Faculty Gallery

Kelly Fischer graduated from Anderson University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science degree in both Mathematics and Secondary Education. She holds a Master of Arts degree in Mathematics Education from Western Governors University. Kelly taught at J.L. Mann High School and Greenville Technical College as an adjunct professor before joining SC Governor's School for Arts and Humanities. While at J.L. Mann High School, she taught in the New Tech Network. Kelly's experience in the New Tech program helped her develop a passion for making math fun and engaging through projects and real life experience. Kelly pulls from her own experience with art, music, literature, and traveling to create cross-curricular connections in her instruction. Kelly loves to spend time hiking, baking, volunteering in the community, and learning new things. She is excited to teach students that have a passion and love for the arts and humanities.

Anna Katherine Freeland completed her BA In English at Converse College and earned her MFA from Pacific University. She co-founded The Writers Block Project and taught literature and creative writing in maximum security prisons for nine years. Her work has appeared in Didn’t See It Coming, The Emrys Journal, Talk, AtHome, and is forthcoming in Passenger Journal. She taught Sophomore English, AP English Language, and Senior English as a long-term substitute in 2020 and is thrilled to begin as permanent faculty.

Anna Katherine Freeland completed her BA In English at Converse College and earned her MFA from Pacific University. She co-founded The Writers Block Project and taught literature and creative writing in maximum security prisons for nine years. Her work has appeared in Didn’t See It Coming, The Emrys Journal, Talk, AtHome, and is forthcoming in Passenger Journal. She taught Sophomore English, AP English Language, and Senior English as a long-term substitute in 2020 and is thrilled to begin as permanent faculty.

Rusty Godfrey has taught social studies since 1992. A native of Greenville, Mr. Godfrey attended Furman University, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in History in 1991. In 1998, he earned a Masters in Education degree from Clemson University. He joined the faculty of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities in 2002 after a decade at J.L. Mann High School in Greenville. He successfully completed the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification process in the fall of 2004 and was re-certified in 2014. Mr. Godfrey is also a licensed local pastor of the United Methodist Church since 2015, and he is working on the required course of study at Duke Divinity School.

Mr. Godfrey currently teaches Honors U.S. History, A.P. United States History, and the Holocaust Seminar. Among his many hobbies are jazz recordings (especially Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong), model trains, lighthouses, and family history. He and his wife live in Greenville and have two sons.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops" -Henry Brooks Adams 

"Jazz is played from the heart. You can ever live by it. Always love it" -Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” -Edmund Burke

“History is about trying to interpret the past so that it can hopefully illumine our situation today and serve as a guide for our collective future.” -Mr. Godfrey

Marion Grier has been an instructor of world languages, with certification in French/German/ESOL, for over 25 years.  Originally from Detroit, she spent one year studying in Clermont-Ferrand, France as part of the BA foreign study program at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI.  She later completed an MBA at Clemson University while working in the accounting, marketing, and language lab departments of the Michelin Tire Corporation.  She has conducted several student exchange programs in Germany and has been selected to participate in a wide variety of language seminars and programs:

2018 - Selected by AATG as a Chaperone for its Summer Study Program, Kiel, Germany.

2015 – Bundesministerium für Frauen, Summer Seminar Erzähl Mir Was (Digital Storytelling in German), Vienna, Austria.

2014 – National Endowment of the Humanities, Summer Seminar, “France’s Legacy - WWI and WWII”, Paris and Caen, France.

2011 – US Department of State, “Teacher Excellence & Achievement Program,” Stara Zagora, Bulgaria.

2007 – AATG Award; “Immersion Methodologies,” Summer Seminar, Concordia Language Villages, MN.

2004 – Koscuisko Foundation; English Immersion Summer Camp, July, Limanova, Poland.

2003 – AATG Award; Goethe Institute, Summer Seminar, Kunst & Kultur (Art & Culture) Berlin, Germany.

Rose Jenkins comes to the Governor's School from Midlands Technical College where she has taught mathematics for 22 years. She is an alumna of Spelman College where she earned a B.S. degree in mathematics. Jenkins also holds masters degrees in Mathematical Sciences from Clemson University and in Educational Technology from the University of South Carolina. Jenkins is the mother of Michaela Jenkins, a rising senior at Kenyon College and a 2015 graduate of the Governor's School.

Uchechi Kalu is a multi-disciplinary artist with deep interests and experience in education, business, and foreign languages. She was first introduced to the Governor's School in 8th Grade when she attended the Discovery Program for Voice. Uchechi returned to the Voice Program the following summer, and then attended the residential high school in Creative Writing. Uchechi then graduated from Princeton University, majoring in Near Eastern Studies and Arabic. Her studies carried her all over the Middle East, most notably, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel. At Princeton, Uchechi performed with the Princeton Jazz Ensemble and with modern and Shakespearean theater groups. 

