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Joanne Brinkley
Joanne Brinkley has been teaching at CFCI, in the K-1 loop, since it opened in 2000. She is a founding teacher. Before that, she taught first grade in Wilmington for four years and Reading Recovery/Reading in Duplin County for four years. She has a masters degree in Reading Education.
Joanne came to CFCI because she was excited about the opportunity to begin a charter school that focused on inquiry and creating a community of learners among students, parents, and faculty. She served on the CFCI Board of Directors from 2002-2008.
Joanne and her husband Brian, have a ten year old daughter in 5th grade at CFCI. Joanne is looking forward to continuing to move CFCI forward and to making it a great place for learning for everyone!
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Samantha DePrisco
Samantha DePrisco is a native of Waverly, Virginia. She graduated in 2001 from Randolph-Macon College with a degree in Sociology and Studio Art. Following graduation she joined an Americorps program with the American Red Cross assisting in disaster relief and recovery. The following year she joined Teach for America and taught in Baltimore for four years. While in Baltimore she earned her Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.
This is her second year teaching at CFCI in the K/1 loop and could not be happier! In her free time she enjoys reading, kayaking, music and traveling.
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Shannon Shanks
Shannon Shanks is originally from Gloucester, VA, but has called Wilmington home for 13 years. She received her Master’s degree in Elementary/Middle School Education from Old Dominion University. She taught 6th and 8th Language Arts, and served as the Reading Specialist/Coordinator for her middle school and was active on many county-wide Reading and Language Arts curriculum task forces. After taking some time off to raise her family, Shannon joined the CFCI staff as a teaching assistant. This year, she is excited to be back in the classroom full-time with an awesome group of third graders.
Shannon has been a member of the CFCI community for 8 years. Her daughters have both attended CFCI; Regan, a recent graduate who has just started high school, and Eryn, a 7th grader. In her spare time, Shannon loves to spend time with family, read, and go to the beach. She is looking forward to a great year!
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La’Kisha Jordan
La’Kisha Jordan was born in Raleigh, NC but primarily raised in Los Angeles, CA. Naturally drawn to her state of birth, she returned to North Carolina to pursue her education. Since that time, she has earned a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Psychology and Writing, an M.A. in Teaching, and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing.
Mrs. Jordan’s teaching experience includes instruction at the elementary and middle school level in the state of North Carolina and Cheongdo, South Korea. She thrives on humanitarianism and extending kindness in whatever ways she is able. Mrs. Jordan intentionally remains active in her free time, focusing on enjoyment of the arts, nature, yoga, traveling, reading, learning new things, and volunteerism. Included with these activities, she favors quality time with her family and friends. Along with her husband, she is excited about this transition period of Wilmington becoming their new home as well as their two sons pursuing their studies at ECSU & UNCP.
The news that CFCI is her new work-home only added to her joy. She looks forward to enriching the lives of all of her students in the years to come and being a positive addition to the CFCI community.