At Nativity Preparatory Academy, every faculty and staff member is fully committed to creating an environment that prepares students intellectually, morally, and spiritually to succeed at high school and beyond.
With experience in both their chosen subject areas and central-city education, our teachers bring a unique perspective to their positions that allows them to genuinely connect with our students. We also have two teacher’s assistants who add to the learning environment and oversee after-school programs, tutoring sessions, and Saturday activities.
The staff takes great pride in drawing upon their collective experiences and talents to develop Nativity students to be leaders of the future. Beyond their academic expertise, our faculty applies a wealth of music, art, and other talents to broaden the scope of learning available within our holistic educational mission.
With an overall student-faculty ratio of eight students to one faculty member, our small class sizes ensure that each student receives the attention he or she deserves.
President
James is driven every day to empower others to unlock their brilliance and is fueled by his profound faith and family, which have guided him every step of his journey. Fun fact: he is a long-time gamer since the days of programming his Commodore 64 computer.
Education: SUNY Brockport
Principal
Jennifer is passionate about any opportunity to help children realize their own gifts. She enjoys time with family, directing her gospel choir, boating, hanging with her dog, Poncho, and up-cycling antique furniture.
Education: Nazareth College and University of Rochester
Director of Special Projects
Paula retired after 40 years as a human resources executive. She is passionate about music and kids!
Grade 6 ELA, Grades 6-8 Science
Amanda is passionate about teaching middle school, which is her favorite age group! She spends time with her family (husband Kyle, daughter Bayleigh, and son Jack) and is a huge Star Wars, Star Trek, and Marvel fan.
7th and 8th Grade English Language Arts and Theology Teacher
Joseph loves to see young people make connections and develop into lifelong learners. He enjoys the outdoors, especially camping, hiking, and fishing with his family and friends.
Physical Education and Health Teacher
“Coach” Charles joined the Nativity staff team in 2021 and is passionate about providing guidance, comfort, and counsel for those in need. His favorite way to spend a rainy day is to play Scrabble and Jumble!
Education: Williams College
5th Grade Teacher
Susan loves learning and inviting opportunities to stir up curiosity. In her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and kayaking. She has hiked in the Grand Tetons, Zion, and Bryce Canyon, as well as the Blue Ridge and Green mountains.
Associate Director of Graduate Support
Amy is passionate about her students, social justice, travel, food, Harry Potter, art, reading, music, and her beagle Olive. She has traveled to 21 countries to date and can’t wait to visit and experience more!
Education: University of Rochester
Office Manager
Karen loves education, social justice, and women’s rights advocacy. She and her two daughters all have matching Harry Potter tattoos! She also makes the best chocolate and peanut butter cake—from scratch!
Manager of Food Services
Facilities
Dave is enthusiastic about riding his bike to work every day, even in the cold!
Mathematics Teacher
Tracey joined the Nativity staff team in 2021 and is passionate about social justice! In her free time, she loves repurposing furniture and household items and baking cakes. Recently she and her husband became empty nesters!
Education: Roberts Wesleyan University and SUNY Brockport
Grades 6-8 Social Studies
Khan is enthusiastic about helping and supporting kids in becoming the best version of themselves. He loves sports and his name in Cherokee folklore means “Prince of Wisdom.”
Education: SUNY Brockport
Extended Day Coordinator & Teaching Assistant
Alexandra loves helping adolescents by offering empathy, compassion, and understanding when in crisis situations, as well as encouraging them to maximize their potential by building self-esteem, self-awareness, and emotional awareness. She is also an advocate for social justice, equity, and equality. For fun, Alexandra enjoys astrology as a way to learn about ourselves and others. And she’s the daughter of Nativity’s very own “Coach” Arnell.
Director, Student Support Services
Alexis is dedicated to providing a safe space for youth to become their most authentic selves to achieve their desired goals and explore their passions. Alexis is from Rochester and in her youth was a competitive dancer and soccer player. She enjoys crafting and traveling. She has a goal to reach all 50 states and has already visited 24!
Education: St. John Fisher University and Keuka College
Advancement Team
Stephanie is a dedicated fundraising professional with more than 23 years of experience. Throughout her career, she has been passionate about supporting educational institutions and creating opportunities for students to grow and thrive. Stephanie has a twin sister and loves to travel with her family.
Education: SUNY Brockport
Advancement Team
Cid grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, and is a diehard Red Sox fan. She loves dogs, traveling, playing golf, paddleball, pickleball, and reading. She has a son and a daughter who both live in Rochester.
Education: Skidmore College
Math Intervention Support Teacher
Matt’s a former RCSD math teacher who stepped away to start and run a business. Now, he’s back to teaching and sharing his passion for math as an Academic Intervention Specialist.
Education: Roberts Wesleyan University and SUNY Utica
ELA Intervention Support Teacher
Mrs. Schulze enjoys sharing her love of reading with her students and has taught Remedial Reading, Reading Comprehension, and ELA at Hillside and The Norman Howard School. She prides herself in being able to individualize the educational needs of her students and works hard to build strong relationships.
Mrs. Schulze considers herself a lifelong learner and enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and watching documentaries. She enjoys crafting, painting, watching hockey with her husband, and playing and learning with her three-year-old daughter.
Education: SUNY Oswego and SUNY Geneseo
Special Education Teacher
Barb is fortunate to have been able to help students achieve their academic goals since 2021 here at Nativity. In her free time, she loves camping, hiking, biking, and paddle boarding with her husband. She loves to read and has run a book club since 2015. Barb was a Licensed Veterinary Technician before becoming a teacher and enjoys pet-sitting all small animals.
Education: University of Rochester
Teaching Assistant
