Administration
Please see the listing of the Archway North Phoenix Administration.
Ms. Kirby is a fourth-generation Arizonian. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communication from the University of Arizona, a teaching certificate from Chapman University, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.
Kelli Sneed received her B.A in Elementary Education from Arizona State University in 2003. Mrs. Sneed began her teaching career as a 5
Kelli Dunn was born and raised in Bellingham, Washington. She attended Seattle University on a basketball scholarship majoring in English. Kelli has lived in Arizona for 15 years and likes to escape the heat by heading back to her hometown (Bellingham, WA) While she is in WA, she spends time with her family and friends, builds sandcastles, swims, walks and explores new towns unseen before. Kelli’s passions are her family, animals, crafting, reading, shopping, and exploring. Her daughter Isabella attends Great Hearts and is in 4th grade. Kelli feels blessed to be able to serve now not only the students (previously she was in 1st grade) but all of our wonderful ANP families and staff. BTW- she has the cutest pig named Bacon. Katie DelDuca »
Assistant Office Manager & Athletics Administrator
Deb Powell arrived in Phoenix 21 years ago by way of Kansas, Missouri and Florida. Along the way she attended Marymount College, SMSU, and Ottawa Universities, with a focus in Business and Education. She chose retail and banking in her early career years. The last 19 years have been dedicated to our ANP Library, ESS, teaching second and third grades, which have brought her great joy! Summers afford her time for reading, knitting, and crafting. Her husband and two grown daughters are a great support.
Jackie Curtis is originally from Ogden Utah. Her background includes fifteen years of experience in retail management and operations; working if the various fields as a key part of the management team overseeing high-level HR duties, such as attracting talent and setting training standards and hiring procedures. She was also in charge of analyzing and improving organizational processes, and work to improve quality, productivity and efficiency. Jackie joined the development team as the Academy Giving Manager at North Phoenix in February 2018; enjoying the interactions she has with the students, parents, faculty and loves serving the Great Hearts North Phoenix community. When she is not at work, Jackie enjoys spending time with her family. They have a daughter finishing up her junior year at Prep and when she graduates with the class of 2020, their son will start kindergarten at Archway as one of the newest Argonauts.
Jenne McGinnis was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated Nursing School in November 2013 and began working for Great Hearts in 2014. She is a CPR Certified Instructor and trains our faculty and staff in CPR, AED, and basic first-aid. She knew at a young age she wanted to become a nurse and really loves caring for all of the children at school. Having a student who attends Great Hearts provides her valuable insight to deliver the best care for our students and help support our parents. When not at work she enjoys watching her son play tournaments with his club baseball.
Coach Page began serving as the Athletic Director for Great Hearts North Phoenix during the 2016-2017 school year. He is passionate about seeing young men and women grow as individuals, as students, and as athletes as they participate in the NPX Athletics Program. Prior to taking this job, he was working and living overseas for 17 years – seven years in Turkey and ten years in the United Arab Emirates.
Lead Teachers
Please see the listing of Archway North Phoenix Lead Teachers.
Erin Rushing grew up in the tiny town of Edgemont, South Dakota. She attended New Mexico State University where she earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Marketing and Economics. After working in banking for three years, she became a homemaker and raised her 4 children for the next 21 years. She has homeschooled for the last 9 years and is excited to be joining the ANP family this year teaching Kindergarten. Her two youngest daughters will be attending Great Hearts for the first time in 3rd and 5th grades. Ms. Rushing is thrilled to share her love of literature and picture books with her students. Reading aloud with her own children is one of her favorite hobbies. She also enjoys caring for her houseplants, sewing, and crafting, and a quiet evening at home with a good book or movie.
Ms. Kruzel began her teaching career in Seoul, South Korea, where she taught kindergarten English. Since returning home to Arizona, she has been teaching Pre-K. Ms. Kruzel holds a bachelor’s degree in Education from Faith International University and a second bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Calvary Chapel Bible College. Ms. Kruzel believes that the early childhood years are the most formative, tender years in a child’s life, and she is honored to be part of the Archway North Phoenix kindergarten team. She hopes to share her love of music with her young scholars and desires to inspire them to love learning and always seek the truth. In her free time, Ms. Kruzel plays guitar for her church’s worship band and is learning to play the piano. She also enjoys green tea lattes, thrifting, and watching British and Korean TV shows! * Fun fact, this picture was taken at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul built in the 1300’s.
Ms. Takash was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and is happy to be back in her hometown. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from ASU, she moved to Seattle to work in marketing for three years. Although she enjoyed the creative environment, she felt something was missing. She has always wanted to teach, and decided to go back to school and finally pursue her dream. She now holds a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University. Before teaching 1st grade, she taught kindergarten and is thrilled to take on this new adventure at ANP. Ms. Takash loves spending time with family and friends, hiking, swimming, and being outside. She believes that every student has something they can teach her, and is excited to learn with them every day.
