Pedro Alonso is a native Spanish speaker who joined the Shorecrest Upper School world languages department from California, where he previously served as Spanish Department Coordinator at the Vistamar School. Pedro earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Critical Social Thought and Romance Languages from the University of Havana. 

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.

Nancye Blair Black is an award-winning educator, speaker, author, and consultant who promotes progressive technology-enriched educational pedagogy and dignity-driven instructional practices that empower students to succeed.

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.

Diego Duran-Medina serves as the Director of Service Learning at Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, FL. Prior to joining the school in 2015, he spent four years as a national consultant through LeadServe Consulting, 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.

Charla Y. Gaglio has been an upper school Arts and Humanities teacher at Shorecrest since 2000. With a B.A. in Fine Art from Colorado College, an M.F.A. in Fibers from Colorado State University and an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from Harvard University, “Mrs. G” teaches all levels of Studio Art, Photography, Humanities, AP Art History and Intro to Women’s Studies. She never tires of seeing the art-making and discovery processes through her students’ eyes, and truly believes that she learns more from them than they do while in her classes.

Michele Johnson graduated from Eckerd College with a BA in Environmental Studies and minors in Psychology and Human Development. She then completed Brown University’s Teacher Education Program, graduating with an MAT in Elementary Education and experience teaching students with language-based learning differences. She has taught students in 4th and 5th grades, and currently teaches 2nd grade at Shorecrest.

Sarah Finnemore Palazzolo is a teacher and 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.

After graduating from Shorecrest, Christopher Powers '00 attended Franklin and Marshall College where he earned degrees in Philosophy and English Literature. He started his teaching career with Harvard University's WorldTeach in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2005.

Mr. Powers began his Shorecrest teaching career in 2007 as the Assistant Director of College Counseling and member of the English department. In 2013, Mr. Powers transitioned from College Counseling to become the Director of Online Learning.

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.