Hi, I'm Miss Branch! I cannot wait to get to know you and your child this year! I grew up in Lumberton, NC & attended Meredith College (go angels!) as a Teaching Fellow. After attending Meredith, I knew I wanted to stay in the Raleigh area and was fortunate enough to begin my teaching career at Joyner. This will be my 8th year learning and growing as an educator at Joyner! When I'm not teaching, you can find me taking my lab mix Millie on walks, reading on my kindle, shopping, wedding planning, and spending time with my family and friends. I look forward to our partnership as we help your child succeed and grow this year! 

My name is Nelly Gerew and this is my 19th year teaching. I spent part of my childhood in Las Vegas, Nevada, but I have lived in NC for the past 30+ years. I graduated from Meredith College with a B.S in Child Development and Birth-6th Teaching License. I received my Masters in Reading Education from East Carolina University and also was able to obtain my National Board Certification. It has been a pleasure working for Wake County Public Schools for the past 18 years with this being my first year at Joyner Elementary. When I am not teaching, I love spending time with my husband, Mike, and my daughter, Caroline. I also love traveling, running, reading a good book with a nice cup of coffee, hiking, and watching my favorite teams play. I believe in creating a fun and nurturing environment where we can learn and grow together. 

Hi! I’m Sydney Mawyer and I am so excited to join the Joyner Magnet Elementary family! I am originally from Northern Virginia, and moved to North Carolina for college at ECU and have been here ever since! This will be my fourth year teaching in WCPSS, and third year teaching first grade. Outside of work, you can find me going for walks, going to the lake or the beach, or trying new restaurants or coffee shops! I cannot wait to get to know you and your children, and I’m looking forward to a great year!

My name is Kate Mitchell, and I am a 1st grade teacher at the JYJ! I absolutely love working with children and have been doing so for 20 years! The majority of that time at Joyner! I am from Halifax, Virginia, and I went to high school here in Raleigh at St. Mary’s. I graduated from the College of Charleston in South Carolina in 1997 with a BA in Theatre Arts. I started teaching in 2002. I can’t imagine doing anything else with my life!

For fun, I train train train for Triathlons and completed my first Half Ironman in the Spring of 2017. I train for full marathons and triathlons and love fitness in general. I enjoy bringing fitness into my classroom! I also love to travel and hope to see as much of the world as possible.

The children I meet each year bring so much joy to my life, and I look forward to what the future holds!

Hi, I’m Liz Newton and I am so excited to be joining the Joyner family! I was born and raised in Raleigh, and went to UNCW where I received my degree in Elementary Education and English as a Second Language. I then went on to get my National Board Certification! I have 7 years of experience teaching first grade, and 2 years of experience teaching 2nd grade. I truly believe that I was meant to teach, and I am so happy in my classroom learning together with my class family! Outside of school, you can find me at a concert, renovating different parts of my house, walking, cooking, and spending time at the beach. I am so excited to begin my Joyner journey!

Hi! I'm Allie Tippin and I am thrilled to be joining the Joyner community! I grew up in Efland, North Carolina and attended Appalachian State University (Roll 'Neers!) where I recently graduated with my degree in Elementary Education. Outside of school, I love spending time outside, traveling the world, trying new recipes, or curling up with a good book. I am looking forward to working together and having a wonderful year in 1st grade!