March 2020
Ariel Cabrera
Mr. Cabrera was born in Cuba and raised in Canada until the start of high school. He grew up wanting to go to school for Mechanical Engineering and work on robots.
He attended Florida International University, and majored in mechanical engineering for the first 2 years until I switched to Physics and a mathematics minor. While enrolled college, he began teaching math and physics and found and felt a great amount of satisfaction helping people learn science and math, and it turned into a career in education.
Mr. Cabrera has been teaching high school physics and math for the last 6 years and looks forward to every new experience and interaction with students
October 2017
Bruce Valenzano
Hello, my name is Mr. Valenzano. I will be your virtual school teacher this semester. I will be teaching Physical Education, Health and Driver’s Safety. This will be my ninth year teaching at a traditional school setting and my fifth year as a virtual school teacher. I enjoy all types of sports in particular my favorites are soccer, football and basketball. My wife is also a virtual school teacher and we enjoy spending our time together with our five year old son and one year old daughter.
September 2017
Belinda Chayeb
Belinda Chayeb, a native of Miami received her Bachelors in Psychology and Special Education from University of Miami, and holds a teaching certificate in Integrated Curriculum (Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, and Math), Special Education, and is Gifted endorsed. She has been a teacher for over 16 years and has been a virtual teacher for 4 of those years. Mrs. Chayeb has taught Social Studies and Psychology for the past year and Science for the past 3 years and is excited for the year ahead!
July 2017
Jaclyn Sparks
My name is Jaclyn Sparks. I have been teaching with the virtual school for four school
years. My area of expertise is Spanish. I enjoy teaching Spanish because it is fun watching my students engage with a new language and a new culture. My hobbies include traveling and rollerblading. I love to learn new things and meet new people.
May 2017
Brandon Neifeld
My name is Brandon Neifeld. I attended Cooper City High School and later graduated from West Liberty University, WV with a degree in Biology (Pre-Med) while also starting on the varsity wrestling team for 4 years. I have been teaching Anatomy & Physiology and Chemistry Honors, and coaching the wrestling team for about 5 years. This was my first year teaching AP Chemistry and also becoming an online instructor. I hope to keep growing and improving in the teaching field, and to continue to positively impact the students and coworkers I cross paths with in the future.
April 2017
Alison Siegel
My name is Alison Siegel and I have been a part of the AVE family for over five
years. I am proud to have been awarded AVE’s Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015
school year. I have taught online courses and led instructional and non-instructional
teams over the years. I earned my B.A. in Education from Florida Atlantic University.
I've experienced many career opportunities over the years, but above all I’m a proud
parent of two high school students, a third grade teacher, and an entrepreneur.
My passion is helping students educationally and emotionally. I love being able to
help expand a student's knowledge and engage them in learning online.
March 2017
Gianni Hernandez
I have been teaching high school language arts at all levels, but primarily grade 12 since 2005. My specialty is AP English Literature and, to that end, I am pursuing an MA in English Literature. I enjoy bringing new and interesting authors and approaches to analysis into my classroom, and hope to awaken, in my students, a love of the written word.
February 2017
Rachel Notowitz
My name is Rachel Notowitz. I graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Education (Athletic Training). I also earned a Master’s degree from Florida International University in Health Education, with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. I’ve been teaching math and science for the last 13 years. I’ve been an online instructor for the last 4 years.
I believe that a good teacher will have a positive impact on his/her students. My education was impacted by great teachers and I want to have the same impact on my students. It is my goal to make sure my students have a great virtual learning experience. I will do whatever I can to help them complete their courses online successfully.
January 2017
Jaclyn Sparks
My name is Jaclyn Sparks. I am originally from Long Island. I grew up in South Florida. I have an Associates in Paralegal, a Bachelors in Spanish and I did my Masters in Linguistics. This is my 8th year teaching and my 4th school-year with the Virtual School. I have a passion for languages, education, and cultures. In my free time I am rollerblading, at the gym, or by the beach. I have two daughters. My ultimate dream is to be a professor.
December 2016
Zeida Davila
Hello my name is Zeida Davila and this is my first year with Mater Virtual Academy and my tenth year at Mater Academy Charter Middle High. I was born and raised in Miami and have lived here my whole life. I attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School and graduated with high honors in 1996. I continued my education at the University of Miami from which I graduated in 2001 at the top of my class. I am a huge Canes fan. I was set on becoming a Doctor growing up until life threw me a curve ball and I was given the opportunity to coach at my Alma Matter, Monsignor Pace. That was an opportunity that came with life-changing decisions. I began teaching so that I could coach and make a living. I also started coaching travel ball. I stayed at Pace for the next eight years as a Volleyball / Softball Coach, and eventually became the schools Assistant Athletic Director and a part-time Teacher/Sub.
