University School of the Lowcountry

Nicole Brockman

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. 

Email Nicole Brockman at nbrockman@uslowcountry.org

Frank Williams

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.

Email Frank Williams at fwilliams@uslowcountry.org

Tasha Tirpak

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.

Email Tasha Tirpak at ttirpak@uslowcountry.org

Tiffany Thompson

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.

Email Tiffany Thompson at tthompson@uslowcountry.org

Sara Peck

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.

Email Sara Peck at speck@uslowcountry.org

Jen Payes

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!

Email Jen Payes at jpayes@uslowcountry.org

Wei Ma

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.

Email Wei Ma at wma@uslowcountry.org

Jody Lemmon

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.

Email Jody Lemmon at jlemmon@uslowcountry.org

Nan Kleiner

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!

Email Nan Kleiner at nkleiner@uslowcountry.org

Jake Keim

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.

Email Jake Keim at jkeim@uslowcountry.org

Heather Connelly

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.

Email Heather Connelly at hconnelly@uslowcountry.org

Monica Doubal

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 5^th). 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.” 

Email Monica Doubal at mdoubal@uslowcountry.org

Winnie Chapey

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.

Email Winnie Chapey at wchapey@uslowcountry.org

Don Burkard

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.

Email Don Burkard at dburkard@uslowcountry.org

Christine Beddia

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