We are working with a fabulous group of Charlotte educators to reimagine our work with schools. Read more about our educator collaborators below.
Laura Bauer
Providence High School
Laura holds two bachelor’s degrees from Syracuse University and a master’s in education from Wingate University. She is passionate about involving students in her class through inquiry and investigation. Laura has worked in two school systems in North Carolina and has taught Elementary, Middle and High School Students. She is currently teaching American History, African American History and Leadership at Providence High School.
Arianna Bonner
Cannon School
Arianna is a Charlotte native. She graduated from the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system and went on to receive her bachelor’s in social studies education from Appalachian State University. She has taught for 8 years and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Education at UNC Charlotte. She has a passion for teaching and learning and believes that providing students with a strong foundation in Social Studies education is vital to a functional democracy.
Kiara Eden
Mallard Creek High School
Kiara is a native of Fayetteville, NC, turned proud Charlottean of 13 years. She attended UNC Charlotte for her bachelor’s degrees in History and Political Science and master’s degree in Teaching for Middle Grades Social Studies. She’s a licensed Middle Grades Social Studies and English as a Second Language (ESL) educator of eight years for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She loves traveling, all things history, Harry Potter, and “Hamilton.”
Martha Gwinn
Former teacher at Harding University High School
Martha graduated from UNC Charlotte and the NC Teaching Fellows Program with a History Degree in 2012. She was a public-school teacher from 2012 to 2022 and has taught at two different schools. She loves traveling and learning the history about different places and cultures.
David Harris
Providence Day School
David teaches Middle School History at Providence Day School, and also serves as the Middle School Equity, Inclusion and Belonging co-coordinator. He is a native of the Chicago area, and in his spare time he enjoys watching the White Sox, reading, genealogy, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. David currently hosts the new podcast, “The Teacher’s Forum,” which aims to amplify the voices and concerns of K-12 educators, particularly educators of color.
Kathleen McMillan
Community School of Davidson
Kathleen is the 8th grade Social Studies teacher at the Community School of Davidson. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Education Administration from UNC Charlotte. For the past 25 years as an educator, Kathleen’s passion involves integrating the arts in the curriculum. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband, three teenagers, and many animals.
Ben Runkel
Jay M. Robinson Middle School
Ben is an 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher at Jay M. Robinson Middle School. He is originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with degrees in American History and Global Studies. His favorite historical eras to teach are the American Revolution and Reconstruction.
Amanda Styles
Piedmont Open IB Middle School
Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in secondary education at UNC Charlotte where she is finishing up a master’s Degree in Academically Gifted Education this coming spring semester. She has been teaching 8th-grade social studies at Piedmont Open IB Middle for the past 10 years and loves her job. She is a NC native and happily married with two cats.
Katie Willett
Myers Park High School
Katie is an experienced secondary educator and has spent the majority of her 17-year career with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She’s passionate about Social Studies education and seeks opportunities to develop opportunities for students to build historical thinking skills and knowledge to make connections from local to global. She’s a National Board-Certified teacher with bachelor’s degrees in History and English from Northern Michigan University, a graduate certificate in Academically and Gifted Education from UNC Charlotte and is pursuing a master’s degree in TESOL from the University of Michigan.
Yvonne Wolf
James Martin Middle School
Since middle school, Yvonne knew she wanted to be a history teacher. She has been teaching social studies for 10 years in North Carolina, all at James Martin Middle School. Teaching and learning about history is her passion.
