Where Are They Now - Former Faculty?

Ben Ortiz (Math Teacher 2002–2007)

My name is Ben Ortiz, I worked at Camelot from 2002–2007 as the Upper School Math teacher. I relocated to my home state of Texas in 2007 after my wife took a job in Austin. I am now teaching Algebra II and Pre-AP Geometry at St. Michael's Catholic Academy in Austin. Switching North Carolina for Texas also meant switching basketball for football—I am the defensive backs coach for the SMCA varsity football team, which made the playoffs this year for the first time in over 10 years!

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Lynn Wartski (Science Teacher 1993–1997)

College Attended: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Degree Received: B.S.— Natural Resource Management and Environmental Studies, Certification—Secondary Biology and General Science Education
Occupation: Sculptor
Spouse/Kids: husband—Bert, daughter—Alexcina

Hi, I am Lynn Wartski. I was the Upper School science instructor, and Science Coordinator from fall 1993 to spring 1997. I left teaching to pursue my artistic interests and open a studio. An early commission led me back to my love of creating 3-dimensional art, and introduced me to a new medium, copper. I created primarily garden art for several years, and then took an extended "mommy leave" following the birth of our daughter Alexcina in 2001. Over the past two years, I have returned to my artwork. I create mainly botanically themed pieces in copper and art glass. I am an exhibiting member if the Orange County Artist guild. I was the Chapel Hill Public Art Commission's Artist in Residence for 2006. I am an artist/owner in the Art & Soul gallery in Mebane, NC. My work can also be found at the Focal Points gallery in Greensborough, NC. I reside in Hillsborough, with my husband Bert, our daughter Alex, and Ginger the St. Bernard.

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Linda (Merritt) Ford (Lower School Teacher 1998–2004)

I worked at Camelot from 1998–2004, teaching downstairs, grades 4, 5, and6 my first year and then teaching Sr. MAPP, grades 2, 3, and 4 until I left. My first year away from Camelot I taught in Wake County before moving to Massachusetts. On June 25, 2005 I married a long time friend, Michael Ford. We had a beautiful wedding at Stratton Mountain, Vermont. My first two years in Massachusetts I worked at Brookfield Elementary School teaching 6th grade science and 4th grade. Currently I am teaching at New Braintree Grade School, grade 5 & 6 English Language Arts and History & Social Science. New Braintree is great. It is a small school in Central Massachusetts with about 100 students in grades K–6. My experience at Camelot has helped me tremendously in my teaching, especially teaching in a multi-age classroom and using differentiated instruction (the new buzz word in public education) in everything.