Meet Our Staff

Mrs. Ashley McKinley, head of school, is a Greensboro, NC, native and has been a resident of Charlotte for the last 19 years. With a background in both elementary education and counseling (B.A. from UNCC and Master’s from Winthrop University), she has experience as language arts teacher, school counselor, and assistant principal. She obtained an administrative license from Wingate University and most recently served as an assistant principal at a middle school that enrolls 1100 students. In that role, Mrs. McKinley gained considerable administrative experience that groomed her for her duties as Friendship Day Head of School. She believes that all students can learn at high levels and that it is the responsibility of educators to have high expectations while also meeting students at their level of need. Mrs. McKinley has an outstanding immediate and extended family, including her husband Clem and two beautiful sons, Cannon (5) and Cohen (1).

Mrs. Valerie Dixon is the Curriculum Coach at Friendship Day. This is Mrs. Dixon’s fourth year at FDS. She has 34 years of teaching experience in public school. Mrs. Dixon retired from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in June 2019. During her educational career, she has taught K-2 multiage, first grade, second grade, and third grade, served as an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program Magnet Coordinator/Academic Facilitator, and a Reading Teacher. She believes that it is important to teach children how to think, not what to think! Mrs. Dixon gets excited when children use his/her strategies to solve problems! She is passionate about educating others, especially children and teachers! Mrs. Dixon believes in the power of service! Her favorite quote is, “Each one teach one!”