Staff
Building the best possible lessons is one of our core values at MiaPrep. Every lesson goes through a multi-step, collaborative review by experts in education, content, and production.
Meet our Team
Tim Phelps
School Director
Tim lives near Louisville, Kentucky, with his wife and children. Tim received his B.A. in English from Western Kentucky University and his M.A. in English with focuses in creative writing and rhetoric from the University of Louisville. Tim has taught high school English for public and private schools, while also teaching communications at the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Scholars Program each summer for the past six years. He likes to read, write fiction, travel, play chess (poorly), play guitar (even worse), and play old-school Mario games (pretty decently, actually).
Shelley Miller
Academic Counselor
Shelley has spent her entire professional career in education, working in
College Admission at her alma mater Rhodes College and most recently
serving as the Director of College Counseling at a 6-12 college prep school.
She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Rhodes and a Master’s Degree in
Counseling from the University of Memphis. In her free time, she cherishes
spending time with her family and friends, doting on her precious puppies,
cheering on her favorite sports teams, and singing songs from beloved
Broadway musicals.
Noelle Mouhtarim
Academic Counselor
Noelle is a former high school English teacher with five years of experience from the first state, Delaware. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education from Delaware State University and a master’s degree in Secondary School Counseling from Wilmington University. Noelle holds a tremendous amount of passion for working with students on goal setting and college/career exploration and readiness. She believes in the importance of catering to the needs of the whole student and is committed to working with young people of all backgrounds in discovering their own power and potential to embark on their chosen path and make a mark on the world. In her spare time she hangs out with her cats, coaches high school swimming, and enjoys traveling!
Mark Messaris
Academic Counselor
Mark has over a decade of experience in education, including eight years of teaching high school English in Maryland, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Additionally, he has spent some time in college admissions at Johnson & Wales University. Mark has a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and English from the University of Maryland and a Master’s Degree in Education from East Carolina University. In his free time, he enjoys reading books, playing video games, exploring New Orleans with his wife, and spoiling his dog.
Anna Kytonen
Administrative Support Specialist
Anna earned her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Master of Public Health from Portland State University. Now a resident of South Carolina, she comes to MOHS with over a decade of experience in higher education administration, social services, and healthcare. In her spare time, she can be found chasing after her two dogs and two cats, reading and writing fantasy, or coming up with her next inspired art project.
Michelle Winglewich
Student & Family Engagement Coordinator
Michelle is the team lead for our moderation department and oversees the MOHS community! Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Elmhurst University. She has taught S.T.E.A.M. for over 3 years and has loved using the skills learned from her previous pastry degree to professionally decorate cakes and run a small polymer clay business.
Hallie Barker
Math
Hallie has 5 years of experience teaching math and science, and loves helping students develop critical thinking and a love of learning through these subjects. She has her bachelor’s in astrophysics from Whitman College and her master’s in teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education. When she isn’t teaching, Hallie loves reading, going on hikes, and baking yummy treats. Hallie lives in the mountains of Colorado with her partner and 2 cats.
Stacye Ray
Math
A new transplant to central Washington state, Stacye has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Claremont McKenna College and a Master’s degree in Education from Claremont Graduate University. A math teacher for over 14 years in public and online charter schools, Stacye is also a long-time private tutor and homeschooling mom. When she isn’t creating math content for Miaprep and Miacademy, she enjoys reading murder mysteries, cooking, playing board games, and spending time with her husband and three teenagers enjoying the beauty of the Columbia River valley.
Michelle Hunt
Math
Michelle is a former high school math teacher, having taught for 7 years in public, private, and charter schools. She received her bachelor’s in Mathematics Education from the University of Central Florida and is currently pursuing her master’s in Statistics at George Mason University. She lives in northern Virginia with her husband, son, and very soon, a new baby. When she isn’t creating content you can find her enjoying the outdoors, sewing, or playing board games.
Jaime Delaney
Science
Based in Colorado, Jaime has a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Georgia Tech and a master’s degree in Science Education. She has 12 years of experience teaching math and science in public, private, charter, and online schools, along with 1:1 teaching and homeschooling. When she isn’t busy creating content for our MiaPrep science courses, you’ll find her spending time with her 2 children, paddle boarding, snowshoeing, swimming, and enjoying the mountains.
Eric Brunton
Social Studies
Eric Brunton earned his Bachelor’s degree in History Education from Kennesaw State University. He has taught all social studies content areas across both middle and high school grades. As an educator with ADHD, he is passionate about making sure that all students develop the skills to become engaged and independent learners.
Rakel LaFave
Spanish
Rakel is a Spanish educator dedicated to spreading a love for language learning. Rakel earned her BA in Education and Hispanic Studies from Brown University and spent a full year of her undergraduate career studying abroad and traveling throughout Argentina and Spain. After graduation, Rakel moved to North Carolina where she spent four years teaching K-12 Spanish and received her MAT in Spanish Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She now lives in the Raleigh area and enjoys spending time with family, going on walks, crafting, and learning tons through books, podcasts, and documentaries.
