Meet our Faculty at Sterling Academy
The faculty and staff at Sterling Academy are dedicated to ensuring our students' success.
Nicole Grant has been teaching at Sterling Academy since the school opened in 2010. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 1997 with a B.S. in Special Education. She has certifications in Mathematics (6-12), Specific Learning Disabilities (K-12), and Elementary Education (1-6). Since graduating from USF, Mrs. Grant has taught in a variety of environments including parochial school, public school, private tutoring, and virtual school. She has a passion for teaching, especially in the virtual setting where instruction can be customized to accommodate students with different learning styles, backgrounds and goals. Mrs. Grant has two children and resides in Orlando, Florida. When not teaching, she enjoys running, cooking, and spending time with family.
Email: nicole.grant@sterling.academy
Karen Richard, Science teacher
Karen Richard has enjoyed teaching science for the past 35 years. She has a teaching certificate with an endorsement specifically for teaching biology and an additional endorsement for teaching any type of science course. Mrs. Richard earned a Bachelors of Science degree from Central Michigan University, with a major in Biology, and a Masters of Arts from Michigan State University in Secondary Education and Curriculum Development.
Mrs. Richard has taught children in grades 7 - 12, in both private and public school settings, in Colorado and in Michigan. During her career she has developed curriculum, designed lessons/activities, and taught AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, biology, physics, forensics science, anatomy/physiology, physical science and other life science courses. Mrs. Richard lives in a rural part of northern Michigan with her husband and enjoys outdoor activities like skiing, hiking, biking, and walking her two dogs.
Email: karen.richard@sterling.academy
Bob Strodtbeck, Social Studies and Art teacher
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Mr. Strodtbeck has been teaching in Orange County, Florida since 2005, and at Sterling Academy since the school opened in 2010. His service in Orange County schools has been split between five traditional schools and work in a charter school since 2012. The charter school operates much like Sterling Academy, in that all of the classes are provided for the students through a computer program. Along with this experience, Mr. Strodtbeck also brings his personal experience as a homeschooling father of his daughter and son, who were born in 1988 and 1990 respectively.
Mr. Strodtbeck carries a teaching certificate from the state of Florida in Social Studies, Art, and English, which includes endorsements in Reading and ESOL. He has been married to his wife since 1984.
Email: robert.strodtbeck@sterling.academy
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Richard Vital, Business teacher
Mr. Vital holds a B.S. in Accounting from California State University of Los Angeles and a M.B.A in Management from Aspen University. He has been an educator for over 7 years with experience teaching on campus and online. Over the years of his teaching experience, he has taught courses in the Accounting, Business, Computers and Tax fields. He enjoys teaching and sharing his knowledge of business to help his students expand their interest in the field of business.
Email: richard.vital@sterling.academy
Mireya Leon, Technology teacher & IT Support
Mireya Leon is a dedicated technology educator with a strong background in full-stack development. She earned her B.S. in Computer Science from CSU Monterey Bay and furthered her studies with an M.S. in Human-Computer Interaction from UC Santa Cruz. Mireya began her career as a developer, working with technologies such as WordPress, Ruby on Rails, the MERN stack, app development, and microcontrollers before transitioning into education.
Concurrent with her role as technology teacher serving Sterling Academy students, Mireya is also a Computer Science Adjunct Instructor at Hartnell College. She combines her industry experience with a passion for teaching. Mireya focuses on making complex concepts accessible and engaging, believing that a deep understanding of both programming and students is key to an effective learning environment. Outside of teaching, she enjoys exploring the latest tech innovations, drawing, and comic books.
Email: mireya.leon@sterling.academy
Yueming/Sophie Guo is a native Chinese/Mandarin speaker. She gained her master’s degree from the University of Delaware for Teaching English as a Second Language. She is certified in teaching Chinese/Mandarin and ESL (English as a Second Language) in Virginia, Maryland, and Illinois. She has been teaching Chinese, Japanese and ESL for many years with different school districts and colleges, such as Cecil college, Chicago public schools, Appoquinimink school district, Reid Temple Christian Academy, and other schools. She loves her students. She is good at singing and dancing. She would like to try her best to help her students to improve their Chinese.
Email: yueming.guo@sterling.academy
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Spartakos Anagnostaras, Classics and Latin Teacher
Spartakos Anagnostaras, originally from Greece, is an experienced Classics and Latin educator who has taught in top schools in England, including Millfield School, Ratcliffe College, and Redmaids’ High School. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Greek Philology (Linguistics) and three Master’s degrees in Computational Linguistics, Classical Studies, and Educational Sciences.
