Kelly Tyson, M.A., School Principal
Matt Virgil, M.A., Director of Curriculum & Instruction
Barsh, Pamela (Senior Kindergarten)
Bates, Joan (Learning Specialist and Counselor)
Brown, Martha (Librarian/Reading Specialist)
Bugnitz, Julie (Art and Health)
Crowe, Janice (Learning Specialist)
Devine-Edmondson, Michelle (Early Childhood Math & Science)
Douglas, Haliday (Sixth Grade)
Emerson, Shalawn (Fourth Grade)
Farris, Donna (Junior Kindergarten)
Huff, Marybeth (First Grade)
Klamen, Stuart (Fourth-Sixth Grade Mathmatics)
Rajchart, Mandy (Physical Education)
Ranney, Sarah (Second Grade)
Reycraft, Laurie (Violin)
Schlereth, Kevin (Math Coach)
Taylor, Erik (Science)
Taylor, Meghan (Third Grade)
Torres, Esmeralda (Spanish)
Warr, Kip (Fifth Grade)
Wells-Souza, Susan (Music)
Pamela Barsh, Senior Kindergarten
pbarsh@cityacademyschool.org
Pamela has been with City Academy since 2002. Before becoming a part of the City Academy team, she was a substitute teacher at Praise Tabernacle Christian School and Our Lady of the Holy Cross (OLHC). Prior to working at OLHC, she volunteered for the St. Louis Public School System. Pamela obtained her associate of arts degree in elementary education from St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. She is currently a student at Fontbonne University. She enjoys working in her church in leadership positions and biking and reading. Pamela resides with her family in Black Jack.
Joan Bates, MS, LPC, Learning Specialist and Counselor
jbates@cityacademyschool.org
Joan has worked with City Academy on a part-time basis since 2006. She holds a master’s degree in school psychology from SIU-E and is a licensed professional counselor. For the past twenty years, she has enjoyed working with both children and adults with learning and behavioral challenges. She is a board member of Family Advocacy and Community Training in St. Charles County, which provides training and advocacy services to families of children with learning challenges. Currently, she and her husband Rick own an educational consulting business in St. Peters and work with several schools and numerous families in the St. Louis area. She and Rick have resided in the St. Louis area for their entire lives and have two sons. Joan’s hobbies are cooking, hiking, reading, and traveling.
Martha Brown, MA, Reading Specialist and Librarian
mbrown@cityacademyschool.org
Martha has been with City Academy since April of 2001 as a reading tutor, first grade teacher, and currently as the reading specialist and librarian. Martha received her master’s degree in reading education from Fontbonne University and her undergraduate degree from St. Louis University. Before becoming a part of the City Academy team, Martha taught kindergarten in the Archdiocese of St. Louis school of Mary Queen of Peace, and started and operated a summer day camp program for five- to seven-year-old children. She and her husband John are natives of St. Louis, raising their four children here. Martha enjoys reading, cooking, sewing, and gardening.
Julie Bugnitz, MS, Art and Health Education
jbugnitz@cityacademyschool.org
Julie joined City Academy after a 22-year career as a clinical and community dietician and children’s art instructor. Julie holds a master of science degree in human nutrition from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a minor in art from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. She is a registered and licensed dietitian. For the past nine years, she has served as art instructor for St. Louis University High School’s Walkabout, a program emphasizing art and science in the natural world. Julie and her husband, Rob Knight, are the parents of three children, Elizabeth, Laura, and Daniel. Her interests and hobbies include hiking, camping, cooking, playing guitar, gardening, and sports.
Janice Crowe, MAEd, Learning Specialist
jcrowe@cityacademyschool.org
Janice has almost thirty years of teaching experience at St. Joseph’s Institute for the Deaf. Most recently she worked with Edgewood Children’s Center as an outreach tutor in the Webster Groves and Kirkwood School Districts. She received a bachelor’s degree in deaf education and a master’s degree in special education from Fontbonne University. In addition to working with students with hearing loss, she assisted students facing learning difficulties. Janice possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in identifying strategies that help all students learn. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 33 years. They have three adult children (Jeff, Kelly, and Richie) and are very proud to be the grandparents of Owen Patrick, Charlie Elizabeth, and Sophie Marie. Family time, Bunko, and swimming top her list of leisure activities.
Michelle Devine-Edmondson, Early Childhood Math & Science
medmondson@cityacademyschool.org
Michelle graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She holds a bachelor of science in elementary education with a minor in literacy. Currently she is pursuing her master’s in early childhood education, as well as becoming Montessori certified. She has volunteered within the St. Louis Public School District, teaching classes ranging from pre-kindergarten to second grade. Michelle lives in south St. Louis with her husband, two children, dog, and cat. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, being a leader for a group of cub-scouts, biking, swimming, watching Cardinals baseball, and cooking.
