Majors and Electives

Ms. Sara J Compton

Hello! My name is Ms. Compton and I teach Art 1, Art 2, AP Art History, and the 11th grade Advanced Art Major courses at AAST.  I received my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and my Master of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in Art Education from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina and I am a proud Chanticleer! I am also an alumni of the Advanced Art Major at AAST (Class of 2007) and it is an honor to be able to teach here now. 

I am passionate about both the arts and art education.  I enjoy helping my students see the big picture of art, culture, and art history, and I love seeing them get excited about making art.  My personal favorite art mediums are oil paint, fabric, graphite & charcoal, and pen and ink, but I also love trying new things and learning new methods and techniques. I especially enjoy visiting museums of all kinds and gathering inspiration from everything around me, be it art, science, history, literature, or anything else I encounter. I believe in being a life-long learner and I believe that stepping outside of your comfort zone is necessary to thrive as an artist.

Ms. Jamie Franklin

Hello !  I am Jamie Franklin and have the pleasure of teaching and guiding the Senior Advanced Art Majors at AAST.  Along with the Major, I also teach AP Art and Design (Drawing, 2D, 3D) and Art 2.  I have a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art Education from the University of South Carolina, a Masters of Arts in Teaching and Learning from Coastal Carolina University. I am Gifted and Talented and AP certified. 

I have been involved with AAST's Advanced Art Major in some capacity since 1999, when I assisted with AAST's Gifted and Talented Summer Art Program.  It was then that I fell in love with the mission of the Advanced Art Major, which is to provide students with an opportunity to pursue art at an advanced level and create a sustained, research and interest based body of work during the two year program.  I am dedicated to the creative environment and culture created within this Major and take much pride in the young artists that are a part of it.  I  guide students to be innovative, creative, think for themselves and to think outside the box. I tell my students to walk purposefully for their art, whether their purpose will lead them to a career in art or a lifetime of appreciating art.  In my opinion, art, creativity and innovation are all connected and can strengthen any college or career choice. 

Mr. Joel Gibson

Welcome to AAST and our Aerospace Engineering program. I hope you will find this program as exciting, challenging, and rewarding as I do.

In the Aerospace Engineering Program I will teach Course 1 in the 2020-2021 school year and pick up the other three courses as we move forward. I also teach Government and Economics in our school’s Social Studies department.

I bring a diverse background to the program, which I believe is particularly well suited to its objectives. I have a Bachelor of Art degree in Political Science from North Carolina State University, a Juris Doctorate degree from Wake Forest University School of Law, and a Master of Art degree in Teaching from Coastal Carolina University. I am certified to teach gifted and talented students in middle and high school and to teach three different Advanced Placement courses. I will be reading (grading) the AP Microeconomics Exam this spring.

I consider my aerospace experience to be strong, if not traditional. I commenced flight training when I was fourteen years old and completed my first license when I was sixteen, although I am not current. I was a cadet in the Civil Air Patrol and am currently completing a new membership as an Aerospace Education Member in that organization. As a SERB certified aerospace educator, I will be completing a series of intensive two-week training sessions over the next two years.

Ms. Katie Thompson

I began teaching Aerospace Engineering during the Fall of 2019. In addition to the Aerospace Engineering Major courses, I also teach a variety of Mathematics courses. 

I grew up in Pawleys Island, SC and always had a love for mathematics. I went to Clemson University (Go Tigers!) and majored in engineering. During my time at Clemson, I tutored other students in mathematics and discovered my true passion for teaching.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy traveling to new places and experiencing different cultures. I have visited five continents, hiked Machu Picchu, snorkeled the Great Barrier Reef, and look forward to adding more to the list! I also enjoy spending time on the water or at the beach and have a black lab named Tilly and a yellow lab named Delta, who loves to do these with me.

Ms. Tiffany Sellers

Courses: AP Biology, Medical Interventions, Biomedical Innovation

Activities: Model UN

Ms. Sellers is a National Board Certified teacher with 25 years of teaching experience and a Bachelors of Science in Biology.

Ms. Elisha Caudill

Elisha Caudill

Courses: 
Introduction to Computer Programming
Intermediate Computing Programming
Advanced Computer Programming

AP Computer Science Principles
Game Design & Development
AP Computer Science A

Activities: Computer Science Honor Society

Ms. Caudill has 13 years of teaching experience with a  B.S. in Business Information Systems, a 
M.Ed. in Learning and Teaching and
+30 Graduate Hours in Artificial Intelligence & Technology.  Other certifications include  AP Certified, Gifted & Talented, Online Teaching & Training, Python Certified Associate Programmer, CompTIA Project+, Information Technology Specialist - Python.

Mr. Tracy Johnson

28 years teaching the Entertainment Technology Major at AAST.  United States Army veteran.  BA in Television, Radio, and Film from Wayne State University.  ME in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University. National Board Certified in Career and Technology Education.

