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Student Teaching
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Professional Development School Team Biographies

• Deborah M. Bailey, Ph.D., Elementary Education
• Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Ph.D., Dean, College of
  Professional Studies
• Bessie Gage, Ph.D., Project Director, Chair of the
  Department of Education
• Kathryn Bentley, Classroom Teacher
• Jeffrey Ford, Ph.D.
• Veronica Kodzai, Classroom Teacher
• Marty Metius, Classroom Teacher
• Ms. Charleen Norwood, Administrative Assistant
• Philip A. Steffes, Principal

Deborah M. Bailey, Ph.D., Elementary Education

Deborah M. Bailey, Ph.D. is a former elementary classroom teacher and a Sandia National Laboratories coordinator of an educational employment program for gifted minority youth in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Dr. Bailey received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Cheyney University. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. from The University of New Mexico.

Dr. Bailey was a recipient of the Distinguished Teacher Award, the KOAT TV Channel 7 Teacher’s Award, Nominated Distinguished Teacher of the Year, awarded the Highland High School Teacher Who Made a Difference in a Child’s Life Award, and the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. New Mexico Teacher of the Year. Currently, Dr. Bailey is an assistant professor of Elementary Education at Johnson C. Smith University where she is also the Director of Field Experiences. She also was a consultant for the Perfection Form Co.

Phyllis Worthy Dawkins, Ph.D., Dean, College
of Professional Studies

Phyllis Worthy Dawkins is the Director of the Faculty Development Program, the Dean of the College of Professional Studies, a Professor of Physical Education, and a member of the Honors College at Johnson C. Smith University. The Faculty Development Program includes a Steering Committee with training strands in Learning Communities, instructional technology, learning across the curriculum, faculty discussions about academic discourse, Faculty Learning Communities, and engaged pedagogical teaching strategies. In terms of scholarship, she writes grants, conducts research and publishes in the areas of faculty development, case development, and learning communities.

In 1994, the JCSU Faculty Development Program received a Theodore M. Hesburgh Certificate of Excellence for Faculty Development. In 2004, she received a Certificate of Leadership from the Harvard Institute for Higher Education (Management and Leadership in Education-MLE) and a Certificate of Leadership for the Mable Parker McLean Women’s UNCF Leadership Development Forum. At JCSU, Dr. Dawkins co-coordinated the SACS Standards on Institutional Effectiveness, Faculty Credentials, Faculty, and Professional Development.

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Bessie Gage, Ph.D., Project Director, Chair of the Department
of Education

Bessie L. Gage, Ph.D. is a native of Union, South Carolina. She earned a B.S. degree in Child Development and Preschool Education from South Carolina State College, a Master of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Atlanta University and a the doctorate degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Early Childhood Education form Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She taught first grade and pre-kindergarten in the public schools of South Carolina. Dr. Gage is Associate Professor of Education and Chair of the Department of Education at Johnson C. Smith University. In her thirty years at Johnson C. Smith University she has served in a number of positions including instructor of early childhood education, supervisor of student teachers, director of field experiences, and faculty director of the Mary I Belk Early Childhood Center. She received the Johnson C. Smith University NationsBank Par Excellence Teaching Award in 1997.

Dr. Gage has been involved in teacher education at the state and national levels. She has served on numerous program approval teams for teacher education programs in North Carolina. She has also been appointed to a number of state committees focused on improving teacher education in the state such as the Program Approval Committee and the Elementary Education Test Selection Committee. She has served as Vice President, President, and Past President of the North Carolina Association of College for Teacher Education. At the national level she has served as a program reviewer for elementary education programs for the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) for more than ten years. She also served on the Teacher Education Committee and represented ACEI on the Board of Examiners of the National Council for the Accreditation for Teacher Education (NCATE) for nine years. Dr. Gage also served on the ACEI Executive Board as Vice President for Infancy Early Childhood. Dr. Gage’s research, writing and teaching interests include children’s literature, children’s play social studies, diversity issues and family literacy.

