Meet Our Faculty & Staff
Linda Murdock
Head of School
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Lycoming College, State University of New York
Years of Experience: 50
Dr. Dwight Pullen
Assistant Head of School
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist, Doctorate
Auburn University, University of Georgia, Central Michigan University
Years of Experience: 41
Shanna Rein
Director of Admissions
Director of Parent and Student Relations
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 21
Caleb Boone
Director of Academic Planning
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 9
“People often say, “I’ll be happy when…” Being happy does not mean to always get what you want. Happiness comes when you love what you have and you are grateful for it.”
“It is never wrong to do the right thing.”
– Mark Twain
“Live life by laughing a lot, dreaming big … when you fall, get up and run faster. Life is not about me, it’s about the people that surround me.”
“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. If I can make a difference in the lives of children and allow them to continue to make a difference in mine, then I am fulfilled.”
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Linda Murdock
Head of School
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Lycoming College, State University of New York
Years of Experience: 50
“People often say, “I’ll be happy when…” Being happy does not mean to always get what you want. Happiness comes when you love what you have and you are grateful for it.”
Dr. Dwight Pullen
Assistant Head of School
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist, Doctorate
Auburn University, University of Georgia, Central Michigan University
Years of Experience: 41
“It is never wrong to do the right thing.”
– Mark Twain
Peter Murdock
COO & CFO
Bachelor’s
Bentley University
Years of Experience: 21
“Live life by laughing a lot, dreaming big … when you fall, get up and run faster. Life is not about me, it’s about the people that surround me.”
Shanna Rein
Director of Admissions
Director of Parent and Student Relations
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 21
“It’s a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together. If I can make a difference in the lives of children and allow them to continue to make a difference in mine, then I am fulfilled.”
Caleb Boone
Director of Academic Planning
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 9
“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
Jim Anderson
Director of College Planning
Bachelor’s
University of Illinois
Years of Experience: 11
Kevin Rein
Athletic Director & Math Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 21
John Serna
Music Director
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Adventist University of Colombia, Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Years of Experience: 22
Laura Dollar
Director of Student Activities
Bachelor’s
Georgia South Western
Years of Experience: 4
Dr. Shelly Boardman
Director of Student Affairs
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
James Madison University, University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 35
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
– Benjamin Franklin
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”
– Tim Duncan
“I firmly believe that Music Education is a powerful tool for social transformation.”
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out a way to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
-Michael Jordan
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jim Anderson
Director of College Planning
Bachelor’s
University of Illinois
Years of Experience: 11
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Kevin Rein
Athletic Director & Math Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 21
“Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”
– Tim Duncan
John Serna
Music Director
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Adventist University of Colombia, Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music
Years of Experience: 22
“I firmly believe that Music Education is a powerful tool for social transformation.”
Laura Dollar
Director of Student Activities
Bachelor’s
Georgia South Western
Years of Experience: 4
“Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out a way to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
-Michael Jordan
Dr. Shelly Boardman
Director of Student Affairs
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
James Madison University, University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 35
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Pam Bonitatibus
Biology & Health Teacher
Bachelor’s
Augusta State University
Years of Experience: 24
Eric Burin
History Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
The Bowling Green State University, Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 17
Cameron Chiostergi
Math & PE Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 19
Sue Coll
Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Working towards Bachelor’s
Liceo de Artes en Puerto Rico
Years of Experience: 19
Diana Dowd
Mandarin Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 15
“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.”
— Harper Lee ~ To Kill a Mockingbird
“Choosing to be an educator is choosing to be a perennial optimist. You’re buying into the future. You’re playing a part in the foundation of the lives of your students”
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
– Confucius
“No one should have to choose one language and culture over the other because having both is undeniably better than having just one.”
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to person excellence.”
– Confucius
Pam Bonitatibus
Biology & Health Teacher
Bachelor’s
Augusta State University
Years of Experience: 24
“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one which makes you think.”
