Meet Our Team

No matter how you slice it, we’re always here for you!

One of the character profiles that we model for our scholars at The Grande Innovation Academy is that of being a Communicator. From the smiling faces in the front to our dedicated and hard-working teachers, we strive to communicate in a respectful and productive manner.

Please feel free to contact us!

Administration

Patty Messer
Patty MesserExecutive Director
Jori Bielski
Jori BielskiPre K-Third Grade Academic Coach
Kristin Curtin
Kristin CurtinFourth-Eighth Grade Academic Coach
Melody Holloway
Melody HollowayCounselor
Scott Laufenberg
Scott LaufenbergDean of Scholars and Title IX Coordinator
Tracy McCain
Tracy McCainReading Specialist

Front Office Team

Enola Alexander
Enola AlexanderAttendance Clerk
Gaby Castañon
Gaby CastañonNurse
Cyarin Jimenez
Cyarin JimenezOffice Manager / Admin Assistant
Roger Messer
Roger MesserBusiness Manager
Tonya Peterson
Tonya PetersonOffice Staff
Kristi Thomas
Kristi ThomasOffice Staff

Teaching Teams

Kindergarten Team

Felicia Bock
Felicia BockKindergarten Teacher
Tabetha Childers
Tabetha ChildersKindergarten Interventionist
Kaela Jackman
Kaela JackmanKindergarten Teacher
Skylynn Madrid
Skylynn MadridKindergarten Teacher
Rhen McCormick
Rhen McCormickPara
Judy Mulligan
Judy MulliganKindergarten Interventionist

First Grade Team

Rachel Jackson
Rachel JacksonFirst Grade Teacher
Tina Lowenthal
Tina LowenthalFirst Grade Teacher
Kayleigh Oliver
Kayleigh Oliver First Grade Interventionist
Graciela Rodarte
Graciela RodarteFirst Grade Interventionist
Stephanie Urbina
Stephanie UrbinaFirst Grade Interventioinist
Silvia Wagner
Silvia WagnerFirst Grade Teacher

Second Grade Team

Jessica Baird
Jessica Baird Second Grade Para
Justine Coffman
Justine CoffmanThird Grade Interventionist
Maria Estrella
Maria EstrellaSecond Grade Teacher
Liz Garcia
Liz GarciaSecond Grade Interventionist
Ally Guerra
Ally GuerraSecond Grade Para
Knovelle McClain
Knovelle McClain Second Grade Interventionist
Skyler Oates
Skyler OatesSecond Grade Para
Martha Rodriguez
Martha RodriguezSecond Grade Teacher
Jennifer Sullivan
Jennifer SullivanSecond Grade Teacher
Danielle Vasquez
Danielle VasquezSecond Grade Teacher
Stephanie Walters
Stephanie WaltersSecond Grade Interventionist

Third Grade Team

Justine Coffman
Justine CoffmanThird Grade Interventionist
Michael Hanrion
Michael HanrionThird Grade Science and Social Studies Teacher
Krystle Lopez
Krystle LopezThird Grade Interventionist
Regina Oaks
Regina OaksThird Grade Teacher
Cyann Parker
Cyann ParkerThird Grade Para
Selena Russell
Selena RussellThird Grade ELA

Fourth Grade Team

Kim David
Kim DavidFourth Grade ELA SS Teacher
Santos Garza
Santos GarzaFourth-Fifth Grade Interventionist
Keri Mills
Keri MillsFourth Grade Math
Mikel Randall
Mikel Randall Fourth Grade Science
Jessica Victorino
Jessica VictorinoFourth Grade Para
Lindsey Wright
Lindsey WrightFourth Grade Teacher

Fifth Grade Team

Brigitt Eshagpoor
Brigitt EshagpoorFifth Grade Math Teacher
Janie Marquez
Janie Marquez Fifth Grade Science and Geography Teacher
Hallie Owensby
Hallie OwensbyFifth Grade Science Teacher
Morgan Ramirez
Morgan RamirezFifth Grade ELA Teacher
Ann Rosati
Ann RosatiFifth Grade Interventionist
Dorthy Thayer
Dorthy ThayerFifth Grade Math Teacher

