Leadership, Faculty, & Staff

Board of Trustees

Academy at the Lakes Board of Trustees provides valuable leadership and governance for the school. The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that the school focuses on executing its mission. The men and women who serve as Trustees govern from an intentional and strategic perspective focused on the institution’s continued financial viability and organizational excellence.

2025-2026 Officers, Executive Committee

John Faith

Chair

Cynthia Martin

Secretary

Skip Miller

Treasurer

Paul Tuten

Vice Chair

2025-26 Trustees

Dany Asad

Piers Curry

Tommy Giglio '05

Roger Joyce

Doug Kugley

Roshan Mahtani

Kaukeb Malik

Mary McCormick

Ex-officio, Emerita

Keith O’Malley

John Pitcairn

Michael Riley

Ralph Sevelius

Brent Smith

Maggie LaPunzina Wells

Faculty & Staff

At Academy at the Lakes, our faculty and staff are the heart of our educational community. Each individual brings dedication, expertise, and passion for fostering a nurturing environment where students thrive academically and personally. Our team is committed to upholding the school’s mission and core values, ensuring that every student feels valued and empowered.

Cheyenne Abbott

Associate Director of Admissions

B.A., University of Tampa

Karen Achan Sooklal

Assistant to the Head of School

Cassie Adley

Director of College Counseling

B.S., University of South Florida

Erin Akins

Athletics Coordinator

B.S., University of South Florida

Ken Akins

Admissions Associate

B.S., Saint Mary of the Woods College

Deeba Arifuddin

School Psychologist

B.A., University of South Florida
M.Ed., Loyola University of Chicago
Ed.S., Loyola University of Chicago

Alicia Arriaga

Lower Division

B.A., Rutgers University

Nicole Benjamin

Early Childhood Assistant

B.A., St. Leo University

Penny Benson

Business Office Assistant

Mariana Bernardino

Student Services

A.A., Western New England College

David Bisignano

Mathematics

M.A., Bethany Bible College
MDiv, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary

Mariangela Blount

World Language

A.A., MiraCosta College
B.A., Antonio José de Sucre University
B.A., American Public University System
M.A., Pontificia Universidad de Salamanca
M.Ed., American Public University System

Joe Bradley

Music

Bachelor’s Degree, Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico
Master’s Degree, Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville

Makenzie Brinker

Athletic Trainer

B.S., University of Southern Indiana
M.S., Franklin College

Shawn Brown

Associate Athletic Director
Physical Education

B.S., Southeastern University
M.B.A., St. Leo University

Kirsten Campbell

English

B.A., University of Tampa
M.A., Morehead State University

Kelsey Carper

English

A.A., State College of Florida
B.A., Florida State University
M.A., University of Florida

Willie Carrazana

Transportation

Joanna Chouls

Mathematics

B.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Anjel Clemente

World Language
Transportation Coordinator

B.A., Manchester University

Jennifer Collins

Lower Division

B.A., Bryn Mawr College
M.Ed., University of South Florida

Gary Compton

Middle and Upper Division

B.M.Ed., Memorial University
M.M.,University of Denver
Ph.D., University of South Florida

Kevin Crowley

Sound and Video Technology

University of Wisconsin-OshKosh

Kathleen Cummings

Lower Division

B.S., Jacksonville University

Kellie Curran

Mathematics

B.A., Dowling College
M.S., Florida State University

Birgit Czabafy

Registrar

B.S., Rutgers University

Carmen Discepola

Transportation

Cori Dobrzanski

Reading/Language Specialist

B.S., University of South Florida
M.S., University of South Florida

Thomas Dolan

Mathematics; Science

B.S., M.Ed., Ph.D., University of South Florida

Bri Dold

Associate Director of Marketing & Communications

B.F.A., International Academy of Design and Technology

Matt Douglas

Transportation

Elizabeth Dwyer

Humanities

B.A., Georgetown University
M.A., Loyola Marymount University
M.A., Teachers College Columbia University

