Chandler Montessori

 

 

Administrative Team  
>> Please note, all faculty resumes are available to staff in the administration office.

Debra Slagle, Charter Representative & Superintendent  Email
Debra Slagle is superintendent of Westwind Community Schools (WCS) and CEO of Westwind Children's Services, a nonprofit 501 (c)3 corporation.  She is one of the founders of Westwind Prep, Westwind at Anthem, Westwind Middle School Academy and most recently Canyon View Prep Academy.  Mrs. Slagle received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tampa in Tampa, Florida.  She is a member of the Leadership for Educational Entrepreneurs Academy of Fellows through Arizona State University, where she received her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership.  Mrs. Slagle also has a Masters Degree from Northern Arizona University.  Mrs. Slagle is a certified school administrator, a certified secondary education teacher, a certified guidance counselor and a licensed professional counselor. She has been a guest speaker at several national and regional conferences on education and school choice, including the National Charter Schools Conference, AdvancED Conference on Continuous School Improvement and the Regional Conference for Alternative Schools. She is the past president of the Arizona Charter Schools Association and currently serves on the association's board.  Mrs. Slagle has volunteered on external accreditation teams for AdvancED NCA/CASI, as well as Valley of the Sun United Way review teams.  Mrs. Slagle's responsive model of action research published in Practical Action Research for Change, by Richard Schmuck was used as a model for underperforming schools by Arizona Department of Education from 2004 through 2006.  Mrs. Slagle has been a resident of Arizona since 1980, when she moved to Phoenix after marrying her husband, Chuck, a former elementary school teacher and current aerospace engineer.  She has two grown children and a son-in-law, in addition to a menagerie of animals.

 

Jack Rowe, Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Jack comes to us with a wide range of experience. Most recently he has been the principal at Phoenix Advantage Charter School in central Phoenix. Prior to that role, Jack worked at the Arizona Department of Education where he was a mentor to schools across the state and was Director for State Intervention. He has been a high school principal and spent 28 years as a classroom teacher. Jack is married and has a son and two daughters. His wife, DeAnna, is also very active in the charter school movement and has been for 15 years. She is currently the Executive Director for the State Board for Charter Schools. Jack’s son is a computer consultant working around the work. His oldest daughter is currently studying Early Childhood Development in college and his youngest daughter, a senior in high school, has set a goal of medical school.

 

 

 

Rhonda Rides, Principal Email
Rhonda Rides graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A.E. (specializing in social studies). She taught history at Westwind Preparatory Academy and was their mentor teacher for eight years prior to becoming the director at Caurus Academy . Rhonda has been a resident of Anthem since early 2001.  She enjoys spending time with her husband and three children and is an avid Coca-Cola collector.

Lance Taubman, Assistant Principal Email
Mr. Taubman joined the staff of Caurus Academy as a K/1 Educator and a 2/3 Educator in 2009. He holds a B.A. in Education from NAU and received his M.A. in Early Childhood from ASU. He is an Arizona native and has one daughter, Maxine, who is a student at the Caurus Academy.  His wife Lara is also a K/1 Educator at Caurus Academy.

Joyce Noble, Administrative/Marketing Email
Joyce Noble has a BA in Business Management, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in Education.  Prior to working at Caurus Academy, Joyce worked as the Youth and Teen Manager/Director of Child Care at Anthem Community Center.  On the side, Joyce enjoys spending time with her three boys and husband.


Meisha Howard, Lunch Coordinator Email
Meisha Howard is our new Lunch Coordinator at Caurus Academy.  She graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.A. in 1990 and then pursued a career with Kraft General Foods in Southern California.  She and her husband Will moved back to Phoenix in 1995, where she raised four boys and was a stay at home mom for 15 years.  She is happy to make a return to the workforce, and extremely excited about the new hot lunch program at Caurus.  Spending time with the five men in her life, and great friends are her favorite things. 

 

Faculty

Barrie Hill, K-1 Assistant Email
Barrie owned and operated an at home daycare center for pre-school aged children in Chicago, IL.  In this endeavor Barrie provided individual and group instruction.  In 2002 she moved to Anthem, AZ and began volunteering in various elementary schools within the Deer Valley Unified School District. In 2004 Barrie began her career with Montessori School at Anthem where she provided educator assistance for K-1 and lower elementary students.  Barrie has provided K-1 educator assistance for Caurus Academy since 2009.  She takes great satisfaction in helping the students develop and learn new skills.  Her most gratifying days happen when students are able to demonstrate an understanding of a new skill. Barrie and her husband have four children, all boys, and one granddaughter.  Barrie’s granddaughter is preparing to become a part of the next generation of Cauras Academy students.

