Moss Park Elementary Teachers and Staff Biographies Table of Contents Ordered Alphabetically by Last Name Please click on letter to jump to desired page A ...... 2 B ...... 2 C ...... 3 D...... 4 E ...... 4 G ...... 5 H ...... 6 J ...... 6 K ...... 6 L ...... 6 M ...... 8 P ...... 9 R ...... 10 S ...... 10 T ...... 10 V ...... 11 W ...... 11 Z ...... 12

Kathie Adams Hello! I was born and raised in Yonkers, New York until the age of 15 and then moved to Hollywood, . My husband of 40 years and I raised our children in Davie, Florida. We followed our children and their families to Orlando 12 years ago. My son Dean and his wife Shiloh have 4 sons, Blake, Peyton, Dean James (DJ) and Zane. My daughter Kristen and her husband Jeff have a daughter, Halle and a son Jake. I thoroughly enjoy spending time with my family and attending my grandchildren’s extra-curricular activities. I have worked within the school system for the past 32 years and this will be my 10th year at Moss Park as your front office clerk. I look forward to another exciting year at Moss Park.

Joseph Agosta Hi! My Name is Joe Agosta. I’ve been the cafeteria manager here at Moss Park Elementary for the last 3 years. I grew up in Brooklyn New York. I have an AA degree in Business from Valencia and studied culinary arts at Southeastern academy. I have worked in Universal studios for the last 20 years along with owning an Italian restaurant for 4 years. I have a wife and 2 children. I love Traveling, and collecting autographs. I love working here at Moss Park Elementary and look forward to the 2013-2014 school year.

Stacy Ayala Hi! My name is Stacy Ayala. I was born and raised here in Orlando, FL! I attended Saint John Vianney from K to 8th grade, graduated from Cypress Creek High School, and received a BA in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida. I am a National Board Certified Teacher. This will be my twelfth year teaching in the primary grades. I live with my wonderful husband Angel, our sixth year old son Mason, three year old son Nicolas, and last but not least, our thirteen year old dog Sekou. I'm a HUGE sports fan (Go49ers!!!), love to travel, and spend time with friends and family. I’m looking forward to another exciting year at Moss Park Elementary-Go Eagles!!!

Amy Beaudet Welcome Kindergarten Eagles! Hi, my name is Amy Beaudet and I am looking forward to another great year at Moss Park! I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. I graduated Boone High School and went on to where I earned my degree in Primary and Elementary Education. This will be my 19th year teaching Kindergarten in Orange County and my 10th year at Moss Park. My husband Jason and I have two amazing boys: Cody (5) and Zachary (9 months). I love music and traveling. In my spare time I like to scrapbook, get crafty and spend quality time with family and friends. I am so excited about starting this year with you!

Arnita Blue Dedicated, Jubilant, Football, Motorcycles, Blessed, Traveling, Family, Unique, and Easy-going are just a few words that describe me, Arnita Blue. I am a graduate of Pensacola Christian College. I am from Ft. Myers, FL. I enjoy working with children and I absolutely enjoy teaching. I have been in this teaching profession for about 17 years. I am excited to become a part of the Moss Park Eagle family. All Aboard!!

Cindy Boyer I am a native of Ohio, go Buckeyes! I married my high school sweetheart, Steve, an electrical engineer and his work took us to Kansas, North Dakota and finally Orlando for 27 years. Being a mom is my greatest joy in life! My son Brandon is a Tech Rep at Lake Weston Elementary and my daughter Lindsay is married to a United States Marine. She is the mother of my beautiful grandchildren, Kaley 7, Jacob 5, and Emma 2. She will begin nursing school this year in Pittsburgh. Did I say I love being a grandma!! My husband and I enjoy traveling, sometimes on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. My hobbies include scrapbooking, photography and rubber stamping. I look forward to another incredible year at Moss Park.

