Meet our Faculty at Sterling Academy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Valerya Ortega is a bilingual educator from Venezuela who currently lives in Houston, Texas. She is graduating from North American University with a degree in Education and is passionate about helping students succeed through engaging, supportive, and culturally responsive learning experiences.

Valerya enjoys working with diverse student populations and is committed to creating a positive learning environment where all students feel valued, respected, and encouraged to reach their full potential. As a native Spanish speaker, she is dedicated to helping students develop strong language and communication skills while building confidence in their abilities.

She believes that education opens doors to opportunities and is committed to inspiring students to become lifelong learners and successful members of their communities.

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.

Emi Rosa is a Spanish teacher who has experience in curriculum design and instructional leadership, along with a passion for helping students connect with language and culture. As a bilingual educator, she is dedicated to creating engaging lessons that empower students to communicate confidently in Spanish while gaining a deeper appreciation for global perspectives.

Emi earned a Bachelor's in Art History from the University of Houston and a Master's in Educational Leadership from North American University. She has certifications in Languages Other Than English - Spanish Grades (EC-12) and English as a Second Language Supplemental Grades (EC-12). In her spare time, she enjoys reading and meditation.

Keisha Ware earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Lane College and a Master of Arts in Education from Union University. She is licensed in Middle School Science and holds a K–12 Computer Science Endorsement. Throughout her career, she has taught Middle School Science, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Health Science, Computer Science, Middle School Math, and Middle School Social Studies. I

She is passionate about helping students develop a love for learning and discover how science and technology connect to the world around them. My goal is to create an engaging, supportive, and student-centered learning environment where every student feels encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and reach their full potential.

Outside of education, I enjoy exploring new STEM innovations, learning about emerging technologies, and finding creative ways to make learning exciting and accessible for all students. I look forward to partnering with students and families to support academic growth and success throughout the school year.

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.

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.

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.

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.

David Park received his B.A. in Christian Education from Biola University, followed by an M.Div. from Talbot School of Theology. He earned his Ph.D. in Intercultural Education from 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.

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.

Aaron Chow graduated with a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Biola University. He is completing an M.A. in Bible Exposition from Talbot Theological Seminary. His growing admiration for the mission field finds support in a deeper study of theology. He desires to learn an edified life that is grounded and full of faith.

Pursuing discipleship in the local church, Aaron serves youth and the generational gap. His creative pursuits involve worship arts and absorbing the missionary knowledge of those (V. Baucham, E. Elliot, and E.D. Burns) who make central God’s work in the world.

He has also coached and mentored both students and teachers, serving as a department chair and lead teacher, where he supported instructional development and best teaching practices.

Freddy earned a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering and Manhattan College, an M.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education from Lehman College (CUNY), and an M.S. in Management of Technology from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Mississippi State University and holds New York State certification in Secondary Mathematics Education (Grades 7–12).

He focuses on making math & science clear, practical, and relatable, helping students build confidence and strong problem-solving skills. Outside of teaching, Freddy enjoys mentoring students, spending time with his family, and mountain biking.

Danymar Quijada holds a Professional in Education and Graphic Design with over 20 years of experience in Venezuela and the United States. I have taught Spanish, technical drawing, and art education, and I have experience as a long-term substitute teacher for students in grades 6 through 9.

She is a responsible, organized, and committed educator, dedicated to creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.

In her free time, she enjoys sewing patterns, making jewelry, and engaging in various crafts, which enhance and complement creativity in her personal and professional life.