BIO: Rachael J. Neill
Mrs. Neill was born Rachael Voyles, daughter of Sallie and David Voyles, in Columbus, Ohio. She attended public school until fifth grade when she attended Columbus School for Girls (CSG). Mrs. Neill was president of Service Club, leading CSG to be the first all girls school to build a house through Habitat for Humanity. What was particularly special was that the house went to a family who had a son in the after-school tutoring program in which Mrs. Neill participated. Mrs. Neill graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Mrs. Neill moved to Charlotte, NC to attend Davidson College. She majored in both Psychology and Philosophy, earning a BS with Honors in Psychology. During college, Mrs. Neill spent two summers working in two different contexts for clinical adolescent psychology. One summer was spent working with male and female teenagers battling addiction at an in-patient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Another summer was spent participating in a program made possible through partnership between Davidson College and Broughton Hospital. Mrs. Neill was an intern with a psychologist working on the female adolescent ward at Broughton Hospital. Mrs. Neill was also a Resident Advisor for two years and was president of Warner Hall. Mrs. Neill wrote two theses to complete her undergraduate course work. Her psychology thesis focused on college student attitudes toward alcohol consumption. Her philosophy thesis explored psychological determinism within the criminal justice system. Mrs. Neill graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors in psychology.
Toward the end of her undergraduate experience, Mrs. Neill recognized that working in education would provide her an opportunity to stay connected to her interest in clinical adolescent psychology while providing an opportunity to give back to the community in which she lived. Mrs. Neill was selected to join Teach For America Charlotte. Through this program, Mrs. Neill became an EC Teacher, leading students with special needs to meet their full academic potential. Mrs. Neill taught at Wilson Middle School, a CMS school in the West Mecklenburg HS feeder pattern.
Mrs. Neill moved to Charlotte, NC to attend Davidson College. She majored in both Psychology and Philosophy, earning a BS with Honors in Psychology. During college, Mrs. Neill spent two summers working in two different contexts for clinical adolescent psychology. One summer was spent working with male and female teenagers battling addiction at an in-patient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Another summer was spent participating in a program made possible through partnership between Davidson College and Broughton Hospital. Mrs. Neill was an intern with a psychologist working on the female adolescent ward at Broughton Hospital. Mrs. Neill was also a Resident Advisor for two years and was president of Warner Hall. Mrs. Neill wrote two theses to complete her undergraduate course work. Her psychology thesis focused on college student attitudes toward alcohol consumption. Her philosophy thesis explored psychological determinism within the criminal justice system. Mrs. Neill graduated Magna Cum Laude with Honors in psychology.
Toward the end of her undergraduate experience, Mrs. Neill recognized that working in education would provide her an opportunity to stay connected to her interest in clinical adolescent psychology while providing an opportunity to give back to the community in which she lived. Mrs. Neill was selected to join Teach For America Charlotte. Through this program, Mrs. Neill became an EC Teacher, leading students with special needs to meet their full academic potential. Mrs. Neill taught at Wilson Middle School, a CMS school in the West Mecklenburg HS feeder pattern.
During her time at Wilson Middle School, Mrs. Neill taught, 6th grade Language Arts; 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Math; and 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Study Skills. She taught both in the co-taught and resource classroom settings. She also served as the EC Department Compliance Facilitator.
While at Wilson Middle School, Mrs. Neill met her now husband, Doug Neill. Mr. Neill was a Social Studies Teacher at Wilson Middle School. They were married three years later and named their dog Wilson after their fond memories of Wilson Middle School. Mr. Neill is currently the Dean of Students at Ashley Park Pre-K-8. He moved into this role after teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies across three CMS schools for ten years. He earned his school administration license after completing the School Executive Leadership Academy (SELA) program at Queens University in partnership with CMS.
While at Wilson Middle School, Mrs. Neill met her now husband, Doug Neill. Mr. Neill was a Social Studies Teacher at Wilson Middle School. They were married three years later and named their dog Wilson after their fond memories of Wilson Middle School. Mr. Neill is currently the Dean of Students at Ashley Park Pre-K-8. He moved into this role after teaching 7th and 8th grade social studies across three CMS schools for ten years. He earned his school administration license after completing the School Executive Leadership Academy (SELA) program at Queens University in partnership with CMS.
After teaching, Mrs. Neill expanded her impact on student achievement by joining the Teach For America team in Miami, FL. In Miami, Mrs. Neill coached 32 beginning teachers in the areas of 6th-12th grade Math, 6th-12th grade Science, and K-12th grade Special Education. Her teachers taught in 18 different schools as far south as Homestead and as far North as Norland. After she got engaged to her now husband, she returned to Charlotte, NC to continue the same work with Teach For America Charlotte. This time she supported teachers in K-5th grade ESL and K-12th grade EC. The teachers she coached taught in 21 different schools across CMS, which provided her the unique opportunity to see different elements of school design across the district. This inspired Mrs. Neill to return to a school home and she began to pursue school administration.
Mrs. Neill was accepted to New Leaders. This program offered school administration training at both the national and local levels. As part of this program, she completed a year-long residency at James Martin MS in CMS. In her residency, she served as an Assistant Principal over the 8th grade, in addition to joining the principal in many school-wide leadership opportunities.
Mrs. Neill was accepted to New Leaders. This program offered school administration training at both the national and local levels. As part of this program, she completed a year-long residency at James Martin MS in CMS. In her residency, she served as an Assistant Principal over the 8th grade, in addition to joining the principal in many school-wide leadership opportunities.
After completing the New Leaders program, Mrs. Neill was honored to be selected as the principal of Quail Hollow Middle School in July 2011. She is currently in her fifth year as principal of the school and is particularly proud of building a strong team of School Teachers with a shared vision to lead our Falcons on the PATH to college.
Fun Facts about Mrs. Neill
- Mrs. Neill is a proud Davidson Wildcat and is still best friends with her friends from college who are like her sisters.
- Mrs. Neill and Mr. Neill named their dog after the first school they taught at: Wilson.
- Mrs. Neill's favorite places to visit are Blowing Rock, NC (where she and Mr. Neill got married) and Charleston, SC.
- Mr. Neill was born in Charlotte and attended Beverly Woods ES, Carmel MS, and South Meck HS.