Gerald Dessus
Humanities
Gerald is a seasoned educator with 12 years of experience teaching English and Social Studies in charter and private secondary schools. Holding a Bachelor’s degree in English Education from Lincoln University of PA and a Master’s in Curriculum and Teaching from the University of Kansas, he’s committed to fostering inclusive educational environments that ensure every student has access to personalized resources and support. With a passion for guiding students to transformative “Aha!” moments, Gerald believes in the diversity and joy of learning. Gerald currently resides in Pennsylvania with his partner and pets. He enjoys writing and producing music, hiking, and exploring new places in his spare time.
Suzanne Rodolfich
English
Suzanne has over two decades of experience teaching English at the high school and college levels. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from LSU (Geaux Tigers!) and a Master of Arts degree in English from the University of South Alabama. Her favorite literary era is the Victorians, but she is always looking for the next great YA novel as well! Suzanne lives in Florida with her husband and 4 kids, and in her free time loves to travel–she’s a Disney World fanatic, loves cruises, and is trying to visit all 50 states before her children graduate.
Chloe’ Yeung
Physical Education
After studying media and journalism in the sports broadcasting field at N.C. State University, Chloe’ decided she wanted to pursue her true passion so she went back to school for her teaching license. She is a former elementary school P.E. teacher and currently a fitness coach for children and teens. She loves teaching others the importance of a healthy, movement-involved lifestyle. Based in Charlotte, NC, with her husband and her daughter, she can be found spending time with her family, at the CrossFit gym training for an upcoming competition, or hanging out with her two dogs, Boogie and Wallie.
Hannah Pearsall
Theatre Arts
Hannah is thrilled to bring her strengths and passions to the MOHS team! Alongside Bachelors’ Degrees in Education and English, an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction, and seven years of teaching experience, she also has a plethora of experience in the realm of the theatre, including: acting, directing, scriptwriting, stagecraft, dramaturgy, stage makeup, and more! A native Rhode Islander, Ms. Pearsall currently resides in Philadelphia, where you can catch her going to musicals with her friends, running at the dog park with her pup, or gardening in her backyard.
JK Lee-Marple
Career Exploration
JK was born and raised in north Florida. By the 8th grade, she knew that she had to be involved in education. She graduated with her degree in English Education from Florida State University and has taught both English Language Arts and World Geography at the middle school level for 5 years. When she’s not writing content for Mia or working with MOHS, she likes running, reading novels, playing video games, and singing. She loves all things nature and will adopt any animal that she comes across.
Natasha Smith
Elements of Art
Natasha is a West Virginia native currently living in North Carolina with her husband and daughter. She is a National Board-certified Art teacher with eleven years of experience in the classroom, and she is now working in the arena of online education which aligns with her master’s degree in Instructional Design and Technology. When she is not working, she can be found participating in one local arts council project or another such as creating murals, choreographing, or performing in plays and musicals.
Kelsey Petty
Chief Academic Officer
Kelsey is a former high school English teacher of 7 years with a passion for creating content that is engaging, relevant, and rigorous for students. Kelsey holds a teaching certificate in High School English/Language Arts (grades 7-12) and a Master’s in Education Leadership and Policy from the University of Michigan. In her spare time, she enjoys doing yoga and reading, as well as working on her food blog.
Andrew Mullen
Academic AdvisSpanish/Academic Advisoror
Andrew graduated from Appalachian State University with his Bachelors in Spanish Education. He currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, which is also where he spent 6 years teaching high school Spanish. Andrew has a passion for teaching the Spanish language and culture and creating lifelong learners. When he is not creating content for our users, he can be found woodworking, gardening, solving puzzles, and spending time with his wife and two dogs.
Robin Orr
Academic Advisor
Robin currently lives with her partner in Vancouver, Washington. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and 12 years of classroom teaching experience. When Robin isn’t creating content for kids at Mia, you’ll find her designing virtual reality games with her partner, running agility courses with her Diabetic Alert Dog, Abby, or out exploring the Oregon coast.
Vivian Udart
Academic Advisor
Vivian homeschools two of her four children in Chattanooga, TN. With a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Early Childhood Education, Vivian is a natural to work on content for our K-2nd grades. She also runs a preschool co-op where she provides child-led and play-based learning experiences for homeschooled preschoolers in her area.
Madeline Zastrow
Data Support Specialist
Madeline is a Michigan resident with various customer service and administrative experience. Outside of MOHS, she is also involved with Miacademy’s customer support/moderation team. She has a lifelong passion for community involvement, and has volunteered with her local educational programs and animal shelters for many years. She enjoys cooking, reading, crafting, gardening, and exploring the forests of her home state.