Mrs. Gianforte was born and raised in Brazil. She’s been living in the USA since 2001 after she got married to her husband Tony. Mrs. Gianforte has a Business Degree and worked for many years in Bank Institutions. They have two children Enzo and Sophia, which also attends Great Hearts School. This is Mrs. Gianforte’s second year at Archway North Phoenix and is excited to be the lead teacher in first grade. Her passion for learning and for helping her own children created the desire to serve other children to achieve their full potential through our Liberal Arts curriculum. She believes that shaping the minds and hearts of our young students will lead them to a life of virtues and greater ideas. In addition to helping her students, Mrs. Gianforte enjoys hiking, any form of workout, reading, and playing with her children and her beloved Goldendoodle Chloe. Her family 
Ms. Refermat is a Great Hearts Alum that was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. She attended Barrett, the Honors College at Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and another in Business Management. During her undergraduate career, she studied abroad in Manchester, England for a semester. Her curiosity about other cultures and love for travel led her to teach abroad in Seoul, South Korea after graduation. In Seoul, Gianessa enjoyed teaching pre-school, first, second, third, and fourth grade students. Now that she’s back home in Arizona, she is excited to continue her teaching career at Archway North Phoenix. Long before she taught abroad, she had a love for reading, learning, and helping others do both! When she’s not working, she’s reading, writing, hiking, going to art museums, and planning her next trip!
Melissa Moore was born and raised in Kalamazoo, MI. She attended Cornerstone University and earned a degree in secondary education. Ms. Moore has experience working for Sylvan Learning Center; and being an on-line teacher for Alpha Omega Publications. She is excited to be an Apprentice Teacher for fifth grade. Ms. Moore has six children that all attend Archway North Phoenix and North Phoenix Prep. In her spare time she loves to read, hike, and play with her kiddos.
Corrie Nahar grew up in a small farming community in Washington state. While growing up she played sports, loved to fish, hike, camp, and anything else out doors. She graduated from Eastern Washington University, with a degree in Business Management. Corrie and her husband, Allan, have been married since 2010 and have four rowdy boys, Andrew, Cameron, Corbin, and Austin. Corrie and Allan moved to Phoenix in 2011 and love it here.
Ms. Toni Noffz was born and raised in Scottsdale Arizona. She received her bachelor’s in education in May of 2006. She have recently started back to school to get her Master of Arts in curriculum and instruction. Ms. Noffz has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade. She has been married to her husband Dennis for 30 years. He owns MAACO in Prescott Arizona. They have two children Sheelah 27 years old. Sheelah owns her own business of interior design, remodeling, and home staging with her boyfriend in Prescott Arizona. Zabrina 26 years old married and lives in Phoenix. Zabrina is a high school teacher at North Pointe Preparatory Academy. Her family enjoys camping, boating, and motorcycling riding together. If she is not home in the summertime, She is at their house in Prescott enjoying the cool mountain air.
I am very excited to be joining the Archway North Phoenix staff after having been a Great Hearts parent for the past 7 years. After graduating with a degree in Child Development
Vito Messana was born and raised here in the Valley of the Sun. He had a solid education, with many good educator role models. In fact, his desire for teaching goes back to Mrs. Barr’s First Grade class, when he was only 7 years old. His organization skills originated in his Third Grade teacher Mrs. Manning, and his love of history was cultivated by his High School teacher Mrs. Waymire. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Arizona State University, Mr. Messana worked in the food and retail industry. In August 2016, he was happy to finally start his career in education working for Great Hearts in the after school Athenaeum program at our previous campus. He fell in love with the mission of Great Hearts, the curriculum of Archway North Phoenix and the students. Over the last 5 years, he has served as an assistant teacher in both 5th and 6th Grade. Last year he became a lead teacher in 5th Grade and looks forward to another school year!
Jason Jefferson was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He received his BA in History, with a minor in Religious Studies, from Arizona State University. In 2011, he kicked off his education career by becoming a substitute teacher, gaining experience with all different grades and subjects. He taught junior high for 3 years before coming to ANP in 2017 to work in 4th grade. The following year, he moved up to 5th grade, where he still is today. He is excited to be able to continue helping scholars grow in their mathematical and problem-solving skills. When not at school, Mr. Jefferson likes to sing in a community men’s chorus, cook, and play board games.
George is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. He graduated from Peoria High School in 2000. He is a U.S. Military Veteran, and spent 2 years deployed overseas. He graduated with distinction with an Associates Degree from Paradise Valley Community College in Philosophy, and will receive his Bachelors in Arts in Philosophy in the Fall. He has two children and has been married to his wife for 7 years. He enjoy fishing and spending time with my family. His best friend is Socrates and Plato is a very close second.
