Meet our team
Meet Our Middle School Teachers
Lead Teachers
Lisa Cottrell
Lisa is a 7th grade science teacher, mentor teacher, and lead teacher for Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) middle school. She joined OVCA in 2014 and has a Master of Education in literacy from the American College of Education. Lisa has certifications in early childhood education, elementary education, and middle level English.
Erin Goodridge
Erin is the music and art teacher at OVCA middle school, and she also serves as lead teacher. She joined the team in 2014, and has been teaching for 17 years. Erin holds a BS in music education, a BA in music with a flute performance concentration, and a MMEd from Lebanon Valley College. She holds certificates in early childhood and elementary education as well as in general, instrumental, and choral music for grades K–12. She has taught elementary and middle school band, choir, and orchestral ensembles. She is also certified in art and has taught elementary and middle school art for 10 years.
Middle School Teachers and Staff
Nicole Bryson
Nicole is a 6th grade ELA teacher and is in her rookie year with OVCA. Before joining the team, Nicole taught for 15 years at the high school level, including English 9–12, Spanish levels 1–3, AP® literature and composition, ELL, alternative school ELA grades 9–12, and she was a yearbook advisor for 14 years. Nicole earned her BA in education and her MEd as a reading specialist from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Cindy Coleman
Cindy is in her first year as an 8th grade science teacher at OVCA. She has a 20-year career teaching high school and middle school science. Cindy received her Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University and holds a total of seven Oklahoma teaching certifications. Cindy and her husband of nearly 35 years have two adult children and three beautiful grandchildren. Her passion for teaching is shared among her hobbies of reading, crocheting, and watching her alma mater play football and basketball.
Marie David (Moery)
Marie is a 7th and 8th grade math teacher who joined the team this year. She brings 12 years of teaching experience with high school and adult students in the Oklahoma Public School and career tech systems. She earned a BS in social science from St. Gregory's University. She holds certificates in advanced mathematics, psychology/sociology, and mid-level social studies.
Trina Driver
Trina is a 6th grade science teacher who joined the team in 2013. She has 15 years of experience teaching science. She earned a BA in sociology/criminology at the University of Oklahoma and her MA in teaching, learning, and leadership-curriculum from Oklahoma State University. She holds certificates in early childhood, elementary education, mid-level social studies, and grades 6–12 earth science. She is a volunteer for the American Cancer Society.
Jenny Holliday
Jenny is a 6th grade history teacher who joined the team in August 2018. She brings 14 years of teaching experience OVCA. Jenny taught for three years in Texas and seven years in Oklahoma before pursuing a teaching job overseas for four years. While overseas, she taught English, math, and science to Arabic-speaking children. Jenny earned her BS in early education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She holds a certificate in early education for grades 1–8.
Sara Jackson
Sara is a 7th grade language arts teacher who joined the team in 2016. She brings seven years of experience in education, community service, and professional development. Sara earned a BA in English from the University of Central Oklahoma and holds a teaching certificate in secondary English (grades 5–12).
Meagan Kieslich
Meagan is a 7th grade teacher who joined the team in 2018. She has more than 10 years of experience in education. Meagan earned a Bachelor of Science in education from Northeastern State University.
Elizabeth Kirk
Elizabeth is a 7th grade math teacher with OVCA. She has been teaching math and been in education for more than 16 years. Elizabeth earned her BA in education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She holds a certificate in middle level mathematics and health/physical education.
Allison McCartney
Allison graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2009 with her master's degree in mass communication. She worked in public relations for two years before teaching and is certified in math and English. She taught five years in Putnam City and Edmond schools before coming to OVCA, where she is in her third year teaching 8th grade English. She has taught anywhere from 6th grade math to 12th grade AP® English and was also a newspaper adviser. She is currently working on her PhD at Oklahoma State University. Go Pokes!
Pamela Morgan
Pamela is an 8th grade ELA teacher who joined the team in 2018. She brings more than 18 years of experience in education, higher education, and community service. Pam earned a BA in education from Northeastern State University specializing in language arts and history. She holds certificates in elementary education, grades 6–8 language arts, and 6–8 social studies.
Cindy Mullins
Cindy graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's degree in early education and middle school social studies, and she holds a master's degree in teaching and educational leadership. This is her eighth year with OVCA. She is currently teaching 8th grade American history. Before coming to the virtual world, she taught 21 years in Oklahoma brick-and-mortar schools.
Amanda Schmidt
Amanda is the OVCA middle school Spanish and physical education teacher. She has been with OVCA since 2014 and taught 2nd grade for several years prior. She earned an early education degree from East Central University in 2008. She then studied Spanish for a year abroad in Costa Rica and added a Spanish teaching endorsement (preK–12th grade) to her teaching certificate upon her return.
Jennifer Sissom
Jennifer joined the OVCA middle school team in 2014. This year, she is the middle school math interventionist and a mentor teacher. This is her 17th year of teaching. Jennifer completed a BS in chemistry and mathematics in 1996, and an MS in science education in 2018. She is certified to teach mathematics, science, and special education.
Jessica Smith
Jessica is the 6th grade middle school math teacher for OVCA. She has been teaching since 2001. She taught math at Western Heights Middle School for two years, then took a year off when she had her first baby. She ended up at Riverside Elementary and taught ELA for 14 years before leaving brick-and-mortar schools for OVCA. She received her national board certification as well.
Theresa Thompson
Theresa is a 6th grade math teacher. She joined OVCA in 2018 after teaching at community college for 17 years and one year of teaching English online to students in China. She holds a BS in mathematics education from Northeastern State University and is currently one semester away from her MS in mathematics education. Theresa holds certificates in mid-level math, intermediate mathematics, and advanced mathematics.
Ginger Trouba
Ginger is a 7th grade geography teacher who joined the team in 2011. She earned her BS from Northeastern State University and became a certified academic language therapist in September of 2016. She is considering pursuing a master's degree in reading or special education.
