Meet Our Teachers
Cindy Avelar - Kindergarten
Ronda Wolf - KindergartenRonda was born in Michigan, but moved to Arizona at 10 and is a true desert girl at heart. She was a "stay-at-home mom" while her three sons were growing up, was always involved in their schools, sports and Scouting (two of her sons are Eagle Scouts), and is now a proud Marine Mom (and a proud grandma of two). When her youngest son was a senior in high school, she became a teacher after earning her Bachelors in Elementary Education from the U of A. She has taught 3rd grade in Rio Rico and Kindergarten in Safford, and enjoys reading, quilting, and cooking, as well as collecting cookbooks from authors of children's books. Ronda is glad to be a part of the team at Great Expectations Academy and is looking forward to a wonderful year!
Jennifer Hall - 1st GradeJennifer moved to Arizona from Ohio, where she grew up. She met her husband, Brent, at a church conference and they were married on the one year anniversary of their first date. She has lived in many local communities, but has come to love Sahuarita in the 11 years she has lived in Arizona. Jennifer received her Associates Degree in Early Education from Pima Community College and a Bachelors in Elementary Education from Prescott College. She is an experienced Preschool and Kindergarten teacher and is looking forward to her second year teaching First grade at Great Expectations. In her free time she enjoys crocheting, knitting, scrapbooking, photography, baking and reading.
Janice Salerno - First GradeJanice was born and raised in Minnesota, but also lived in Tennessee, Wyoming and Michigan. After earning her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education at Bemidji State University in Minnesota, she taught kindergarten for a number of years. She moved to Arizona with her husband and daughter in 2001 and taught kindergarten in Rio Rico before moving to 1st grade at GEA where she taught for 5 years. She has also worked in the banking industry for 10 years. Janice and her husband now live in Green Valley where they enjoy swimming, line dancing, golf and other amenities. She is very much looking forward to teaching at GEA for the second half of this school year.
Dana Fitchlee- 2nd GradeBorn in Buffalo, New York, Dana attended Niagara University in Niagara Falls on a basketball scholarship. She graduated with a degree in Elementary Inclusion Education and Special Education in 2002. Traveling down the coast, Dana has spent the last two years teaching 3rd grade ESE in northeast Florida. Living her whole life on the east coast, Dana is excited to settle in the beautiful desert and mountains of Arizona. She loves art and spends her time sewing, knitting and creating 3-dimensional pieces out of found objects. Dana volunteers at Equine Voices horse rescue and enjoys yoga, mountain biking and traveling with her family. This is Dana's second year at Great Expectations and she looks forward to another eventful and fun filled year!
Monica Voorhees - 2nd GradeMonica Voorhees grew up in Illinois, and received a Bachelor of Science, in Fine Arts, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She spent five years teaching English as a second language, in Mexico City. She also spent nearly 20 years working in schools in Rio Rico, Arizona, including 10 years as a second grade teacher, as well as a year as a Literacy Facilitator. She is married, and has two children.
Ralette Cruse - 3rd Grade/Teacher MentorRalette hails from Connecticut and is the middle child of four daughters. She received her undergraduate degree in 1974 from Chicago State University and a Master’s Degree equivalent honor from the State of Maryland. Ralette has been teaching since 1985 and retired in Maryland in 2007, but returned to teaching one year later when she missed the interactions with children. Ralette has two grown children, Chris and Raleigh, who live in Maryland and are both married. Ralette is a devoted grandmother of 4 who delights in spoiling her grandchildren. She has written two children’s books, one about the Constitution and one about the Underground Railroad. Ralette loves traveling, spending time with friends and enjoying Arizona weather. She is an avid Red Hatter.
Ashley Gage - 3rd GradeAshley is from Bend, Oregon where she graduated from George Fox University with her Masters of Arts in Teaching. After receiving her Masters she was a substitute teacher for local school districts in the Bend area, working with kids from Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. Outside of teaching, Ashley enjoys playing volleyball, coaching volleyball, playing basketball, reading, and being active along with hanging out with family and friends. She is looking forward a wonderful year with the students and staff at GEA!
Sandra Hunt - 4th GradeSandra is originally from Phoenix but moved to Arkansas when she was in middle school. Before receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Arizona, she worked with Head Start and was a substitute teacher. Sandra is very excited about her seventh year of teaching at Great Expectations. She loves being around and working with children and seeing the smiles on their faces when they learn or accomplish something new. Sandra is married and has four children. She and her husband have lived in Green Valley for thirteen years.