Marisol Estrella

World Language

B.S., Sacred Heart University of Puerto Rico
M.A., Inter American University of Puerto Rico

Barbara Felderman

Lower Division Aftercare

B.S., California State University

Carolin Fleischacker

Lower Division

M.Ed., University of Wuppertal

Larkie Fleming

Music

B.A., Florida State University

Elisabeth Fowler

Learning Specialist

B.S., University of Hartford
M.A., University of South Florida

Allison Fradenburg

History

B.A., Rutgers University
M.S., Fordham University

Kim Frank

Transportation

Jessica Fugate

Director Of Development

B.S., B.A., M.S., MBA, University of Tampa
Ph.D., University of South Florida

Niyama Fulkroad

Humanities

B.A., Lenoir-Rhyne
M.A., Argosy University

Taylor Galarneau

Lower Division

B.A., Florida Gulf Coast University

Raquel Gomez-Johnson

Lower Division

B.S., University of Miami
M.Ed., Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)

Maria Gross

Art

B.A., State University of New York New Paltz

Sue Gunther

Director of Admissions

Hudson Valley Community College

Karen Hart

Lower Division Administrative Assistant

AOS, Monroe University

Kathy Heller

Curriculum Director

B.S., University of South Florida

Mark Heller

Head of School, Music

B.A., Yale University
J.D., Boston University

Ronald Herdt

Facilities

Jessica Hill

Fine Arts

B.A., New York University

Corey Hoch

Science, Technology

B.S., University of Florida
M.S., Lincoln Memorial University
M.B.A., Louisiana State University at Shreveport

Steph Huff

Assistant Lower Division Director

B.A., Arizona State University
M.S., University of Scranton

Deborah Hutner

Science

B.S., University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Heidi Ivester

Lower Division

B.S., Florida State University

Chris Jacobs

Facilities

Anetria Jenkins

Lower Division

B.S., Touro College

Sarah Jeter

Middle Division Registrar
Student Life Coordinator

B.S., Florida State University

Raini Jewell

Lower Division Director

B.S., Brown University
M.S. Ed., Bank Street College of Education

Judy Kent

Director of Student Support

B.A., University of Virginia
M.Ed., University of Virginia

Seyedmahmoudreza Keshavarz

Science

B.S., Sharif University of Technology
M.A., University of South Florida

Rachel Klaeren

Science

B.A., Agnes Scott College
M.Ed.,Western Governors University

Kathleen Koci

School Counselor

B.A. Kent State University
M.A. John Carroll University

Matthew LaMonica

Transportation

Charlotte Leavengood

Humanities

B.A., New College of Florida

William Leavengood

Fine Arts

B.A., Rollins College

Ariana Litt

Upper Division Administrative Assistant

B.S., University of Kansas

Meng Liu

World Language

B.A., Northeastern Agricultural University
M.Ed., Jinan University

Vanessa Lopez

Lower Division

B.S., East Carolina University

Sarah Mackleer

Lower Division

B.S., Bridgewater State College
M.S., Wheelock College

Liza MacQuarrie

Middle Division Administrative Assistant

AAS, LaGuardia CC - CUNY

Elizabeth Magnusson

Science

B.A., University of South Florida
M.Ed., University of South Florida

Ashley Matthews

School Counselor

B.A., Saint Leo University
M.Ed., Argosy University

Annette Matute

Early Childhood Assistant

Nick May

Facilities

Kevin McCarthy

Controller

B.A., University of Miami
M.H.A., Texas Women's University

Steven McColley

Music

B.A., University of South Florida

Colleen McCormick

Middle Division Director

B.S., University of Florida
M.Ed., University of Central Florida

Katie Erin McCormick

Music

B.M.Ed., Auburn University

Kimberly McDowell

Mathematics

B.A., Boston College
MAT, Teachers College of Columbia University.

