New Faculty in 2021-22

Casady School takes pride in its robust and talented faculty and staff. We fill positions with unique and experienced individuals who will continue Casady's mission to develop excellence, confidence, and integrity in our students.

Carleigh Brunker, First Grade: Carleigh Brunker has joined Casady's Lower Division. An educator with more than 10 years experience in both private instruction and in the classroom, Mrs. Brunker has certifications from Association of Christian Schools International, Great Expectations – Transforming Lives Through Education, and Love and Logic. Prior to joining Casady’s faculty, Mrs. Brunker taught first grade at Oklahoma Christian School, has served as a private tutor, and taught first grade at Antioch Christian Academy. She received her Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Mid America Christian University in Oklahoma City, and Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Biola University in La Mirada, California. 

Dr. Andrew Buchheim, Upper Division Latin: Dr. Drew Buchheim joined Casady in early fall 2020 as an Upper Division Latin teacher. In his short time at Casady, Dr. Buchheim has been a positive influence with the students and for the School’s classical language curriculum. His teaching experience includes working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Missouri, where he aided professors in teaching Classical Mythology, Ancient Media, Greek Culture, Roman Culture, and The Ancient World on Film. He has also worked as a Graduate Instructor of Record at Mizzou, where he taught Latin at all levels, from basic grammar and vocabulary to reading authentic Classical texts. Dr. Buchheim received his Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at Austin, where he was recognized upon graduation with the Undergraduate Achievement in Classics Award. Dr. Buchheim received his Master of Arts in Classical Languages as well as his P.h.D. in Classical Studies from the University of Missouri. He was also a recipient of the Green Chalk Award for teaching excellence.

Stacey Overcash-Deaton, Primary Division Teacher: Stacey Overcash-Deaton joins Casady's Primary Division after spending a number of years as a dedicated and experienced educator with several Independent Schools in Tulsa. Mrs. Overcash-Deaton taught kindergarten at Monte Cassino School for more than nine years where she received the school's Benedictine Spirit Award. Mrs. Overcash-Deaton also taught as an Early Childhood Teacher for Holland Hall and as a Preschool Teacher for St. Pius X Catholic School. She has attended a number of Staff Development for Educators workshops, professional development conferences, certifications, and training. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah.

Frannie Garrett, Fourth Grade: Casady has hired Frannie Garrett to join the Lower Division team. Ms. Garrett strives to create a nurturing and stimulating environment in which students have the opportunity to grow and thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially. She prides herself in creating fun and engaging lessons. Before joining Casady’s faculty, Ms. Garrett taught in the Deer Creek Public School System for more than eight years and taught in Mustang. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Cameron University in Lawton and her Oklahoma Physical Education Certification in 2017.

Tamara James, Fourth Grade: Casady’s Lower Division welcomes Tamara James, a veteran educator in Oklahoma who has spent the past 21 years teaching elementary school students in the Deer Creek Public School System. Mrs. James has also taught in Bixby Public Schools, Choctaw-Nicoma Park, and White Rock. Her professional development includes Great Expectations – Transforming Lives Through Education, Math Their Way, Math a Way of Thinking, Shurley English, and Oklahoma Literacy First. Mrs. James received her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Samantha Kobs, LPC, Director of Student Support Services: Samantha Kobs, LPC, joins the Casady Community to lead the Student Support Services Office. Mrs. Kobs is a mental health counselor with hands on experience and training in mental health support within a learning and school environment. Before stepping into this role at Casady, Mrs. Kobs worked as Director of Guidance Counseling at Heritage Hall School. She received her first Master’s Degree in Education in School Counseling from the University of Central Oklahoma and another in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Mrs. Kobs received her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from Oklahoma State University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, as certified by the Oklahoma State Board of Behavioral Health Licensure, and holds a Teacher and School Counselor Certificate from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Marlene Lee, Middle Division English: Marlene Lee joins Casady's Middle Division English faculty with 16 years of experience teaching various ages and subjects. Mrs. Lee's true passion is middle school English, where she especially enjoys the inquisitive minds, individual learning styles, and the humor of this age of student. Prior to joining Casady’s faculty, Mrs. Lee worked in the Putnam City School System and has certifications in Business Education-Secondary, Career and Technology Business, English-Secondary, and Elementary Education. She received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Many in our Casady Community might already know Mrs. Lee. She has four children who are Casady alums.

Lacy Lippert, Primary Division Teacher: Lacy Lippert joins Casady's  Primary Division after teaching kindergarten, serving as a Lead Kindergarten teacher, and serving as a Leadership Team member for Country Lane Primary in Broken Arrow. As a teacher, Mrs. Lippert has a goal to give students the space to feel safe and confident to take chances to recognize their own potential and fostering a strong classroom community. She received her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Oklahoma.