Derek Barton was born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ. He graduated from Desert Mountain High School, and later got his Bachelor’s at Northern Arizona University. Mr. Barton worked at a TA for two years at Santa Barbara City College. He also worked as a 6th grade math/science AT for two years at ANP prior to becoming a lead. His favorite animals are pigs but is also very fond of cats. He also loves basketball, music, reading, cooking, and geography.Apprentice Teacher
Please see the listing of Archway North Phoenix Apprentice Teachers.
Nicole Perez was raised in Yuma, AZ. She attended the University of Arizona where she received her Bachelor’s degree in FIne Art. During college, she tutored fellow students in English and taught art and life skills to adults with developmental disablilites. After college, she worked for the Yuma County Library District; first as a library assistant and later as the Program Coordinator for adults.
Ms. Tibke is excited to be a part of the Archway North Phoenix community. She has a heart for children of all ages. She believes children truly are the future and sees the value and importance of nurturing their minds and hearts to help them become the best version of themselves possible. Our children will one day be the foundation that holds our society together. She has a son at ANP who she loves to spend time with. She loves to read, hike and spend time with her friends and family.
Ms. Ernest joined the North Phoenix Great Hearts academy in 2021 after leaving the healthcare field to return to teaching. Before coming to Great Hearts, Ms. Ernest spent several years teaching in an early education setting, sharing her passion for helping young children grow into the best and healthiest version of themselves. Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Ms. Ernest has lived in the greater Phoenix area for 13 years with her husband and three daughters. Additionally, Ms. Ernest earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Liberty University, and in her free time she enjoys hiking the outdoors and traveling with her family.
Gidgett Herrier was born in Augusta, Georgia but spent the first decade of her life on various military bases as her father was a fighter pilot in the United Stares Air Force. Arizona was her families last stop and has remained her home. Gidgett has a BS from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. Prior to starting a family, Gidgett was in sales and consulting for the pharmaceutical industry. She and her husband have two children at Archway North Phoenix, the oldest entering the 6th grade and the youngest entering 2nd grade. After years of volunteering at school and being active in the PSO, Gidgett decided to take a more permanent role helping out at the school as the lunch coordinator. Being able interact daily with ANP faculty and scholars has been a wonderful experience for her and she looks forward to the new year.
Ms. Nithya Ramasubramanian was born and raised in India. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in History, a Master’s degree in Human Rights, and a Diploma in Business Administration. She calls Phoenix home and has been living here for over a decade. She loves spending time with young children and has worked with children ages 14 months to 5 years in her previous role as a preschool teacher at PVUMC Preschool. She believes in continuous learning and is pursuing an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Paradise Valley Community College. Ms. Ramasubramanian likes music and reading books to children. A history aficionado, she likes to test her knowledge of trivia with Jeopardy. Her family consists of her husband, daughter, and three pets. Ms. Ramasubramanian is usually on the lookout for fun, knowledge-building experiences that also provide a global view.
Christina Daab is a native of Phoenix, Arizona. She attended the University of Phoenix where she earned her Bachelors in Business Management. After 25 years in retail management, she decided to follow her dreams of teaching. She is currently enrolled at Paradise Valley Community College to obtain her Associates in Elementary Education. Last year she taught at her church’s preschool and is excited to be joining the ANP family. Her husband is a seventeen year Marine Corp vet, and their daughter is continuing her education with Great Hearts as a 1st grader. Ms. Daab loves working with all children, and enjoys being outdoors and swimming with her daughter in their pool.
Lydia Robb is originally from Ohio. She moved to Arizona in 2015 and has been reveling in the warm winters ever since. Currently she is pursuing a fine arts degree and enjoying her 3rd year at Great Hearts, this year with 4th graders. In her free time she enjoys, in Charlotte Mason’s words, “the habit of reading beautifully written books”. She also enjoys adventuring to new places with any of her 4 older brothers.
Special Subjects
Please see the listing of Archway North Phoenix Special Subject Teachers.
Mrs. Berger is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota. She headed south to warmer weather in Dallas, TX to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University. After working in health club management, Mrs. Berger changed her career focus to teaching. After twelve years as a classroom teacher in a Phoenix charter school, Mrs. Berger found her way to Great Hearts joining the inaugural team at Archway North Phoenix in 2012. She moved from a classroom lead teacher position to teaching Art and has relished this opportunity as a new way to reach young hearts and minds.
Ms. Hale was born in South Korea and raised in Canada and various places of the United States. She has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Clarinet performance in Columbus State University and Master’s Degree in music from Colorado State University. She is currently finishing her Doctorate Degree of Musical Arts in Arizona State University while teaching at Archway Classical Academy North Phoenix. Over the course of her academic career, she has received recognition and awards in concerto competitions, conferences, performing and premiering solo, and chamber music. She is still actively performing in professional chamber groups and as a soloist. Her passion towards both teaching and playing are both strong, and she is looking forward to teaching music at ANP for many more years.
