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The Story
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Lincoln J. Tamayo - Head
of School Email: ltamayo@academyprep.org Lincoln received his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame, his J.D. from The University of Florida College of Law, and his Ed. M., Administration Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard University. In December 2002, Lincoln assumed the responsibilities as Academy Prep's Head of School. From August 2001 through November 2002, he was Chairman of English for the Children of Massachusetts, the successful initiative petition campaign to reform the bilingual education laws of Massachusetts. He was subsequently invited by Governor-elect Mitt Romney to serve on Mr. Romney's transition team through January 2003. From 1997 to August 2001, he was Principal of Chelsea High School, Chelsea, MA, (student enrollment, 1500, faculty and staff, 150). He has also served as Assistant to the President of Boston University and Secretary to the Boston University Board of Trustees, and most recently as a community columnist for the editorial board of the Tampa Tribune. Lincoln was admitted to the Florida Bar in 1985. |
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Keith Allen
– AmeriCorps Teacher
Email: kallen@academyprep.org Keith moved here from Dayton, Ohio in June 2008. A father of four wonderful sons, he is in his second year as an AmeriCorps Volunteer. He has served in the education field has as a tutor, teacher’s aide and most recently as Assistant Music Director with a youth gospel chorus in Dayton. Keith joined Academy Prep because of its belief in embracing children and their needs in a warm and caring manner. Keith now directs the Music Program at Academy Prep and feels blessed to share his life experiences of twenty five years as a professional musician, producer, and teacher with the youth of today. |
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Michell Chresfield –
AmeriCorps Teacher
Email: mchresfield@academyprep.org Michell is a recent graduate of the University Of Notre Dame with
a B.A. in American Studies with a minor in Africana Studies, where
she served as president of the Africana Studies Club, Rejoice Mass
liturgical coordinator, and was a recipient of the Balfour Hesbergh
Scholarship. Her volunteer experience includes service in the Center
for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana, the Hope Soup Kitchen in
Mobile, Alabama, and as a Big Sister for the Tolson Center in Elkhart,
Indiana. She brings a vast range of technological and creative knowledge
as the 7th and 8th grade Computer and Writing teacher though the
AmeriCorps program. |
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Kristy Craig - School
Manager Email: kcraig@academyprep.org Kristy is a 1999 graduate of West Chester University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communication Studies and Theater. She is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Non-Profit Business Management at the University of Tampa. Kristy began teaching 10 years ago in public and private schools throughout the northeast. She has served as Program Director and Art Director for summer day-time and residential camps, and has worked as a professional actor, drama coach, and director of children's theater in New York City. Kristy's service to Academy Prep began as an AmeriCorps Drama teacher when the school opened in 2003. She now manages school scheduling and day-to-day operations, supervises the AmeriCorps teachers, and oversees the Drama program and productions. Kristy knows Someone Upstairs led her to Academy Prep, and she hopes to laugh and love here for a long, long time. |
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Sr. Anne Dougherty, O.S.F.
Director of Graduate Support Email: adougherty@academyprep.org Originally from Philadelphia, Sr. Anne Dougherty, O.S.F. is a Franciscan Sister of Allegany, NY. She holds a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling and an M. A. in Counseling Psychology. She is certified and currently involved in Crisis Stress Management, Police Chaplaincy, and Spiritual Direction. For ten years, Sr. Anne was the founding director of Francis House, an interfaith center for people infected or affected with HIV/AIDS. With a wide range of teaching experience to all ages of students, Sr. Anne is the Director of Graduate Support and leads the peer to peer leadership program at Academy Prep - Tampa. She enjoys helping to prepare our students to attend high school and colleges while supporting them along the way. It is her hope that by reaching their full potential these students will return to their community as leaders. |
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Betsy L. Draper - Director
of Development Email: bdraper@academyprep.org Building a career in the youth and economic development fields for over 25 years, Betsy actually started fundraising and running workshops for other young people when she was 15. Betsy has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with a Master in Education focused on business practices. Betsy has managed a multitude of youth initiatives before working on the national level with a non-profit center, School and Main Institute, housed at Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and at the New England Medical Center for 15 years. She worked in 300 communities and states defining and replicating effective practices for middle school through college age young people creating the first career-focused national mentoring effort as well as specializing in school-to-career initiatives, place-based learning, and community service practices. Betsy provided professional development and coaching in the areas of building and implementing successful community collaborations, managing non-profits as a business, and designing community youth systems to serve all children in any given community. In addition to leading all matters relative to our vitally important
development efforts, Betsy directs volunteer services as well as
