Vonshae Evans is formerly from Gunnison, Ms. She is a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University in Itta Bena, MS where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology. Vonshae also a graduate of Union University in Germantown, TN where she earned a Master’s of Education. She enjoys teaching science and has five years of teaching experience from Shelby County, Marshall County, and Memphis City Schools districts. Vonshae is very excited to be a part of the Freedom Preparatory Academy family and is looking forward to a successful school year.

LARS NELSON, Founding World History Teacher 
Lars Nelson is a 2009 corps member with the Teach For America program. He is originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, but has lived in Tennessee for some time. After graduating from high school in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lars attended Rhodes College where he graduated with a B.A. in both History and Religious Studies. While his favorite areas of study were the American South, Hebrew Bible and Islam, he looks forward to bringing world history to life for his students

WHITNEY DUVAL, Founding Mathematics Problem Solving Teacher 
Whitney DuVal was born in Jackson, TN. She graduated in 2009, with a B.S. in Mathematics and minor in Physics from Rhodes College. This year will be her first time teaching, and she is very excited to have the opportunity to educate young minds.

ANNA HERZOG, Founding Mathematics Procedures Teacher
Anna Herzog grew up in Jackson, Mississippi. She attended the University of Mississippi where she received Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Spanish. After graduating from Ole Miss, Anna joined Teach For America and taught Algebra 1 and Geometry at Kingsbury High School for two years. Anna is currently attending the University of Memphis working towards a Masters of Arts in Teaching with a focus in secondary mathematics. She is excited to join the Freedom Prep team and help her students become successful in math!

ANNE ERICKSON, Founding Writing Teacher 

Anne Erickson is from Los Angeles, CA. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science and is currently working towards her Masters of Art in Teaching at the University of Memphis. Anne moved to Memphis, TN as a Teach for America corps member in 2007. She taught 6th, 7th and 8th grade French at Hamilton Middle School from 2007-2009. Anne teaches Writing at Freedom Prep and is excited for her students to discover their” inner-writer” and their inner-selves.

CRYSTAL WINDLESS, 6th Grade Reading Teacher

Crystal Windless is a native Memphian and graduate of Rhodes College here in Memphis. While at Rhodes she earned a B.A. in Political Science and had the opportunity to briefly teach abroad in South Africa, which motivated her to become a teacher in the States. Windless joined Teach for America’s 2008 corps and served as an English as a Second Language teacher for two years with Memphis City Schools. She is extremely excited to join the faculty at Freedom Prep and lead the sixth grade students to significant academic gains in reading.

EMMA BENE, 7th Grade Reading Teacher

Emma Bene is from Atlanta, Ga.  She graduated from Williams College in Massachusetts with a B.A. in History.  She worked at MATCH Charter Public Middle School in Boston, MA last year and graduated from MATCH Teachers Residency with her teaching certificate in English Language Arts.  Emma moved to Memphis, TN this past summer to teach at Freedom Prep.  Emma teaches 7^th grade Reading at Freedom Prep and is excited to introduce students to the many joys of reading.

LAUREN WASHINGTON, 7^th Grade Writing Teacher

Lauren Washington is a 2010 corps member with the Teach for America program. She is originally from Atlanta, GA, where she attended the Dekalb School for the Performing Arts. Before moving to Memphis, she graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English and a minor in Art History. Lauren has always had a passion for the verbal and written world, and is excited for her students to use both formal and informal language to communicate their innovative thoughts and ideas with our society.