Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Alexander teaches sixth-grade Latin. She began her teaching career at Scottsdale Prep in 2024.
Ms. Alexander received her degree in Classics with a minor in Education from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. She worked both as a student archivist in the Special Collections department, and as a translator and text encoder for various digital humanities projects. Ms. Alexander developed a passion for teaching after working with seventh-grade Latin students in the classroom and K-5 students in an afterschool Latin program.
Ms. Alexander looks forward to living in Arizona where she will be closer to her family in Utah. She loves to crochet, listen to traditional Irish music, and visit the local duck pond.
Mr. Allen-Lisbon (also known as Coach T) is the Middle School Athletic Director, 6th Grade P.E. Teacher, and Girls Basketball Coach. Coach T joined Scottsdale Prep in the winter of 2018.
Coach T received his degree in Sociology from an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) in Little Rock, Arkansas at Philander Smith College. He moved to Arizona from Dallas, Texas in 2017 to receive his Master’s Degree in Higher Education from the GREAT Arizona State University. Prior to coming to Great Hearts, Coach T worked at ASU within the admissions department. He also has been coaching basketball for over 6 years prior to joining SPA.
He is a dog dad to a pug named Bruno, loves sports, outdoor activities, and working with kids. He also has ventured into the entrepreneur world and created his Athletic Personal Training business called Talented Athletic Leaders.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Alofs teaches 9th Grade Honors Biology. She joined the Scottsdale Prep faculty in 2023-2024 but she is also a Scottsdale Prep alumna. She returned to teach at SPA after being on the founding faculty of Great Hearts Forest Heights in San Antonio, TX, where she taught Physical Science, Earth Science, and Biology.
Mrs. Alofs was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Neuro and Cognitive sciences as well as a minor in studio art. While at the University of Arizona, Mrs. Alofs taught an undergraduate Molecular and Cellular Biology lab. After graduation, she moved to Austin, TX with her husband.
Mrs. Alofs is happily married to her husband whom she met while attending Scottsdale Prep. She enjoys painting, board games, and spending time with her wonderful family.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Aramowicz joined Scottsdale Prep in 2024-25, teaching 7th grade Literature & Composition. She is a dedicated educator with a comprehensive background in English and Humanities.
Originally from Poland, she earned her MA degree in English and English Literature from St. John Paul II Catholic University in Lublin. In 1995, she relocated to the United States, initially settling in the Chicagoland area before moving to Arizona in 2022. Throughout her career, Agnes has taught various English and Humanities courses at several esteemed institutions, including Columbia College in Chicago, Robert Morris University, and Le Cordon Bleu.
Her passion for education is matched by her love for reading, films, food, and travel. Currently, she enjoys the snow-free environment of Phoenix, AZ, where she continues to educate her students.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Beattie joined Scottsdale Preparatory Academy at the beginning of the 2024-25 academic school year. He is teaching 6th grade Physical Science and 7th Grade Life Science.
Mr. Beattie previously taught middle school science in Halifax County North Carolina prior to moving to Arizona in 2018. As an alumnus of the University of Oregon, he was trained as a biologist and geologist with focii in paleontology, viruses, and the overall history and evolution of life on earth.
Mr. Beattie has a lovely wife and two young boys aged 2 and 3. He also loves sports, competitively playing baseball, basketball, football, volleyball, and disc golf. He spends his free time playing board games with his family and running Dungeons and Dragons games over the last 10 years.
Teacher Website: Here
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Cetaku Tammaro is our Dean of Academic Support. She has different levels of math, literature/composition, and Humane Letters since joining SPA in the Spring of 2022. She has been an educator for over 26 years, both as a teacher and administrator. Dr. Cetaku Tammaro has taught multiple grade levels and subjects and currently also teaches college-level classes at Rio Salado Community College.
She is a native of Albania, in Eastern Europe, and has called Arizona her home since 2003. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics as well as in English as a Foreign Language from the University of Tirana, Albania. She later moved to Arizona enrolling at ASU where she graduated with a Master’s in Education. Dr. Cetaku Tammaro is in the last stages of her Doctorate in Leadership and Organization from Grand Canyon University.
Dr. Cetaku Tammaro is happily married to a wonderful retired Marine and they have four children. In her free time, she likes to read, travel, and spend quality time with her family.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Chapman was on the founding faculty of Scottsdale Prep in 2008-09, after teaching at Tempe Prep for a number of years. He has served in various capacities including Assistant Headmaster, LitComp Teacher, and Humane Letters teacher before retiring in 2021. We are grateful to have him return to Scottsdale Prep in the Fall of 2023.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Clement teaches 12th-grade drama and 6th-grade literature & composition. She has been a part of the academy since 2015. In that time, she has served in several teaching positions including 11th grade drama, 5th grade drama, and 6th grade Literature and Composition. She is a Fine Arts Master Teacher and Director for the Extra Curricular Drama Clubs, Thespian Troupe #8334 Director, and will be spearheading our Improv Troupe, Laughletes, this year as well.
Born in Germany, but raised in Arizona, Mrs. Clement considers Arizona her always home, minus a stint in Chicago. She attended Arizona State University, Barrett the Honors College, and received her BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Education and Production Management. Previous to her time at SPA, she worked in multiple theatres in Chicago as a Stage Manager and Dramaturg.
