Staff
& meet the NCLB Highly Qualified Standards
Cheryl Valantis: Principal, Media Specialist, Teacher of the Gifted, Curriculum Resource Teacher
Ms. Valantis has a Masters of Education degree from the University of Florida. Since 1989 she has been teaching library media and early elementary education. Her special areas of interests are teaching and interacting with students, music, performing arts, and children's literature.
Catherine Lawton: Office Manager, Teaching Assistant
Ms. Catherine has a Bachelor of Science degree and a Masters of Education degree from the University of Florida. She has been a substitute for the School Board of Alachua County for the past three years and will finish the requirements for the Florida teaching certificate in elementary education K-6 in the spring. Her special interests are her children, reading, and her butterfly garden.
Jennifer Whyte: Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Whyte has a University of Florida Masters Degree in Early Childhood Bilingual Education and a University of Florida Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a certification in ESOL (English as a Second Language). She has been teaching since 1992, and her interests include her students, multicultural children's literature, and Caribbean culture and music.
Sharon Kuchinski: First Grade Teacher, Dance Teacher
Ms. K teaches first grade. She also teaches the exciting dance and creative movement classes in our school. She has worked extensively with the Gainesville Association of Creative Arts (GACA) in all areas of fine arts. Ms. K. has been teaching the arts to young children since 1980. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and an Elementary K-6 teaching degree from St. Leo's College.
Annie Hallman: First Grade Teacher
Ms. Annie has a Bachelor's Degree in Special Education and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Florida.
Sharon Weissman: Second Grade Teacher
Ms. Sharon is the classroom teacher for our second grade. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Florida, and a Florida teaching certificate in Elementary Education.
Juniper Di Giovanni: Third Grade Teacher
Ms. Juni has a Masters Degree in Education. Her prior teaching experience includes all elementary grades, and middle and high school math. Her special interests are all of our students, music, (especially guitar), beading and crafts.
Amy Clay: Fourth Grade Teacher
Ms. Amy has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She teaches our fourth grade class, with a special focus on writing, Social Studies and Language Arts.
Aase Zori: Fifth Grade Teacher, Curriculum Resource Teacher for the Arts
Ms. Zori graduated from Odense Seminarian College in Denmark with a teaching degree. Her areas of special interests include her students, social studies, languages and fine arts.
Scot Davis: Drama, Chorus
Mr. Scot has had more than 16 years professional experience in drama and performing arts in Gainesville, He has worked in children's theater as a member of the Fable Factory. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida.
Sarah Hinds: Art Specialist
Ms. Sarah teaches art at Expressions. She has been a professional glass blower for 13 years, showing her work at art festivals and galleries throughout the southeast. Ms. Sarah also teaches a glass bead making course for the Community Education Program at Santa Fe College. In her spare time, she enjoys her two lovely children, gardening, and bee keeping.
Lee-Ann Laffey: Spanish Teacher
Ms. Lee-Ann teaches Spanish at Expressions. She has a Ph.D. in Spanish from Indiana University. Ms. Lee-Ann is also a parent of a child in our school.
Johanna Buis Weiss: Music
Ms. Johanna is a graduate of University of Victoria, B.C Canada and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education and is a certified K-12 Music Educator. Ms. Johanna teaches music theory, history, solfege, singing, recorders, and band at Expressions. Johanna has an after-school private winds and piano studio. She also performs with a local jazz band, Stardust, and Klezmer band, Klezmer Katz. Ms. Johanna has over 20 years experience as a music educator.
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