— Harper Lee ~ To Kill a Mockingbird
Eric Burin
History Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
The Bowling Green State University, Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 17
“Choosing to be an educator is choosing to be a perennial optimist. You’re buying into the future. You’re playing a part in the foundation of the lives of your students”
Cameron Chiostergi
Math & PE Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 19
“Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace.”
– Confucius
Sue Coll
Junior Kindergarten Teacher
Working towards Bachelor’s
Liceo de Artes en Puerto Rico
Years of Experience: 19
“No one should have to choose one language and culture over the other because having both is undeniably better than having just one.”
Diana Dowd
Mandarin Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 15
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your potential…these are the keys that will unlock the door to person excellence.”
– Confucius
Elizabeth Ernst
English Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
University of Georgia, Georgia State University
Years of Experience: 7
Janet Gillam
Language Arts Teacher
Bachelor’s
Ohio University
Years of Experience: 31
Tracey Gunter-Rosen
Technology Teacher
Bachelor’s
Florida State University
Years of Experience: 26
Jaime Gutierrez
History & Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
La Sabana University, University of Salamanca
Years of Experience: 25
Christine Hill
Math Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
North Georgia College
Years of Experience: 6
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou
“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.”
– John Locke
“Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.”
– Steve Jobs
“Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”
– Mahatma Gandhi
“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.”
– Bob Talbert
Elizabeth Ernst
English Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
University of Georgia, Georgia State University
Years of Experience: 7
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
– Maya Angelou
Janet Gillam
Language Arts Teacher
Bachelor’s
Ohio University
Years of Experience: 31
“Reading furnishes the mind only with materials of knowledge; it is thinking that makes what we read ours.”
– John Locke
Tracey Gunter-Rosen
Technology Teacher
Bachelor’s
Florida State University
Years of Experience: 26
“Let’s go invent tomorrow instead of worrying about what happened yesterday.”
– Steve Jobs
Jaime Gutierrez
History & Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
La Sabana University, University of Salamanca
Years of Experience: 25
“Live as if you were going to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Christine Hill
Math Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
North Georgia College
Years of Experience: 6
“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.”
– Bob Talbert
Cindy LaSalle
Business Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Montana Tech, University of Montana
Years of Experience: 17
Nancy Lee
Mandarin Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania
Years of Experience: 22
Amanda Lough
Math Teacher
Bachelor’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 12
Lorena Morgan
Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Escuela Normal “Miguel F. Martínez”, Centenaria y Benemérita, LaGrange College
Years of Experience: 24
Janice Placanica
Science Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of South Florida
Years of Experience: 21
“No child left behind.”
– Montana’s Office of Public Instruction’s policy
“People at birth are naturally good. Their natures are similar; their habits become different. If, negligently, not taught, their nature deteriorates. The right way to teach, is with absolute concentration … Jade that has not been polished cannot be used. Person that has not studied cannot know righteousness.”
– Three-Character Classic poem by Wang Yinglin
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin
“I’ve heard before that learning a second language not only gives you a whole different and new way of thinking but, most importantly, it gives you an insight into the culture of the people who speak it that you would never have otherwise gotten, in other words, To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
– Charlemagne
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
– Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Cindy LaSalle
Business Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Montana Tech, University of Montana
Years of Experience: 17
“No child left behind.”
– Montana’s Office of Public Instruction’s policy
Nancy Lee
Mandarin Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Thomas Jefferson University, University of Pennsylvania
Years of Experience: 22
“People at birth are naturally good. Their natures are similar; their habits become different. If, negligently, not taught, their nature deteriorates. The right way to teach, is with absolute concentration … Jade that has not been polished cannot be used. Person that has not studied cannot know righteousness.”
– Three-Character Classic poem by Wang Yinglin
Amanda Lough
Math Teacher
Bachelor’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 12
“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin
Lorena Morgan
Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Escuela Normal “Miguel F. Martínez”, Centenaria y Benemérita, LaGrange College
Years of Experience: 24
“I’ve heard before that learning a second language not only gives you a whole different and new way of thinking but, most importantly, it gives you an insight into the culture of the people who speak it that you would never have otherwise gotten, in other words, To have another language is to possess a second soul.”
