School Directory
Office and Administration
Meet your Principal- Tobree Mostel!
Email: tmostel@polkschools.org
Meet your Secretary and Data Manager- Mrs. Yvonne Bruce!
Email: ybruce@polkschools.org
Meet Your School Nurse- Kim Money!
Email: kmoney@polkschools.org
Teachers
Meet your Preschool Teacher- Ms. Laura Freck!
Email: lfreck@polkschools.org
Meet your Kindergarten Teacher- Mrs. Denise Kennedy!
Email: dkennedy@polkschools.org
A little about me . . .
I like to drink coffee and eat chocolate.
I love to read books,
hike in the woods,
run on trails,
and . . .
I love to learn new things
and teach kindergarten!!!
I’m looking forward to
learning with you this year!!!
Meet your Kindergarten Teacher- Mrs. Ashley Marion!
Email: amarion@polkschools.org
This is my 20th year of teaching and I have always been at Saluda School. I have taught both PreK and Kindergarten. I grew up in Matthews, NC and graduated from UNCC with a degree in Elementary Education. I am married to my husband Paul and we have 2 awesome kids.
Meet your First Grade Teacher- Mrs. Stephanie Fletcher!
Email: sfletcher@polkschools.org
This is my 4th year at Saluda and my second year in 1st grade. I love teaching first graders because this is a huge year of growth! Previously I taught 2nd at Saluda and 5th grade in South Carolina. My husband Todd and I have 2 children: Bryce and Kiersten who are 21 and 16. I have a Masters in Education from the University of Tennessee and an undergraduate degree in Accounting from the College of Charleston. My favorite subjects to teach are reading and math.
Meet your First Grade Teacher – Mrs. Gina Burnett
Email: gburnett@polkschools.org
Meet your Second Grade Teacher – Mrs. Michelle Richardson
Email: mrichardson@polkschools.org
Meet your Third Grade Teacher- Mrs. Debbie Fowler
Meet your Third Grade Teacher- Mrs. Melissa Gillespie
Email: mgillespie@polkschools.org
After graduating from Mars Hill College with a degree in elementary education, I began my teaching career at Saluda Elementary in 1993. In 2000, I earned a master’s degree in reading from Furman University. I am now excited to begin my 30th year of teaching at Saluda Elementary. During my teaching career, I have taught kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. Because of the time I have invested, this school and community are near and dear to my heart.
My husband Eric and I reside in Hendersonville with our daughters Meredith and Julia, and our cat Gabby. We are huge UGA fans, and spend Saturdays in the fall watching football. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, puzzles and board games, and curling up with a good book.
Meet Your Fourth Grade Teacher- Ms. Ellen Rogers
Email: erogers@polkschools.org
Meet your Fourth Grade Teacher- Mrs. Stephanie Uhrich
Email: suhrich@polkschools.org
I have been married to my best friend for the last 25 years-Steve. I have one wonderful daughter (Ms. Sydney), who is a senior this year. I graduated from UNCA with an education license, and I have had the joy of teaching 4th grade at Saluda for a few years now. My favorite thing to teach IS MATH. During my free time, I enjoy kayaking, camping, hiking, taking karate, and reading.
Meet your Fifth Grade Teacher- Mrs. Ginger Rackley
Email: grackley@polkschools.org
I am starting my 21st year here at Saluda Elementary School. I graduated from Mars Hill University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I received my Master’s from Gardner-Webb University. I also have my National Board Certification. I have taught Kindergarten, first, second, third, fourth, and fifth grades.
My husband, Alex, and I have been married for 22 years. We have one son, Blake. We all love Clemson football and NASCAR. We also love supporting our Polk County Wolverines!
Meet Your Exceptional Children Teacher- Mrs. Ashley Thompson!
Email: athompson@polkschools.org
Encore Teachers
Meet your Art Teacher- Ms. Wendy Berryhill!
Email: wberryhill@polkschools.org
I’m happy to be back at Saluda for my eleventh year. We are looking forward to a bright, creative, beautiful year in the art room. Put your imagination in high gear and let’s have an amazing year!
