In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Steve Manna, who joined our school this past year as a 7th/8th grade History and English teacher. Prior to becoming a Patriot, Steve spent twelve years at Forsyth Country Day School, where he served in several administrator positions as well as taught and coached golf.

Prior to starting his work in independent schools, Steve earned a B.A. in Psychology at Wake University and an M.A. in General Psychology at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

In this podcast interview, Steve chats with Pete Moore about his upbringing and career in independent schools and how strong culture sparks positive outcomes in classrooms as well as organizations.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Joanna Gerdy, who teaches middle and upper school theatre arts and directs Davidson Day’s vibrant and award-winning Theatre program.

While interested in theatre in college, Joanna graduated with a political science degree and worked as a research analyst for the state legislature in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She later followed where the universe guided her, moving to Charlotte to work as an actor, director, and theatre teacher at the Children’s Theater of Charlotte.

Joanna joined Davidson Day in 2007 when our current campus opened. Over the past 13 years, Joanna has directed 8-12 performances each school year and helped our student-actors explore the human experience through theatre.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Tiffani Thomas, who teaches middle school art and upper school journalism as well as serves as the faculty advisor and lead for the Davidson Day School award-winning yearbook.

Tiffani is a fabulous, creative artist with an amazing story and inspiring perspective on teaching, the cycles of life, and the importance of tiny moments. Enjoy this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast!

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Randy Baker. Randy, parent of current Patriot Cameron ‘22 and Patriot alumnus Charli ‘15, grew up in Wilson, North Carolina, where he attended local public schools and began his working career by working in a tobacco field during the summers. Now, Randy is the founder and CEO of MedCall Advisors, a Tele-Emergency medical provider that delivers immediate interventions for acute medical events including injury and illness, which also adapted to provide critical services to employers relating to COVID-19 at the outset of the global pandemic. Beyond his role as a parent and CEO and founder of a company, Randy serves on the Advisory Board for a local nonprofit working to reduce situational homelessness and serves on the Davidson Day Health Advisory Board.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Tia Hill and Caitlin Barndt. Tia Hill is our Director of College Counseling, and Caitlin Barndt is our College Counseling Associate and Admission Associate. Tia started at Davidson Day in 2013, and Caitlin joined our community in 2016. Both Tia and Caitlin a depth of experience in working in college admissions at Furman University and Queens University of Charlotte, prior to joining the team at Davidson Day. From this prior work, and their current expertise in building relationships and meaningful connections with college and university admission representatives, Tia and Caitlin know exactly how college admission offices sift through applications and evaluate candidates, and exactly what colleges want: a well-rounded student body.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Patriot Alumnus Jason Chinuntdet. Throughout this episode Jason, who now works at Gartner as an HR Advisory Specialist, chats with Pete about organizational culture, change management, and Jason’s transition from Davidson Day to college, career, and beyond.

Jason graduated from Davidson Day with the Class of 2013, having participated in four international research trips through the AFAR Program at Davidson Day and every Davidson Day School Theatre production between his sixth-grade year and his final semester. After graduating as a Patriot, Jason enrolled at Wake Forest University where he earned a double major in anthropology and philosophy and a minor in entrepreneurship.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews parent Takila Williams Naylor. Takila shares how perseverance and pursuit of purpose-driven goals led to a fulfilling and rewarding dream of winning a professional cheerleading job and how those same principles applied to growing an entrepreneurial and exceptional career in sales, starting in pest control and, later, in pharmaceutical sales. Today, in addition to being the parent of a Patriot, Takila shares inspirational messages and lessons via an Instagram channel, beyond her accomplished professional career serving customers through selling products that matter.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews School Counselor Jessica Thompson. Jessica earned a Master of the Arts in professional counseling from Liberty University and is currently completing a Doctorate in Community Counseling. She’s worked with a wide range of families and young people as a counselor and therapist, and beyond her impressive career as a counselor, Jessica is a former competitive dancer and current dance instructor who works with children from two years old through 12th Grade. In this episode, Jessica discusses the difference between worry, stress, and anxiety, suggests how parents can help their children navigate normal social pain, and shares actionable tips that parents can take and put into practice this week to cultivate a nurturing, healthy family environment that allows children to foster resilience and navigate periods of high stress.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Head of School Pete Moore interviews Upper School Music Teacher and Award-Winning Jazz Musician Noel Freidline in what might best be called "a good hang."

Noel shares how his passion for music developed, and how he got started as a professional musician, and his later decision to stop touring with his award-winning band.

Mr. Moore and Mr. Freidline discuss the importance of teaching students to be vulnerable and to make big mistakes, and how learning improvisational jazz can help inspire creative potential.

Freidline also discusses the importance of collaboration, and the interplay of leadership, in music and beyond, then answers rapid-fire questions from Mr. Moore.

In this episode of the Davidson Day Community Podcast, Mr. Pete Moore interviews Karen Coughlan, the school's security officer. Prior to joining Davidson Day, Karen served as a police officer for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) after a career as a human intelligence collector for the U.S. Army.

Karen discusses how parents and children can collaborate to keep everyone in the family safe and secure, shares what it is like to serve in the U.S. Army and as a police officer, and answers rapid-fire questions.