Our Teachers
St. Mary Academy teachers and faculty are wonderfully dedicated to their students and the school.
This shows such an impressive commitment of time, talent and treasure.
This shows such an impressive commitment of time, talent and treasure.
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Mrs. Rebecca Reynolds, B.Sc., M.A.
Principal rreynolds@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Reynolds is a graduate of Framingham State College in Massachusetts with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Early Childhood Education. She received her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership with a Catholic focus from Barry University in Miami, Florida. She is originally from Boston, Massachusetts and has lived in Florida for over ten years. She has more than twelve years of experience teaching, with eight of those years in Catholic education. She came to St. Mary Academy five years ago from her Assistant Principal position at St. Martha Catholic School in Sarasota, Florida. Mrs. Reynolds is newly married and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, especially at the beach! |
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Mrs. Julie Dapper, B.A., M.A,
Middle School Teacher jdapper@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Julie Dapper received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the College of St. Benedict, Masters of Arts degree in Curriculum and K-12 Reading Certification from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. She has 16 years of experience in Catholic Schools in 5th - 8th grades. She moved to Florida with her husband and three kids four years ago. She enjoys having fun with her family and friends and baking with her kids. She is very excited to be a part of the St. Mary's Academy community. |
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Mrs. Bonnie Dorigo
Teacher's Assistant bdorigo@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Dorigo received her Child Development Associate Credential from State College of Florida, and has earned her Director's and Administrator's credentials. She has served as a self-contained and personal aide in the Special Education Department at the high school-level in New York. She is a former Preschool Director and Pre-K teacher. Originally from Buffalo, she now calls Sarasota, home. |
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Ms. Rachel DeGarmo, B.A.
Physical Education Instructor rdegarmo@stmarthaschool.net Ms. DeGarmo received her Criminal Justice Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She subsequently returned to the classroom at State College of Florida to earn her teaching credentials. Ms. DeGarmo is a Wisconsin native and has lived in Florida since 2001. She has been employed by St. Martha School for over eleven years; this will be her eighth year with St. Mary Academy. |
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Mr. Derek Gualandri, B.A., L.D.T.
Middle School Teacher dgualandri@stmarysarasota.org Mr. Derek Gualandri was born in Lake Forest, Illinois back in the 70s , and the Blizzard of 1978 uprooted his family and they moved to beautiful sunny Sarasota. He attended public school in Sarasota from elementary school to high school. He is a proud graduate from Riverview High School, and played on the 1988 State Runner-Up Football team. Mr. Gualandri attended the University of South Florida earning a BA degree in Criminology and then a Masters in Education in Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University. Mr. Gualandri worked for the Sarasota County School Board as a teacher's aide, coach, and a teacher for over 15 years. He is a Florida-certified teacher, endorsed in Mathematics (Grades 5-9) and Exceptional Student Education (ESE K-12). He recently was married in 2015 at the Epiphany Cathedral Church in Venice. Mr. Gualandri will be assuming the responsibilities of our 8th grade homeroom, 6th, 7th & 8th Language Arts, 7th Math and Middle School Social Studies. |
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Mrs. Linda Hoffman, B.S.
Teacher's Assistant lhoffman@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Hoffman received her Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration at De Paul University. She worked for over 6 years in the Sarasota School District as an Autism Paraprofessional. Mrs. Hoffman is originally from Chicago (Go Bears and Cubs) but her family moved to Sarasota to escape the cold winters. Mrs. Hoffman enjoys the beach with her daughter Emma and her husband Mark. |
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Mrs. Sandy Julian, B.S., M.A.
Resource sjulian@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Julian earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (PreK-6) with a concentration in Mathematics as well as her Masters in Reading (K-12) from State University of New York at Fredonia as a Summa Cum Laude graduate. She has over 20 years experience in teaching reading and math intervention as well as several years experience as a classroom teacher in both public and private school settings. She loves to spend time with family and friends, and is a volunteer at InStride Therapy, Inc. Originally from Western New York, Mrs. Julian now happily resides in Sarasota. Mrs. Julian was the recipient of the 12th Annual Golden Halo Award as the "Teacher of the Year, Grade 6th-8th." This award is organized by the Christian Chamber of Southwest Florida. |
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Ms. Kris Myerson, B.A., M.Ed.
Elementary Teacher kmyerson@stmarysarasota.org Kris Myerson has a Masters in Elementary Education and Creative Arts in Learning from Lesley University. She is certified ESE K-12 in Florida and holds out of state certifications in General Special Education K-12, Special Education Administration, Elementary Teacher 1-6 and Elementary Principal PK-6. Kris specializes in technology and social communication integrated education and brings fourteen years of teaching experience grades K-12. Kris is newly relocated from New England and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, Church activities, and playing Celtic music. |
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Ms. Sherry Nicosia, B.A., M.S.
