Staff
Department of English
ERIC DAY – Eric Day lives and writes in Phoenix, Arizona, where he has taught at NSAA high school since 2006. This year, he is enjoying his students in Senior English, Mythology & the Short Story, Creative Writing, and AP English Literature. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Arizona State University and is currently working on a novel. His most recent publication appeared in Journal of Experimental Fiction. Website Email
ALIX DEWALD – Alix DeWald is teaching 9th grade English Composition and received her BA from Knox, a small liberal arts college in Illinois with majors in Education and Theatre. Ms. DeWald is also a practicing visual and performance artist and runs a venue/studio in downtown Phoenix with her partner. Her work can be seen with Word of Mouth theatre company. Other interests of hers include sustainability, deconstruction of text, devised theatre, and raw food.Website Email
GREGG HOWARD – Gregg Howard is a graduate of ASU, with a BA in English, an MFA in Creative Writing, and a broad but shallow background in the visual arts. He taught writing at the college level for five years, and has been teaching high school English since 2005. Mr. Howard is a sailing and kayaking enthusiast and former river guide. His literary interests include detective fiction, fantasy and science fiction, and spy novels. His current favorite writers are Raymond Chandler, Harlan Ellison, and Lawrence Durrell. His current favorite poet is Derek Walcott, and his current ambition is to learn to play the oud.email this instructor Email Website
MATT OATES – Matt has taught at NSAA since 2006. He is the author of one unpublished novel and also serves as an Interviews Editor for the online literary magazine Identity Theory. He holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Texas State University. He lives near a power plant in south Tempe with his wife and two sons.Website Email
Department of Social Sciences
JOANNE CRAIG – Jo Anne Craig received her J.D. degree from Wayne State University Law School and her teacher certification from Arizona State University. Although she worked as a lawyer in Chicago and for the House of Representatives in Washington D.C., she is happiest in the classroom. Teaching at NSAA since 2006, she has taught both Middle School Social Studies and High School History. A big proponent of experience–based learning, she has incorporated Model U.N., Project Citizen, Debate/Argumentation and Art History Programs into the curriculum. This year she will conduct an International Trade Summit Simulation for the Economics classes. Mrs. Craig has been selected by the Center for Civics Education to attend the We The People: Navajo Nation Experience Seminar in Chinle, Arizona. For the 2010-11 year, Mrs. Craig will be teaching High School AP American History, U.S./Arizona History, and Government/Economics.Website Email
CHRIS WRIGHT – Mr. Wright teaches Middle School Social Studies and High School World History. He graduated in 2004 with a B.A. in History and Secondary Education. He has been a life-long History fanatic and tries to bring his enthusiasm for his subject into the classroom. His philosophy of education for his students is: “I’m like NASA, failure is not an option!” He was the 2006 Arizona Rookie teacher of the year.Website Email
ERIC STORIE – Mr. Storie grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, IL. He moved to Tempe, Arizona in 1998 to attend Arizona State University. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Urban Planning. In 2009, he began as a substitute teacher at NSAA, for both high school and middle school classes. Mr. Storie is extremely excited to now be the full time Middle School Social Studies teacher! Website Email
Department of Foreign Languages
JULIE ADAMS – Julie Adams has a B.A. in French and an M.A. in French Literature from Arizona State University . She has been teaching since 1998, and she currently teaches French at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.Email Calendar
YOLANDA RATLIFF – Born and raised in Mexico, Mrs. Ratliff teaches Spanish at NSAA. She holds a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Humanities from Grand Canyon University. She is also a graduate of the Luz Ma. Romo Fashion Designer School in Guadalajara, Mexico. Mrs. Ratliff has received awards from MUJER, Mexican Cultural Center, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Alma de la Gente, and National Association of Bank Women. She has written articles for CAMBIO Hispanic Bilingual Magazine, Nuestro Milenio Bilingual Magazine, and Ave Fenix newspaper. Website Email
Department of Mathematics
PETER BRESLIN – Peter Breslin teaches Algebra 3-4, Math Analysis, Pre-Calculus and Trigonometry and Calculus in the High School. He has a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Annapolis, MD. He has worked in schools as a teacher of a wide variety of subjects and administrator for more than 2 decades. He is also a performing musician and composer, with a focus on percussion, piano and the art of improvisation. He is currently a freelance writer for The Santa Fe Reporter. He has been a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow and has led and participated in many professional development activities, including training in collaborative learning, authentic assessment and best practices workshops with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Email Calendar
CAROLYN KARLOVSKY – Mrs. Karlovsky recently moved to Arizona after working as an electrical engineer and then as a certified high school math and physics teacher for 13 years in Illinois. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Aurora University and has been a teacher mentor for several years. Mrs. Karlovsky is now teaching Geometry at NSAA.Email Website
Department of Science
TRENT BROWN – Mr. Brown is a certified school teacher who holds a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation Biology and a Master’s in Business Administration. He has been teaching high school science since the fall of 2006 and has been teaching at NSAA since the fall of 2008, and continues to take science college science courses in Summer to perfect knowledge and teaching skills. Mr. Brown has taught Biology, Earth Science, Chemistry, and Anatomy. Email Calendar
JACQUELYN KELLY – Mrs. Kelly graduated from California State University San Marcos in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in physics and chemistry. In 2009, she earned her Masters degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Arizona State University with her thesis being Using multimodal expressions of student mental models of atomic bonding to promote conceptual change in materials science. Now, Mrs. Kelly is working towards her PhD in Curriculum & Instruction: Science Education at Arizona State University. Her doctoral research focuses on understanding the pragmatics and predictive power of academic language acquisition on conceptual development in introductory materials engineering courses. As well as being a teacher, Mrs. Kelly is a full time research assistant at ASU examining conceptual change, metacognitive development, and module creation for introductory engineering courses. Website Email
JANE DOWELL – Mrs. Dowell has a bachelor’s degree in Speech and Hearing Sciences and an Arizona teaching certificate. Mrs. Dowell was a pioneer in developing and managing the NSAA Middle School, and continues to play a large role in Science instruction at NSAA. Website Email
Department of Performing Arts
MARCOS CREGO -Marcos Crego is the Piano Music instructor at NSAA. Mr.Crego has 15 years of experience as a piano and keyboard player.Also is a music arranger,producer and band leader.Mr. Crego attended Conservatory of Music Manuel Saumell,Amadeo Roldán Music School and Superior Institute of the Arts.Email Website
MIKE EPPING – Michael Epping teaches Classical Ensemble and advanced Music Theory at the high school this year, and also directs the middle school Choir. Mr. Epping holds a B.F.A. in Music Performance from the University of Nebraska, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Music Education at ASU, with an endorsement in Jazz. Mr. Epping, a saxophone specialist, has over nine years’ experience teaching music, and his private students have been recognized as members of the Arizona All-State Jazz Bands. Mr. Epping is glad to be at NSAA, where he works to give students the training, knowledge, and experience needed to pursue a career in the arts. Email Website
CRAIG KOSNIK – Mr. Craig Kosnik is currently pursuing his PhD in Theatre with a concentration in Theatre For Youth at Arizona State University. Mr. Kosnik earned his BA in Theatre from Gannon University in 2002, where he got the chance to do everything from stage management to acting to lighting design. He followed up his undergrad work with getting his MA in Theatre Education from Emerson College in 2005. Mr. Kosnik has directed over twenty plays and musicals with youth and has taught camp, tech theatre, and acting classes for the Erie Playhouse, Childsplay, Mesa Stage Works, and Herberger College of the Arts for Kids. Mr. Kosnik has also ran light and sound board and house managed many productions. He teaches Theatre Production and Middle School Drama.Email Website
DENISE MARTIN – Denise Martin is the Vocal Music instructor and Department Head of Performing Arts at NSAA. Ms. Martin has an intensive resume in music arrangement, as choir director, lead vocalist, and voice and piano teacher. Ms. Martin attended Berklee College of Music and majored in composition and arranging. Ms. Martin has been recognized as a Jazz Performer of the Year in the Valley. Email Website
TRICIA VANDERWOUDE -Tricia Vander Woude graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.F.A. in Dance. She has performed with David Storey and Dancers in New York City and other independent companies in Chicago and here in the valley. She is currently a member of Scorpius Dance Theatre. In 2005, Tricia received her certification in Pilates from Long Beach Dance and Conditioning. She currently teaches both group and private sessions at Kinisphere Pilates Studio. She teaches Ballet, Jazz, Modern Dance, Dance Company, and Middle School dance. She is excited to share her love and knowledge of dance!
