Leadership Team

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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
4th Grade Humanities Teacher
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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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Specialist Faculty

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

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