Preschool Works

Live Stream Chicken Coop Cam

See more of the Montessori children’s adventures in our Outdoor Environment here.

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Call us at 480-222-0811 or email your student’s teacher directly.

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My “Why” Story

Talia Polk
English Teacher
This is my first year at San Tan Charter School, but I can already tell that this is a community that values education and learning. I am grateful to be a part of this staff and have the opportunity to work with our student body, parents, and administrators.
Since my senior year of high school I knew I wanted to be an educator. Many of my most prominent role models were my teachers and professors and I want to be that for the upcoming young minds at San Tan Charter School. I taught math for one semester at Heritage Academy in Mesa and English for 7th grade for one semester at that same school. I also taught dance for a school year at Heritage Academy Gateway. This is my first year teaching 8th and 9th grade English.

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.

Christopher Newton
Science Teacher
Why do I teach? Out of all the things that I have done in life, I enjoy teaching the most. I hear so many people that are intimidated to teach Jr. High and High school. But I love these kids! They are my “why”. I enjoy seeing them succeed and grow academically and in life. I am so very proud of all my past students who have gone on to achieve great things. I regularly hear back from students that I once taught that are now in successful careers and have grown into amazing adults. You can’t beat that.

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.

Shannon Yocklin
Gifted 4th Grade Teacher
Raised by a teacher and coming from a family of people involved in community involvement and service, teaching was a natural progression for me. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education in 2006 and started teaching in elementary positions.
This will be my 12th year teaching and my third at San Tan. I really love teaching upper elementary and refining skills and seeing the lightbulb moments when students are able to connect all of their previous learning.

Kyli Crooms
Science Teacher/Head Boys Basketball Coach
I chose to be a teacher because it came natural to me. I have been an athlete my entire life playing basketball from grade school all the way through college. Growing up I got to see how important it was to have great coaches on and off the court if you wanted to continue to move to the next level. As I transitioned from high school to the college ranks I was pushed the hardest off the court by my teachers. I did not realize the impact they had on me until I graduated from college and realized half of the scholarship money I obtained was academic. From that point on I realized that I wanted to teach the next generation of students rather it was on the court or in the classroom.
2018-19 was my first year being a head teacher at San Tan Charter School. I’ve learned a lot from my colleagues over the past two years at them elementary and I am looking forward to teaching the 2020/21 school year at the high school Power campus.

Amber Kovach
English Teacher
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. Sounds cliché, but it is true. My mom worked in an elementary school for my entire childhood and adolescence, so I often spent free time in the empty halls after school. I would peek in on some of my favorite teachers to see if they needed any help or to just ooh and ahh over their classrooms. At home I would often gather up several stuffed animals to “teach” a lesson to. They weren’t the liveliest crowd!
Two Bachelor Degrees and a Master’s Degree in English later, I finally realized what I wanted to be when I grew up. Teaching incoming freshman at Boise State was an amazing experience and I met some wonderful students, some I am still in touch with. There was only one problem; each student came in with a sad story about their High School English classes and how unprepared they were for college English and the world in general. It didn’t take long for me to realize where I needed to be and what I needed to be doing. Today’s students are our future and without the proper guidance and tools to propel them, the change we so need will not happen. Writing helps aid in their communication to others, while regular reading improves vocabulary and overall knowledge. Teaching these skills will go far in society today.

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.

Michelle Myers
Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)
From the moment I became a mom 21 years ago, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. My first child struggled to speak and I spent years working with speech pathologists at Duke University to help him overcome the challenges of Apraxia of Speech. The day he read the first page of Harry Potter aloud to me, I developed a massive passion for helping children learn to read.
I homeschooled my children supporting their passions for exploring the world around them as we traveled the country. I have taught reading support for over 10 years. Last year I was an assistant kindergarten teacher and a substitute.
I have studied at Grand Canyon University to obtain a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education k-8 and I’m in the last couple of credits to adding a reading specialty. I have taken courses with AMI and NAMC for Montessori education.
This will be my first year at San Tan Charter School teaching in the Montessori program.