Carolyn Bonadonna My name is Carolyn Bonadonna and I am a Kindergarten teacher here at Moss Park Elementary. This will be my third year teaching Kindergarten and fourth year teaching overall. I have been working at Moss Park Elementary since 2012 and absolutely love it here! I love to be active within the school, and participate in the wonderful events and festivities that go on at the school. I graduated with my B.A. degree in Elementary Education in 2011 from the University of Central Florida. Go Knights! If you are new to Moss Park Elementary have to fear because it is a great place to be. For those families returning, welcome back! I hope you and your families have a fantastic school year!

Giovanna Bravo Hello! My name is Giovanna Bravo. I was born and raised in Colombia (South America), I moved to the USA after finishing college. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering in 2002. I live with my husband, our two boys and our beagle dog "Loopy". I have been employed by OCPS since 2003. I worked as a Classroom Paraprofessional and Physical Education Paraprofessional before I became a Technology Support Representative. I absolutely enjoy helping teachers, students and staff members with their technology needs.

Caroline Cail My name is Caroline Cail and I am excited to be beginning my seventh year teaching. I have taught Kindergarten for five years and first grade for a year. I am delighted to be co-teaching first grade this year with Mrs. Comer! I grew up in Ohio. I moved to Florida 14 years ago. I graduated from UCF. I am also ESOL certified. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Bill. We have two small children, William and Sophia. I enjoy camping and spending time at Disney with my family. I look forward to a fantastic year with you and your child!

Eric Cantrell I am entering my 12th year as a school principal and 24th year in education. My two Bachelor’s degrees are from Capital University and UCF. I hold a Master’s degree Florida State University and a Doctorate degree from Nova Southeastern University. My immediate family is large as I am married with four children, three being adults in their twenties. We have two dogs and I enjoy watching sports, traveling, movies and spending time with family.

Heather Comer My name is Heather Comer and I am excited to be beginning my ninth year teaching. I have taught Kindergarten for eight years and I am delighted to be co-teaching first grade this year with Mrs. Cail! I was born and raised in Orlando and graduated from Boone High School. I then completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Kindergarten Primary at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. I am also ESOL endorsed. I was blessed to have met my wonderful husband, Scott, at Florida Southern. When I’m not teaching I enjoy going to the beach, reading, watching movies, and traveling. I also enjoy spending time with family and friends. I look forward to a fantastic year with you and your child!

Veronica Coral Hi! My name is Veronica Coral and I will be co-teaching with the fabulous, Mrs. Carolyn Rosevear. I am originally from Peru, but have lived not only in Peru, but also Canada and finally the United States. I graduated with a BA in Early Childhood Education from Florida International University in Miami, FL. I will be entering my 9th year teaching and my second year teaching at Moss Park. I am very excited to be your child’s teacher, and glad to be coming back to Kindergarten. I look forward to working and helping your child through his/her first year in school!

Linda Craft Hi Eagles! My name is Linda Craft. I was born in New York, but grew up in Seminole County. I attended the University of North Florida in Jacksonville and earned my BA in elementary education. I earned my master’s degree in exceptional education at the University of Central Florida. I have been teaching in Orange County for nineteen years and am very excited to be a part of the second grade team here at Moss Park Elementary. I live with my husband, Adam, our high school daughter, Rebecca and our two dogs, Freedom and Tiger. I love to spend time with my family, travel, and listen to all types of music.

Bill Dean I will start my ‘lucky 13th’ year teaching 5th grade and very honored to be here at Moss Park. A 6th generation Floridian, I attended UCF, USF, and . I worked as a television news producer for several years before entering teaching and moved a lot while working for major news outlets including: CNN, FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC. Last year, I was named one of Florida’s High Impact Teachers, and have been ranked in the TOP 20% of Florida Teachers. I am most proud of my work moving an Orange County TITLE ONE school from an ‘F’ to an ‘A’ in only two years. I am very dedicated and competitive with my job! Outside of school, I love exploring Central Florida destinations and hanging out with close friends and family.

Samantha DenBoer Hi! My name is Samantha DenBoer, and I am so excited to be kicking off another year here at Moss Park Elementary! I was born and raised in northern Michigan, and received my degree in Elementary Education from Central Michigan University. In my free time I LOVE To travel, be anywhere near the water, and just be outdoors! I am looking forward to a great school year!