Mrs. Clement is lucky to see her other half, Mr. C, every day as they both continue to serve the Scottsdale Prep Community. While not at school, she considers herself a local foods expert and loves to read or watch a good murder mystery curled up with her cats, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Copeland has been teaching at SPA since 2011. He usually teaches 7th and 10th grade Latin, but has also taught 8th grade Latin, 9th grade Latin, and 11th grade Greek. He currently serves as Master Teacher of Classical Languages, overseeing the academy’s Latin and Greek curricula.
Mr. Copeland holds a B.A. in Classical Languages from the University of St. Thomas, and an M. A. in Classics from the University of Arizona, where he also taught prior to coming to Scottsdale Prep. He is the recipient of numerous professional and teaching awards.
Outside of school, he enjoys spending time with his wife and seven children. He loves driving on the highways of Arizona, fixing things, and playing old video games.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Curcija joined Scottsdale Preparatory Academy in 2024 to teach middle school science classes.
His curiosity for the natural world and history is reflected in his multidisciplinary education. He holds a Master of Arts in anthropology (research archaeology) from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in biology from Arizona State University. His research is published and cited in some of the leading journals of North American archaeology and the biological sciences. An educator since 2009, Mr. C has shared his curiosity with diverse audiences in venues ranging from the backcountry to university classrooms, most recently as an instructor for the Maricopa Community Colleges. He is grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the classical education offered by Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, to nurture a sense of wonder for the beauty and complexity of nature in his students – the problem solvers of the future, and the stewards of a magnificent intellectual tradition.
For leisure, Mr. C enjoys a variety of fitness activities; reading science, history, or philosophy; cooking; and sharing laughter with loved ones.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Duensing teaches 6th grade Literature and Composition, as well as 10th-grade Humane Letters. She joined the Scottsdale Prep faculty in 2023 and is a Great Hearts alumna.
She was born and raised in Denver, Colorado before her family moved to Arizona, where she attended Trivium Preparatory Academy for high school. She graduated from the University of Arizona in May 2023 with Bachelor of Arts in both French and Philosophy.
Ms. Duensing loves all animals, especially her two cats, Jacob and Dorothy. She spends most of her free time reading, listening to music, and writing.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Duttlinger joined the faculty of Scottsdale Prep in the fall of 2022 after teaching at two other classical charter schools for the preceding 7 years. Known primarily as a math teacher, having taught most levels of high school math, he has also enjoyed teaching Latin and ballroom dance. Classically educated himself, he wonders at the beauty in all of the “good arts and sciences”.
Before becoming a teacher, he served in the US Marine Corps Reserve from 2006 to 2012. He served one tour in Iraq (2009) and was Honorably Discharged at the rank of Sergeant. During the second half of his contract, he attended Hillsdale College, graduating in 2013 with a B.A. in politics and a minor in Latin.
It was, in fact, during his time steeped in the study of the humanities that a love for mathematics took root. Through independent and leisurely consumption of mathematical content online, he began to understand how rich and noble is this utterly uncompromising, true, and pure expression of the very thing that defines our species: rationality. Years later, he relishes his duty to guide his students in exploring the universe of mathematics and thereby growing in strength and humanity.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Emmerson is excited to join the SPA faculty in 2023-24, teaching music.
Ms. Emmerson grew up in Southern California and has been living in the Phoenix area for 1 year. She received her Bachelor of Music from Biola University in California with a minor in Biblical Studies.
After school hours, she is a private piano instructor and sings with the Canto Vivo Chorale in Mesa. In her free time, Ms. Emmerson enjoys reading, going to museums, listening to Bach’s cantatas, cooking without a recipe, and playing card games with her family.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Fornabaio teaches 6th grade Physical Science and 7th Life Science. She joined the academy in 2020 and in that time she has also taught 7th grade Life Science, served as the assistant Swim & Dive Coach and now the Head Swim & Dive Coach.
She was born and raised here in Scottsdale, AZ and attended Northern Arizona University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. Passionate about animals, she originally planned on applying to vet school and volunteered at Hopi Animal Hospital since she was in middle school. While at NAU, she started the pre-veterinary club and worked as a DNA research assistant at TGEN North. She also worked as an Anatomy TA, swim coach, and taught a freshmen level honors course which is where she discovered her passion for teaching, which led her to Scottsdale Prep.
She loves hiking, camping, traveling, painting, and she especially enjoys water sports like swimming, kayaking and surfing. Her two favorite places to visit are Maui and Siena, Italy, where she studied abroad. She enjoys spending time with family and friends and sharing her fun facts about animals with them.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Garcia joined Scottsdale Prep in 2022-23 as a 6th grade Art teacher, but worked for Great Hearts the previous two years. Recently, she has worked as a graphic designer, math tutor, barista, and a 4th Grade Assistant Teacher across the street at the Archway campus.
While she grew up in California, she went to a small liberal arts college in New York City to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Art. The King’s College introduced her to the Socratic style of teaching and New York showed many great cups of coffee. Ms. Garcia has loved the many years that she spent on the East Coast, but is glad to be back in the West!
You can generally find Ms. Garcia roaming museums or tending her many plants, while always having a cup of coffee in her hand.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Noelia Gomez joined Scottsdale Prep in 2022-23. She taught Spanish at the International School of Arizona for five years prior to coming to Great Hearts. She also conducted classes on watercolor.
