Exercise Happy

Individualize Learning Matters at San Tan Charter School

One way that San Tan Charter School embraces individualized learning is by supporting and believing in the benefits physical exercise can have on a students academic day.

There are numerous initiatives and research studies which support and encourage physical activity throughout the school day.

Along with high expectations for academics, we balance physical activity and creative outlets as vital components to enhancing classroom success. This drives us to offer daily PE, and a weekly rotation of music, art, and library.

We are dedicated to providing:

A safe nurturing learning environment for your child
An individualized and interactive educational experience
Proactive and positive attention to individual needs
An environment where parent support is encouraged
Daily social, emotional, and physical development

Physical Education

San Tan Charter School utilizes the Dynamic Physical Education program developed by Robert Pangrazzi from Arizona State. It is one of the most utilized curriculums in schools today. This program was selected to provide a comprehensive curriculum, which emphasizes fitness and healthy lifestyles.

This class incorporates some of the many ways to stay active and healthy.

Team sports such as baseball, football, soccer, volleyball, badminton, and more are incorporated. Strength training, flexibility, and cardiovascular improvement are also emphasized. Quarterly Fitness Assessments are administered to show the yearly progress.

Students learn to trust their own initiative and abilities, take responsibility for their work, and become self-motivated learners. By gaining respect for themselves, others, and the environment, children develop the desire and ability to continue learning throughout their lives.

Athletic Clubs and Team Sports

San Tan Charter School provides opportunities within Athletic Clubs and Team Sports. Our San Tan Roadrunner teams are recognized as State Champions across numerous Division 1, Division 2, and Open Division sports.

Students interested in sharing their athletic skills with our San Tan Charter School community are invited to check out our Team Sports and Athletic Clubs.

My “Why” Story

Natassia DeWyke
Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)
As a child, my choice of play would lead one to believe that I was destined to be a teacher. However, my artist heart led me to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. While I have no regrets about this choice, another itch in my heart guided me to pursue Montessori education and it is as if it was always meant to be!
After making the decision to shift my life/career path, the stars seemed to align and confirm that Montessori is my true calling. The stars continued to align when I met Dr. and Mrs. Sippel who so tenderly welcomed me to San Tan, first as an assistant in the new Montessori Elementary classroom, then as a lead for the past 9 years, less a year for maternity leave. Even while on maternity leave, I continued to be part of this wonderful community I hold so dear.
I have found my “Cosmic Task” in being a Montessori educator and hold great hope for the future lead by children who grow in this methodology.

Lisa Cordova
ESS Teacher (Recker)
I have wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember. I would set up my living room as a
classroom and play for school for hours and hours. My mother was wonderful enough to let me leave
my classroom set up for days. I adore children and could not think of a better way of working with
children than to teach. To be a teacher means to touch lives. As a teacher, you have the ability to
educate and mold children into capable and intelligent members of society. As a teacher, I am able to
provide students with the essential building blocks they need to begin their lives. To me, there is no
more rewarding career than that.
I have always loved children. I also strongly care about those who less fortunate than I am and those
who struggle with daily hardships. Because of this, it seems only logically that I would want to teach
students with disabilities. In today’s society, those who are mentally or physically different are frowned
upon and deemed inferior. However, students with disabilities are not something to be ashamed of or
taken lightly. Students with disabilities should not have to face this hardship alone. Disabilities can
easily be overcome with the proper love, care and instruction that only a special education teacher
can provide. By becoming a special education teacher, I will have the humbling opportunity to teach
these students to the best of my ability. I will give them the support, patience and care they deserve.
By encouraging these students and believing in them, I will give them the chance to believe in
themselves. I will encourage them the face their disabilities and hardships they will face and tackle
them head on.
My mother was a special education teacher for many years. She is a great influence and a large
reason why I also want to teach students with disabilities. My mother would come home from a long
day at school, sit on her bed, make lesson plans, create worksheets and even design new techniques
for her students. This is an expectation for any teacher, but the amount of work, dedication and love
she put into her career was extremely inspiring for me to witness. Her loving, caring and sincere
personality captured the hearts and minds of her students. My mom fell in love with each of her
students and figured out a way to teach each one in their own way. Not only did she love her job, but
her students loved her. To this day, she is still in contact with several of her students and their
families.
The most rewarding career in the world is to be an educator. But to be a special education teacher is
even more rewarding. Every student has a right to an education and has a right to thrive in their
educational career. Every student has the potential to make their dreams come true. No disability
should ever prohibit a student from the very best education possible. I would like to be a special
education teacher because I want to make a difference. I want every student to feel that they are
worth they are with it and that somebody will always believe in them be his or her number one fan!

