I've was a substitute teacher for WCPSS for 7 years. I've worked in various grades and subjects during that time. I attended Western Governors University and studied Interdisciplinary Studies K-8. I'm an avid reader and love "chick lit" and history books. I love watching my Carolina Panthers and Coach Cutcliffe and the Duke Blue Devils football in the fall. During the winter you will find me watching Coach K and my Blue Devils. I'm a die-hard Lakers fan and I have been since a kid. During the spring and summer, I cheer on the Atlanta Braves. I'm married to my high school sweetheart and have 2 kiddos. My oldest, Hunter Elizabeth, is a sophomore at App State and my youngest, Cameron Dean, is in 9th grade. I attended WCPSS from K-12 when I was a kid. I attended Wake Forest Elementary and Wake Forest-Rolesville Middle and Senior High schools.

I'm #StoughProud because: Stough is very much a family and they have amazing students.

Damon is a Raleigh native and entering his 6th year as a 5th grade teacher and his fourth with Stough. Damon studied film and audio production at UNCG, then received a Masters Degree in Elementary Education at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Outside of school, Damon enjoys disc golf and performing music with his band at local restaurants in the Raleigh area. He will often bring music into the classroom via his ukulele. Damon wants to instill a classroom that is joyful, creative, and collaborative; built on kindness, compassion, respect, and honesty. He thrives on making each day interesting, fun, and enlightening for students.

I'm #StoughProud because: Students at Stough are the best! I enjoy walking through the halls and talking with every kid! I also thoroughly enjoy working with my colleagues. They are supportive and fun!

Hello! My name is Karen Dasanaike and I teach ELA on the fifth grade immersion team. This will be my third year at Stough, my 19th year teaching in Wake County, and my 22nd year in North Carolina. I am a graduate of Nyack College in Nyack, NY and I have my master’s in reading from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC, Canada. I am originally from the great little state of Rhode Island and spend part of every summer back in the Ocean State. I have two kids in college this year. Emmy is a junior at UNC Chapel Hill and Noah is in his 2nd year in the PhD program at Harvard. We have a fabulous golden retriever named Trixie Rose who loves bunnies, pancakes, and naps. I am very excited to be a part of the Stough family this year!

I'm #StoughProud because: I am so excited to have the opportunity to focus on ELA, science and social studies...no fractions for this teacher! Also, my teammate Lee Li makes every day at Stough a happy place to be!

Ms. Cuiyun Li is from Guangdong, a beautiful place in southern China. She received her undergraduate degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language from China. This is her 12th year being a Chinese dual language teacher, and her 7th year in the Chinese immersion program in the United States. She looks forward to her second year in Stough.

Ms. Li believes that students learn best when they are intrinsically motivated. Her goal is to build a comfortable and enjoyable environment for her students, and guide them to success.

Ms. Li loves to travel and she plays tennis all year long in her spare time.

I'm #StoughProud because: Stough offers me a chance to teach the Chinese language and culture, and there is an amazing team I work with here in Stough.