Faculty

Renaissance Academy's most important asset is its faculty.  Our highly qualified teachers all share the following attributes:

Ms. Ekblad graduated with honors from the University of South Florida, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Communication Disorders and Disorders of the Hearing Impaired. She has been a parent advocate for the St. Petersburg/Tampa Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Team for the past five years. Ms. Ekblad's experience includes teaching computer classes, curriculum development, and leading teams of caring adults and children in community outreach projects.

Dr. Caffrey is the Founder and Director of Development for Renaissance Academy.  A nationally recognized expert on education and parenting issues, Dr. Caffrey is the author of Drive: 9 Ways to Motivate Your Kids to Achieve, and a frequent speaker.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Rowan University, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Pennsylvania State University, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University.  Dr. Caffrey’s experience includes 10 years as a special education teacher, including all grade levels and academic subject areas, and 10 years as the educational administrator of a large non-profit organization.  While in this position, she worked as a school principal, wrote curriculum, evaluated teachers, designed and implemented new programs, worked with state legislators to improve education, and designed and implemented staff development programs.  Dr. Caffrey has also taught Curriculum and Instruction at the University of South Florida.  She holds a Florida teaching certificate in Exceptional Student Education and Educational Leadership.

Chef Anthula is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America with a Associates Degree in Culinary Arts.  She has worked in restaurants, hotels, and  had some catering experience.  Her true love, however, is passing on her knowledge of the kitchen to others with a passion to learn.  Chef Anthula was lucky enough to be born into a family of great cooks.  Both Grandmothers (or Yiayia's) were exceptional Greek cooks, as well as, her mother Elaine.  Her family also liked to go out to eat at ethnic establishments, and her first favorite food was Thai.  However, it wasn't until she lived in South Africa that her thirst for cooking knowledge took a firm hold.  While helping to prepare weekly meals for her surrogate family in Africa, she taught herself some cooking basics from a Southern Living cookbook, and quick 5 minute calls to her Mom in the States.  One day she realized that pouring over recipes until 3 in the morning was not normal, and began to think about attending culinary school.  She is married to Derrick, also a graduate of the CIA, and a local chef.  Chef Anthula enjoys teaching the Chef's Apprentice program at Renaissance Academy. 

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Florence Geise - Dance, Civics, Musical Theatre

Ms. Geise has been a professional performer with several ballet companies including Radio City Music Hall Ballet, Corps de Ballet, Baltimore  Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Pennsylvania Ballet.  She also served as director/choreographer for Schuylkill County Ballet Company in Pottsville, PA, and Tri-State Ballet Company, in Philadelphia, PA.  Ms. Geise holds a Bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts, and a Master's degree in Communication Studies, both from Bloomsburg University, and also studied at American Ballet Theatre School, the School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and The Philadelphia Dance Academy.  She has studied with Nathalie Branitzka, Maria Nevelska, Sonia Wolczkowska, Valentina Pereyaslavee, and many others.  Ms. Geise has been a teacher for many, many years, and enjoys seeing her students go on to perform in companies across the country.

Ms. Mukerjee holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Science, both from the University of Poona in India with a major in Microbiology.  She was invited to present her thesis work at the International Congress of Chemotherapy in Stockholm and won the Young Scientist Award for her research. She later worked at the Swiss equivalent of the FDA. She has also studied at the Swiss Hotel Management School in Lucerne, Switzerland and managed her own organic vegetarian restaurant in St. Gallen, Switzerland.  She relocated to Florida in 2006 and has been an active member of the Sweetwater Organic Community Farm in Tampa since then.  Besides “sowing and weeding”, she helps with the field trips at the farm.  She has recently conducted hands-on workshops on “Lentils as a Protein Source” and “Vipassana Meditation”. 

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Mr. Siemion holds a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics Education from St. Petersburg College, where he graduated with honors. He is a Florida certified math teacher who has twenty-one years of percussion experience with various drumlines and bands.  In addition to teaching algebra, and geometry at Renaissance Academy, Mr. Siemion also leads the Renaissance Drumline in its many school and community performances.

Patrick Stickney - Art, Art History, Psychology, Set Design

In 2005 Mr. Stickney moved to the Tampa Bay area from the Great Lakes region of Western New York.  He holds a Florida certification in teaching and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of New York at Buffalo – specializing in communications, fine art, art history, and creative writing.  After a number of years heading up creative departments at ad agencies in Western New York and North Carolina, Stickney started his own agency in 1986 – servicing business and consumer clients with all forms of marketing and creative media - including television, radio, and print advertising for regional and national accounts.  Always a fine artist – his paintings and drawings have shown in galleries in New York City, Los Angeles and now in Florida.  In 2005, after leaving New York, Stickney turned to teaching – hoping that his many years of practical experience in business and creative arts will be of great benefit to his students.  He is currently teaching Fine Art, Art History, and Psychology at Renaissance Academy.

Ms. Valderrama is indispensable as our Office Manager, and has two sons, Ryan and Richie, both of whom attend Renaissance Academy.  She is the 'go to' person for students, parents, and staff.

Mr. Wengertsman holds a Masters Degree in Education under the Curriculum and Instruction program from Castleton State College in Vermont.  He also holds a Bachelor's Degree in English from Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut.  Mr. W. (as some of the students call him) was certified to teach grades 6-12 English in Connecticut, and for the past three years he taught ninth grade English at Southington High School.  Upon his desire to live in a place where it is warm all year round, he moved to Florida this past June and is very excited to experience his first winter with no snow.  Mr. Wengertsman is also a certified, 6-12 English teacher here in Florida and teaches a Fit For Life course bringing his love for staying active and fit to the students here at Renaissance Academy.

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