Every Student As Seen, Known, And Valued.

Ms. Allen was born in WA state and is the eldest of 7 siblings. She served in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman for 13 years. Though not raised as a Christian, Ms. Allen was radically saved through seeking God in prayer and Bible reading in late 2016. Christ then led her out of the Navy and to Clayton, NC where she and her daughter have been living since 2019. She values the opportunity to serve the students of SCS and learn from their humility.

Mr. Bagwell, a native of Clayton, NC, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Theological Studies from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, where he also pursued coursework in youth ministry. With a calling to serve the local church faithfully, he has served as an associate pastor for youth and is actively involved in a local church plant. Currently completing his master’s degree in Biblical Studies at Liberty University, he finds great joy in teaching young minds about the profound truths of God. Mr. Bagwell sees teaching as a humble act of service, aiming to foster the spiritual growth and Christlike development of his students. He and his wife, Mandy, have been happily married since 1995, cherishing their partnership in ministry and family life.

Mrs. Susan Barkley earned a Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University, with a major in Horticultural Science and minor in Biological Sciences, as well as a Master of Science from NCSU. She is active in her church, teaching in children’s and serving as a facilitator in women’s ministry. She has homeschooled her four children for the past five years and is now overjoyed by the new direction of the Lord for the Barkleys to be a part of the Southside family. Mrs. Barkley has a strong passion to share her love of Jesus and His redeeming grace to anyone and everyone, but especially to the younger generation. She enjoys exploring God’s creation through traveling, hiking and gardening. Her hobbies also include baking, crocheting, reading and spending time with her husband and children.

Mrs. Yisfalem Birtu, born and raised in Ethiopia, brings over a decade of rich expertise in the realm of data engineering, cloud technologies, and database administration. With a robust background in designing, implementing, and optimizing data pipelines, she has spearheaded numerous projects focusing on enhancing data accessibility, quality, and efficiency. Mrs. Birtu holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from HILCOE School of Computer Science and Technology, complemented by Associate degrees in Project Management and Secretarial Science and Office Management from Alpha University and Addis Ababa Commercial College, respectively. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, she continues to drive innovation and efficiency in the field of data engineering, making her a valuable asset to any organization she serves.

Mrs. Bennett is a Raleigh native with a B.A. in business from NC State University. For 16 years, she was a business owner and coach for a competitive all-star cheerleading gym with her husband. Their children have attended SCS since 2017. Mrs. Bennett has a love for children and is blessed to have joined the SCS team!

Mr. Josh McLean studied sports management and business at Bob Jones University. Mr. McLean graduated from Southside Christian School in 2019 and was married in the fall of 2023.