Haliday Douglas, Sixth Grade
hdouglas@cityacademyschool.org
While retaining his teaching commitments in sixth grade language arts and social studies instruction, Haliday adds oversight of the secondary school application process to his portfolio of responsibilities for the 2009-10 academic year. Prior to joining the City Academy faculty in the fall of 2008, Haliday managed programs, and, taught and mentored youth in an array of scholastic settings (including Aim High St. Louis, College Bound, and John Burroughs School). Haliday holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Literature from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. In his spare time, Haliday serves as a member of the Board of Friends for the Edison Theatre, sits on the advisory board for Prison Performing Arts, and serves as the regional chair for the alumni interview and admissions committee for his alma mater.
Shalawn Emerson, MA, Fourth Grade
semerson@cityacademyschool.orgShalawn received a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and a master’s degree in elementary education from Fontbonne University. Prior to joining the team at City Academy in 2002, she served as a data entry clerk at Regions Bank for ten years. She has also participated in numerous community service organizations such as Mentor for St. Louis, Project Success, and the GEAR UP Program, in addition to being a church volunteer. She is an avid reader, and enjoys journaling, working with crafts, and walking.
Marybeth Huff, First Grademhuff@cityacademyschool.orgMarybeth joined City Academy in 2007 after serving in the Clayton school district. For two years, Marybeth was a kindergarten through fifth grade intern at Meramec Elementary, as well as the third and fourth grade literacy teacher in the summer. Before becoming a part of the Clayton team, Marybeth taught English in Maebashi, Japan, to students of all ages. Marybeth holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and an elementary teaching certificate from the University of Missouri in St. Louis. Marybeth enjoys traveling, reading, knitting, and cooking.
Donna Hynes-Farris, Junior Kindergarten
dhynes@cityacademyschool.org
Donna has been with City Academy for the past nine years. She has seventeen years of experience in early childhood education and holds an associate’s degree from St. Louis Community College. Donna is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and was nominated for Who’s Who Among American Teachers. She is currently a student at Kendall College, where her area of concentration is early childhood education with an emphasis on special education. Before coming to City Academy, Donna taught pre-kindergarten at Caroline Mission Child Care Center. Donna is a football manager for the Mathews-Dickey Boys’ and Girls’ Club. She enjoys cooking, reading, writing, sports, and spending family time with her husband Perry and son Antonio.
Stuart Klamen, Fourth-Sixth Grade Mathematics
sklamen@cityacademyschool.org
Stuart joined City Academy in 2008 after serving as a volunteer math instructor for several City Academy summer school students. Prior to joining City Academy, Stuart was the manager and owner of a math tutoring company that specialized in Singapore mathematics instruction. He also owned and operated a Kumon Math and Reading Center and worked as a math instructor at Epstein Hebrew Academy in St Louis from 1993 through 2004.
Mandy Rajchart, Physical & Health Education
mrajchart@cityacademyschool.org
Mandy graduated from the University of Nebraska with a degree in physical education and a degree in elementary education. She has been working with children and youth for 11 years, developing programs and curriculum. Mandy has developed biking, walking, and fitness programs in St. Louis area elementary schools for the past two years. Mandy developed a St. Louis Safe Routes to School program, where she worked with more than twenty schools and reached close to five thousand students and one thousand parents/volunteers. Before joining City Academy, she taught physical education at a charter school in South City. This is her third year teaching physical education and health at City Academy.
Sarah Ranney, Second Grade
sranney@cityacademyschool.org
Sarah joined the City Academy team in 2008. Previously, she spent two years teaching fifth grade in the St. Louis Public Schools after being recruited to the national teaching corps, Teach For America. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in communications and women's and gender studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is currently working on her master of arts in teaching degree at Webster University. She loves reading, knitting, and spending time with friends and family. Sarah currently lives in South City with her husband Bryan and their Brittany Spaniel Jackson.
Laura Reycraft, MA, Suzuki Violin Instructor
Laura joined City Academy in 2007 to continue building a successful violin program. She received her bachelor of music degree from The Cleveland Institute of Music in 2003. In 2005, she earned her master of music degree from the University of Maryland. Laura has participated in several music festivals, including Tanglewood Music Center, Spoleto Festival USA, Sarasota Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and School, and the New York String Orchestra Seminar. She has played as a substitute with the National Symphony Orchestra and is currently a regular substitute with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. Laura maintains a private studio where she teaches Suzuki violin and viola.
Kevin Schlereth, Math Coach
kschlereth@cityacademyschool.org
Kevin holds a master's degree in mathematics from the University of Missouri. He began his professional career by teaching mathematics at the University of Missouri. Most recently, he has been teaching mathematics as part of the Upper School faculty at Allen Academy in Bryan, TX. He finds math to be uniquely powerful in the development of highly effective critical thinkers. His hobbies include playing music and baking for his wife Jessica, their son Kevin III, and their second child (expected this July).
