Crystal Medlin is the Principal of Ignite! Online Academy, DPS's only virtual K-12 school.  Previously, Ms. Medlin served as an assistant principal at Orange High School in Hillsborough.  She has also served as a longtime coordinator of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, a virtual learning facilitator, and a science teacher for a high school with one-to-one technology support.  Ms. Medlin earned her master of school administration degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a North Carolina Principal Fellow and currently holds her National Board Certification in Adolescence and Young Adulthood Science Instruction.

Madison Ambrose will be joining Ignite this year as the 6-12 Advanced Academics/AIG Specialist. This will be her 8th year teaching in DPS. She spent her first 5 years as a 7th grade ELA teacher at Rogers-Herr Middle and the past 2 years as the Advanced Academics/AIG specialist at Brogden Middle. She received bachelor's degrees in English Literature and Middle Grades Education from UNC Chapel Hill and NCCU, respectively. In 2019, Ms. Ambrose was named DPS's Beginner Teacher of the Year and received the Teacher Leader in Gifted Education Award when she completed the AIG Licensure program at Duke. Ms. Ambrose is looking forward to building relationships with students, parents, and colleagues this year and bringing equity and new opportunities to the Advanced Academics/AIG program at Ignite. 

I am excited and looking forward to my 12th year as an educator! I am very passionate about teaching reading and inspiring a love for reading in the students I teach. Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to teach 2nd and 3rd-grade students and serve as a Teaching and Learning Coach. 

Hello! My name is Sarah Ford and I can't wait to work with your children! I love working with children and making learning fun! I have been working with children for over 20 years and I am constantly learning something new from them. I enjoy watching their minds work and explore and gain the knowledge around them. My favorite book is Green Eggs and Ham because the lesson in there is that we never know what we like or can do or can accomplish until we try. 

Dottie has been a Data Manager with DPS since March of 2019 and was part of the team who kicked off Ignite Online Academy in 2021. She loves gardening, music, travel, animals, and running.

I have over a dozen years of educational experience in DPS, including Math Teacher, Mentor, Testing Coordinator and MTSS Facilitator. I received my Masters Degree from NC State (go Pack!). In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

Hi! My name is Ms. Elizabeth Gallegos-Moore! You can call me Ms. Elizabeth or Ms. Gallegos-Moore. I live in Durham with my partner Jonny, our son Rennison, and our four legged kids, Chunky the Chihuahua and Winnie. I enjoy traveling and being with friends and family. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations from East Carolina University. I received my Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Special Education from Western Carolina University. I am also a Nationally Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). This will be my 12th year teaching. I am excited to make this the best year yet! 

Born into a large family of avid readers and discovering the thrill of theater at a young age, literacy in its many forms and functions has always been a part of my life. I've lived and taught in Durham for many years along with my husband and two grown children. I am certified K-12 teaching Library Media (including National Board Certification), Reading and Theater Arts. Outside of teaching, I enjoy gardening, native plants, hiking, reading, and traveling.

Mrs. Leones has worked in the field of Special Education for over 10 years as a paraeducator, at-home therapist, behavioral interventionist, and teacher in separate, resource, and co-teaching settings. She holds a Masters in Special Education with a focus in Autism and is pursuing her National Board Certification.

In her free time, Mrs. Leones is either playing or coaching soccer, trying to keep her plants alive, or laughing and adventuring with her partner, Tim, and their flock of rescue animals.

Ms. Rochefort joined the Ignite team as a School Counselor in the Spring of 2022. She has 15 years of experience in education as a School Counselor and School Social Worker. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, attending ECU football games, snow skiing, reading, walking, and spending time with friends & family. She is married to Steve and they reside in Timberlake with their 3 children, Brandon, Zoey & Baylor.