Meet the Faculty

Faculty List

Note: Please click on the names to view the description.

A graduate of Slippery Rock University, with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education, Linda founded Lee Academy in 1983. She has made numerous presentations on gifted education at national and international conferences. Linda is a member of the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, the Florida Association for the Gifted,
and the National Association for Gifted Children. She is presently studying nutritional health and fitness as it relates to enhanced cognitive, emotional and physical growth and development in children.

Jen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in German and French, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, a Postgraduate Diploma in the Law of Educational Management, and a Master’s in Education, specializing in Curriculum Design and Assessment, all from the University of Leeds in England. Jen has taught in both England and Germany and has many years of experience in a variety of subject areas, including languages,
math and information technology. She is responsible for all aspects of the program and is the focal point of communication for parents, faculty and the world outside Lee. Along with the Upper, Middle and Lower School Coordinators, Jen is responsible for curricula. She is also our go-to person to keep computer systems up and running on a daily basis.

David holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in languages and a post graduate diploma in education from the University of Leeds in England. He taught high school in France, Germany and England for many years. In addition to being Upper School Coordinator, David directs our Latin, French and German programs. He takes the active participation approach to foreign language learning, encouraging students to converse in the language as much as possible. David also works
with our Upper School students on career and college planning. He liaises closely with USF and area colleges with regard to our Upper School Dual Enrollment program. David is experienced in leading student trips abroad.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Dayton, where he also earned a Post-Graduate License for Adolescent to Young Adults 7-12 Social Studies. Prior to joining our faculty, Rob worked at Dayton Early College Academy, where he taught social studies, started a debate club, organized a Washington DC field trip and worked as an academic advisor. Rob also served as a Congressional Intern for Congresswoman Judy Biggert.  He is presently working on arranging a field trip to Washington DC for our upper school students.

Barbara graduated from Fordham University (New York) with a B.A. in both sociology and philosophy. She holds a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Long Island University and a master’s degree in Education Leadership from the American College of Education. Barbara is certified in New York and Florida and holds a specialty certification for gifted education in Florida. She has been teaching gifted students for over ten years, with over 23 years of teaching experience overall. Barbara has also taught adult gifted endorsement courses, preparing the next generation of gifted teachers. She comes to us from The Center for Gifted Studies where she was part of the inaugural team designing and growing the full-time gifted program there. Barbara believes in crosscurricular experiences that engage and challenge students. She is also very involved in creating school-community outreach that exposes students to the benefits and personal satisfaction that comes from using their talents to help the communities they live in.

Erica graduated from St. Petersburg College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Educational Studies and Community Leadership after earning her A.A.S in Early Childhood Education. She brings a deep passion for early childhood education and more than a decade of hands-on experience in nurturing young learners as a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher. Erica combines her strong academic foundation with a heartfelt commitment to building inclusive, supportive learning environments.

As an advocate for early childhood development, Erica believes in the power of play-based and project-based learning, social-emotional growth, and strong school-family partnerships. Her approach emphasizes curiosity, kindness, and community, helping children build confidence and a lifelong love of learning. When not in the classroom, she continues to champion early childhood initiatives in the broader community and participates in professional networks that promote high-quality education for all children.

Jeff received his Bachelor’s degree from Manchester College and has strong experience individualizing curriculum and preparing individual education plans. His teaching style is very hands-on and visual, encouraging students to be active during experiments, field trips, projects and class discussions. In Jeff’s physical education classes,
he emphasizes teamwork and fair play. Jeff and Paula work together on Middle and Lower School responsibilities, including working with students and parents.

Nathan Jokela graduated Cum Laude from the University of Tampa with a BA in Performing Arts and Communications. After accumulating a diverse set of professional experiences, he decided to utilize that experience and pursue his passion for nurturing young minds by becoming certified to teach English 6-12. He has a strong foundation of working with students through educational roles in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties and is looking forward to working with our students to grow their proficiency in Literature, Writing, and Speaking.

Danielle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Theater from the University of South Florida.  A former Early Childhood teacher at Lee Academy, Danielle was the faculty advisor to the Lee Academy Chess Club for a number of years.  She is rejoining the Lee Academy faculty to teach Language Arts and to introduce more Theater to our younger students.