business partnerships for Tampa and provides assistance with fundraising
best practices, marketing, and systems building with our St. Petersburg’s
development team. |
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Tameka Evans - Girls' Mathematics Teacher Email: tevans@academyprep.org Tameka is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor's of Science in Health Science on a pre-med track. She spent most of her undergraduate career volunteering as a mentor for young females in the middle schools of Alachua County, instead of shadowing doctors in a hospital. Her true passion is giving back to the community and it is evident in how the girls respond to her teaching style and methods. She is currently serving as the girls' Math teacher. Ms. Evans is also a medic in the U.S. Army Reserves and has just returned back to us from an overseas deployment to Iraq for her 4th year teaching the girls. |
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Gina Fuller - Boys' English
Teacher Email: gfuller@academyprep.org Ms. Fuller is the boys' English teacher and is the lead staff person for English Extension and one of the art extracurriculars. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology with a master's in business administration. She worked in marketing and sales before raising a family. Turning to education as a career as her children went to school, Ms. Fuller taught English, math and history at Mary Help of Christians and LLT Charter School before coming to Academy Prep. She is proud to have a marriage of 25 years and a great family. |
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Rebecca Gard – AmeriCorps
Teacher
Email: rgard@academyprep.org Originally from Minnesota, Becky has resided in Florida for six
years and is a graduate of the University of South Florida with
a Bachelors Degree of Psychology. Living in Tampa with her husband,
Becky remains active with the Equine Facilitated Mental Health program,
supports various charities through 5K and 10K races and enjoys being
an active member of the local community. She began her service with
Academy Prep through Volunteer USF’s Prep Plunge Work Study
Program. She now serves as an AmeriCorps teacher with the drama
department and continues to pursue higher education through the
masters program in School Counseling at USF. |
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Cristina Gutierrez - Girls’
English Teacher Email: cgutierrez@academyprep.org Cristina graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Spanish. During her college years, she served the Latino community of South Bend by tutoring an individual child each year through the student-run program, Teamwork for Tomorrow. She has also gained experience working with children with special needs, serving as a camp counselor for NISRA (Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association). After two years of service as an AmeriCorps teacher at Academy Prep, Cristina is the current 5th-8th grade girls’ English teacher and loves every minute of it. |
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Pamela Hooks - School
Manager Email: phooks@academyprep.org Pam, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from American University and who headed a personnel division at a major engineering firm in Washington, D.C., is the consummate professional. Her attention to detail, work ethic, and care for the children and families we serve are extraordinary. She has a manner that puts all who meet her at ease, and the entire staff and all of our students and parents enjoy working with her. |
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Chris Humboldt - Development
& Volunteer Coordinator Email: chumboldt@academyprep.org Chris is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a Bachelor in Business Administration degree with a major in Accounting. She is a licensed CPA and has worked in public accounting, private industry, as well as governmental agencies. As a volunteer she has been involved in many schools and non-profit agencies particularly in the areas of budgeting, financial planning and fundraising. She is thrilled to be a part of the Academy Prep staff and working in some small way to support these amazing students. |
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Henry Ibanez - Boys’
History Teacher Email: hibanez@academyprep.org Henry graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing in 1992 and a Masters in Education in 1999. Henry comes to Academy Prep from Sickles High School where he taught Advance Placement Economics and Honors Philosophy. Henry decided to join Academy Prep after volunteering here during the spring of 2005. He currently teaches 5th grade girls and character education for the 6th grade boys. |
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Sharon
Joller - Community Relations Coordinator Email: sjoller@academyprep.org Sharon is a graduate of the University of South Florida. She has worked with Academy Prep for 4 years. Her role as Community Relations Coordinator allows her to assist in many aspects at school. By working closely with parents, community partners, high school students and USF work study students, Sharon is able to play a crucial role in programming and volunteerism. She also enjoys directing the spring showcase and facilitating other events on campus. “It is very rewarding experience to share my creative side with the students and the importance of leadership and service with the community.” When she is not at APCT you can find her working with the Florida Museum of Photographic Arts, as director of the children’s outreach program, Literacy Through Photography. Sharon also enjoys participating in community arts shows. |
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Ed Joller - Development/Administration
Assistant Email: ejoller@academyprep.org Ed is a graduate of the University of Missouri – St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, specializing in Accounting. He has over 25 years of experience working in private industry in the information services field. He enjoys using his experience in a new setting – the special academic environment provided at Academy Prep. |
