Amanda Alter
Computer Science
Ms. Amanda Alter teaches Computer Science at the middle school education level. She was born and raised in Georgia. Ms. Alter graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Finance. After graduation, she worked at Delta Air Lines in their Finance Department for several years. During this time, she helped create a company and developed entrepreneurship experience. She then shifted her career to education. Ms. Alter began her teaching career in 2006 at the elementary level where she taught computer techniques, software, and coding. In 2018, she moved to middle school and began teaching Business, Engineering & Technology, and Computer Science. Ms. Alter is trained and certified in Project Lead the Way programs of Automation & Robotics, Design & Modeling, and Computer Science for Innovators and Makers. She has created and maintained websites and apps for her previous school and school groups. Outside of school, Ms. Alter enjoys spending time with her family at the lake and traveling to new places.
Brooke Anderson
P.E.
Coach Anderson has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Educational Leadership and Administration. She was a competitive gymnast and now enjoys being active with competitive tennis and CrossFit. Coach Anderson worked with special-needs students as a paraprofessional before beginning her teaching career in 2013. She served as a Health and Physical Education teacher to students with Dyslexia for seven years before joining the Cobb County School District in 2022.
Jill Barnocki
Band
Ms. Jill Barnocki is the Director of Bands at Mabry Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Jacksonville State University-Jacksonville, Alabama and a Masters in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music-Chicago, Illinois. Bands under her direction have performed at the Georgia Music Educator Association’s State Conference (2015, 2011), National Band Director’s Association / CBDNA Southern Conference (2012), University of Georgia’s Mid-Fest (2016,2012,2009), Southeastern United States Band Clinic (2015, 2011). The Mabry Symphonic Band is a recipient of the Georgia Music Educator’s Exemplary Performance Award (2015-16). Ms. Barnocki is on “The Panel of Exceptional Teachers” (Smitha Middle School.), “Star Teacher” (Adairsville High School) and “Teacher of the Year” (Adairsville Middle School). She has received 9 National Band Association “Citation of Excellence” awards. In addition to her teaching she is currently a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony. Professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educator’s Association, NafME, National Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity.
Demi Chandler
Art
Mrs. Chandler is an experienced art teacher with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in art education from The University of Georgia, and a Master of Art Education from Georgia State University. She taught high school art for seven years before joining Cobb County, and is enjoying teaching art and sponsoring the art club at Mabry Middle School. Her artistic medium of choice is pottery, but she loves using and teaching all forms of art. She enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs, working in her art journal, and traveling. She has had her art featured in group and solo shows throughout Georgia, and in a museum in Italy.
Stephen Fields
Band
Stephen Fields serves Mabry Middle School as the Assistant Band Director. Mr. Fields has taught band in grades 5-12 during his career and holds Georgia T-6 certification in K-12 Music and K-12 Educational Leadership. He previously was the Director of Bands at Lakeside Middle School, North Forsyth Middle School, and was the Associate Director of Bands at Starr's Mill High School. Bands under Mr. Fields direction have consistently received Superior ratings at the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation. His students have also earned spots in the GMEA District Honor Band as well as the Georgia All-State Band. Mr. Fields holds the Bachelor of Music Education degree, with honors, from Mississippi State University and the Master of Music Education and Specialist in Education degrees from the University of Georgia. His professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Kappa Phi. Mr. Fields is also a performer in the Cobb Wind Symphony.
Felicia Fredericks
Project Lead The Way Robotics
Ms. Fredericks is the Business and PLTW teacher here at Mabry. She has taught at both the middle and high school levels. She received her B.S. and M.Ed. in Business Education and Adult Education Administration respectively from Florida A&M University. She also has an Ed.S, in Curriculum and Instruction from Nova Southeastern University. Ms. Fredericks is from St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, and plans to return after she retires. She loves music, singing, traveling, and spending time with her son.
Tim Graber
P.E.
Mr. Graber has been teaching Physical Education at Mabry since 1998. He is proud that all of his teaching experience has been at Mabry. Mr. Graber earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Health Promotion from Auburn University in 1994. He returned to Auburn and earned his Masters in Health and Physical Education in 1997. Mr. Graber can often be spotted at Sweat Mountain or Harrison Parks coaching one of his four sons’ baseball teams. Mr. Graber has always cherished his time working in the Mabry Intramurals program extending the Physical Education Curriculum. He is extremely proud of the Flag Football Leagues he started in 2001 that still thrive as one of the most popular activities among Mabry students.
Leslie Anne McCoy
Reading/ Study Skills
Mrs. McCoy teaches Study Skills. She was born and raised in Marietta and graduated from Walton High School. After graduation, she attended the University of Georgia where she received her bachelor’s degree in middle grades education with a focus in Math and Language Arts. Following her undergraduate work, she continued her education by receiving her master’s degree in special education at Kennesaw State University. Mrs. McCoy began teaching in Cobb County in 2006 teaching at Daniell Middle School before transferring to Mabry. Outside of school, Mrs. McCoy enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.
Chad Oates
P.E./Health
Coach Oates has been teaching since 2009. He graduated from Kennesaw State with a B.S. in Health & Physical Education, Coach Oates has taught taught in multiple counties, in all grade levels and a variety of content areas, in the Greater Atlanta since calling Mabry home. He has been recognized multiple times, in multiple counties, as Teacher of the Month. Outside of the classroom, he serves as a personal trainer, member of Think Tank, and event coordinator.
Jennifer Stepp
Chorus
Jennifer Stepp was born in Texas but grew up singing in Gwinnett County. After High School she attended Piedmont College in Demorest, Ga where she earned a BA in Vocal Performance and an MAT in Music Education. As an undergraduate, she participated in several performing ensembles including Opera Workshop. Her most memorable role was that of a middle school boy in Amahl And The Night Visitors by Gian Carlo Minotti. Mrs. Stepp began her teaching career at Mabry in 2008 and since then, the choir has grown to 300 students. She believes that if you can walk you can dance and if you can talk you can sing. Along with singing, she enjoys hammocking and reading Harry potter with her husband and son.
Nicole Thompson
Orchestra
Mrs. Nicole Thompson was named one of the 10 National Finalists for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award (2017), honored with the Atlanta Families Awards for Excellence in Education Award (2018), and selected as Georgia American String Teachers Association Educator of the Year (2014). Mrs. Thompson taught 21 years at Taylor Road Middle School, where she was selected as Teacher of the Year (2010). Mrs. Thompson currently serves as an adjudicator and clinician for GMEA (since 2008). With the organization, she served a two-year elected term as its State Orchestra Chair. Mrs. Thompson also served as the GMEA District V Orchestra Chair and organized the District V Atlanta Symphony Orchestra-GMEA String Project. To create relevant standardized testing for music, Thompson additionally served on a select Fulton County curriculum committee (2014-2021). For six years, Mrs. Thompson conducted the String Orchestra with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestras of Atlanta and, under her direction, the musicians were selected to perform at the GMEA Conference in 2007. Under her leadership, the Taylor Road MS Orchestras consistently earned superior ratings at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations and were selected to perform at the 2006 and 2011 GMEA In-service Conferences in Savannah, Georgia. In 2018, the Taylor Road Orchestra was featured at the GMEA President’s luncheon. Mrs. Thompson conducted orchestras at the American String Teachers Association conferences in Dallas, Texas and Reno, Nevada, as well as the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Internationally, she taught seminars in Budapest, Hungary and served as a guest clinician in Sicily, Italy. Mrs. Thompson earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree at Georgia State University. She earned her Master of Music Education Degree and her Specialist in Education Degree at the University of Georgia.
