Staff

Diane Spear

Diane Spear – Head of School and Middle School Latin Teacher

Diane grew up in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Slavic Studies. She worked as a legislative assistant and then attended Baylor School of Law. She came to Kinston to work in the Perry Law Office. While there she met and married Kinston native, Gram Spear, with whom she has been blessed to raise 4 children over the past 25 years. Gram and Diane were founding members of Grace Fellowship Church and continue to be active in serving their church and their beloved Kinston to elevate the welfare of this community. Diane developed a passion for Christ-centered classical education and brought Classical Conversations to eastern North Carolina. In addition to homeschooling her own children classically, Diane taught Latin and Bible at Christ Covenant School of Winterville, NC, and loves working with students and parents in Christian community to help children realize their remarkable potential as image-bearers of God.

Sara Golden

Sara Golden – Assistant Head of School

Sara has served as a preschool teacher for eight years and has been teaching classically for four years.  She has her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with concentrations in English and Counseling.  Sara is married and has four children, two of whom were adopted through foster care.  She and her husband are licensed foster parents, and they are very passionate about reaching across socioeconomic lines to reach the under-served in their community of Kinston. While she is not a Kinston native, she has called Kinston home since 2010 and has worked in Kinston since 2005. Sara also serves as a member of our board.

Kelly Taylor

Kelly Taylor – Third Grade Teacher

 

Joy Perez

Joy Perez – Kindergarten Teacher

Joy Perez was born in Kinston and moved all over Eastern North Carolina with her large family of seven. Her heart for children began at an early age, and as she began searching for God’s calling on her life, she traveled on three mission trips to serve in a Honduran orphanage. It wasn’t until she started a family of her own that Joy found her calling to teach! She served her local Classical Conversations homeschool community for nine years in various capacities. Joy is now pursuing a different avenue of education, as God has directed her to serve at Hope Preparatory School. She and her husband of 17 years, Jose, serve faithfully in their local church, Immanuel Baptist, leading worship, opening their homes for small group Bible studies, and being available to serve as the Father leads. In her spare time, Joy enjoys beach days with her two girls, playing with her dog Peanut, cooking, and hanging out with her friends and family.

Debbie Johnson

Debbie Johnson – First Grade Teacher

Debbie is originally from Chicago, IL, but she has lived in Kinston for over 40 years with her husband Stuart and their four daughters. She is retired from her Nurse Practitioner position, serving our community for 25 years. Last year, she served as a substitute teacher with Lenoir County Public Schools, where a love for teaching blossomed. In her spare time, she loves to spend time with family, serve her church, and lead and mentor a middle and high school choir. She has a passion for our youth to learn, to grow, and to serve our Lord Jesus Christ.

Debbie Golden

Debbie Golden – Middle School Teacher

Debbie has a Doctorate of Ministry in Christian Counseling and she is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Counselor. She is a Prayer Team Member at Open Door Church in Winterville and a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. She is married to Dr. Jerry Golden and they have three grown sons and 9 grandchildren.

Arglistra Hinds

Arglistra Hinds – Kindergarten Teacher

 

James Stainback – Third and Fourth Grade Language Arts Teacher

 

Jacob Valliere

Jacob Valliere – Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Grade Language Arts Teacher

 

Andrew Worthington

Andrew Worthington – Physical Education Teacher, Coach, Facility Manager

 

Dominic Lipari

Dominic Lipari – Third and Fourth Grade Math and Science Teacher

 

Ellen Tilghman

Ellen Tilghman – Instructional Coach

 

Sue Ellen Maddux

Sue Ellen Maddux – Finance Director

 

Meagan Kurtz

Meagan Kurtz – Admissions Director/Donor Care

 

Additional Staff and Faculty

Veronica Nelson – Custodian

Jeannette King – Tutor

 

Rachel Maw

Rachel Maw – Music

Carrie Hines

Carrie Hines – PE & Leadership

Debbie Jones – Gardening/Horticulture