She was born in Madrid, Spain, and grew up in Seville in the south of Spain. She finished her Nursing degree in 2014 and worked in different healthcare settings in Spain. She has always enjoyed taking care of others.
She met her husband in Spain in 2003. They have one child (Leonard). They arrived in Arizona in 2017, looking to give their son the opportunity to learn from a different culture and a different language. Her hobbies include traveling, hiking, painting, and watching documentaries about the universe.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Gore serves as Dean of Students and teaches 6th grade Literature & Composition. He joined Scottsdale Prep in 2022-23, after teaching four years at Archway Scottsdale.
He first began as a Fourth Grade Assistant Teacher, then became a Lead Teacher in Fourth Grade. Prior to Great Hearts Mr. Gore was a coach for Fit Kids America and worked for a few years as a caregiver for those with dementia. Mr. Gore received his Bachelor’s Degree from GCU in Digital Film with an Emphasis in Screenwriting.
Mr. Gore married his college sweetheart and best friend, and together they are parents to two crazy cats! In his spare time, Mr. Gore drinks too much coffee, roots for the Green Bay Packers, and avidly collects films and books.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Carmel Groenwald is thrilled to have joined Scottsdale Prep in 2022-23. She will be teaching music to 7th & 8th, as well as directing some extracurricular choirs. She graduated ASU in 2011 with a BA in K-12 Music Education and she is nearing completion of her Masters in Secondary Education from NAU.
Prior to Great Hearts she directed choirs at Connolly Middle School, Scottsdale Christian Academy, the Phoenix Girls Choir, Genesis Church and Camelback Bible Church. She has also taught piano lessons in her private studio for many years as well as at Alice Cooper’s ‘The Rock’ Teen Center in Phoenix. In addition, she sang professionally with The Phoenix Chorale for 3 years.
In her spare time, you can find her hanging out with her wonderful husband, Joseph, or her exuberant children, Windsor and Jojo. When on her own, she loves to knit or crochet, play piano, or perform locally with her 90’s Cover Band.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Hakanson teaches American Rhetorical Tradition and Poetry I. She joined the Scottsdale Preparatory Academy faculty in 2015 and has served in various roles such as yearbook advisor, MS Cross Country Assistant Coach, master teacher (Literature and Composition), and 504 Coordinator.
A native of Oregon, Ms. Hakanson holds a B.A. in English from the University of Oregon and an MFA in Writing from Pacific University. Prior to joining Scottsdale Prep, Ms. Hakanson directed her language and writing energies toward various marketing and communication roles in both the public and private sectors. She also taught writing in community colleges in Oregon and Arizona.
When not teaching, Ms. Hakanson enjoys hiking and mountain biking with her husband, writing poetry, reading eclectically, and baking cowboy cookies.
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Hall started at Scottsdale Prep in 2019. He teaches 11th and 12th grade Humane Letters, works as a Senior Thesis Director, and runs the Writing and Seminar Lab.
Dr. Hall received his M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado, Boulder and his PhD in Philosophy from ASU. Prior to coming to Scottsdale Prep, he taught numerous philosophy courses at Arizona State University and Chandler Gilbert Community College.
Outside of his love for reading philosophical works, he enjoys creating music and working on the virtues of the body through weightlifting.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Harman is a math teacher at Scottsdale Prep. She joined the Scottsdale Prep faculty in 2019-2020.
Though born in the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Harman spent most of her childhood years in Arizona. She studied mathematics at Baylor University and then taught at a classical school in Texas for a couple of years.
In her free time, Ms. Harman enjoys walking her sweet dog, running, hiking, and reading.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Hart joined Scottsdale Prep in 2024-25, teaching 6th and 8th grade math.
Ms. Hart was born and raised in southern Maine, where she discovered her love for teaching while helping a friend with McArdle’s Disease catch up on missed pre-calculus work. In 2008 Ms. Hart graduated from University of Maine at Farmington with a secondary education degree and a focus in math. Teaching advanced math and coaching competitive math for a decade at the secondary level inspired Ms. Hart to go back to UMaine Farmington graduating with her master’s degree in educational leadership with a focus in math leadership in 2018. Following the pandemic, Ms. Hart continued to explore her love for learning by teaching at the middle school level in math and as a response-to-intervention teacher.
Noting the growing needs and support of the students, Ms. Hart became a certified social-emotional learning facilitator and yoga instructor. Continuing her love of growth and change, Ms. Hart challenged herself in another way by transferring her classroom skills to teaching level 3 honors math virtually, through the Art of Problem Solving. However, through that experience, Stacy realized that she yearned to return to the classroom, and was led to Scottsdale Prep. She looks forward to sharing her unbridled love and excitement for math with a new set of students.
Teacher Website: Here
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Hutchings is a Latin teacher for Scottsdale Prep, and she joined the SPA faculty in 2015-2016. She is the 8th and 9th grade Latin lead teacher and has the privilege of teaching Greek this year. In addition to classical languages, she tutors students in German. In her time here, she has been the Field Day Coordinator and Summer School Coordinator, and involved with Homework Club, Creative Writing Club, Rock Climbing Club, Mythology Club, the Junior Classical League, building sets for theater, groups focused on giving back, and in numerous theses.
