Faculty and Staff

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.

Amber Sumners

Director of Curriculum Instruction & Student Support

office@doublehelixschool.com

Amber brings 15 years of rich experience in education, where she's worn many hats-from dynamic classroom instructor to trusted student mentor and team leader. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Mississippi University for Women and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Delta State University. In her classroom, Amber is known for cultivating a warm, structured environment where creativity thrives and students stay actively engaged. When she's not sparking curiosity in the classroom, you'll likely find Amber hiking through the north Georgia mountains with her wife, Sarah, their son Jack, and their beloved dog Fred-or relaxing at home, stitching together her latest sewing project while tuned in to a favorite podcast or audiobook.

Katie Quinn Shoeffner

Social Studies Teacher

kquinn@doublehelixschool.com

A lifelong artist and Athens native, she holds a BFA in Art Education from the University of Georgia. Her creative passions include drawing, painting, sculpture, and printmaking.

Before coming to Double Helix, Katie served as a long-term substitute art teacher at Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary and spent the past two years teaching Visual Arts at Hilsman Middle School. She brings a deep enthusiasm for creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on learning, and looks forward to exploring new ideas and projects with her students this year.

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

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

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.

Cindy Zelik

Math Teacher

czelik@doublehelixschool.com

Cindy is a new addition to the Double Helix family, bringing with her more than 30 years of experience in public education. Though recently retired from the classroom, she isn't ready to step away from teaching. She holds a Specialist degree in Teaching and Learning from Georgia State University, where she also earned her Bachelor's in Middle Childhood Education. She later completed her Master's degree in the same field at Brenau University.

Cindy is certified in Middle Grades mathematics, science, social studies, and language arts, and also holds both Gifted and ESOL endorsements. Her career spans DeKalb, Fulton, and Barrow counties, with the last six years spent at Clarke Middle School in Clarke County. While there, she served as a 7th Grade Team Leader and a member of the School Improvement Leadership Team (SILT) from 2021 to 2023. Since 2022, she has also led the 7th Grade Math Content Team and was selected for the district-wide Content Leadership Team (2022-2024), where she worked collaboratively to promote student-centered math instruction and maintain high expectations across the district.

Cindy lives in Athens with her husband, daughter, stepson, and two cats. In her free time, she enjoys relaxing with her family, solving New York Times puzzles, and reading.