Sandra Malcolm - 4th GradeSandra is originally from Houston but has visited and lived in many places including Germany, Holland, Iceland, England, California, and South Carolina. She has taught Fifth through Eighth Grades in addition to coaching boys’ and girls’ basketball and girls’ volleyball and serving as Student Council Sponsor for 3 years. This is Sandra’s eighth year teaching at Great Expectations.
Heather Brannock - 5th GradeHeather was born and raised in Tucson. She earned her Bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona in 2006. She has taught in Rio Rico for the past six years in both 3rd and 5th grades. Heather and her husband, Billy, have one daughter, Ryleigh, who is one. Heather enjoys reading, playing the violin, and volunteering in her church's youth ministry program. She is very excited for her first year at Great Expectations.
Rebecca Moore - 5th GradeRebecca is a native Tucsonan with roots going back to her great-grandmother. She now lives in Sahuarita and recently completed her Elementary Education degree from the University of Arizona. For the past 6 years she has been the Physical Education Instructor at GEA and she loved every minute of it. Rebecca is looking forward to moving into the classroom and beginning a new chapter in her teaching career. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising, working on her family scrapbook and spending time with her husband and two children.
Brian Supowit - 6th GradeBrian Supowit is a native Tucsonan with over 4 years of teaching 6-8th grade science and language arts in TUSD. He coaches middle school track and table tennis as after school programs along with developing MESA (math, engineering, science achievement) programs. He is an avid outdoor athlete who loves and plays on three soccer teams. He is very excited to start his first year at GEA and enhance the minds of today so they can be succesful and make a better tomorrow. Brian is happily married, with no kids as of yet, and enjoys long hikes in the beautiful Arizona mountains.
Christopher DeWildt - 7th Grade
Cassandra Sparrold - 7th GradeCassandra is a native Tucsonan and alumna of the University of Arizona with her Bachelors in English Literature and a Masters in Secondary Education from the University of Phoenix. She transitioned from the banking industry into teaching to enjoy building relationships within the classroom. She is a former caver, exploring many caves around Southern Arizona. She also has four cats and two dogs and spends her spare time reading, knitting and hanging out with her critters.
Aaron Szabo - 8th GradeAaron moved to Green Valley in 2006 from Santa Cruz, California. He attended San Jose State University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics with minors in Music and Spanish. Aaron spent many years working for Santa Clara County Probation Department and has recently started a new career in education. He enjoys working with adolescent students. Aaron also enjoys playing music and performs in several salsa bands in Tucson. This is his second year at Great Expectations Academy.
Tara Rayan - Science & Computer LabThis school year will be Tara's 8th year teaching the wonderful world of science. She has taught at bigger schools and always finds that real learning, understanding, and growth happens in the more family-like school settings. Tara always wants to learn and discover new things, especially with her students. She has just finished her Master’s Degree in Educational Technology and plans to continue her education in biology with specifics in heredity. Tara’s goal is to help the students at Great Expectations Academy excel in academics. She knows that goal can be reached by all of us joining together as a team to see that our children succeed.
Wayne Koelemeyer - Special EducationWayne moved to Tucson from Chicago in the fall of 1996 to enjoy the natural beauty that Arizona has to offer. Prior to teaching he served as a youth social worker, working with homeless and parentless children. Wayne has a Master’s Degree (Education) from the U of A. He likes to use his energy in an effort to promote socially responsive, child centered educational practices. He firmly believes that social justice can be enhanced through fundamental educational reform. As an educator he finds fulfillment when students can express joy, engage the world through social interaction, and can find or create solutions. During his free time he enjoys art, music, travel, sports, and wearing plaid.
Sophie Karakatsoulis - ArtMs. Sophie grew up in Duluth, MN where her family owns and operates Karakatsoulis Pottery. She went to the University of Minnesota, Duluth for a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education, and minored in Art History. Her favorite medium to teach is clay and she hopes to further develop the clay program at GEA. Sophie loves to travel and was fortunate to have the opportunity to teach art at an international school in Vietnam. She is inspired by music, art and culture from all over the world and loves to share this with her students. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, and going hiking with her husband and son. PIC COMING SOON!
Lisa Woods - Librarian