She hails from Redford Township, MI, but is now a Phoenician. Ms. Hutchings has a double Baccalaureate in History, and in Classical Languages and Literature at the University of Michigan, followed by a Masters in Classics and in Education at the University of Arizona. Prior to coming to Great Hearts, Ms. Hutchings taught in public schools in Ann Arbor, MI, and in private schools in Tucson, AZ.
She enjoys cuddles with her fluffy puppy, whom you might recall played Toto in the Wizard of Oz, and is working on finishing her novel (about Rome, of course!).
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Kashihara is a 6th Grade Physical Science and 8th Grade Earth Science Teacher at Scottsdale Prep. Mrs. Kashihara joined the Scottsdale Prep faculty in 2018-2019. She has served as the course level lead for 6th grade physical science, assistant conductor of the symphony orchestra, and homework club monitor.
She is originally from Gloucester, England. She studied for her Bachelor of Science with Honors degree in Geography at Keele University in England. During her Bachelor of Science with Honors degree, Mrs. Kashihara spent one semester as an exchange student at the University of Utah. She earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) at the University of Nottingham in England. Prior to coming to Great Hearts, Mrs. Kashihara served three seasons as a Park Ranger in Environmental Education with the National Park Service and US Forest Service in California, Oregon, and Idaho. She also taught in public schools in Indianapolis, Indiana and Avondale, Arizona.
Mrs. Kashihara is happily married. She enjoys playing the violin and piano. She played the violin in county orchestras in England. She enjoys traveling, pickleball, hiking, gardening, and nature / landscape photography.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Laugen began serving Scottsdale Prep as an Assistant Headmaster in Spring 2023. He is a 1993 graduate of Coe College, a private liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He spent fifteen years as a classroom instructor in both Iowa and Arizona before making the move to administration while earning his MEd. in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University in 2009. He fondly shares that over his thirty years of experience, he has enjoyed working with students and families in every capacity from substitute teacher to Head of School. Most recently, Mr. Laugen served as the Head of School at Cross Schools in Bluffton, South Carolina. He has also held roles as an administrator at independent schools of caliber in Arizona, Michigan and Texas. Mr. Laugen also brings a deep appreciation for developing students through extra-curricular activities, cultivated over his twenty-three years of experience as a high school football coach, and twelve years of experience as a high school baseball coach.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Magdalena Lawer-Borfigat joined the Scottsdale Prep Faculty in 2021, teaching High School French.
She is originally from Poland where she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in French Philology, and studied French Literature and Linguistics. She then moved to France where she completed a Master’s Degree in Teaching French as a Foreign Language. She has taught French in various school settings in Europe. After having moved to Arizona, she taught French to middle schoolers at BASIS Goodyear.
In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her daughter. She also is a big enthusiast of French cinema and food, especially pastries! She never says no to her favorite French dessert – “fondant au chocolat”.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Leahy joined Scottsdale Prep in Spring 2023, taking on a position teaching 6th and 7th-grade Literature and Composition.
A Phoenix native, Mr. Leahy achieved his B.A. in Philosophy from Arizona State University in 2022. Prior to joining Great Hearts, Mr. Leahy lived in several states including Missouri, California, and Arizona, while working at Starbucks and earning his degree through the Starbucks College Achievement Program at Arizona State University.
When not teaching, Mr. Leahy enjoys hiking, running, biking, ping pong, and spending time with friends. Mr. Leahy is also a voracious reader, who has a particular love for fantasy, and is typically tackling one audiobook and one physical book at any given time.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Lengel-Zigich has been with Great Hearts since 2015 and came to work at Scottsdale Prep. in 2021. She first began as a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher then became a Lead Teacher in Fourth Grade before moving to Scottsdale Prep to teach 6th and 7th grade Literature & Composition. Prior to Great Hearts Mrs. Lengel-Zigich taught Freshman and Sophomore Honors English at Pinnacle High School and additionally created Core Knowledge curriculum for local non-profits in coordination with the Scottsdale and Paradise Valley School Districts.
Mrs. Lengel-Zigich received her Bachelor’s Degree from ASU in English Literature with an Emphasis in Secondary Education and a Minor in Religious Studies. She received her Master’s Degree in Classical Education from the University of Dallas through Great Hearts’ Quintilian Fellowship.
Mrs. Lengel-Zigich is a proud mother to two Great Hearts students and additionally a mother to two dogs, three cats, and a fish! She married her high-school sweetheart and best friend, Mr. Lengel-Zigich and agreed to take his lengthy name. In her spare time Mrs. Lengel-Zigich loves watching wonderful films and devouring great books.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Lubert rejoins the Latin faculty in 2024, after previously teaching at Scottsdale Prep from 2020-2023. He has taught 11th Grade Greek I and 7th Grade Latin II, and has been a sponsor of the Junior Classical League.
Mr. Lubert was born in Brighton, England, and has lived in Spain and the UAE and now the USA. As an undergraduate, he studied Classical Languages and Literatures at Pomona College. In addition, he has studied Greek at Oxford University and Hebrew through Harvard Divinity School. Prior to teaching at Scottsdale Prep, Mr. Lubert worked in marketing for an international property developer in the UAE.
