Specialists

Meet the Team

Healthful Living (PE) - Sean Brady —pbrady@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter

Coach Brady: I am a K-12 Certified Health and Physical Education Teacher and have been teaching since 2000. I spent my first five years teaching Health and Athletic Training classes in High School and have been teaching Elementary PE since 2005. I love learning new things and find physical activity to be vitally important in my life. When not teaching at school, I can usually be found teaching fitness classes, rock climbing, or paddleboarding on Jordan Lake. As a Physical Education Teacher, I hope to help students find a passion for physical activity. I enjoy working with students helping them to discover and develop new talents. I try to create an environment where students can experience new activities and make them more efficient movers.

Degrees/Certifications: BS in Health and Physical Education, National Board Certified Educator in PE, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Media Specialist - Cheryl Strong  — cstrong@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter,  Clerical Assistant: Aimee Bryce

Ms. Strong: I am a 26 year Educator, teaching Self-Contained 5th Grade and Middle School Math, before serving as a Library Media Specialist for the last 21 of those years. I taught in 3 Texas counties prior to moving to North Carolina in 2022. My goal is to transform students into the best information consumers and producers they can be, while fostering a love of reading!

Degrees/Certifications: BS Accounting from Oklahoma State University ; MLS Master of Library Science - Texas Woman’s University

Media Center Clerical Assistant -- Aimee Bryce

Mrs. Bryce: I am so excited to be back at White Oak Elementary! I have lived in Cary for over 25 years with my husband, Brandon. We have two kids, Madison who is in college and Jackson who is a senior at Green Hope High School. I worked in publishing when I first graduated with a BA in English Lit and I love books! You can usually find me reading Science Fiction, but I will read any genre! I cannot wait to help your Explorers again this year!

Degrees/Certifications: BA English Literature

Art - Hollie Yates —hyates@wcpss.net

Ms. Yates: Hello! I am honored to be an art teacher at White Oak Elementary, where I have the opportunity to work with our vibrant school community and share my love and dedication to the visual arts. I am fortunate to teach visual arts to hundreds of children from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. Using my artistic skills to inspire and instill a love for the visual arts in each of my students is my true passion. Every day, I feel incredibly lucky to live out this passion and share it with my students.

I graduated from UNCG in 2018 and began my art education journey with WCPSS that same year, eventually finding my teaching home at White Oak Elementary in 2020. I live in Apex, NC, with my sweet dog, Margot. Outside of school, I enjoy going for walks, painting, grabbing coffee, reading, and traveling—especially on trips to Disney with my sister!

Degrees/Certifications: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education- University of North Carolina Greensboro

Music - Shelby Adkins —seadkins@wcpss.net

Mrs. Adkins: This will be my 9th year teaching music. I grew up in the Baltimore area, and my husband and I moved to North Carolina in 2020. My primary instrument is the trombone. In my free time I enjoy kickboxing, biking, watching TV, and playing with my dogs Nemo and Ezzie.

Degrees/Certifications:  Bachelor of Music Education with a minor in Music and human services from James Madison University. Master of Music Education from UNCG.

STEM - Stephanie Overton — soverton@wcpss.net — Website 

Mrs. Overton:  I am so excited to be your child's STEM teacher this year! I am originally from Hamlin, New York and spent my childhood on the shores of Lake Ontario. I have lived in North Carolina for over half my life and since beginning my own family, this is my "home." My family includes my husband, Reid, and twin Wolfpack daughters, Abigail and Maggie. We also have a dog, Marley, who identifies as a Bernese mountain dog, even though he is supposed to be a doodle -- he loves to shed and run in the sprinkler or run after and growl at robots I fix at home. I have taught almost every grade level K-8 including special ed and technology over the past 20+ years. In my free time I love spending time with my family, reading, working out, and being crafty. I am looking forward to getting to know all Explorers this year!

Degrees/Certifications: M.Ed. Special Education from University of Virginia, B.S. Elementary Education from St. Bonaventure University, National Board Certified Teacher in Literacy, LETRS Certified Teacher

Music - Caleb Autry —cautry@wcpss.net 

Mr. Autrey: My name is Mr. Autry and this is my second year teaching music at WOES! I graduated from Appalachian State University in 2023, and I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to teach students Kindergarten through 5th grade about the wonderful world of music!

Degrees/Certifications: Bachelors of Music in Music Education (K-12)

Art - Shannon Keller  -- skeller@wcpss.net — Website

Ms. Keller: I am super excited for another year here at White Oak Elementary and the opportunity to teach your children about ART! I have enjoyed art since I was a child and was inspired by my many fabulous Art teachers to turn this passion into a career. I believe Art is an important creative outlet for children that also helps to support their social and emotional learning. As a teacher, I want to inspire my students to express their individuality and have fun using their imaginations through art.

I am a native North Carolinian and I was born in a set of triplets! My concentration in art is drawing/printmaking but I also enjoy painting and using clay. I can't wait to see everyone again and have a fun time learning!

Degrees/Certifications: BFA in Art Education