Another opportunity came my way and I ended up at our Rival School, Mater Academy. I coached the Men's and Women's Volleyball teams at Mater for 6 years. We won over 120 games in my time with the program and our teams won a total of 6 District Titles and had 5 Regional Semi Final appearances, including one State Play-In appearance with the boys. The young men and women that played for my programs were incredibly successful in the classroom as well as the gym. We placed 9 kids in colleges and universities throughout the United States on Academic/Athletic Scholarships, all of which have now graduated from their respective institutions and all of which lead very successful lives. Life threw me yet another curve ball and I stopped coaching and joined the GMAC Officials Association (where I started officiating games). Consequently, I also ended up in the Business Department, the most accomplished Department at Mater Academy. I began and finished my Masters Degree at SNHU with the change in departments.
I became an adviser for our FBLA Middle School Chapter and eventually started teaching with Mater Virtual Academy. It has certainly been a ride. I am incredibly proud of the kids I have had the opportunity to teach/coach through the years as they have helped make me the person that I am.
I feel honored to be considered for this award. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to teach in the Virtual world.
November 2016
Belinda Chayeb
Teaching has been a passion of mine from the time I was a teacher's aide in elementary school. In 1999, I graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelors in Psychology and Special Education. For over 15 years, I have taught children as well as adults. I have been teaching Reading and Language Arts for over 5 years at Mater Academy and I enjoy opening student’s minds to adventures in reading. I have been a part of the online teaching community through Academica Virtual School as a Science and Electives teacher for almost 2 years. Learning to reach students through technology has been an adventure for me, one that I am vastly enjoying. From Skype to Zoom, texting, blogging, Flipogram etc. have all become a new part of my teaching. There is no job better than teaching. Each day is different, and each student is a constant source of amazement.
October 2016
Maria Abad-Gonzalez
Born into a musical family with a long tradition, Maria started her training at the Advanced Conservatory of Music "Joaquin Rodrigo" in Valencia with Professor Adolfo Bueso. She obtained her degree with the highest grade and she was awarded for her proficiency in piano class and in chamber music. She did her postgraduate studies in Rome with Piero Rattalino, world known musicologist, writer and pianist. She also did courses for contemporary piano with Jean Pierre Dupuy. She finished her training with Luca Chiantore at the Musikeon Academy, where she participated in many piano master classes with Josep María Colom, Frederic Rzewski and Andreas Staier. She is also interested in the diffusion of contemporary music and due to this fact, she participated in a tribute concert in 2008 about the figure of Frederic Rzewski, while he was present among the audience. She also premiered works by the contemporary composers Martín Kutnowski and Geonyong Lee in Spain. In 2010 she was artist in residence in St. Thomas University in Fredericton-Canada. She has performed as a soloist and in different formations in the main concert halls of Spain, including Palau de la Música in Valencia and Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia, as well as in other countries like Italy and Canada. Since 2004, she is a member of the “Teachers Corps Music and Performing Arts” in Spain, teaching in different conservatories around the country and developing, in parallel, an important informative activity by offering educational concerts in many conservatories of Spain. As an educator, she has been a teacher for Spanish public schools and conservatories during the last ten years. She also had the opportunity to develop her teaching experience by giving classes to students with physical and mental disabilities.
September 2016
Nannette Fusté
Ms. Nannette Fusté has been in the classroom for over 20 years and this is her first year with AVE. She taught Special Education for 16 years before leaving the classroom to pursue a business career. After a 12 year absence she realized that teaching was where she was happiest and most fulfilled. She returned to the classroom 4 years ago to teach Math & Science at Pinecrest Prep Academy.
Ms. Fusté was born and raised in Miami. She attended Coral Park Elementary, Rockway Junior High (back before Middle Schools existed) and graduated from St. Brendan Sr. High School. She went on to college completing her AA & AS from MIami-Dade College in Early Childhood Education and received her BS in Special Education. from Florida International University.
She says "Coming back to the classroom is the best decision I've ever made"
June 2016
Florangel Goble
Mrs. Florangel Goble has been at PPMH for four years and with AVE for 2 years. She taught Middle School Language Arts at Mater Academy Charter Middle/High for 6 years prior to joining the Croc family. She is certified to teach grades 5-9, Gifted and ESOL Endorsed by the State of Florida.