After university, Uchechi moved to Beijing, China (and briefly to London), where she lived for 4 years and worked in education, PR, and Marketing for various Chinese- and American-owned companies. She was active in Beijing's literary and music scenes as a writer and performer. Uchechi also co-founded an arts collective that facilitated cross-cultural arts exchange among Chinese nationals and Beijing expats. 

Upon returning to the U.S., Uchechi started Outlier Admissions, a small business that helps applicants apply to their top colleges and graduate schools. In 2019, she was named a "South Carolina Woman in Business".

Uchechi feels so honored and grateful to join the Governor's School faculty and work at an institution that made her believe the world was hers for the taking. She hopes to share this confidence with her students, and help them see the vast and colorful experience ahead of them.

Charnise Mangle is an extraordinary social studies teacher and certified literacy teacher and coach. Ms. Mangle is a Greenville native and attended Clemson University, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary History of the Social Sciences in 2012. When she understood the need for teachers to incorporate content specific literacy strategies in their classrooms for student content understanding, she began studying literacy. In 2019, she earned a Master’s of Arts in Education with a concentration in Literacy from Furman University. She will join the faculty of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities for her first year this fall after six years at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville.

Ms. Mangle has a passion and zeal for teaching social studies and has created a classroom where students can learn about United States History and the Constitution in a compelling and creative way as she guides them on a journey of personal civic duty and community understanding. She will also be teaching United States government and economics and is excited to create new and engaging lessons. She believes she has been called to raise the next generation to become critical thinkers and people of progress. She has been working with high school students since 2009 through YoungLife, student ministry, mentoring, tutoring and teaching.

In 2014, Ms. Mangle worked as a Residential Life Coordinator for the Governor’s School and enjoyed the experience so much she dreamed of being a part of the academic faculty in the future; she is so excited that the dream is coming true this school year.  

Ms. Mangle is also a published author of her ebook, Understanding Race and Racism in America: A Collection of Resources on Race in the United States of America for Self-Exploration, released in 2020.  

According to Mrs. Rita Pierson, the educator who has profoundly impacted Ms. Mangle, "every child deserves a champion -- an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be."

Charnise Mangle is an extraordinary social studies teacher and certified literacy teacher and coach. Ms. Mangle is a Greenville native and attended Clemson University, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Secondary History of the Social Sciences in 2012. When she understood the need for teachers to incorporate content specific literacy strategies in their classrooms for student content understanding, she began studying literacy. In 2019, she earned a Master’s of Arts in Education with a concentration in Literacy from Furman University. She will join the faculty of the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities for her first year this fall after six years at Wade Hampton High School in Greenville.

Ms. Mangle has a passion and zeal for teaching social studies and has created a classroom where students can learn about United States History and the Constitution in a compelling and creative way as she guides them on a journey of personal civic duty and community understanding. She will also be teaching United States government and economics and is excited to create new and engaging lessons. She believes she has been called to raise the next generation to become critical thinkers and people of progress. She has been working with high school students since 2009 through YoungLife, student ministry, mentoring, tutoring and teaching.

In 2014, Ms. Mangle worked as a Residential Life Coordinator for the Governor’s School and enjoyed the experience so much she dreamed of being a part of the academic faculty in the future; she is so excited that the dream is coming true this school year.  

Ms. Mangle is also a published author of her ebook, Understanding Race and Racism in America: A Collection of Resources on Race in the United States of America for Self-Exploration, released in 2020.  

According to Mrs. Rita Pierson, the educator who has profoundly impacted Ms. Mangle, "every child deserves a champion -- an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be."

Charles graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. After graduation, he worked for the Lancaster County Council for the Arts (LCCA) coordinating their Arts in Education initiative. He also curated two local galleries and designed, wrote, and produced all publicity materials for the LCCA.

Charles earned his M.Div.BL from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2000, Charles and his family moved to San Jose, Costa Rica, to study at the Instituto de Lengua Española (ILE). After completing the year of study at ILE, Charles and his family moved to Puebla, México, where they lived and worked for five years.

Upon returning from Latin America, Charles taught Spanish at Dorman High School and Palmetto High School. He joined the Governor's School faculty in the fall of 2016 and serves as the sponsor for the National Spanish Honor Society, which conducted its first induction ceremony in October of 2016.

Charles has performed professionally with the Columbia City Ballet and Gaston Ballet Theatre. He also toured regionally with the Patchwork Players and appeared in several local and national commercials. 

In addition to his teaching duties, Charles currently serves as a Chaplain with the rank of Major in the South Carolina National Guard, and participates in local theater productions.

Mark Sibley-Jones taught at USC-Columbia for fifteen years before coming to the Governor's School. From 2002 to 2006 he taught English Literature at the South Carolina Honors College and advised students across a number of academic disciplines. He is thrilled to be teaching juniors in English III, English IV, and AP English Literature at the Governor's School.