About the Teachers

Sea Turtles Team: Mr. Harris, Dr. Land, Mrs. Talbot, Mrs. Sherrill, Mrs. Shah, Ms. Curtis

About The Teachers

Mr. Harris
	I graduated from The Citadel in 1990 with a degree in Psychology.  
While attending the Citadel, I played on their tennis team, help start a 
volleyball program, and played just about any intramural sport I had time 
for.  After graduation, I went to Stetson University for middle grades 
math.  I taught in Florida for 5 years before moving to Raleigh with my wife 
and two daughters in 2004.  I was at East Wake Middle for 1 year and I am 
now entering my 3rd year at Durant Road Middle.  This year I will be 
pursuing 
my national board certification.  Besides teaching, I am also the volleyball 
coach, serve as team leader, and work with our leadership team.  My wife in 
also a teacher.  She teaches 7th grade language arts at East Wake Middle 
School.  My daughters, Hannah and Emma, will be attending Durant Road 
Elementary for 5th and 2nd grade.  I spend most of my free time hanging out 
with my family.

Dr. Land

I attended Brandeis University in Waltham, MA where I studied English and 
American literature. I was always interested in film and mass media, so 
after 
graduating in 1977 I moved to Los Angeles to work in Hollywood. I made two 
short films and worked with John McTiernan for several years, before he 
became famous as the director of Die Hard, Predator, and many others. In 
1981 
I began teaching in South Central LA, working towards a Masters Degree in 
Curriculum Development.
In 1985 I moved to Eugene, Oregon, in the forests of the northwest. I loved 
living there, and became involved in different environmental activities to 
save the last of the ancient forests. I also earned a PhD in Mass 
Communications, writing a dissertation on the early history of non 
commercial 
radio in the US. I taught at the University of Oregon for several years.
In 1998 I moved to NC, where I began teaching at Durant Road MS. I have 
always enjoyed teaching adolescents and have had a fantastic experience as a 
SS teacher here the past 8 years.
My wife, Wendee Wechsberg, is a clinical psychologist whose expertise is HIV 
prevention. We have travelled to her work sites in India, Africa, and 
Thailand. My daughter Maya is a junior in HS. Gardening and ceramics are my 
passions outside of school.

Mrs. Talbot
I graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Psychology and 
moved to the Raleigh area with my husband and three children. I continued my 
studies at NCSU where I received a Master's Degree in Education. After 
teaching grades 6-8 for 10 years within the Diocese of Raleigh, I switched 
to public schools. This is my second year at Durant Road Middle and I am 
thrilled to be part of such an exciting and dedicated team. Most of my free 
time is spent with my family, but I also love knitting, reading, running, 
and playing the piano.

Mrs. Sherrill
I was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio; you know, the place where the Wright 
Brothers did everything but fly the plane :)  I attended the University of 
Dayton, where I earned a Bachelors in Middle Childhood Education in science 
and math.  I love science because of the hands-on learning, and math was my 
favorite subject in school because there were never any papers to write.  
This is my first year at Durant, as I just recently moved here with my 
husband and 2 year old daughter.  Outside of school, I enjoy swimming, 
hiking, camping, traveling, or any activity that allows me to spend time 
with 
my family.  

Mrs. Shah