Thalia Lopez, Primary Division Teacher: Casady welcomes Thalia Lopez as its newest Primary Division teacher. Prior to joining Casady’s faculty, Mrs. Lopez taught Spanish immersion kindergarten for five years at Le Monde International Charter School in Norman, where she actively participated in the professional development team, was a member of the Leadership Team, and served as part of the hiring committee. Mrs. Lopez has also been with Chesapeake's Child Development Center as a Lead Preschool Teacher and at Bilingual Schoolhouse she was a Spanish Immersion Teacher and Outreach instructor as well as a Lead Teacher. She received her Bachelor of Science in General Studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Elizabeth Lynch, Casady Cupboard Manager: The Casady Cupboard has been open this summer under new Cupboard Manager, Elizabeth Lynch. Ms. Lynch has helped the Business and Institutional Advancement Offices transition the Cupboard from the Casady Parents' Organization to the School. Ms. Lynch, who is a graphic illustrator, has retail and project management experience and worked previously for Barnes & Noble, as a Graphic Designer for Vann & Associates PR & Marketing, and as Advancement Assistant with Rehoboth Christian School in New Mexico. Ms. Lynch received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas. 

Amy McQuade, Associate Director of College Counseling and Registrar: Amy McQuade comes to Casady after working for the past nine years in the admissions office of Oklahoma City University where she gained extensive knowledge of the college admissions process. In her move to Casady, Mrs. McQuade is looking forward to helping create pathways for student success in college and beyond and finding the right college fit for each student while telling the student story and focusing on students' mental wellness. Mrs. McQuade's experience in the admission office at OCU has given her the tools to help Casady students and their families understand the intricacies of the college search and selection process. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music in Music Theater from OCU and looks forward to the many ways she can apply her student-centric philosophy across Casady's campus.

Courtney Moran, Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach | P.E. Coach: The Casady Cyclones have gained Courtney Moran as Head Girls' Basketball Coach and will also coach our younger Cyclones in P.E. Before joining Casady, Coach Moran was an Assistant Coach at Pittsburg State University in Kansas, Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, Assistant Coach with University of Sioux Falls in South Dakota, and Graduate Assistant at Northeastern University in Tahlequah. She received her Master of Science in Kinesiology from Northeastern State University, and her Bachelor of Exercise Science: Clinical from Oklahoma Wesleyan University in Bartlesville. Coach Moran joins the Cyclones along with her husband, Coach Dakota Moran.

Dakota Moran, Head Strength and Performance Coach | P.E. Coach: Dakota Moran has joined Casady as Head Strength and Performance Coach and as a P.E. teacher. Coach Moran has been running summer Power Camps for our Cyclone athletes. Previously, he worked as Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at Pittsburg State University in Kansas, and as Director of Strength and Conditioning at Iowa Western Community College. He also served as an intern with the University of Texas' football program and was Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, where he played football and received a Master of Science in Health and Kinesiology and  Bachelor of Science in Health and Human Performance. Coach Moran's certifications include Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from National Strength and Conditioning Association, Certified Speed and Agility Coach from National Sports Performance Association, and RPR Level 2 Specialist for Reflexive Performance Reset. Coach Moran joins Casady along with his wife Coach Courtney Moran.

Emily Morris, LD Student Support Teacher: Casady welcomes Emily Morris as a student support teacher in Lower Division. Mrs. Morris was previously a teacher assistant and school counseling aide for Casady and has worked as a lead teacher for The Goddard School and assistant teacher at Oak Tree Children's Academy. She received her Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Tech University and her Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Science from Oklahoma State University. Mrs. Morris holds several professional licenses and certifications, including HIPPA Privacy & Security Education, Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect of a Child, Counseling on Access to Legal Means, and she is currently a candidate to become a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. She is a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dr. Dana Parr, Upper Division Math: Casady's Upper Division Mathematics Department welcomes Dr. Dana Parr as a teacher. Dr. Parr taught mathematics at The Taft School and Hopkins School, both in Connecticut. He received his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Connecticut. He defended his dissertation, Understanding the Hydrological Impacts of Climate Variability and Climate Change based on Numerical Modeling and Observations, in September 2015. He was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Massachusetts Amherst's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and was a Graduate Research Assistant at University of Connecticut's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He received his Master of Science in Environmental Engineering from Yale University in New Haven and his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Wesleyan University in Middletown. Before teaching and his post-graduate degrees, Dr. Parr worked as a hydrologist and environmental engineer.

