About Cheryl
I, Cheryl (Stanga) Despathy, grew-up in Georgia and Minnesota. My love of debate and the academic opportunities available to students attracted me to attend Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. I earned a B.A. in political science and a B.A. in women's studies. While at Emory University, I participated on the debate team (Barkley Forum), volunteered with the Urban Debate League, partook in the Emory Young Democrats and the women's interest groups on campus, and coached local high school debate teams. In the weeks after graduating from Emory University, I spent time abroad completing a graduate course in Community Studies, focusing on comparative city mixed-use development, through Saint Cloud State University (Minnesota) in Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
In 2007, I began coaching nationally-competitive policy debate and teaching history at Marist School (Atlanta, Georgia). While at Marist, I continued working with the National Debate Project to develop debate curriculum. Starting in 2011, I taught history and political science at Mount Pisgah Christian School (John's Creek, Georgia), where I sponsored the debate club and the environmental club. In 2013, I began working at The Galloway School (Atlanta, Georgia), a learner-focused school that seeks to cultivate the intrinsic curiosity and unrepeatable talents of each person. I taught world history and debate. In 2015, I moved into a curriculum leadership and instructional coaching role as a Learning & Instructional Designer. I completed a M.Ed. with honors in Learning, Design, & Technology from the University of Georgia in 2016. In continuing to develop my school administrative leadership skills, I completed a certificate from Cornell University in Women in Leadership in 2017. I served as the Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning from 2019-2023. I currently work as an Instructional Designer with the Professional Development department at Greenberg Traurig law firm, where I lead the Digital Learning Strategy cross-departmental team. Extended information on my professional growth experiences can be found here.
I enjoy working in my flower and vegetable garden, as well as traveling and antiquing around the southeast region with my husband, Dan. We are the proud parents to a daughter and three fur children.
In 2007, I began coaching nationally-competitive policy debate and teaching history at Marist School (Atlanta, Georgia). While at Marist, I continued working with the National Debate Project to develop debate curriculum. Starting in 2011, I taught history and political science at Mount Pisgah Christian School (John's Creek, Georgia), where I sponsored the debate club and the environmental club. In 2013, I began working at The Galloway School (Atlanta, Georgia), a learner-focused school that seeks to cultivate the intrinsic curiosity and unrepeatable talents of each person. I taught world history and debate. In 2015, I moved into a curriculum leadership and instructional coaching role as a Learning & Instructional Designer. I completed a M.Ed. with honors in Learning, Design, & Technology from the University of Georgia in 2016. In continuing to develop my school administrative leadership skills, I completed a certificate from Cornell University in Women in Leadership in 2017. I served as the Assistant Director of Teaching & Learning from 2019-2023. I currently work as an Instructional Designer with the Professional Development department at Greenberg Traurig law firm, where I lead the Digital Learning Strategy cross-departmental team. Extended information on my professional growth experiences can be found here.
I enjoy working in my flower and vegetable garden, as well as traveling and antiquing around the southeast region with my husband, Dan. We are the proud parents to a daughter and three fur children.
