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Special Education
Meet the Team!
CCR - Megan Yourkavitch — myourkavitch@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Ms. Yourkavitch: Hi everyone! My name is Megan Yourkavitch and I am excited to be returning for my second year at White Oak. I am originally from Charlottesville VA and attended school at James Madison University. Although I'm not an ECU alum, I still represent purple and gold!! I enjoy seeing live music, spending time with friends, and exercising in my free time.
I'm looking forward to another great year with the amazing staff and students!
Degrees/Certifications: BS in Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies from James Madison University, MAT in Special Education General Curriculum k-12 from James Madison University
CCR - Nikki Hudson —tnhudson@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Ms. Hudson: Hello All! I am from Clarksville, TN. I am an Air Force Veteran and I have had the opportunity to live places overseas (Germany and Italy) and stateside (Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia and Illinois). I am the only girl of 4 (3 brothers). Mom of two (S-Jayvyn 16 and D-Nikia 22). My hobbies are spending time with family and friends, cooking, crafting, LEGO building for relaxation, traveling, reading, watching Japanese Animation, and Asian Dramas.
Degrees/Certifications: AA of Arts, BA of Humanities, and MDE Masters in Distance Education/E-Learning from University of Maryland
CCR IA -- Mrs. Bhavana Patil
Ms. Bee: I worked with an awesome teacher Ms. Kovacs last year. I am honored to get a chance to continue working at WOES. I live in Apex for last 4 years, I have two boys, Bhargav is a Junior at Green Level High school and Krishna graduated last year from WOES and is going to Mills Park Middle School. I love walking and enjoy beach trips. I am super excited to meet and work with the “Explorers“ at WOES.Degrees/Certifications: Bachelors in Accounting from Pune University
1:1 IA -- Ms. Kristy
Ms. Kristy: My name is Kristy Seaboch and I was born and raised in Wake County. I have been at White Oak for 5 years(although not consecutively); one as a parent and four as an employee. I have four children ages 24, 21, 19 and 15. The oldest works in the cyber security industry, one attends Wake Tech while working full time as a Salon Coordinator, one attends NC State and is a member of the marching band, and the youngest is a sophomore in high school. I love the beach, gardening and spending time with family, as well as knitting and crocheting. I am very excited to be working with your children here at White Oak and am positive that it will be a great year!
Degrees/Certifications: BS Child Development
ECS 1 - Jennifer Bennett — jgbennett@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter - Instructional Assistant(s): Padmaja Jonnalagadda
Ms. Bennett: Hello, my name is Jennifer Bennett, and this is my sixth year at White Oak Elementary. I am truly honored to be a part of your child's school journey! I am originally from Tennessee and prior to moving to North Carolina, I lived outside Boston for ten years and worked at a non-profit serving both children and adults with developmental disabilities. When not at school, I most enjoy spending time with my family, and my hobbies include traveling, being outdoors, watching sports (all Boston teams) and reading/writing. My heart's goal is to help students feel seen and heard and be empowered to become the best version of themselves, both academically and socially and emotionally. I am excited to be working with your child this year!
Degrees/Certifications: B.A. English Language and Literature
Ms. Jonnalagadda: Hi, My name is Padmaja Jonnalagadda and I go by the name Ms. J. I was born and raised in India. My husband works for SAS Institute and I have two awesome sons, both Juniors, at Appalachian State University and Green Level High school. I worked as a Substitute Teacher at White Oak Elementary and various other schools in and around wake county in the year 2018 and started as a full-time IA since 2019 at WOE and it's been wonderful working here ever since. I enjoy traveling, watching movies, shopping, hanging out with friends and family. I love Admin and the staff and I am looking forward to another great year at White Oak Elementary.
Degrees/Certifications: Masters in Commerce
ECS 2 - Michael Karon —@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter - Instructional Assistant(s): Kandy Osbourne
Mr. Karon: I am from Sudbury Massachusetts and went to James Madison University. I live in the North Hills section of Raleigh. I enjoy working out, playing sports, reading, and watching my Boston sports teams in my free time. I am a director at a boy's residential camp in Maine during the summer.
Degrees/Certifications: Bachelors of Science in Sports and Recreation Management. Working on Masters in Special Education
Mrs. Kandy: My name is Kandy Edwards, the kids know me as Mrs. Kandy. I was born and raised in Apex, North Carolina. My husband and I have four kids, two boys and two girls, who we live for! I graduated in 2020 with my Associates in Arts degree and I am continuing my education in early childhood as well. I love traveling, catching a good movie, and most of all spending time with my family! I have been apart of the ECS team here at White oak for almost four years and I wouldn't trade it for anything! I am so grateful to be a part of such a great team here at White Oak!
Degrees/Certifications: Associate in Arts
Speech - Marta Serrano —mserrano@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Ms. Serrano: I am so glad to be a part of the White Oak Staff again this school year! I have been working in schools, private practice, and hospital settings as a Speech Language Pathologist since 2001. I look forward to working with White Oak students this year and helping them with their speech and language skills.
Degrees/Certifications: MA Speech-Language Pathology/Communication Sciences and Disorders-University of Texas at Austin. BA Communication Sciences and Disorders-University of Florida. CCC-SLP Certification from the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA). Licensure from the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.
Speech - Katie Preston — cpreston@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Ms. Preston: I have been an SLP for many years and recently honored with lifetime membership in the American Speech, Language and Hearing Association. I have 3 children and now a beautiful grandson named Henry. I love to travel, engage in fitness activities, garden, knit, play the piano and read. I've been working in the public schools for nearly 10 years with White Oak as my base school for the past 3. White Oak is awesome!
Degrees/Certifications: Appalachian State University, BS Speech Pathology and Audiology, Northeastern University, MS, Speech Language Pathology, Lifetime Member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association.
Occupational Therapy - Aaron Russell — arussell@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Ms. Russell: Mrs. Russell has been an OT with Wake County Public Schools for several years and loves working with the families and staff at White Oak Elementary! When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
Degrees/Certifications: BA in Sociology from NC State, MS in Occupational Therapy from ECU
Physical Therapy - Michelle Bevil — mbevil@wcpss.net — Website — Twitter
Dr. Bevil -- I love helping students achieve mobility skills that improve their quality of life. When I'm not serving students I enjoy playing volleyball and attending Broadway shows. I live with my husband, 2 kids and Boston Terrier.
Degrees/Certifications: Bachelors in Science, Doctorate in Physical Therapy