Suzanne Aho, K-1 Assistant Email
Suzanne Aho is an Assistant Educator in the K/1 classroom. She graduated with a B.S. in Engineering.  When her eldest son was born with special needs, she became an advocate, lobbyist and served on the Governor appointed Developmental Disabilities Council of New Mexico for several years.  Suzanne has worked with special needs children and studied Early Childhood in college.  Her youngest daughter had attended Caurus Academy for two years and has become an excelling student at AAEC in Paradise Valley.

Rhonda Bartosky, K-1 Assistant Email
Rhonda is a teaching assistant with over 10 years experience educating preschool and elementary aged school children utilizing the Montessori philosophy.  It is her first year at Caurus Academy. She has a passion for working with children and looks forward to sharing her experiences in a new classroom. Rhonda and her husband have lived in Anthem since 2002. They have a son who attends  Caurus Academy.  In their free time her family enjoys traveling and a variety of outdoor activities.

Cynthia Rowland, K-1 Assistant Email
Cynthia Rowland is a paraprofessional and has been an Assistant Educator in the Kll leaming environment at Caurus Academy since 2004. She started as a parent volunteer in 2001, atAMCS in Glendale. In 2003, she became a staff member. Ms. Rowland has worked with children in early education facilities since 1996. She loves children and
loves to teach and experience learning with the children. She has three children and three grandchildren whom she loves spending time with. Her eldest daughter soon to be
Married. Her son who attended Westwind Prepatory Academy in Phoenix and is now in the Military, and her youngest daughter who attends Westwind Academy at Anthem.

Heather Troynak , 2-3 Assistant Email
Heather Troynak is new to the Caurus Academy team. She has had a life long love of working with children. She has worked as a preschool lead teacher in several age groups where she was eventually asked to be the Curriculum Coordinator for the 1’s and 2’s age groups. Later she opened her own preschool for ages 3 through 5 where individual learning through multi-sensory experiences for Kindergarten readiness was the primary goal. She has spent the last 15 years raising her own children, who are both currently enrolled at Caurus Academy. Most recently, she has been an active Parent Volunteer here at our school for the last four years. She looks forward to helping your children reach their potential while enjoying their learning experiences.

Kim Luzny, 2-3 Assistant Email
Kim graduated from Illinois State University with a B.S. in Physical Education. Previously, she has worked at the Little Gym International teaching for the Preschool and children's crafts, sports, dance, and gymnastics classes. She was a nanny for two years and taught at St. Maria Goretti Preschool and Desert View Bible Church. Most recently, Kim taught ballet, tap, cheer, gymnastics, and crafts at Funtastic Fitness in Anthem. Kim has been a parent volunteer at Caurus Academy since 2008. She loves talking to the students about recycling and water needs around the world. She also volunteers her time as a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Kim enjoys working with children and watching them learn. She looks forward to the new school year as a staff member.

Joyce Keegan, Art Teacher Email
Joyce Keegan holds a B.F.A. in Art Education and Applied Design from the College of New Rochelle and a M.ED in Special Education in Vocational Assessment/Resource from ASU. Joyce teaches Art at Caurus Academy. In her Art classes, the students survey a broad range of artists and cultures and explore a wide range of media and techniques, with the hope that they discover the pleasure of the arts as both a leisure activity and possible career opportunity. Joyce is also the Special Education liaison at Caurus Academy. She is a “transplant” from New Jersey and has lived in Arizona for the past nine years.

Vince Loscalzo, P.E. Teacher Website Email Vince Loscalzo is the Physical Education teacher at Caurus Academy.  Mr. Loscalzo is in his 13th year of teaching and his second year at Caurus Academy.  He is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a BS degree in Elementary Education/Special Education.  Mr. Loscalzo has his Arizona teaching certificates for Elementary Education, Physical Education and grades 7-12 Mathematics.  His hobbies are coaching, exercising, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Orhan Kyrala, Soccer / P.E. Coach Orhan Kyrala is the soccer and PE Coach for Caurus Academy and Westwind at Anthem High School. He was the head coach of the Arizona Sahuaros, a semi-pro team, the head coach of Cisco Soccer Club for children ages seven through thirteen, as well as the Athletic Director for North Scottsdale Club.

Michael Pagnotta, Music Teacher Website Email Michael Pagnotta holds a B.S. in Music Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. Having worked as a professional musician for many years, Michael hopes to relay his love of music to all of the students here at these schools. Students will learn the ins and outs of music as well as its potential. He hopes that they develop an appreciation for music that isn't just what they hear on the radio. Michael is a New Jersey native and is excited to be working here in Arizona with the brand new music program at Caurus.