Email Calender
JOHN VOLD – John Vold has 17 years of experience as a guitarist and bass player.
He earned his B.F.A in jazz guitar performance from the University of Wisconsin , Milwaukee.
He teaches a variety of styles including rock, blues, folk and specializes in jazz and classical guitar.
He performs regularly in the Phoenix metro area and abroad. Email Website
Department of Visual Arts
MATT DICKSON – Matt Dickson teaches Life Drawing and Intermediate/Advanced Drawing. He holds a BFA in Fine Art from Laguna College of Art & Design. Not only is he an experienced draughtsman, but he also holds a passion for oil painting and decorative carpentry. Mr. Dickson is an exhibiting artist, showing locally as well as in New York and Los Angeles. Email Website
BETSY BRET HARTE – Betsy Bret Harte has been with NSAA since 2003. Her experience prior to teaching and art making includes working with communities and midwives in the Appalachian Mountains, serving for two years as a rural community organizer in the Peace Corps, and remodeling historic buildings. Today she teaches all levels of photography at NSAA. She received her BFA degree in Photography from Arizona State University and is a member artist of Eye Lounge art collective. Her work has been exhibited and written about both locally and nationally. She loves the students and community of NSAA.Email Website
LAUREN LEE – Lauren Lee holds a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art with an emphasis in Digital Arts. Ms. Lee teaches Visual Art Foundations at NSAA as well as Digital Mixed Media, Digital Graphic Design, Publication Design, and Middle School Visual Art . Ms. Lee’s interests include interpretive dance, experimental art processes, public art, quantum physics and learning how to knit scarves.Email Website
KYLLAN MANEY – Kyllan Maney currently is the Head of the Art Department at New School for the Arts and Academics and teaches Painting, Mixed Media, and Portfolio. She received her BFA with a specialization in Painting from Arizona State University. She has continued her studies by taking Post-Baccalaureate classes in Painting and Life Drawing. Since receiving her degree, she has continuously worked in her studio and has exhibited her work at numerous galleries and public spaces in the Phoenix area including Art One, Paulina Miller Gallery, Nelson Fine Arts Center, Mesa City Library, Tempe Post Office, and the Phoenix Art Museum. Along with her painting career, Kyllan has enjoyed teaching art for the past seven years. She has created workshops for the Tempe Historical Museum and Kid’s Zone Summer Programs. Over the past six years teaching at NSAA, Kyllan Maney brings her professional artist experience to the classroom. Email Website
LINDA PARKER -Linda holds a MFA in Sculpture from Arizona State University and a BFA in Sculpture from Georgia State University.
Linda is currently teaching Visual Arts Foundation at NSAA Middle School and has taught 3-Dimensional Design and Sculpture, both at NSAA High School and Glendale Community College.In addition to her strong background in sculpture, Linda is a multi-disciplinary artists with experiences in painting, 2-D design,alternative printmaking, 3-D and 2-D textile arts, alternative bookmaking and papermaking, jewelry construction/design and art installations.Linda has exhibited work locally, nationally and internationally.
