James Madison High School Faculty

Academic Assistance at its Best

If you need academic support during your studies, you may contact our helpful tutorial staff online, by email or by phone. They will answer your questions and ensure you fully grasp your lessons, performing their roles with the utmost integrity and respect for the individual learning styles of students.

Administrative Staff

Leslie Gargiulo, Ph.D., Principal

Dr. Leslie Gargiulo earned her Ph.D. in comparative education from the University of California, Los Angeles. She also has a master's in philosophy from University of California, Riverside; masters in physics from San Jose State University; and bachelor's in chemical engineering from University of Illinois. For over ten years, she led an education consulting firm working with state university systems, community colleges and school districts. Dr. Gargiulo has been an administrator and faculty at two accredited online universities, and helped a new online university achieve DETC and regional accreditation.

In directing the activities of James Madison High School, Dr. Gargiulo researches and develops new courses and ensures that the highest quality of instruction is received by each and every student. Dr. Gargiulo manages the accreditation of our courses while also serving as Dean of Degree Programs for Ashworth College, our parent institution.

John Riser, M.S., Vice-Principal

John has a master's degree in production and operations from Georgia State University and earned his bachelor of science in management from Clemson University. John was awarded the Carl A. Bramlette, Jr. Scholastic Achievement Award for outstanding Academic Achievement in 2006. He manages the administration and development of all James Madison High School programs of study.

Lisa Rutsky, Vice-Principal of Instruction

Lisa Rutsky earned both a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master of education degree in school psychology from Georgia State University. She has more than ten years of teaching and course development experience in a wide array of courses at the high school, associate and bachelor's levels. In addition to her role at James Madison High School, Lisa teaches psychology and strategies for success as an online adjunct instructor at several universities. Her professional areas of interest include the pedagogy of online learning and providing students with optimal learning environments so they can achieve their academic goals.

Eric Ryall, Registrar

Eric earned a bachelor's degree from West Georgia University in 2004 and has been with James Madison High School since then. He looks forward to continuing helping students to enroll in the programs of study or individual courses they need in order to further their education and achieve their goals.

Kelsha Abraham, M.B.A., Academic Operations Manager

Kelsha earned her master's degree in business administration from Upper Iowa University in 2009 and her bachelor's degree in biological sciences from Clemson University in 2000. She has been a private tutor and also co-founded a nonprofit company focused on improving math results for Georgia students. She later achieved an advanced leadership position with AT&T. Kelsha is currently pursuing her doctorate in psychology, focusing on cognition and instruction. She supervises the academic services, grading and faculty contracting departments of James Madison High School.

Nicole Burris, Program Manager

Nicole has a bachelor's degree in psychology from New College of Florida. She has completed graduate level work in child development & family studies at Purdue University, and is currently working on her master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology at Capella University. She oversees the curriculum development process and manages course content for James Madison High School.

Melissa Maddox, Business Services Manager

Melissa is responsible for managing corporate partnerships. Melissa works with corporations such as Clorox, Verizon and Boeing, to meet any special billing or servicing needs of their employees. Melissa also serves as a liaison for our military students to assist with processing active duty tuition assistance, VA/GI Bill benefits, military spouse benefits and transfer credits.

 

Faculty

Sherri Billings, Instructor

Sherri earned her master's degree in teaching-mathematics, and bachelor's degrees in mathematics and computer science from Kennesaw State University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She has extensive experience teaching secondary mathematics, from pre-algebra to the university level, in various academic environments. In addition, Sherri has applied her knowledge of database software and systems in the corporate world.

Specialties: Algebra I, Algebra II.

Megan Bowen, Instructor

After graduating from Miami University in 1996 with a double major in English literature and secondary English education, Megan taught in Ohio's public school system before moving to Atlanta to teach in a private school.

Specialties: English, World Literature.

Bryan Carver, Instructor

Bryan Carver teaches James Madison High School science courses. Bryan holds a bachelor of science education degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to joining our faculty in 2005, Bryan taught for six years in the Georgia public school system in Atlanta and Savannah and has worked in the education field for 13 years.

Specialties: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physical Science.

Alicia Davis, M.Ed., Instructor

Alicia has taught all grade levels of English in the U.S. and in Korea, where she taught adult students and developed lesson plans at the International Language Academy in South Korea. Interacting with Korean teachers, she adapted the English language curricula and integrated multiple teaching styles to support a 'thinker-friendly' environment.

Specialties: English

Ingrid Herrmann, M.D., Instructor

Ingrid has more than 10 years of teaching experience in Biology, Chemistry, and, in addition to her teaching Biology at James Madison, she is a professor of microbiology and nutrition at Santa Fe College.

Specialties: Chemistry

Merrol Moore, B.S., Instructor

Merrol has more than 10 years of classroom experience teaching English and won the 2009 Fulton County Schools Collaboration Award. In addition, she is a member of Sigma Tau Delta (English Honor Society), Phi Kappa Phi and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Specialties: English

Andy Pasarilla, M.Ed., Instructor

Andy has distinguished himself in the classroom, receiving nominations for Teacher of the Year three times and is listed in Who's Who among American High School Teachers.

Specialties: Geography, Economics, American Government,

Leslie Retchko, M.A., Instructor

ALeslie's core belief is that every student has the ability to excel academically. She has more than 20 years of experience in teaching math and is one of the original teachers of James Madison.

Angela Ruff, B.S.E., Instructor

Angela has taught Spanish for over 20 years at all levels. She has spent time in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru studying the language, and has a passion for teaching..

Specialties: Spanish I, Spanish II, Spanish III,

Eric Schlegel, M.Div., Instructor

Eric has extensive experience in delivering differentiated math instruction to students utilizing a variety of assessment tools, technology, cooperative learning strategies, investigative learning activities, motivational strategies and questioning techniques.

Specialties: Math

Emily White, M.A., Instructor

Emily is also a graduate assistant at the University of South Carolina. She has a love for literature and is a passionate and imaginative communicator. She has taught Journalism and English in high school and college classes.

Specialties: English