Miriam Pissas, Spanish Teacher Email
Mrs. Pissas graduated with a specialty in Early Education from Instituto Pedagogico Chihuahuense in Mexico. Mrs. Pissas was born in Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to Phoenix in 1999. She opened a store in Anthem, Mexicolor, in 2006. In 2008 she volunteered at Caurus Academy and taught Spanish in her childs classroom. In 2009, Mrs. Pissas joined the Caurus Academy staff, teaching Spanish for the K - 8 grades. She loves teaching her first language and she loves when her students communicate in Spanish amongst themselves and with her.

Nan Mang, Mandarin Teacher Email Nan Mang has taught Chinese at multiple levels, ranging from beginner to advanced, for over 13 years. In addition to her devotion to Caurus Academy’s Mandarin program, she also teaches Mandarin Chinese at the Center for Talented Youth (CTY), a Johns Hopkins University online program. In 2009, she won the Foreign Language Teaching Excellence Award with CTY. To further her interest in helping young students learn a foreign language, she began teaching Chinese to the Upward Bound high school students at Gateway Community College this summer.  Teaching has always been her passion and her goal is to not only educate students in Mandarin, but to also make learning the language fun!

 

 



Careers

We are accepting applications for the upcoming school year. Montessori Certified Teachers, please apply. To care for and teach children in kindergarten through eigth grade. Small classes. Professional attitudes, leadership qualities and commitment to the Montessori/Early years philosophy desirable. Must be enthusiastic and willing to work as part of a team. Full or part time hours. To apply for a position, please email your resume to rhonda.rides@caurusacademy.org

 

Deborah Fox, K-1 Teacher Website Email
 Deborah Fox has been a K/1 Educator at Caurus Academy since 2006. Ms. Fox moved to Arizona in 1994 to enjoy the desert lifestyle. Her love of working with children led her to a career in education. Ms. Fox has taught in Montessori classrooms since 1998. Ms. Fox has a B.S. in Home Economics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and has her AMI Montessori certification. She enjoys cooking, sewing, gardening, hiking, and horseback riding with her daughter. She has 2 parakeets, one of which was rescued.

Lara Taubman, K-1 Teacher Website Email
Lara Taubman is a K/1 Educator at Caurus Academy. She holds a B.A. from Centenary College of Louisiana and an M.A. from Louisiana Tech University. She received her AMS certification from the Houston Montessori Center in Houston, Texas. Ms. Lara has spent ten years teaching in Montessori schools in Louisiana and Arizona. She is happy to make a return to teaching at Caurus Academy after being a stay at home mom. She and her husband Mr. Lance Taubman live with their daughter Maxine, also a student at Caurus Academy – in Black Canyon City along with their three dogs, five cats, two turtles, many fish and their goat Daisy.

Lisa Dotson, K-1 Teacher Website Email
Lisa Dotson graduated with a B.A. in drawing from Arizona State University. She has several years experience as a teachers aide in a Montessori school. Her desire to work with children began with five years volunteering as a Girl Scout Leader. She has three daughters, one attending Norterra Canyon and two honor students at Boulder Creek High School. Her favorite activity is time spent with her yellow lab, Bleu.

Cadmus Kyrala, K-1 Teacher Website Email
Cadmus Kyrala is a K-1 teacher at Caurus Academy. Last year he finished his internship for AMS Montessori certification. Before coming to Anthem, he spent 6 years teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at elementary schools in Japan. He holds an MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Birmingham and a BS in Finance from ASU.

Leilani Inez, 1st Grade Teacher Website Email
This will be Ms. Leilani’s fifth year in education as a lead teacher. She joined the Caurus Academy faculty in 2010 as a K/1 lead teacher.  Prior to teaching here at Caurus, she taught first grade for three years at a public school in Southern California. Ms. Leilani received her B.A in Education and currently holds a K-6 California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. As an Anthem resident, Ms. Leilani enjoys all of the amenities Anthem has to offer for families.  In her spare time she enjoys reading, shopping, decorating her home and most importantly, spending time with her husband and their two children.

Rayna Clark, 2-3 Teacher Website Email
 Rayna Clark is a 2/3 Educator and Montessori Consultant at Caurus Academy . She is Montessori trained and taught in a Primary Montessori school in Kansas City, Missouri from 2003 to 2007. After a time in corporate America, Ms. Rayna joined Caurus Academy in 2009.  She feels that teaching is very much a part of who she is, and she has a great deal of fun with it.  There are always fun projects and discoveries in her class.

Alex Petkovski, 2-3 Teacher Website Email
Alex Petkovski is a lead teacher in a Montessori 2/3 class.  This is her second year at Caurus Academy and her fourth year teaching.  She received her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Arizona and taught two years in a public Montessori school in Tucson where she studied for her Montessori certification.  Outside of school she spends time with her husband, 3 dogs, and cat.

