The Out-of-Door Academy Adds 18 New Faculty and Staff

Lower School
 
Lynette Claude, Director of Lower School Academic Services and Counseling
Lynette obtained her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from New York University and holds three master’s degrees including a Master of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Barry University, a Master of Religious Arts in Christian Counseling from Jacksonville Theological Seminary and a Master of Public Health in Community Health Education from Hunter College. She brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and has held various positions as a classroom teacher, counselor for children and families and administrator in the medical field. Lynette will oversee our Learning Center, offering parent workshops, teaching social/emotional growth classes, as well as integrating Out-of-Door’s Core Values throughout our curriculum and programs. Lynette has four children, three of which are current Out-of-Door students.
 
Amanda Gabrici, Lower School Art
Amanda joined The Out-of-Door Academy in 2017 as the Lower School Fine Arts teacher. Previously, she taught art at a public school in Pinellas County for eight years, before returning to her hometown of Sarasota. Amanda received her Bachelor in Art degree in Education and a minor in Art History from the University of Florida. She has a wonderful 5-year-old son, Ethan, who is starting at ODA this year. In her spare time, she enjoys painting, yoga, playing board games, and cooking.
 
Sara Prete, Lower School Instructional Assistant
Sara Prete comes to The Out-Of-Door Academy from Manatee County School District and is excited to be a member of the second-grade team as an Instructional Assistant. Sara relocated to Florida from Indiana in 2001 to attend college. She has dual undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor in Art Degree in Photography and Digital Imaging from Ringling College of Art and Design and a Bachelor’s in Art Degree in Economics from the University of South Florida. Outside the classroom, Sara and her husband Michael and have three children, Isaiah (8), Alessandra (5), and Michaela (1).  They enjoy spending time together boating, hiking trails, and visiting Disney World.
 
Eshy Souder, Lower School Instructional Assistant
Eshy Souder was raised in Maryland and moved to Florida to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Services / Elementary Education from Southeastern University in 2012. She has taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten for five years.  She joined the Out-Of-Door family this past summer as a counselor for Camp Banyan. She loves going outside and exploring with her students. Eshy and her husband met hiking and will celebrate their second wedding anniversary this year. They have no children, but have two Chihuahua dogs that are amazing traveling dogs. They love camping, hiking and road trips in their jeep around the United States.
 
Paul von Saman, Fourth & Fifth Grade Math
Paul comes to Out-of-Door with over 14 years of teaching experience in mathematics at charter and independent schools. Hard work and dedication are what have allowed him to make his way to the United States from South Africa on an athletic scholarship. He earned both a Bachelor of Science and Master’s in Business Administration Degrees, and runs his own small business. As a former NCAA Division 1 scholarship athlete, Paul is also a personal fitness trainer and tennis coach.
 

Middle School
 
Stephen “Steve” Duffy, Interim Head of Middle School
Stephen Duffy joins Out-of-Door with 30 years of experience in independent schools, most recently as head of school at Falmouth Academy in Massachusetts. He has worked as an upper school principal (Rutgers Preparatory School, New Jersey) and as director of academic studies and college guidance (Abington Friends School, Pennsylvania), and has spent many years in the classroom as a middle and upper school English and history teacher. Steve obtained his Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in American history from Middlebury College, a Master of Arts in literature from Middlebury College and a Master’s in Education from Columbia University. His arrival at The Out-of-Door Academy marks a return to the state where he got his start at Oak Hall School in Gainesville. He comes to Sarasota with his wife Karen and considerable excitement and anticipation of working with an exceptionally strong middle school faculty.
 
Michael Kelly, Assistant Athletic Director for Middle School
Michael Kelly joined the Out-of-Door’s Athletic Department as Assistant Athletic Director in July of 2017.  He comes to ODA after two years at IMG Academy where he was the Head Coach of their High School National Elite Team as well as a Skills Trainer for NBA Pre-Draft, college and professional players from all over the world.  Prior to IMG, he spent 20 years as a college basketball coach, working at Virginia Tech, Davidson College, James Madison University, Bryant University, Rhode Island College and The US Merchant Marine Academy.  Coach Kelly has a degree in business administration from Saint Joseph’s College, where he also played college basketball for four years. He currently lives in Lakewood Ranch with his wife Jill, and two children.
 
Connor Ventling, Middle School History
Connor earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology with a minor in American history from Bates College. After fieldwork abroad in Samoa, American Samoa, Fiji and Hawaii, he wrote his thesis on traditional Polynesian seafaring. He joins The Out-of-Door Academy after serving as an assistant humanities instructor at Culver Academies in Indiana where he led the varsity sailing team as the head coach. Utilizing closed-circuit rebreathers, Connor is also an avid participant in deep shipwreck exploration, with operational depths often exceeding 300 feet. His background also includes working with students in outdoor education settings, as well as being involved in community service.
 

Upper School
 
Steve Brelsford, Middle / Upper School Math
Steve holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from George Washington University as well as a master’s degree in applied learning and instruction from the University of Central Florida. He comes to ODA with over 10 years of teaching experience in all levels of math from grades 5-12. For the past five years, he has worked at Shorecrest Preparatory School, an independent school in St. Petersburg, where he developed a true admiration for the independent school model. Steve is passionate about applying math outside of the classroom setting as much as possible. A former college rugby and saxophone player, he is also very interested in athletics and music and he previously coached volleyball and softball teams. Steve is excited to bring his enthusiasm for education to The Out-of-Door Academy.
 
