Meet OUR FACULTY
EXCEL Academy HAS A WONDERFUL FACULTY AND STAFF WHO CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF Their STUDENTS.
Dear Excel Academy Families,
Thank you for considering Excel Academy to support you on your personalized learning journey. I am humbled and honored to serve an incredible group of dedicated educators and staff ready to collaborate with you in your admirable choice in education. We recognize the sacrifice and dedication families make when enrolling in Excel Academy which is why we strive to create unique and flexible personalized learning opportunities. Excel Academy is led by a collaborative team made up of innovative experienced educators on the forefront of educational change opening the doors for all options in independent study. As you browse our website, we hope you find the detailed information you need to make this very important decision for your child's educational needs. Please don't hesitate to call our office at 949-387-7822.
We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you to our Excel Academy family!
Sincerely,
Heidi Gasca
Executive Director
To request contact information for Excel Academy faculty, please contact our office at 949-387-7822.
Heidi Gasca
Executive Director
hgasca@excelacademy.education
As the Director of Excel Academy, I am rewarded daily fulfilling my passion for leadership, inspiring teachers and offering an educational model to students that is unique and innovative. Born and raised in Orange County, I graduated with a BA in Communications from UC San Diego, a multiple subject teaching credential from UC Irvine and a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. For the past 25 years, I have been dedicated to the field of education in both traditional and charter schools. I have been involved in every level from being a parent liaison, a general education teacher, lead committee member, human resources, enrollment, special education and administration. I am fascinated with educational research in child development and understanding the unique learning styles of each child. I am honored to serve the staff and families of Excel Academy.
Keri Schneeweiss
Assistant Director of Operations
kschneeweiss@excelacademy.education
I have been involved in the charter school world since the beginning of my teaching career. I started teaching 1st grade in a brick and mortar charter school in Palos Verde. After two years teaching there, I moved to Orange County and worked in the traditional setting for 6 years as a Kindergarten and second grade teacher. I learned of the independent study charter option and have been working in this educational environment for the past 11 years. I have been fortunate enough to have had the opportunity to work as a teacher, online teacher, mentor, assessment coordinator, vendor lead and assistant director. I have truly enjoyed all the different aspects of education that I have had the opportunity to experience.
Melissa O’Dell
School Counselor
modell@excelacademy.education
I joined the Excel Academy team in the Fall of the 2016-17 school year as the School Counselor, and I have enjoyed collaborating, supporting, and guiding students to reach their academic goals and post-secondary goals. My previous experience has been in a traditional school setting as a coach and counselor, though working with an Independent Study program, such as Excel Academy, has been just as rewarding. In addition, I have also provided counseling services for community agencies, where I worked with at-risk adolescents. As for my educational background, I have earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and in Human Development, with an emphasis in Child Development. I have also earned a Master’s of Science in Guidance and Counseling and a credential in School Counseling. Working with Excel Academy’s dedicated team members, caring families, and amazing students has been a very gratifying experience!
April Saade
Intervention Lead & 504 Coordinator
asaade@excelacademy.education
My career in education began in the traditional classroom, where I taught for 9 years. During that time, I lead a school-wide intervention program targeting struggling readers, as well as served on our SST team and leadership team. In 2005, I earned my Masters is Education Administration. My thesis project involved researching and implementing intervention programs for underprivileged students. In addition, I tutored K-8th grade students in the areas of math, reading, and writing, for over 7 years. Currently, I am honored and thrilled to be the Intervention Lead for Excel. Through our SST process, I work with a team to provide targeted interventions for our struggling students. I am also the 504 Coordinator for the school. I am forever grateful that my position with Excel so beautifully encompasses one of my greatest passions.
Tamara Murphy
Title 1 Coordinator
tmurphy@excelacademy.education
Hi, I’m Tamara! I have my Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential with a CLAD (Cross-Cultural, Language, and Academic Development) and a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction. I’ve had the pleasure of serving students as a classroom teacher and Title I Strategist. In addition, I worked for several years as an Instructional Coach to support classroom teachers with professional development to refine their practices. I’ve always had a passion for personalized learning, so I am thrilled to be part of a school with a mission and vision aligned to my personal educational philosophy. The flexible opportunities provided to students through Excel Academy truly allow for specific needs to be met. I’m so proud to be an Eagle!
