Faculty

All New Horizons' full-time, professional staff members are degreed and certified by the NC Department of Public Instruction. Many hold advanced degrees, and continue to enrich their professional credentials. The teachers are skilled in the liberal arts and in classroom management. Each faculty member recognizes that education is a responsibility shared by parents, teachers, and students and provides frequent feedback. 

Full-time New Horizons faculty members administer the day-to-day operations of the school jointly, establishing procedures and structures to facilitate the efficient working of the institution. Additionally, these staff members provide valuable input to the Board of Directors and implement broad policy established by the Board. Full-time faculty members are voting members of New Horizons Elementary School, Inc. 

Faculty Members

Jane Winters, Kindergarten

Ms. Jane is the "fairy godmother" of our kindergarten program sharing her passion for the creative arts and the natural world with her students. A graduate of the Watson School of Education at UNC-Wilmington, Ms. Jane is originally from Wake County. She is one of the founders of New Horizons and has dedicated her professional life to loving, guiding, and educating the many students that have been a part of the NHES family. Ms. Jane shares her life with her husband, Mitch; her two children, Dylan and Kate; and her dogs, Angus and Tug. She enjoys cooking, gardening, decorating her home, and entertaining friends and family. Ms. Jane brings a sense of wonder and joy to the NHES kindergarten and teaches her students lessons they will be using their entire lives.

Brenda Pagan, First Grade

Brenda graduated from Texas A&M International University, Laredo, Texas with a Bachelors of Interdisciplinary Studies in Elementary Education and received certification for Bilingual/ESL and Gifted/Talented Education. She taught school for 8 years in Zapata, TX where she received the "Teacher of the Year" award in the year 2000 at Zapata South Elementary School. She is originally from WV and has one son who is currently serving in the US Navy.

Sally Gustie, Second Grade

Ms. Sally received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Plattsburg State University, New York. She has been teaching for 20 years. Sally spent most of her life enjoying the outdoors in small towns. She grew up on Long Island near the beach. With her four boy cousins, and three sisters she had many adventures building forts in the woods, swimming and boating during the summers and skiing in the winter. After college, she moved to Vermont so that she could ski whenever she wanted. She met her husband at Mt. Snow and they thought Wilmington, Vermont was the perfect place to raise a family. Their children, Jeremy and Catrina loved growing up in Vermont. When it was time to move they chose Wilmington, NC because the people here are so friendly and they love the beach. Ms. Sally thinks Wilmington has everything they wanted a new hometown to have.

Ellen Parker, Third Grade

Ms. Ellen is a lover of penguins for their classic appearance and their commitment to family. She is that rarest of birds, a Wilmington native, who graduated summa cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with her undergraduate degree. She was one of the founding members of the New Horizons family and received her master's degree in educational administration and supervision also from the Watson School of Education at UNC-W. In addition to her love of teaching, she has a passion for music and makes "a joyful noise" with several groups and choirs.

Donna Clark, Fourth Grade

Attending Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey Ms. Donna received her BA in early childhood and elementary education. She attended Florida State University and received her Masters in Instructional Systems Design. Ms. Donna enjoys her drive to work knowing that she will encounter the magic and joy that only teaching can provide. Having taught for 20 years she treasures time with her two sons, reading ,hiking, gardening and pretending to sing!

Anetta Benedict, Fifth Grade

Ms. Annetta grew up in Essex Fells, NJ. She earned her BS in Elementary Education and English from the University of Vermont. A move to San Diego found her and working as a pre-K teacher and assistant director. In 2002, she became one of the founding teachers at the San Diego Cooperative Charter School.

During 2004-2005, Annetta and her husband Matt decided to head back to the east coast. They chose Wilmington, NC as their new home. She was absolutely thrilled to join the staff at NHES in fifth grade. Each year her fifth grade students reluctantly move on to middle school and say goodbye to one of their best years in elementary school with such a memorable individual.

In her spare time Annetta loves to make jewelry and household accessories, refinish furniture, sew, garden, go camping, and surf.

Jill Caldwell, PE/Health

She received her BA from UNC-CH and taught in the Duplin County Schools for 8 years. Jill stays active by running, kayaking, biking and visits to the YMCA. Helping to reduce childhood obesity is one of her lifelong professional goals. Programs such as Jump Rope for Heart, Skills and Drills and daily structured health and PE classes at NHES help her to accomplish this goal. Her motto."We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing." So keep on playing!