Leadership Team

Janice Bailey

Janice Bailey

Chief Development Officer

“Growing up with both parents being teachers, education was instrumental in my life.  Being able to play ...
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Don Danforth

Don Danforth

President & Co-Founder

“Young children can always tell you what they want to be when they grow up—just ask any ...
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Brian Gross

Brian Gross

Chief Financial and Operating Officer

“Observing the impact an amazing education can have on the trajectory of someone’s life is ...
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Jarrett Young

Jarrett Young

Head of School

“Growing up five minutes away, I was a City Academy kid before City Academy existed. My story ...
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Educational Leadership

Donna Hynes

Donna Hynes

Early Childhood Director

“I am inspired when children have that ‘aha moment’ … that time when their eyes light up ...
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Liesl Schnuck

Liesl Schnuck

Curriculum and Instruction Specialist

“It is my goal to work on a team that sets exceptionally high expectations for students, ...
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Early Childhood Center Faculty

Chanell Beverly

Chanell Beverly

Early Childhood Assistant

Chanell joined City Academy in 2020 as a Classroom Monitor, and stayed on as a Teaching Assistant ...
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Noah Hollenkamp

Noah Hollenkamp

1st Grade Math & STEAM Teacher

“City Academy students are sad to leave and thrilled to return. Their thirst for ...
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KJ Hubbard

KJ Hubbard

Early Childhood Physical Education Teacher

KJ joined the City Academy team in 2020 as the Upper School Physical Education Assistant, ...
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Celest Keys

Celest Keys

1st Grade Language Arts Teacher

“My passion is truly teaching and learning. I get excited to think that I’m helping ...
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Michele Lemee

Michele Lemee

Kindergarten Language Arts Teacher

“I am excited about the privilege to expand my passion for teaching the scholars here at ...
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Mya McLemore

Mya McLemore

2nd Grade STEAM Teacher

Mya McLemore was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. She joined City Academy in 2020 ...
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Evelyn Rosario

Evelyn Rosario

Junior Kindergarten STEAM Teacher

“City Academy is an amazing journey of discovery within a landscape of ideas that enrich students ...
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Alison Slama

Alison Slama

3- & 4-Year-Old Teacher

“It is my hope that I will create an environment in my classroom where my students ...
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Tayler Stagge

Tayler Stagge

Junior Kindergarten Language Arts Teacher

“I love coming to work every day and being alongside a great group of children ...
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Esmeralda Torres

Esmeralda Torres

Early Childhood Spanish Teacher

“Young children can always tell you what they want to be when they grow up—just ask ...
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Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams

3- and 4-Year-Old Assistant Teacher

Michelle has worked in the Kid’s Club at Gold’s Gym for many years, and was ...
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Rochelle Bain-Wright

Rochelle Bain-Wright

Kindergarten STEAM Teacher

Rochelle believes teachers who love teaching, teach students to love learning!

Rochelle Wright has a Bachelor of ...
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Laurianne Zink

Laurianne Zink

2nd Grade Humanities Teacher

Laurianne Zink has taught in elementary education for twenty years, the past eighteen of them at ...
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Upper School Faculty

Julie Bugnitz

Julie Bugnitz

3rd-6th Grade Art Teacher

“My passion for teaching comes from the wonder I experience in the world… the beauty and ...
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Ariel Danza

Ariel Danza

3rd and 4th Grade Science Teacher

Ariel Danza is happy to join the lovely staff and students at City Academy ...
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Shalawn Fennoy

Shalawn Fennoy

5th Grade Humanities Teacher

“Teaching is so much more than pouring content into a child, it is inspiring growth and change, ...
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Laren Loveless

Laren Loveless

3rd-6th Grade Music Teacher

“Every day at City academy is a chance to see the future. Through creating music and ...
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Erin Laurentius

Erin Laurentius

3rd Grade Humanities Teacher

“The dynamic and passion found at City Academy is unlike any other. The way the teachers, ...
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Lisa McKenna

Lisa McKenna

3rd and 4th Grade Math Teacher

“Each day I am amazed by the students at City Academy. Their passion for ...
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Stephanie Oteng

