Meet the School’s New Full-Time Faculty and Staff Members
Principia School welcomed 13 new full-time faculty and staff members to the campus this year. With over 100 years of combined academic and professional experience, they bring immense value to the School. For some, a relocation was necessary—from Arizona, South Carolina, and Minnesota, for example. Many brought family with them, further expanding the Principia community.
Below is a brief introduction to these new community members.
Lower School
Jessica Hervey (C’98) is the new second-grade teacher. Hervey has more than 15 years of teaching experience in elementary school, especially in grades 2–4. She has a master’s degree and National Board Certification. Hervey is passionate about her students, teaching leadership habits, and character education.
Audrey Cleveland (Smith, C’09) is teaching fourth grade. She has more than 10 years of experience in education, with most of her teaching career in grades 3–5. Most recently, she taught fifth grade at a prestigious International Baccalaureate school in Arizona. Cleveland’s classroom is characterized by a cooperative, student-centered, experiential, homelike, and character-driven atmosphere.
Middle School
Kendall Shoemake (C'15) joins us as a social studies/integrated studies teacher. He has worked inside and outside the classroom with students from elementary through high school. Shoemake believes in a classroom culture of love, inclusion, and respect, which connects well with Principia’s core belief of “marking the perfect man,” i.e., seeing each student as an unlimited expression of God. Shoemake is currently enrolled in the Teton Science Schools' master’s program.
Mark Russo has joined the integrated studies team. He has been teaching middle school for more than 20 years and holds a master's degree in science. Russo’s hands-on approach to teaching matches Principia’s ethos of offering authentic, engaging learning experiences. His teaching has emphasized engineering, STEM, and woodshop.
Ben Deloya is the new Spanish teacher. He has a teaching qualification from Lindenwood University and has been teaching for five years. Deloya brings an intimate knowledge of the Spanish language, culture, and history. He is passionate about teaching students to love the language and to speak it fluently. With his extensive experience teaching other subjects in a dual-medium capacity, Deloya will also be part of the integrated studies team.
Upper School
Tommie Traylor joins the faculty as a STEM teacher and integration specialist for the School’s new IDEA Lab. Traylor has four years of experience teaching math and science as well as a passion for developing rigorous curricula that are both relevant and engaging. He looks forward to collaborating with faculty and finding touchpoints for integrated studies across the curriculum.
Jill Morey has joined the Learning Engagement Center team. She comes with more than 20 years of experience in public and private secondary education and is certified in the state of Missouri. Highlights from her years in education include curriculum design, professional development, and effective collaboration with core teachers. Morey is certified in ESOL, French, and history, and she has a significant number of hours toward her reading specialist certification.
Avery Lux is the new dance teacher in the Performing Arts Department. She consistently demonstrates patience, joy, and humility in working with students. Lux has a natural ability to juggle large groups of students while keeping them all engaged, and she has an overwhelming desire to help them love to dance.
Katherine (Katie) Vogl has also joined the performing arts faculty as assistant band director. Her experience working with young musicians—both experienced and beginners—will greatly benefit the grade 4–12 instrumental music education program, as will her experience conducting ensembles of 70+ students. Vogl is also an accomplished saxophonist and woodwind specialist. She brings energy, positivity, and passion to help meet our students' diverse needs across grade levels.
Adam Colombo is a new member of the math faculty. He has 12 years of experience in several different teaching settings, including public and private schools around the country. Colombo thrives in an environment where he can be a change agent and a contributor. He will be an outstanding help in reframing the Upper School math curriculum with a 21st-century approach.
New Staff Members
BK Grimmer is the new dean of girls. In her work at the College in Student Life and as interim assistant dean of students, Grimmer supported students through many challenging circumstances and gained deeper insight and skill in the area of mentoring. She has valuable experience responding to student needs of all kinds. Grimmer has also taught middle school and previously served as a DiscoveryBound regional manager, planning events for teens.
Emily Karleskint is the new athletics assistant. Emily embraces the Principia culture and the “high-minded and hard-fighting” attitude that the Athletics Department promotes. A trainer, Karleskint has integrated well with our Christian Science nurses, coaching staff, and students. She knows that relationships matter and works hard at building them.
Leslie Mansky is the new Aron House (Girls' Dorm) housemom. Previously, she served as a security officer at Principia, responding effectively and calmly to a variety of situations. The students also know and appreciate her through her role as head cheer coach. Mansky maintains high standards, and her teams are dedicated, hardworking, and fun to watch!