Ms. Parker brings to her classes not only the arts foundations, but a great sense of excitement, experimentation and discovery. She loves her creative students at NSAA. Website Email
MARTHA PENA – Martha Pena teaches Fashion Design I-III. She recently graduated from the Art Institute of Phoenix with a BA of Arts in Fashion Marketing. Before attending the Art Institute of Phoenix, she attended Phoenix Community College. Her interests are art, photography, shopping, researching trends, sewing, and designing. Some of her work experiences include visual merchandising, photography, and fashion design. Email Website
CHRISTY WEISER – Christy Lasater Weiser holds a BFA in ceramics from the Kansas City Art Institute. Christy has taught at NSAA for over ten years and was the Visual Arts department chair for six years. Christy is a working ceramic studio artist in Tempe, AZ. In 2004, she received a City of Tempe grant for public art to complete ceramic tiles at a bus stop, working with middle school and high school students. Christy has been teaching art and ceramics for more than 20 years. She continues to work in the studio making and selling ceramics pieces and teaching ceramics at NSAA. For ten years Christy was the assistant to the Director of the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic Arts in Helena, MT, where she maintained a ceramic studio. Ms. Weiser continues to bring her ceramic artist experience to the classroom and guides students to careers in the ceramic arts. Email Calendar
Exceptional Student Services
BECKY MARTIN – Becky Martin assists with Special Education at NSAA High School and Middle School. Ms. Martin received her BA in Early Childhood and her MA in Special Education from Arizona State University. Email
LISA ROSENFELD - Ms. Rosenfeld Currently manages NSAA High School and Middle School ESS. Email
Administration
RONALD CAYA – Ronald F. Caya, Founder is the founding director of NSAA; he brings experience in both cultural and educational administration. He holds a BA in Art Education from the California College of Arts & Crafts and an MA from Parsons School of Design in New York City. He has extensive experience in public art education as well as establishing and directing several arts centers, both public and private. He has served on the board of the American Council for the Arts and as president of the Alliance of California Arts Council, the Western Association of Art museums, and the California College of Arts and Crafts Alumni. He is dedicated to education and the arts and is an accomplished potter.
JULIE ADAMS- As NSAA’s Academic Coordinator, she handles Testing (AP, SAT/PSAT, AIMS), Rio Salado Dual Enrollment , Credit/GPA questions, graduation concerns, and performs intense feats of Scheduling Magic. Email
BETSY BRET HARTE – Wears the hat of Student Support Liaison making her your go-to gal for problem solving or concerns regarding teachers / parents / students, behavior, study habits, long term homework requests, absence issues, and study hall coordination for those students who are not 504 or IEP.Email
JANE DOWELL – Middle School parent/teacher liason. Email
MARTHA PENA- Registrar Email
BARBARA DEGRUCCIO – Barbara DeGruccio, Business Manager, has over 20 years experience in budgeting and accounting. She majored in business at Queens College in New York. Ms. DeGruccio’s responsibilities include overseeing NSAA’s annual budget, teacher and classroom supplies, and building maintenance. Barbara is a parent of an NSAA graduate.
MARK DANIELS – Mr. Daniels has been working with NSAA Middle School since opening in 2003. He is responsible for the never-ending task of computer management and training staff on computer use.
LINDA ELLIS – Linda Ellis, Receptionist/Attendance Clerk is a parent of an NSAA graduate and started working at the school in 1998 as the receptionist and attendance clerk. Linda is always willing to help students and parents.
KATY FERRELL-CARDENAS – Katy Ferrell-Cárdenas graduated in Health Education in 1993 from U of A, and joined the Peace Corp for a tour to Sana’a, Yemen. Upon returning, she worked as a community educator for the County Health Dept. In 1996, Mrs. Cárdenas moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where she also worked for five years in private instruction. In 2000, Mrs. Cárdenas returned to Arizona and earned her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from ASU and since has written charters and been a consultant on curriculum development for many Arizona public schools. In 2003, Mrs. Cardenas joined the NSAA organization by accepting the position of Principal for the Middle School, and a full time teaching position. After the first two years of the middle school, Mrs. Cárdenas accepted the position of Executive Dean for NSAA, upon the retirement of its Founder, Dean Caya. Mrs. Cardenas has passed the superintendent AZ educator proficiency assessment. Email
RICK WALKER – Mr. Walker is on site for building maintenance and security. Mr. Walker has over a decade of experience in his field and probably deserves a much longer biography for all he does. Mr. Walker is a parent of two NSAA Graduates.Email
MARILYN LANZA—in memoriam. Marilyn Lanza, Executive Assistant to the Dean & Human Resource Director, was a dedicated professional at NSAA, from its inception in 1995, until she passed away in 2007. Marilyn had over 25 years experience in business, education administration, and volunteer coordination. Her training, as she liked to say, was as a scientist: Marilyn held a BS in Bacteriology with a minor in Philosophy & Education from the College of Notre Dame.
Personally, Marilyn’s inexhaustible generosity of spirit and kindness helped to shape this school’s foundation. She was a comfort to those around her, a wise woman, and a good friend. Marilyn shared freely with everyone—her great smile, her incisive wit, and her passionate beliefs. She cared deeply for this school and everyone in it. Marilyn Lanza is sorely missed, and she will be long remembered by everyone at NSAA.