Major: Entertainment Technology

Courses: Media Technology 1,2,3,4

Activities: CTE Lead Teacher

Mr. Heath Jordan

Courses: Intro to Logistics, Functional Areas in Logistics, Global Logistics Management, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Advanced Personal Finance, and Entrepreneurship

Activities: Academy for Christ

Mr. Jordan has 1 year of teaching experience with a Bachelors in Business.

Ms. Lesley Etherson

Ms. Etherson is a National Board Certified teacher who has been teaching in the public school system for 28 years. She has a BSc. in Art Education and a BA in Fine Arts, and a M. Ed. in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Instructional Technology. She also has a Masters Certificate in Women in Technology at Coastal Carolina University. Ms. Etherson has taught middle school art for 11 years and high school art, photography, photojournalism, graphic design, and media arts for 17 years.  I am also a practicing artist who works with photography and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Ms. Mindi Penn

Teaching since 2003, B.A. - Theatre with a cognate in Biology, M.F.A  - Acting both from the University of South Carolina, State Certified - Advanced Fine Arts, National Board Certified - Early Adolescence through Young Adult Career and Technology Education

Major: Informatics

Courses: Informatics 1: Computers, Networks, and Databases, Informatics 2: Design for the Digital World, Technical Theatre;  Informatics 3: Databases in the Cloud, Informatics 4: Developing a Cloud Presence, Theatre 1, 2, and 3

Activities:  Drama Club, International Thespian Society, FRC Robotics: Team 1287

Mr. Matthew Vanasse

Major: Innovations in STEM with Core Engineering

Courses: Core Engineering 1
Core Engineering 2
Impacts in Science and Technology
The Nature of Science and Technology
Creativity and Innovations
Core Applications of Science and Technology

Activities:  Robotics
FRC Team 1287 Lead Mentor

Mr. Vanesse has 16 years of teaching experience with a Bachelores in Marine Science.

Mr. Kevin Rose

Major: Networking and Systems Security

Courses:  Networking Fundamentals
Advanced Networking
Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Advanced Cybersecurity
PLTW Computer Science Essentials
PLTW Cybersecurity

Activities:  TSA Advisor, NTHS Advisor, Cybersecurity Club Advisor

Mr. Rose is a CTE Teacher with 8 years of teaching experience. Bachelor of Science in Information Science from Purdue University Global along with 20+ years of experience in the IT industry.

Ms. Deniese Cornelison

Courses:  Medical Terminology Honors, Health Science 2 and Health Science 3

Activities: Academy for Christ, HOSA

Ms. Cornelison has 24 years of teaching experience with a  BS in Kinesiology and a MA in Liberal Arts.  She is also a Licensed Athletic Trainer.

Mr. Scott Cyganiewicz

Courses:  Clinical Studies, EMS I, EMS II, EMS III

Activities: HOSA Co-Advisor

Mr. Cyganiewicz has 15 years of teaching experience and his certifications include Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, Registered Nurse, and Basic Life Support Instructor...just to name a few.

Ms. Kathryn Fletcher

Courses: 
Sports Medicine 1, Health Science 1, Health Science 3

Activities:  HOSA, Spring Gala Committee

Ms. Fletcher has 3 years of teaching experience with a  Bachelor's of Science in Athletic Training from University of South Carolina and a Master's of Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Management from Western Governor's University.  Before coming to AAST, Ms. Fletcher was the athletic trainer at Green Sea Floyds Middle and High School.

Ms. Jasmine Lewis

Courses: Introduction to Behavioral Health, Foundations of Public Health, Advanced Principles of Public Health, Public Health Capstone, Public Health Internship, Health Science 1

Ms. Lewis has 4 years of teaching experience with a Bachelors of Arts in Public Health.  Certifications include Certified Health Education Specialist.  

Ms. Lucia Watson

Courses:  Pharmacology for Medical Careers Honors, Health Science 1, Health Science 2

Mrs. Watson has 21 years of experience as an educator with a Bachelor's Degree in Vocational Education/Health Occupations, a Master's Degree in Health Education, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership, and is National Board Certified in Health Education. She is a Registered Dental Hygienist in both SC and NY and is a National Certified Pharmacy Technician through the PTCB.

With dual teaching and administrator certifications, she has experience in dental and orthodontic practices, as a Director of Risk Management and an Assistant Principal. She actively participates in several professional associations, on educational committees, teaches certification courses for new CTE teachers, writes course curriculum, is a portfolio evaluator for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and has presented at several state and national conferences. In 2018, she was named SC Health Science Teacher of the Year and is the current president of the SC Health Science Educators Association.

Ms. Jennifer Zanelli

Courses:  Clinical Studies, Med Term, Health Science 2

Ms. Zanelli is a National Board Certified teacher with 25 years of teaching experience.  She has an RN, MSN-ED, and CSN.