Middle School Teacher snicosia@stmarysarasota.org Ms. Nicosia received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Humanities from Georgian Court University in New Jersey. She subsequently returned to Georgian Court where she also earned her Teacher of the Handicapped. Just recently, Ms. Nicosia earned her Master of Science in Instructional Technology from Fort Hays State University, Kansas. She is a Florida certified teacher endorsed in English (5-9), Social Science (5-9), Elementary (K-6) as well as ESE (K-12). Ms. Nicosia has over 10 years teaching experience and is thrilled to be a part of St. Mary’s Academy family. |
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Mrs. Deb O'Shea
Music Teacher do'shea@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Deb O'Shea hails from Northwest Ohio and is thrilled to begin teaching Music at St. Martha and St. Mary School. As a former teacher and principal for 21 years, she has many years of experience facilitating the learning process with her students. Mrs. O'Shea has taught private piano and flute lessons for over 30 years. She has been the organist/pianist at various churches for over 30 years also. Her favorite instrument to play is a grand piano! Her bachelor's degree in elementary education master's degree in educational administration is from the University of Toledo. She firmly believes learning happens through the multiple intelligences and music is one of those! She looks forward to working with all students in the elementary age, as she has taught preschool students for 10 years and also directed musicals with 5th-8th graders. Mrs. O'Shea loves technology and is excited to bring that enthusiasm into her classroom. Her goal is to instill an appreciation of music into her students. Her favorite type of music to play and listen to is Contemporary Christian. Her husband's name is Tom and she has 4 children and 9 grandchildren. She has 4 siblings, one of which is close by in Florida! |
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Mrs. Shannon Parsons, B.Sc.
Occupational Therapist, OTR/L sparsons@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Parsons received her Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has 15 years of pediatric experience and had previously worked in the Illinois public schools, as well as a pediatric clinic. She has training in Sensory Integration, Handwriting Without Tears and Therapeutic Listening. Mrs. Parsons lives locally with her husband. |
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Mrs. Cathy Powers, B.S., M.A.
Elementary School Teacher cpowers@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Powers began her teaching career in New York after earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary from Pace University. She continued her studies at Iona College where she earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Powers has over 17 years of teaching experience and has taught in both Catholic and Public Schools. She is a Florida certified teacher with an ESOL endorsement. Mrs. Powers lives in Sarasota with her husband and two children. |
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Mrs. Julie Reboul, B.S.
Elementary School Teacher jreboul@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Julie Reboul was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. She attended the University of Florida where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders. She taught several years in Gainesville, Florida before having her three beautiful daughters Lauren, Alaina and Elisabeth. She is currently enrolled in the University of South Florida's graduate program for Communication Sciences and Disorders. Mrs. Reboul is active in volunteering at her children's school and was the co-chair of the St. Martha Crawfish Festival for six years as well as Vice President of the Parent Association. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends and of course, Gator football! |
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Mrs. Katie Rierson, M.A., M.A.,C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Communication, Speech and Language Pathologist krierson@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Katie Rierson received her Masters of Arts degree in Communication Disorders from the University of Central Florida. She holds a state of Florida professional license in speech and language therapy and teaching certification for K-12 with additional certification in Educational Leadership. She has 30-years of pediatric experience in speech and language pathology and had previously worked in the Catholic Diocese of Orlando, Orange County public schools, as well as a pediatric clinic. Mrs. Rierson has training in Linda Mood Bell, Story Grammar Marker and sensory integration. Mrs. Rierson lives locally with her husband and daughter. |
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Mr. A.J. Scheip, A.A.
Teacher's Assistant ascheip@stmarysarasota.org Mr. Scheip is proud to be part of the St. Mary's family. He comes with unique humanitarian and youth experiences. For a year, he served and lived with the marginalized in a Franciscan homeless shelter in the middle of the Bronx. In frigid Minnesota, he ministered at a domestic violence shelter's daycare as a child mentor. He has an AA degree from Florida South Western State College. As an alumnus of St. Martha, he certainly takes pride in assisting the children of St. Mary Academy. He prays that he is able to use his gifts to the best of his ability. |
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Mrs. Carol Shaffer, B.S., M.A.
Elementary School Teacher cshaffer@stmarysarasota.org Mrs. Shaffer has a Masters of Special Education from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from National Louis University; with an Associate’s degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Mrs. Shaffer joins us with over seven years of experience teaching in the public school system and holds a Florida teaching certificate endorsed in ESE, (K-12); and Elementary Education, (K-6). Mrs. Shaffer believes that healthy well educated human beings are the foundation of a sound society and is passionate about fostering students abilities both academically as well as emotionally. She is the mother of 4 children and enjoys cooking, reading and yoga on the beach. |
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Mrs. Natalie Smithers, B.S.
Resource Teacher nsmithers@stmarthaschool.net Mrs. Smithers is from Sarasota born and raised. She has a degree in Special Education from Georgia Southern University. Mrs. Smithers began teaching in 1999 and taught in Georgia and Florida. She is very excited to be a part of the St. Mary Family and blessed to have all three of her own children attending St. Martha’s. |
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Mrs. Christine Wyckoff, B.A.
Admissions Director and Spanish Teacher cwyckoff@stmarthaschool.net Mrs. Christine Wyckoff studied Spanish at Michigan State University and has been teaching for nine years. She grew up in Jackson, Michigan and moved to Florida several years ago. She loves the enthusiasm that the students bring to her class and believes that, while learning a second language can be intimidating, it should be fun, engaging and motivating. Mrs. Wyckoff teaches both St. Martha and St. Mary students. |