Eternity Hamilton was born and raised in Fountain Hills, Arizona. She graduated from Arizona State University with a BM in Music Therapy. Eternity did a full time internship as part of her degree at Brookdale Hospice and gained experience using music to heal the hearts, bodies, and minds of Phoenix’s senior population. She came to Archway North Phoenix in December 2018 and has loved teaching students music ever since. She enjoys spending time with her husband Logan Hamilton who also teacher at ANP, playing guitar, learning to use her slow cooker, and having game nights with her friends and family.
Dylan Waugh was born and raised right here in Phoenix. He graduated from Arizona Christian University where he majored in Communication and minored in Biblical Studies. Dylan has been teaching PE at Archway North Phoenix since 2015. His passion for knowing Truth, Beauty and Goodness led him to pursue teaching in the first place. When he was introduced to the Great Hearts model, he could not apply fast enough! He considers it a high honor to work alongside some of the brightest minds in classical education and counts it a joy to partake in the cultivation of his student’s hearts and minds.
Justin Norris has a passion for health and wellness, and received his Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Arizona State University. He enjoys sports, running, hiking, and traveling to new places. Coach Norris has family throughout Germany, and hopes to one day be able to speak the language fluently and travel there as often as possible. Coach Norris hopes to share his enthusiasm for physical activity with his students, and show them being active is fun and also very rewarding.Exceptional Student Services
Please see the listing of Archway Exceptional Student Services.
Jessica Hay is delighted to begin serving the North Phoenix Prep community as Exceptional Student Services Coordinator-Lead. She graduated from Grand Canyon University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Elementary Education and a double minor in German and Music Education. She received her Master’s of Science degree from Lewis and Clark College in Special Education: Deaf and Hard of Hearing. She has taught as a general educator and a special educator in a variety of settings including public school districts, educational school districts, and private schools, and has been working in the field of education since 1997. She has worked for the last three years as an Exceptional Student Services Coordinator at Cicero Preparatory Academy. In her spare time, Jess loves walking her Shih-Tzu puppy and gardening in her backyard garden. She also enjoys reading, cooking, and playing the piano.
Joyce Bebow was born and raised near Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Wayne State University with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education. After moving to Arizona her first teaching job was in the Glendale School District. Then she met her husband and had two children. Her love for her family and her passion for learning came together as she homeschooled her children. Her understanding and knowledge as well as love for classical education grew as she taught for many years at Valley Classical Christian School in a first grade class as well as in a first and second grade combination class. In joining the Archway Classical Academy North Phoenix team for its inaugural year in 2012 she kept her enthusiasm for learning and her delight in teaching children flourishing. She is looking forward to many more years teaching young scholars at the new campus of Archway Classical Academy North Phoenix.
Mr. Sneed was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He and his family moved to Arizona in 2001. While attending Webster University, Mr. Sneed earned a BA in Legal Studies and a paralegal certification. He is currently enrolled in Rio Salado’s Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Education program for Special Education. This will be Mr. Sneed’s seventh year teaching at Archway North Phoenix; he spent four years teaching 3
Ms. Macaluso graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1992 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Although she felt the passion of relating to elementary school aged children during my student teaching which had followed my graduation, she felt a draw toward a young student in the class that had a severe speech impairment and we grew very close. After student teaching case to a close, Ms. Macaluso decided that she had found her calling and began teaching full-time at Saguaro Behavioral Health Center for Exceptional Education. This was a much smaller class which included both learning disabled and special needs students. Ms. Macaluso thrived in this environment. Although at the time she could not see it, she does believe that this experience with these wonderful students was given to her in preparation for what was to come later in her life as she would soon understand. Today she is a proud mother of two beautiful daughters-one with autism (this is the event she referred to being prepared for earlier). This brings her interest in children and their education and well-being to a whole new level as you might imagine. This is what led her to Great Hearts. Having the desire to continue with this path, I am happy to be a part of the ESS team here at Archway North Phoenix.
Teacher Favorite List
Ms. Drummond was raised in Phoenix, Arizona and attended Madison Number 1 and Camelback High School. She graduated with a BA degree from the University of Arizona where she was in the Chi Omega Sorority. BEAR DOWN ARIZONA! She
Katy Kwan has spent most of her life in Arizona. She graduating from NAU with a bachelors degree in Social Work and received her masters degree in Cross-Cultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. She has been with ANP since 2014 and has spent most of that time teaching fifth grade. When not working with Singapore Math manipulatives she and her husband have a food truck which keeps them both busy. They love to travel and explore as well as spend quality time arguing over tv and movie plots. They have recently added another pup to their family so please excuse any missed dog hair.