Miss Sierra Cook, Pre-K3 Lead Teacher	Ms. Sierra Cook is joining Hale Academy with 6 years experience in the Early Childhood Field. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Aside from teaching, she has enjoyed working with children as a summer camp director and counselor, tutor, and providing an Aftercare program for children. She is looking forward to a great year in K3!	Parent Conference Schedule: Thursdays 3:30-4:00
Ms. Phyllis Fillman, Pre-K3 Assistant	As a former assistant of Hale Academy’s kindergarten class for five years, Ms. Fillman now serves in the prekindergarten division. Her past experience includes 21 years of service working with children. She has two grown children and six grandchildren.	No Parent Conference Schedule.
Mrs. Kerry Day, Pre-K4 Lead Teacher	Mrs. Day is a Florida native who has lived in Marion County for 30 years. Before becoming an educator, Mrs. Day worked in a variety of fields including police dispatching for the Dunnellon Police Department, 911 operator in Stuart, FL and in restaurant management. For the past several years Mrs. Day has worked with children of all age ranges in local private schools including roles in the school library, and in both first and third grade classrooms. Mrs. Day holds a CDA (Childhood Development Associate) certificate and loves teaching and nurturing the four-year-olds at Hale Academy. She is a devoted wife and mother of two young children.	Parent Conference Schedule: Mondays 3:30-4:00
Ms. Susan Alligood, Pre-K4 Assistant	Ms. Susan Alligood has been with Hale Academy for the past 7 years and served many roles as an assistant in the lower school level and to Hale Academy’s equine program.  Ms. Alligood also assists Hale’s administrative team.Her son, Zachary, attends Hale Academy at the upper school level.  Ms. Alligood enjoys working with children and being involved in the horse community.	No Parent Conference Schedule.
Mrs. Tajai Kuhn, First Grade	Mrs. Kuhn earned her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Florida.  She has been teaching for eight years, the last two here at Hale.  She has been married to her husband for almost 23 years and they have three amazing children ages 16, 14 and 11.  When she is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies, reading mystery novels, and Gator football!	Parent Conference Schedule: Thursdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Jolene Troup, Second Grade	Mrs. Jolene Troup was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Miami, Florida. After moving to Ocala 7 years ago, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida. She is looking forward to achieving her Master’s Degree in Reading very soon. Mrs. Troup loves to travel all over the country, and enjoys boating and fishing. Although Mrs. Troup does not have any children, she enjoys spending time with her husband of 6 years and their Chihuahua. Mrs. Troup looks forward to challenging her students while encouraging them to strive for the best in a fun and safe learning environment.	Parent Conference Schedule: Thursdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Amy Sundheimer, Third Grade Teacher, Fourth and Fifth Grade Social Studies	Mrs. Amy Sundheimer recently moved back to Ocala after living in Nashville for 3 years. She and her husband wanted to move closer to family and friends. She graduated with a Masters in Education from The University of Florida in 2006. Mrs. Sundheimer has been teaching elementary students for the past 5 years. Mrs. Sundheimer has been married for 3 years and has an adorable daughter, Ella. She enjoys watching movies, golfing, going to restaurants, and watching Florida Gator football!	Parent Conference Schedule: Wednesdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Kate Burkholder, Fourth and Fifth Grade Language Arts	Mrs. Burkholder has 37 years of teaching experience and holds a master’s degree in Educational Media and a BA in Library Science/English. Among Mrs. Burkholder’s many experiences, she was a Sponsor for the “Gifted and Talented,” the “Battle of the Books,” and a Reading Tutor. She loves to travel and has been to 12 countries in Europe and to 51 states in the United States. Mrs. Burkholder is a voracious reader and loves learning and teaching. Previous to moving to Florida, she lived in Colorado for 25 years.	Parent Conference Schedule: Mondays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Danielle Pendleton, Sixth Grade Math, Fourth & Fifth Grade Math & Science, Third Grade Technology, Webmaster, and Technology Integration Specialist	Mrs. Pendleton was born and raised in Ocala. While attending Florida State University, she worked for the College of Business as both an Assistant to the Professors and a tutor. After receiving her BS degrees in Finance and Marketing with a minor in Art History, she returned to Ocala to start her career with Taylor, Bean and Whitaker as Marketing and Special Projects Manager. Since then, she has owned her own consulting firm, developed and maintained several large scale websites and been a Financial Specialist and Assistant Branch Manager with Regions Bank. She thoroughly enjoys teaching at Hale Academy and working with many different groups of students in the lower school! Mrs. Pendleton’s oldest son, Palmer, attends Hale Academy in the PreK division.