Joy Peschman, 2nd Grade Teacher Website Email
Joy Peschman is a lead educator in a 2nd grade classroom. She attended college in Montevallo, Alabama, where she played volleyball for 3 years at the setting position. Joy then returned back home to Tempe, Arizona, where she completed her degree at Arizona State University  in Elementary Education. This will be her first year of teaching and she is excited to pursue her love of working with children and making a positive difference in the community. Although Joy is new to the Anthem area, she is excited to be a part of the family here at Caurus and is excited for the new school year.

Karen Barnett, 3rd Grade Teacher Website Email
Karen Barnett recently completed the Master of Education Program (Early Childhood) at ASU during which she taught and interned in Cave Creek and Anthem schools. She comes from a background in banking and management and holds a bachelor’s degree in business. After having children and being a stay-at-home mom, she discovered how much she enjoyed working with and teaching children. Karen is native Arizonan, but also spent 10 years in Maryland, just outside of our Nation’s Capital. In her free time you will find her outdoors- hiking, boating, gardening, and practicing a variety of sports with her two daughters.

Tracy Wagner, 4th Grade Teacher Website Email
Ms. Wagner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Kutztown University and a Master of Arts in history from Arizona State University. She worked as the Executive Director of the Mesa Historical Museum for five years and the Phoenix Museum of History for four years. During this time she worked collaboratively to develop educational activities for school age children and adults and discovered her true passion for education. In 2010 she earned an Arizona teaching certificate in elementary education. Ms. Wagner joined Caurus Academy in 2008 and has taught 2nd/3rd grade Montessori classes as well as 4th grade. She moved to the Valley in 1998 and enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and daughter.

Nichole Mellor, 4th Grade Teacher Website Email
Nichole graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She has taught in many different countries and after 8 years of traveling the world, Nichole has settled down in beautiful Cave Creek with her son and husband. This is her second school year here at Caurus Academy and she is very excited to be teaching the 4th grade.

Scott Moeller, 5th Grade Teacher Website Email
Scott Moeller is the lead teacher in the fifth grade classroom.  Mr. Moeller is in his 11th year of teaching, his first at Caurus Academy.  Previously, he has taught in elementary classes as well as middle and high school Social Studies.  He is a 1993 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with a BA degree in Social Studies Education and is finishing his coursework for a MAEd in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University-Irvine. A native of NE Iowa, Mr. Moeller has lived in Anthem for eight years.  He is married and has two children, a daughter and a son. Among his hobbies are playing golf, attending sporting events, and reading history books.

Laura King, 6th Grade Teacher Website Email
Laura King is a new 6th grade teacher. Although this is her first year at Caurus Academy, she has been teaching in the Prescott area for the past eleven years. She has been married for 23 years with two children who are now in college. She received her Bachelor's  and Master's Degree in Elementary Education from  Northern Arizona University. In her eleven years of teaching, she has taught grades 3 - 8, and have taught 6th grade for 5 of those years. She has had the privilege of teaching in all types of school settings, including teaching in a private school for 4 years. She is also currently a part-time adjunct faculty member for Grand Canyon University. She teaches online classes for students aspiring to become teachers themselves one day. She recently moved to the Anthem area and considers it a privilege to be a part of the faculty team here at Caurus Academy.

Mark Klein, 7th Grade Teacher Website Email
Mark Klein retired from the corporate world at 40 years old. After earning an Electrical Engineering, Advertising, Marketing, and Management degrees, he fulfilled his life dream when he completed his Masters in Elementary Education. He is highly qualified and has earned a Reading endorsement; he continues full time to obtain his Special Education certificate. After seven years of teaching and successes in coaching, he looks forward to joining the Caurus team. His personal teaching philosophy is to use a person-centered psychodynamic theory which allows students to do both what is expected and be the best they can. Removing unilateral and arbitrary constraints allowing the students to reach their highest potential and establish loosely structured classrooms that assist and facilitate learning. Lesson plans are flexible to allow student exploration and originality. Decision making is with the students who plan their own learning events. Mark is married, two children, three grandchildren, and one more on the way. He enjoys his large family.

Lee Dotson, 8th Grade Teacher Website Email
Lee Dotson is an 8 th Grade Educator at Caurus Academy . Mr. Dotson holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from Arizona State University and a K-8 Education Degree from Northern Arizona University with a middle school math endorsement. He is currently completing a Masters in Educational Technology at ASU. Mr. Dotson enjoys preparing middle school students for their future by integrating rigorous academic standards with the 21st century technology skills needed for success in a technology and media-suffused world. He lives in Anthem with his wife Lisa and their three daughters.