Julie Devine Hi, my name is Julie Devine and I will be joining the 5th grade team this year at Moss Park. I have taught in Orange County Public schools for 7 years. I have previously taught in California, Germany and Utah, where I was born. I am certified in Elementary Education, ESOL and I have my reading endorsement. I live in St Cloud with my two sons, two cats and one dog. I am looking forward to an exciting year of discovery and learning.

Pamela Eck My name is Pamela Eck. I have been teaching for 18 years; 5 years in a 2-5 yr old Montessori school, three years as an OCPS substitute, (that is when I realized I wanted to teach full time!), 8 years in 5th grade, and 2 years in third grade as an OCPS teacher... I love children and teaching! I believe that every child is gifted at something, and needs help in something else. I enjoy being a foster parent, the gulf coast beaches, chocolate, and the colors pink and green. I also love animals! I am very excited to be in fifth grade again this year, and can’t wait to begin our journey together! One of my favorite quotes is by Bill Nye…. “Science is the key to our future, and if you don't believe in science, then you're holding everybody back.”

Ashley Emerson Hi Moss Park Eagles! My name is Ashley Emerson and I am so excited to be teaching second grade again for the sixth time! Although I have been teaching for ten years, each year is a new and exciting experience and I cannot wait to get to know each of my new little Eagles and their families. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about myself. I am actually one of the rare and few "Florida Natives" born and raised here in the Sunshine State! Although I grew up in the Orlando area, I spend a lot of time traveling to Tampa and Gainesville where I am so fortunate to have most of my extended family currently living. Central Florida is my home. I am a second generation teacher and am blessed to have my mom now volunteering in our classroom since she has retired. You’ll love attending our wonderful school programs and are invited to volunteer in my classroom as often as your schedule permits. I also have a (younger) sister, Sarah, and a very sweet 14 year young Chocolate Lab named Bailey. My degree from the University of Central Florid is in Elementary Education, and I excelled as a member of the National Honors Society. I love being with my amazing family, friends and dog. In my spare time, I love sleeping in, waking up to a Starbucks coffee, boating, the beach and snuggling with my dog. I know this is going to be an exciting year and look forward to sharing it with you and your child. I’m proud to be part of the Moss Park Family!

Maritza Garcia-Jenarine Hello Eagles! My name is Maritza Garcia-Jenarine, better known as Mrs. Jenarine. I am in my third year at Moss Park Elementary as a Kindergarten teacher. I was born and raised in New York City and moved to Orlando with my family 17 years ago. I attended New York University in New York City and finished my degree in Marketing at the University of Phoenix. I have over 15 years of experience in the educational field and am certified as an Elementary K-6th grade teacher. I have taught Kindergarten for the last two years at Moss Park Elementary directly under the mentorship of Amy Beaudet. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for 20 years and we have two wonderful daughters Sadie ( 17) and Katie(7). Sadie is a senior at Lake Nona High School and Katie is a 3rd grader at Moss Park Elementary. We love our community and our schools! In my spare time I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends and going to the beach. I am looking forward to an exciting new year in Kindergarten!

Lesia Griswold Hello, my name is Lesia Griswold. I am originally from Tennessee. (Go Vols!) I received my BS degree in Early Childhood Elementary Education from East Tennessee State University. This will be my 31st year of teaching grades K-2. All but one of these years have been in the state of Florida. I have been at Moss Park Elementary since the school opened in 2007. During this time I have taught kindergarten and first grade. When I’m not teaching I enjoy spending time with my husband Alan at our little piece of paradise at our river house in New Smyrna Beach on the Intracoastal Waterway and traveling. I’m happy to be a part of the Moss Park Elementary family and I’m thrilled to be teaching first grade again. I’m sure together we will have a wonderful and exciting year.

