Meet the Team

Jane Boarman, CITL Director

Jane Boarman is the Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St Petersburg, FL. She brings nineteen years of classroom teaching experience and a passion for professional development to her work. She is committed to providing relevant learning experiences to teachers while respecting their knowledge and experience. All learning experiences will be delivered using best practice methods. Before Shorecrest, she taught at Tower Hill School in Wilmington, DE and The Park School in Baltimore, MD. Jane received her Masters in Teaching from the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. She is also an Apple Distinguished Teacher. 

Jane is an avid reader and eater. She enjoys all of the cultural and culinary opportunities so abundant in St Petersburg, as well as the flat terrain which makes it easy for her to get around on her bike. 

Contact Jane at jboarman@shorecrest.org

Rachel Ashbrook

Rachel Ashbrook is a Middle & Upper School English and History Teacher and DEI Coordinator at Tower Hill School. Rachel began her social justice work over ten years ago when she looked up the demographics of her public school for work on her Master's, and was confronted with a truth she already knew; her school was nearly 90% white and the curriculum reflected that reality. Though time changed the demographics of the school, it was advocacy that changed the curriculum. Rachel pushed her way onto curriculum and book approval committees and used her leadership roles within her school to make classroom and systemic level changes. Now at an independent school, Rachel is a DEI coordinator and English teacher who leads Community Conversations for middle schoolers by day and pushes for changes on a Curriculum Task Force by night.

Dr. Anna Baralt

Dr. Anna Baralt holds a Doctorate in Educational Technology from the University of Florida. She taught preschool and elementary students for 17 years before becoming Shorecrest’s Director of Educational Technology. In this role, she provides support in designing curriculum and technology integration and facilitates professional development school-wide. Anna was recognized as a Teacher of the Future by the National Association of Independent Schools in 2008 and a Superpower Educator in 2009. She is also a 2010 recipient of the FCIS (Florida Council of Independent Schools) DeWitt E. and Vera M. Hooker Fellowship Grant as well as a 2013 Benedict Foundation Grant. Anna is passionate about integrating technology into project work, 1:1 learning programs, fostering digital citizenship, STEAM education, and using technology to facilitate professional learning communities. She has presented at numerous local and national conferences and has been published in several peer-reviewed educational journals.

Anna is the mother of two, and she and her husband enjoy watching their kids play baseball and soccer. She loves Rays baseball and spends time reading and taking pictures in her free time. 

Tracie Belt

Tracie Belt is the Director of The Learning Center (Experiential- 12th grade) at Shorecrest school. She plans and provides strategies and support to empower students to be successful academically. In addition to supporting students, Tracie, along with the division coordinators of the Learning Center, consults and collaborates with parents and teachers to enhance the academic success of their children and students. She has over 30 years of experience as an educator in grades K-9th grade and has taught in public and private schools in the USA as well as international schools in Europe and Asia. In addition, Tracie often provides workshops on executive function, learning differences, study skills, and assistive technology for students, parents, and teachers.
In addition to being passionate about helping students, Tracie is also passionate about her two grandchildren. She loves spending time with her grandchildren and daughter who live close by in Saint Petersburg.

Amy Brill

Amy Brill, a seventh grade English teacher and dean at Shorecrest Preparatory School, is a 2014 recipient of the FCIS DeWitt E. Vera M. Hooker Fellowship Grant for her collaborative project: iPad Digital Storytelling with Stop Motion Animation. A former journalist and editor, one of Amy’s primary goals is to help students find a passion and confidence for writing. She does this by using best practices in the English classroom, including technology and cooperative learning strategies. Teaching for 15 years, Amy has presented at Tampa Bay Area Writing Project's fall conferences for the past three years as well as FCIS in 2015 and at several local professional development summits. In 2018, Amy was part of a teaching team that won Shorecrest’s Innovation Grant for their project-based learning curriculum on health awareness. In the summer, Amy enjoys her role as Tampa Bay Area Writing Project’s St. Pete I.C.E. site director and is a National Writing Project facilitator.

Danielle Cameron

Danielle Cameron has nearly 20 years of teaching experience. She previously worked at Shorecrest for eight years before deciding to teach English online to adults around the world and homeschool her children. Throughout her career, Danielle has taught every grade level from preschool through high school. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Oakwood University and a Master of Science in Education focusing on Elementary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Danielle believes that the most important work as a teacher is to learn alongside children and show them that their choices matter. Facilitating independence and growth at any age reaps immeasurable rewards for them. When she gets a chance, Danielle loves to spend time crafting with her children, trying a new recipe, or reading a great book.

