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 8 years, the entire CCS system has received the BCME award each year.
NorthwoodArts Faculty
Kristen Oakes
Kristen Oakes
Kristen Oakes
Arts Education Department Chair
DANCE
Kristen Oakes found her love of dance during her time as a student here at Northwood High. She went on to attend East Carolina University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. This is her 15th year teaching and she could not be happier to share her dream job with such an amazing and
Arts Education Department Chair
DANCE
Kristen Oakes found her love of dance during her time as a student here at Northwood High. She went on to attend East Carolina University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Dance Education. This is her 15th year teaching 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 children,
Grady and Charlie Jo.
David Smith
Kristen Oakes
Kristen Oakes
CHORAL MUSIC
David Smith is a native of Pittsboro and a proud graduate of the Chatham County School System, graduating from Northwood High School in 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Elon University in 2002 and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Green
CHORAL MUSIC
David Smith is a native of Pittsboro and a proud graduate of the Chatham County School System, graduating from Northwood High School in 1997. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Elon University in 2002 and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2007.
David began his teaching career with the Alamance-Burlington School System before returning home to Chatham County. In addition to his work in music education, he serves as the Director of Music at Pittsboro United Methodist Church. Throughout his career, David has enjoyed directing choral and instrumental ensembles of all sizes and ability levels.
When he is not making music, David enjoys spending time and making memories with his wife, Jess, and their two children, Zach and Wes.
Noelle Imel
Kristen Oakes
Kyleigh McCormack
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Noelle Imel is in her second year as Director of Bands at Northwood High School, where she directs the marching band, concert bands, jazz ensemble, guitar class, and various small ensembles. Originally from New York with roots in Hawaii, she grew up in a military family and discovered her passion f
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Noelle Imel is in her second year as Director of Bands at Northwood High School, where she directs the marching band, concert bands, jazz ensemble, guitar class, and various small ensembles. Originally from New York with roots in Hawaii, she grew up in a military family and discovered her passion for wind ensembles and marching band while attending Bradwell Institute in Georgia. She earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Georgia Southern University, where she participated in numerous ensembles and served as a Graduate Assistant for the Bands Area. Before joining Northwood, she served as Band Director at Beaufort Middle School and Director of Bands at Fike High School.
Noelle serves as Webmaster for the North Carolina Central District Bandmasters Association. She is a member of NAfME, NCBA, and WBDI, with alumni memberships in Sigma Alpha Iota and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Outside of the band room, she enjoys hiking, biking, and spending time with friends and family. She is also the proud mama of two beloved cats, Sarge and Kronk.
Kyleigh McCormack
Kyleigh McCormack
Kyleigh McCormack
THEATRE
Originally from Fuquay-Varina, Kyleigh McCormack is thrilled to be a member of the Northwood family as the Theatre Arts teacher. Kyleigh is a recent graduate from East Carolina University, where she received a BFA in Theatre Arts Education and a BFA in Professional Acting, which included a two-year study of the Sanford Meisner tech
THEATRE
Originally from Fuquay-Varina, Kyleigh McCormack is thrilled to be a member of the Northwood family as the Theatre Arts teacher. Kyleigh is a recent graduate from East Carolina University, where she received a BFA in Theatre Arts Education and a BFA in Professional Acting, which included a two-year study of the Sanford Meisner technique. Kyleigh performed in multiple productions at East Carolina during her time there, including Lysistrata, Romeo and Juliet, Pride and Prejudice, and more.
Aside from theatre, Kyleigh loves to crochet, cook, craft, go thrifting, and spend time with her cat, Winnie.
Michelle Pinto
Kyleigh McCormack
Michelle Pinto
VISUAL ARTS
Michelle Pinto is a lifetime resident of Chatham County who was born in Siler City and graduated from Northwood in 1999. She attended the School of Communication Arts for Advanced Computer Art and Animation and graduated from East Carolina University for Birth to Kindergarten Education. She taught for 7 years in a preschool E
VISUAL ARTS
Michelle Pinto is a lifetime resident of Chatham County who was born in Siler City and graduated from Northwood in 1999. She attended the School of Communication Arts for Advanced Computer Art and Animation and graduated from East Carolina University for Birth to Kindergarten Education. She taught for 7 years in a preschool Exceptional Children classroom at Floyd Knight School in Sanford. She spent 4 years teaching art at Randleman High School, 3 years at J. Glenn Edwards Elementary School and 5 years at Chatham Middle School before joining the faculty at Northwood High School. She is a National Board Certified Art Teacher and member of the North Carolina Art Education Association.
She has been active in connecting students with programs through the North Carolina Museum of Arts, Chatham Arts Council, Communities in Schools and local artists.
She enjoys attending church with her family, traveling and observing nature. She spends her free time attending concerts and movies with her husband. Her hobbies include crafting, experimenting with new materials, creating art, gardening, collecting nostalgic movie memorabilia and occasionally gaming.