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Name: Stevi Bax
Grades: 3rd & 4th Degree(s): B.S. Biology (NAU) Montessori Cert. (NAMC) Email: SteviBax@fjacademy.com |
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I moved to Flagstaff in 1998 to attend Northern Arizona University and immediately fell in love with the high desert canyons and tight-knit community. I now consider Flagstaff my home. Throughout my years at Flagstaff Junior Academy I have been lucky enough to work with students in every grade, from the three year olds in the Children's House to the teenagers at the middle school. I absolutely love our school community and sincerely believe in FJA's commitment to the whole child. My diverse range of life and teaching experience has allowed me to develop into a comprehensive and understanding educator. From the extremely rural mountains of Alaska to the Phoenix inner city, I have taught science, dance, music, outdoor education and Montessori. Incorporating all of these experiences, I create a well-rounded, productive and peaceful classroom where my students can meaningfully learn, teach, experiment and embark upon the life-long quest for knowledge. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and daughter, playing music, dancing, reading, hiking and playing with our chickens. |
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Name: Tony Cola
Grades: 5th & 6th Degree(s): A.A.S. Wilderness Rec. Leadership Email: TonyCola@fjacademy.com |
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At NAU, I studied Parks and Recreation Management with an emphasis on Outdoor Education. I graduated in 2000, and travelled working seasonal jobs. In the summers, I worked as a whitewater kayak instructor, raft guide, backcountry ranger in Glacier National Park. In the winters, I worked as a counselor at several "Hoods in the Woods" facilities and also as a group home support staff for adults with disabilities. After travelling around for three years, I finally moved back to Flagstaff in the fall of 2003. I decided that I loved working in the outdoor industry, but I wanted something more stable. I loved working with kids and that is when I started working on my Master's Degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Biology. When I am not working I spend my time travelling and being outdoors with my dogs. I also enjoy my time restoring air-cooled Volkswagens. I am looking forward to a great school year. Please feel free to stop by the classroom to see what we are doing. |
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Name: Jen Conway
Grades: 1st & 2nd Degree(s): B.A. in Elementary Education (NAU) Email: JenConway@fjacademy.com |
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In previous years I have taught multi-age 1st/2nd grade classes at a Title I school here in Flagstaff. I have been a member of the FJA family since 2007. I plan to continue on building positive relationships with my students and am excited to be a part of such a productive learning community. I look forward to a year full of unforgettable experiences! |
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Name: Lindsay Creighton
Grades: K - 6th Courses Taught: Special Ed. Teachers' Aide Degree(s): B.A. in Elem. and Spec. Ed. (NAU) Email: LindsayCreighton@fjacademy.com |
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Hello! My name is Lindsay Creighton and I love being a part of the FJA family. My goals as an educator are to better myself and my teaching methods to benefit my students. I like to incorporate lessons for all learning styles. I plan to learn sign language and braille while getting my Master's degree. My personal motto is "Be positive!" There is so much to be happy about and putting yourself in a good mood makes each day better. I live with my boyfriend, Jeff, and our two dogs. We like to spend time in the forest with the dogs and hunt for big game. Jeff and I work out often and love to watch movies. I enjoy baking and make my own bread. I grew up in Phoenix with my parents and younger brother. We traveled each summer as a family and I have been to half of the 50 states as well as Canada and Italy! |
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Name: Marie Crook
Grades: 1st & 2nd Degree(s): B.S.B.M. (NAU) Montessori Diploma - Primary Email: MarieCrook@fjacademy.com |
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I have been married for 38 years to my husband Dwight. We have two sons and 5 beautiful granddaughters, two of which we are raising. My family and I moved from Norman, Oklahoma to peaceful Munds Park where we have lived for the past 15 years. Our two granddaughters that live with us have attended FJA, starting at the Children's House preschool program all the way through the middle school. The educational experience that our granddaughters received at FJA has been challenging, fun and rewarding. Working at FJA for the past 8 years has been a gratifying and fulfilling experience. Being part of the FJA staff is like being part of a family. We are all working towards a common goal, which is to provide a safe, challenging and universal education for each and every student at FJA. I prefer to use a student-orientated teaching style while using diversity to allow each student to learn and achieve success. I am always looking for new and fun ideas to incorporate while teaching the core curriculum. When I am not teaching I love to hike with my husband, our granddaughters and our two Australian Healers, Mollie Mack and Pumpkin Pie. I also enjoy traveling, reading, cooking, gardening, sew and making crafts. |