Stephanie Cojocaru

Dr. Stephanie Cojocaru is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area. Her background in working with military populations and individuals afflicted by complex trauma led her to a Staff Psychologist position with the Department of Veterans Affairs. During her time with the VA, she became a national consultant for an evidence-based treatment focused on strategies to improve relationships and mood and also spent time working with the organizational development team to improve workplace performance and cohesion. Dr. Cojocaru left the VA in 2019 to open her private practice and expand mental health treatment and organizational development consulting services for the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area.

Lenora Crabtree

As an instructor for UNCC’s Cato College of Education, Dr. Lenora Crabtree encourages teacher candidates to engage in inclusive and equitable learning opportunities. She received her BS in Molecular Biology from Vanderbilt University and taught high school Chemistry, Biology, and Anatomy and Physiology for sixteen years. Experiences as a classroom teacher, along with research conducted while pursuing an MS in Biology, provoked an interest in culturally relevant STEM education that became the impetus to pursue a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction/Urban Education. Her dissertation, defended in July 2020, explored the potential for scientific inquiry and place-based emphases to support the development of critical consciousness among practicing science teachers.

In addition to her work as a teacher educator, she is mom to three adult sons, LaLa to four grandsons under the age of five, and godmother to an amazing fifteen year old goddaughter.

Dominique Craft

Dominique Craft, a native New Yorker, has more than 10 years of experience in both the high school and elementary school contexts as a classroom teacher and administrator. Dominique received her B.A. in History and French Literature from the University of Richmond, and her Masters in Education Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University in New York.
 
The common thread through Dominique's wide range of interests is the science of inquiry, brain-based learning, and the kinds of questions that lead us to deeper understandings. Her passion is fostering children's curiosity and graduating students who are capable, inquisitive lifelong learners. In her various roles at Shorecrest, she pursues these interests in the elementary and secondary classrooms and with adult learners.
 
A happy St. Petersburg transplant, Dominique enjoys kayaking the beautiful intercoastal waterways, exploring the ever-evolving restaurant scene, practicing yoga, and biking to the Saturday Morning Market with her family.

Katy Deegan

As Lower School Educational Technologist, Katy Deegan is a part of the Shorecrest technology team who works closely with educators to incorporate technology into their curriculum. Katy graduated from Eckerd College with a B.A. in International Relations & Global Affairs and French. She earned two graduate degrees from the University of South Florida; M.A.T. Elementary Education and M.Ed. Educational Leadership. Katy has a background teaching in gifted education and has taught in both public and private schools. She presented on the topic of Design Thinking in the Classroom at the FCIS 21st Century Learning Academy.

Katy enjoys walking the beach and traveling. She 
is a foodie and loves cooking shows and new culinary experiences. 
 

Diego Duran-Medina

Diego Duran-Medina spent 10+ years helping schools develop service learning curricula and programming. From 2007-2012, he served as Director of Service-Learning at the Edmund Burke School in Washington, DC. 

Diego earned a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University, a Master of Arts from New York University, and a Master of Education from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College-Columbia University. He has presented at multiple NAIS conferences, and recently published a piece on civic education and developing students and scholars in "Independent School magazine." He co-founded the Center for Service Learning Leadership with Jonathan Davis, Middle School Principal at Dwight-Englewood School, in 2016, dedicated to promoting best practices in service learning for independent schools.

Diego's hobbies include photography, exploring street art through travel, and finding Venezuelan food wherever it is made.

Courtney Ellis

Courtney Ellis is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, wife, and mom of 2. She currently works as the Upper School Counselor at Shorecrest Preparatory School and teaches two sections of AP Psychology. She is also an alumna of Shorecrest.

Courtney spent the first 10 years of her career in private practice and has found enjoyment in connecting her clinical background with her current work in a school setting.

Kate Fierce

Kate Fierce is a specialist and consultant in social and emotional learning (SEL). She provides training and coaching in improving student social and emotional wellness to independent schools and teachers. She has been a school counselor for 14 years in independent and public schools, in both suburban and urban settings. From the beginning of her career, she has shared her passion for helping children develop into capable, resilient, empathetic and independent learners and individuals with students, faculty, and families.

Kate presented a workshop to assist teachers in building the development of social and emotional skills into their everyday teaching and learning at the 2019 FCIS Annual Conference in Orlando. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and an M.S.Ed. in Psychological Services from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Kate is a displaced (and often disappointed) Philadelphia sports fan when at home in sunny St. Petersburg, FL. A lifelong lover of the beach,  you can often find her cooking and reading with her pets.

Roderick Avery Fludd

Roderick Avery Fludd, a Columbia, South Carolina native, came to Shorecrest to be the school’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusion. He has more than 20 years of experience in education, and 15 years in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work. Roderick received his B.S. in Mathematics from South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC, and his Masters in Education from Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY.