Jen Sanchez
High School Coordinator
jsanchez@excelacademy.education
I hold a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and an M.S. in Educational Psychology and Counseling. I have worked in education for most of my entire adult life, and have been in the charter school world for about 18 years now. My experience includes classroom teaching with both general and special education students, serving as an Educational Specialist, a paid internship as a college counselor for my Master's Program, serving as HS intake Coordinator, Guidance Services Coordinator which included transcript coding, keeping track of graduation students' honors and awards, and other duties. I served as Curriculum and Vendor Coordinator, as well as Guidance Coordinator where I met with students in grades 8th-12th, as well as their parents and ESs to discuss graduation options and create 4 year plans to ensure they stayed on course. I love the world of education, especially the charter world, where there is more flexibility for students and families, and am super excited to serve as High School Coordinator for Excel Academy since their vision parallels my own.
Christa Nick
Assistant Director of Education
cnick@excelacademy.education
My passion for alternative education stems from my experience schooling my children at home for 14 years and witnessing the tremendous benefit they received. While utilizing various forms of independent study curriculum, I gained tremendous knowledge of the learning options available to students in the home environment which has transferred over to my role here at Excel Academy. The number of engaging standards-based curriculum options has grown tremendously over the years and it is exciting to be able to match students up with a curriculum that meets their needs. I believe that every student has the ability to learn when given the right tools and that parents can be a monumental force in empowering children to become successful, life-long learners. I feel so grateful to oversee the amazing teachers at Excel Academy and to work alongside people who truly care about students.
Jenny Craig
Assistant Director of Assessment & Community
jcraig@excelacademy.education
My desire to pursue education as a career began at UCLA where I earned the degree of Bachelor of Arts in English with specializations in Diversified Liberal Arts and Education. After graduation, I earned a multiple subject teaching credential and CLAD certification from California State University, Long Beach. I was fortunate to begin my teaching career in the district in which I grew up and attended school. I taught second grade and had the opportunity to collaborate with an incredible team as the second grade chair, mentor, serve on various committees including WASC accreditation, and lead the organization of state testing. Since then, I have had the privilege of working with the incredible staff, students, and parents at Excel Academy Charter School for the past six years in various roles; a Teacher of Record, Curriculum Coordinator, Assessment Lead, and currently the Assistant Director of Assessment and Community. I am passionate about education and I believe that all students have the ability to be lifelong learners when they are provided with the necessary support and guidance. At Excel Academy, each individual student has a team that is working to ensure that they are given the tools to succeed and are empowered to create goals that they can one day see to fruition. I am grateful to be a part of this team each and every day.
Annie Mun
Field Trip & Special Programs Coordinator
amun@excelacademy.education
Hello! My name is Annie Mun and I am the Field Trip and Special Programs Coordinator for Excel Academy. I grew up in Southern California and graduated from UC Berkeley majoring in Political Science. I thought I wanted to go into law but ended up pursuing a teaching credential in social sciences. I taught 7th and 8th grade history in the Bay Area for 8 years and personally love the middle school age. I hope to use my teaching background to make our field trips meaningful and directly correlated to what students are learning in their curriculum. In my free time, I like exploring new places and eateries. And when I can get a quiet moment away, I love to sit down with coffee and immerse myself in a good book.
Anne Cesario
Office Manager
acesario@excelacademy.education
My time with Excel Academy began years ago as a student intake enrollment clerk and has evolved into managing our beautiful office in Irvine, California. I am privileged to work alongside people who are passionate about student success and integral school practices. My art degree from Cal State Long Beach led me to graphic design work and subsequent creative positions. I live in Orange County and am a very proud mom of two talented young ladies who keep me grounded and grateful every day.
