bfa seal The Ben Franklin Academy | Faculty & Staff
About BFA
admissions
curriculum
Extracurricular
faculty & staff
BFA community
news & events
development & alumni
contact & directions

Faculty & Staff

Ben Franklin has exceptionally well-qualified teachers. The faculty and professional staff hold degrees from UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, Sewanee, Texas, Tulane, Emory, Yale, Harvard, Brown, and UVA among others.


BFA Administration, Faculty, and Staff

headmaster wood smethurst

Administration

Headmaster

Dr. Wood Smethurst

B.A. in Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.A.T. in Elementary Education, Emory University
Ed.D. in Reading & Curriculum, Harvard University

Dean of Studies

Dr. Martha Burdette, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Humanities

Associate Deans

Peter Birdsey, B.S., M.A.
Humanities, Psychology

Assistant Deans

Jeff Guthrie, B.A.
English, Government, Economics

Kelly Thompson, B.A., M.A.
German, English

Kecia Y. May, B.S., M.S.
Mathematics, Computer Science

Director of Media Services

Jack Miller, B.A., M.A., M.S., Ph.D.

Information Technology Associate

Kecia Y. May, B.S., M.S.
Mathematics, Computer Science

School Counselors

Vivian Waldrop, B.A., M.S.

Charlie Weber, B.A.

College Counselors

Tianna Bailey, B.A., M.A.

Renèe Weller, B.A., M.S.

students and pumpkins

Business Manager & Registrar

Amy Barnes, B.B.A.

Assistant Business Manager

Rina Bass, B.A, M.Ed.L. (in progress)
Hebrew, Graphic Design

Director of Accounting

Jim Stevens, B.S., M.B.A., CPA

Director of Student Records

Barry Dunnavant, B.S., M.Phil (in progress)

Administrative Liaison

Nisa Sommers, B.A., B.S.

Internal Development Assistant

Sydney D’Arcy, B.B.A.

Hispanic Recruitment Director

Pegui Mariduena, B.S., M.B.A.

(Please note that, unlike most schools, the Headmaster, Dean of Studies, the Associate and the Assistant Deans, are primarily teachers, not administrators. Several other members of the administrative staff have teaching responsibilities as well.)

Top


Faculty

Rina Bass, B.A., M.S.Ed.L. (in progress)
Hebrew, Graphic Design

Nugzar Davitashvili, B.S., M.S., Ph.D.
Mathematics, Science

Susie Duncan, B.F.A., M.F.A.
Art

Barry Dunnavant, B.S., M.Phil (in progress)
Mathematics, Science, Theology

Shalunda Fincher-Feurdean, B.M.E., M.M.
Cello

Sylvia Gholson, B.M., M.M.E., M.M., D.M.E.
Violin, Viola

Carmen Goncalves, B.A., M.A.
Spanish, Portuguese

Jeff Guthrie, B.A.
English, Government, Economics

Wright Howell, B.A.
History

Olga Inozemtseva, B.S.
Mathematics

Tanja Jovanovic, B.S, M.A, Ph.D. (currently doing postdoctoral work)
AP Biology

Deborah Keenan, B.A.
Science, World Religions

Jacqueline Larsen, B.A.student petting cat
Spanish

Peter W. Lefkowicz, B.A., M.A., J.D.
English, History, Government, Economics, Creative Writing

Ron Luckie, B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Mathematics, Study Skills, SAT/ACT Prep

Kecia Y. May, B.S., M.S.
Mathematics, Computer Science

Clair Maxwell, B.A., M.A.
Voice

Jeana Melilli, B.M., M.M.
Flute, Piccolo

Olga Novokhatko, B.S.
French, Russian

Weisu Nugent, B.A.,M.A.
Piano, Music Theory

Scott Plato, B.A.
Guitar

John Powell, B.A., M.S., Ph.D.
PLU and Curriculum Instruction

Nisa Sommers, B.A., B.S.
Health, Science

Corey Sperry, B.S.
Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics

Kelly Thompson, B.A., M.A.
German, English

students talking and studying

Pamela Turner, A.A., B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
Drama, Humanities, Film Production

Marena Vittorio, B.A., M.A. (in progress)

James Watson, B.A.
Mathematics, Economics, Jazz Piano

Matthew Wineski, B.A.
Latin

Allise Whitworth, B.F.A., M.A.Ed.
Art

 

Top

 

The Ben Franklin Academy 1585 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30329 Tel 404-633-7404 Fax 404-321-0610

About BFA | Admissions | Curriculum | Extracurricular | Faculty & Staff | BFA Community | News & Events | Development & Alumni

Contact & Directions | Site Map | BFA Home