Dr. Valerie Feathers joins Mountain Discovery Charter School with a varied educational background. A native of Elizabethton, Tennessee, Valerie grew up in the mountains and loved the outdoors. She attended East Tennessee State University and graduated with a B.A. in Anthropology and Foreign Languages. She decided to expand her horizons and moved to Louisiana where she attended Louisiana State University. She received a M.A. in Anthropology as well as a PhD in Anthropology and Geography with a concentration in Archaeology.
After graduating with her PhD, Valerie joined the Louisiana Division of Archaeology as their Outreach Coordinator. While there, she attended the Project Archaeology Leadership Academy and learned to engage students through project-based and experiential learning techniques. Upon her return, she partnered with local, state, and federal Native American tribes and, using those techniques, created engaging classroom materials, interactive museum exhibits, and guest lectures focused on Archaeological and Cultural Heritage across Louisiana.
She believes all students are interested in learning but knows that every student learns differently. She strives to find a midpoint which includes all aspects of learning to engage every student in the best way possible. Valerie likes to challenge her students to think critically and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world issues and events.
In her free time, she goes on walks with her husband, Sean, and their two children, Colson and Remy. She loves the outdoors and is happiest when she can be outside in the woods with her family or in their garden.