With a career spanning both traditional and modern approaches to teaching, Spartakos has designed and delivered engaging lessons in Latin, Classical Greek, and Classical Civilisation. His work emphasizes inclusive education, technology-integrated learning, and fostering critical thinking skills in his students. In 2024, he presented at the 9th Conference of the Hellenic Adult Education Association on the role of artificial intelligence and gamification in distance education, and he has published research on this subject.
Outside of the classroom, Spartakos enjoys exploring educational innovation, cultural heritage, and languages. He is excited to bring his passion for the Classics and his international teaching experience to Sterling Academy.
Sylvia Holagh is an accomplished educator with a rich background in foreign language education. She earned her BA in French and German Language and Literature from John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Mrs. Holagh holds a teaching license in Foreign Language Education, supplemented by an ESOL endorsement. Her teaching career has been diverse, ranging across various grade levels in Europe and the United States, in both public school settings and online education platforms.
Since 2006, Mrs. Holagh has been an educator at a high school in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area, where she specializes in teaching German. Her passion for fostering cultural understanding and global awareness among her students has been reflected in their achievements, with many earning national awards and scholarships in the German language.
Outside of the classroom, Sylvia Holagh and her husband share a love for exploring national parks, and they enjoy visiting museums and art galleries. They also often travel abroad with their two grown children: a son who resides in Atlanta and a daughter in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Email: sylvia.holagh@sterling.academy
Evangeline Prosper, French teacher
Evangéline Prosper, is a native French speaker, grew up in Montréal, Québec. She has lived in 6 different states, and currently resides in Benton Harbor, Michigan. She has been teaching for over 20 years in public schools K-12, virtual school, and community college. She has a passion for teaching all ages.
She earned her Bachelor of Arts in French and Science in Family Studies, and master’s degree in Secondary Education with a French emphasis from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, and earned a Master of Special Education degree (Cognitive Impaired and Learning Disability) from Indiana University in South Bend, Indiana. She is certified in Youth Mental Health. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, crocheting, writing poems, traveling, sewing and taking walks on the beach.
Email: evangeline.prosper@sterling.academy
Ligia Alves is a native Spanish speaker with extensive experience teaching in the classroom. She graduated from the City University of New York, Queens College, with a B.A. in Psychology and continued to earn a Master of Arts degree in Education from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. She is certified to teach K-12 Spanish.
Before going into teaching, Ms. Alves worked as a Staff Manager for AT&T. After leaving the corporate world to take care of her children, she followed her passion for teaching as a substitute teacher, and then went on to become the official Spanish teacher for The Washington Township Board of Education in New Jersey for ten years. She was instrumental in the development of the Spanish Curriculum.
Ms. Alves moved to Central Florida with her husband of 29 years in 2008. She enjoys exercising, quilting and oil painting. They have four children and three grandchildren.
email: ligia.alves@sterling.academy
Christine Schneider, Music Appreciation teacher
Christine Schneider is a native German speaker. She has taught German at a private high school in Austin, Texas, and tutors. Mrs. Schneider has a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the Boston Conservatory and a Certificate in Russian Church Music & Conducting from the Russian Orthodox Monastery in Jordanville, NY. Besides German language & culture and music, her passions include Interior Decorating, in which she holds a Certificate, and living with her family in the beautiful Texas Hill Country.
email: christine.schneider@sterling.academy
Paola Fernandez, K-5 Elementary teacher
Paola Fernandez, originally from Puerto Rico, grew up in Miami, and now lives in Sarasota, Florida. She graduated from Florida International University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and later completed a graduate certificate in Communication Sciences and Disorders, also from FIU.
She is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of South Florida. Fernandez is a certified elementary teacher in Florida and holds endorsements in ESOL and Reading.
She is passionate about helping students succeed and creating a supportive and engaging classroom environment.
email: Paola.Fernandez@sterling.academy
Kathy Puentes, Language Arts Teacher
Kathy Puentes has been teaching for the past 25 years. She graduated from Bloomsburg University with a bachelor’s degree in special education and from Edinboro University with a Master’s degree in Education. She has certifications in Grades PK-4, 7-12 English, K-12 Special Education, and PK-12 Reading Specialist. She has experience teaching in remote and in-person settings.
