School Speech 

Mrs. Blakeslee grew up in Fairfax, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. She enjoyed mud walks, exploring the creeks, bike rides, badminton, and ping pong with her brothers and neighborhood friends. She received her undergraduate degree in communication disorders at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. After working a few years at the State Department and local schools, she went back to school at James Madison University to obtain her master’s degree in Communication Disorders/Speech-Language Pathology. In her spare time, she likes to garden, read, explore and play with her two grandchildren.

My Play-losophy:

Working with young people is very rewarding, humorous and just plain fun! Growing up, I looked at life as an adventure, finding “fun” as we investigated the outdoors. I want children to be excited about their learning and the opportunities around them. Play, makes learning “stick”, providing opportunities to work, invent and play together, sharing varying ideas and opinions, growing in confidence, having a voice and remembering the things that you’ve learned.

Cross Categorical Resource (CCR) Teacher

Ms. Bryant grew up in the mountains of North Carolina in a small town called Sylva. She moved to the Raleigh area to continue both her academic and athletic career at NC State University. While playing on the varsity volleyball team for the Wolfpack, Ms. Bryant got her undergraduate degree in elementary education focusing on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) while also obtaining a license in special education for K-12. When she has free time, Ms. Bryant loves to go hiking, swimming, try new places to eat, and spend quality time with friends and family. Growing up, Ms. Bryant had teachers that had a huge impact on her learning experiences and motivated her to be a teacher and impact students' lives positively just like they did for her. Ms. Bryant is extremely excited to be at Powell and work with the children here to help them continue to learn and become the best version of themselves! 

My Play-losophy:

"Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury, it is a necessity." 

Play allows students to more freely express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Children can connect more personally to the world around them by having these play experiences that allow them to use all their senses, use their imagination, while also building on life skills such as communication, problem-solving, and growth mindset and attitudes. Play will be integrated into Ms. Bryant's classroom for all these reasons, but also because....who doesn't like to play! :)

Occupational Therapist

Physical Therapist

Cross Categorical Resource (CCR) Teacher

Anson Millard is a dedicated and passionate Cross Categorical Resource Teacher at Powell Elementary. Born and raised in Youngsville, North Carolina. Mr. Millard earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He holds certifications in Elementary General Education, Special Education, and Reading Education, allowing him to provide comprehensive support and instruction to students with diverse learning needs. During his time at UNC Charlotte, Mr. Millard chose to pursue a minor in Urban Youth & Communities to gain a deeper appreciation of the unique challenges faced by students in urban settings. Additionally, he minored in Reading, recognizing the crucial role literacy plays in empowering students and fostering their academic growth. He is committed to creating an inclusive and nurturing learning environment where every student feels valued and supported. Mr. Millard is dedicated to meeting the individual needs of his students, and is thrilled to be a member of the Powell family!

My Play-losophy:

Play is a way to understand the world around us. Play motives creative exploration of the rules and limits of our environment, and helps us to exercise our minds. Play teaches us how to collaborate with others, and provides opportunities to strengthen our connections with friends!

Cross Categorical Resource (CCR) Instructional Assistant