University School of the Lowcountry © 2007 - 2025
Middle School (MS) Director, Math Department Chair
Born and raised in Indiana, Nicole graduated with a BS degree in Biology. Later in life, she followed her heart and went back to school to become a mathematics teacher. She graduated with honors from NC State with a BS in Mathematics and Education. Her teaching career spans over two decades of guiding children in public and independent schools. She joined University School in 2011. In addition to teaching, Nicole sponsors USL’s Chess Club and Math Club.
Due to USL’s hallmark individualized approach to mathematics education, as of 2023, she has led her students to eight State Championships (and two runners-up) in the last ten years at the SCISA State Math Meet. Nicole was honored as the 2017-2018 Middle School Teacher of the Year for South Carolina’s Independent Schools. Nicole was named the South Carolina Middle School Math Teacher of the Year (SCISA) for 2022-2023.
Nicole resides in Mt. Pleasant with her children, Evie and Riley. In her spare time, she can often be found at Starbucks tutoring, hanging with her children, golfing, or reading.
Middle School (MS) Science
Janice graduated from Georgia State University in Atlanta with a B.S. in Education and an M.Ed. in Middle School Education. She taught science for ten years in public and private schools. She took time off to raise her son all the while volunteering in many capacities. One fun role was being a Science Fair judge for sox years at the Gwinnett County Science and Engineering Fair. After launching her son to college, Janice moved to Charleston in May of 2024 and now joins our faculty at University School teaching middle grades science.
Janice lives in Charleston with her two dogs on the Wando River. She enjoys vegetable gardening, healthy cooking, dancing, and learning something new every day.
Middle School (MS)/Upper School (US) Humanities & Administrator
David is in his 31st year of education in public, private, and independent schools and has taught at the middle and high school levels. A native of Burlington, Iowa, where his parents still live, David earned a B.A. in History from Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa and an M.A.T. from Drake University in Des Moines. His recent experience at NOVA Middle School in Olympia, Washington made it possible to appreciate and love the small, independent school experience! David and his wife of 15 years are now empty nesters, having five children between the two of them. As new residents in Summerville, they are renovating his wife’s father’s house. In his spare time, David enjoys history of all kinds, reading, travel, trivia, and living vicariously through family.
Middle School (MS) and Upper School (US) Latin
Frank grew up in Northern Virginia and attended the Westminster School, an independent coeducational day school with an emphasis on the Classics. He continued his study of the Classics and Latin throughout high school and holds a B.A. degree in Classics and a Minor in Art History from Wake Forest University. At Wake Forest, he also studied overseas at Casa Artom in Venice, Italy. Upon graduation, he attended Florida State University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Classical Archaeology and his teaching certification. At FSU Frank was a graduate assistant for four summers at the excavations at Gaiole in Chianti, Italy, located between Florence and Siena. He has been teaching at the high school level, university level, or online for over 20 years. He currently is an Instructor and Department Chair for the North Carolina Virtual Public School.
Frank has been living in Charleston for almost five years after relocating from Raleigh, NC. He enjoys his family, traveling, and the water.
Director of Community Life
Tasha was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, SC, and is a lover of all things topped with sprinkles and near the water. She is a recent graduate of Winthrop University and earned a degree in Elementary Education. Her time as a swim coach for Snee Farm Swim Team is what drew her to a career in education. Tasha has experience in grades kindergarten through 8th, from several student teaching internships and fellowship programs in South Carolina and California. She also enjoyed teaching art and cooking classes to University School students on Zoom during the 2020 quarantine.
Outside of the classroom, Tasha loves to bake cookies and cakes, watch the sunset, and spend time with family and friends.
Upper School (US) Math, Red Cross Instructor, & School Testing
Tiffany Thompson grew up in Mount Pleasant and is very excited to be returning home after a few years away in Waynesville, NC. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Pure Mathematics at Erskine College. Tiffany realized that she loved to teach and decided to pursue education right away. She spent one year substitute teaching, as she was transitioning into married life in NC, then she taught seventh-grade math for two years in Canton, NC.
Tiffany was honored as the 2022-2023 High School Teacher of the Year for South Carolina’s Independent Schools.
Tiffany is married to her husband, Kirby Thompson, who is also a Charleston native. They have two young boys. In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys playing piano, swimming, playing with her two cats, and playing trivia.