– Charlemagne
Janice Placanica
Science Teacher
Bachelor’s
University of South Florida
Years of Experience: 21
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”
– Oh, the Places You’ll Go!
Goldie Robinson
Art Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Yeshiva University, Columbia University
Years of Experience: 10
Maite Rolon
Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s
Georgia State University
Years of Experience: 3.5
Jason Smith
English Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist
Savannah College of Art & Design, Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 7
Bobbie Spamer
Social Studies Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Piedmont University, Georgia Southern University
Years of Experience: 2
Denise Stanford
Science Teacher
Bachelor’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 28
“Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.”
– Sydney Gurewitz Clemens
“No importa lo lento que vayas, siempre y cuando no te detengas.”
– Confucio.
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
– Abraham Lincoln
“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”
– Oprah Winfrey
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
– Albert Einstein
Goldie Robinson
Art Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Yeshiva University, Columbia University
Years of Experience: 10
“Art has the role in education of helping children become like themselves instead of more like everyone else.”
– Sydney Gurewitz Clemens
Maite Rolon
Spanish Teacher
Bachelor’s
Georgia State University
Years of Experience: 3.5
“No importa lo lento que vayas, siempre y cuando no te detengas.”
– Confucio.
Jason Smith
English Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s, Specialist
Savannah College of Art & Design, Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 7
“Whatever you are, be a good one.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Bobbie Spamer
Social Studies Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Piedmont University, Georgia Southern University
Years of Experience: 2
“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Denise Stanford
Science Teacher
Bachelor’s
Kennesaw State University
Years of Experience: 28
“Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.”
– Albert Einstein
Kelly Webb
Language Arts Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Mercer University, Walden University
Years of Experience: 21
Nicole Zerr
Kindergarten Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
University of North Georgia, University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 11
Karen Bird
Paraprofessional
Concordia University, Chatham University
Years of Experience: 26
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!”
– Dr. Seuss
“The strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translating our passion for teaching into their passion for learning.”
– Beth Morrow
“I want to be that teacher that when my children look back on their education they feel love in their hearts, have a smile on their face and can truly say they knew I cared.”
“My kids look forward to going to school every day, and I look forward to going to work each day with them. I feel the warmth and enthusiasm of each and every student. I am truly blessed to be part of something great.”
“In order to thrive and succeed in life, every living species must be properly nourished. We feed their minds, their creativity, their hearts, and their bellies. I love hearing children say, “Thank you lunch lady!””
Kelly Webb
Language Arts Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
Mercer University, Walden University
Years of Experience: 21
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go!”
– Dr. Seuss
Nicole Zerr
Kindergarten Teacher
Bachelor’s, Master’s
University of North Georgia, University of Georgia
Years of Experience: 11
“The strength of our student relationships makes the difference in translating our passion for teaching into their passion for learning.”
– Beth Morrow
Karen Bird
Paraprofessional
Concordia University, Chatham University
Years of Experience: 26
“I want to be that teacher that when my children look back on their education they feel love in their hearts, have a smile on their face and can truly say they knew I cared.”
Aleathea Ostman
Kitchen Manager
“My kids look forward to going to school every day, and I look forward to going to work each day with them. I feel the warmth and enthusiasm of each and every student. I am truly blessed to be part of something great.”
Kiya Morgan
Assistant Kitchen Manager
“In order to thrive and succeed in life, every living species must be properly nourished. We feed their minds, their creativity, their hearts, and their bellies. I love hearing children say, “Thank you lunch lady!””
Schedule A Tour
At Lyndon Academy we believe immersion is the best way to learn. And that holds true if you are considering joining the Lyndon Academy family. That is why we offer tours that allow you to see our students and faculty in action. We want you to immerse yourself in the Lyndon way so that you might get a small taste of the amazing experiences that happen within our walls.