our Team

Ray Polk

Director

EDUCATION:
Bachelor of Arts
St. Petersburg Jr. College & St. Leo University
Concentration: Elementary Education

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

15 years as the Director at Academy at the Farm Dade City, FL
Educational Consultant & Account Executive for Pearson Digital Learning
Teacher & Technology Specialist for the Pasco County School Board
14 years as Treasurer for Standard Auto Parts Inc. Dade City, FL

Anita Alexander

Director of Academics

Education:

Master of Education
Mansfield University
Concentration: Reading Specialist

Bachelor of Arts
Oklahoma Baptist University
Concentration: Elementary Education & Psychology

Professional Experience:

STEM/STEAM Specialist &
Instructional Design Specialist
Pasco County School District

K-12 ELA Senior Curriculum Specialist & Lead Reading Specialist
Aiken County School District

Certifications:

School Management & Leadership, Elementary Education, Middle Level ELA, Reading Director

Career Highlights:

President of South Carolina Leaders of Literacy
Learning Forward Coaches Academy, Center for Results

Differentiated Assessor & Grader, Staff Development for Educators

Distinguished Reading Teachers, Aiken County School District

Golden Apple Teacher, Northern Tioga School District

Brendon Ramsay

Director of Coaching

Education:

Bachelor of Arts
University of South Florida
Concentration: English, Creative Writing

Professional Experience:

6th Grade Reading & Language Teaching (13 years) Williams Middle Magnet I.B., Walker Middle Magnet I.B.

6th Grade Team Leader
Williams Middle Magnet I.B.

AVID Certification

Middle School Competitive Sports Coaching:
Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Girls & Boys Track & Field, Boys Flag Football

Irish 31 Teacher of the Year Finalist

Career Highlights:

2 years Buffalo State College Div. III SUNYAC

2 years University of South Florida Hockey Club Div. III ACHA

Chaplain

Julian Juarez

Chaplain

Julian Juarez

I have served as a full-time Children’s Pastor at Bridgeway Church since 2018 and as the Campus Pastor and Chaplain at Nest Hockey Academy since 2023. I have led large-scale events with over 400 students and adults, spoken at schools throughout the Wesley Chapel area, and participated in FCA programs over the years. I value working in school settings, as they provide unique opportunities for meaningful relationships and consistent engagement with both staff and students.

support staff

Nicole DeCicco

Student & Client Services

Nicole DeCicco

Education:
Bachelor of Science, St. Petersburg College
Concentration: Management & Organizational Leadership

Professional Experience:
5 years of experience as a 2nd Grade Teacher
Apollo Beach, FL

Career Highlights: Teacher to Teacher Mentor
Lightning Leader Award Winner
Teacher of the Year Nominee
Great American Teacher Finalist

Cindy Zasucha

Administrative Assistant

cindy zasucha

Education:
Executive Assistant Certification Program, Bryant & Straton Business Institute

Professional Experience:
Legal Secretary
Non-Profit Administrative Assistant
Corporate Executive Administrative Assistant
School Finance Secretary

Career Highlights:
Successfully organized a yearly non-profit organization's annual silent auction fundraiser, achieving fundraising goals.
10+ years Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer

Certified Teachers

Amanda Price

Certified Teacher

Amanda Price

Education:
Bachelor of Arts Florida State University Concentration: History with a Minor in Geography & Education Master's Degree University of South Florida Concentration: Art of Teaching Social Science Education Specialist's Degree University of West Florida Concentration: Curriculum & Instruction Assessment

Professional Experience:
3 years of exp. teaching high school AP & honors
7 years of exp. teaching middle school advanced & on level and 2 years as a STEM Instructional Coach

Career Highlights
4 Time Teacher of the Year Finalist. Presented Professional Development at a National Conference. Being a Teacher Leader. Honored with invitations to former students' weddings.