For more on Tiffany Thompson, read Tiffany Thompson is USL’s 4th Teacher of the Year.
Middle School (MS)/Upper School (US) English
Sophia is a writer from Norris, Tennessee, a town with 1,400 people and zero stoplights. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and her M.F.A. in creative writing from Boston University, where she won the William A. Holodnak Fiction Prize. There, she also discovered her love of teaching.
Sophia moved to the lowcountry in 2022 and lives with her partner and cats in North Charleston. Before joining USL, she worked at Charleston County Public Library and as an adjunct English instructor at Trident Technical College. In her free time, she loves to oil paint, read, make bagels and watch motorsports.
Director of College Counseling
Though born in Charleston, Sara was raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She returned to the Lowcountry to receive her BA in English and Creative Writing from the College of Charleston before completing a Master of Fine Arts in Poetry from Columbia College Chicago. Following graduate school, Sara resumed managing Blue Bicycle Books, teaching a creative writing day camp for kids, Write of Summer, and began working with the University School. Additionally, she privately works with students in writing, test preparation, and college admissions.
Sara has been teaching middle and high school writing and English at USL since 2013. She was honored as the 2020-2021 High School Teacher of the Year for South Carolina’s Independent Schools.
Physical Education, Red Cross Instructor
Jennifer, or as friends refer to her, Jen, is a Maryland native and made her way to the Lowcountry in 2010. She graduated from St. Joe’s University in Philadelphia with a BS degree in marketing. While obtaining this degree she played basketball all four years for St. Joe’s Women’s Basketball team.
Jen was in sales for AT&T Business Solutions for a brief stint before realizing that her true passion was still basketball. She made a career switch and became an assistant coach at Long Island University for the women’s basketball program. After coaching for six years at LIU, she transitioned to Monmouth University and was an integral part of the Women’s basketball program for two years.
After the arrival of her second son, she decided to stay at home in order to spend more time with her kids. Her family relocated to the Lowcountry in order to be closer to extended family and enjoy warmer weather, and Jen has given private basketball lessons, organized kids’ camps, and coached elementary and middle school girls’ basketball.
She resides in Mt. Pleasant, and in her spare time, she enjoys hanging out on the beach, stand up paddle boarding, hiking in the North Carolina mountains and exploring all Charleston has to offer!
Intermediate School (IS), Middle School (MS), and Upper School (US) Spanish
María was born in El Salvador. She moved to Washington D.C and attended Radford University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. María returned to El Salvador to take a Lead Kindergarten teaching position at an English Immersion School. She married, returned to the US, and had three wonderful children. After starting a business with her husband and acting as office manager and a licensed insurance agent, María and her husband moved from Maryland to Mount Pleasant in 2021. She tutored and taught Spanish at The Learning Center and El Colegio Miercoles before joining USL. María loves sharing her language and culture. Her instruction includes visual, auditory, and tactile approaches to increase memory retention, understanding, and fluency. In her free time, María travels, visits area beaches, paddleboards, or spends time with family and friends.
Intermediate School (IS) Mandarin
Wei Ma was born and raised in China where she received her B.A. in Education. She immigrated to the United States in 1997 and received an A.S. from Santa Barbara City College (CA) in Office Management. Wei Ma has been teaching Mandarin Chinese to children in Charleston for several years. She is passionate about her teaching and believes learning the Chinese language and culture will give students more opportunities in the future.
Wei Ma is also the director of Charleston Chinese Language Center which offers one-on-one and small group lessons.
She likes to do Chinese calligraphy and Chinese folk dance in her spare time. She lives in West Ashley with her husband, Elijah Siegler, and two children, Lucy and Henry.
Intermediate School (IS) Math & Science and IS Co-Director
Jody Lemmon grew up in New Jersey, where she attended Saint Peter’s University, earning her BA in Elementary Education and American Studies. Since 2019, she and her family have called Charleston home. Jody joined the USL staff in 2023, and her math team students brought home the 1st Place trophy at the inaugural SCISA Intermediate School Math Meet.
Throughout her career, Jody has been a dedicated teacher with experience in both general and special education. She has served as a team leader at her previous schools. Jody’s diverse interests and passion for adventure are reflected in her teaching, where she encourages her students to think critically and approach math and science with creativity and wonder. She is excited to bring her enthusiasm and creativity to USL’s Intermediate School classroom and inspire students to reach their full potential.