He enjoys traveling, learning ‘dead’ languages and spending time with his family, who live in Los Angeles.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Mathieux joined Scottsdale Prep at the end of 2023, after deciding to pivot his career from business to his true passion, teaching. He started at Scottsdale Prep as a Math Teacher, teaching 6th and 8th-grade Algebra classes, but now teaches 9th grade Spanish.
Mr. Mathieux grew up in France and moved to California at the age of 10, where he developed his interest in Math and languages. He received his BA in Economics from UC Berkeley and his MBA from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. He began his corporate career working with logistics/supply chain in Brazil. After returning state-side, Mr. Mathieux developed his entrepreneurial spirit by launching and running small businesses in San Francisco. In 2020 he moved to Scottsdale with his family, where he finally pulled the plug on the business world by sending a job application to Great Hearts Academies.
When not teaching, Mr. Mathieux loves spending time with his wonderful wife and two daughters. He has an annoying habit of telling his daughters silly jokes while they laugh at him. Mr. Mathieux enjoys hiking, golf, skiing, traveling, and practicing foreign languages.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. McAfee serves as Headmaster at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy and joined our community in 2022-23 after serving as a teacher and Headmaster in other classical schools.
Mr. McAfee earned his BA in Education and Social Science from Prescott College, and his M.Ed in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. He has taught History (particularly US History) and English in different schools since 1997. In 2013 he was the founding Principal at Benjamin Franklin High School in Queen Creek, AZ. He also served two years as Headmaster in Ascent Classical Academy in Colorado.
Mr. McAfee lives in Queen Creek with his wife Sheila. Their two daughters have graduated college, and their son is at Washington and Lee University. Mrs. McAfee works at the Phoenix Airport (a job taken so they could bring home their college students for the holidays without selling a kidney). Mr. McAfee, a retired collegiate baseball player, has traded in his soccer/football/baseball/softball coaching career for golfing (when it is hot and cheap), long walks with his dog Montie, reading, and a new passion for smoking meats.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. McCauley is a middle school history teacher and a high school humane letters teacher at Scottsdale Prep. He joined Scottsdale Prep in 2016-17, and has previously served as the head of the middle school history department, a course-level lead for 6th and 7th grade history, an assistant coach for middle school baseball, and the substitute coordinator for the school.
Mr. McCauley is native to Arizona and graduated from high school in Scottsdale. He received a B.A. in both history and political science from Arizona State University, as well as an M.A. in history from Arizona State University.
In his free time he enjoys playing, writing and recording music, playing ice hockey and rooting for his favorite sports teams.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. McKernon joined Scottsdale Prep in 2010-2011. Mr. McKernon will be teaching the 6th-grade math curriculum this year. In past years, Mr. McKernon has taught 7th and 8th-grade math as well.
Originally from Southern California, and after obtaining an M.A. in Education from Claremont Graduate University, Mr. McKernon moved to Scottsdale in 2010. Prior to teaching Mr. McKernon was a data sales engineer with telecommunication companies like ATT and MCI.
Mr. McKernon is an avid financial markets researcher, biblical history layman, and exercise enthusiast who loves chocolate chip cookies.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. McPherson teaches 9th grade Humane Letters at Scottsdale Prep. He joined the Academy in 2019-2020. He has been a Humanities teacher both in the Middle and High Schools.
He grew up in SC. He studied Humanities, History, and the Arts at Davidson College and received an MFA from ASU. Prior to coming to Great Hearts, Mr. McPherson taught in charter and private schools in AZ (Tempe Prep) and SC.
He is happily married to his beloved wife and loves fly fishing and wood working.
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Mershon joined Scottsdale Prep in 2022. She currently teaches Economics and 8th-grade Medieval History, and previously taught Ancient History. She received a BA degree in Art History from Arizona State University, an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird, and an Ed.D. from the University of West Florida. Before joining the SPA faculty she worked in different capacities with Junior Achievement and in higher education. Her family was very happy to make Arizona their forever home in 2015 after living in many different places in the US and abroad while her husband served in the Air Force. She enjoys spending time with her family, including her husband and their two adult daughters, Morgan and Erin. In her free time, she also loves to travel and read.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Michaels is excited to teach math again and be an instructional coach after serving in other roles. Since joining the Scottsdale Prep community in 2014, she has served as Assistant Headmaster, Dean of Academics, Master Teacher of Mathematics, Lead 504 Coordinator, and Mathematics teacher both in the Middle and High Schools.
She was born and raised in Scottsdale, and understands the desire of Arizona natives to move to where it snows! She studied Metallurgical Engineering at Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado before realizing that her true passion was in Mathematics. She received her B.S. in Computational Mathematical Sciences from ASU, and later received her M.Ed. in Secondary Education from GCU.
She enjoys traveling and adventuring with her husband and son during her time off, and is always up for a good game of Clue or Liverpool Rummy.
Mr. Miller joined Scottsdale Prep as a substitute teacher in 2024-25.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Miller has been a Studio Art Teacher at Scottsdale Preparatory Academy since 2012 and is currently the Department Head for the Visual Arts. She teaches both Middle School and High School Studio Art classes.
A native of Scottsdale, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing from Arizona State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Clemson University. Before Scottsdale Prep, she taught several Art Classes and Workshops to students ranging from Elementary through College. As a practicing Artist, her works have appeared in public and private collections and publications.