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Name: Barbara Dornan
Grade: Children's House Degree(s): AMS Montessori Cert. CMTE/NY Email: BarbaraDornan@fjacademy.com |
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I am the lead teacher in the Children's House with the 3-6 year olds. I have been with Flagstaff Jr. Academy since May of 2001. I truly love teaching the "Montessori" method and believe that a good Montessori foundation will stay with your child throughout his/her school years. I will work to create a beautiful, safe, and stimulating environment for your child and with your help we will form a community of caring, curious learners...and we'll have fun! Outside of school, I enjoy the outdoors (biking and gardening). |
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Name: Kristine Downard
Grades: K - 6th Courses Taught: Special Education Degree(s): B.A. Education (U. Tennessee) Email: KristineDownard@fjacademy.com |
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I have worked at FJA since 2007 and I absolutely love my job. Learning should be fun and exciting so I do my best to incorporate games, multi-sensory learning, and technology in my lessons. I am an honors graduate of the University of Tennessee. In addition I have graduate level certification in reading comprehension and fluency. Teaching stuggling readers to love books is one of my passions. I have called Flagstaff home since 1997. In my free time, I love to spend time with my husband Jeff and our three kids. We hike, camp, ski, run, climb and play on the water. I also love to spend sunny afternoons on the back of my horse! |
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Name: Marty Heilman
Position: Fitness/Wellness Degree(s): B.S. Physical Education (NAU) NASM Certified ACEu Certified Email: MartyHeilman@fjacademy.com |
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The class I teach is called Wellness Education with the focus on living a healthy lifestyle. After spending 25 years in the fitness industry, I try to make fitness fun and positive. I have worked as a trainer and instructor in many health clubs and have seen first hand the importance of living a healthy lifestyle how to make it a part of daily living. At FJA, we believe that health and wellness are very important aspects of daily living. We want our students to have the skills and knowledge needed to live a long, healthy life. My goal is for each student to understand the importance of living this lifestyle, to be aware of the consequences of being unhealthy and to find that wellness can be fun and makes us feel good. I strive to help students in: being active every day; in knowing which foods are healthy and which ones to avoid; in understanding why a balanced diet is important; in knowing the dangers of tobacco, drugs and alcohol; in understanding what it means to be a kind, compassionate, caring person, and in knowing why it's important to give back to the community and be part of the solution. By exposing our students to a wide variety of activities we hope that each student will find one that is fun, effective and they will do for the rest of their lives. A healthy body equals a healthy mind. |
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Name: Chris Hochuli
Grades: Children's House Degree(s): M.A. Applied Sociology (NAU) B.S. Sociology (NAU) Email: CHochuli@hochuli.com |
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I first starting working at FJA as a sub and became a full time aide in the Children's House in fall of 2009. My primary goal as an educator is to provide a safe, welcoming, and academic environment for all students in the Children's House. By doing, I hope to provide an efficient classroom for student learning. I am originally from Tucson, AZ where I was born and raised. I am a big fan of sports and comic books. |
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Name: Gina Lanzetta
Grades: 3rd & 4th Degree(s): M.Ed. (NAU) B.S. Applied Sociology (NAU) Email: GinaLanzetta@fjacademy.com |
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I love teaching 3rd/4th grade at FJA! There are many wonderful dynamics in a multi-age classroom, as well as the independent learning that occurs in a Montessori based classroom. My teaching philosophy proceeds from the principle that knowledge is woven into all disciplines, as well as interpersonal skills such as listening and cooperating. My teaching aims are to promote creativity, self-expression, and a life-long interest in learning, which flow naturally as students acquire basic competencies and are exposed to different experiences. Prior to teaching, I worked in the social services field with teenage mothers, juvenile delinquents, and children with developmental delays. My time away from school is spent with my daughters, my husband, and our dogs. We love to bike, swim, and spend time with family and friends. |
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Name: Jeremy Nelson
Grades: 1st - 6th Aide Degree(s): A.A. History (Santa Barbara CC) Email: JeremyNelson@fjacademy.com |
