Supported Learning & Independence Academy
In Supported Learning & Independence Academy, we provide the most individualized and specialized education, tailored to your student’s unique academic and social-emotional needs. There are opportunities for group learning with a lower student-to-teacher ratio, and more one-on-one support.
Students receive individualized support in math and language arts, with one-on-one tutoring with our reading specialists as needed. Social studies and science curriculum is designed to stimulate curiosity and deep-dive into learning using a unit study approach.
Social-emotional skills training is incorporated into our daily curriculum. Students can also choose from a variety of art, tech, practical skills, and special interest topics available as electives each semester.
Supported Learning (3rd-8th)
In Supported Learning, we strive to create an environment that fosters lifelong independence, friendship, love, and self-confidence. Through Social Thinking, we help our students develop self-awareness and awareness of others and develop meaningful connections, integrating them into the community. With structure, consistency, and routine, students can achieve their academic potential.
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SUPPORTED LEARNING TEACHER (she/her)
Maria began as a parent volunteer at the school in 2013. She enthusiastically jumped at the opportunity to teach language arts in the high school/middle school classroom the following year. She jumped even higher when asked to team up with Mr. Williams in the middle school classroom for the 2015-2016 school year. In preparation for that year, she trained with the Augustine Literacy Project and attended some TEACCH training. Ms. Dontas speaks Spanish fluently and is learning Greek. She is a student of the world and since 1988 she has also attended The North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, Stonybrook University in Long Island, NY, and The New School in NYC, NY. She continues to take classes when time and her busy life will allow. She is married and has two children, one of whom attends HCA. She sings in her church choir and enjoys movies, the theater, all animals, your kids, and life!
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SUPPORTED LEARNING TEACHER (she/her)
Katie Fain is a proud Durhamite, and has loved exploring the Triangle since coming back to Durham in 2017. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Wofford College and has since served individuals with disabilities in many capacities. Katie was a cabin counselor at Victory Junction Camp, the Family Care Coordinator at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and Wake, and spent the last three years as a teacher for Durham Public Schools in a separate setting classroom for students with autism. Katie is so excited to join the Hope Creek Academy team and meet all of your awesome kiddos! In her spare time, Katie loves to thrift, go to the beach, travel, spend time with her husband, and do anything related to dogs!
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SUPPORTED LEARNING TEACHER (they/them)
Cal Ruback moved to North Carolina from Wisconsin after graduating with distinction from Winona State University with a Bachelor’s in Teaching. They majored in Academic Behavioral Strategy and love to analyze the intersection between behavior and academic performance. They worked as a Registered Behavioral Technician and acquired extensive knowledge of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) techniques, though they hold a strong preference for naturalistic methods. They worked with individuals with various diagnoses ranging from mild to severe, and have extensive training in de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and person-centered approaches. Cal worked in partnership with Hope Creek last year and loved how the school fosters a sense of joy and wonder for each student. They immediately felt at home in the Supported Learning classroom, and cannot wait to continue building an inclusive space for all students to thrive. In their free time, Cal enjoys reading fantasy novels, birding, and hosting music bingo.
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SUPPORTED LEARNING TEACHER (she/her)
Lisa is a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, with a degree in Business and German. All three of her adult sons have various disabilities, including attention deficit disorder, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, and a mental illness. Lisa has worked in regular education and special education classrooms in a variety of capacities: as a volunteer, as a substitute teacher, as a reading tutor, and as a teaching assistant. She was an autism specialist for the Autism Society of NC as well as a private consultant in the areas of special education, special education law, and Individualized Education Programs. Lisa has presented at local and national conferences on ASD. She has received training from the Augustine Literacy Project, TEACCH for classroom teachers, Lindamood-Bell (Visualizing and Verbalizing for Language Comprehension and Thinking; Talkies: Visualizing and Verbalizing for Oral Language Comprehension and Expression), Bal-A-Vis-X, and Social Thinking, among others. Lisa has been a teacher at Hope Creek Academy since 2015.
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SUPPORTED LEARNING TEACHER (she/her)
Kristin Mertz is a co-teacher in the Supported Learning classroom. Kristin is originally from Michigan and graduated from Michigan State University in May of 2021 with a B.A. in Comparative Cultures and Politics and an additional degree specialization in Women’s and Gender Studies. She is thrilled to begin this new chapter of her life at Hope Creek Academy. In her free time, Kristin enjoys yoga, reading, skiing, and thrifting.
Independence Academy (9th-12th+)
Independence Academy is a life skills program which teaches students functional academics along with social and vocational skills. We foster self-advocacy as a way to empower our students in all areas of their lives, so that they can transition to life outside the classroom with confidence and contextual knowledge. The Independence Academy classroom serves students from ninth grade through age twenty-one. Students receive a certificate of completion when their time with Independence Academy is complete.
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INDEPENDENCE ACADEMY (she/her/they/them)
CJ earned her BA in Psychology at Meredith College. CJ participated in the Meredith College Autism Program (M.A.P.) and received extensive training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT), working with children aged 2-7 in school and home settings. After graduation, she was offered a staff position at M.A.P. providing one-on-one teaching and assisting the behavioral consultants and director with training and supervising undergraduate student teachers in ABA and DTT techniques. While completing her Masters in Education for Early Childhood Intervention and Family Support at UNC-Chapel Hill, she continued to work with children with autism aged 5-9 in home and community settings, gaining training and experience using Verbal Behavior teaching techniques. She thoroughly enjoys eating tacos, watching soccer, and being a stellar human parent to her doggies.
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INDEPENDENCE ACADEMY (she/her)
Cat is a Georgia native happy to be here in North Carolina. She received her BA in English with a minor in poetry writing from Kennesaw State University in 2014. During this time she also completed the education certification program for secondary education. After spending a year teaching in a local high school, Cat decided to combine her love of education with her love of theater. In addition to acting and directing, Cat helped develop and run several children’s theater programs. These programs focused on offering free acting and improv classes to kids with various levels of experience and previous knowledge. She has been teaching at HCA since 2021. In her free time, Cat enjoys reading, cooking, playing board games with friends, and hanging out with her dog.
