8th Grade Teacher Biographies

Krissie Albertson
Math

Mrs. Krissie Albertson teaches our high school math courses in 8th grade. Not only was she raised in Cobb County, she also attended Mabry MS and Lassiter HS, but graduated from Pope High School. Mrs. Albertson has a B.S. in Secondary (grades 7-12) Math Education from Auburn University and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from West Georgia. She began her teaching career in 1994 at Dickerson Middle School and transferred to Mabry in 2004. Mrs. Albertson was named Teacher of the Year at Dickerson in 1999 and again at Mabry in 2013. Mrs. Albertson married her husband, Michael, in 1996. They have two children: Katie and Max.

Cindy Blevins 
Language Arts

Ms. Cynthia Blevins teaches 8th grade language arts. She has been teacher in Cobb County since 1991, and taught at Daneill Middle School for 8 years before transferring to Mabry. She received her Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in English with a minor in writing from Illinois State University and developed a career in advertising and corporate work before returning to The University of Tennessee where she received her Master’s of Science Degree in Education. She was previously Teacher of the Year at Daniell and currently serves as Mabry’s Advanced Learning Coordinator.  In Ms. Blevins’ classroom, students will have the chance to be creative, learn about themselves and express their ideas through writing in a safe but challenging learning environment. She enjoys working with students and helping them reach their potential as thinkers and writers.

Lisa Bowman
Math

Mrs. Bowman teaches 8th grade math. She began teaching at Mabry Middle School in August of 1993. She taught four years at Floyd Middle School in Mableton, GA prior to this. Mrs. Bowman attended Mabry as a student. She graduated from Lassiter High School and earned both her Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education at what is now Kennesaw State University. Mrs. Bowman has overcome many challenges in her life. She has been subjected to many moments of difficulty, all testing her ability to be strong, as well as her faith in God. If you were to ask her what her life has taught her, she would say this: “Life is short. You never know what’s going to happen, so live each day to its fullest and never give up on your dreams.”

Amy Howell
Special Education 

Mrs. Howell was born and raised in Marietta, and a graduate of Pope High School.  She attended the University of Georgia where she received her bachelor’s degree in interrelated special education.  Following her undergraduate work, she continued her education by receiving her master’s degree in special education at Kennesaw State University.  Mrs. Howell began her journey as a teacher at Daniel Middle School in 2005.  Her subject concentration has always been math, which she loves!  She transferred to Mabry in 2011, and has enjoyed teaching in the same community she grew up in.

Eve Israel
French/ Social Studies

​Ms. Eve Israel teaches 8th grade French and reading. She began teaching in Cobb County in 1996.  Ms. Israel has bachelor degrees in Sociology from Miami University (Oxford, Ohio) and in Foreign Language Education from Kennesaw State University. Both her Master’s (KSU) and Specialist’s (Berry College) degrees were earned in Educational Administration. Outside of school, Ms. Israel's passions are her daughter, friends, reading, animals, cooking, and sports.  Ms. Israel loves to lead groups of students on trips to Quebec and Europe.  Ms. Israel's inspiration is her mother, herself an educator for over 50 years. Her mother's zest for life, her cooking prowess, her love of learning, and her enthusiasm in the classroom are models that Ms. Israel aspires to create in her own life. Little known about Mrs. Israel is that she is a relative of the late Larry Fine of the Three Stooges!

Diane Libman
Social Studies/Language Arts

Mrs. Libman teaches 8th grade here at Mabry.  She was born and raised in upstate New York.  For her undergraduate study, she attended the State University of New York at Oswego and later earned a Master’s Degree from Georgia State University.  Mrs. Libman began her teaching career in 1994 and has taught in Fulton County Schools, The Wood Acres School and now Cobb County.  Mrs. Libman and her family are part of the Lassiter community where she and her husband have specifically chosen to raise and educate their two daughters.

Daniela Martucci
Special Education

Mrs. Daniela Martucci teaches 8th grade Reading, Science, and Social Studies. She was raised in Marietta, went to Mabry and graduated from Lassiter. Mrs. Martucci received her Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and her Specialist degree from Kennesaw State University. She began teaching at Mabry in 2011. Mrs. Martucci got married in 2014 to her husband Guiseppe and has a Golden Retriever named Wilson. She enjoys camping, hiking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Leslie Anne McCoy
Language Arts/ Math

Mrs. McCoy teaches 8th grade Language Arts and Math.  She was born and raised in Marietta and graduated from Walton High School.  After graduation, she attended the University of Georgia where she received her bachelor’s degree in middle grades education with a focus in Math and Language Arts.  Following her undergraduate work, she continued her education by receiving her master’s degree in special education at Kennesaw State University.  Mrs. McCoy began teaching in Cobb County in 2006 teaching at Daniell Middle School before transferring to Mabry.  Outside of school, Mrs. McCoy enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.   

Leigh Mickalonis
Science

 Mrs. Leigh Mickalonis started teaching at Mabry in August 2008. After four years teaching 6th grade science and social studies, she moved to 8th grade to teach physical science. Mrs. Mickalonis earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (GO TARHEELS!). While in college, Ms. Mickalonis completed internships at the Center for Food and Nutrition Policy at Georgetown University and WSB-TV in Atlanta. After graduating, she worked in public relations for several years before answering the call to teach. She received her Master of Arts in Middle Grades Science and Social Studies from Emory University.​ Mrs. Mickalonis was Mabry's 2017-2018 Teacher of the Year.

Amanda Okuno
Reading/ Science/ Social Studies

Mrs. Amanda Okuno teaches 8th Grade Reading, Science, and Social Studies. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University. She began her teaching in 2007 at South Paulding Middle School and entered into Cobb County shortly after. She has taught all three grade levels of middle school. Amanda holds certificates in all middle grades content and specifically has a passion for Reading.

Cassandra Pennisi
Spanish

Ms. Pennisi is Mabry’s 8th grade Spanish teacher. She is from Pennsylvania but has lived in Puerto Rico and Italy. Her experiences living abroad have changed her life. Her husband and daughter were both born in Italy, which leads them to speak English, Spanish and Italian at home. She graduated from West Chester University with a BA degree in Spanish and then earned a Master's in Education from the University of Phoenix. She is also Gifted Certified. Mrs. Pennisi sponsors the Culture Club and International Night. She is thrilled to have this opportunity to teach your children to become globally confident and to show her excitement toward the Spanish language and culture. 

Brian Pulse
Science

Brian Pulse teaches 8th grade science at Mabry. Please check back soon for more information on this valued member of our Mabry team!

Amy Suggs
Social Studies

Mrs. Suggs is an 8th grade Social Studies teacher. She has been teaching at Mabry Middle School since 1990!! She attended public school in Cobb County Schools, in fact, she attended Mabry and Lassiter!  Mrs. Suggs earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University in Education. She holds a Master’s Degree in Middle Grades Education from Kennesaw State College.  Mrs. Suggs is married and a proud parent of 2 children. Her professional passion is "to see the "lightbulb" come on above children's heads as they put together all of the pieces of history like a puzzle coming together.