Cristy Grube I am so excited about my second year in first grade. This will be my 23rd year teaching and 10th year at Moss Park. I have taught first, second, third, and fourth grade over the years. I graduated from the with a Master's Degree in education and Specialist Degree in leadership. I have been married 22 years and have a son, Steven, who is a sophomore at Lake Nona High School this year. I look forward to working with the first grade team to make this a successful school year for the students (and parents). I am truly looking forward to an exciting and adventurous school year, while revisiting the places we’ve been and getting excited about the places we will go!

Jennifer Hart Hi, my name is Jenny Hart. This is my 14th year teaching in Orange County and my 4th year at MPE. I was born in Orlando and attended Conway Elementary, Conway Middle, and Boone High School. I attended UCF where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and to obtain a Master of Education in Reading. I am a certified Reading Specialist, and I love teaching! My husband, Daniel and I have 2 wonderful boys that keep us very busy with outdoor activities and . Some of my favorite things are spending time with family, reading, going out on the water, shopping, and watching my boys play baseball! I absolutely love Florida and the Moss Park community, my home!

Jessica Hyland Hello Eagles! My name is Jessica Hyland and I am a first grade teacher. This will be my seventh year of teaching. I have taught both Kindergarten and first grade. I went to the University of Central Florida twice and received my undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education and my Masters in Reading Education. Other than being very passionate about teaching, I love going to the beach, taking bike rides, reading, yoga, crafting, and playing music. I’m so excited to be teaching your student in first grade! It is going to be a fabulous year at Moss Park! If you have any questions please feel free to e-mail me.

Diana Jacobacci Greetings Eagles! I am so glad to be SOARing into my eighth year at Moss Park Elementary! I will be co- teaching second grade with my wonderful friend Mrs. Ayala. She and I have known each other for over ten years and I know we are going to have an outstanding year with our students. I am originally from New York, and am a graduate of New York University. This will be my 16th year of teaching and in that time, I've taught kindergarten through third grade, been a Drama teacher, directed 8 school musicals, achieved National Board Certification, and made great memories with the wonderful children and teachers I've worked with. In my spare time I love spending time with family, friends, and my three (furry) kids, and reading. I have annual passes to all the area theme parks and visit them often! In addition to teaching second grade here at MPE, I am also the proud director of the Moss Park Players and am constantly amazed by the great talent we have here at Moss Park. Here's to an incredible year Eagles!

Julie Kress Mrs. Kress grew up in Orlando and attended Boone High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1995. Mrs. Kress has been teaching for 19 years. She began in private school and joined OCPS in 2001 as a teacher at Southwood Elementary. After 11 years at Southwood, Mrs. Kress came to Moss Park Elementary in 2012. Last year Mrs. Kress was recognized by the state of Florida’s Commissioner of Education for being a High Impact Teacher. She is married and has 2 children. Her oldest son is a junior at Lake Nona High School, and her daughter is a seventh grader at Lake Nona Middle School. She is an active member of the community and has a passion for wellness and fitness. She works part-time at the YMCA after school teaching group exercise classes. Her favorite hobby is competing in . You have probably seen her running around the neighborhood, training for her next race! Heather LaFave Hello! My name is Heather LaFave and this will be my seventh year at Moss Park. I was born in Champaign, Illinois, but grew up in South Florida. I earned my undergrad in Digital Media from the University of Central Florida. I became a certified teacher in 2010 when I started teaching kindergarten at Moss Park Elementary. I enjoyed 4 years as a kindergarten teacher and, after going back to UCF for my Master’s in Educational Leadership, I became the math coach at Moss Park. I love working with teachers to build classrooms experiences that inspire curiosity and encourage students to work with each other in order to solve problems. I’m married to my best friend and we have 2 fun-loving dogs. I enjoy being outdoors, practicing aerial silks, and traveling. I am looking forward to another great year at Moss Park! Samantha Langford Hi! My name is Samantha N. Langford and I teach art here at Moss Park Elementary. I graduated from Green State University and I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. My husband, Vernon, and I moved to the Sunshine State circa 2011. We have two of the most adorable dogs on this planet, Sochi and Denali, our dynamic husky duo. With them, our lives are full to the brim with fun and shenanigans, coupled with a love of adventure and delicious food. Art for me is an outlet. With art, you can let out all of your angst, happiness, sadness, and dreams to share with the world. It’s an incredible gift to be able to see things in so many different ways and to show the world exactly what you are about, with a stroke of a pencil or brush. Art, like life, is messy, outside the lines, colorful, loud, innovative, moving, and jam-packed with imagination. This is what I love to help unleash in our kids. It is absolutely true that most people only dream of meeting their favorite artists, yet I get to TEACH mine! I look forward to another great year with Moss Park’s young artists!

