Blue Ridge Leadership Team
Gregory C. Eckles
Vice President of Educational Services &
Educational Director of Blue Ridge International Academy
geckles@edoptions.com
Dr. Eckles is responsible for the development and operation of Blue Ridge International Academy. He comes from a strong educational background, most recently as director of high schools in Carroll County, Maryland. During his ten years in this position, Dr. Eckles helped design and staff two new high schools, implement an online credit recovery program, and institute an online summer school for the county’s seven high schools. Dr. Eckles also served as principal of Maryland’s North Carroll High School for seven years, developing a career connections program, updating the school's technology, and instituting block scheduling. He also spent five years as supervisor of science for Albemarle County, Virginia, and taught science for 12 years in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Eckles holds a doctorate in curriculum development from Temple University, a master’s degree in physical science, and a bachelor’s degree in biology.
Andrew Scott Lobdell
Director of Guidance Services
slobdell@edoptions.com
Scott Lobdell helps manage the development and operation of Blue Ridge International Academy. Mr. Lobdell has been an educator for more than 17 years in Palm Beach County, Florida. He has served as a teacher, guidance counselor, coach, and administrator. Mr. Lobdell created the implementation plan that helped Palm Beach County’s Virtual Credit Recovery Program reach a 93 percent success rate for the past three years. Mr. Lobdell holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Social Studies.
Laurie Martin
Language Arts Department Head
lmartin@blueridgelearning.com
Laurie Martin is the Language Arts Department Head at Blue Ridge International Academy. Prior to taking the position with Blue Ridge, she wrote and edited curriculum for EdOptions, Blue Ridge�s parent company. Her career in education began with her position as a Girls� Education and Empowerment Volunteer in the Peace Corps in Togo, West Africa. Laurie taught 9th and 10th grade English at Grafton High School in Yorktown, VA. She holds a bachelor�s degree in English from The College of William and Mary and a secondary teaching certification from the State of Virginia. Currently, Laurie is pursuing a master�s degree from American University in Washington, DC.
Stacy Ficken
Mathematics Department Head
sficken@edoptions.com
Stacy Ficken oversees the development and operation of Blue Ridge’s mathematical program. She was most recently a school administrator at a private career school in Maryland, where she was responsible for overseeing all students, records, curriculum, and staff, as well as implementing policies, procedures, and new administrative technology. Prior to being a school administrator, Ms. Ficken was a high school mathematics teacher for four years in Carroll County, Maryland. She received her bachelor of science in mathematics from Frostburg State University and is pursuing her Master’s in Distance Education.
Yetanda O. Canton
Science Department Head
ycanton@edoptions.com
Yetanda Canton is responsible for the instructional leadership of the science department of Blue Ridge International Academy. Ms. Canton is a veteran teacher whose instructional experience spans both the private and public sector. She has taught in Pittsburgh, Brooklyn, and Springdale, Maryland. Ms. Canton served as accreditation preparation committee member, senior class advisor, and developer of an extracurricular skills development program. Ms. Canton obtained her Master's degree from New York University in science education and her bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Massachusetts.
Ahmed Evans
Social Studies
aevans@blueridgelearning.com
Ahmed Evans oversees the Social Studies Department at Blue Ridge International Academy. Prior to Blue Ridge, Ahmed was a social studies teacher, coach, and club sponsor at Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, Virginia for seven years. He has also taught in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ahmed earned his master's degree in Educational Leadership from George Mason University and his bachelor's in social science education from Johnson C. Smith University. He currently holds teaching and administrative preK-12 credentials in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.