Christopher “Chris” Chesley, Head of Upper School
Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in both English and government at Bowdoin College and his Masters of Arts degree in English at the University of Maine. Chris has served as a Director of College Counseling, teacher and coach at several independent schools, beginning his career at The American School in Switzerland (TASIS). He comes to Out-of-Door from the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he oversaw all aspects of the curriculum for more than 500 boarding students from around the world as the Director of Education Programs and Student Academic Support. Chris' strategic thinking and vision, coupled with a deep understanding of independent school culture, will bring strong and thoughtful leadership to the task of enhancing, growing and enriching our Upper School program.
 
Callie Donnelly, Middle / Upper School Theater Arts
Callie has been teaching theatre to students ranging from kindergarten to the graduate level for nearly two decades. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in theatre pedagogy with a concentration in directing while at Virginia Commonwealth University. Callie acted for both the stage and screen and focused on performance while earning her bachelor’s in theatre arts degree at Flagler College, but she prefers directing and has produced comedies and tragedies, one-acts and full lengths, classics and contemporary pieces, and, of course, musicals. For the past two years, she has been an adjunct professor of acting in the film department at Ringling College of Art + Design. Callie is also a yogi, a mother and a wife and is very excited to join the Out-of-Door community.
 
Timothy Garrett, Upper School Science
Tim holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and computer science from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia and a Master of Education degree with an emphasis in technology from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tim taught AP physics, algebra, geometry, lab science, environmental science and robotics for the last 23 years at Darlington School in Rome, Georgia. He also served as head varsity basketball coach for Darlington for the last five years and assistant coach for 18 years, and also served as head coach for the junior varsity team. Tim will join the Upper School as the AP Physics I and II teacher, and will also teach the Engineering Your World course. Tim brings with him an abundance of understanding on classroom approach as well as curriculum design. He has worked closely with students of all abilities, including those with learning differences, and he is co-chair of the Teaching and Learning Center Professional Learning Community. He also worked closely with student-athletes on academic coaching as well as coordinating with recruiters to make sure his students were ready to play and learn at the next level. Tim has successfully placed numerous students at the collegiate level.
 
Marc Roberts, Upper School World Language
Marc holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and Spanish from Furman University in South Carolina, a post graduate certificate in business and economics education from the Institute of Education in the United Kingdom, and is completing his master’s degree in education from the Open University in the United Kingdom. Marc will join the Upper School as a Spanish teacher. Marc has taught in Argentina, the UK, Qatar and in the U.S. He believes strongly in learning for life and a holistic approach to education in which educational partnerships between learners and teachers help foster leadership, inclusion and personal development. Outside the classroom, Marc is also a keen athlete. He represented Argentina at the Associate Nations Cricket World Cup and played first division rugby and club soccer in the UK. Marc will be involved with the athletics programs at ODA and has coached the girls middle school soccer team and the middle school tennis team. Marc is also a skilled card player and avid reader and has had a wide range of acting roles in school productions.
 
Sarah “Beth” Smithey, Upper School Science
Beth is originally from the mountains of northeast Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in both chemistry and forensic science from Western Carolina University. She also has a Master of Science degree in chemistry as well as a Master of Education degree in curriculum development from the University of Cincinnati. While in graduate school, she taught freshman chemistry at the University of Cincinnati, where she was awarded the Henry Hochstetter Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
 
Michelle Snell, Middle / Upper School Nurse
Michelle Snell is originally from New York and is married with two children and four grandchildren. Michelle explored many avenues of study before she realized that her personality and desire to help others was best suited to the nursing field. She holds an Associate of Applied Sciences degree in nursing and is currently licensed as a registered nurse in Florida and North Carolina and previously in New York and Vermont. As a registered nurse and member of the National Association of School Nurses, Michelle has worked in the hospital setting as the charge nurse and also worked in a primary care facility. In 2012, Michelle followed her husband to North Carolina when he retired from the Air Force. It was here that Michelle found the nursing field she was truly suited for, school nursing. In this position, Michelle has been able to affect the lives of so many students and families. She knows how important it is to provide a safe and secure educational experience for all students.
 

Administration
 
Amy Barker, General Ledger Accountant / Finance Manager
Amy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Eastern Michigan University. For the past 17 years, she has worked in the Controller's Division at Eastern Michigan University and has held positions in the Student Business Services, Financial Accounting, and Payroll Offices at EMU. She enjoys reading, traveling, and motorcycling.
 
Tristan Flis, IT Support Specialist
Originally from Bethlehem, PA, Tristan attended Moravian College and received a B.A. in Graphic Design in 2007. He worked in IT for Apple Inc. for 10 years, which is where he met his wife. They moved to Sarasota in 2015 for the weather and to live by the beach and have a 9-month-old son, Sawyer. Out-of-Door was a perfect fit for Tristan, because of its values around family and community.

Jake Siciliano, Athletic Department Intern
Jake Siciliano attended Out-of-Door from 2005-2011 and competed in football, soccer and track during his time at ODA. Jake went on to attend Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT where he played football for four years, receiving a varsity letter each year. In 2015, he graduated from Wesleyan with a Bachelor in Science degree in Government. After graduating, Jake worked for Sompo International in NYC in the financial institutions group. His passion was in athletics, and Jake found his way back to Out-of-Door as the Athletic Department Intern.