Scott Lohman My name is Scott Lohman, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Moss Park staff and family! I was born and raised right here in Orlando, Florida. I graduated from the University of Central Florida, and have professional certifications in Physical Education K-12, Elementary Education K-6, and Educational Leadership K-12. I received my Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership K-12 from the . It is my goal and objective to teach lifelong healthy habits and nutritional values to all of our students, while having fun with playing games and sports. I personally enjoy all sports, spending time with family, movies, music, and traveling. I look forward to a wonderful school year!

Gladys Limon My name is Gladys Limon. I am privileged to be in my six year at Moss Park Elementary as the secretary/ bookkeeper. I helped open this school and I love this school and my job. I am married to Jose we have two wonderful kids Joshua and Raquel. We enjoy spending time at the beach. I am active in my church. I am looking forward to another exciting year at Moss Park.

Joe Ann Lys Hello my name is Mrs. Lys. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Moss Park family. I have been employed by OCPS for several years. I have a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Nova University. I have worked in three different capacities since joining the OCPS family. Teaching kids to love learning is my number one priority. When I'm not teaching you can find me on the course, attending church or volunteering in my community. I am looking forward to serving this community for years to come.

Pamela Lucas Hello! My name is Pamela Lucas. I teach 4th grade in a co-taught classroom. I am from Illinois, where I graduated from Illinois State University. I moved to Orlando in 2001. This will be my 14th year with OCPS and my first at Moss Park. I am very excited to be a part of the Moss Park Elementary community. I have lived in this area for five years and just love it! I have been happily married for 17 years and have 4th grade twins, Joshua and Hannah. We also have two Yorkies named Angelo and Wilson. My family and I are really looking forward to our first year at Moss Park!

Janelle Marazon It is exciting that we will continue to strive to go above and beyond this year at Moss Park Elementary! I was born and raised in Orlando graduating from Edgewater High. I attended UCF where I earned my Bachelors in Elementary Education and Masters in Reading Education K-12. I have one daughter, Jacquelyn, who is in her 2nd year of high school. In my spare time, I love to garden or read. I have taught 4th grade for 13 years. After taking a short and wonderful tour in 2nd grade during 2010-2011, I will continue to teach 4th grade this year. I am eager to start in the fall. I am so excited to be a part of Moss Park Elementary where we will continue to learn and grow together.

Betsy Martin Hi, my name is Betsy Martin. I have been teaching for OCPS for 21 years. This is my fourth year at Moss Park. Moss Park is the most amazing school with such dedicated teachers, parents, and students. I have been married to my college sweetheart for over 37 years. We have a daughter, Hillary, who teaches language arts at University High School and a son who is an air traffic controller in San Diego. We have three grandchildren, Bailey is 6 years old, Sloane is 2 and a half, and Wyatt is also two and a half. I love teaching and spending time with children. Children are true miracles. When I’m not teaching, you will find me on my boat at the Ft. Pierce City Marina. I am looking forward to another wonderful year at Moss Park with you and your child!

Angela Michael Hello! My name is Angela Michael and I am honored to be the Media Specialist at Moss Park Elementary. I received my Masters in Library Science from Florida State University in 2005. After two years working as a public librarian I realized my true passion was to work with children. I have been a media specialist with OCPS since 2007. I love spending time with my family! My husband John and I have been married for 10 years and we have a beautiful 4 year old daughter named Hannah and our expecting our second baby girl at the end of August. I look forward to a wonderful and exciting year!