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I have a variety of goals for my students. Along with basic ones, such as continuing to grow and learn; I try and help the students become a responsible and self sufficient person. I love to help the students in any area of their education. As an educator my goal is to always remain open to criticism and change. I never stop learning and hope to continuously evolve as an educator. My personal hobbies are to stay active and play sports as much as possible. I love football, basketball, soccer and riding ATVs. I enjoy reading and my favorite authors are Stephen King, Ken Follett, and Christopher Moore. I am an avid movie watcher and enjoy many different kinds of films. I grew up in southern California, splitting time between my father who lived in Los Angeles and my mother who lived in Solvang, CA. These two cities are opposite ends of the city size spectrum so I am comfortable living in any type of setting. I have been lucky enough in my life to travel overseas twice and have experienced what life is like in many different states. My travel experiences have taught me to remain open and flexible and that the only thing in life you can't control is change. |
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Name: Carrie Nicklason
Grades: Children's House Degree(s): A.A. Visual Arts (Collins College) AGEC-A Elem. and Spec. Ed. (CCC) Email: CarrieNicklason@fjacademy.com |
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I consider all life's experiences, whether positive or negative to be great learning opportunities. I encourage all children to embrace erasers because they are a great resource during a teachable moment - not "mistakes." I am a strong advocate for the education of the whole child. I strive to help students achieve their individual potential while gaining confidence and independence. In the classroom I will honor each of your children for who they are as individuals. I thank you for trusting me to do just that. |
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Name: Kristin Patterson
Grades: 5th & 6th Degree(s): M.A. Elem. Ed. (NAU) B.S. Human Dev. (U.C. Davis) Email: KristinPatterson@fjacademy.com |
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I am extremely fortunate to be a part of a wonderful FJA community and I am looking forward to a fantastic year! My educational philosophy stems from the idea that we are all unique individuals with different strengths, interests, and learning styles. I strive to recognize my students' individual characteristics and create a learning environment that challenges them think critically. My goal is to foster a love of learning and encourage students to exceed their own expectations. I moved to Flagstaff to pursue my education but it is really the abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities that made this location such an attractive choice. I love spending time outside running, hiking, skiing, and climbing. The past four summers I've worked for the Forest Service on a wildland fire engine crew, which has provided an opportunity to see some amazing places around Flagstaff and the Southwest and learn more about the effects of fire on our forests and community. |
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Name: Dan Ruch
Position: Special Ed. Coordinator Degree(s): M.Ed. (NAU) M.F.A. Theater (U. Missouri) Drama Studio of London B.A. Theater (U. N. Colorado) Email: DanRuch@fjacademy.com |
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"Success is achieved by developing our strengths, not by eliminating our weaknesses." -Marilyn Vos Savant My primary aim as Special Education Coordinator is to help the students get the individualized practice to master the tools they need to be successful in school and in life. Special education can be a very confusing subject. I take great satisfaction in providing parents and teachers with the information they need to understand the system and give each child the education they need. I firmly believe that regular, healthy communication can solve most problems. So please never hesitate to call or e-mail with any questions or concerns you may have. I am a state certified special education teacher with a master's degree in elementary education from NAU. I'm married to a wonderful woman named Brenda. I have a terrific daughter named Cecilia and a fabulous son named William. Outside of school, I enjoy watching and making movies, photography, and stage combat. |
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Name: Wilson Thomas
Classes: 1st-6th Art 3rd-6th Music 7th-8th Band 7th-8th Drama 7th-8th Improvisation Degree(s): M.A. Edu. Leadership (NAU) B.S. Biology (NAU) Email: WilsonThomas@fjacademy.com |
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If you see me at school I probably have a smile on my face! I love my job. I have lived in Flagstaff since 1995 and I have been working at FJA since 2003. Outside of school I enjoy playing the saxophone, gardening, and hiking with my wife and two dogs. My art curriculum includes ceramics, printing, painting, sculpture, fiber-arts, drawing, mixed-media, and lots more. Our students have had their art on display all around town and can also be seen adorning the halls of our elementary school. My music curriculum includes learning to play the recorder, African drum and dance, singing, and music history/appreciation. The middle school drama program performs two full-length plays each year at the Coconino Center for the Arts. Some of the plays that we have performed include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, Snow White, and Sherlock Holmes. The list goes on and on! If you are an FJA parent who wants to help out with the plays come talk with me. |
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