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and sons, traveling, playing softball, swimming, reading, volunteering and photography.	Parent Conference Schedule: Wednesdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Trish Saskowski, Kindergarten Teacher, Lower School Curriculum Coordinator & Instructional Coach	Colleagues, parents and administrators describe Mrs. Patricia Saskowski as the ultimate teacher, a title earned for her years of professional teaching experience, honors bestowed, and academic accomplishments.Mrs. Saskowski (affectionately known as “Mrs. Ski”) has been named one of Marion County’s 13 top teachers and she was selected Golden Apple Teacher of the Year at Oakcrest Elementary School in 2004-2005. She earned her M.Ed. in Literacy in a Diverse Society from the University of South Florida and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education-early childhood from the University of Florida. Mrs. Saskowski serves as the 1st-5th grade division leader and oversees lower school curriculum development and assessments. Mrs. Saskowski is an expert at creating interdisciplinary units of instruction, planning curriculum to meet individual needs, evaluating students using various assessment tools, maintaining structure, and helping students resolve interpersonal conflicts.	No Parent Conference Schedule.
Ms. Jane Levine, Middle and Upper Civics, Constitutional Law, Russian Literature and World Geography	Ms. Jane Levine earned her BA degree in Slavic Studies from Brown University and her post-graduate teacher certification in Russian language from the University of Connecticut. She received permanent Florida certification in several subject areas. Ms. Levine has an extensive background in teaching at several levels, from elementary through adult. She also has extensive experience in social services, working in the area of disabilities, employment training, and epilepsy awareness. Besides teaching, Ms. Levine is passionate about American history, singing and teaching songs of other cultures, and greyhound rescue efforts. At Hale, she is known for her love of language and fine literature. Ms. Levine’s students benefit richly from her diverse background and accomplished teaching skills.	Parent Conference Schedule: Wednesdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Fabiola Ruiz, Middle and Upper Spanish	Senora Fabiola Ruiz was born in Colombia, South America. She received her Speech and Language Therapist degree from Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Senora del Rosario in Colombia, her home town. She later received a Specialist degree in Audiology from Universidad Iberoamericana. Although this is Mrs. Ruiz fourth year teaching, she comes to enrich the Spanish program at Hale with her cultural and Hispanic heritage.	Parent Conference Schedule: Thursdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Midori Storms, Spanish	Senora Midori Storms was born in Brazil, and as an adult, has lived in NH, VT, FL, Mexico and London. Has taught Portuguese to Japanese immigrants, English in an English teaching private school, Spanish and basic German in a High School in Vermont, general knowledge at Montessori Academy, and Spanish at Hale Academy since 2000. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, minor in German from Keene State College, and a Master’s degree in modern languages from the “Universidad Nacional de Mexico.” Senora Storms has traveled much in South America, USA, and extensively thru Mexico and Europe. In addition to her cultural background, she also brings to Hale a love for the students and teaching of Spanish. Each school day, she arrives at 6am to prepare for the day, and at 7:30 she is ready to assist new students, and other veteran students with their homework, study for the tests or clarify grammar issues. The students love her experiential approach to teaching. Starting from 1st grade on, they use Spanish gradually while getting involved in many cultural activities, such as preparing several different kinds of Spanish or Latin American dishes to enrich their vocabulary and taste for the foreign dishes. They love to do simple Fashion Shows, McDonald´s skits, bargaining in a “Mercado,” descriptions of shapes, colors, textures, tastes of fruit/vegetable/food tasting experiences, cultural exposure activities, and so on. These cultural activities help to add depth and breadth to their experiences of learning Spanish language and culture.	Parent Conference Schedule: Wednesdays 3:30-4:00
Mr. Kevin Troup, Music	Mr. Troup graduated top chair from Coral Reef Senior High in Miami where he was a member of the jazz marching circuit and ensemble.  Mr. Troup received numerous music scholarships and while in college, he taught private saxophone lessons.  Mr. Troup is a full-time driver, engineer, and paramedic for Marion County Fire and Rescue but still makes it a priority to find time to teach music at Hale Academy.  He is known for his ability to create music curriculum that is targeted and appealing to students of all ages.	No Parent Conference Schedule.