Lindsay Moll Hello Moss Park Eagles, my name is Lindsay Moll! I am a 2nd grade teacher here at MPE and I have previously taught both Kindergarten and First Grade. I received my Bachelor’s Degree from Florida State University and my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, along with my ESOL and reading endorsements, from the University of Central Florida. I love this community and have lived in the Lake Nona area since 2006, but I am originally from Fort Walton Beach, FL. I have been married to my high school sweetheart, Kevin, for the past 13 years and we have a loving and lively 2-year old son named Logan, and two weimaraners “puppies” Ruger and Gracie. When I am not teaching I love cooking, crafting, spending time with my family at the beach or traveling somewhere new! I am so excited to be your child’s teacher and I look forward to the wonderful year ahead!

Sarimar Moreira Hi Eagles!!! I’m Sarimar Moreira, Registrar at Moss Park Elementary. I was born and raised in “La Isla del Encanto”, Puerto Rico. I moved to Orlando 26 years ago and loved it. I have 3 wonderful children: Sarymar, Shardine and Karlo. I also have 3 beautiful grandchildren: Jahdiel, Sabella and Nael, love them so much. I love spending time with my family and friends.

Misti Partridge Hello! My name is Misti Partridge. I graduated from University of Central Florida in 2006. This is my 11th year of teaching and really enjoy meeting new students every year! I have taught 2nd, 3rd, and 5th. I was born in Florida, raised in Texas, and finished high school in New Hampshire. It’s fun to learn about new places. I married my best friend in 2009. We have two beautiful children. My son Jacoby is 5 years old. My daughter Tenli is 3 years old. They both keep me very busy outside of work! I also have two dogs, Youkie and Ripley. We are huge New England sports fans, so I love the Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots, and Bruins. We try to make it to at least one game a year. I am looking forward to a wonderful year in 2nd grade!

Tammie Peters Today a reader, tomorrow a leader! My name is Tammie Peters. I was born and raised in Ithaca, New York. I graduated from the State University of New York at Cortland with a Bachelors of Science degree in Education, a minor in Biology and a Masters Degree in Reading Education. I have been in the education field for almost 20 years, a member of the district writing lead team, and a huge advocate for using Kagan Cooperative Learning in the classroom. Having these experiences in my “tool belt” has prepared me well to be your Reading coach again this year. I am a proud mother of an amazing son who enjoys reading, playing football, and playing the trumpet. He will be attending Lake Nona Middle as an 8th grader. My favorite things are inspiring students to love reading, Yankee candles, and spending time with my family. This year is going to be FANTASTIC!

Carrie Powell Hi Moss Park Eagles! I am entering my 11th year teaching, all in OCPS! Most of my experience is in 3rd and 4th grade. I was born and raised in upstate New York and moved to Orlando over 10 years ago. I love it here and do not miss the snow one bit! I have a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Oswego University and a Master’s in Exceptional Student Education from . My husband, Dillon and I have a six year old son, Embry, in 1st grade and a two year old daughter Shae. We enjoy spending time outside bike riding, swimming, and at Disney! I am looking forward to another great year at Moss Park!

Zayda Presley Hi there! My name is Zayda Presley. I graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. This is my 9th year teaching & I LOVE IT! I have taught 3rd, 2nd, K-5 Computers and I’m part of a dynamic technology team with the Orange County Public Schools. I was also Northlake Park’s 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year! I have a beautiful 20 yr. old daughter who is the jewel of my life! When I am not teaching I am spending time with my daughter and my two best friends - my brother Joel and sister Bernice. I also love cooking & baking, working with arts or crafts, playing with computer programs, exercising at the YMCA, creating educational YouTube videos or reading a great book! I love to visit Sea World, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot Center as often as I can! I love all ocean and jungle critters! Especially monkeys! I love listening and dancing to Salsa music and visit the beach almost every month! Last but not least, my all-time favorite sweet treats are cupcakes, coffee & DARK CHOCOLATE! I have a great love for teaching and look forward to an amazing 2015-2016 school year with our Moss Park Family!