For 10 years, Roderick held multiple positions at The Greenwich Country Day School in Greenwich, CT, including Mathematics Department Chair and Director of Diversity Programs and Community Life. Prior to GCDS, Roderick taught middle school math at the Brentwood School in Los Angeles, CA. Additionally, he has coached JV/Varsity softball since he began teaching.

An avid collector of bow ties, cufflinks and watches, Roderick is a lifelong Dodgers fan and roots for the Utah Jazz. He lives with his wife Sara in St. Petersburg, FL.

Colette Husenitza

Colette Husenitza has been teaching for 20 years, this is her fifth year at Shorecrest Preparatory School. In the previous 15 years of teaching, she taught in the Pinellas County School (PCS) system. She has spent most of the last 15 years teaching 3rd grade, but I’ve also taught 1st, 2nd, and 5th grades. "I love that I've taught grades 3 and 5. That experience allows me to know what the students learned last year, and what they will need to know to be successful at the start of 5th grade."

Colette has worked for six different PCS schools, including a Primary Years Programme (IB) magnet school and a Math and Engineering magnet school, both nationally recognized and award-winning. She was required to take extensive training for both magnet schools and helped write the school curriculum. Colette has written curriculum for an education company as well. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with a certification in Early and Middle Childhood/Literacy: Reading-Language Arts, 3-12. Additionally, she has earned a Master's in Ed Leadership.

Colette is a native of St Petersburg, FL, and lives with her husband and daughter. They enjoy attending the ballet, visiting the local museums, and walking on the beach at sunset.

Leslie Josel

Leslie Josel, an ADHD-academic and parenting coach, is an award-winning entrepreneur, having founded Order Out of Chaos – a virtual company whose mission is to help parents guide their students to success in learning and in life - when her son was first diagnosed with ADHD.

She is also the creator of the award-winning Academic Planner: A Tool for Time Management®, a planner that helps students develop time management skills, and the award-winning author of 3 books including the recently published, “How to Do it Now Because it’s Not Going Away: An Expert Guide to Getting Stuff Done.” (Lerner Publishing)

A respected resource on ADHD and Executive Functioning, Leslie writes the weekly “Dear ADHD Family Coach®” column for ADDitude Magazine, the premiere magazine for adults and children with ADHD.  She speaks to audiences all over the world helping them utilize their resources to best navigate the task-driven world in which they live.  Last year, Leslie’s line of student organizing products – a collaboration with Samsill Corp – was released.  

And for the last five years, Leslie has been named by Global Gurus as one of the top 20 Time Management experts in the world.

Rosetta Lee

Since 2004, Rosetta Lee has been a diversity speaker and trainer on a variety of topics, including cross-cultural communication, identity development, implicit and unconscious bias, gender and sexuality diversity, facilitation skills, and bullying in schools. 

Rosetta  serves Seattle Girls’ School in dual roles. SGS is an innovative school for Junior High School girls, aiming to empower women leaders and change agents and dedicating its energies to a diverse community of students and faculty, an anti-bias mission, and an integrated curriculum. As a faculty member, Rosetta teaches subjects such as science, math, technology, art, ethics, social justice, and more. As a professional outreach specialist, she designs and delivers trainings for all constituencies of the school community, as well as the local and national educational and nonprofit sectors.

Rosetta has presented at numerous conferences and nonprofit organizations such as the White Privilege Conference, Junior League, and City Year. She has also worked with over 200 K-12 public and independent schools throughout the country, as well as a number of colleges and universities. She has served several years on the faculty of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Diversity Leadership Institute, as well as NAIS's diversity think-tank cadre, Call to Action.

Caitlin McLemore

Caitlin McLemore is an experienced educational technology coach, author, and consultant who works with students and teachers in a variety of settings to ensure meaningful technology integration and transformative learning experiences. Previously, Caitlin worked as a Librarian and Technology Specialist at Shorecrest Preparatory School, Academic Technology Specialist at Harpeth Hall, and a Technology Integration Specialist at Currey Ingram Academy.

Caitlin was named an ISTE Emerging Leader in 2017 and the 2018 ISTE Outstanding Young Educator. In 2018, she was also part of the Harpeth Hall team that was named a finalist for the FETC STEM Excellence Award for Middle School. Caitlin is the co-author of "Stretch Yourself: A Personalized Journey to Deepen Your Teaching Practice."

Caitlin holds an Ed.D. through Johns Hopkins School of Education with a specialization in Technology Integration in K-16 Education. Caitlin also holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and M.Ed. in Educational Technology, both from the University of Florida (Go Gators(). Caitlin is an Apple Teacher, Common Sense Educator, Google Certified Innovator and Trainer, and an ISTE Certified Educator.

