Leadership Team

Norma W. Honeycutt is an expert, international award-winning early Childhood trainer and consultant. She is the Executive Director of Partners In Learning Child Development and Family Resource Center and a state-wide advocate for early care, education, and intervention.

She is certified to provide Triple-P, Special Instruction for Infants and Toddlers, and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Child and Family Development from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte and a Master’s Degree in Birth through Kindergarten.  For more than three decades, Norma has used her skills to support children and their families. She is a highly regarded and popular trainer and speaker.  She is passionate about quality in early childhood, making sure that children receive the best possible care and education to help them reach their full potential. She has worked within the education, health, and social services sectors, performing a wide range of roles such as teacher, director, education consultant, and child care commissioner.

Norma is married and is the mother of five adult children, which is why she is able to speak from the heart to parents and all those who care for or educate children.

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For more than a decade, Katelin Rice has been a dedicated community advocate in Salisbury and Rowan County. She has grown to become a respected professional through her work with Salisbury’s elected and civic leaders, and service on various nonprofit boards and committees. Katelin’s career began as the Promotions Coordinator for Downtown Salisbury, Inc., eventually leading her to serve as one of the lead coordinators for Salisbury’s largest event, the Cheerwine Festival. Most recently, Katelin served as the Community Development Manager for Hotwire Communications.

In her spare time, Katelin has worked closely with the Rowan County United Way, Historic Salisbury Foundation, Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, North Carolina Main Street Association, amongst others. Katelin received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Literature from Catawba College. She is also certified as a Public Information Officer, and recently received her certification in Full-Cycle Grants Management from Western Carolina University.

Katelin is passionate about the growth and development of Salisbury’s residents, further driving her philanthropic and engagement efforts

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 A passionate advocate for children and families, Cassie Karriker has dedicated herself to Partners In Learning since 2011. Her journey, which includes roles as Lead Mentoring Teacher, Afternoon Supervisor, and Early Intervention Director, has culminated in her current role as Clinical Services Director. Cassie, who holds a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Leadership, operates on a fundamental philosophy: to proactively find the gaps in available services and work tirelessly to bridge them, providing all children and families with equitable access to crucial support. This commitment to inclusivity and resource accessibility has been her hallmark since her days in the classroom. She continues to oversee all support services, driven by a deep commitment to the community.

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Heather has three daughters who keep her on her toes. They are her pride and joy, and together they enjoy playing outside, exploring nature, and traveling home to Pennsylvania and New York to see their family. Growing up, Heather lived all over the country, as her father was a chief in the United States Navy.

Heather has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and History from Elmira College in Elmira, NY. She has worked with children of all ages, including teaching high school in the private sector for 5 years, and has over 20 years’ experience working with preschool age children.

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Erika has been a dedicated member of the Partners In Learning team since 2014. Her journey with the organization reflects a deep passion for early childhood education and a strong commitment to professional growth. Over the years, Erika has served in a variety of roles—including Flex Assistant, Lead Teacher, Program Coordinator, First Impressions Director, and Curriculum Specialist—each position strengthening her leadership and expertise within the organization.

Now, as Director of the Best Street site, Erika brings her years of experience, collaborative spirit, and dedication to high-quality early learning to lead her team in providing exceptional care and education for children and families.

Erika holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and has been working in the field since the age of 18. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her blended family of four boys and her fiancé.

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Leah McCasland is a 2015 graduate of Catawba College with a degree in English Literature. Since January 2017, she has been employed at Partners in Learning, where she has served as as the Lead Infant Teacher for over five years. Her time at Partners has allowed her to foster a love of learning and provide nurturing care during the earliest stages of childhood development.

Outside of her professional life, she is happily married to her husband, Cole. She loves traveling the world, taking lots of photos, visiting Disney parks, and spending quality time with her nieces, Elayna and Emarie.

Leah began serving as Administrative Assistant at Best Street site in September, 2025. She is “excited to continue fostering connections, supporting families, and helping make Partners an even better place for our community.”

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As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate at Partners in Learning, Angel is passionate about empowering adolescents and their families. With a trauma-informed lens, Angel provides compassionate support for those experiencing anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, and complex PTSD. By utilizing talk therapy and psychoeducation, Angel helps clients forge meaningful connections between their experiences and emotions, fostering emotional awareness and healthier coping strategies. Valuing collaboration, Angel works closely with caregivers to ensure comprehensive care, creating a nonjudgmental and affirming therapeutic environment where young people feel heard, respected, and capable of positive change.

Alana has worked alongside individuals, families, school systems, and advocates in the autism community for over two decades. She had the opportunity to provide community-based services to individuals on the autism spectrum early in her career, prior to entering the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system. In this setting, she taught in a classroom supporting students with autism, before taking a role as an autism consultant for the district. She holds a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Special Education, as well as being licensed as a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA).  She worked with a variety of families across the state during her time with the Autism Society of North Carolina over the last six years, providing in-home behavior analytic services to families in the Charlotte, Asheville, and Morganton areas.  In her time with the Autism Society, she also delivered presentations, workshops, and ongoing coaching to school systems, service providers, and other stakeholder groups. She has experience implementing and overseeing programs that emphasize the integration of evidence-based practices in intervention for neurodiverse children, adolescents, and adults. Current areas of focus include equity in education and behavioral intervention, social emotional learning, naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions, and promoting self-advocacy skills for individuals in the autistic community. She is excited to join Partners in Learning to continue this journey!

Emilie Scharf has been a dedicated member of Partners in Learning since 2014, demonstrating her commitment through various roles, including Finance Director and Center Director. While there was a brief separation in her direct services, her connection to the organization remained strong. Her current role as Family Support Director is where her true passion lies.

Emilie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Birth-Kindergarten Education from Catawba College and is accredited in multiple levels of Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), reflecting her expertise in family support. Outside of her professional life, Emilie is married and has two adult children. She is also the proud “GiGi” to a grandson and granddaughter. Her deep-seated calling to serve others is evident in her tireless efforts to support families in the county to the best of her ability.

Logan Garner is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor’s degree in behavioral psychology. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in ABA. Logan has worked closely with children with disabilities for over a decade, but has over 5 years professional experience working in childcare and ABA. He loves camping, spending time outside, and hiking with his wife of 7 years and 6 year old daughter. Logan loves trying new foods, travelling to new places, and going to the mountains.