Kimberly Roberts Hello! My name is Kimberly Roberts and I’m teaching 1st grade again this year at Moss Park Elementary. This is my 18th year of teaching. I’ve taught Kindergarten and 1st grade. I was also a Media Specialist for 4 years. I graduated from UCF in 1992 with my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I received my Master’s Degree in Educational Media from UCF in 1996. I’ve been teaching since 1993, but took off 6 years to stay at home with my children. I married my high school sweetheart, Mark. We’ve been together for 29 years. We have two wonderful boys! Tyson is 18 and is attends Florida Atlantic University. Casey is 15 and is a sophmore at Lake Nona High School. We have 2 dogs, Dakota and Apache. They are German Shorthaired Pointers from the same litter. I grew up in Orlando where I attended Sterling Park Elementary, Tuskawilla Middle School, and Lake Howell High School. I’m looking forward to another great year at Moss Park.

Jessica Sparks Hi! My name is Jessica Sparks and I love being a part of the Moss Park Family! I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and graduated with a degree in Early Childhood Education from UCF. I enjoy going to the beach, watching football, shopping and spending time with my friends and family. I have known that I wanted to be a teacher since I was very little. I absolutely love teaching and I am truly blessed to be doing what I love. I look forward to working with your child this year!

Elizabeth Stella Hi, my name is Beth Stella and I am the school guidance counselor at Moss Park. I was born and raised in Miami and moved to Orlando to attend the University of Central Florida (Go Knights!) where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education. This will be my 15th year with OCPS. I live with my husband Scott and 12 year old twin boys Austin and Kyle. In my free time I love to run and will be running my first full marathon in January. I also love to bike, read, go to the beach and watch my boys play sports. I am looking forward to a wonderful year at Moss Park!

Shonda Swinton-Blake Hello! My name is Shonda Blake and I love being a part of the Moss Park family! I have been teaching for twenty six years. I taught kindergarten for thirteen years and First grade for thirteen years. I am originally from Miami Florida where I lived until I left for college. I attended Florida State University where I received a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been married to my best friend Carl for fifteen years. We are very proud of our ninth grader Tylinn Nicole who is fourteen and our son Theodore Carlton “Theo” who is twelve. I feel truly blessed to be a part of the Moss Park family as a teacher and a former parent.

Cassandra Trotman Hi! I am Cassandra Trotman and I’ve been teaching for over 10 years. Originally from Memphis, TN (Go, Grizzlies!), I’ve taught kindergarten, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and music in Tennessee, New York, and Polk County, Florida. I am presently teaching the best grade ever – 1st grade! I am also the mother of four great children, Alandria (12), Damien aka DJ (11), Ceyanna (7), and Breonne (5). My fantastic husband, Eon, is also a teacher at Meadow Woods Middle School. I am glad to have been a part of the Moss Park family since its opening, as a teacher and a parent. I look forward to another great year!

Kimberly VanAlstyne I am a graduate of the State University of New York at Oswego. I am fortunate to have helped open our amazing school eight years ago. I live in the North Shore neighborhood with my wonderful husband of fourteen years, and my two children, Sophia (11) and Nate (9). My hobbies include; spending time with my family, exercising, traveling, and watching college sports (Go Syracuse University!). The past 17 years that I have spent teaching have flown by with each year being a new experience in which I feel blessed to be such an integral part of my students’ lives. I am looking forward to another exciting year at Moss Park Elementary as a fourth Grade teacher.

Sabrina Vest Hello, my name is Sabrina Vest and I’m looking forward to another year at Moss Park Elementary. I attended the University of Central Florida and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. I have been married to my wonderful husband, Orlando, for one year and I look forward to many more years with him. My hobbies include, but are not limited to, reading, spending time with family, traveling, watching movies, and baking. I am looking forward to another year in 4th grade at Moss Park.