Meet your Music Teacher- Ms. Pam McNeil!
Email: pmcneil@polkschools.org
Pam McNeil is a pianist, with music education degrees from St. Andrews University and Western Carolina University. She has taught in Polk County Schools and at Isothermal Community College as well as private teaching. She is actively involved in the Tryon Little Theater, Tryon Summer Youth Theater and other community organizations. Kids, animals, nature and making music make her a happy person!
Meet your PE Teacher- Mrs. Kathy St. Clair!
Email: kstclair@polkschools.org
Meet your Media, AIG Specialist- Kevin Burnett!
Email: kburnett@polkschools.org
Hi, I’m Mr. Burnett! I have been at Saluda School about as long as the big trees around the playground. I love this community and feel a deep connection to the students and families here. I am the director of the department of awesomeness at Saluda Elementary School, which is housed in the media center. We do traditional literacy based media classes, stem based enrichment activities and various educational experiences scientifically designed to make learning fun and exciting.
In my spare time, I like to stare at my dog and wonder what he’s thinking. When I grow up I want to be a roller coaster. I very much want to be a partner with parents and families and be part of supporting your goals for the growth and education of your children. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns.
Digital Archive: some of this stuff is dated and some of it may be new. But I’ve made dozens of class websites over the years and someone should look at this stuff before it disappears like all those others did. I mean, if you want to. Whatever. It’s cool either way.
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/polkschools.org/saludalibrary/
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6_tvxoW5JuLs3R-w6Yp1Ug/videos
Student Support Services
Meet Your School Guidance Counselor- Ms. Sherri Huffman
Email: shuffman@polkschools.org
Ms. Huffman is one of the School Counselors at Saluda. She spends most of her week at Polk County Middle School, and visits Saluda one day a week to see students. Ms. Huffman has been a School Counselor for 18 years, and all of those years have been in Polk County. She likes hiking, taking her boat to the lake, and playing with her crazy beagle dogs. Her favorite color is green, and her favorite food is chocolate. Ms. Huffman can be reached by email at: shuffman@polkschools.org or by calling her at PCMS at 894-2215. Ms. Huffman LOVES working with students at Saluda, and her Saluda days are her favorite days of the week!
Meet Your School Guidance Counselor- Mrs. Katy Montgomery!
Email: kmontgomery@polkschools.org
Katy Montgomery has been working at Polk County Schools since 2011. Ms. Montgomery grew up in Oklahoma where she went to Oklahoma State University for both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science (counseling) degree. She has been a school counselor now since 2006. In her free time, Ms. Montgomery enjoys hiking with her dog Sinclair, reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. Ms. Montgomery is at Saluda on Monday afternoons and Friday mornings and the rest of the time she is working with the high schoolers at PCHS. You can reach Ms. Montgomery at kmontgomery@polkschools.org.
Meet Your School Title I Reading Interventionist- Mrs. Brandi Drake!
Meet your School Speech Therapist- Mrs. Jennifer Young!
Email: jyoung@polkschools.org
Meet Your Teacher's Assistants and After School Staff
Meet Your After School Director- Mrs. Edie Harris!
Email: eharris@polkschools.org
Meet Your After-School Assistant- Ms. Stacy Harris!
Email: sharris@polkschools.org
Meet Your Preschool Teacher’s Assistant- Mrs. Jennifer Doten!
Email: jdoten@polkschools.org
Meet Your Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant- Mrs. Jessica Searcy!
Email: jessicasearcy@polkschools.org
Meet Your Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant- Mrs. Tena Greene!
Email: tgreene@polkschools.org
Meet Your First Grade Teacher’s Assistant- Mrs. Amanda Huddleston!
Email: ahuddleston@polkschools.org
Meet Your First Grade Teacher’s Assistant- Mrs. Jennifer O’Rear!
Email: jorear@polkschools.org
Meet Your Math Interventionist – Mrs. Kelley Dow!
Email: kdow@polkschools.org