The list below is of the staff at Pinellas Preparatory Academy. Our staff are highly devoted to seeing children succeed and well qualified to teach in our unique setting.
Administration
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Curtis Fuller, Principal
Email Address: cfuller@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 208 Mr. Fuller's Master's Degree in Educational Leadership is from Cardinal Stritch University. His Bachelor's Degree is from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh. He taught in Wisconsin for 5 years as a special education teacher and an intermediate classroom teacher prior to moving to Florida to accept the Principalship of Pinellas Preparatory Academy. He is certified in Educational Leadership, as a Principal, elementary teacher, special education teacher, and as a Director of Curriculum. This will be his fifth year at Pinellas Prep. |
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Dennis Barbeau, Dean of Students
Email Address: dbarbeau@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 209 Mr. Barbeau holds a Master of Divinity degree from St. Meinrad School of Theology, IN., and a Master of Arts degree in guidance and counseling from the Department of Education, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL. He holds Florida State professional licenses in Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, and a State Professional Educator’s Certificate. Mr. Barbeau has over twenty years experience in Florida as an educator, teacher, administrator and counselor at the elementary, high school and junior college levels. He has a wide variety of professional experience as a program administrator, agency and clinical director, clinical supervisor, and therapist in private practice. He is a Master Instructor 5th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and a 2nd degree black belt in Hapkido, and is certified by the World Tae Kwon Do Federation Headquarters, Seoul, S. Korea. Mr. Barbeau and his wife have two adult sons, both of whom are in their doctoral programs. Besides martial arts, Mr. Barbeau also enjoys weight lifting and bicycling. This is Mr. Barbeau's third year as Dean of Students at PPA. |
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Donna Hauser, Office Manager
Phone Extension: 203 Email Address: dhauser@pinellasprep.org |
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Arly Dalley, Data Management Technician
Email Address: abrodil@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 204 |
4th Grade
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Darlene Cumberworth, Language Arts
Email Address: dcumberworth@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 205 Ms. Cumberworth holds a Bachelor's degree in Hispanic Studies from Mt. St. Mary College. She has met all her requirements and completed her teaching certification in 2008. She is now teaching Language Arts and Social Studies after several years experience as a Spanish teacher. She plans to continue on to earn her Master's sometime in the future. |
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Nicole Huneke, Math
Email Address: nhuneke@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 207 |
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Lindsay Johannesen, Science & Social Studies
Email Address: ljohannesen@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 202 |
5th Grade
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Janet Marsden, Math and Science Email Address: jmarsden@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 227 |
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Nancy Walker, Language Arts and Social Studies
Email Address: nwalker@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 229 |
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Brenda Welt, Math and Science
Email Address: bwelt@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 224 |
6th Grade
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Kenny Clapper, Math
Email Address: kclapper@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 241 |
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Kathleen McGrath, Language Arts
Email Address: kmcgrath@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 240 BA degree from Northeastern University in Boston and The College of New Rochelle in NY Mrs. McGrath has over 15 years of teaching experience in Florida and New York. She holds a Master's degree in Elementary Education from Columbia University in New York and Dowling College, also in New York.
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Alicia Pizzo, Science
Email Address: apizzo@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 243 Mrs. Pizzo is a graduate of University of Alabama with a BA in Public Relations. She did marketing for 3 years, but she always wanted to teach. Mrs. Pizzo substitute taught for a year in Pinellas County schools. She became certified to teach Mathematic grades 5-9 in April of 2004, and Science 5-9 in 2008. Her first year of full-time teaching was at Pinellas Prep and she is looking forward to an exciting 5th year at Pinellas Prep. |
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Kelly Smith, Social Studies
Email Address: ksmith@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 246 Miss Smith is a graduate of Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, with a BS in Child Development. She also holds a K-6 License and a 6-9 Integrated Curriculum License. Even though she taught for three years in North Carolina, she feels that PPA is the best school she could ever possibly teach in. She will be returning for her fourth year at PPA and she is excited about getting the opportunity to teach two different history curriculums. She is passionate about teaching, history, and travel, and she can't wait to get back into the classroom for another fulfilling year. |
7th Grade
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Haley Beswick, Social Studies
Email Address: hbeswick@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 252 |
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Beth Crosa, Language Arts
Email Address: bcrosa@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 250
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Allan Gowan-Smith, Science
Email Address: agowan-smith@pinellasprep.org |
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Barb Mulkey, Math
Email Address: bmulkey@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 254
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8th Grade
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Cindy Barber, 8th Grade Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher
Email Address: cbarber@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 249 Mrs. Barber gradated from college in North Carolina with a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary English Education. She holds Florida Certification to teach both English (grades 6-12) and Social Studies (grades 5-9). She taught high school in North Carolina for two years at a private school. Mrs. Barber and her husband, David, and their son, Josh, relocated to Clearwater, Florida. Upon becoming certified to teach in the state of Florida, Mrs. Barber taught Middle School Language Arts for eight years in the Catholic School System in Pinellas County. Next Mrs. Barber joined the staff at Wellington School and taught fifth grade self contained for a year. She happily returned to teaching Middle Grades English when she joined PPA in 2004. She has loved being here ever since! With her husband, retired from the United States Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater after 21 ½ years of active duty and now working as a Network Computer administrator for the City of Largo, and her son, a graduate of St. Petersburg Catholic High School and a Junior at USF, Mrs. Barber has been enjoying her favorite past times: reading, drawing and painting, scrapbooking and spending time with close friends and family. Mrs. Barber is a Highly Qualified Teacher certified to teach English 6 – 12 grades and Social Studies 5 – 9th. She is eager for her fifth year at PPA to be as successful as the previous four. |