Katelyn Cabrera
Music Teacher
I chose teaching as a career because It allows me to share my musical knowledge with all of my students. I have taught music ever since I was in High School and loved all the team building and ensemble work music creates. Teaching allows me to show music through different cultures and influences. We as an ensemble get to pick our repertoire to help motivate and make practicing more fun.

Carol Berhost
Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)
I have wanted to be a teacher since I was five years old. I was on that path when I decided to take a year break from college. During that time, I found a job with a great company in the corporate world. I started making much more money than a teacher would. As a Corporate Training Manager I felt I had somewhat satisfied my dream of being a teacher. I quit that job to start a family and with three boys attending STCS I volunteered multiple times a week and served on every committee I could. During this time, I realized what incredible people work at STCS. When offered a job here, I jumped at the chance and I am blessed to be able to spend time with amazing children and work toward fulfilling my dream of being a teacher.

Nathan Hemingway
Social Studies Teacher
Why I chose San Tan was because it allowed me to teach High School kids again and advanced classes. I enjoy the mission and vision of this school.

Marty Stevens
School Nurse
I have been a part of the San Tan family from the beginning when it was just a dream. It has been amazing to see it grow from the rooms in a church to the two campuses of today. I love being around all the kiddos and helping them through their days with a band-aid, ice pack, and sometimes with only an extra hug.

Monica Dippre
3rd Grade Gifted Teacher
I grew up in the PNW where I got my teaching degree and my Master’s in Education. I taught for 10 years until left teaching to own/operate restaurants with my husband. During that time, we began fostering and adopting children, and when we welcomed our third child into our home, we left the restaurant business and I stayed home to raise our kids. We now have 5 adopted children and I have spent much of my time volunteering in areas that allow me to be with my own children and work with other kids as well I have been a substitute teacher. I have planned and executed preschool classes and preschool religious education programs. I have volunteered as a library aide at school and be involved in may other child-centered activities. I am intrigued and impressed by the commitment to the individuality of the child a STCS. I am looking forward to growing here, as an educator and as a parent, and am excited to lead my students to discover their personal successes.

Tina Lebedies
English Teacher
I enjoy inspiring kids by teaching English and enabling them to communicate and learn anything that their hearts desire. San Tan has been a great fit for my family due to its uniqueness and gifted program. I am proud to be a part
of the San Tan family!
While teaching ESL to kids in China I saw how my support and knowledge helped each student with their language and communication skills. I saw their confidence and personality grow. My goal is to continue honing and improving those skills with my students at San Tan. I strive to be someone that the kids can come to for anything, be a constant cheerleader for them, and to help them improve their reading, writing, and vocabulary skills to be great communicators and lifelong learners. Hopefully they will learn to love reading and appreciate literature along the wa

Kylie Sippel
Community Outreach and Special Events Director
Ever since I was a little girl, I loved planning and organizing everything. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with a lot of great people! I have had two years experience with being an assistant to a wedding coordinator and five plus years with office organizing. You can count on me to get things done! Again, I am very thrilled to be back at the school that I graduated from!

Crystal Claytor
ESS Teacher (Power)
As a small child I have always wanted to be a part of life and what makes it happen, empower, enlighten and encourage. As I grew older I realized I wanted to be apart of lives that would appreciate what you do for them no matter how big or small. I found that I could do that in Education and even more so with the special population. Joy in watching others reach achievement they never though they could.

Edwin Ramos
Culinary Teacher/Head Swim Coach
I chose to become a teacher solely because I wanted to inspire students to not only reach their potential but more so, help them recognize that there are no boundaries if they choose to continue to move ahead. As a young student, I never had teachers that cared for me let alone, wanted to build a relationship which may catapult me to greater things, so I chose to make this my educational philosophy. I want students to truly understand their potential whether it is in culinary, JROTC, or their core courses, I just want them to enjoy doing what they do and follow their passion to success.

Christine Gray
Registrar
I love being a part of the STCS family and thank you for sharing your children with me when they walk through the front doors!