Outside of work, Jody enjoys exploring her creative side through mixed media art and spending time with her family.
Head of School
Jason Kreutner, raised in Mount Pleasant and a current resident, is the founder and Head of University School of the Lowcountry.
As a leader who is also a faculty member, Kreutner teaches all students in Leadership and Life Skills, organizes and leads the weekly experiential learning activities, and coaches the Quiz Bowl teams. Prior to establishing University School of the Lowcountry, he was Dean of Students and then Director of Studies at Charleston Collegiate School, served as Upper School Dean and History Department Chair at Porter-Gaud School, and was Dean of Students and Humanities Instructor at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia, SC.
Read Jason’s complete biography for more on his background and accomplishments.
Intermediate School (IS) Humanities & English and IS School Director
Originally from Greenwood, SC, Nan received her B.A. in Public Relations and her M.A.T. from the University of South Carolina, where she was a South Carolina Teaching Fellow. Nan started her teaching career in Columbia, SC, and also taught the elementary grades in New Jersey and Maryland. She became passionate about the needs of high-achieving learners when she taught in the Center Programs for the Highly Gifted in Montgomery County, Maryland – a program designed to enrich, accelerate, and extend the district’s gifted curriculum. Nan has a special interest in how the brain learns and enjoys planning lessons that teach with the brain in mind. Formerly, Nan spent summers teaching a graduate course for educators on teaching and learning through movement.
Nan lives in Charleston with her husband, Jonas, and kids, Lila and Sam. She enjoys hanging with her family, being outside, reading, and cooking. She is thrilled to be a part of the USL community!
Upper School (US) German
Jake is a native South Carolinian: he was born and raised in Spartanburg. He decided to make his move to Charleston more permanent after graduating from the College of Charleston in 2019. Jake earned his undergraduate degrees in English with a concentration in creative writing and German as well as a degree from the school’s Honors College. While at C of C, Jake worked for Miscellany, the school’s undergraduate literary magazine for four years and served as Managing Editor and Editor in Chief his last two years. Jake also has articles and work published online through the Frankfurter Neue Presse based out of Frankfurt am Main, Hesse, Germany where he worked as an intern in the summer of 2018.
Outside of the classroom, Jake enjoys good coffee, loud music, weird movies, and weirder books.
Upper School (US) Director
A native of Nashville, TN, Claire attended Belmont University where she received both her BS and MAT degrees. She started her teaching career in Nashville before getting married and moving to Baltimore, MD. In Maryland, Claire continued teaching and moved into educational leadership roles. Her family relocated to the beautiful beaches of the Florida panhandle in 2015, where she worked at an independent school as the Head of the Upper School and faculty member. After becoming empty nesters, Claire and her husband continued south to St. Pete, FL where she worked as the VP of Education for the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg.
Both of Claire’s adult children have settled in the Charleston area, and now the entire Haas family will live in the same city!
Upper School (US) Chemistry & Physics
Heather moved to Charleston to attend the College of Charleston where she graduated from the Honors College with a B.S. in Biology and Secondary Education Certification followed by a M.Ed. in Math and Science education. She taught High School Science in Charleston for six years before finding her way to the University School where she became a Middle School science teacher. After teaching at USL for 6 more years, she stepped away from teaching to stay home with her children for a few years. Heather is excited to rejoin the faculty teaching Chemistry to the Upper School students.
Heather lives in Mount Pleasant with her husband Drew and their five children. She enjoys spending time with family, being outdoors (especially on or near the water), reading, and cooking.
Middle School (MS) and Upper School (US) Spanish
Monica was born in Acapulco, Mexico, and lived in many different cities within the country while learning local traditions. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Hospitality in Merida, Yucatán. After college, she moved to California where she started her own floral business, raised three beautiful children, and enjoyed all that California has to offer. She moved to the Lowcountry where she worked in the Spanish Immersion Program at the Learning Center in Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church. She fell in love with teaching Spanish and the traditions of the Latin culture. In 2012, Monica joined Charleston County School District where she taught Spanish (K through 5th). She served as a translator when school staff interacted with Spanish-only parents. Monica has also tutored students in Spanish since 2010.
Monica also has worked as a translator, interpreter, and legal assistant in an Immigration Law firm, helping the Spanish-speaking community to understand and follow US immigration laws.
She loves to cook and enjoy the beach with her family. Monica also has an enthusiastic positive attitude, living by this quote: “If you cannot find a kind person, BE ONE.”