Sarah Palazzolo

Sarah Finnemore Palazzolo is the Lower School Curriculum Dean at Shorecrest Preparatory School and a literacy consultant with expertise in reading and writing workshops and literacy curriculum development. She has taught third through fifth grades. Her experience as an independent school teacher, her training in reading and writing workshop from Columbia University, and Sarah’s position as lead staff developer and literacy coach with Pinellas County Schools allows her to offer specialized and practical professional development in literacy.

She is an avid reader and writer; and enjoys discovering new cultural opportunities - especially food - around St. Petersburg and Clearwater, Florida, where she lives with her husband and daughters. 

Deborah Peart

Deborah Peart is a mathematics specialist at UnboundEd and works with a team to develop and implement professional development programs for K-12 mathematics. Prior to this, she was the lead writer for 2nd grade for the Illustrative Mathematics Elementary Math Curriculum project. Now based in FL, Deborah taught for over 25 years in NY, CT, and GA in the public and private sectors.

Deborah is the founder of My Mathematical Mind and speaks on a variety of topics related to math identity and literacy connections to mathematics. Blending her training in yoga and mindfulness with mathematics instruction, Deborah advocates for a mindful approach to teaching mathematics in order to address math anxiety, build confidence, and support the development of positive mathematical identities. She has dedicated her career to helping other educators approach teaching in innovative ways that allow students to see themselves as valued mathematical thinkers.

Khana Rebman

Khana Rebman earned a BA in Human Development from Connecticut College and an MA and Certification in Elementary Education. She teaches third grade at Shorecrest Preparatory School. Khana exudes her own brand of energy and creativity to her work, and brings a unique perspective to the faculty as an alumna of the school. Khana is passionate about unleashing the potential of her students and instills in them the confidence to make their marks on the world.

Khana's hobbies include all things musical, traveling on and off the beaten path, creating memories and learning through experiences.

Christina Rogers

Christina Rogers is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor determined to empower, educate and invest in genuine connections with those seeking a more fulfilling life. Christina is the founder of Mentality Movement and continues to find ways to bridge the gap between mental and physical health. Christina works with individuals, young adults, and teens experiencing challenges related to life transitions, depression, anxiety, LGBTQIA issues, along with difficulties related to mental strength, confidence, and relationships. Christina also offers walk and talk counseling, fitness therapy and activity therapy for those who are intimidated by traditional counseling in an office setting.

Christina has worked in a multitude of mental health and physical wellness settings. Her experience counseling adolescents and families in the foster care system has given her a fresh perspective on resilience and the power of connection. She has worked with individuals and young adults experiencing challenges related to life transitions, depression, anxiety, LGBTQIA issues, along with difficulties related to relationships, confidence and self-defeating behaviors. Christina also specializes in working with athletes to build mental strength and overcome challenges related to performance.

Cindy Williams

Cindy Williams holds a B.A. in Art and a Masters in Education and has taught art in the Lower, Middle and Upper Schools at Shorecrest Preparatory School. Cindy is a docent at the Salvador Dali Museum and has presented at AMLE 2012, NAEA 2014, and FCIS 2013 and 2015 on linking the arts with the core curriculum. She collaborates with the core curricular teachers in the Middle School and has attended many workshops on brain research and uses brain-friendly teaching strategies in her courses to enhance creativity and encourage diverse thinking.

Interesting fact: Cindy is a native Floridian born in Daytona Beach, Florida. She was raised in a family of 3 children, had 3 children of her own, currently raises 3 chickens, and has 3+2 grandchildren.

Selene Willis

Selene Willis has taught fifth grade science at Shorecrest Preparatory School since 2014. She has taken a year-long sabbatical to work with the NASA Science Mission Directorate Science Activation program as a 2021-2022 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow

Ms. Willis has over a decade of teaching experience, and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech and a Master of Science Education from Pace University. Ms. Willis is pursuing a Doctorate in Science Curriculum and Instruction at the University of South Florida.

When she is not thinking of interesting ways to excite her students in science class, Selene is a self-taught cake decorator and co-director of a non-profit cultural foundation in Jamaica.

School Information

5101 First Street Northeast
St Petersburg, FL 33703
Phone: (727) 522-2111  |  Fax: (727) 527-4191
[Map]

Privacy Policy | Faculty
Shorecrest Preparatory School is a private, non-sectarian, coeducational, college preparatory day school for students preschool through high school, located in St. Petersburg, Florida.

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
Shorecrest acknowledges its obligation to prohibit discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin sex, citizenship status, genetic information, handicap or disability in admissions, access, employment, tuition assistance, educational policies, or other school administered student and employee programs and activities. Questions regarding the School’s compliance with the application and administration of the School’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to Kristine Grant, Head of Middle School, 5101 First Street Northeast, St. Petersburg, Florida 33703, (727)-522-2111, kgrant@shorecrest.org or to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Please refer to the School’s Non-Discrimination Compliance Policy on the School’s website for information on how to file complaints with OCR.