Ms. Miller enjoys spending time with her family, drawing, and painting. In addition, she is an avid bird watcher and a voracious reader.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Moore is a Literature and Composition teacher at Scottsdale Prep, having joined the faculty in 2021.
An Arizona native, Ms. Moore has lived across the Phoenix-metro area in Litchfield Park, Scottsdale, and now central Phoenix. She graduated in 2021 from Grand Canyon University with a B.A. in English for Secondary Education and a minor in Philosophy, with honors. Having been introduced to Great Hearts by her father (who now teaches Humane Letters at Anthem Prep), she completed her last semester student-teaching at Scottsdale Prep Spring 2021 teaching 8th grade Literature and Composition and 9th grade Humane Letters.
In her free time, she enjoys drinking coffee, writing fantasy for pleasure, making meals for her family, and spending leisure time with her best friend.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Robin Neely joined SPA in 2013. In that time, he has taught our 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th-grade curricular music classes and conducted our extra-curricular choirs. In addition to being a music educator, he is also a senior thesis director at SPA. Mr. Neely’s proudest accomplishment is the creation of the “Caroling Club” which spends its holiday season singing for nursing homes, Hospice Homes, and Phoenix Children’s Hospital.
Mr. Neely earned his Bachelors of Music at Northern Arizona University and his Masters of Music at Arizona State University. He also sang with the Sonoran Desert Chorale under the direction of Jeff Harris for 9 years, touring a variety of countries including Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, France, Ireland, and Scotland. He is proud to have served as an adjudicator, clinician, or chair for numerous honor choirs across Arizona.
Outside of the arts, Mr. Neely takes great pride in managing his coral reef aquarium, doing photo shoots for local aquarium hobbyists or fish stores, hiking extensively, rock climbing, and taking care of his family.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Nordtvedt has been a 7th-grade life science teacher at Scottsdale Prep since 2021. He joined Great Hearts in 2020 at Archway Classical Academy Scottsdale and as an assistant baseball coach at Scottsdale Prep.
He is a Minnesota native but has been living in the Phoenix area since 2013. He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA. He later completed his master’s degree in exercise science at California University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Nordtvedt and his wife have two sons and two dogs at home. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, sports, and being outdoors as much as possible.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Patton joined Scottsdale Prep in 2023-2024 and teaches 6th grade US History and 9th grade Humane Letters. She will also be directing the middle school play this winter, and serves as a co-leader of the Scottsdale Prep Shakespeare Society which is open to both middle and high school students.
Ms. Patton grew up on both coasts, in California and New Hampshire. Her passion for timeless wisdom and truth led her to study at the University of Dallas, where she received a BA in Drama. Ms. Patton previously worked in Los Angeles as the director of a non-profit serving at-risk youth and seniors. While in Los Angeles she also produced, wrote, directed and acted in many theater productions and short films.
When not teaching, Ms. Patton enjoys working on her screenplay about the American Renaissance, embroidering, and she’d love to see you at both the middle school play and Shakespeare Society!
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Peters joined SPA in the Fall of 2015 and is a middle and high school math instructor at the academy. Across this time, he has served as a teacher for Pre-Algebra, Advanced Algebra, and Honors Geometry. He was also the lead sponsor for the Yearbook Club (10th Anniversary Edition) and the Archery Club (4 years).
His B.S. degree in Mathematics was earned from the University of Louisville (1988), but he has also resided in Iowa (where he was a walk-on wrestler at Iowa State University), Illinois, Michigan, Florida, California, and Bowling Green, KY (teaching for the public schools as well as being a part-time instructor for the Information Systems Department at Western Kentucky University). Prior to joining Great Hearts, Mr. Peters taught for 9 years at a private school in California, and for 4 years at a private school in the Phoenix area. Across 7 of the 9 years in California, much of his free time was spent writing an expansive book on the amazing world of Geometric Constructions.
Mr. Peters loves his family, students, and colleagues. He also very much enjoys reading, woodworking, and learning/sharing the multifaceted aspects of health and nutrition. During times of home relaxation, he never tires of watching the hummingbirds that fly, hover, and drink around the feeders maintained in his backyard patio area.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Petiford joined the Scottsdale Prep faculty in 2012 and currently teaches 7th, 8th, and 11th-grade studio art. He has also taught 6th grade Intro to Fine Art, run multiple 6th-grade performances, and an extra-curricular percussion ensemble. You can frequently see Mr. Petiford playing percussion for SPA musical theater productions and numerous SPA Jazz Choir concerts.
He earned a BFA in Drawing with a minor in Printmaking from Arizona State University, summa cum laude. Prior to SPA, he taught for 3 years at East Valley High and worked as a manufacturing training and web developer for a large manufacturing corporation, and as a multimedia designer for an R&D group. He has three published papers on music pedagogy, multiple book designs and illustrations, and has participated in multiple group and solo exhibitions of fine art.
In his free time, Mr. Petiford is an avid painter, musician, and cinematic connoisseur.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Primavera is the Physics 1 teacher, head football coach, and head baseball coach at Scottsdale Prep Academy. He joined the Academy in 2014.
David is a native of Lincoln, NE. He received his master’s degree in education with an emphasis in science teaching from the University of Nebraska and received his undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts from Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA. He previously taught in Elkhorn, NE before joining Great Hearts.
