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Laura has been teaching kindergarten at PNA since 2002. Her teaching experiences are diverse - from teaching early childhood classes to college level language and adult education. Laura earned a Bachelor’s degree in Japanese/Asian Studies from Rutgers College and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. She received a 12-month fellowship from the Japanese Ministry of Education to study their teacher education program in 1996. Upon completion and presentation of her research, Laura was employed by one of Japan’s experimental international high schools. She especially enjoys sharing her love of language and travel with young children.
Michele Monastra is our Kindergarten teacher beginning her first year at PNA. Mrs. Monastra graduated Cum Laude from University of Central Oklahoma with a BSED in Elementary Education and concentrated studies on math. While in college she student taught first through sixth grade, was a member of Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society in Education) and the Student Oklahoma Educators Association.
Prior to joining PNA, Mrs. Monastra was in banking for five years. She originally attended Virginia Tech, where she met her husband. They now have two children and one on the way! She also owns a sewing business where she designs and creates custom handbags and baby items.
Lisa is one of our Early Childhood Associate Teachers, with PNA since 2002. As a certified First Responder, she is also one of our primary first aid providers at the school. Lisa holds an Associate’s degree in Fisheries Biology from Alexandria Technical College in Minnesota and worked in Prince William Sound for five years rearing and restocking salmon for the commercial fishing industry. She is also a volunteer EMT for Alaska Medical Support Team and teaches CPR/AED and Basic Life Support classes.
Krystal is a another of our Early Childhood Associate Teachers as well as PNA’s Director of After-School Programs. Krystal earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Northland College in Wisconsin and has worked since 2006 as a Care Manager at Serendipity Adult Day Services here in Anchorage. Being a Wilderness First Responder is also part of Krystal’s background. She is delighted to be working with children and in the future, she plans to further her degree focusing on early childhood education.
Marcella teaches a combination first and second grade class at PNA and has been on the staff here since 2002. Mrs. Hitchcock graduated with honors from The University of New Mexico, receiving a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Language Arts. Mrs. Hitchcock grew up in a small town in New Mexico, where her family has a ranch. Her desire to see more of the world led her to drive to Alaska in the summer of 2002 and has been loving it ever since. She recently got married this summer. She and her husband Paul have one cat named Keebler and one black lab named Yampa.
Charlie teaches third grade and is in his seventh year at PNA. He has taught at both lower and middle school levels, and enjoys the variety of experience this has provided. He has a B.S. in Business Management from The University of Arizona, and a fifth-year teaching credential from California State University, Fresno. In addition, he completed Spanish-English bilingual coursework at Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. PNA provided Charlie the opportunity to do professional development at the UAA Writing Center as a peer tutor, and he brought that model back to his own writers' workshop. He was also certified as an American Red Cross First Responder. Prior to joining the PNA faculty, Charlie taught for two years in inner-city California, and seven years in the ranchlands of New Mexico. He holds teaching licenses in both New Mexico and Alaska. He grew up in the mountains of Northern Arizona.
Sarah has been teaching at PNA since 2002 and teaches fourth and fifth grades. She earned a B.S. in Biological Science from Colorado State University and was awarded a teaching certificate through The University of Alaska, Southeast. Her varied background includes two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic and an environmental education field instructor in Massachusetts, Colorado and Baja, Mexico. Sarah’s independent school experience includes her having been a student at an independent boarding school where her father taught science for 35 years.
Laurie teaches fourth and fifth grades and also serves as Lower School Coordinator. She earned her Master of Education degree from Georgia State University and has been a PNA faculty member since 2000. Teaching is a family tradition for Laurie, as her grandmother and three sisters have had long, illustrious careers as principals and teachers in Atlanta. Prior to becoming a PNA faculty member, Laurie taught for twelve years in the Atlanta Public School system and developed a Social Studies curriculum that was adopted by 55 schools. Laurie’s son Noah is now enrolled at PNA.