Sixth Grade Team

Gabriel Cleveland
Gabriel ClevelandSixth Grade Interventionist
Maria Joseph
Maria JosephSixth-Eighth Grade Math Interventionist
Taylor Kerby
Taylor KerbySixth Grade Philosophy/Art History Teacher
Ashlee Miller
Ashlee MillerMiddle School Interventionist
Algie Mitchell
Algie Mitchell Sixth Grade Science Teacher
Laurie Neemann
Laurie NeemannSixth Grade Science Teacher
Nancy Randall
Nancy RandallSixth Grade ELA Teacher

Seventh-Eighth Grade Team

Virginia Gutierrez
Virginia Gutierrez Seventh-Eighth Grade ELA Teacher ; Gifted Spanish Teacher
Blanca Marion
Blanca MarionSeventh-Eighth Grade Writing Teacher
Jessica Torres
Jessica Torres Seventh-Eighth Grade Social Studies Teacher
Hazel Watts
Hazel WattsSeventh and Eighth Grade Math Teacher

Path to Potential Gifted Team

Sam Alexander
Sam AlexanderGifted Teacher
Katie Taylor
Katie TaylorThird-Eighth Grade Gifted ELA and Social Studies

Special Area Team

Stacy Alongi
Stacy Alongi Preschool Para
Kara Allen
Kara AllenAthletics Director
Adrienne Bautista
Adrienne BautistaRecess Paraprofessional
Briona Carter
Briona CarterPE Teacher
Nick Cudaback
Nick CudabackPE Teacher
Becky DoRan
Becky DoRan FabLab and SMALLab Director
Emilie Duran
Emilie DuranPE Para
TJ Hallam
TJ HallamPE Supervisor
Ryan Houselog
Ryan HouselogPE Teacher
Cindy Irwin
Cindy IrwinPreschool Teacher
Ashley Klebenow
Ashley KlebenowPE Para
Barbara Linke
Barbara LinkeELL Teacher
Cheryl Malone
Cheryl MaloneInterventionist
Dimitri Martinez
Dimitri MartinezTechnology Integration Specialist
Sarahi Barron-Ortiz
Sarahi Barron-OrtizKindergarten-Fifth Grade Spanish Teacher
Kaitlyn Ott
Kaitlyn OttPE Para
Mia Perea
Mia PereaPE Para
Kendahl Righter
Kendahl RighterPE Para
Carmen Pena
Carmen PenaSpanish Fifth-Eighth Grade Teacher
John Salazar
John SalazarArt Teacher
Lane Vassallo
Lane VassalloPE Teacher
Danielle Wipping
Danielle WippingArt Teacher

Support Team

Linda Anderson
Linda AndersonELL Interventionist
Katie O'Connor
Katie O'ConnorCurriculum and Assessment Coordinator
Victoria Escobedo
Victoria EscobedoCopy Clerk
Rebecca Leak
Rebecca LeakInterventionist
Sierra Lowenthal
Sierra LowenthalSPED Para
Hannah Million
Hannah MillionSPED Interventionist
Michelle Mills
Michelle MillsAssessment Coordinator
Kendal Retzlaff
Kendal Retzlaff Math Interventionist

Scholar Support Team

Krystal Bonner
Krystal BonnerSubstitute Teacher
Kellee Lvers
Kellee LversLibrarian
Tonya Petersen
Tonya PetersenLibrarian
Anna Rodriguez
Anna RodriguezLibrarian Para / Interventionist

Special Ed Team

Jessie Bowman
Jessie BowmanSpecial Education Para
Jennifer Houselog
Jennifer HouselogSpecial Education Para
Joyce Koerth
Joyce KoerthAssessment Para
Isabel Leyva
Isabel LeyvaInterventionist
Crystal Martinez
Crystal MartinezSpecial Education Para
Augustine Sauceda
Augustine SaucedaSpecial Education Para
Meg Scallon
Meg ScallonSpeech-Language Pathology Assistant

Facilities

Kalena Adsura
Kalena AdsuraLunch Server
Liz Alvarez
Liz AlvarezLunch Server
Kevin Baird
Kevin BairdFacilities
Lupe Espinoza
Lupe EspinozaFacilities
Charlie Johnston
Charlie JohnstonFacilities
Jackie Martinez
Jackie MartinezMaintenance
Charleen Pedroza
Charleen PedrozaCafeteria Manager
Erica Sanchez
Erica SanchezLunch Server
Maria Sanchez
Maria SanchezFacilities
Emma Torres
Emma TorresFacilities Shift Supervisor
Georgie Wallace
Georgie Wallace Facilities and Lunch Server