Alarcon, Cayabyab, Gaymon, and Gilliam Join Salem Academy
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (OCTOBER 6, 2022)—Salem Academy—the only all-girls, boarding and day high school located on a college campus with a STEAM focus in the United States—has added four team members to its faculty and staff. Tatiana Alarcon is a Spanish teacher; Marie Cayabyab will teach engineering, math and robotics; Tahja Gaymon is alumnae director and Anna Gilliam is an art teacher.
Alarcon is a native Spanish speaker who was born and raised in Ecuador, South America. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in language education from Universidad Tecnica Particular de Loja and is working toward a Master in linguistics degree at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro. Alarcon has taught at the high school and university levels for 15 years. At Salem Academy, she will teach introductory and intermediate Spanish, as well as creating a wide array of opportunities for students to practice authentic and real-world lessons infused with 21st-century issues and tasks. Alarcon serves as a crisis counselor at Crisis Text Line.
In addition to teaching, Cayabyab will serve as the STEAM coordinator at Salem Academy. Earlier in her career, Cayabyab worked as a professional civil engineer, including work for municipalities, private consulting firms and a nonprofit makerspace. She holds an Engineering degree from Portland State University, a Construction Technology degree and a Certification in Applied Ethics from the University of West Florida. Cayabyab is a member of the Society of Women Engineers’ Eastern North Carolina Chapter and serves as the chapter’s president.
Prior to joining Salem Academy, Gaymon worked as the director of donor engagement for United Way of Forsyth County. She graduated from Bennett College and received a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. After several years in media sales, Gaymon returned to school at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received a master’s degree in nonprofit management. She serves on the board of Horizons Residential Care Center, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., serves on Winston-Salem Foundation Women’s Fund Committee, YWCA Women of Vision Committee and Association of Fundraising Professionals Membership Committee.
A native of Ukraine, Gilliam just returned to the United States after living in Asia, where she taught art and design. Gilliam’s career has included graphic design and fine art. She received a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University in Massachusetts and a master’s degree in education from George Mason University, Virginia. Gilliam’s favorite media are stained glass, building art pieces with recycled materials, clay construction, drawing and digital design and drawing.
About Salem Academy And College
Salem Academy and College, celebrating 250 years and built upon a foundation of empowering and preparing girls and women from all around the world to effect change, shatter expectations and lead. Exclusively focused on developing tomorrow’s health leaders and change agents in STEAM fields and liberal arts. In its newly released 2023 rankings of best schools, Niche ranked Salem Academy as the No. 1 Best Private High School in the Triad and the No. 7 Private High School in North Carolina.
Salem Academy and College is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a vibrant college town known for arts and innovation. For more information about Salem Academy, please visit SalemAcademy.com. For more information about Salem College, please visit Salem.edu.