• Meet Our Fifth Grade Teachers

     

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Ms. Jones

Fifth Grade Track 1 (right)

Class Website

eMail: mjones1@wcpss.net

Hello! I am super excited to start another school year at Olive Chapel! I have been teaching since 2000. I have taught both 4th and 5th grades. I graduated from UNC-Charlotte in 1999 and taught 4th grade in Troutman, NC for three years before moving to Raleigh. I have been at OCE since 2003 and cannot imagine teaching anywhere else. I absolutely LOVE being a teacher! I live in Apex with my husband, Jerame, and our two daughters, Indiana and Harper.  My husband is a Regional Vice president for Holman (formerly Leith Cars). We have two dogs, CHUCK and QUEEN JONES! I LOVE to RUN! It is one of my favorite ways to start my day. I usually run about 3-5 miles every morning before school and then on the weekends I run anywhere from 5-10 miles. I enjoy participating in 5ks, 10ks, and half marathons as well. I ran my first MARATHON last year! I am also one of the teachers in charge of Landlubbers here at OCE. Helping people to love running has been so rewarding for me. I recently started riding my bike to try something new and I love that as well! I also love to read, shop, and hang out with my friends and family. Coffee is my most favorite thing! Our family roots for the WOLFPACK, but I will always be a Blue Devil at heart (I had open heart surgery at Duke Hospital.) I am officially the worst cook ever, so we eat out A LOT! I am very excited to co-teach with one of my most favorite people this year (MRS. McCARTY!) and I can’t wait for a year full of learning and FUN!

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Ms. McCarty

Fifth Grade Track 1 (left)

Class Website

eMail: rmccarty@wcpss.net

I'm Mrs. McCarty, and I can’t believe I am about to begin another year of teaching here at Olive Chapel! This is my favorite place, and I can’t imagine being part of a better team. Besides teaching, one of the most important things to me is my family. My husband and I moved to Apex in 2006 and started our family here. We have two sons, Riley and Jax, who love to play video games and soccer. As a family we LOVE to travel, especially to places we have never been before. We hope to make Italy our next big trip. We have 1 dog named Hazel that was adopted from Saving Grace Rescue. I am a math and science teacher, but I love to read. Most students know me as a HUGE Harry Potter fan. It might be my favorite series EVER, but I also love to read other fantasy novels (the Gregor the Overlander series), realistic fiction (Wonder), and any kind of mystery. I may be the math teacher, but reading is a passion too! Since I live in Apex, there is a good chance I’ll bump into you at a soccer game, Target, or one of the many other places in town.

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Ms. Pittman

Fifth Grade Track 1 (center)

Class Website

eMail: sppittman@wcpss.net

I am thrilled to begin my fifth year as an Olive Chapel Clipper!  In the spring of 2019, I graduated from Meredith College with a degree in Dance and a K-6 elementary teaching license.  I love the students, faculty, and atmosphere of OCE and I’m grateful to spend another year here!

I grew up at the Outer Banks here in North Carolina, so our family loves the beach.  We enjoy boating most weekends in the summer too!  Now, I live in Cary with my husband, Colby, and our miniature dachshund named Olive, who we adore!

Dance and education are the two things that I’m most passionate about.  Because of this, I love to incorporate the arts anywhere I can.  I enjoy having the students moving and I take advantage of any opportunity for creativity in the classroom.  

Outside of teaching, I love shopping, being outdoors, and spending time with my friends and family.

I could not be more excited for all the new adventures we will have this school year.  I am so excited to meet you all and fill our school year with learning and fun!

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Mr. Hermanson

Fifth Grade Track 2

Class Wesbite

eMail: bhermanson@wcpss.net

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”- Pele. My name is Mr. Hermanson and it is my pleasure to welcome you to your new fifth grade classroom! That opening quote by the great soccer player Pele will set the tone for our coming school year. I hope that you come to school this year expecting it to be the best you could ever imagine. Just a little about myself: I was born in Michigan and moved here from Texas. I love my Michigan sports team (Go Blue!) and I am excited about starting my 5th year at Olive Chapel Elementary.

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Ms. Sullivan

Fifth Grade Track 3

Class Website

eMail:lesullivan@wcpss.net

I am so excited for this new school year and all the fun we're going to have! I can’t wait to get to know each of you and make this year one to remember.
 
This is my ninth-year teaching, and I’ve spent all of those years right here in 5th Grade at OCE. I graduated from Meredith College in 2017 with a degree in Child Development and my Elementary Teaching License. I absolutely love teaching 5th Grade—it’s such a fun and exciting year filled with so many new things to learn.
 
When I’m not at school, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, relaxing at the pool or beach, and exploring all the wonderful places North Carolina has to offer. I also love to read, especially outside in the sunshine—Downtown Apex is one of my favorite spots to curl up with a good book. Apex has been home for most of my life. In fact, I was once a student at OCE myself—and I loved it so much, I came back to teach here!
 
I’m so excited to meet you and can’t wait for all the learning and laughter we’ll share this year!

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Ms. Christensen

Fifth Grade Track 4

Class Website

eMail: mchristensen@wcpss.net

My name is Mrs. Christensen, I will be your teacher for this school year. This is my fourth year at OCE and my 18th year in education. Before coming to Olive Chapel I was teaching at Virginia Cross Elementary which is in Chatham County. While I was there I taught 5th grade, 4th grade and ESL to 2nd and 3rd graders. I am originally from Pennsylvania and I am a fan of all Pittsburgh Sports. I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with my undergrad in Elementary Education with a concentration in reading. Later, I returned to get my Masters in School Counseling at West Virginia University. I live in Holly Springs with my husband Dave, my two boys, Landon 9 and Grayson 8 and our dog Cinnamon. As a family we actively volunteer and foster dogs with Cause for Paws NC.

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Ms. Martin

Fifth Grade Track 4

Class Website

Email: mmartin2@wcpss.net

My name is Ms. Martin. I have been teaching since 1997. I began my career in New Jersey, where I was born and raised, but have been teaching in NC since 2006. I have been at OCE since 2024, and I am really enjoying it! I have taught first, second, third, fourth, and now fifth grades (in that order). I graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, with my undergrad in Elementary Education and Cognitive Studies. I also have my Masters in School Counseling from Long Island University. I love sports, but especially when I get to watch my kids play. I also love to travel, read, and spend time with family and friends, especially at our beach house right here in NC. I live in Apex with my husband, Marcus, our three girls, Reilly, Sydney, and Gabriella, and our dogs, Remy and Zoey.