Mrs. Lorene de Aranzeta, Middle and Upper English, U.S. History and Studio Art	Mrs. Lorene de Aranzeta provides her students with a strong academic foundation in college level writing and a challenging environment, drawing upon her extensive background as a teacher, advisor with youth leadership opportunities.  Mrs. de Aranzeta has spent much of her teaching career at the middle and secondary level.  Traveling throughout Europe, Australia, Central and North America, Mrs. de believes it is vital to have a global perspective that includes service and appreciation of cultures, and these are elements she imparts to her scholars.  She has served as facilitator for the National Leadership Council, based in Washington, D.C.  Mrs. de Aranzeta holds a BA degree in Political Science from Stetson University and she earned her Master Teacher Certification through the University of Central Florida.  English, History, Etiquette, and Art are her areas of focus.  She is the producer and director of the annual musical by the HATS as well as the Student Ambassador Club.  Scholars in her English class are challenged with college level works and are taught and expected to write with passion and excellent communication skills.  Her interest in writing historical fiction has motivated her to write her first novel.  “I believe it is vital for scholars to have a moral conscience and learn not just to tolerate other cultures, but embrace them through service and responsible action,” Mrs. de Aranzeta.	Parent Conference Schedule: Thursdays 3:30-4:00
Mrs. Karen Puracan, Middle and Upper Science and Health	Mrs. Puracan spent her high school and college yeras in Dumaguate City, Philippines, attending a Filipino high school and college where her parents were professors. She earned a BS in Biology from Silliman University in 1993. She married her high school sweetheart, Jef, in 1993, and then took a post-graduate internship in the Philippines. Her daughter, Hannah, attends Hale Academy. Mrs. Puracan worked as a naturalist/environmental educator with the Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation in Pennsylvania from 1996 to 2010. She also worked as an outdoor education instructor at Black Rock Retreat from 1997-2010, and taught high school biology for a home school co-op from 2003-2008. Her hobbies include music (violin/fiddle, mandolin, guitar, learning harp) and textile arts, especially hand-quilting, knitting and crochet. Mrs. Puracan is very passionate about ecology and is an avid birder. She also loves insects, especially bees and wasps, and native plants.	Parent Conference Schedule: Mondays 3:30-4:00
Mr. Daren Johnson, Middle and Upper Math and Science, PE	Mr. Daren Johnson is known around the Hale campus as the cool teacher who likes snakes and critters. He is the first to admit that, yes indeed, he is partial to all things science – and math, too, for that matter. In addition to being a pioneer member of the Hale faculty, Mr. Johnson taught for one year at Nature’s Classroom, an outdoor education program with several locations in the Northeast. And he graduated from nuclear power school in the U.S. Navy, where he operated a nuclear reactor on a submarine for four years. In 2004, Mr. Johnson won the Henry Salvatori prize for Hillsdale College for excellence in education. Besides math and science, Mr. Johnson admits to being crazy about sports.  He runs half and full marathons in his spare time.	Parent Conference Schedule: By Appointment Only
Mrs. Cindy Marshall, Middle and Upper English, World History and Fine Arts Director of Admissions	Mrs. Cindy Marshall is a fireball of talents and energies, which she readily shares with both Middle and Upper School students. She holds a master’s degree in psychology with a specialty in school and clinical child psychology. She is a professional free-lance writer, has taught students of several levels and helped develop Hale’s popular READ program, which encourages students to read and love books.	Parent Conference Schedule: Tuesdays 3:30-4:00
Mr. Brian Eddy, Middle and Upper Technology	Bio Coming Soon!	No Parent Conference Schedule.

Hale Academy abides by all guidelines of the Ethics In Education Act of Florida. Therefore, all employees and agents of Hale Academy have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Failure to report such misconduct may result in penalties up to termination of employment and revocation of an educator’s certificate.