About.

Read to find out a bit about your WES Third Grade Teachers.

Our Goal

Our goal as a third grade team is to help each and every child reach their full potential. We look forward to engaging, challenging, and learning from our students throughout the year! 

Our Team

Mrs. Carri Kudla
​Third Grade Teacher

Welcome to third grade!  I am so excited to be your child’s teacher this year and I am looking forward to getting to know you and your family during my very first year at WES.  This will be my fourteenth year of teaching and my previous experience includes teaching in four different grade levels, including kindergarten through third grade.  I grew up in Western New York and attended SUNY Oswego where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications.  I moved to New York City and worked for two years and then decided to pursue my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at Pace University.  
            My husband, Michael, and I have been married for almost 20 years and we have three wonderful children, Jake & Lizzie (twins) are 14 years old and starting ninth grade at Heritage High School.  Sophie, our youngest, is 13 years old is attending Heritage Middle School as an eighth grader.  We’ve lived in the Raleigh/Wake Forest area for 11 years now and we’ve come to love and enjoy this great community.  
            During my time as an educator, I have realized the importance of creating a caring, respectful, safe, and nurturing environment to encourage creative critical thinkers.  My classroom is designed with a positive discipline plan promoting student respect, responsibility, and accountability.  I hold high expectations for all students and encourage them to do their very best in a safe and loving setting.  Being a teacher is one of the most important jobs a person can hold and I am thankful for this opportunity to do what I do each day.   

Ms. Nicole Ilderton
Third Grade Teacher

Welcome! I am very excited to be teaching third grade again at  Wakefield Elementary!
 I am originally from Washington, D.C. but I have lived in North Carolina for many years. I graduated from High Point University with an elementary education degree.
​ I taught 4th, 5th and 6th grade in High Point before moving to the Raleigh area last year.  My love of teaching has kept me in the profession for 30 years!  My number one goal for every child is for them to enjoy school and to love learning.  Once the love of learning is there, nothing is impossible! 

Ms. Jennifer Wise
​​Third Grade Teacher

​Hello! I am so excited to be in third grade at Wakefield this year! This is my fifth year at WES. In the past, I've taught 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades, so I am pretty well-versed in what these kids should know and need to know! I love teaching, there is truly nothing like it in the world! I am so looking forward to being back in 3rd grade again, and working with our students to get them where they need to be. I like to focus on growth and hard work, and the #1 thing I will ALWAYS ask from our students is to TRY. I believe that as long as you are trying your very best, there is nothing more I can ask of you, and it is important to always try new things-even when they are scary! Personally, I have lived in Raleigh since 2007, and am married with 3 daughters (Jada, Bella, and Nora), a pug named Pickles, and a cat named Roxie. Jada is in high school this year as a 9th grader, Bella is at WES as a 5th grader, and Nora is at WES as a 3rd grader. I love reading, and will read anything in front of me. I also love to cook, and go hiking with my family. I also have an obsession with kickboxing and do it daily. I look forward to our year together, and am so excited to work together with our children towards success!

Ms. Sharon Mercado
​Third Grade Teacher

I have been an educator for 24 years . I have had the pleasure of teaching  grades 2-6 during that time.The majority of my teaching experience has been with the  NYC Board of Education . I relocated to Raleigh with my family in 2008 and have been working in Wake County.  I have 3 wonderful children.  I love helping students become self-sufficient and successful learners. I also love music,reading,writing poetry, and COFFEE ! I look forward in learning  with OUR children and YOU of course this school year !

Mrs. Tina Cayton
​Third Grade Teacher

  I am  a veteran teacher who has taught both first grade and third  grade.  I am originally from Ohio but moved here for a teaching position.  I met my husband here and we have two beautiful children:  a girl and a  boy.  We live in this community and I am committed to making this school and community a success.  I love watching and playing sports, spending time with my family and going to the beach!  I cannot wait to meet all of the students and their families.

Ms. Shannon Stephens
Third Grade Student Teacher
Hello! I am currently finishing my degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Social Studies from Appalachian State University and will graduate in December of this year! I am originally from Orlando, Florida but moved to North Carolina 15 years ago so I am familiar with the Wake Forest area. In my free time I love to read, adventure outdoors, play with my black lab, Khalifa, and hang out with friends and family. I am so excited to get started with the school year and look forward to learning from my wonderful students!