Kathryn Bentley, Classroom Teacher

Kathryn Bentley is a native of Goldsboro, NC and has been an educator for 35 years. She graduated from East Carolina University with a degree in Primary Education. Mrs. Bentley later received a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois. Mrs. Bentley began her teaching career in Fayetteville, NC where she taught second grade. Mrs. Bentley lived in Germany for 15 years where she was teaching for the Department of Defense. When Mrs. Bentley returned to the United States, she joined the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. Mrs. Bentley is a National Board Certified Teacher and has worked with the Charlotte Mecklenburg National Board office for 5 years as a study group facilitator and a seminar leader. Mrs. Bentley’s work with National Boards has extended to other states as an inservice presenter. Mrs. Bentley is currently working at Merry Oaks International Academy as an academic facilitator. She and her husband, John, have one son and three grandchildren.

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Jeffrey Ford, Ph.D.

Veronica Kodzai, Classroom Teacher

Veronica Kodzai is a fifth grade teacher at Merry Oaks International Academy of Learning. She has taught at Merry Oaks for fifteen years. She believes that all students are learners and need to know there is someone who values them as individuals who have talents. Mrs. Kodzai welcomes and appreciates the cultural diversity at Merry Oaks. One major lesson that she has learned from teaching at Merry Oaks over the years is to never underestimate the ability of all children. She has seen so many students achieve high success, even though; they had major obstacles like language barriers and learning disabilities. As an educator, Mrs. Kodzai has high expectations and possesses a hard work ethic to meet the needs of children. She emphasizes and models that having a positive attitude and instinctively demonstrating quality character is essential to be an asset in our society today.

Veronica Kodzai grew up in Monroe, North Carolina. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 1989 with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education (K-6). She is a first generation college graduate in her family. Mrs. Kodzai began teaching in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system in 1990 as a sixth grade teacher at Starmount Elementary School. She continues to work at Merry Oaks in any capacity needed. She serves as the fifth grade chairperson, a member of the School Leadership team (SLT), an after school tutor, and other none instructional duties to help ensure that the students have rich and rewarding learning experiences. Also, Mrs. Kodzai is the honored recipient of the Merry Oaks Teacher of the Year award, 1998-1999 and 2004-2005. Along with her career, Mrs. Kodzai is a proud wife and mother. She loves and enjoys her family and being an active member at Piney Grove Baptist Church in Waxhaw as a youth advisor.

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Marty Metius, Classroom Teacher

Ms. Metius is has a BA in elementary education from Virginia Tech. Ms. Metius has been teaching for 22 years but has also home-schooled and volunteered for special educational projects. During her travels in different parts of the world she has gathered experiences and artifacts that she shares in the classroom. She values celebrating cultural diversity in the kindergarten. Ms. Metius's graduate studies have centered on early childhood education. In 1998-99, Ms. Metius was voted Teacher of the Year at Hidden Valley Elem. and nominated for the Harris Award and the Ben Craig Award. In 2000 she earned her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certificate. Ms. Metius secured grants for the purchase of additional computer equipment for the kindergartens at Hidden Valley Elem.

Ms. Metius's interest in the welfare of children is also demonstrated in her years as a guardian ad litem and as a member of the education committee of the League of Women Voters. Ms. Metius currently teaches at Merry Oaks International Academy of Learning and has served as a faculty representative to the principal and school representative to CMS South region. She has also served as grade chair, mentor and is currently the mentor coordinator. As a member of the Professional Development School Literacy Committee she especially enjoys working with future teachers.

Ms. Charleen Norwood, Administrative Assistant

Philip A. Steffes, Principal

The Principal of Merry Oaks International Academy, Philip A. Steffes, has worked with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools since 1997. He has worked as a primary grades teaching first and second grades. During this time, he was deemed as an accomplished educator receiving National Board Certification in the area of Early Childhood Generalists. Mr. Steffes served as a representative for CMS at the Distinguished Teacher Forum in 2002. The same year he was recognized by his teaching peers as Lake Wyle Elementary Teacher of the Year. In 2002, Mr. Steffes returned to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the institute where he received his undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. The North Carolina Principal Fellows program provided Mr. Steffes with the opportunity to attend graduate school as a full-time student. In May 2004, he completed graduate school with a degree of Master School Administration and Curriculum Supervision. Mr. Steffes completed his internship at Endhaven Elementary and served as an assistant principal for three years. In February, Mr. Steffes began his principalship. Mr. Steffes grew up in Lumberton, NC. He currently resides in Fort Mill, SC. with his 8 year old son, Brandyn.

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