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Faculty and Staff

Administration 

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Dr. Karen Musgrove

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CEO of BAO, MCAA

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Dr. Patton Furman

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Principal/ Superintendent 

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Rachel Benoit

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 Assistant Principal

Art Teacher

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Valencia Maiden-Moore

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Assistant Principal

Emily Eddings 
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Technology and Media Speicalist

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Jim Gibbs

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Director of Operations

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Emily Eddings-Sandley

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Director of Technology 

Media and Library Specialist

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Steph Munkachy

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Career and College Coach 

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Dawnteia Little

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Middle School Social Worker

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Marixa Coward

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Registrar

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Hugh Comer

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Administrative Assistant

Staff 

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Kristen Brown 

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ESL Coordinator 

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Craig Harlow

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Nurse

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Beth Neal 

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Nutritionist

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Whitney Watson 

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Exceptional Education 

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Taylor Hill 

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Exceptional Education 

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Jaque Meyer

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Volunteer

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Lisa Balazs

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Middle School Math 

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Lexia Banks

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11th and 12th History Teacher 

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Jessica Munger

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Middle School ELA 

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Brianna Payne

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Fine Arts

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Dr. Claire Schweiker

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High School Science 

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Kenneth Smith 

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Communications 

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Eronica Sims-Saddler

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6th Grade ELA 

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Theodore Freeman 

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High School Math 

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Jennifer Touchstone

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High School English 

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Kirsten Dobbins

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Middle School Social Studies Teacher

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Mitchell Whaley

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Physical Education 

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James Grimes

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Security 

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Dakota Johns

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Security 

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Dr. Michael Wilson

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Founding Principal (retired) 

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John Bailey 

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Fine Arts 

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Jennifer Brunner 

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High School English 

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Greg Carroll

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6th Grade Teacher 

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Josh Flores 

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10th Grade English 

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Jeff Davison

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Algebra and Chemistry Teacher 

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Andrew Gamblin

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Paraprofessional

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AJ Connor

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Social Worker

Emma Joines

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Geometry Teacher 

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Katie Porter

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Gifted Specialist 

9th Grade English Teacher 

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Cindy Ponder

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ESL Teacher 

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Lisa Smith 

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Paraprofessional 

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Allyson McKell 

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Exceptional Education

Misty Souder

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Library Aid

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Amy Woodward

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Health and Exceptional Education

Wanda Forbes

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Custodian 

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Merilee Amos 

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Biology Teacher 

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Michael Goldforb

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Middle School Science 

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Lydia Graves

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9th and 10th Grade History Teacher

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Yishrael Velez

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Music and Spanish 

Kelsey Crafton

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JBS Counselor 

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Spiro Gerontakis

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Fine Arts

Erin Freeman 

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Paraprofessional

Leadership

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Dr. Patton Furman 

Principal 

Patton Furman received her Master’s degree in French Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2000. Shortly after graduation, she traveled to Niort, France, to teach English. She lived and traveled in France for a year, teaching in several elementary and middle schools. Once back in the States, she completed her EdS degree in Educational Leadership from UAB. She received her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Alabama in April, 2020.

Dr. Furman has had the privilege of serving students for the past 22 years. She taught French classes at Oak Mountain High School for 12 years. She taught all levels of French, and installed an Advanced Placement course in French at the school. She became Assistant Principal at Oak Mountain High in 2013. In this position, she worked closely with teachers and staff to create a positive learning environment. In 2018, Dr. Furman became the principal of the Shelby County Schools Alternative Programs, including Direction and the Success Program. Here, she worked to create an atmosphere of self-awareness and mindfulness to help students learn to succeed. Dr. Furman moved to a district position in 2019. As Student Services Supervisor she worked with administrators and parents to support the district’s 22,000 students.

 

Dr. Furman is thrilled to join a talented team of educators at MCAA. She began her role at MCAA in August of 2022.

Organizational Chart of the Magic City Acceptance Academy AND BAO

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