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
Tech integration curriculum specialist
Self-Certified NASA Mars Educator
Plant mom and bird watcher
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

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

5th grade teacher.
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