About NorthwoodArts
Celebrating 50 Years of Arts Education
Coursework, honor societies, competitions, concerts, extracurricular clubs, events and field trips provide comprehensive, standards-based learning experiences for NHS students. Northwood has offered classes in four arts disciplines (visual arts, music, theatre arts, and dance) for more than 50 years. An early National Endowment for the Arts grant brought dance to NHS in the 1970s. That visionary effort gives Northwood the distinction of being the oldest, comprehensive, public high school arts education program in North Carolina.
Northwood has chapters of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, the International Thespian Society, the Tri-M International Music Honor Society, and the National Art Honor Society. In 2013, NHS received the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts School of Excellence Award. It is one of five NC schools to receive the honor for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education and one of only two high schools. In April 2018, NHS received the SupportMusic Merit Award from the NAMM Foundation as part of their National Best Communities for Music Education (BCME) program. In the following 4 years, the entire CCS system has received the BCME award each year.
NorthwoodArts Faculty
Leslie Burwell
Jessica Cecchini
Jessica Cecchini
VISUAL ARTS
Arts Education Department Chair Leslie Burwell received her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in art and theatre at the University of South Carolina. Leslie taught theater at Zebulon Elementary Arts Magnet. She received her Arts Education Degree at Meredith College in 1991.
She began teaching Visual Arts at NHS in 2002. She
VISUAL ARTS
Arts Education Department Chair Leslie Burwell received her bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in art and theatre at the University of South Carolina. Leslie taught theater at Zebulon Elementary Arts Magnet. She received her Arts Education Degree at Meredith College in 1991.
She began teaching Visual Arts at NHS in 2002. She is a National Board Certified teacher in Art for the young and adult learner. She served as a member of the NC Governor's Teacher Network in 2015. She was selected as Northwood's Teacher of the Year and Chatham County Teacher of the Year for 2015 and 2016. She traveled to South Africa in 2016 as Go Global NC Borchardt Fund Awardee. In 2017, she attended the first Alumni trip with Go Global NC to Morocco.
Burwell is the proud mom of two NHS Alumni ! Rebecca is a program director at Oberlin College in Ohio. Daniel works in NYC in Compliance for Bank of America. She spends free time with her husband Lee, traveling, hiking, and gardening.
Jessica Cecchini
Jessica Cecchini
Jessica Cecchini
VISUAL ARTS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Jessica Cecchini is an artist from Chapel Hill who has been working in Education since 2003. She works primarily in watercolor, photography, and printmaking. Her work is inspired by nature, but is often heavily influenced by the formal qualities of art (stemming from her background in graphic design). She has exhi
VISUAL ARTS & PHOTOGRAPHY
Jessica Cecchini is an artist from Chapel Hill who has been working in Education since 2003. She works primarily in watercolor, photography, and printmaking. Her work is inspired by nature, but is often heavily influenced by the formal qualities of art (stemming from her background in graphic design). She has exhibited work in Charlotte; received a fellowship with the Charlotte Teacher’s Institute at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art; served as an advisor for a successful screen printing club since 2009; and run a freelance graphic design business.
Matthew Hanson
Jessica Cecchini
Matthew Hanson
CHORAL MUSIC
This is Matthew Hanson's 11th year teaching choral music at Northwood. He graduated in 2012 from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he received both his Bachelor of Music Performance and Bachelor of Music Education degrees. Hanson is an active member of the National Association for Music Education as well as
CHORAL MUSIC
This is Matthew Hanson's 11th year teaching choral music at Northwood. He graduated in 2012 from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he received both his Bachelor of Music Performance and Bachelor of Music Education degrees. Hanson is an active member of the National Association for Music Education as well as the American Choral Director’s Association. He serves as the faculty advisor for the Tri-M Music Honor Society and music director/arranger for Northwood’s award-winning a cappella group, "Pitch Please." His Northwood ensembles have performed at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.
Kristen Oakes
Hagan Zoellers
Matthew Hanson
DANCE
Kristen Oakes found her love of dance during her time as a student here at Northwood High. Her teacher, Leah Wilhelm, inspired her to follow her heart and pursue a career in dance. Kristen graduated from Northwood and attended East Carolina University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. This is her 11th year te
DANCE
Kristen Oakes found her love of dance during her time as a student here at Northwood High. Her teacher, Leah Wilhelm, inspired her to follow her heart and pursue a career in dance. Kristen graduated from Northwood and attended East Carolina University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. This is her 11th year teaching at Northwood and she could not be happier to share her dream job with such an amazing and supportive arts department. When she is not teaching dance, Kristen enjoys spending time with her husband Stephen and her son Grady.
Kayla Sharp
Hagan Zoellers
Hagan Zoellers
THEATRE
Kayla Sharp has taught theatre at Northwood High School since 2013. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Theatre Education K-12. She is a member of the Appalachian Consortium of Theatre Teachers (ACTT) and North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators (NCTAE). Kayla has directed over 15 productions at Northwood
THEATRE
Kayla Sharp has taught theatre at Northwood High School since 2013. She graduated from Appalachian State University with a degree in Theatre Education K-12. She is a member of the Appalachian Consortium of Theatre Teachers (ACTT) and North Carolina Theatre Arts Educators (NCTAE). Kayla has directed over 15 productions at Northwood and facilitates the improvisation teams and the International Thespian Society (ITS).
Hagan Zoellers
Hagan Zoellers
Hagan Zoellers
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Hagan Zoellers comes to Northwood after teaching and performing as a professional musician in the Midwest. He directs the Marching Chargers, the Symphonic Band, the Concert Band, and the Jazz Band.
Originally from London, KY, he completed his studies at the University of Louisville, the University of Cincinnati College–Co
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Hagan Zoellers comes to Northwood after teaching and performing as a professional musician in the Midwest. He directs the Marching Chargers, the Symphonic Band, the Concert Band, and the Jazz Band.
Originally from London, KY, he completed his studies at the University of Louisville, the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, and The Ohio State University. Before coming to Northwood, he taught students of all ages privately and as part of the instructional staff at successful band programs in Kentucky and Ohio. He also serves as an arranger and show designer for marching bands in the Triangle area.
Hagan has performed with the Cincinnati (formerly Fillmore) Wind Band, the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony, and the University of Louisville Wind Ensemble. He is a member of NAfME, Phi Mu Alpha, The Society for Music Theory, and The American Musicological Society.