Cynthia Gadol’s Biography
Cynthia Gadol earned a BA in Statistics from the University of Georgia, after majoring in Art the first two years. She worked as a Programmer/Analyst and Technical Writer for a number of years. Ms. Gadol has a Master of School Administration from Appalachian State University. She holds a NC K-12 Principal’s license and is also licensed to teach High School Mathematics.
As one of the founding teachers at Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, which opened in rural, western North Carolina in 1999, Ms. Gadol helped develop the high school curriculum. Over a period of twelve years she taught various courses: Art and Art History, Logic I and II, Rhetoric, Algebra I and II, Geometry, and AP Statistics. She served as Chair first for the Mathematics Department and then for the Trivium Department. She was a member of the Curriculum Committee, the Scheduling Committee, the Scholarship Committee, the School Improvement Team, and the AdvancEd Accreditation Team. Cynthia’s fellow teachers elected Ms. Gadol as the upper school teacher representative to TJCA’s Board of Directors. Ms. Gadol became a TeamCFA Fellow in 2012 began working in administration at two other TeamCFA schools, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy and Lake Lure Classical Academy.
Ms. Gadol led professional development courses at TJCA on teaching critical thinking and logic throughout the curriculum, Socratic questioning, and Paideia seminars. She worked with the Drama Club, helping with sets, designing and sewing costumes, and occasionally directing and coaching. While at TJCA, she was the National Honor Society adviser and oversaw Prom and Graduation activities. The National Society of High School Scholars recognized Ms. Gadol as an Educator of Distinction after one of her students who was a member nominated her. She was selected for Who’s Who among American Teachers for three years, nominated by four different students. Her school nominated Ms. Gadol for Disney’s American Teacher Award for creativity in teaching and for NC Charter School Teacher of the Year. The recognition of which Ms. Gadol is most proud is the TJCA’s Punniest Teacher Award, presented in 2006 by the senior class. To date, she is the only recipient of this award.
Ms. Gadol is the principal author of the charter application for Excelsior Classical Academy.