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.

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.

Sarah Edam
Montessori Teacher (Primary)
Ever since I was a child in elementary school, I have always wanted to be an elementary school teacher because I admired my mother, grandmother, and my teachers for their passion in the teaching process. I enjoyed helping them clean up the classroom, passing paper for my classmate, and helping my classmates to finish their work. When I graduated from high school I decided to study in the Teachers Training Institute.
When we moved to the USA, I worked as a student teaching in Los Medanos college childcare. I worked with kids ages between three to six years old. I had the opportunity to work and teach in different school settings based on a variety of cultures. I created a project and hands-on activities for the children. I felt so happy when I saw the excitement and joy in the children’s eyes when I presented my activities. The children and myself learned a lot in three months. At that moment, I promised myself that I will continue to learn and follow my role model, my mother whom I will always be thankful for giving me and my siblings all the love and care that we are able to give to other people, and everything around us.

Kevin Hadley
Science Teacher
When I was a sophomore in college, I ran teaching workshops for Calculus as a side job. I have always like helping students learn. I had this one student who failed the prior semester. Not only did I see tremendous growth by her, but I actually saw her enjoying the learning process. She made note of how I actually made things make sense and she was so grateful. That was the moment I knew I wanted to be an educator versus just an engineer. I spoke to my advisor the next week to figure out what I had to do to teach.
While I earned my PhD, I took any education workshop or training session I could. I was the first participant in the future faculty preparation program to publish an educational research study in a national peer-reviewed journal. When I transferred to NASA, I took part in as many education outreach activities I could.
I finally got to achieve my goal to become an educator at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Teaching college engineering there and at Arizona State University did not feel right. As such, I left academia. I tried some other opportunities, but then I saw an application to become a substitute at STCS. I have always loved teaching, I just was not happy with the politics of university life. I saw this as a nudge to re-enter education, but to target students before they are part of the politics of university academics. I still love teaching and I am glad I get to bring that love to kids who love learning.

Peter Dudek
Electives Teacher
I did not decide to become a teacher until several years after graduating in 2011. I wanted to be a journalist but had trouble finding work after graduation. I bounced around retail jobs, rather unhappily, for about five years until a friend planted the idea in my head that I’d be a good teacher. After thinking about it, I realized I found the most joy working with youth in some capacity. So, in 2016 I got hired as a full-time teacher at Madison Highland Prep in Phoenix while taking 12 credit-hours of courses for two years at Rio Salado to complete my education certification. I taught English, journalism, and yearbook while coaching the boys and girls volleyball teams for four years. These past six years as a teacher have been the best, most joyous of my life and I look forward to continuing my career at San Tan Charter.

Barbara Cowled
Gifted 6th Grade Math & Science Teacher
I went into teaching in 2002 until I had my oldest son and decided to stay home to raise my children. I started a business in 2007 and ran it until 2018 when my youngest son told me I needed to do what I loved. He was correct so I came back to teaching. I am so happy my 16-year-old was able to teach me an important life lesson. I feel that every person, especially kids, have something to teach us throughout our lives and hopefully I can teach them a few things along the way!

Dr. Kristofer Sippel
Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent
Dr. Sippel has been with San Tan Charter School since its inception back in 2005 serving as the Principal of San Tan Learning Center. He believes that it is his life mission and calling to provide an amazing education experience to all students.

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.

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.

Last

Preschool Works

Live Stream Chicken Coop Cam

We are here to support you.

English Teacher

Montessori Adolescent Teacher

Science Teacher

Music Teacher

Gifted 4th Grade Teacher

Science Teacher/Head Boys Basketball Coach

English Teacher

School Nurse

Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)

Montessori Teacher (1st-3rd)

Montessori Assistant (1st – 3rd)

Montessori Teacher (Primary)

Science Teacher

Electives Teacher

Gifted 6th Grade Math & Science Teacher

Chief Executive Officer/Superintendent

Montessori Teacher (Kinder)

5th Grade ELA & SS 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