Carrie Caldwell and Julie Grigsby are joining the Darlington Community as learning specialists in the Pre-K to 8 Teaching and Learning Center.
Carrie Caldwell has nearly 20 years of teaching experience, most recently in the Individualized Instruction Program at the Rectory School in Pomfret, Connecticut. She previously served as a lower school classroom teacher at Trinity School in Atlanta, the Nightingale-Bamford School in New York City, and the Stanwich School in Greenwich, Connecticut.
“Carrie is a Southern girl whom I hired to work at The Rectory School in Connecticut before we made the decision to return to the South. I have now hired her twice,” said Scott Greene, Teaching and Learning Center director. “Carrie is an experienced Orton Gillingham teacher who has worked with older elementary and middle school aged students. She loves teaching reading and supporting students who have challenges in literacy. She will work primarily with our fourth and fifth grade Accelerated Learning Program for Dyslexia and Learning Center students."
Caldwell holds a B.A. in History and Politics from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia and a Master of Arts in Teaching form Manhattanville College in Purchase, New York. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach and is working toward certification with the Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners and Educators. She is a member of the International Dyslexia Association and the Dyslexia Foundation.
“I am passionate about helping struggling students find success in their educational career as early as possible. It is vitally important to help students understand and own their unique learning profiles and to help them learn to advocate for their educational needs,” said Caldwell. “I am so excited to be coming to Darlington to help support the teachers who are utilizing Orton-Gillingham in their classrooms. I know that it has the potential to change the lives of students and their families.”
Julie Grigsby is coming to Darlington from Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School and has over 15 years of teaching experience, specifically with ages pre-K to first grade.
“Julie is the mother of a dyslexic student and she received her Orton-Gillingham training so she could support her own child's educational program,” said Greene. “Julie is moving from Atlanta where she has worked primarily with younger students and she will support the ALP and Learning Center students in all elementary grades.”
Grigsby holds a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education from Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee. She has recently completed The Complete Reading Series, a 70 hour comprehensive reading series that covered early literacy development, phonics, Latin and Greek, comprehension, learning disabilities and dyslexia. She has also been trained in Orton-Gillingham through the Georgia Educational Training Agency.
“I am looking forward to helping my students grow and develop as they move through their academic journey as learning specialist at Darlington,” said Grigsby. “As a teacher, I have always found such satisfaction in watching my students discover new learning and find great success in reaching their educational goals. I am equally excited to join the Darlington family and be surrounded by wonderful students, teachers and administrators in an energetic atmosphere where all students are encouraged to learn in a fun, supportive and nurturing environment.”
Grigsby and her husband Bob have three sons who will be attending Darlington in the fall: Walker (rising sophomore), Thomas (eighth grade), and Stewart (fifth grade).
