SUBMIT INQUIRY
Our Mission: The Raleigh School is a cooperative community of children, parents and teachers that fosters a love of learning in an atmosphere of challenge, inquiry and respect.

 

Administrative Team

Mel Abraham
Accounting Manager
B.S., Health, Fitness and Recreation, Bob Jones University

Mel joined The Raleigh School in 2024. Before coming to TRS, she spent seven years working at an independent school as the Business Manager. Originally from Maryland, Mel is an avid Baltimore Ravens and Orioles fan. She moved to NC in 2010 after she married her husband, Dan. Mel enjoys trying to keep up with her husband and daughter while skiing, visiting new baseball stadiums, working on home projects, and spending time with her family and friends.

India Brearley
Preschool Office Manager and Admissions Assistant
B.S., Sustainability Science and Poverty Studies, Furman University
M.S., Child Life, College of Charleston

Before coming to The Raleigh School, India worked in several pediatric hospitals as a child life specialist helping children and their families cope with and adjust to the hospital setting. She transitioned out of the clinical setting after having her first child and is excited to become part of the TRS community. In her free time, India enjoys going on walks, playing games, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Heather Schonfeldt Campbell
Director of Finance and Operations
B.S., Business, Charleston Southern University
M.B.A., East Carolina University

Heather joined The Raleigh School senior administrative team in 2010. Prior to working at the school, she had more than 10 years of nonprofit consulting experience working with local, regional and national nonprofit organizations. She is also a certified public accountant. Heather is passionate about outdoor education, environmental stewardship and enjoys volunteering in her daughters’ schools. Heather is an alumni TRS parent and the wife of a public school elementary teacher.

Sharice Chandler
Director of Admissions and Marketing
B.A., Sociology/Anthropology with a minor in Communications, Guilford College

As a seasoned admissions professional, Sharice joins The Raleigh School after working in higher education admissions at Guilford College, and more recently, she served as Associate Director of Admissions at Cary Academy. Sharice is excited for the opportunity to recruit bright young minds to TRS, market the mission of the school, and welcome new families to our community.

Elizabeth Gilleland
Preschool Director
B.A., Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Furman University
M.S., Applied Educational and Developmental Psychology, NCSU
Ph.D., Developmental Psychology, NCSU

Elizabeth joined The Raleigh School faculty in 1997 as the Preschool Director. In her 35+ years as an educator at The Raleigh School and beyond, Elizabeth has taught and learned together with preschoolers, elementary, middle and high schoolers, college and graduate level students, and teachers and parents. Elizabeth has served the larger educational community in many non-teaching roles, including service on PTA, SIT, and BAC boards in the Wake County Public School System, founding and service on the board of the Wake-aeyc, and ten years as a member the North Carolina Childcare Commission. Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for the use of developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education, and in the importance of ensuring that children have ample opportunity to play and learn outdoors in the natural world. Elizabeth loves knowing and supporting the children, parents, and teachers of The Raleigh School community.

Karen Green
Director of Philanthropy
B.A., History, Marshall University

Karen began working at The Raleigh School as the campaign coordinator for the Athletics & Arts Center. She joined the administrative team in 2006. Prior experience includes coordinating the MS 150 Bike to the Bay and other fundraising events for The National Multiple Sclerosis Society. She served on The Raleigh School Board of Trustees and was president of the PTAA Board at Cary Academy while her son attended each school. Karen is always looking for ways to connect people in our community, and she started a hiking group to help women get outside and network while exercising. She is a Tar Heel fan and loves to read.

Leslie Johnson
School Office Manager
B.A., Education, Wake Forest University

Leslie joined The Raleigh School in June 2017. She was the office manager and then director of admissions at Burlington Day School for thirteen years before beginning a career with Snowman Software, where she was product manager for a school administration software program. Leslie is happy to be in her "dream job" at TRS.

Rachel Kessler
School Nurse
B.S., Nursing, University of Delaware

 

Rachel joins The Raleigh School after recently moving to the area from Southern California with her husband and three children. Rachel is a native of Annapolis, Maryland, and received her Bachelor Degree of Science in Nursing from the University of Delaware. Rachel has been a registered nurse for 23 years, with most of her career spent in Cardiology and Home Health, serving both adult and pediatric populations.

School nursing has always been something that Rachel wanted to pursue. Rachel's middle child was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in 2014, at the age of seven, and at that time Rachel became aware of the important relationship between the School Nurse and the families they serve.

When Rachel isn't working, she enjoys spending time with her family. She is passionate about raising money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and participates in yearly fundraisers, hoping to find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. Rachel is very excited to be joining The Raleigh School community, and looks forward to serving you and your children.

Mark Mangus
Facilities Manager

Mark comes to The Raleigh School after nearly 10 years as the Facilities Manager of a K-8 catholic school and church campus in Baltimore where he was the caretaker of two campuses tending to the daily needs of the community. He has recently moved to Raleigh after becoming engaged.

Heather Pace
Philanthropy Associate
B.S., Engineering, Vanderbilt University
M.A., International Management, Thunderbird School of Global Management

Heather is a former TRS parent who has worked as a substitute teacher and now works as an integral member of the philanthropy team. Heather speaks Spanish and enjoys working with the Hispanic community in North Carolina.

 

Adam Sherland
Elementary Director
B.S., Business Administration, Elon University
M.Ed., Child Studies, Vanderbilt University

Adam joins The Raleigh School after serving as Assistant Head of Lower School at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, PA. During his career as an independent school educator in Philadelphia and Nashville, TN, Adam has been involved in many aspects of the student experience. He has taught multiple elementary grades, coached athletic teams, coordinated summer programs, led class trips, and developed an after school STEM program. He believes in creating relevant, fun, and engaging learning experiences for students. Adam is a mission driven educator and is excited to contribute to a vibrant, dedicated, and caring community of students, families, and educators.

Mary Stanton
Database Manager
B.A., Computer Science, State University of New York at Potsdam

Mary joined The Raleigh School in 2016 after being at home for 11 years with her daughters who are both TRS graduates. Her prior experience includes more than 20 years at IBM in jobs ranging from programming/business analysis to project management to department management. Additionally Mary has volunteered over the years in numerous capacities including at her daughters’ schools, for their sports teams, and most recently as a coordinator for Brown Bag Ministry.


Teachers and parents thoughtfully partner to ensure each child's unique capacities and learning styles are recognized and encouraged ... Every morning our children literally ran to their classrooms, thrilled by the prospect of what each new day might bring!

Mark and May Bensen, alumni parents