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Faculty and Staff

Administration

Sheila Coffeen

Director of Operations & Development Algebra I Teacher

Sheila Coffeen

Director of Operations & Development Algebra I Teacher

scoffeen@doublehelixschool.com

Before becoming the director at Double Helix, Sheila received her Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management and Insurance from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia. After having children, she began her journey into the classroom, first at Winterville First Baptist Church, where she taught preschool for three years, then as a 2nd-grade assistant teacher at Athens Academy. This is where she determined that teaching was her passion and she returned to UGA to complete her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2018. She immediately joined the Double Helix team, where her son was enrolled and has loved serving every day since. Sheila holds both a teaching and a leadership certificate from the State of Georgia. She also holds an endorsement in Dyslexia with a focus on the Orton Gillingham approach to reading instruction. Her specialized training includes educational leadership, multi-sensory math, project-based learning, and writer’s workshop. Sheila lives in Winterville with her husband Rob and two children, Courtney and Davis.

Renee Kopcha

Director of Curriculum Instruction & Student Support

Renee Kopcha

Director of Curriculum Instruction & Student Support

rkopcha@doublehelixschool.com

Renee joined Double Helix in 2021 with over 13 years of experience in both public and private education. She has taught all subject areas in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades and has also served at the district level as a Curriculum Facilitator. Renee's passion is creating dynamic and supportive learning environments that engage all students. Her specialized training encompasses the areas of curriculum design, school improvement, new teacher induction, English language learners, teaching reading, writing, and mathematics, best practices in teaching, and technology integration. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from Boston University, an MA in Education from the University of New England and a Leadership Certificate from Georgia Southern University. Renee lives in Bishop with her husband TJ, who is an Associate Professor in Learning Design & Technology at UGA, and two children, who are quintessential Narwhals.

Teaching Staff

Maryn Whitmore

Social Studies Teacher

Maryn Whitmore

Social Studies Teacher

mwhitmore@doublehelixschool.com

Maryn Whitmore has been teaching children in some shape or form since the age of 16. She joined Double Helix as a full-time Social Studies teacher in 2021 with over 25 years of experience as a movement educator devoted to shaping space for humans of all ages, giving them an outlet to express themselves on and off stage and feel better in their bodies. Through art making, self-discovery, and staying curious, Maryn is committed to a creative life and educating the whole human. Maryn holds a BA in Dance Education from UGA and is a certified Pilates instructor. She has been a part-time faculty member in the UGA Department of Dance, founded Skwhirlhaus, a backyard stage in Atlanta, co-founded NIMBL new movement + performance space, toured the US as a musician and performing artist, and now performs regularly as part of the Small Box Series here in Athens. Maryn lives in Jefferson with her partner, Matt, and their two daughters. She is excited to continue teaching Social Studies full-time at Double Helix and to be a part of such an incredible group of humans learning together and engaging in the creative process.

Deisy Camacho

English Language Arts Teacher

Deisy Camacho

English Language Arts Teacher

dcamacho@doublehelixschool.com

Deisy joined the Double Helix family in 2022. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from The University of Georgia and has completed her Masters in Elementary Education as well as an ESOL endorsement. She has experience as an after-school teacher, tutor, translator, and children’s ministry leader. Deisy believes that her role as a teacher is to assist each child in developing their own potential and learning styles by providing a stimulating and accepting educational environment where they can grow physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. Her fresh ideas and perspectives, positive rapport with the students, and high expectations have made her an invaluable member of our team.

Kimberly Curlee

Science Teacher

Kimberly Curlee

Science Teacher

kcurlee@doublelhelixschool.com

Kimberly joined the Double Helix family in 2022. She holds a BS in Elementary Education from The University of Georgia and has experience working with neurodiverse learners including students with ADHD, learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and speech/language impairments. Kimberly has worked with children in many capacities, including as a Quarantine Learning Facilitator, after-school counselor, camp counselor, and nanny. She believes that each student is unique and that it is her responsibility to find out how each child learns best in order to set them up for success. Kimberly enjoys discovering how each student’s existing knowledge and strengths can complement our classrooms and learning initiatives. Her hardworking nature, creative skills, and commitment to developing the whole child have made her an asset to our students and we look forward to seeing her shine in her new role as Science teacher.

Shin Law

Math Teacher

Shin Law

Math Teacher

slaw@doublehelixschool.com

Shin joined the Double Helix family in January 2023, bringing with her a wealth of experience and knowledge. She holds a Masters of Teaching in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia, a Masters in Literary and Cultural Studies from the University of Hong Kong, and a Bachelors of Business Administration from the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology. Most recently, Shin taught 4th grade in Clarke County School District. During that time, she served as the District Level Mathematics Representative for Upper Elementary where she worked to improve math instruction by providing guidance and insight in the areas of curriculum design, instructional materials, instructional practices, assessment, and implementation of the state math standards. Shin is dedicated to helping each child reach their full potential by providing engaging and challenging lessons that will nurture their academic growth. She is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, and Indonesian, as well as English. In her spare time, Shin enjoys rock climbing, woodworking, crafts, literature, music, and dance.