Mrs. Goble is not only a Miami native, but also a native to the area. She attended Royal Green Elementary, McMillan Middle & graduated from Miami Sunset Senior High. After that, she attended and graduated from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. She interned with NBC6 for 8 months and in the meantime covered historical stories like that of Elian Gonzalez and the controversial 2000 Elections. After her internship she explored other realms of her degree, such as Advertising and Public Relations. She worked in these fields for 4 years and then decided that she wanted to make an impact on our society and teach.
Her inspiration comes from the love of Literature that was fostered in her by very special teachers. She tries to use the same techniques her favorite teachers used with her students. She takes pride in her work and expects nothing but the BEST from all of her students. She truly believes that every child, given the right tools and support, has the capacity to be GREAT!
May 2016
Tamara Fernandez
Mrs. Tamara Fernandez graduated from University of Havana, Cuba in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature, compounding a major in translation and a minor in teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently finishing a Bachelors of Science in Biology at Florida International University and has plans of continuing her studies to the next level. Presently certified in Mathematics 6-12, Mrs. Fernandez, former Math teacher of Geometry and Advanced Topics at Doral Aacademy, currently teaching Pre-Algebra Algebra and Geometry at Academir Middle Charter School and at Virtual Academy covering a variety of Math courses for 6-12 students ranging from Algebra to Calculus. Prior to starting her teaching career, Tamara Fernandez used to work in the Retail industry in Purchasing, Sales and Marketing areas. Her management skills, altruistic impulse and love for Math and science led her to education, where she looks forward to encouraging her students to feel passion for learning, to challenge themselves and employ their maximum capacity in a safe and enjoyable environment.
“I strive for an ultimate goal; I want to lead my students to set their own goals and work passionately to achieve them”. -Mrs. Fernandez
April 2016
Maria Abad-Gonzalez
Born into a musical family with a long tradition, Maria started her training at the Advanced Conservatory of Music "Joaquin Rodrigo" in Valencia with Professor Adolfo Bueso. She obtained her degree with the highest grade and she was awarded for her proficiency in piano class and in chamber music. She did her postgraduate studies in Rome with Piero Rattalino, world known musicologist, writer and pianist. She also did courses for contemporary piano with Jean Pierre Dupuy. She finished her training with Luca Chiantore at the Musikeon Academy, where she participated in many piano master classes with Josep María Colom, Frederic Rzewski and Andreas Staier. She is also interested in the diffusion of contemporary music and due to this fact, she participated in a tribute concert in 2008 about the figure of Frederic Rzewski, while he was present among the audience. She also premiered works by the contemporary composers Martín Kutnowski and Geonyong Lee in Spain. In 2010 she was artist in residence in St. Thomas University in Fredericton-Canada. She has performed as a soloist and in different formations in the main concert halls of Spain, including Palau de la Música in Valencia and Palau de Les Arts Reina Sofia, as well as in other countries like Italy and Canada. Since 2004, she is a member of the “Teachers Corps Music and Performing Arts” in Spain, teaching in different conservatories around the country and developing, in parallel, an important informative activity by offering educational concerts in many conservatories of Spain. As an educator, she has been a teacher for Spanish public schools and conservatories during the last ten years. She also had the opportunity to develop her teaching experience by giving classes to students with physical and mental disabilities. This year is her first year as a teacher in Doral Academy Middle High School.
March 2016
Belinda Chayeb
Teaching has been a passion of mine from the time I was a teacher's aide in elementary school. In 1999, I graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelors in Psychology and Special Education. For over 15 years, I have taught children as well as adults. I have been teaching Reading and Language Arts for over 5 years at Mater Academy and I enjoy opening student’s minds to adventures in reading. I have been a part of the online teaching community through Academica Virtual School as a Science and Electives teacher for almost 2 years. Learning to reach students through technology has been an adventure for me, one that I am vastly enjoying. From Skype to Zoom, texting, blogging, Flipogram etc. have all become a new part of my teaching. There is no job better than teaching. Each day is different, and each student is a constant source of amazement.
March 2016
Alison Siegel
My name is Alison Siegel and I have been a part of the AVE family for over five years. I am proud to have been awarded AVE’s Teacher of the Year for 2014-2015 school year. I have taught online courses and led instructional and non-instructional teams over the years. I earned my B.A. in Education from Florida Atlantic University. I've experienced many career opportunities over the years, but above all I’m a proud parent of two high school students, a third grade teacher, and an entrepreneur.
My passion is helping students educationally and emotionally. I love being able to help expand a student's knowledge and engage them in learning online.
