TCS Team

Alex Peterson

First Grade Assistant Teacher

Alex is excited to start her first year with The Cooper School! She moved to the area from Annapolis, MD and brings with her 2 years of teaching experience. Alex graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree from Clemson University. When she isn’t enjoying her time as a teacher she loves riding and spending time with her horses, enjoying down time with her friends and family, and playing with her dog Tanner.

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Allison Gold

Middle School Math Teacher

Allison is thrilled for her first year at The Cooper School and looks forward to cultivating a collaborative and challenging math community. She grew up in Indiana, and graduated from Indiana University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. She went on to teach 5th grade at a Dual Language school for 2 years, where she also coached both the soccer and track and field teams. When outside of the classroom, she enjoys running, camping, and traveling with her husband.

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Aquavius Franklin

Third Grade Assistant Teacher

Aquavius is originally from Laurens, South Carolina and received his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Charleston Southern University. He previously worked with WINGS for kids in the Charleston community for three years. During his free time, Aquavius enjoys bowling, fitness and spending time with his family, friends, and his dog Bentley.

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Chayce Floyd

Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher

Originally from Texas, Chayce graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.A. in English. Chayce grew up watching her mother as a teacher and knew she wanted to work with children from a young age. Before moving to Charleston, Chayce worked in elementary schools in the Burleson Independent School District. She will begin pursuing her Master’s degree in Library and Information Science in the evenings in the Spring. She also has a 5-year-old bearded dragon named Salvador Dali, her best friend.

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Donald Whitley (Noodle)

Music

Donald “Noodle McDoodle” Whitley got his nickname while working at Camp Winnarainbow in the last century. He had just graduated from Reed College (where he studied Religion and Philosophy) and taught stilts, juggling, cooperative games, clowning, and theater at this famous circus arts camp. Noodle went on to teach preschool and tutor math, in Oregon. He moved to the Lowcountry with his wife Eden and they started a Swing dance band called The V-Tones of Charleston. Noodle is an avid ukulele enthusiast, a busy math tutor, and is very excited to be teaching music at the Cooper School this year.

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Henslee Elliott

School Nurse/Administrator

Henslee received her Bachelors in Art History from Sweet Briar College in 2006, and for the past 15 years, she has been an educator in various classrooms locally, including Ashley Hall, St. Philip’s Church School, and her children’s art studio, Art Workshop. Henslee has enjoyed teaching art for the past ten years, focusing on introducing various skills and concepts. Thriving in an environment where she can honor each child’s voice and inspire creativity, she’s passionate about nurturing the process of students’ interests while simultaneously collaborating with other teachers.
Henslee enjoys spending time with her husband, their twin boys, and their pug, Pearl.

Josie Francis

Second Grade Assistant Teacher

Josie grew up in New Jersey, always eager to explore new places and experience new opportunities. She has received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Roanoke College in Virginia. During her time there she had the opportunity to work with a 5th grade class. She is very excited for the beginning of the school year at The Cooper School and to meet all the students in the 2nd grade.

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Lindsay Dunn

Middle School Science Teacher

Lindsay is excited for her third year at The Cooper School, where she can inspire the next generation to learn how to learn and challenge them to make a difference. She earned her B.S. and teaching credential at the University of Georgia, which led her to teach at a Montessori school and then a public middle school in Athens, Georgia. She went on to teach middle school science at a progressive private school using the Harkness Theory in Marin County, California. She has spent the past five years developing and implementing programs at the South Carolina Aquarium while working towards her M.Ed. in Science and Mathematics at the College of Charleston. When she is not teaching, she is exploring, hiking, and camping with her children Anders and Arden.

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Liz Lane

First Grade Teacher

Liz is thrilled to be joining The Cooper School family this year! This will be her 8th year of classroom teaching with experience teaching in both Preschool, Kindergarten, and 1st grade. She has also worked as a tutor and with after-school programs. Originally from Virginia, Liz moved to Charleston and received her Bachelor of Arts in Communications at The College of Charleston. She continued her education at The Graduate School of College of Charleston, where she received her Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education. She is also certified and trained in IMSE’s Comprehensive Orton-Gillingham course. Liz is passionate about providing a kind and joyful classroom community that encourages students to be brave and reach their greatest potential. When she’s not teaching, Liz enjoys reading, cooking, going to the beach with her husband and two children, and playing with her new puppy, Doug.

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Maggie Keim

Middle School ELA Teacher

Maggie Keim was raised in the upstate of South Carolina. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Media Arts at the University of South Carolina and received an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of Texas at Austin before pursuing writing in LA for a few years. Having always loved being in the classroom and volunteering her time in educational settings, Maggie began to formally pursue teaching at Lipscomb University where she received her Masters of Education in Instructional Practice. Maggie has taught a wide variety of students from elementary to college level classrooms, and is overjoyed to be teaching English Language Arts with middle school this year. In her free time she continues to write screenplays, watch all kinds of TV and movies with her husband, read, and play with her goofy Irish Setter, Ruby.

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Marsha McCoy

Kindergarten Co-Teacher

Marsha enters her ninth year at The Cooper School. Raised in Charleston, Marsha received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from The College of Charleston. Marsha has taught for fifteen years in both the public and private schools. She delights in fostering a warm classroom environment where children can thrive and express themselves comfortably. Marsha enjoys hula hooping, crafting, relaxing at the beach, and finding treasures at flea markets.

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Reneé Bratton

Third Grade Teacher

Reneé is so happy to be continuing at The Cooper School as the Third Grade teacher! She received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston and moved to Charleston 5 years ago from Columbus, Ohio. She has a 3-year-old daughter, Charlotte Jane, who amazes her every day. She loves visiting the beach and cooking with her family.

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Stacy Peth

Yoga

Originally from New Jersey, Stacy made her way to beautiful Charleston, SC. She was a dancer and Pilates instructor and graduated with a BA in Psychology from Goucher College in Maryland. She received her Interdisciplinary 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training through Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, her Advanced 300 Hour Teacher Training through Asheville Yoga Center and her children’s yoga training through Grounded Kids. She studied mindfulness with Mindful Schools and continues to educate herself through a variety of other specialized trainings. Teaching in studios, homes, schools (and anywhere you can imagine) since 2009, Stacy now resides with her sweet husband, little girl and silly pup on James Island. She LOVES being a mama, and enjoys cooking, reading, writing, the beach, the mountains, music, travel and time with family and friends.

Subhadra Glassman

Second Grade Teacher

Subhadra has been working at The Cooper School since 2009. She is originally from Florida and received bachelor’s degrees in early education and Special Education, followed by her master’s in early childhood education, from the University of Florida. Subhadra has taught all the grades at TCS and is excited to be back in Grade 2 for the 2020-21 school year. Subhadra also holds the titles of Curriculum Specialist and Summer Camp Director at TCS.

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