Syerra Troutman (Athletic Director) was born and raised in New York and relocated to North Carolina in 2007. As a collegiate athlete, she knows firsthand that exercising and a healthy diet have a direct benefit on your mind as well as your body. Her love of physical fitness and sports led her to a career as a Physical Education teacher. She tries to make exercising fun and exciting to keep students engaged and interested in physical education and personal fitness.

Coach Troutman has coached basketball, softball, and cross country. She currently serves as the Athletic Director and is excited to help mold and nurture the students at Thales Academy.

Coach Troutman received a B.S. in Exercise Sports and Science from Greensboro College. She teaches Physical Education and Vocational Arts and serves as Athletic Director.

John Lowthorpe ( Assistant Athletic Director) is originally from England and spent his formative years in both England and the New York/New Jersey area. Becoming an American citizen as an adult, he served 20 years in the United States Army as an Infantry Soldier and as a Federal Investigator. Mr. Lowthorpe’s post-military career involved managing force protection and personal security at embassies around the world and conducting investigations in the areas of corruption, national security, and controversial issues. While living across five continents, Mr. Lowthorpe has taught, trained, and mentored adult and youth learners from the United States, Iraq, Afghanistan, Peru, Chile, Kenya, Uganda, South Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the former West Germany, and the United Arab Emirates (Dubai). He focuses his mentoring on values- and character-based campaigns. He and his wife, Julia, reside in Wake Forest, NC; they have four children and nine grandchildren. Their youngest son, Jordan, is a graduate of the Thales Academy Rolesville JH/HS Class of 2023 and currently attends Appalachian State University.

Mr. Lowthorpe received a B.A. in Business and an M.B.A. in Business Administration from Campbell University, a Graduate Certificate in Mastery of Project Management from Villanova University, a board certification as a Fraud Examiner (CFE) from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, credentials in the study of negotiation from England’s University of Reading, and an Executive Protection designation from the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS). He teaches Math and serves as the Assistant Athletic Director at Thales Academy Rolesville.