Meet Our Staff
The dedicated staff at Covenant Academy believe that quality teaching is directly related to a commitment to following Jesus Christ, a desire to cultivate integrity, and a pursuit of wisdom. Classroom teachers are uniquely qualified, have experience working with children, express love and care for their students, and show a passion for imparting wisdom. Teachers understand and embrace the University-Model® school philosophy of education and value parental involvement.
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Dr. Kira Wilson
Administrator/Director
Dr. Wilson, a graduate of the University of Florida and St. Leo University, holds a Doctor of Education degree from Liberty University. Having taught in a traditional setting and homeschooling her children, Dr. Wilson founded and launched Covenant Academy, Florida's only University-Model® school, in 2015. She serves as a Regional Representative for UMSI, in the southeast. She is also founder of Life and Learning, an educational resource for parents. Her passion is to encourage parents in the training of their children, to help students experience the gospel, grow spiritually, and reach their full potential in Christ. She and her husband, Ron, adore their two children and three grandchildren. They are members of and serve at Local Church St. Pete.
Mrs. Karen Hopping
Director of Educational Services
Mrs. Karen Hopping has a Bachelor of Science degree Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She has thirteen years of experience successfully homeschooling her own children and more than a decade of experience providing educational services to our parents. She is passionate about helping parents prepare their children for God's purpose. She works with students and parents to ensure their readiness for early college. Mrs. Hopping loves spending time with her two children and five grandchildren. She is a longtime member of Gulf Coast Community Church in St. Petersburg.
Mrs. Paola Hernandez
Director of Student Activities
Mrs. Paola Hernandez grew up in Venezuela, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Physics. She also holds a Masters of Theology from New Covenant University. In addition to her teaching duties, Mrs. Hernandez serves as the Director of Student Activities, supervising student clubs, councils, competitions and school events. In this role she shares her administrative gifts which she imparts to student leaders. She and her family attend Calvary Chapel Fellowship in St. Petersburg.
Mrs. Toni Carr
Executive Assistant/Registrar
Mrs. Toni Carr has been at Covenant Academy since the start and is actively and wholeheartedly committed to our program. She welcomes new families and helps them through the registration process. In addition, Mrs. Carr manages volunteers, fundraisers, and assists the Administrator with a variety of tasks. Having spent more than twenty five years homeschooling her seven children, she embraces the University-Model approach to education as a win win for parents and students. She attends Faith Community Church in Seminole.
Mrs. Anne Eide
Front Office
Mrs. Anne Eide has a bachelor’s in Social Work from Winona State University. She and her husband Brian have five sons and one daughter-in-law. Mrs. Eide has 16 years of homeschool experience, is passionate about both strong academics and character building, and is excited and thankful to be a part of the Covenant Academy Community along with her two youngest sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, speed walking, and reading. She and her family are members and serve at Faith Community Church in Seminole.
Mrs. Hannah Gibson
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Hannah Gibson is a graduate of the University of South Florida, with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. She especially loves teaching the younger grades and has taught kindergarten for several years. She looks forward to sharing her faith and partnering with parents to educate her students. Mrs. Gibson enjoys craft projects, cooking, and baking. She attends Faith Community Church with her husband.
Mrs. Stephany Condra
First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Stephany Condra attended Remington College, majoring in Computer Information Systems and Operations Management. After working in corporate management, her focus shifted. Wanting to devote more time to her family, she returned home to be more involved in their daughters’ education and began teaching alongside her husband at their local church. Her love for children and their hunger for learning is a passion God has placed on her heart. Mrs. Condra loves to read, bike ride, laugh, sing, dance, and teach people about Jesus through her testimony and His truth.
Mrs. Marcia DiPietro
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Marcia DiPietro earned her bachelor's degree in Music Education from Evangel University and loves music, playtime, and storytelling as avenues for teaching young children. Having taught in public, private school, and Montessori school, her most rewarding experience has come from homeschooling her own children. Students and parents benefit from Mrs. DiPietro's engaging learning activities and attendance to character development. Mrs. DiPietro and her husband serve as pastors of Faith Assembly St Pete.
Mrs. Meghan Frame
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Frame graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in Elementary Education. She has seven years of primary teaching experience in both public and private school. She is excited to share her love for Jesus and for learning with students at Covenant. Mrs. Frame attends Radiant Church in St. Pete where she loves serving in the children’s ministry. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with her husband and their puppy, Bentley.
Mrs. Morgan Holton
Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Morgan Holton is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, with a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. She has taught in both private and public schools. She loves the joy that younger students have for learning and is excited to have a classroom community centered on Jesus. Science is her favorite subject to teach, as she loves investigating and discovering how intentional the Lord was with creation. She attends Local Church St. Pete with her husband!
Mrs. Rachel Lee
Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Lee earned a Bachelors in Education and Community Leadership from SPC. Her joy for teaching and working with children results in connecting well with her students and making learning fun. Mrs. Lee has three children who attend Covenant Academy. She attends Building 28 with her husband and children.
Mrs. Jill Dziubinski
Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Jill Dziubinski earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science from the USF. As a retired Sheriff’s deputy, she has taught academy classes at St. Petersburg College and middle school science in public school. Mrs. Dziubinski desires to partner with families to help young people to seek the Lord in all circumstances. She values time with her husband and their four fantastic children, one of whom attends Covenant Academy. Mrs. Dziubinski and her family attend Feather Sound Church.