Jennifer joined Pacific Northern Academy in 2002. She teaches Middle School Science and Pre-Algebra. She also works closely with the Lower School faculty to support the science education of our youngest students. Prior to becoming a PNA faculty member, Jennifer taught middle school Math and Spanish for three years at Thomas Academy in Seattle. She earned her B.A. in Spanish from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and her B.S. in Anatomy from Colorado State University. Her experience in independent schools began in high school when she attended The Overlake School in Redmond, WA. Jennifer and her husband have two children, Jake and Ursula. She loves living in Alaska, and particularly enjoys running and skiing. Many of her winter weekends are spent volunteering and skiing at Alpenglow.
Bob is originally from upstate New York. He first retired from teaching in 1997, after having spent the previous 23 years in Western Alaska. He felt drawn to return to classroom life and has been a Middle School Humanities teacher at PNA since 1998. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Elementary Education. He also holds teaching and administration certificates from the State of Alaska.
Jenny holds a B.S. in Space Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Her achievements include being recipient of a NASA Space Grant Award and participating in the Transiting Extrasolar Planets Project. Working as a lifeguard is also part of her background. Graduating from college in 2007, Jenny realized that she was not drawn to a career in industry and decided to return home to Anchorage to pursue a graduate degree in teaching from UAA. PNA’s gain is her understanding of the application of mathematics to the vast universe around us.
Christin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Texas A&M University - Kingsville. She is also certified for middle school and high school math and teaches geometry to PNA’s eighth graders. Her background includes substitute teaching in Texas public schools and working in childcare centers. She has coached beginning gymnastics and has plans for implementing the Presidential Fitness Program at PNA.
Brenda is PNA’s Fine Arts Teacher. While full-time at PNA, she also teaches classes at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, the Campbell Creek Science Center and the Anchorage Downtown Partnership. Born and raised in Alaska, Brenda has taught Art since 1974. In 1998, she was awarded the BP Teachers of Excellence Award. Brenda subsequently studied the preprimary school system in Reggio Emilia, Italy, considered the best in the world.
Brenda’s favored media in art include watercolor, traditional Japanese handmade paper, and stone carving. She has traveled to Japan three times to study papermaking.
She obtained a Master of Arts in Teaching with a major in Drawing and Painting from Whitworth College, Spokane, Washington. Later, Brenda earned a Certificate in Pulp and Paper Technology, and a Master in Teaching from Washington State University. Her Masters is accompanied by a K-8 Teaching Certificate with endorsements in K-12 Art, 4-12 Japanese and 4-12 English.
Brenda is an associate member of the American Watercolor Society, a member of the National Watercolor Society and a signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society. She has won the highest awards in seven exhibitions including the 1979, 1981, 1984, and 1985 All Alaska Juried Watercolor Exhibitions. Her work is exhibited at Artique and the Brenda K. Jaeger Art Studio in Anchorage and the White Bird Gallery in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Brenda has illustrated 17 Toutle River Haiku by James Hanlen, Lake County Diamond by Tim Hunt, and Pope in Space by Barbara Blatner, all published by INTERTEXT.
Wendy teaches Early Kindergarten through Eighth Grade Spanish and joined PNA in 2005. Born and raised in Guatemala City, she moved to Alaska in 2004. Ms. Laird earned a degree in Teaching a Second Language from Universidad del Valle de Guatemala and is fluent in English, Spanish and French. Prior to joining the PNA faculty, Wendy taught elementary school in Guatemala from 1993 to 2004. She also coached a Destination Imagination team and in 2003 progressed to the global finals.
Katie joined PNA as Performing Arts Teacher in 2005. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Portland State University. Her background includes extensive training in voice and piano. Katie’s stage experience includes work in the choruses of the Anchorage Opera, Portland State Opera, Astoria Music Festival and the Bel Canto Northwest Chorus. In addition, she is a certified member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and the events secretary for the local Alaska NATS chapter. Prior to leading the Music and Drama program at PNA, Katie provided private lessons in voice and piano and served as a substitute in the Anchorage School District. Over the years she has built up a studio of private piano and voice students and plans to continue with her career in music as both a performer and a teacher.
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