- Youngsville Elementary School
- Support
Academically & Intellectually Gifted

Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 230
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Alexis Cheatham
Ms. Alexis Baskerville-Cheatham is a native of Henderson, NC. She has been in education for over 23 years as a classroom teacher and instructional support teacher. She is a wife and mother to two boys.
Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 249
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Abbie Carter
My name is Abbie Carter. I’m a Franklin County native and attended Franklin County Schools K-12. I began working with children in 2011 as a preschool teacher, in 2017 I became a teacher assistant for Exceptional Children. During that time I obtained my bachelor’s degree at East Carolina University and I’m currently enrolled in their Early Residency Program. Being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs and I’m so glad to be back at my former elementary school teaching these amazing children.

Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Mrs. Renee Bell
Mrs Bell first began working with FCS in 1997. She left in 2003 to pursue other interests and returned in 2011. She has a BS in Special Education, General Curriculum.
Exceptional Children (K-3)
Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 255
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Marsha Timberlake
My name is Marsha Timberlake. I retired from Youngsville Elementary School with 31 years of teaching in 2008. I continued teaching as a long term substitute in Franklin County. Then I decided I wanted to continue teaching so I came out of retirement and taught at Jones Dairy Elementary for four years. Now I am back at Youngsville in the EC Department. As you can tell teaching is in my heart!
I graduated from Atlantic Christian College with a BS Degree in Education, East Carolina University with a MaEd Degree, and I am a National Board Certified Teacher. I am also certified to teach EC.
I am married to David Timberlake and have one son. We are from Youngsville and have lived here our entire life.
School Counselor

Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 269
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Christa Cigna
Ms. Cigna is the School Counselor at Youngsville Elementary. She loves being a part of the YES family! Ms. Cigna grew up in New Jersey before relocating to Canton, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia where she received Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Human Development & Family Science. Ms. Cigna completed her Masters of Counseling and Educational Specialist degrees at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Ms. Cigna enjoys working with elementary students and supporting their academic, social-emotional, and career development. Ms. Cigna loves spending time at the beach, traveling, soccer, and trying new restaurants!
Speech

Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 257
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Crystal Bright
Mrs.Bright is in her fifth year serving the students of Franklin County Schools. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 1998 and has been a speech-language pathologist for seventeen years in the North Carolina Public Schools. She feels fortunate to work at this incredible school and to be a part of the Youngsville Elementary family!
Mrs. Bright and her husband live in Wake Forest and are the proud parents of two sweet daughters,three snuggly cats, and one adorable cocker-spaniel. In her free time she enjoys reading, walking her dog, traveling to state and national parks, and hiking in the mountains of North Carolina.
ESL-English as a Second Language
Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 231
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Heather Thrappas
Mrs. Thrappas (or as the students call her, Mrs. T) is the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher here at YES. This is her third year teaching in Franklin County, but she has been teaching ESL for 5 years now. She serves multilingual (ML) students in three other Franklin County schools as well, grades K-12! She holds a B.S. in Cognitive Studies, with a minor in speech and language disorders. She is currently working on her Master’s in teaching, with certification in TESOL at Western Carolina University. She loves her students and is happy to be a part of the Junior Jags team! In her free time, Mrs. T enjoys spending time with her husband and 4 children (3 boys and a girl- ages 22, 20, 19 and 13). She is also an animal lover that enjoys bringing her German Shepherd “baby” with her anywhere she can! She loves camping, boating on the lake, reading, and learning about history!
Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Mrs. Julie Simmons
Mrs. Julie Simmons is the ESL teacher at YES. She is very excited to serve the multilingual learners (MLs). Mrs. Simmons is originally from Greensboro and has been in education for 18 years. She and her family have lived in Franklin County since 2020. When not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, cooking, running, and watching Duke basketball. She feels blessed to be part of the YES family!
Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Mrs. Lynn Zellmer
Mrs. Zellmer earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and her Master's in Reading. She taught 3rd, 4th, and 8th grades as well as K-5 Intervention. She has also been a Literacy Coach. She is originally from Pittsburgh, PA but now lives in Wake Forest with her husband, two daughters, and two cats.
Digital Literacy Coach
Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 227
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
M.ED Instructional Technology B.S Secondary Education, History
Mrs. Savannah Richards
Mrs. Richards is the Digital Literacy Coach here at Youngsville Elementary. She received her Masters in Learning Design and Technology from NC State in the Spring of 2017. Mrs. Richards also has a Bachelors degree in History, Secondary Education that she received from Appalachian State in 2007.
Instructional Coach
Phone: 919-556-5250 ext. 256
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Ms. Tara Smith
Ms. Smith is originally from Erie, Pennsylvania and has lived in Franklin County for the past 22 years. She taught 5th grade ELA/SS for 20 years at Youngsville Elementary School and is now in her third year as the Instructional Coach. She received her National Board Certification in Literacy in 2007 and renewed her National Boards in 2016. Outside of school she loves to workout, read, explore the outdoors, and spend time with her friends & family, including her 2 dogs, Bug & Gracie.