I love teaching fifth grade for Ignite Online Academy! This is my 15th year in education and I always knew I wanted to be a teacher! I love working with students and helping them realize their full potential. I'm a graduate of Western Carolina University for undergrad and I received a Masters in Math Education from N.C. State. I even had the opportunity to earn my AIG certificate from Duke University! I love to keep learning and will continue to learn from the students I teach this year! 

Teaching multiple grades and subjects over 24 years, Mrs. Emmert loves educating herself & others. Graduating from UNC-CH & ECU, earning her degrees in Elementary Education & Library Sciences, achieving National Board certification, & serving as a Kenan Fellow are all experiences that helps her be the best teacher she can be. Working with DPS, Person County Schools, & NC Virtual Public School has influenced her drive to be an encouraging virtual educator for her students. 

Alexis Moore is a Greensboro native who teaches 3rd-5th Grade STEM. This will be her 10th year teaching and 2nd year at Ignite! Ms. Moore has a strong background in STEM Education. Currently, she serves as a member of many organizations such as The NC Science Leadership Association, NC STEM Educators for Equity & Diversity Fellows, NC Science Teacher Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Ms. Moore enjoy spending time with her family, reading, shopping, and visiting the beach. Her favorite quote is "Take chances, Make Mistakes, Get Messy!" -Ms. Frizzle

I have over 8 years of experience in education in all areas: high, middle, and elementary. Middle school ELA is my favorite subject! I have a Bachelor's in English and a Master's in Education and have recently worked for DPI creating 6th grade content for the state of North Carolina. This is my second year with Ignite. In my free time, I enjoy hiking and working out, and I'm kept very busy by my two boys at home (ages 6 and 1). 

This is Mr. Ramirez’s 8th year of teaching math and 2nd year teaching at Ignite. He is originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and earned his Bachelor's in teaching from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ramirez is married to Mrs. Ramirez and they have 5 children together. Mr. Ramirez loves teaching at Ignite and is very excited for the 2022-2023 school year!

This is Mrs. Ramirez’s 23rd year of teaching and 1st year at Ignite Online Academy. Mrs. Ramirez has spent the past 2 years as a virtual teacher and is overjoyed to be returning to DPS and joining the Ignite Online Academy family. Mrs. Ramirez is a proud mother of 5 wonderful children and Married to Mr. Ramirez who teaches 6th Grade math. Mrs. Ramirez earned her bachelors of Science from East Carolina University, her Masters in Technology Education from Lesley University, and her EDS Degree in Technology Leadership from Webster University. Mrs. Ramirez is really looking forward to working with students and their families for the 2022-2023 school year!

Mr. Potter is joining Ignite! from Neal Middle School. He is a former Middle School reading interventionist.

Mrs. McNally began teaching in 2011 after graduating from Campbell University with her degree in Elementary Education. She taught third grade for 5 years in Wake County before receiving additional licensures to teach middle grades and secondary math. Prior to joining Durham Public Schools in 2019, she taught for the state at a mental health facility for adolescents. She was a finalist for the 2021 DPS Teacher of the year and graduated from the Duke University AIG add-on licensure program in 2021. After living in the Raleigh area of most of her life, Mrs. McNally made the move to Durham in 2019 with her partner, son, and three cats. When she's not teaching, she enjoys exploring Durham, reading, and crafting.

Mrs. Guffey has been teaching since 1998 in public schools all over North Carolina. She has been with DPS since 2013, working as a Social Studies teacher for the Durham Performance Learning Center and last year at Ignite!. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University where she was an NC Teaching Fellow. Mrs. Guffey is also a Modern Classrooms Certified Educator and Expert Mentor.

I am the biggest "art geek" you will ever meet and have been dead serious about my art since the age of 13! Since then, I've made a career out of making, selling and teaching visual art. I traveled a lot before and during my college days, and lived a total of 3 years in China and 3 years in France, studying mostly painting in both countries. I started teaching hands-on art in '93 after earning a Fine Arts degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, and an Art Education degree from Kutztown University in rural Pennsylvania (where I grew up). In 2007 I went to NC State where I got my Masters degree in mixed media and digital art. After that I was a design professor for two years before I came to DPS. In addition to making art (and making things in general), I also love music, animals, plants, yoga, laughing with family and friends and being in the great outdoors!

Mr. Sennett teaches Digital Media and Technology. He has taught with Durham Public Schools since 2008. He has a BA in Elementary Education from Arcadia University and M.Ed in Learning Design and Technology from North Carolina State University.