She enjoys working with students of all ages. Ms. Puentes resides in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. When not teaching, she enjoys camping, hiking, baking, and spending time with her family.
email: Kathy.Puentes@sterling.academy
Cori Claeys, Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher
Cori Claeys graduated from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Secondary Education and History, along with a minor in Global Diversity and Social Justice. She is a certified teacher in Minnesota for Grades 5-12 Social Studies. She has a strong passion for fostering critical thinking, cultural awareness, and civic engagement with her students. During her student teaching, Cori designed lessons incorporating diverse perspectives to help students connect the past to present-day issues. She also has experience in supporting students with IEPs, 504 plans, and English language learners/English as a second language.
Outside of teaching, Cori enjoys creative outlets such as writing, photography, and crafting projects. She is a lifelong learner who loves exploring museums and historical sites, often seeking out unique stories from the past. When she isn’t diving into history, Cori enjoys spending time with friends and family, caring for her two kittens, and discovering new ways to stay involved in her community.
email: Cori.Claeys@sterling.academy
Melodee Chinoski, K-5 Elementary teacher, Middle School Science & Language Arts
Melodee Chinoski loves teaching. She graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and K-8 science and English education. She also earned a master’s degree in special education, focusing on students with Learning Disabilities (K-12). She has certifications in Grades K-5 all subjects, 6-8 English and Science, K-12 Special Education with a specialization in students with learning disabilities. She is in her final class at WGU to complete a master’s degree program in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Chinoski has been teaching for 25 years in the state of Michigan. She currently lives with her husband, three children, and dog. When she is not teaching, she enjoys traveling with her family, exercise, and spending time outdoors.
email: Melodee.Chinoski@sterling.academy
Pankaj Mehrotra, Health, Math and Science Teacher
email: Pankaj.Mehrotra@sterling.academy
David Park, Bible teacher and School Chaplain
David Park received his B.A. in Christian Education from Biola University, followed by an M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Intercultural Education at Biola University. Throughout his journey in ministry and academia, he has been dedicated to mentoring the next generation with love, wisdom, and faith.
As a school chaplain at Sterling Academy, he is passionate and committed to the learning experience of students. He prioritizes creating safe and uplifting spaces where individuals can grow and explore their religion. It is his joy to serve students not only academically, but holistically—in heart, mind, and spirit.
email: David.Park@sterling.academy
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Alexandra Gaudelet , French teacher
Alexandra Gaudelet is a native French Speaker from Strasbourg, France. She graduated from Strasbourg University in 2019 with a Master’s degree in Foreign Languages Didactics and is certified to teach French and ESL. She has experience teaching both in person and online, and has always loved sharing her language and her culture with her students. She believes that the flexibility of online teaching makes education more accessible and personalizable.
Besides teaching, Alexandra loves travelling! She has lived in Japan, in Ohio, USA for a bit while she was a student, in China for a couple of months and a few years in London, Ontario, Canada. She recently came back to France with her big chunky Canadian cat, and currently lives between the cities of Paris and Strasbourg. When she is not busy, she enjoys taking care of her pets, reading while drinking tea and chatting on the phone for hours with her best friend.
email: Alexandra.Gaudelet@sterling.academy
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Sandra Espinoza , Spanish teacher
Sandra Espinoza was born in Mexico City, Mexico, and raised in beautiful Northern California. At a very young age, she became intrigued about language learning. As time went by, English was prioritized academically. In college, she embraced a new academic path by obtaining a B.S. in Spanish from California State University San Marcos in Spring 2022 and soon after that earned a Spanish M.A. at CSUSM in Spring 2025.
With her academic background, she gained more familiarity and knowledge about Hispanic culture and literature. During her academic career, she independently tutored middle school students in Spanish and Mathematics and worked for a Charter School in San Marcos as a Math tutor.
While her teaching experience has been mostly in-person, she recognizes that remote teaching brings up a new learning outlet for students and teachers, by allowing students to engage and embrace their education journey and experience in a more accessible way.
email: Sandra.Espinoza@sterling.academy
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Sterling Administration
| Rebecca Chiu | Head of School |
| Karen Richard | Instructional Manager (Active Teaching/Interacting QA) |
| Mireya Leon | Associate Instructional Manager, Technology Teacher & IT Support |
AP Teachers (Alphabetical Order)
| Christopher Crosby |
| Cori Claeys |
| Karen Richard |
| Kathy Puentes |
| Mireya Leon |
| Pankaj Mehrotra |
| Sandra Espinoza |
Our Accreditation