Erik Taylor, Scienceetaylor@cityacademyschool.orgErik is in his second year at City Academy. Erik holds a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences and education from SIU-Edwardsville. His teaching career includes outdoor education with the Boy Scouts of America, formal classroom and laboratory science at Rosary High School and St. Ann Catholic, and informal classroom, laboratory, and outdoor science education at the Saint Louis Zoo. Another passion of instruction for Erik is theater. He has directed and taught youth theater for the last twelve years. Erik and his wife, Karen, have three kids, Sophia, Cecily, and Isaac. His two daughters currently attend school at City Academy. He enjoys hiking, climbing, chess, writing for theater, performing music, and canoeing.
Meghan Taylor, Third Grade
mtaylor@cityacademyschool.org
Meghan is entering her ninth year of teaching at City Academy. During her time at City Academy, she has served on the school’s building committee, created the school yearbook, organized the fall festival, and initiated Hats on Day for Kids with Cancer. Meghan also takes the third and fourth grade classes camping each year, along with Shalawn. She graduated from Fontbonne University with a bachelor’s degree in special education/elementary education. Meghan is currently working on her master’s degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She resides in South City with her husband, Bill. Meghan enjoys coaching basketball, camping, and spending time with her family.
Esmeralda Torres, MA, Spanish
etorres@cityacademyschool.org
It is Esmeralda’s seventh year at City Academy. Before coming to City Academy, Esmeralda spent four years teaching the Spanish language and cultural connections at Share Sedek School in University City. Prior to that, Esmeralda worked for fifteen years in Lima, Peru, as a teacher and speech therapist. Esmeralda earned a bachelor’s degree in early education and master’s degree in learning disabilities at the University of San Marcos-Lima, Peru. She lives in St. Louis with her husband Jose, and their two children, Nicolas and Estefania. She enjoys listening to Latin music, cooking Peruvian food, and traveling.
Kelly Tyson, MA, School Principal
ktyson@cityacademyschool.org
Kelly earned a bachelor’s degree in special education and elementary education from Fontbonne University, and a master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Iowa. She has completed course work for her PhD at St. Louis University, and is working on her dissertation. Kelly has over twelve years of experience in teaching and school administration. She joined City Academy in 2006 as the curriculum director and has since been promoted to principal. Prior to coming to City Academy, Kelly was a district-level administrator in Edwardsville, Illinois. Before working in Edwardsville, she had a seven-year tenure at Community School teaching third, fifth, and sixth grades, with an emphasis on mathematics. In 2004, Kelly earned a Japan Fulbright Memorial Fund (JFMF) scholarship, sponsored by the government of Japan, to conduct a study tour of Japan. Her studies culminated in the integration of international perspectives and methodologies of mathematics education into our classrooms. Kelly and her husband Cleveland have two daughters, both of whom attend independent schools in St. Louis.
Matt Virgil, MA, MEd, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
mvirgil@cityacademyschool.org
Prior to joining City Academy, Matt was the upper school director at Rossman School, an independent school in Creve Coeur. He had administrative and curricular responsibility for grades three through six, as well as the after-school program. Prior to his time at Rossman, Matt was an eighth grade history teacher and the dean of students for grade eight at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. He has a master of education degree in school leadership from the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University and a master of arts degree in the teaching of social studies from Teachers College, Columbia University. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in United States history. Prior to a career in education, he worked in commercial banking. Matt enjoys running, biking, and swimming.
Kip Warr, MEd, Fifth Grade
kwarr@cityacademyschool.org
Kip enters his second year at City Academy He taught fifth grade and served as technology coordinator at Westover Hills Elementary in Richmond, VA for four years. Prior to teaching in Richmond, Kip taught for two years at Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary in south central Los Angeles. Kip holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and a master of education degree from National University in Los Angeles, CA. He enjoys Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and weightlifting. Kip lives in St. Louis with his wife Rodnee, and their children Zachary and Thessa, both of whom attend City Academy.
Susan Wells-Souza, MM, Music
swells-souza@cityacademyschool.org
Susan joined the City Academy staff in 2008. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Webster University and a master of music degree from Washington University in piano performance. For the past five years, she has taught music for the St. Louis Archdiocese, teaching students in kindergarten through eighth grade at Cathedral School and St. Katharine Drexel in the city of St. Louis. Her students have performed on the recorder each year with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra through the LinkUP! with Carnegie Hall program. Prior to her elementary teaching, Susan has been a freelance pianist. She was a staff accompanist at UMSL and for five years was the accompanist of the St. Louis Symphony Children’s Choir’s Touring Choir. Susan lives in University City with her husband Robert Souza, a professional trumpet player. They have two children, Abraham and Gabriella. She loves her dogs, watching tennis, playing the piano, reading, and cooking.