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Smart Diehl Academy
Our Team

Meet Our Staff

Get to know the exceptional educators behind our program. Dedicated, passionate, and committed to nurturing your child's growth and fostering a love for learning.

Ms. Connie

Ms. Connie

Preschool Educator & Homeschool Teacher

Preschool EducationHomeschool Teaching+2 more

Hello everyone!! My name is Connie Mullis and I am so excited to be a part of Smart Diehl Academy. My husband and I both have lived in Union County our whole lives and we have one son Jackson (12). We joke around that we essentially have a zoo with our dogs Loki and Doby, cats Corbin and Liam, our hognose snake Korra, ball python Diego, and leopard gecko Maki. Are we animal lovers? You betcha, we love them all!! I am a huge nature enthusiast and love to explore the woods and creeks with my son, being near water, kayaking/canoeing, and fishing. I also enjoy working in the garden, playing soccer, and spending time with family. For fun, we enjoy going to reptile shows, comic/hero conventions, playing games, and trying out new restaurants. All three of us share a mutual love of music and between us have quite an eclectic range. We have a banjo, a Merlin guitar, and a keyboard that we enjoy attempting to play. I come from a family of educators and musically gifted people, but when it came time for college my initial focus was psychology. I attended Wingate University for two years, completing general studies and several psychology courses, however at the end of year two, I knew my heart and brain were being led to pursue a different path. That fall I enrolled at SPCC, completed two years of study and graduated with my Associate of Science in Therapeutic Massage and enjoyed many years of work as a NC Licensed Massage Therapist. When it came time that we were ready to start our family, the need for more financial consistency and something less physically taxing took precedent. I graciously accepted a position at the family medical practice that I had worked for during college and spent cumulatively 10 years loving the front office roles I experienced. In 2014, when my twin nephews were born, my sister and brother-in-law began the search for a nanny to help with the boys and my 2 year-old niece. They needed an extra set of hands and I more than anything wanted to spend as much time as possible with my niece and nephews. I said goodbye to my medical practice family and went to be Nanny Aunt Connie. It became one of the greatest blessings in my life and I treasure the extra time I was able to spend with them. As the kids transitioned into elementary school, it was clear to me that I wanted to continue in childcare/teaching and applied for a Preschool Teacher position at Stalling UMC Preschool. I worked as a co-teacher in the 3/4's classroom from 2017-2020. It was such a fun and rewarding job, but unfortunately when the pandemic hit, the preschool ended up closing its doors for the year. With my job on hiatus and my son already at home on virtual school, we took it as a perfect opportunity to make the transition to being a full-time homeschool family and jumped in full force. Here we are three years later, so thankful we made the transition!! Fun Facts: We have a metal detector and I really enjoy going metal detecting. I love all things that have lemons or cows on them. I would love to visit Montana.

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Ms. Melissa

Ms. Melissa

Multilingual Education Specialist

Multilingual EducationEnglish Language Learners+3 more

I graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2013 with my Bachelor of Science in Education and my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. I continued onto Graduate School at Syracuse University where I graduated in 2014 with my Master's in Teaching English Language Learners. I moved to Charlotte in 2014 and started my teaching career with CMS. I taught for 7 years as a Multilingual Learner Teacher at Windsor Park Elementary in East Charlotte. In 2021, I transitioned to work for the CMS Central Office within the Learning & Language Acquisition Department as a Resource Teacher. Within this role, I supported and coached Title I Schools to effectively implement instruction for Multilingual Learners, led a team of 26 Bilingual Family Advocates across the district, and organized multiple family literacy and parent advisory meetings. I recently resigned from CMS to have a more flexible work schedule and to spend more quality time with my husband and 4 year old son! I am looking forward to more family time and sharing my passion for learning and literacy with the community! As a junior in college, I studied abroad in Costa Rica, where I lived with a host family and attended La Universidad Nacional as an undergraduate student for 5 months! Also, I used to be a ZUMBA instructor so I love to incorporate music and movement with my students! I am a very enthusiastic, passionate educator and am looking forward to meeting you all and fostering a love of learning in your children!

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Teacher Rachel

Teacher Rachel

Homeschool & Early Childhood Educator

GrammarProofreading+3 more

Mrs. Rachel has thirty years' worth of experience working with children in some form or fashion. She began homeschooling in 2010 and graduated her first child, who received a full-ride scholarship to his desired university, in May of 2023. She has been employed in the public school system in Head Start's early childhood program, in both after-school and homeschool programs, and as a private and group tutor. In one of those homeschool programs, she served as a lower school coordinator and also created an entire explorational/nature-based enrichment program for preschool through lower elementary school. Additionally, she has served in children's ministry both as a volunteer and as a member of the leadership team. To utilize her fondness for grammar and proofreading, Mrs. Rachel is also certified in medical transcription and editing but strongly prefers to share that fondness for all things grammar-related by teaching in a classroom setting. She is passionate about helping to inspire a life-long love for learning and reading in her students and is a firm believer that education should be fun, which is why including plenty of hands-on activities in all of her classes is a must. Most importantly to her, it's been Mrs. Rachel's lifelong mission to build children up, to help them see how smart and capable they are, and to spread the importance of kindness and compassion. Fun Fact: I am a superhero geek and a dog lover.

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Ms. Rebecca

Ms. Rebecca

Music & Theater Educator

Music EducationChorus+3 more

I graduated with a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from East Carolina University in 2016. I have taught Kindergarten-8th students in many facets over the past 7 years. I taught middle school chorus and general music in Onslow County for 1 year, elementary music and chorus in Burke County for 3 years and served as the director of the Prelude Choir with the Asheville Youth Choirs for 3 years. Most recently I spent 3 years at Thales Academy in Waxhaw teaching music and theater to students in grades K-8. I have a great passion for what I do and I'm so excited to begin this new chapter in my teaching journey! Fun Facts: I'm a new mom to a son, Cooper Bennett! We have 2 cats named Hank and Lilly! I met Ms. Jayme in college at ECU, where we sang together in The Magnolia Belles! What I want Parents to Know: I am excited to be offering elementary music classes as well as private lessons for all age students!

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Mrs. Scruggs

Mrs. Scruggs

Math Educator

MathematicsMiddle School Math+3 more

I have lived in or around Charlotte all my life, and I'm thankful that my family is all relatively close by. I graduated from Appalachian State University in 1999 with a degree in Mathematics, Secondary Education (Go Mountaineers!). I met my wonderful husband there, and we just celebrated 26 years of marriage. I taught high school math in public and private school before having children. When our children were coming along, we spent many years homeschooling, and eight years ago, I decided to return to the classroom to teach middle school math. I enjoy seeing students make the connections in their learning, and often break out in song in the classroom. I'm excited to apply my experience and knowledge to help more students develop their math confidence. I am currently teaching 7th grade math at a local middle school. I also have experience teaching 6th, 8th, and high school math.

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