Stephanie Oteng

5th & 6th Grade Math Teacher

“I’ve been around young people as long as I can remember. It’s important for ...
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Leon Powell

Leon Powell

3rd-6th Grade Physical Education Teacher

“I came to City Academy because I felt it was the best fit for me ...
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Elizabeth Rivera

Elizabeth Rivera

3rd-6th Grade Spanish Teacher

“I believe every student is a unique being with qualities and attitudes that makes them special ...
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Malissa Robinson

Malissa Robinson

4th Grade Humanities Teacher

Malissa joined City Academy in 2022 as the 4th Grade Humanities Teacher. This will be her ...
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Erik Taylor

Erik Taylor

5th & 6th Grade Science Teacher
STEAM Program Administrator

“City Academy students have a passion to explore. I want to ...
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Kip Warr

Kip Warr

6th Grade Humanities Teacher

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Kip is the product of Jesuit schooling. He attended the ...
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Specialist Faculty

Martha Altvater

Martha Altvater

Education Specialist

An educator for forty years, Martha has taught middle school language arts and social studies in St. Louis ...
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Joan Bates

Joan Bates

Counselor

“I am inspired daily by the level of commitment from our scholars and their families. City Academy students strive ...
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Monette DeSimone

Monette DeSimone

Early Childhood Learning Specialist

“I love teaching. I love learning and continuously improving the quality of my teaching while helping ...
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Emily Hauge

Emily Hauge

Upper School Learning Specialist

“As a reading specialist, my passion for education concentrates on literacy and the lasting power that ...
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Marybeth Huff

Marybeth Huff

Library and Media Director

“The library is a space where kids can learn about the world around them and begin ...
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Russ Jaffe

Russ Jaffe

Speech and Language Pathologist

Russ came to City Academy in 2021 to serve the Early Childhood student’s speech language needs ...
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Ann Lazaroff

Ann Lazaroff

Director of Student Support & Early Childhood Learning Specialist

“I love what I do because I laugh with my students ...
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Laura Reycraft

Laura Reycraft

Violin Teacher

“I want to share my love of music with City Academy students because it has been a positive ...
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Martha Schott

Martha Schott

Math Specialist

“At City Academy, the expectations are set high for everyone: students, parents, teachers, and staff. We, as a ...
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School Staff

Stephanie Dooley

Stephanie Dooley

Director of Enrollment Management & Placement

“I believe in City Academy because I live by the words of Nelson Mandela, ...
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Kendra Gilbert

Kendra Gilbert

Food Service Technician

Kendra Gilbert joined the City Academy family first as a parent to Kimberly, and now as the ...
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Jen Glassmeyer

Jen Glassmeyer

Director of Alumni Services & Community Partnerships

“I continue to be inspired and energized by our alumni. They are truly ...
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Kim Lowery

Kim Lowery

Administrative Assistant

Kim Lowery is the first person you will meet when you call or visit City Academy! Before she ...
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David Maia

David Maia

Alumni Support Coordinator

“The students at City Academy make my life more enjoyable and exciting. Hearing the questions they ask, ...
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Bill Pullum

Bill Pullum

Spotless

...
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Kimberli Wilson

Kimberli Wilson

Director of Extended Day & Summer Programs

“Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.”

Kimberli J. Wilson is ...
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Business & Development Staff

Tom Reed

Tom Reed

Accounts Payable / Receivable and Student Tuition Manager

Tom joined the City Academy Team in 2022.

TReed@CityAcademySTL.org

...
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Jessi Goodhart

Jessi Goodhart

Director of Development

Jessi Goodhart joined City Academy in 2023 as the Director of Development and has spent more than ...
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Rachel Bené

Rachel Bené

Grant Coordinator

“There is something special here. You can feel the strength of the community as soon as you step ...
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Joe Bradley

Joe Bradley

Assistant Director of Communications

Joe joined the City Academy family in the summer of 2022. Prior to City Academy, Joe ...
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Lydia Bryant

Lydia Bryant

Annual Fund and Special Events Manager

Lydia has served non-profits in a variety of administrative roles since graduating from Missouri ...
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Kavel Smith

Kavel Smith

Assistant Director of Finance

“My passion is giving back to the younger generation and soccer. I get excited being ...
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