Mary Parrish, MD Learning Specialist: Mary Parrish has joined Casady’s Middle Division as a Learning Specialist. Ms. Parrish is certified in OPTI K-8, Oklahoma Reading Test, OSAT Early Childhood Education, OSAT Severe/Profound Special Education, and Crisis Prevention Institute. In the classroom and with students, Ms. Parrish focuses on three major components including open communication between parent, teacher, and the School; providing students with the tools they need to be successful; and creating a safe environment that cultivates connections and confidence. Before joining Casady’s faculty, Ms. Parrish worked as a special education teacher at Edmond Public Schools and privately as a one-on-one aid. She received her Bachelor's degree in Severe/Profound Special Education from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Connor Pearson, Communications Specialist: Connor Pearson joined Casady in May as Communications Specialist and is focused on the School's social media platforms, photography, advertising, writing, project management, Division Notes, Casady Connection, and general communications priorities. Mr. Pearson is a marketing professional with experience in both written and visual brand-centered storytelling. Prior to joining Casady’s staff, Mr. Pearson worked as Communications Coordinator at Missouri Military Academy and was a reporter with the Fulton Sun in Fulton, Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from William Woods University in Fulton.

McKenzie Robertson, First Grade: Casady welcomes McKenzie Robertson to Lower Division. Before she joined Casady’s faculty, Mrs. Robertson worked as a first grade teacher and reading specialist at Cleveland Elementary School for two years and has her Early Childhood certification. Ms. Robertson has professional development training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS), Great Expectations Training – Transforming Lives Through Education, and Jan Richardson Guided Reading. Ms. Robertson received her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee.

Dr. Merry Sorrells, Interim Associate Head of School: Merry Sorrells joins Casady for the 2021-22 school year as Interim Associate Head of School while the School conducts a national search for an Associate Head of School. Dr. Sorrells was head of St. Martin's Episcopal School in Metairie, Louisiana. She has served as president of the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest (ISAS), Secretary of the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools (SAES), and has held a number of other positions with both organizations. Dr. Sorrells is a long-time leader in the Independent School community in New Orleans. She has two decades of experience as an administrator, having served as Head of School at St. Paul’s Episcopal School, as Director of Advancement and Director of Admissions at Isidore Newman School, and as Associate Head for Admission and Marketing at Trinity Episcopal School. Dr. Sorrells has an Ed.D. in Executive Leadership from the University of Holy Cross, a Master’s in Educational Administration from the University of New Orleans, and a B.A. in International Relations from Principia College.

Dr. Angela M. Thomas, MD Science: Middle Division welcomes Dr. Angie Thomas as its new sixth grade science teacher. Dr. Thomas taught middle school science focused on earth, life, and physical science at The Catholic School of St. Eugene and St. Mary Catholic School in Guthrie. Dr. Thomas' accolades include being elected Middle School Division Director for Oklahoma Science Teaching Association in  2021-23; Outstanding Earth Science Teacher - US Midcontinent Section in 2021; Advisor of the Year - Middle Level recipient from Future Business Leaders of America in 2019 and 2020; and Outstanding Science Educator New Horizons Award from Oklahoma Science Teaching Association in 2019. She received her Doctor of Education from Oklahoma State University, and her Master of Science in Administrative Studies and her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Missouri State University in Springfield.

Kaitlin Wade, RN, Health Services Manager: Kaitlin Wade, RN, joined Casady this summer as Health Services Manager and has already been working closely with the Health Services Team to prepare for the start of school. Nurse Wade is familiar with the Casady Community and assisted in managing COVID-19 testing clinics on campus last year when she was Manager of Infectious Disease Testing Sites for OU Health Sciences Center. At OU, Nurse Wade was responsible for the planning, direction, and coordination of services to ensure that quality healthcare was delivered, which included two community COVID testing sites, mobile sites, and school/athletics testing. Prior to OU, she was an RN Charge Nurse in a 37-bed emergency department with SSM St. Anthony Hospital. Nurse Wade has been an RN Charge and Unit Nurse at health systems in Utah. She received her Master of Business Administration in HealthCare from Western Governors University in Salt Lake City and has certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS) from the American Heart Association CPR and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS).

Kaitlyn Wesseling, Second Grade: Kaitlyn Wesseling has joined Casady School as a second grade teacher. Before becoming a member of the Lower Division, Ms. Wesseling was a third grade teacher for Oklahoma City Public Schools and a Teach for America Corps Member. She was also a summer instructor with Tulsa Public Schools and Teach for America, Oklahoma. Ms. Wesseling is a candidate for a Masters of Science In Education with an Educational Policy Concentration at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore with expected graduation May 2022. Relevant coursework includes teaching for Transformational Impact and Classroom Management and Behavioral Outcomes. Ms. Wesseling completed her undergraduate studies in English and Literature at The Pennsylvania State University in State College. She has certifications in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education.