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Kristi Engels, 8th Grade Math Teacher
Email Address: kengels@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 256 |
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Suzanne Mizzi, 8th Grade Science & Social Studies Teacher
Email Address: smizzi@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 257 Suzanne Mizzi has been part of PPA family for 3+ years. She is certified in K-6 Integrated, General Science 5-9, Social Science 6-12. Ms. Mizzi looks forward to another successful year at Pinellas Preparatory Academy and feels fortunate to be part of such a creative, positive and supportive “family”. |
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Cheryl Mourer, 7th & 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher
Email Address: cmourer@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension:247 Ms. Mourer is a S.C.A.T.T. graduate of the University of South Florida's College of Education. Her Bachelor's degree is in Elementary Education and a Masters of Arts in Social Science Education with a specialty in Applied Anthropology. She comes to us from Dunedin Academy and Tampa’s Independent Day School where she taught 6th and 7th grade English and Social Studies. Ms. Mourer has extensive training in Kagan Cooperative Learning strategies, one of the main teaching models used at Pinellas Prep. Her teaching methods are geared to all learning styles and multiple intelligences. Cheryl joined the Pinellas Prep faculty because of its high student expectations and quality of staff. |
Specialists
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Susan Benway, Gifted / ESE Teacher
Email Address: sbenway@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 226 Prior to joining the staff of PPA during its first year in 2000, Ms. Benway enjoyed a twenty year career in social services. As Director of Educational Services at Bay Harbor Residential Treatment Center, a privately owned psychiatric hospital in Largo, FL, she served as department head, case manager, and teacher to adolescent students attending school at the facility. Subsequent to this, she worked for Charter Behavioral Health Systems as a GED Preparation Teacher for a residential population of students enrolled in Pinellas County's Drop out Prevention Program. Prior to that she worked as a Prevention Specialist, life skills coach and community outreach speaker, for Family Resources, Inc in St. Petersburg, providing case management and prevention counseling to over 3,500 adolescent and pre-adolescent runaway youth. Susan earned her B.A. at Western Connecticut State University and her ESE K-12 certification at USF. She also holds an Endorsement in Gifted Education and certifications in both Elementary Education and Middle School Integrated Curriculum. |
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Laura Pucci, Spanish Teacher
Email Address: lpucci@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 244 |
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Kim Quagliotti, ESE Teacher / Small Group Teacher
Email Address: kquagliotti@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 226 A graduate of USF, Ms. Quagliotti has taught for many years in a variety of settings, from kindergarten through 8th grade, in special education as well as regular education, and in private and public schools. She came to Pinellas Prep for our private school atmosphere, and the emphasis on cooperative learning and multiple intelligences. Ms. Quagliotti will establish a classroom environment as a place where students can achieve to the best of their abilities, as well as feeling safe and deeply cared for. |
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Betty Lou Romaine, PE & Health Teacher
Email Address: bromaine@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 218 Betty Lou Romaine graduated with a B.A. from the College of Notre Dame. She is married and has three children, ages 17, 13, and 11. She is an experienced substitute teacher in Pinellas County and has been involved in sports all her life, including playing high school and college softball, and coaching a variety of sports for the past ten years. She also helps organize basketball leagues at her local church. She loves kids, sports, and being outdoors. |
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Tony Schell, PE & Health Teacher
Email Address: tschell@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 218 Mr. Schell earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Clearwater Christian College, where he also played college soccer. He began teaching in Pinellas County Schools in 1994. He has coached soccer for over 10 years and also has coached basketball and volleyball. He married in 1991 and has 4 daughters, three which have attended PPA. This is Mr. Schell’s second year at Pinellas Preparatory Academy. |
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Elvira Tye, Spanish Teacher
Email Address: etye@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 237 |
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Aimee Wickstrom, Art Teacher
Email Address: awickstrom@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 219 |
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Greg Wickstrom, Music Teacher
Email Address: gwickstrom@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 222 Mr. Wickstrom has lived in the Tampa Bay area for over 25 years. He received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award from Tarpon Springs High School, and was the recipient of the Fine Arts Scholarship at the University of South Florida, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree. A multi-instrumentalist and composer, he is pursuing a Master’s Degree in classical bass performance. His educational practices accentuate the positive aspects of music, such as cooperation, communication, and improvisation. Students are given visually stimulating, hands-on study of music theory, history, and appreciation, all tied to the subject matter taught in the four core subjects. “Through the study of music, one gains a unique perspective and understanding of certain universal truths which permeate our everyday lives and activities”. |
Other Staff Members
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Susan Asciutto, Educational Assistant
Email Address: sasciutto@pinellasprep.org Phone Extension: 237 Ms. Asciutto has worked as a paraprofessional for many years. As a student of St. Petersburg College, she is currently earning credits towards a degree in Education. She feels privileged to work with the energetic, caring, and professional staff here at PPA. |
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Bobbi Bartholow, Before / After Care Staff
Email Address: bbartholow@pinellasprep.org Ms. Bartholow has worked with our before and after care program since 2005. She has had two years of child development training and worked at Learning Daycare prior to joining PPA. |
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Vicki Hauser, Before / After Care Staff
Email Address: vhauser@pinellasprep.org |
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Kara Johnston, Before / After Care Staff
Email Address: kjohnston@pinellasprep.org |
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Steve Tye, Maintenance
Email Address: stye@pinellasprep.org |
| Justin Romaine, Maintenance Assistant
Email Address: jromaine@pinellasprep.org |
































