Our Staff
Head Nerds
Owners
Niecy Westmoreland
Micah Beverly
Lead Nerds
Site Directors
Bobby Norman
April Rohrer
Educational Nerds
Curriculum Writers
Monica Crowder
- Science & Math Teacher for 23 years
- University of Wisconsin-River Falls– BS., Elementary Ed.
- Arizona State University–MS, Elementary Ed.-Science Specialist
- Science Specialist- Kyrene School District
- Loves biomimicry (learning from nature) and laughing at her own jokes
Niecy Westmoreland
- 3rd and 4th grade teacher for 9 years
- Nerding founder and teacher since 2014
- B.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- Ed Tech guru
- Self-Certified NASA Mars Educator
- I don’t want Monica’s bio to be longer than mine, so I’ll need to think of another self-certification.
- Owns light up shoes
Big Nerds
Teachers
Bobby Norman
- 2nd, 5th, 6th (Lang.Arts), and 7th grade Science teacher since 2007
- Ed Tech Specialist for Kyrene District
- B.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- M.Ed. in Educational Tech from NAU
- Likes to use Google Earth and pretend he is a giant
April Rohrer
- 4th-7th Nerding Teacher since 2016
- B.A. in Business Psychology from Miami University
- Owns life size R2-D2
- Dresses up for Comicon
Rylan Ben
- 5th-6th Grade teacher
- B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies ASU
- 3D printing guru
- Harry Potter enthusiast
- Has viewed every Marvel movie 3 to 64 times
Chelsea Dysko-Erausquin
- 1st-3rd grade teacher since 2014
- M.A. in Educational Leadership from NAU
- Loves her hawt dog Chewie
- Space Nerd
Shea Evans
- K-5 Resource teacher since 2017
- B.A. in Elementary and
Special Ed from Shippensburg University - Adventure enthusiast
- Owns over 100 bowties
Alena Almendarez
- 5th Grade Science teacher since 2007
- B.A. in Elementary Ed. from Ottawa University
- M.Ed in Elementary Ed. from NAU
- Her patronus is a penguin
- Cried tears of joy the first time her son asked to watch Star Wars
Dave Carras
- 4th grade gifted and 6th grade science teacher since 2007
- M.Ed. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- NASA Endeavor Fellow
- Uses multimillion dollar satellites to find Tupperware hidden in the woods…
Marissa Cox
- 4th and 5th grade teacher since 2008
- B.A. in Art History from ASU
- M.Ed. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- As an art student, considered cutting off ear
Erin Martin
- 4th and 5th grade teacher since 2004
- B.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- Code wizard
- Clean freak… just don’t open a cabinet
Jess Leos
- Teacher for 10 years in grades 3-6
- Graduated from ASU with a BA in Elementary Ed
- Mama of two wild and spunky toddlers
- Always up for a spontaneous adventure
- Typically the first to laugh at myself, which is quite often!
- Currently pursuing a career in nursing; my other love outside of teaching <3
Sarah Hess
- 3rd grade and Gifted/STEM teacher since 2005
- B.A. Elementary Ed from the U of A
- M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction ASU
- Gifted, reading, early childhood endorsements
- Can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 2 minutes
Tessa Lamb
- 2nd Grade teacher since 2014
- Previously 2nd, 4th, and ESL teacher
- B.A. and M.A. in ED from ASU
- Loves to read, hike, and try to make plants grow
Brooke Warwick
- 2nd-4th grade and ART teacher since 2016
- BA in Elementary and Special Education from Grand Canyon University
- Art Endorsement
- known to be a compulsive eccentric costume wearer
- has dreams of teaching little children about color wheels and painting
Christina Orozco
- K-1 teacher since 2010
- B.A. in Elementary Ed, Early Childhood Endorsement
- Dog enthusiast
- Mom of a Baby Nerd
Liz Stewart
- K-3 resource teacher since 2016
- B.A. in Elementary and Special Ed from ASU
- Competed on a national level in Olympic lifting
- Mom to 2 kids and a crazy Boston Terrier Â
Ali Lutz
- 1st/2nd grade teacher since 2014
- BS in supply chain management and marketing
- M.Ed in elementary education
- Obsessed with her dogs, paisley and wrangler
- Makes balloon animals
Sally Kenney
- BS in Nursing degree
- Pediatric nurse for 10 years
- Post-Baccalaureate Teaching Certificate in Elementary Education
- K-2nd grade teacher for 16 years
- M.Ed. in Higher & Post-Secondary Education
- Sang at Carnegie Hall
- Life-long student of music
Jaime Cozza
- Desert Sun Teacher
- B.A. in Psychology, minor in Early Childhood Development
- M.A. in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University
- Mom to 2 nerds
Sydney Johnson
- 2nd grade teacher in the making!
- B.A. in Elementary Education and English Literature from Lake Forest College
- Was in Ms. Westmoreland’s 3rd grade class long, long ago
- I have read 100 books in a year!
Sarah Fahey
- Taught all the grades for all the years
- B.A. in Elementary Ed, Early Childhood Endorsement
- M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
- Loves to make people happy
- Bunco Champion of the World
- Does card tricks
Megan Blakley
- K and 1st grade teacher since 2014
- B.A. in Elementary Ed from ASU
- Prefers puzzles to TV
Liza Richards
- 2nd and 5th grade since 2007
- Ed Tech Specialist
- B.A. in Elementary Ed from Ottawa University
- M.Ed. in Elementary Ed from NAU
- Needs to code a program to find the kitchen
Gillian Soliven
- Kindergarten Teacher since 2013
- B.A. in Elementary Education from ASU
- Mom of 3
- Grew up in Maui, Hawaii
- Harry Potter and vampire enthusiast
- Passion for handstands
Kim Mason
- 1st, 2nd, multiage teacher and reading specialist for 31 years
- B.S. in Elementary Education from NAU.
- M.A. in Curriculum and Development, Language and Literacy from ASU.
- Early Childhood Endorsement, Reading Specialist
- I follow several rescues and love all rescue animals!
Janice Wagner
- K-3 teacher for 25 years
- BA in Elementary Ed from ASU
- MA in Teaching and Learning from NHU
- Loves to travel! Macedonia (w/ owner Niecy!), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Mexico… to be continued soon!
- “Granny Janny” to 2 grandnerds with a 3rd on the way!
Brenda Crater
- 3rd-4th grade teacher since 2003
- BA in Psychology from ASU
- MA in Education from University of Phoenix
- Visited platform 9 3/4 from Harry Potter in London.
Regina Bishop
- 5th grade teacher since 2016
- BA in English Lit from Maryland U
- Mom to awesome 17 yr old daughter and cute 12 yr old dog
- Avid shoe wearer
- So much SciFi…so little time 🙂
Manuel Vasquez
- 6 – 12th grade math teacher
- Masters in Chemical Engineering
- AZ Alternative Teaching Certification
- Science Olympiad Coach
- STEM Club Advisor
- Aspiring Amateur Astrophotographer