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Annie Knapp – AmeriCorps
Teacher Email: aknapp@academyprep.org Annie is originally from Laurens, New York where she studied Art at Pace University and Hartwick College. She joined Academy Prep in the fall of 2007 as an AmeriCorps teacher with energy and enthusiasm, and remains as lead teacher of the Fine Arts classes. She also brings years of dancing experience with her to direct our Irish Step Dancing Team. Annie feels blessed to teach such an outstanding group of talented young people, and looks forward to helping each and every one develop and improve their creative skills. |
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Ted McNair - History,
Chess and Karate Instructor Email: tmcnair@academyprep.org Ted, a 21-year veteran of the Air Force, has inner-city public
and private school teaching experience. He holds both a bachelors
(Southern Illinois University) and masters in education (Nova SE
University). This 6th-degree black-belt, former World Karate Champion,
teaches history, karate, and chess classes. In 2007 and 2008, his
chess teams placed first in the region and 7th in the State. Ted
adapted to chess while growing up in Tampa's College Hill projects. |
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Ralph Moore - Boys' Science
Teacher Email: rmoore@academyprep.org Ralph Moore is a proud graduate of the University of South Florida located here in Tampa. While in Tampa, Ralph has been a volunteer for Big Brothers/ Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, and AmeriCorps to name just a few social service organizations he has served. Ralph decided to become a teacher because he not only sees education as a means to a successful life, but also as an important vehicle that gives children faith in themselves. |
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Nydia Nelson - Girls'
Science Teacher Email: nnelson@academyprep.org Nydia graduated from the University of Tampa with a Bachelor's of Science in mathematics with a minor in chemistry. She is currently attending Walden University for a Master's in math education. Her previous experience includes teaching at Hillsborough Public Schools and Hillsborough Community College, and she currently instructs as an adjunct professor at Southwest Florida College. Ms. Nelson enjoys teaching at Academy Prep because she feels at peace and at home. |
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Sarah Panzica – AmeriCorps Teacher Email: spanzica@academyprep.org Sarah is a native of South Bend, Indiana where she attended the
University Of Notre Dame. In 2008 she graduated with a Bachelor
of Arts degree in Sociology and International Peace Studies. Throughout
her college career Sarah tutored at the Juvenile Justice Center
of South Bend, and worked with St. Matthews Catholic School in the
after-care program. She also participated in week-long Operation
Golf Coast Task Force in New Orleans and helped rebuild homes and
lives destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. In addition Sarah has been
volunteering with the Special Olympics of St. Joseph County since
she was ten years old. As a new edition to the Academy Prep Staff
Sarah will be running the Physical Education program. She will also
be teaching extra-curricular activities ranging from photography
to golf. Sarah is excited and looking forward to having a great
year at Academy Prep. |
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Rachael Ramsingh –
Intern Teacher Email: rramsingh@academyprep.org Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Rachael attended Queen’s University in Canada in her freshman year of college as a Psychology major before transferring to the University of Tampa, where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education. She discovered that teaching is her heartfelt mission rather than a chosen profession and she thoroughly enjoys teaching at both the elementary and middle school levels. She is excited to begin the school year as the girls’ Reading Comprehension and Vocabulary teacher. Since high school, she has worked, volunteered, and interned at different levels of elementary school, after-school daycares, and teaching math and reading to ESL students. She appreciates and identifies with the spirit of Academy Prep and looks forward to an exciting year of service. |
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Luly Socias - School Receptionist Email: lsocias@academyprep.org Luly graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. After several years as a design engineer she started a new and most fulfilling career – that of mom and volunteer. From PTA president to Girl Scout leader, Luly has stayed very involved with her children and their schools. Believing in the power of education to transform lives, Luly is excited to be a member of the staff at Academy Prep. |
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Dawn Sokalski - Boys'
Math Teacher Email: dsokalski@academyprep.org Dawn started her career as a social worker moving to teaching for the last 20 years in various middle schools. She is certified in mathematics 6th-9th and social science 6th-12th grades. Dawn graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's in psychology and has her master's in education from Fairleigh Dickinson. After visiting the Tampa campus, Dawn knew immediately that she wanted to devote her teaching skills to Academy Prep. |
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Anita Wash-Morrow -
Guidance Counselor Ms. Nita's diverse background offers experience in the areas of individual assessments, developing case plans, evaluating coping skills, linking people to available resources, advocating for clients and conflict resolution. Ms. Nita prides herself on her leadership skills and the ability to work harmoniously with peers and subordinates. |
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