Rita Sippel
Chief Customer Officer / Assistant Superintendent
I desired to fulfill a personal dream to open a school of my own in order to have more influence in creating a child-centered thriving school environment conducive to learning I co-founded a small school in Gilbert, Arizona in 2005 with my husband Kris when our first son was entering Kindergarten. San Tan Montessori opened its doors with almost 40 students as a preschool through Kindergarten private school and expanded through 4^th grade before the elementary school was converted into a charter school in 2008, which was the beginning foundation of San Tan Charter School’s currently thriving K-12 charter school. I have worn many hats over the years to support the success of our private Montessori preschool and charter school including teaching, grant writing, and administration.

Jutem McCollum
Electives Teacher
From the first moment we stepped onto San Tan’s campus and had our tour for my children, we decided to jump in and become a part of the school. I absolutely love the support and family feel with not only the staff but the students as well.
I am not native to Arizona, but between California for half my life and Arizona for half my life aside from a short stint in Germany – I consider Arizona home. I have a Major in Communication, Minor in Business, and Minor in Spanish from Arizona State University. I have owned and operated several businesses, throughout my life and still continue to run them. This is my second-year teaching at San Tan since I was a long-term guest teacher last year. I am happy to be sharing some of my expertise to the students who dare to stretch outside their comfort limits.

Melinda Hatch
Montessori Assistant (1st – 3rd)
I have a passion working with children and love making differences in their lives by inspiring and motivating them with positive learning experiences.
Being a part of San Tan Charter School has been an honor and a blessing to my life. I always love being an inspiration to the children.

Danielle Talley
5th Grade ELA & SS Teacher
This is my first-year teaching at STCS and I am so excited to work at a school and in an environment where I feel supported. I love the family dynamic that San Tan has here and appreciate all they do for their staff and students.
I am originally from California but have lived in Arizona since 2010. I attended Arizona State University, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I have previously taught 2nd and 3rd grade, so this will be my first-year teaching 5th grade ELA and Social Studies and I am so excited. I am highly qualified in ELA and have a huge passion for Social Studies.

Kim Aguilar
Montessori Teacher (Kinder)
Teaching became my passion when I volunteered in my daughter’s Montessori classroom, I decided I wanted to become a Montessori teacher when I witnessed firsthand the academic, social, and emotional growth of my daughter and her peers. I started training in a toddler classroom in a Montessori school in 1999, I knew this is what I wanted to do and took my Primary Montessori training, and completed at the National Center for Montessori Education in Los Alamos, NM in 2006. Being able to create an environment for students to be true explorers of life, academics, social and emotional development.

Megan Hubbard
Montessori Adolescent Teacher
As a child, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. When I started teaching preschool at the age of 20, I knew that working with kids was my calling. After ten years of teaching in outdoor classroom schools, I decided to go back to school and pursue higher degrees in order to further my career and be able to incorporate my love of nature with the growing need for technology in the classroom. I fell into the world of Montessori when I realized that I wanted a more holistic approach to education for my own children- I am so excited to be able to follow my passion and continue to grow and learn alongside my students every day.

Last

Exercise Happy

Physical Education

Athletic Clubs and Team Sports

Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)

ESS Teacher (Recker)

Music Teacher

Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)

Social Studies Teacher

School Nurse

3rd Grade Gifted Teacher

English Teacher

Community Outreach and Special Events Director

ESS Teacher (Power)

Culinary Teacher/Head Swim Coach

Registrar

Chief Customer Officer / Assistant Superintendent

Electives Teacher

Montessori Assistant (1st – 3rd)

5th Grade ELA & SS Teacher

Montessori Teacher (Kinder)

Montessori Adolescent Teacher

SCHEDULE A TOUR OR CONTACT US

Recker Campus (Pre K – 6th)

3959 E Elliot Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Phone: 480-222-0811

Fax: 480-471-5990

Email: Email Us

Power Campus (7th – 12th)

3232 S Power Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Phone: 480-222-0811

Fax: 480-809-6467

Email: Email Us

SCHEDULE A TOUR OR CONTACT US

Recker Campus (Pre K – 6th)

3959 E Elliot Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Phone: 480-222-0811

Fax: 480-471-5990

Email: Email Us

Power Campus (7th – 12th)

3232 S Power Road, Gilbert, AZ 85234

Phone: 480-222-0811

Fax: 480-809-6467

Email: Email Us

SCHEDULE A TOUR
OR CONTACT US

SCHEDULE A TOUR
OR CONTACT US