Colleen R.

Hi! I’m Colleen, a Sarasota native, proud mom of three, and happily married for eight years. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the State College of Florida and will complete my master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Reading in December 2025 from Florida Gulf Coast University.

This is my third year teaching in Sarasota County, and I bring over 10 years of experience in early childhood education including time as the director of my own program. I’m certified to teach PreK–3rd grade, hold both a Reading and ESOL endorsement, and have worked in classrooms across all elementary grade levels.

I’m passionate about helping children develop a lifelong love for reading and writing. I specialize in building strong foundational literacy skills and preparing scholars for structured writing tasks such as opinion and expository writing. Outside the classroom, I enjoy boating, crafting, and curling up with a good book. My goal is always to nurture confident, curious learners through engaging and supportive instruction.

Sally C.

Sally has a Master’s of Education degree and has been a teacher in Sarasota for 11 years. She has expertise in Social Science grade 6-12 and experience teaching Reading, and English Language Arts.

Sara B.

My name is Sara. I am a lover of learning, an English teacher, and a mother of 4 little ones. As a classically trained educator, I have taught for the last 10 years in public and private schools. I have taught in every educational environment, and to students from grades pre-k through freshman in college. I am certified in Reading K-12, and in English 6-12. I have taught every level of English; grammar level math; and foundational Spanish and French.

In addition to speaking and reading Spanish academically, I have taught introductory Spanish and French to young children. I consider myself a lover of languages, and am always looking to personally further my linguistic knowledge. I also consider myself a bit of an anthropologist; I love studying various cultures! Combining my love for teaching with my understanding of languages and cultures allows me to reach my students at a deep learning level and make meaningful connections, both personally and intellectually.

Thomas R.

Thomas R. is a Ph.D. student in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in wireless communications. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Electrophysics from Linköping University in Sweden, where he is originally from.

Thomas has over four years of experience as a teaching assistant at the university level, supporting instruction in various engineering courses. He has also provided tutoring in both Sweden and the United States, including after-school support while working as a youth leader. In addition to his technical and teaching background, he is fluent in spoken Spanish.

Outside of academics, Thomas enjoys spending time with his family, watching ice hockey, and staying active through ball hockey, volleyball, and

Allison A.

Allison A. earned her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Quinnipiac University and is certified to teach in CT, SC, and FL. After her fifth year of teaching, she was nominated for the Presidential Award in Excellence for Math and Science Teaching (PAEMST) given to teachers who are recognized for being the best in STEM education – demonstrating deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable student success.

Allison was recognized for having exceptional Classroom Management skills, and has hosted many Professional Development workshops on the subject over the years. She believes it is very important to build relationships based on mutual trust and respect with each individual student. Having this foundation is crucial for a positive and effective learning environment. One that fosters motivation, engagement, and ultimately leading to improved student outcomes.

Allison believes in creating inquiry-based instruction for students. When students are immersed in the subject using hands-on and exploratory methods, they learn at a deeper level. Allison utilizes manipulatives, games, songs, and online platforms to create scaffolded, differentiated, and purposeful lessons.

Fun Fact – Allison races sailboats. She competes in long-distance, open-ocean races around the world.

Kathleen K.

Kathleen is a 5th year teacher with a M.Ed in STEM education. Whether you’re struggling with basic concepts like cell structure and genetics, or diving into more complex topics like ecology, evolution, or biochemistry, I am here to guide you every step of the way. With an undergraduate degree in sports medicine, she has a strong understanding of anatomy and physiology, while also having a strong background in botany and environmental science. She enjoys studying the environment, especially the ocean habits of the marine life here in Florida. Her strengths in teaching for us on advanced placement biology, anatomy and physiology, and all levels of environmental science. She has a strong focus on project based and inquiry learning and works hard to have learning fun!

Lucy N.

Lucy is passionate about fostering an inclusive and engaging learning environment, believing in the power of structured support and encouragement to help students reach their full potential.

She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the Greenwich School of Management in London, United Kingdom. With 20 years of experience in corporate and educational coaching, mentoring, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her teaching practice.

Her expertise spans multiple disciplines including, English Language Arts, Business and Law, and Cambridge International. She is skilled in guiding students to develop effective study strategies, time management skills, and critical thinking abilities. She is especially passionate about connecting learned skills and knowledge to real-world applications, believing this approach is essential for maximizing students’ educational motivation and success.

Outside the classroom, Lucy enjoys supporting her three children in their various sporting endeavors, fitness and nutrition, and exploring culinary delights.

Alexandra W.

With a solid foundation in research and education, Alexandra brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the field of science education. She has served as a secondary science educator across various institutions including virtual education. Her expertise spans multiple disciplines, including Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Environmental Science. In addition to her teaching experience, Alexandra has a robust research background in the biomedical field, with published works in molecular biology and cancer research journals.   She has successfully guided students through honors and advanced placement science courses and nurtured a passion for scientific inquiry, mentoring student researchers and advancing students to state science and engineering fairs. Committed to fostering an inclusive learning environment, Alexandra emphasizes growth mindset strategies while implementing organizational, time management and knowledge retention practices with her students, ensuring that science is accessible to students of all abilities.  Outside of science education, Alexandra is an equestrian coach and enjoys spending time with her family exploring all things outdoors on the beautiful west coast of Florida.

Richard M.

Richard Maloon has a proven track record in education. He earned his Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Elementary Education and later his Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) with a focus in Curriculum & Instruction. He has taught all grades 1 through 9, spending most of his time with grades 4 through 8. He taught for 14 years and served as a private school principal for 23 years. Mr. Maloon also had a career as a national certified consultant for MicroSociety, Inc., a successful, real-world school reform model. He was the consultant for many public schools in the southeast United States. He is very adept at teaching math, social studies, science, and English, and has been recognized for his creative approaches to teaching concepts and skills. He is considered by many to be a master teacher. He also was a school-wide program coordinator for implementing MicroSociety; his school was featured in many periodicals and on prime-time television. He has had an article published for a professional journal and has been a presenter at teacher conventions as well. Besides this, after school he has coached soccer, sponsored a chess club, and started a robotics tech club in many of his schools, taking teams to the finals in Lego Robotics. Mr. Maloon also enjoys traveling, being in nature, and learning more about neuroscience.

Rebecca V.

Rebecca Vogdanos is a licensed teacher holding professional education certifications in the states of Illinois and Florida. She earned a Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Northeastern Illinois University, and began teaching six years ago starting in Des Plaines, Illinois, and has been teaching in Sarasota County since August of 2024. She is a perpetual student and will next pursue an endorsement in reading and literacy in the fall of 2025.

Her love of education was realized in 2012 when her two children were little and she became involved in homeschooling cohorts in Chicago and neighboring suburbs. That is when she developed her teaching method—Constructivism, which emphasizes active learning and peer collaboration through exploration and real-world experiences, and builds upon prior understanding in a way that captures the interests of children.

She accepts challenges with vigor and has very effective strategies in reaching what sometimes seem to be impossible goals, proving that she successfully meets the needs of each and every student.

A few fun facts
● She has traveled the planet and has lived in Tunisia and Greece, which enabled her to find creative and successful ways to communicate with non-English speakers.
● She is an active member of the local community and practices
philanthropy daily with her children.
● She is adventurous and has been a leader of the Adventure Club at her children’s
school. This experience has enabled her to teach survival skills, provide necessary tools
for social-emotional growth, and how to critically think.
● Her life revolves around art. She and her family are very creative and incorporate art into
everything they do, from food presentation to interdisciplinary studies, and everything in between.