Patricia Voelpel My name is Pattie Voelpel. I was born in Pennsylvania but have lived in Orlando most of my life ever since I moved here in the 6th grade. I was in the first 4 year graduating class of Florida Technological University (now UCF). I have just completed my 42th year teaching in Orange County Public Schools and still enjoy it as much as I did when I began my career. I live in the Conway area with my husband, John. We have two children, Amy Beaudet who teaches kindergarten here at Moss Park and Jay Voelpel who also lives in the area. Our grandsons, Cody (age 5) and Zachary (age 7 months), are the lights of our lives. I enjoy spending time with my family, I am very involved in my church, and love scrapbooking and music. I am blessed to be a member of the Moss Park Team where I will teach first grade again this year.

Candace Walker I am excited to be joining the fourth grade team this school year! I am a native Floridian and have resided in both Central and West Florida. I graduated from the University of Central Florida where I received my Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education, along with my English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Reading Endorsements. I have taught grades 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Aside from teaching, I really love to travel, go to the beach, interior design, cheer on the Knights and the Dolphins, perform in musical theater shows, and spend time with my family. I'm looking forward to another great year at Moss Park!! Lisa Whalen My name is Lisa Whalen. I was born and raised in Ohio. I am a graduate of the University of Akron and a National Board Certified Teacher. I am certified in elementary education, ESOL, media, and gifted education. I have been teaching for 19 years. I live in the North Shore at Lake Hart neighborhood with my husband of 17 years, Tim, and our 2 children - Mason (11th grader at LNHS) and Mackenzie (8th grader at LNMS). We also share our home with 2 dogs and a cat. I enjoy spending time with my family, swimming, working out and reading a good book when I can find the time. I love teaching in my neighborhood school and look forward to enriching the minds of all of our Moss Park Elementary SPARK students.

Timothy White I received a Bachelor’s degree in Recreation and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, from the University of Florida. GO GATORS! My certification is in K-12 Physical Education, 1-6 Elementary Education, and K-12 Educational Leadership. I enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities such as off road biking, camping, and hiking. Sarah Williams Hi! My name is Sarah Williams. I was born in Bradenton, Florida. I attended Oral Roberts University where I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. I received my first teaching position at Dover Shores Elementary where I taught 4th grade for thirteen years. This will be my tenth year teaching 3rd grade. In 2009, I enjoyed becoming the proud recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award! I love teaching because I have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of boys and girls. I count it an honor and a privilege to work with you this year. I am looking forward to making a difference in your child's life in the 2016-2017 school year! Cristin Witherell Hello, my name is Cristin Witherell and I am a 3rd Grade Teacher at Moss Park Elementary. I am an Army brat, born in Anchorage, Alaska, and was fortunate to travel to many places in the U.S. before settling in Northwest Florida. I graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2003 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. In 2006, I become a Certified Elementary Teacher, and in May of 2009, I earned my Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from UCF. I have taught fifth grade, second grade, and third grade (my favorite). In 2013, my husband (also an Elementary School teacher) and I became first time parents to a wonderful little boy, Collin. In our spare time, my family and I love to hang out with The Mouse at Disney, go swimming and bike riding. This will be my eleventh year teaching and my third year at Moss Park Elementary. I am excited to begin another year at Moss Park!

Cheran Zadroga My name is Cheran Zadroga (AKA Ms. Z). I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I have been living in Orlando, FL for 12 years. My parents are retired teachers. I have a sister who is a Kindergarten teacher. I have a dog named Tux. I named him Tux because he is all black except for a white triangle marking on his chest. It looks like he is wearing a Tuxedo. I am pursuing my doctorate in School Speech- Language Pathology with a focus in Language and Literacy from the University of Central Florida. I am a doctoral candidate and working on my dissertation. Go UCF Knights!! I am a full-time Speech-Language Pathologist at Moss Park Elementary and Lake Nona High School. I absolutely love my job! I enjoy painting, sewing, eating out and spending time with family and friends. I collect children's books and love going to see Opera's and Broadway performances. I am looking forward to a productive and memorable school year.