Mrs. Connie

Hello everyone!! My name is Connie Mullis My husband and I both were born and raised in Union County, where we still reside with our son Jackson (15). We absolutely love our "zoo" of animals: two dogs Loki and Doby, cat Liam, our hognose snake Korra, 2 ball pythons Diego and Inara, and leopard gecko Maki. 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 all our family. We love pinball/arcade games, playing games together, going to reptile shows and comic cons. Music is a big part of our lives and we each enjoy an eclectic rainbow of music types. We also have a banjo, a Merlin guitar, and a keyboard that we enjoy attempting to play. My love of learning, teaching, and creative thinking is deeply rooted in family having many relatives that put their heart and soul into the lives of children and the communities around them. My teaching journey began at Stallings UMC, where I served as a preschool teacher from 2017 up until the pandemic when the preschool had to make the tough decision to temporarily shut its doors. It was a time where we all were trying to figure out what life needed to look like going forward and since we were already doing remote school, we took that as a perfect time to transition to a full-time homeschooling family. We are so grateful to have made the jump for our son who is in his 9th grade year at Cedar Lane Academy, our homeschool. The opportunities we have now to advocate for our child, make curriculum choices for his needs and interests, and the tremendous community of families and friends has provided such an awesome learning opportunity. Smart Diehl Academy is our second home, second family, and a treasured place where we both have thrived, grown, and learned so much through shared experiences. Teaching and working with all ages of kiddos, both at the Academy, and with the WildRoots Nature program, has been an absolute joy for me. We truly celebrate Jayme, Smart Diehl Academy, and the WildRoots program for opening so many opportunities, welcoming all learning styles, and helping so many kiddos find their love of learning.