He is married with 5 children. His hobbies include watching college football, golfing, and gardening.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Redmond teaches Geometry and Logic & Computation at Scottsdale Prep. He joined the school as a long term sub for middle school Algebra II in 2019 before becoming a full teacher during the 2020-2021 school year.
He was born and raised in Scottsdale, but went to university in Washington State for his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. He then completed a Master’s in Secondary Education from Arizona State University.
He has interests in gardening, strategy games, game design, and science fiction.
Teacher Website: Here (although he tends to align his course with Ms. Hutchings)
Mr. Richards grew up in the Phoenix area and graduated with a BA in Biblical Studies from Arizona Christian University in 2019. He then moved to North Carolina to pursue a Master’s of Divinity at Duke University, where he took courses on theology, philosophy, and ancient languages. After finishing his degree at Duke in 2022, he pursued an MA in Classics at the University of Arizona, where he continued to study Latin, Greek, and Hebrew and research ancient religion and philosophy. While at UA, he taught undergraduate Latin courses and received the Sandra Rhead Jones Latin Teaching Award from the UA Classics department. After graduating in May 2024, he taught a summer course for incoming freshmen at UA on Latin and Greek roots for English vocabulary. Mr. Richards is passionate about the value of Latin in a liberal arts education and looks forward to joining the Scottsdale Prep community and sharing his love of Latin with students.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Russell joined Great Hearts and Scottsdale Preparatory Academy in 2023. He currently teaches 7th Grade Pre-Algebra/Algebra and 10th Grade Algebra II/Pre-Calculus.
Before teaching, Mr. Russell worked in the charitable giving industry for three years as president and chief manager of a foundation. He has played many roles in his career: market strategist, designer, musician, and botanist. Mr. Russell has a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from Brigham Young University. Mr. Russell loves the phenomenology of life, which has translated into a love for indoor plants, maintaining as many as 300 at a time in his home.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Sanowski is very excited to join the Scottsdale Prep community in the 2023-24 school year.
Prior to coming to Great Hearts, he spent 32 years in the Aerospace industry and has extensive Engineering, Quality, and Management experience. He was raised in Scottsdale and received a B.S. degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Arizona and a M.S. degree from the ASU Bioengineering College.
He loves math, Engineering, and problem solving. He enjoys welding, cooking, fresh and saltwater fishing, hiking with his Australian Shepard, and traveling.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Sells teaches 7th grade history and is the head coach for middle school volleyball. She joined Scottsdale Prep in 2023, after working as a Teaching and Research Assistant for Arizona State University’s History Department. Prior to becoming an SPA Spartan, she was a dedicated Sun Devil, earning both her B.S. in Political Science and M.A. in History from Arizona State University.
Ms. Sells is an accomplished horseback rider, earning herself a National Championship in the Arabian horse world, and riding for the ASU Equestrian team during her university years. In her youth, Ms. Sells served as Miss Teen Arizona, a platform which inspired her to nurture a philanthropic cause near and dear to her heart: a state-wide anti-bullying campaign.
Ms. Sells is a proud mother to her four-and-a-half-year-old son and her six-year-old Golden Retriever. In her free time, Ms. Sells enjoys riding horses, playing volleyball, and reading.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Scott Shaughnessy joined Great Hearts faculty in 2012, first teaching science at Anthem Prep and transferring to Scottsdale Prep in the fall of 2018. In that time he has taught middle school Physical Science, Earth Science, and upper school Physics I and Physics II. In addition, he has been a sponsor of Astronomy Club and Mountain Biking Club.
He moved from southern California with his family where he taught physics, math, and astronomy at The Buckley School in Sherman Oaks, California since 1998. He is a graduate of ASU’s Construction Engineering program, and has taken additional classes in physics and astronomy at UCLA.
He enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, traveling to tropical islands, gazing at the cosmos, and mountain biking wherever he can find a trail.
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Bente Shoen teaches Spanish at Scottsdale Prep and joined the Academy in 2020-21.
She is a Phoenix native with a BA in English from Dartmouth College, an MA in Spanish Language and Culture from Middlebury College, and another MA and PhD in Hispanic Literature from Boston University. Prior to coming to Great Hearts, Dr. Shoen taught Spanish at Boston University, did process engineering for nonprofits in Guatemala, and worked in logistics in the Northeast.
In her free time, she does interior design, writes poetry, and swims in any body of water she can find. She also loves to host soirées and game nights for her large extended family, friends, and colleagues.
Teacher Website: Here
Ms. Spielvogel teaches 10th and 11th grade Humane Letters and joined Scottsdale Prep in the 2023-2024 academic year.
She graduated with her bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Arizona State University in 2022 and most recently finished her master’s degree in English Literature with a focus on early modern literature from the University of Oxford in 2023. Her research interests include Shakespeare and his history plays, classical reception, and kingship in the medieval and early modern periods. She is also an active theatre-maker, having been a dramaturg, deviser, playwright, and director in Arizona, North Carolina, and Oxford.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys participating in a variety of sports, including fencing, cycling, and swimming. She also enjoys classical music, having played flute since the 5th grade. She is also currently a member of SPA’s esteemed faculty choir.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Stamate is a 10th and 12th grade Humane Letters teacher. She joined the SPA faculty in the 2011-2012 school year. During her years at the academy, she has taught 5th grade, 6th-8th grade Lit/Comp, and Humane Letters. She also serves as Senior Thesis Director.