Jeanmarie Zabilowicz

Certified Teacher

Jeanmarie Zabilowicz

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Georgian Court University Concentration: Business Administration Certifications: Elementary Education & Gallup Strengths Coach

Professional Experience:
5+ years of experience in education 25+ years of experience in HR leadership and operations across Fortune 500 organizations

Career Highlights:
Global business experience in India & Poland

Licensed Florida Realtor
Ministry & Volunteer at Oasis Pregnancy Care Center | Land O Lakes

Kelsey Lien

Certified Teacher

Kelsey Lien

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Southern Florida
Concentration: Criminology
Juris Doctorate, Ave Maria School of Law
Concentration: Law

Professional Experience:
English & Law Studies Teacher | Tampa Catholic High School
English Middle & High School Teacher | Hillsborough County Public Schools

Career Highlights
Teacher Certifications: English 6-12
Reading Endorsed

Linda Cain

Certified Teacher

Linda Cain

Education:
Master of Education,
Salem University & West Virginia University
Concentration: Curriculum & Instruction with an emphasis in Special Education

Bachelor of Arts, Salem University Concentration: Social Studies, English, ELA, Special Education

Bachelor of Arts, Marshall University Concentration: Reading Endorsement

Professional Career:
Self-Contained Special Education
Push-In Special Education
Ancient World History
West Virginia Studies Early United States
History Civics/American Government
Journalism

Suzette Richie

Certified Teacher

Suzette Richie

Education:
Master's Degree, Graceland University
Concentration: Integrating Technology

Bachelor's of Education, Indiana University

Professional Experience: 12+ years of teaching middle and high school mathematics | Indiana and Florida Schools 2 year college professor | Ancilla College, Indiana

Career Highlights: FCA Leader
Academic team coach
National Honors Society Leader
ACSI Certification

Instructional Assistants

Justin Zabilowicz

Instructional Assistant

Justin Zabilowicz

Education:
Pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Education

Professional Experience:
Student Ambassador, Beacon College
Canoeing Instruction & Counselor | Maple Ranch
Former rescue climber
Former lifeguard

Career Highlights:
Induction into the
American Christian Honor Society
Numerous competitive speech awards
1st place at the state level for an original persuasive oratory, extemporaneous speaking, humorous interpretation of literature, and competition choir

Leah Baacke

Instructional Assistant

Leah Baacke

Education:
Master of Science, Florida State University
Concentration: Library Info Studies Master of Arts
Belmont University Concentration:
English Bachelor of Science
Florida State University Concentration: Communications

Professional Experience: Virtual ESL Instructor VIP Kid Youth Services Librarian Pasco County Library Cooperative Adjunct English Instructor, Pasco Hernando State College

Career Highlights: English (6-12) and Educational Media Specialist (K-12) Certifications Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management Certificate (ALCTS) Over 1,600 ESL classes taught to 300+ Chinese students Experience planning library programs, special events, and fundraisers

Mark Burns

Instructional Assistant

Mark Burns

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Michigan Concentrations: History with Minors in Political Science and Crime & Justice

Juris Doctorate, Belmont University Concentrations: Law

Professional Career:
10+ years of experience working in the sports business industry as a talent marketer and reporter.

Former Assistant Dean of Student Discipline at Pepin Academics

Career Highlights
Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree

Melisa Elwin

Instructional Assistant

Melisa Elwin

Education:
Law Enforcement Certification,
Pasco Hernando State College

Professional Career:
3 years of experience as an Instructional Assistant | Jacksboro Elementary School in Knoxville, TN

Career Highlights:
Law Enforcement Academy Class President

Zachary Dietz

Instructional Assistants

Zachary Dietz

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, Charleston Southern University
Concentrations: Christian Studies, Communication

Professional Career:
3 Years as a Youth Director and Ministry Intern

Career Highlights:
Began involvement in church ministry in 2023, and am excited to begin working as an Instructional Assistant and helping with coaching

Academic Coach:

Connie Stone

Academic Coach

Connie Stone

Education:
Bachelor of Science, West Virginia University, Morgantown Concentration: Speech-Language Pathology & Audiology Master of Science

University of South Florida, Tampa Concentration: Speech-Language Pathology

Professional Experience:
Speech-Language Pathologist & Guidance / Exceptional Student Education Services Coordinator Administrative Support & Elementary Teacher | Pasco County Schools Kardia Christian Academy | Houston, Texas

Career Highlights:
Florida Department of Health Licensed Speech - Language Pathology American Speech - Language & Hearing Certificate of Clinical Competency School Advisory Committee - Secretary Parent-Teacher Committee - President 4H Club Program Leader

Hockey Staff

Brandon Fehd

Hockey Coach

Brandon Fehd

Education:
Bachelor's Degree
Concentration: Business Management & Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Certified Personal Trainer
& Nutritionist through NASM
Currently studying for his CSCS

