Meet our faculty - Ms. Valerie Cosimano, Math

We are excited to share with you a little about our newest faculty member, Ms. Valerie Cosimano.

Valerie Cosimano is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where she received a B.S. in mathematics. Due to the lack of an education school at the university, she worked through the rigorous mathematics curriculum that was expected of all math majors.  In addition, she also had the benefit of taking classes at Saint Mary's College to obtain certification in teaching mathematics.  Prior to switching to the mathematics program, Ms. Cosimano was a biochemistry major, which gave her an extensive science background.  
Ms. Cosimano is certified to teach mathematics in grades 6-12 in North Carolina.  She has had experience teaching all levels of mathematics (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II/Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus AB) and has worked with students in grades 6-12, including two years of full-time and one year of part-time teaching experience. She has worked at the Hunting Learning Center doing SAT prep, New York Regent's Exam prep, and subject tutoring.

Currently, Ms. Cosimano is completing her master's project on state testing.  She will complete her master's degree in mathematics education from Buffalo State College by the end of the summer of 2012. 

Meet our staff - Mrs. Mila Presutti, Office Manager

We are excited to share with you a little bit about our newest staff member, Ms. Mila Presutti.

Mila Presutti was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, and a BS in Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College, (Rocky Mount, NC - RTP campus).  

She is trilingual, being fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.  Prior to joining the RTHS staff, she worked as an Enrollment Specialist at the Center for International Enrollment (CIE) for Wake County Public School System (WCPSS).  Mrs. Presutti actively participated in the creation of the WCPSS's Center for International Enrollment from its inception. As part of WCPSS Central Office's administrative personnel, she supported schools, teachers, students, and the community.  Previously, Mrs. Presutti was a teacher at Fred Olds Elementary School, where she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) and Spanish.  She started her career in education as an ESL teacher assistant when her daughter first started school at Wiley International Magnet School.  Mrs. Presutti is a professional with a strong multicultural background, an expert in effective school administrative support, and a professional with a passion for education. 

Meet our staff - Ms. Nicole Wilson, Accountant

We are excited to share with you a little bit about our newest staff member, Ms. Nicole Wilson.

Nicole Wilson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, and a Master of Business Administrations summa cum laude from Campbell University.

Ms. Wilson is originally from Clinton, NC where she managed her family's business.  Ms. Wilson is excited to be moving to the Triangle area to serve as the finance officer at RTHS.

Mr. Grunden receives the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

On June 11th, 2012, President Obama named 97 math and science teachers as recipients of the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. We are excited to announce that our very own Mr. Grunden was one of these 97 teachers.  He will receive his award in Washington, D.C. later this month from the president himself. 

Check out the official news release here.

Meet our staff - Mr. Daniel Eckert, IT

We are excited to share with you a little bit about our newest faculty member, Mr. Daniel Eckert.

Daniel Eckert is a Senior at North Carolina State University completing a B.S. degree in Computer Science with a minor in History.  He enjoys leveraging complementary experiences in web design, web application development, software design/development, network design/engineering, and information assurance, and he is excited to be working with RTHS to design and implement its information technology infrastructure.

Since graduating from Raleigh's William G. Enloe High School, Mr. Eckert has interleaved his studies with work for more than a dozen companies and organizations, including Iowa State University, SAS Institute, Cisco Systems, NC State University, Cigital, and most recently, Microsoft.  He also serves as a private consultant, helping individuals and organizations adopt and update information technology practices, and he develops HostedGroups, an online service that provides management tools for community service clubs and organizations.  He currently holds a CCNA certification from Cisco Systems and plans to complete the CCNP and CCDP certifications in 2013.

As an avid volunteer, Mr. Eckert enjoys contributing his time to student groups and non-profit organizations to help them realize increased efficiency and efficacy in their operations.  Outside of the IT realm, he often volunteers as a backstage technician and production staff member for shows at Raleigh Little Theatre, where he also serves on the Board of Directors.

Meet our faculty - Mrs. Melissa Young Gresham, Math

We are excited to share with you a little bit about our newest faculty member, Ms. Melissa Young Gresham.

Melissa Young Gresham is joining the RTHS team from The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, NC.  Mrs. Gresham is originally from Garner, NC and is excited to be back in the Triangle area.

Ms. Gresham is a certified high school math teacher with a Bachelor of Science Degree summa cum laude in Mathematics and Secondary Education from North Carolina A&T State University. Mrs. Gresham's other accolades include being a graduate of the North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program and holding a certification in Academically and Intellectually Gifted instruction. 

Mrs. Gresham has spent the past four years teaching Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, and Honors Pre-Calculus at The Early College at Guilford.  In addition to teaching, she served as the student council adviser and varsity cheerleading coach.

Mrs. Gresham has a lot of energy and enthusiasm that she cannot wait to bring to RTHS and the math department!

Meet our faculty - Mr. William (Bill) Massey, Visual Arts

We are excited to share with you a little bit about our newest faculty member, Bill Massey.

I grew up on a small farm in Northampton County where, beginning at age six, I was reared by my paternal grandmother.  I tell you that because there is not better preparation for life than hard work on a farm, and the guiding influence of a wise and caring grandparent.  Though a native North Carolinian, I lived and worked all over the world in my former corporate career in which I held marketing executive positions with IBM, Exxon, Sheraton, and GE. 

My interest in visual art was sparked while serving as Chief Operating Officer for a large advertising agency in Boston, MA, prompting me to attend the Massachusetts College of Art and North Carolina State University's College of Art and Design where I obtained a bachelor of arts degree.

Combining my business experience with my art education, I subsequently held creative director positions with prominent advertising agencies in Boston, MA, Denver, CO, and Raleigh, NC.

My passion for teaching was ignited when I conducted a series of seminars on the role of art and design in business.  Thus inspired, I obtained a North Carolina K-12 visual arts teaching certification and taught middle school art and AVID in Granville County, where I was a Teacher of the Year in 2009.  

In addition to my educational pursuits at NC State and Mass Art, and in my ongoing quest to constantly learn as I teach, I have taken numerous art or education classes at Barton College, Campbell University, and North Carolina Central University.  

Now, armed with all that I am and all that I know, I enthusiastically embark, with my fellow faculty members at RTHS, upon this journey into the minds and lives of our students, and with our students into their futures.