Ms. Stiefel
Hi! My name is Ms. Stiefel! This will be my 13th year teaching. Throughout my career, I have primarily taught First Grade and Kindergarten. I love Kindergarten and all the exploring, learning, and fun we get to have! I have a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education K-6 with a concentration in Social Studies. I have numerous certifications in Social Studies, Language Arts,
Investigations Math, Professional Learning Communities and teaching Reading and Writing Workshop through Teachers College in New York. I LOVE to teach reading and Interactive Writing! I could teach them all day! I have a daughter in Eighth Grade at ICI. I have lived in the mountains for 16 years now and not a day has gone by where we have regret moving here. It is beautiful!! One of our favorite things to do is to day trip to a random small town, eat lunch at a local joint and walk their Main Street. Love it!
Ms. Hanna
In Kindergarten we play, laugh, and work hard. We read, listen and communicate. Throughout the year together, we will all learn and grow while we create lasting relationships. My journey with education started in Charlotte, NC, leading me to Asheville for college. I graduated from The University of North Carolina at Asheville with a major in Psychology. I also received both a Birth through Kindergarten and a K-6 teaching license. I continued towards a graduate degree, earning a Masters of Reading from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and an Early Education Administration Credential. I taught in Buncombe County Schools for four years. Three years in Kindergarten and one year in third grade. I joined the ICI family in 2015 and am proud to be here! Imagine’s atmosphere and staff personalities have made coming to work a lot more fun! I am a lead of the PBIS Committee and do all I can to help make ICI an amazing place to be!
Ms. Smith
l have the privilege to teach Kindergarten on an amazing team at ICI this school year. I call Texas home, but moved to the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina about nine years ago to teach Kindergarten in Black Mountain. Now, I can’t imagine living anywhere else! I graduated from The University of Mississippi in 2000 with a degree in Elementary Education. I have spent most of my teaching years in a kindergarten classroom, my favorite place to be! Building a classroom community full of kind and mindful individuals and eager learners is my passion. I love the outdoors, sunshine, photography, and hiking with my little dog, Scout. I truly feel lucky to be a part of the Invest Collegiate Imagine community!
Mrs. Ellis
Emmalee Ellis is from the east coast of North Carolina. She traveled extensively during her career as a elementary student and feels that the traveling experience highly impacted her love of learning. Emmalee Ellis attended Warren Wilson College and majored in Elementary Education. At Warren Wilson Emmalee spent a lot of time asking how and finding ways to encourage even the smallest students to take their educations into their own hands in order to really help them develop the mindset of a lifelong learner. This year will be Emmalee’s 7th year as a classroom teacher. She has had the challenge of teaching kindergarten, 1st grade, and exceptional children. Her diverse teaching history has led to a grad appreciation of each phase of learning. She is ecstatic to be working in the kindergarten classroom again!
Emmalee lives in East Asheville with her husband David and their dog, Sugar. They are expecting their first child at the beginning of November. On the weekends you can find the Ellis family out on the rugby pitch cheering on the Asheville Rugby teams. As a family they enjoy seeing live music, eating delicious food, and hiking.
Mrs. Nilo
My name is Rebecca Nilo. I have been in the education field since 2001. I have three children, two attend ICI the third is a future Champion at home with her grandma. I love theatre, the mountains, music, and my hubby’s cooking!
Ms. Ford (Kindergarten Assistant)