Professional Experience:
15 years of experience as a skills & power
skating coach
U16 Northstar Assistant Coach

Career Highlights:
8 years playing in the ECHL Played in Allsvenskan, Sweden

Brent Barber

Hockey Coach

Brent Barber

Professional Experience: Coach:
Level 4, USA Hockey
Skills/Player Development Trainer:
Amateur through Pro Player Levels

Career Highlights:
Played for the Tampa Bay Juniors
Player for the Islanders Hockey Club in MA
Played at Farmington State

Jack Billings

Nutrition | Strength & Conditioning Coach

Jack Billings

Education:
Bachelor of Science, MBA Niagara University
Coach: Level 2, USA Hockey

Career Highlights:
Played in the ECHL & Europe (EIHL)
NCAA All American
NCAA All Academic
Atlantic Hockey Association
All-Conference Team NCAA D1 Asst. Captain
ECHL Asst. Captain

Kristina McAuley

Power Skating & Efficiency Coach

Kristina McAuley

Education:
Education: B.S. in Exercise Science, Florida Gulf Coast University

Professional Experience:
Former professional figure skater
13+ years of elite skating instruction, ranging from beginners to NHL & Professional players
8 years of coaching youth hockey; current 2010 Alliance Assistant Coach

Career Highlights: Coached 07 Florida Alliance 2022-2024 | State Champion 2x, District Champions 1x National Competitor Plant High School | 2022 State Champions National Competitor 07 Bulls | 2020-2022 State Champions, Number 1 in the Nation 2021-2022 National Competitor Philadelphia Independence 2019-2020 Scorpions Hockey Club 2017-2019 U12AA, U16AA | State Champions National Competitors FL Everblades U14 2016-2017

Mike Craig

Hockey Coach

Mike Craig

Education:
Bachelor of Science, Michigan State University Concentration: Construction Management

Professional Experience:
Level 4 USA Hockey Coach
FL Alliance Coach 2021-2023
Directory of Lacrosse | Shipyard Lacrosse Jr. B Hockey | Metro Jets, Waterford, MI Club Hockey | Michigan State University

Career Highlights:
Guided a girls lacrosse team to #4 nationally in US club lacrosse | Won a Florida State Championship with Plant High School in Girls Lacrosse | Sent multiple athletes to DI/DII/DIII programs, including John Hopkins, the University of Colorado, and Rutgers | Led several youth hockey teams to state tournament championships

Pat McAuley

Hockey Coach

Pat McAuley

Education:
Bachelor of Arts, University of Connecticut
Concentration: History

Master's Degree, Hofstra University Concentration: Secondary Education

Career Highlights:
NCAA D1 | University of Connecticut 2008-2010
USHL-Lincoln Stars 2006-2007
AJHL-New Jersey Rockets 2005-2008
4x SAHOF State Champions
2x Southeast District Champions
1x Southeast District Finalists

Zach Remers

Hockey Coach

Zach Remers

Professional Experience:
Coach: Level 2, USA Hockey

Skills/Player Development Trainer: Amateur through Pro Player Levels

Career Highlights:
Played Junior Hockey NAHL
Played Collegiate Hockey at Buffalo State
Played 2 Years Professional Hockey in the
ECHL & SPHL

Facility Staff

Jeff Griffey

Rink Manager

Jeff Griffey

Education:
Associate's Degree, University of Kentucky Community College Concentration: Science

Associate's Degree, Kentucky Tech Concentration: Information Technology

Professional Experience:
Hopkins Co. Board of Education / IT Specialist, Voice Comm. & Data | Madisonville, Kentucky
Madisonville High School Boys Basketball Coach
Madisonville Tire & OTR Outside Sales Manager

Career Highlights
Madisonville Boys Basketball Coach – Hall of Fame 2021 Dell & Microsoft Computer & Educational Software Certification Bridgestone / Firestone OTR Safety & Sales Certified

Nick Dubaj

Rink Manager

Nick Dubaj

Education:
Bachelor of Arts
St. Leo University
Concentration: Sports Business

Professional Career:
Nest Hockey - Rink Manager 2022-present

Coaching Highlights:
Dean's List at St. Leo University
Assistant Captain, St. Leo's
Men's Club Hockey Team