team. She also works as a background actor, appearing in a variety of television shows.

David Breland is the K–12 Music teacher at LLCS and is excited to begin his third year at the school and his 12th year in education. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University, and a master’s degree in Music Education from Eastern Washington University Outside of school, David enjoys writing music, performing in theater productions, and co-directing the Colleton County Children’s Theater. He looks forward to another great year of music, creativity, and performance at LLCS!

Pinckney Lee serves as the Upper School Special Education Coordinator at LLCS. She lives on Edisto Island with her wife and their cats. Outside of school, Pinckney and her wife enjoy spending time at the beach and the river. She is looking forward to a wonderful year at LLCS!

Mr. Davis is a Special Education Teacher at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. He is from Bath, North Carolina.  He has multiple years of teaching experience in the special education and the mental health field.  He has a Bachelors of Science from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. (GO PIRATES). He loves his students and looks forward to their daily adventures within his classroom. 

Ms.Tanner serves as the Special Populations paraprofessional here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She has 20 years of experience as an educator. Ms. Tanner is also the Director of Navigation Station's extended school day program and the sponsor of the high school EXCEL Club. 

Ms. Williamson is excited to begin her second year at LLCS! She is looking forward to another wonderful school year and is ready to take on each day with grace, persistence, and a positive attitude. She is excited to continue growing as an educator, building meaningful relationships with her students, and being part of the LLCS community. She looks forward to making this school year a great one! 

 Denise Armstrong brings over 31 years of experience as an office manager and administrator to Lowcountry Leadership Charter School.  Mrs. Armstrong began working for LLCS in 2013 in the LLCS Extended Day Program, Navigation Station. In 2014 and for the next five years, Mrs. Armstrong was the Director of NaviGation Station.   While serving as the Director, she also worked in the Gator Cafe and was one of our Administrative Assistant in the front office for 8 years.  Now she is the PowerSchool Administrator/Registrar and Attendance Clerk.  She is married to Robert Armstrong. Together, she and Mr. Armstrong have four children and five grandchildren.    

Ms. Arnesha Gates is our Administrative Assistant - Human Resources position here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She has over 8 years experience in human resources and comes to LLCS with administrative assistant experience in the medical field.  Ms. Gates was born and raised in the state of Georgia, where her family still resides. She moved to SC back in 2020 with her 2 children, Rhyan and Rhylie, and 2 dogs, Rueben and Kai. Ms. Gates is currently studying for her Bachelors in Science Accounting and has a passion for dog breeding. A highly valued member of the LLCS Faculty and Staff already, Ms. Gates is a strong pillar and manager of financial and HR matters. 

Mrs. Desiree' Lemons serves as one of our proud Administrative Assistants here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She has an Associate's Degree in Administrative Office Technology from Trident Technical College and specializes in communications, marketing, and outreach for LLCS.  Living in West Ashley with her husband, Mr. Brian Lemons, the IT manager/CTE teacher at LLCS, they have two boys, Jacob and Samuel, who also attend LLCS. As a Navigator through and through, Mrs. Lemons represents the Front Office department as the face of our school at the front desk, serving students, faculty/staff, and families each day. She's a jack of all trades that keeps up to date on school business, student services, and communication.  

Shelli Hunt serves as the school nurse at LLCS and is excited to be part of the NaviGator community. She is married and has two children. Her daughter is 27 years old and is getting married next year, while her son is 20 years old.  Outside of school, Shelli loves spending time with her family and has a special love for animals. Her family includes chickens and one very spoiled Labrador Retriever named Dakota!

Brooke Ingram is excited to begin her sixth year as the DLC Manager and Librarian at LLCS. She has been part of the LLCS community since 2017, first serving as a Guest Teacher and Navigation Station staff member before joining the full-time staff. Brooke teaches Library Related Arts to all K–5th grade students and also supports the school with textbook inventory. She enjoys helping students discover the joy of reading and creating opportunities for them to explore, learn, and grow. Outside of school, Brooke enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and playing Topgolf. She is also a proud volleyball mom to her 9th grade daughter, Gabby, who is entering her third year on the LLCS JV Volleyball team as a setter. Go Gators!

JR Sutliff has served as the Facilities Manager at LLCS for the past six years. He plays an important role in keeping the school running smoothly and ensuring the campus is a welcoming and well-maintained place for students and staff. Outside of LLCS, JR serves as a pastor and enjoys spending his free time with his wife and grandchildren. One of his favorite things to do is spend time together with his family at the beach. He is proud to be part of the LLCS community and looks forward to another great year!

Ms. Karen Johnson serves in our Gator Cafe here at Lowcountry Leadership Charter School. She was a firefighter/engineer for Summerville Fire & Rescue for 14 years then became a stay-at-home mom. She was born and raised living out here in the Lowcountry. She has 3 children Caden, Jorja, and Hunleigh. She has been a parent from the beginning of LLCS. In her spare time, She loves to go hunting with her Fiancé Shane and go to the beach with my kids. You can always find her at a baseball game! She can’t wait to see what this school year brings. Go Gators! 

Kelley Caparaso is a valued member of the Gator Cafe team at LLCS. She helps support the school’s food service program and plays an important role in making sure our students have a positive experience during mealtimes. Kelley is proud to be part of the LLCS community and looks forward to another great school year serving our NaviGators!