Our Teachers & Staff
Gus Connelly, Executive Director, Middle School Principal
Gus Connelly brings over a decade of strong experience in teacher development, school operations, student investment and leadership as the Executive Director and Middle School Principal at Memphis Rise Academy Charter School. Mr. Connelly joined Memphis Rise Academy in 2013 as the founding Director of Operations, and has been serving the school in various network leadership roles since 2018. Beginning his journey into education, Mr. Connelly served as a 2012 Teach for America corps member and was a beloved 11th and 12th grade math teacher at Memphis City Schools. He is active in the Memphis arts and non-profit communities, including spending a two-year period as the president of the board of directors for Memphis ChoralArts. Mr. Connelly holds a bachelor’s degree in Theater and Norwegian from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. Through the continued support of many community stakeholders, Mr. Connelly continues to lead a network of nearly 700 students and 80 staff members to achieve Memphis Rise Academy’s mission of college preparation for all students.
Contact Mr. Connelly at info@memphisrise.org.
Network Staff
Gus Connelly, Executive Director and Middle School Principal
Nicholas Fortunato, High School Principal
Shara Ayers, Director of Operations
Emily Luth, High School Director of Operations
Marisol Palomo, Middle School Director of Operations
Pam Dyer, Network Operations Coordinator
Cecilia Cunningham, Director of Student Supports and ESL
Michael Logan, Registrar
Rebecca Olivarez, Director of Math and Science Curriculum and Instruction
Rhiannon Lewis DeFeo, Director of Literacy Curriculum and Instruction
Erin Magliozzi, Science Instructional Coach
Bradi Bair, Math Instructional Coach
Joyya Baines, Social Studies Instructional Coach
Meg Ryan, ELA Instructional Coach
Doneisha Odum, RTI and Compliance Coordinator
Joan Chavez, Director of Family Communications
Denise Ayala, Associate Director of Family Communications
Nick Tilley, Athletic Director
Kellie Simbulan, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Kaiya Wychgel, Social Media Manager
Troy Robinson, Director of Facilities
High School Teachers & Staff
Nick Fortunato, High School Principal
Emily Luth, High School Operations Manager
Jessica Zoutendyk, High School Dean of Students
Antwoine McClellan, High School Dean of Students
Michael Logan, High School Registrar
Michelle Gonzalez, High School Operations Coordinator
Jamesha Harris, High School Special Education Data/Intervention Coordinator
Ingrid Gonzalez, High School ESL Coordinator
Amanda Villani, Director of Post-Secondary Counseling
Kaiya Wychgel, Senior Event Coordinator, Alumni Connections and Student Government
Kiara Collier, Social Worker
Bradi Bair, High School Math Instructional Coach and AP Calculus
Erin Magliozzi, High School Science Instructional Coach and AP Biology
Brad Rodgers, English I
Sandi Edscorn-White, English II
Becky Faber, English III
Alyssa Gregory-Violi, English IV
Amber Slaven, Dual Enrollment English Composition & AP Literature
Caleb Soto, Algebra I
Mark Winburne, Geometry
Ien Harris, Algebra II
Yetunde Adewuyi, Precalculus
Claire Kolheim, Bridge Math and Statistics
Angelina Mendez, Biology
Sahid Adejumo, Chemistry
Jazmin Berlanga, Physics
Trace Hamby, U.S. Government and Geography
Caleb Taylor, World History
Jaime Moseley, U.S. History and AP U.S. History
Gina Ramos, Psychology
Kaela Sweetland, Sociology and Economics
Jessica Davila, Spanish I and II
Suzanne Varnon, German I and II
Anya Jones, Personal Finance
Quintel Cooks, PE and Lifetime Wellness
Lori Brown, Visual Art
Gunter Gaupp, Guitar & Jazz Band
Cecelia Cunningham, High School ESL Teacher
Adreean Shanklin, ELA Student Support Teacher
RaChelle Fields, Special Education Teacher
Trakeisyia Miller, Assistant Teacher
Middle School Teachers & Staff
Gus Connelly, Middle School Principal
Devonna Nickeo, Middle School Dean of Students
Ramon Moses, Middle School Dean
Marisol Palomo, Middle School Operations Manager
Julia Chavez, Middle School Operations Coordinator
Madi Bienvenu, Middle School Math Instructional Coach and 8th Algebra
Haley McLeod, Middle School Math Interventionist
Yevette Bell, Middle School ELA Interventionist
Catrina Walls, REACH Period Leader
Frances Leslie, 6th Reading
Rachel Reape, 6th Writing
MyKaila Jones, 6th Math
Tommy Douglass, 6th Math
Madalyn McClelland, 6th Social Studies
Britt Carson, 6th Science
Melissa Ivory, 6th Student Supports
Paola Plasencia, 6th ESL
Bethany Scheel, 7th Reading
Olufemi Lee-Johnson, 7th Writing
Jamarr McCain, 7th Math
Kaycee Douglas, 7th Math
Sherneron Jones, 7th Social Studies
Brady Kunz, 7th Science
Bemnet Teferi, 7th Student Supports
Alyssa Gregory-Violi, 7th ESL
Tristen Ferguson, 8th Reading
Ashleigh Wilson, 8th Writing
Alexia Hernandez, 8th Pre-Algebra
Marci Morris, 8th Social Studies
Raven Lomax, 8th Science
Heather Siegel, 8th ESL
Tracy Estes, Middle School Art
Dominic Shortridge, Physical Education
Anya Jones, Computer Technology
Michelle Jarrett, Assistant Teacher
Jenny Pepiton, Assistant Teacher
Quanicia Robinson, Assistant Teacher
Kim Shropshire, Assistant Teacher
Arun Venugopal, Assistant Teacher