School Counselor, Job Shadow Program
Winnie was born and raised in New Jersey and graduated with her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from Central Connecticut State University. While attending CCSU, Winnie played Division I lacrosse, interned with the local preschool, and volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club. Upon graduation, Winnie moved to Tennessee to earn an M.S. in School Counseling and to assist in starting the Division II Women’s Lacrosse team for Lee University. Winnie was the high school counselor and Head Girls Lacrosse coach at Peachtree Ridge High School in Suwanee, Georgia before moving to Charleston to be with her family. In Charleston, she was a school counselor at West Ashley High School.
In her spare time, you may find her walking the city, coaching lacrosse, or attending local concerts. Winnie has a huge passion for helping others and is excited to be a part of the USL community!
For more on Winnie Caetta, read For First Year Staffer, Winnie Caetta, Every Day is Different.
College Counselor
Recently retired from a 30-year career at the College of Charleston where he was Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions, Don Burkard is a member of the college counseling team at University School. His inside higher education insight along with his skills as a counselor combine to make him an invaluable aid for our students. Don especially enjoys focusing on the juniors and seniors and their journey to college and beyond.
Don resides in Mt. Pleasant with his wife Mary, and he enjoys traveling to explore and to see his three children and his grandchildren.
Director of Development
Christine is a Certified Fund Raising Executive with 17 years of nonprofit, marketing, and strategic planning experience. She has served as Development Director at the Alliance for Education and Pacific Northwest Research Institute in Seattle, WA, and at the Savannah Music Festival in GA. Prior to that, she served in various roles at Coastal Community Foundation.
A native of Pennsylvania she earned her B.S. from Philadelphia University, then earned a Masters in Public Administration from the College of Charleston. She was a Student Ambassador in Brazil with the Rotary Club and spent a semester in Italy.
Christine aims to connect people to what they are passionate about, keeping community improvement always top of mind.
She and her husband Brent and their two kiddos live on the Peninsula with their 16-year-old rescue dog, Daisy.
Email Christine Beddia at cbeddia@uslowcountry.org
We’re still thinking about our A Meal to Remember Gala and all the amazing food we had! One dish we just couldn’t get enough of? The Red Thai Curry Gnocchi from Chef Wyatt Gaus of Herbly Wonderful Culinary. 😍
Wyatt is a private chef based right here in Charleston, crafting personalized, sustainable dining experiences that are as thoughtful as they are delicious. We’re so thankful he shared his time and talent with us!
Be sure to check out Herbly Wonderful Culinary for a one-of-a-kind culinary experience made just for you. And stay tuned — we’ll be spotlighting more of the amazing chefs who made the night so special! ... See MoreSee Less
Thank you to all who came out to the Windjammer last Friday to send off our head cheerleader and celebrate her wonderful 9.5 years at East Cooper Meals on Wheels. We were so moved by the amount of volunteers that attended. We will miss you so much, Kelley and wish you the best on your next adventure! ... See MoreSee Less
What can we say? The first quarter of 2025 was so big that we are announcing THREE Volunteers of the Quarter! Meet the fabulously organized and funny trio: Donna Brenyo and Anne and George Durney.
If you haven't heard through the grapevine, our Annual “Meal to Remember” Gala was sold out and the most successful to date! And these three lovely individuals are a major reason why. This trio kept us on track by leading our Gala crew, obtaining lots of wonderful auction items and packaging everything beautifully for both live and silent auctions. The night of the Gala was no different. These three worked as hard as our staff, pouring their hearts into every single moment through the end of the evening.
Anne and George Durney have been with our organization since 2012. They drive Route 7 on their assigned Friday. They light up the room everywhere they go. George will tell you he does do just that AND you can have a 5 X 7 glossy of him, if you want! Anne is a true gem with a huge heart of gold. Once you get to meet her, you are friends for life.
Donna Brenyo is our paid with “hugs, jokes, coffee runs and dry humor unpaid/should be paid volunteer.” This gal continues to give our organization countless personal hours for the Gala. Additionally, Donna drives Route G for us on Wednesdays AND substitute drives when needed.
Thank you Anne, George and Donna for your dedication to serving our community! 🌟 ... See MoreSee Less
THE KELLEY SHOW IS COMING TO AN END!