Cecilia Mir Font

Science

B.S. University of Barcelona
Ph.D., International University of Catalonia

Jenny Montie

Transportation

Shawn Moore

History

B.A., University of Maryland
M.A., University of South Florida

Zach Moore

Upper Division

B.A., Duke University
M.A., Duke University

Elizabeth Munn

Physical Education

B.S., Indiana University
M.S., Chicago State University

Rebecca Musco

English

B.A., University of South Florida
M.A., University of South Florida

William Neblett

Transportation

Getta O'Neill

School Nurse

B.S., M.Ed., Saint Leo University
B.S.N., University of South Florida

Matthew Paltoo

Art

B.F.A., Fort Hays State University
B.F.A., Academy of Arts University
M.S., Florida State University

Kinjal Patel

Lower Division

B.A., Saint Leo University

Margaret Peacock

Lower Division

B.A., University of Alabama, Birmingham

Patrick Pesch

Chief Financial Officer

B.S.C., DePaul University

Lisa Picard

Lower Division

B.A., M.A., Saint Leo University

Eva Pichardo Hernandez

World Language

Bachelor's Degree, The National Autonomous University of Mexico
Master's Degree, Universidad Tec Milenio

Alphonso Pollard

Transportation

Tara Pollock

Director of Marketing & Communications

B.S., University of Florida
M.A., University of Florida

Deanna Purpura-Till

Development Associate

Heather Rabinowitz

Early Childhood Assistant

B.S., Eastern Illinois University

Debra Reed

Mathematics

B.S., University of Kentucky

Alfonso San Vicente

Director of IT and Facilities

Deb Savino

Athletic Director

B.S., Clark University
M.S., Winthrop University

Mary Schiedel

Facilities

Kaatje Schreurs

Humanities

B.S., Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Drexel University

Jennifer Sciortino

Upper Division Director

B.A., University of New Orleans
M.Ed., Louisiana State University

Jillian Session

Lower Division

B.S., Florida State University

Benjamin Shaw

Technology

B.S., University at Buffalo (SUNY)

Michelle Shaw

Learning Specialist

B.S., University of Vermont
M.Ed., Harvard Graduate School of Education

Brad Shellgren

Marketing Associate

B.A., DePauw University
M.A., University of South Florida

Kyung Shipman

Physical Education

B.S., University of Hawaii
M.S., University of the Southwest

Stephen Spaulding

Technology

B.A., Eastern Washington University

Stephanie Squires

Admissions Assistant

Santa Fe College

Michele Startup

Senior Accountant

B.S., Kean University

Kristen Titus

Librarian

B.A., University of Delaware
M.A., University of Tampa

Kerstin Upmeyer

Technology

B.F.A., Ringling College of Art
M.Ed., University of South Florida

Ross Van Boven

Mathematics

B.A., M.Ed., Ed.D., University of Florida

Neely Van Veghel

Lower Division

B.A., Ohio State University

Katherine Vargas

History, Music

B.A., University of South Florida
M.Ed., University of South Florida

John Vitorino

Facilities

Rasmussen College

Maddie Walden

Science

B.S., Arizona State University
M.S., University of Florida

Amy Warnock

Operations

A.A., University of South Florida

Rebecca White

Early Childhood Assistant

Rich Willms

Transportation

Eric Wilson

Educational Technology Specialist

B.S., Ball State University

Jay Woodruff

Director of Auxiliary Programs

B.A., University of Michigan
M.A., Georgia State University

Tricia Woodruff

Early Childhood Assistant

B.S., Auburn University
M.P.Ed., Auburn University

Eliezer Zalivar Ponce

Facilities

Kelly Zolla

History

B.A., Boston College
M.A., Stony Brook University

Hear From Our Faculty Members

Discover how Academy at the Lakes has made a lasting impact on the lives of our students. From meaningful friendships to academic excellence, hear their voices and stories.