Mrs. Jamie Thornton
Fifth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Thornton earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Alabama and has taught in both public and private school. Decades of ministry experience in local churches has taken her to New Zealand and back. Mrs. Thornton has a passion for Christian education and creativity; she feels closest to our Creator when she is immersed in literary, visual, and architectural arts. Her husband, Dillon, is the Lead Pastor at Faith Community Church. They have two boys attending Covenant.
Mrs. Angela Gleichowski
Sixth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Angela Gleichowski earned her Associates degree from St. Petersburg College and continued her studies in Elementary Education at Bryan College. As a former homeschool parent, she is passionate about fostering curiosity and a love for learning. Affectionately known as Mrs. G, she has taught most of the elementary grades at Covenant. She enjoys spending time with family, being active, and reading. She and her family attend Building 28 Church, in Clearwater.
Mrs. Merry Vasterling
Art Teacher
Mrs. Merry Vasterling graduated from Eckerd College with a bachelor’s degree in Visual Art. Mrs. Vasterling has spent more than 12 years teaching art to students of all ages. Her passion is to empower young people to discover and fully utilize their God-given gifts and talents. She loves ceramics, photography, sewing, baking and reading; and shares life with her husband, Dan, and college aged daughter, Hannah. They worship at First United Methodist Church in downtown St. Petersburg.
Mrs. Susan Estes
Language Arts Specialist
Mrs. Susan Estes brings more than forty years of teaching experience and expertise to Covenant Academy. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Reading. Mrs. Estes’s love for Jesus is expressed in her teaching and interaction with students and parents alike. Her genuine care for the school community is a blessing to all. In addition to teaching, she loves spending time with her three grandsons who live in Kentucky. She and her husband attend Grace Bible Church.
Coach Matt Young
PE Coach
Coach Matt Young (PE) believes athletics is a great way to build and instill character. As creator of "Story Time Soccer" his stated core values for physical education include fun, discipline, confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Coach is always ready to integrate Christian values and the teaching of Jesus into his lessons on the field.
Dr. Dillon Thornton
Middle and High School Bible
Dr. Thornton holds an M.Div. from Beeson Divinity School and a Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Otago. He has over twenty years of pastoral and Christian education experience, ranging from the U.S. to New Zealand. Dr. Thornton is a fellow of the Center for Pastor Theologians, a guild of local church pastors who also serve as writing theologians for the broader Christian community. He’s the author of three books, including Give Them Jesus: Raising Our Children on the Core Truths of the Christian Faith. Since 2017, Dr. Thornton has served as the lead pastor of Faith Community Church in Seminole.
Mrs. Darcy Denning
Middle and High School English/History
Mrs. Denning attended the University of Alaska, majoring in history. Her passion for history is a catalyst for making learning fun and relevant. She is very familiar with University Model schooling and Covenant Academy having more than a decade teaching her three children through the program. With this experience, she is uniquely qualified to partner with parents in their role as parent-teacher. Mrs. Denning and her family attend Gulf Coast Church in Largo.
Mrs. Paola Hernandez
Middle and High School Math/Science
Mrs. Paola Hernandez grew up in Venezuela, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Math and Physics. She also holds a Masters of Theology from New Covenant University. Mrs. Hernandez shares her passion for math and God’s design for order with her students. Under her wing, students learn useful organizational and study skills that help to develop math understanding and important life skills. She and her husband Luis enjoy teaching their daughter who attends Covenant. The family attends Calvary Chapel Fellowship in St. Petersburg.
Dr. Lynn Senderoff
Middle and High School Science
Dr. Lynn Senderoff has a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Cornell University. In addition to homeschooling her own children, she as taught in several Christian schools, teaching college level anatomy and physiology as dual enrollment classes. She presently attends Northside Baptist Church and teaches a Bible Study in her home. Dr. Senderoff enjoys integrating a Christian worldview into her science curriculum.
Mr. James Gleichowski
High School Personal Finance
Mr. Gleichowski is passionate about helping students build a foundation that will set them up for a lifetime of wise money stewardship. As a certified Dave Ramsey Financial Coach, he has led hundreds of individuals through financial classes, workshops, and coached 1:1. He graduated from Samford University with a Bachelor’s in Sports Medicine and has over 25 years of experience in sales and sales leadership working in corporate America. Mr. Gleichowski, who attends Bldg 28 with his wife and three children understands the importance of finance peace in the home.
Mrs. Sherre McLawhorn
School Aide
Mrs. McLawhorn is the mother of two Covenant Academy students. As a School Aide, she has many responsibilities that include Recess and Lunch Supervision, classroom assistance, and administrative support. Mrs. McLawhorn is a huge blessing to the staff and Covenant community, working behind the scenes with a heart of a servant.
Mrs. Kristin Ives
School Aide
Mrs. Ives, a military wife, recently moved from Texas where she worked at another University Model School. Although she has a degree in Business Administration, she loves education and being involved where her children attend school. As an aide, she helps with recess, lunch, and classroom assistance. Her family enjoys spending time together outdoors.