Meet Mr. Tom Kneisel, Tempe Prep’s newest 8th and 9th grade Algebra and Geometry teacher! With a BS from Central Michigan University, the “Funny, caring, and demanding — but not in a mean way” math major, originally from Michigan, never knew that he would be a teacher. “I was originally looking at going into accounting,” he explains. “But sitting in a cubicle all day long seemed rather dulI, and I found instead that I really enjoyed being around kids.” In fact, it was in his second year of college at CMU that Mr. Kneisel decided teaching was right for him. Having previously taught mathematics at Rhodes Junior High School in Mesa three years ago, Mr. Kneisel learned last year that TPA was looking for a math tutor, and after having filled in, he applied for the position of teacher and this year began teaching full-time. Outside of academics, some of Mr. Kneisel’s favorite hobbies include coaching football at Dobson High School, enjoying the perks of being a new grandfather, and traveling throughout the US states with his wife

– Billie Nagy

The new life science teacher at Tempe Prep is the wonderful Miss Kiah Mayo. Miss Mayo grew up in Las Vegas. She then traveled to the Grand Canyon State to attend Arizona State University. Miss Mayo enjoys playing games and adores basketball. She is also the Junior High volleyball coach. “Something interesting about me is… I like fantasy and science, of course.” Miss Mayo found TPA through one of her professors in college who happens to be one of Tempe Prep’s beloved board members. She likes a lot about TPA, but what sticks out to her most is, “it kind of reminds me of high school.” She explains how her school in Las Vegas, Nevada was bigger (of course), but it teaches the same principles. Miss Mayo expects a good year teaching biology to the wide-eyed seventh graders.

– Clara Moffitt

Mr. Tim Enloe is a busy man. Even with six daughters at home, he still makes time to teach Latin and Greek to TPA students. He is entering his seventh year of teaching, with his masters from the University of Dallas where he studied humanities. Mr. Enloe has been adjusting well to TPA, as the previous schools he worked at were liberal arts schools. He says his biggest challenge in adapting to TPA is “Getting used to the large size of the school. Its four times bigger than any other school I worked at.” Here’s hoping that Mr.Enloe has a great career at TPA.

– Cole Klassen

Mr. Jason Savaglio, Tempe Prep’s newest art teacher, hails from the New School for the Arts where he was the principal and director of visual arts. When asked why he wanted to become an art teacher, Mr. Savaglio immediately responded, “I love watching my students grow as artists and I believe that there is an artist inside of everybody.” Outside of teaching at Tempe Prep, Mr. Savaglio owns an art studio in downtown Phoenix where he creates oil paintings that he sells in galleries and restaurants around the city. He is also a curator for 25 local restaurants and offices around the Valley where he helps local artists get their creations out by putting their artwork up on the walls of these establishments. This year, Mr. Savaglio is most looking forward to “watching the students improve in both raw fundamental artistic skills as well as in their knowledge of fine art history.” Mr. Savaglio is a great addition to Tempe Prep!

– Lindsay Newfeld

 

A member of Tempe Prep’s original graduating class of 2000, Dr. Joel Calahan has, after fifteen illustrious years spent abroad, returned to TPA as a teacher of both high school humane letters and poetry. Driven by his passions for the arts and humanities, Dr. Calahan has spent much of the past decade and a half in academia, receiving a bachelor’s degree in the arts from Pomona college before attending The University of Chicago, where he studied a broad range of subjects, from the humanities to English and Italian literature and poetry. Working towards a PhD in comparative literature, Dr. Calahan also taught subjects such as writing to various undergraduate classes at the school, later becoming editor of Chicago Review, a well known fiction and poetry magazine. Married and with two children, Dr. Calahan is excited to be teaching at a high school level, and hopes to put new emphasis on both writing and modern poetry throughout his classes.

– Sammy Nagy

 

Dr. Charlotte Konikoff researched marine worms and their phylogeny (the evolutionary history of an organism) at the University of Washington. She was previously an ASU faculty associate and taught general biology (a big, 500 student freshman class) and genetics (a junior level college class). She researched genomes in the center for evolutionary medicine and informatics at the bio-design institute. She has a PHD in molecular and cell biology and a bachelors in bio-tech. In her spare time, when she is not reading student work, she likes to read Russian philosophy and literature – particularly Dostoyevsky. “I never consciously thought I could be a teacher; it just sort of happened and I liked it, so I figured I would roll with it,” says Dr. Konikoff. She has always “gravitated towards the sciences” and “liked blowing stuff up and setting it on fire.” She enjoys the small community, the fact that students actually want to be here, and the well behaved students (except when they have their moments). She has never taught high school before, only college, and is looking forward to the experience.

– Sarah Buchert

 

Another exciting addition to the faculty is Ms. Tracy Challis, who is teaching sixth grade homeroom and language arts. She previously taught at Chandler Preparatory Academy, and even spent a summer teaching in Uganda, Africa! When asked what she likes best about Tempe Prep, she said, “All of the teachers have been so helpful and welcoming and the students are polite and respectful. I have really enjoyed getting to know everybody and look forward to the rest of the year.” She loves dogs – and owns three! – and also used to sing as a career. Welcome to Tempe Prep, Ms. Challis!

– Sophie Kniaz

Mrs. Theresa Calahan was born in Michigan and studied at Western Michigan University. She got her master’s degree at ASU.  Later, she married Mr. Calahan. She taught for five years at Cardona Primary School and Smith Elementary School in Phoenix. She later volunteered at AmeriCorps, and there she was placed in a school called Conchos Elementary to teach as an assistant teacher and tutor for one year. Now, she teaches 7th grade English and 8th grade American History. Her favorite food is pizza. Her favorite color is blue and she likes fat birds. She likes TPA because it has different styles of teaching and students who respect knowledge.  Welcome to TPA Mrs. T. Calahan!

– Waley Lin

 

Mr. Jonathan Deremiah is a 6th grade science teacher and homeroom teacher at TPA. He graduated from ASU with a bachelor’s degree and is currently working on getting his master’s degree. He has been the high school football and track coach for several years. This year he decided to teach at TPA because he wanted to use the Socratic method of teaching. The Socratic method is essentially a form of teaching where the teacher interacts with his students in a dialogue. Mr. Deremiah likes to teach science because it is very hands on, discovery based, and fascinating. He thinks that TPA students have great potential for being successful and have a great spirit for learning. Mr. Deremiah likes the color blue, his favorite book is The Great Gatsby, and his favorite animal is the penguin.

– William Zheng