What can we say about our 91/2 years with Kelley as our Volunteer Manager? You hear her before you see her, she’s always got an energetic and warm welcome for our volunteers, and she’s always looking for a “WOO WOO” from the crowd! She’s been our head cheerleader, jumping in on tasks not in her formal job description, and going above and beyond on so many occasions! Most importantly, she does whatever it takes to make our Meals on Wheels volunteer experience the best ever!
After an incredible adventure, we will be saying farewell to a truly remarkable lady whose energy and joy have been the heartbeat of our Meals on Wheels family. She has not only led with dedication but has made every volunteer feel genuinely welcomed and valued. Her infectious enthusiasm and happy spirit turned every gathering into a celebration and every challenge into an opportunity. Kelley has been the life of the party, the guiding light, and a friend to all.
Her legacy is the vibrant volunteer community she has built, all those smiles and laughs, and countless hugs. Thank you to Kelley for her unwavering commitment and for making volunteering a joyful experience for everyone. We will miss her sparkle but celebrate the lasting impact she leaves behind. We wish her all the best in her new adventure!
Now the fun part, finding our next head cheerleader to make sure our volunteer experience remains the very best! If you or someone you know might be a GREAT FIT, please look at the job description on our website and reply ASAP!
ecmow.org/who-we-are/our-people/ ... See MoreSee Less
As Volunteer Appreciation Week comes to a close, we want to say a big THANK YOU to our amazing volunteers! Every meal packed, every mile driven and every friendly visit brings care and warmth to our neighbors who need it most.
We celebrate you on this special week but we’re grateful for your support every single day. Thank you for being a helping hand in our community. ❤️ ... See MoreSee Less
VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION WEEK is in full swing and to our incredible team of over 350 volunteers: Your dedication to packing, delivering meals, and going above and beyond every day is the heart and soul of our Meals on Wheels program. You bring not only meals but also hope, companionship, and love to our homebound neighbors. We are deeply grateful for each and every one of you—THANK YOU for being the lifeline and light in our community. Together, we are making a real difference in the lives of those we serve! ... See MoreSee Less
We feel truly privileged to serve our homebound neighbors, especially during the holidays when connection and care mean so much. Delivering nutritious meals and friendly visits allows our volunteers to bring not only nourishment but also hope, joy, and a reminder that no one is alone. This Easter, as we celebrate renewal and new beginnings, we are grateful for the opportunity to support our recipients and share in the spirit of compassion and kindness that this season inspires.
Wishing all a blessed and joyful Easter! ... See MoreSee Less
We’re sending out some handmade Easter love today thanks to the ladies of the Sew Blessed Ministry at the Church of LifePark. We are grateful to share this special time with you through these handmade gifts. We are all sending love and smiles your way, Happy Easter! ... See MoreSee Less
Our numbers are UP! Almost half our calls now are medical referrals; people being discharged from the hospital after injury or illness who need meals during recovery! Life can change in a split second and we’re here for you! Call today if you or anyone you know needs meals and please remember, we serve ANYONE, regardless of age or income.
843.881.9350 ... See MoreSee Less
A huge THANK YOU to Sarah and everyone at Mount Pleasant Seafood! One of the ways we manage Gala costs and raise more funds for meals is through the generous in-kind support from our chefs, restaurants, caterers, and local businesses like Mount Pleasant Seafood who donated the oysters, shrimp, mussels, cocktail claws, and clams to make our VIP Seafood Tower Happy Hour truly memorable! We appreciate all you have done for us over the years and hope everyone will support those who have helped Meals on Wheels! ... See MoreSee Less
The numbers are in and our 2025 “A Meal to Remember” Gala and Auction was a huge success; best financial results in our history along with being an enjoyable evening with great people, food, and fun! THANK YOU all who helped make our event a success! ... See MoreSee Less
Our “Meal to Remember” Gala & Auction is the BIG event of the year at Meals on Wheels. We had a SOLD-OUT room this past Friday night, best food ever (including Josh from Lost Isle, Southern Livings Restaurant of the Year for 2025), so many smiling faces, and so much fun! Our team is still tabulating the final figures, but we appear very much on track to achieving our revenue goal of $300,000 with expenses below 20%. That should provide almost 70,000 meals for our homebound neighbors! THANK YOU to everyone who helped to make this event a huge success!
Everyone looked great, here are the photos!
meghanngregoryphotography.pic-time.com/qgBAZvIDOhD12 ... See MoreSee Less