Sarah earned two Bachelor’s Degrees – Mathematics Education and Physics from the University of Central Florida and has taught a variety of high school Mathematics and Science classes over the years in Orange County and the Diocese of St Petersburg, including AP Calculus BC and physics curricula. Having presented at AAPT as an undergraduate on student based learning, Sarah is excited to apply hands-on student focused techniques to help the students internalize the knowledge that they are presented with. She is excited to bring her real-world experiences and applications into the classroom to showcase the importance of mathematics in everyday life. Sarah believes that all students can excel in mathematics when equipped with the right tools, the right mindset, and taught with patience and enthusiasm.

Elisabeth is a veteran Science teacher with close to two decades of experience working with different communities, students, and content areas. She has a Master’s degree in Science Education from the Florida Institute of Technology and a BA from New College.   Elisabeth holds teaching certification in Gifted Education, Biology, Earth/Space Science, and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum.  She has spent most of her career working specifically with gifted learners and developing curriculum specialized to meet the unique and varied needs of gifted students.  Elisabeth believes that studying Science should be fascinating and fun, and is committed to offering a rigorous, engaging, and hands-on study of the universe to our students.

Sandra holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, a Master of Public Health in Environmental & Occupational Health and a Master of Arts in Latin American and Caribbean Studies concentrating in Environmental Studies. She brings over five years of experience specializing in K– 8 science instruction, with a strong emphasis on personalized education for gifted learners. Her background includes scientific research, writing, environmental health, and engineering. As a dedicated homeschool educator, she has implemented multisensory, hands-on, inquiry-based science curricula tailored to diverse learning styles. Her passion for science and her commitment to gifted education motivates her to empower students to explore and think critically. She is looking forward to guiding her students at Lee Academy in the process of scientific discovery while having fun and learning by doing.

Maria Echeverri is a passionate educator and certified medical interpreter. Born in Medellín, Colombia, she has a lifelong commitment to language learning and cultural exchange. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Universidad EAFIT, Colombia, in 1998 and later pursued further studies in England, achieving Proficiency in English from Lilian Bishop School in 2000. She also holds a National Teaching License (2002) from Universidad Autonoma Latinoamericana, which allows her to bring language education to diverse learners. Since 2001, Maria has worked as a Spanish and English teacher across multiple institutions in the United States and Colombia. Alongside her teaching career, Maria has been a medical interpreter since 2010, ensuring clear and compassionate communication between healthcare providers and Spanish-speaking patients. Fluent in English and Spanish, Maria brings over two decades of expertise in teaching, curriculum development, interpretation, and multicultural sensitivity. She is committed to fostering inclusive education and empowering students to become confident language learners.

Patricia Flórez was born and raised in Bogotá, Colombia where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Upon moving to Atlanta in 1998, she attained a Master’s degree in Spanish Literature from Georgia State University and taught Spanish in grades K-8.  In 2013, Patricia decided to go after a lifelong dream and became a Certified Holistic Nutritional Therapist.  After gathering several years of experience working as a Health Coach in the Wellness industry, she moved to Tampa to be closer to her family and work in the area of Nutrition.  In 2018, motivated by the passion to educate and enlighten younger minds, she returned to the educational field as a Spanish teacher EC3-8th grade and Bilingual Lead Teacher in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

With a Bachelor of Science degree in Math, Science, and Education, Camellia has spent the last two years making learning come alive for budding first and third-graders at charter schools. She approaches the position as more than being a teacher. She is a guide on the journey of education, believing firmly that learning isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. Each child has a universe of potential, and Camellia is skilled in discovering and fostering the unique ways they shine. Camellia will bring the world of numbers and the wonder of life into the classroom.

Candice grew up in Greenville, South Carolina and earned a Bachelor’s of Art degree in Art Education at Coker College. She taught in various schools in South Carolina for 13 years, including several years as Fine Arts Department Chair at a prominent college prep school. She has a love for all subjects, fosters creativity, and incorporates technology into a challenging curriculum. Candice is excited to join the faculty this year and re-introduce more clay and other media into the Art Program.