Mrs. Stamate is originally from Florida, and she attended St. John’s College in Annapolis for her undergraduate degree in the Liberal Arts. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Classical Education from the University of Dallas while teaching at SPA.
She enjoys life at home with her husband of three years and their one-year-old daughter. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, playing chess, and staying active outdoors.
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Szadzinski is Director of Campus Life and teaches 7th-grade Latin and 11th-grade Humane Letters at Scottsdale Prep. He started at SPA in 2022-23.
While born and raised in Chicago, Dr. Szadzinski has spent significant time living in Vermont and the UK. He earned a Graduate Teaching Certificate in Latin and a M.A. in Greek and Latin Languages from the University of Vermont. He obtained a M.A. in Ancient History from Cardiff University. In May of 2021, he was awarded his Ph.D. from King’s College London, where he worked with both the Classics and War Studies Departments in crafting a thesis focused on the battlefield tactics and practices of mid-republican Roman legions.
When not teaching or researching, Dr. Szadzinski loves to golf, hike, snowboard, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Threadgall teaches sixth grade Latin at SPA and joined the Academy in 2012-13. Since then he has occasionally also taught 7th and 8th grade Latin and chaired a recorder ensemble.
A Tennessee native, he studied Classics and English at UT Knoxville before taking an MA in Latin at the University of Virginia with a certificate in comparative literature. He has also taught middle school Latin in Tennessee and Virginia, but after ten years in the valley he is now pleased to regard himself as “from here.”
Mr. Threadgall cultivates frankincense and myrrh in his back garden, ferments a variety of vegetables and herbal tonics, and loves the monsoon season.
Teacher Website: Here
Dr. Triggs teaches 8th-grade Literature & Composition and serves as the assistant coach for the speech and debate team. She joined SPA in 2022-23, after previously teaching at Anthem Prep.
She earned her Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Composition from Saint Louis University in 2016. She has taught courses in English and the Humanities at the collegiate level.
Dr. Triggs loves to travel and also enjoys spending time with family.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. Walters teaches 10th grade Earth Science. She joined Scottsdale Prep in the 2022-23 school year and is excited to be a part of a school with such a distinguished reputation. She has also previously taught 8th grade Earth Science.
She was born and raised in Arizona and attended the University of Texas at Dallas where she received a B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry. While at UT Dallas, she had the opportunity to be a research assistant working on biochemical studies involving metabolism. After graduation, she worked as an analytical chemist in an environmental laboratory. She has also taught chemistry for over 10 years at Glendale Community College.
Mrs. Walters and her husband of 26 years, Dr. Darrin Walters, have two boys – Braden and Devin who are both competitive swimmers. Braden is a student athlete at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and Devin will enter his Junior year at Chaparral High School. In their free time, they enjoy hiking and camping, but spend most of their time at the pool.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. White joined the Scottsdale Preparatory community in 2021-22! His teaching experience has spanned 8th grade Literature/Composition, 8th grade Medieval History, as well as 9th, 10th, and 12th grade Humane Letters.
He grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and studied film and classics at Biola University. He has lots of experience working with students, from camp counselor to elementary reading teacher, and is looking forward to working with older students.
Mr. White is a huge Marvel fan, loves playing Dungeons and Dragons, and enjoys writing in his free time.
Teacher Website: Here
Mrs. White-Goss joined SPA in the 2018-2019 academic school year. She is a middle school studio art teacher. She has been teaching art for 20 years.
She was born in Michigan, but has lived in Scottsdale since she was three. She studied Art Education and Art History at Arizona State University.
She has been happily married for nearly 30 years and they have one son. She has two miniature dachshunds and loves yoga, hiking and pickle ball.
Teacher Website: Here
Mr. Zelkin, who has taught 11th and 12th-grade Humane Letters at Scottsdale Prep since 2021, comes to us from Cicero Prep (where he served as their 11th and 12th-grade Humane Letters teacher). Prior to this, Mr. Zelkin filled in for Mrs. Stamate’s 10th and 12th-grade Humane Letters here at Scottsdale Prep in the Spring of 2020.
He was born in the former Soviet Union and immigrated to the United States as a child. He received his bachelor’s degree from Colgate University where he double majored in music and philosophy & religion. He then studied religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School where he received his master’s degree.
Mr. Zelkin worked for over two and a half decades as a professional film composer in Los Angeles. He and his wife, with whom he continues to co-compose, have both received Emmy Awards for their music and have been nominated multiple times. Together, they have written the music and themes for various movies, sports, and news shows including: The NBA, The WNBA, NASCAR, The America’s Cup, Wimbledon, The Stanley Cup Finals, The X Games, The NCAA Championships, The US Open, The Masters, The British Open, CBS Sports Desk, and Tucker Carlson Tonight, among others.
Casa de Zelkin consists of his wonderful wife of three decades, their son (a student at Prep!), a very good dog, and a one eyed, three-legged cat who operates under the assumption that the entire household exists merely to serve him. Mr. Zelkin enjoys coffee, discussing great books and ideas with interesting people, reading fantasy fiction, backpacking and running…but mostly coffee.