Meet Our Teachers

Ms. Joy has been teaching and inspiring elementary and middle school students for over 31 years in public, private, and online classrooms. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a specialization in reading, and a Master's degree in Educational Technology.

Ms. Joy loves building relationships with her students and getting to know them. She wants to build on their strengths and unique talents, and hopes to instill a love of reading in every student she teaches. She believes students should enjoy learning in a fun, interactive, and meaningful environment.

Ms. Jamie has been teaching and inspiring elementary students for over a decade in public and online classrooms. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education (early childhood through 6th grade), a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and is certified in ESL instruction as well as Gifted & Talented education.

Ms. Jamie specializes in helping students grow their confidence in math through engaging lessons, hands-on activities, and meaningful connections. She believes students shouldn't just do math — they should talk about it, think about it, and understand it. She focuses on helping students make sense of math concepts by exploring the "why" behind the steps.

Ms. Swan has been teaching students for over 8 years in grade levels ranging from 6th to 12th grade in public, public charter, and virtual classrooms. In 2024, Ms. Swan was awarded Teacher of the Year.

She studied English with a concentration in literature before completing her Master's in the Arts of Teaching Secondary English. She is licensed to teach secondary English as well as Special Education.

Ms. Swan loves teaching English Language Arts because she knows she has a lot of potential to make a positive impact and help students find a passion for reading and writing. She designs her courses to be rich and engaging experiences that help students become better readers, writers, listeners, speakers, and most of all, critical thinkers. Her philosophy as a teacher is to equip students with transferrable skills, so that what they learn in English class helps them in real life.

Ms. Dena is a passionate and experienced educator who brings warmth, creativity, and enthusiasm to every class. She teaches our 2nd Grade Learning Pod and leads our beloved Jr. Scientists and Jr. Historians enrichment series — 12-week courses that bring science and social studies to life in an engaging, inquiry-based way.

Ms. Dena shares YSA's core philosophy: that every student can learn, and that great teaching begins with a great relationship. She creates a safe, encouraging classroom where students feel confident to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow.