LCSVS Faculty
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Jenna Bell is an English III instructor for Leon County Virtual School. She graduated with a degree in English Education from Florida State University. She has also been working towards her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and will be finished this December. Jenna has been teaching Language Arts at Montford Middle School for three years, and she has a true passion for reading, writing, and the English language. She also coached the dance team at Montford Middle School for the past two years. Some of her favorite hobbies are reading, exercising, baking, making crafts, and spending time with her husband and family.
Riley Bell graduated from Florida State in 2009. He is in his second year of teaching Drivers Education for Leon County Virtual School. He also teaches Physical Education and Drivers Education at Leon High School. He is currently working towards his Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. He coaches varsity football and track at Leon. He met his wife Jenna, also a teacher in Leon County, while attending FSU and has been happily married for over two years. In his spare time he enjoys reading, going to the beach, going to FSU football games, and spending time with his wife.
Cinnamon Bitzer, a Leon County school teacher, is going into her second year with Leon County. Mrs. Bitzer has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Reading and ESOL Endorsement from Flagler College. She is also certified in Physical Education and Exceptional Student Education. She is currently working to become certified in English and History.
Vince Cartwright is a Florida native whose family has been in the southern part of the state since the turn of the century. He moved to Leon County in 1986 to attend Florida State University and permanently called this county home. While at Florida State, he earned a bachelor's degree in History and a master's degree in Social Science Education. Mr. Cartwright has been teaching for 19 years here in Leon County. He has taught World Cultures, World Geography, U.S. History, Florida History, and Civics during that time and is certified in Social Studies Education 6-12. He is currently an 8th grade team leader, co-sponsor of the Student Government Association, and a two time teacher of the year at his current school. He enjoys spending time in the outdoors, following FSU football, and watching his daughter Caroline (a 10th grader at Chiles High School) play on the tennis team.
Jessica Chapman is an English IV and AP Literature and Language instructor for Leon County Virtual School. She graduated with a degree in English Education from Florida State University in 2003. Mrs. Chapman is married and has two small children. In her spare time, she enjoys church activities, reading, running, and competing in local races for charity.
Melissa Davis received her Bachelor’s degree in history and Masters degree in secondary social studies education from the University of Florida. She has an additional degree in educational leadership from Florida State University. Ms. Davis began her professional career in 2001 at Deerlake Middle School teaching World Cultures, Florida History, American History, and Civics. She left the classroom in 2009 to become the Academy Coordinator at Griffin Middle School, and is currently the Academy Coordinator at Godby High School. Ms. Davis joined Leon County Virtual School in 2011 and enjoys passing on her love of history to her students. In her spare time, Ms. Davis enjoys traveling, cooking, following Gator sports, and spending time with her dog Max.
Kaitlin DiLuzio is a Science teacher for Leon County Virtual School. She graduated with her degree in Child Development and Secondary Education from Florida State University in 2008. She most recently graduated with her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership in 2011. She began teaching at Deerlake Middle School in 2008 and moved to Lawton Chiles High School in 2010 to teach Earth Space Science. She is also the head volleyball coach at Chiles and entering her forth season. In her spare time Ms. DiLuzio enjoys spending time with family and friends, boating and traveling.
Mr. Kelvin Graves Sr. is a graduate of Florida A&M University with a B.S. in Mathematics. He has been a part of Leon County Schools since 2005 where he has taught all levels of Mathematics at Lawton Chiles High School and was voted the Glen Howell Minority Educator of the Year for 2010-2011. Mr. Graves is also the Coordinator for ACE Credit Recovery at Chiles; where students can regain credits for core classes that they need to graduate. Mr. Graves also is the Head Girls Basketball Coach for the past 3 years and won the District Title in 2009-2010 for the first time ever in Chiles history. When Mr. Graves is not teaching/coaching he enjoys spending quality time with his wife of 13 years Jesinia Graves and his 3 children; Jamila (12), Kumani (10), and Kelvin II (5).
Rima Kelley was born and raised right here in Leon County. She graduated from Lincoln High School and then went on to earn her degree in Mathematics Education at Florida State University. Ms. Kelley has 23 years experience teaching mathematics. As well, she has been the Algebra and Geometry Math Team’s sponsor at her school for 20 years. Ms. Kelley had the honor of serving as the Leon County Schools Teacher of the Year in 2007. As well, she served as the Florida Math Coach for the National MATHCOUNTS competition in 2010. Mrs. Kelley is a National Board Certified Teacher with certifications in Mathematics 6-12 as well as Gifted Endorsement K-12. She enjoys spending time with family, dining out, and traveling with her husband Jack and watching her Chiles High School 10th grader, Michelle, play volleyball.
Jessica Lowe is a native of Gainesville, Florida. Mrs. Lowe received her bachelor’s and master’s degree in social science education from Florida State University. She has an additional degree in educational leadership from Florida State. Mrs. Lowe began her professional career teaching language arts and social studies at Deerlake Middle School, while also coaching cheerleading. She left Deerlake in the Fall of 2007 to join the administrative team of Superintendent Pons. Mrs. Lowe is married and has two small children – Jackson and Harper. She loves traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends.
Xenia Madrid graduated from Federal University of Parana Brazil with a major in Social Science and master’s in Education from the National University of Panama. She taught at the University of Panama and Thomas University in Georgia. For the past 16 years she has worked with the Leon County Public school system. She currently teaches Spanish I and II at Swift Creek Middle school where she enjoys teaching Latin culture especially dance. She is married and has two children.
Cassandra Martin was born and raised in Madison, Florida and graduated from Madison High School. She attended North Florida Junior College and received a degree in Data Processing. After attending Bethune-Cookman College where she received her degree in education, she gained employment with the Leon County School system. Mrs. Martin has been teaching various subjects and grade levels for 24+ years here in Leon County. She currently teaches mathematics and science at Montford Middle School and enjoys working with the student wellness advisory council. In her spare time she is comfortable fishing, boating and making music. She has one son in high school, (Jerome) whom she loves and adores.
After graduating FSU in the spring of 2003 with a degree in Science Ed- Biology, James Marschka, began his career at Chiles High School that fall and is still currently teaching there. He teaches environmental science and biology. James is the head wrestling coach as well. He currently lives in Jefferson County with his beautiful wife Kristin, 6-yr old son Garrett, and 3-yr old daughter Kelsey.
Dan Molinaro graduated from Florida State in 1999. He taught math at Godby High School and the last 4 years has been at Chiles High School. He has taught math classes from Algebra 1A to Pre-calculus. He has also coached at the varsity level in several sports including football, basketball, and lacrosse. While at FSU, Dan met his wife Cari who also teaches. They have 3 children, the oldest is a boy and the other two are girls.
Born in West Virginia, Ms Morris was raised on Florida's Space Coast from age three. She attended Emory University with no idea about what she wanted to do when she grew up. After a stint as a social worker, service in the United States Army, and another bit of social work, she finally figured out that teaching was in her blood (both parents were teachers). She has been teaching now for going on thirty years. She has at some time or other taught most of the core academic subjects. She has lived in Leon County for six years, and has taught at Fairview Middle School for five years. Ms Morris is the proud mother of one son, Noah Anthony, now serving in Korea in the Army, the proud mother in law of Betheny, and the proudest grandmother of two, Josephine and Aria. She is owned by a variety of cats. Ms Morris enjoys gardening, traveling, science fiction and playing games of trivia.
Lisa Murray graduated from FSU in 1993 with a dual major in Spanish and International Affairs. She has been teaching for 6 years now and enjoys sharing her culture and background with her students. She has taught Spanish 1, 2 and 3 at the high school level and is currently teaching Spanish 1 and 2 to 7th and 8th graders. Her father was in the Air Force and this enabled her to live and travel throughout Italy and Spain. She developed her love for Spanish from her mother who is originally from there and enjoys visiting her family there. She is the proud mother of a fantastic 13 year old son. When she is not teaching she enjoys reading, crafts and spending time with her family and friends.
Lori Nevin moved to Tallahassee from Victoria, Australia. She graduated from FSU with a masters and has been teaching Physical Education and coaching in Leon County for 29 years. Lori taught at Raa Middle School for 17 years (also coaching basketball, volleyball and softball ). Lori joined Chiles High School when it opened in 1999 as P.E Dept Head. She has taught personal fitness, tennis, team sports, weight training and HOPE classes at Chiles. While at Chiles, she has also been the head volleyball coach in 1999 & 2000, and the head softball coach 1999 thru 2005 She has currently been the head Girls’ golf coach for the last 5 years, and the head JV coach for the last 2 years. Her interests, other than teaching and coaching are tennis, hiking and camping and going to the beach.
Jennifer Powell is the oldest of six children and has lived in Florida for most of her life. She moved to Tallahassee to attend Florida State University in 2003 and has stayed here in Leon County ever since! While at Florida State, Mrs. Powell earned her bachelor's in Social Science Education. She was recently awarded the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation Graduate Scholarship and will begin pursuing her master's degree in Social Science Education at Florida State this fall. Mrs. Powell has been a social studies teacher at Deerlake Middle School for five years and has taught Civics for the past four. She is passionate about teaching her students the importance of American citizenship and the inner-workings of our government! Mrs. Powell has been the cheerleading coach at Deerlake for the last four years and has also enjoyed coordinating her school's History Fair Contest. Mrs. Powell was just married in the summer of 2011 and enjoys spending time with her husband, watching movies, rooting on the Pittsburgh Steelers, reading funny novels and spending time with her three pitbulls - Cali, Cooper and Capone.
Amy Sherry received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. She has taught in Leon County for 9 years, 2 of those years were spent teaching full time at FSU. Ms. Sherry has spent the other 7 years teaching at Lawton Chiles High School. While at Chiles she has taught physical education and earth/space science. She has also coached girls' basketball and flag football. When Ms. Sherry is not at Chiles she enjoys all outdoor activities.
Ms. Striplin was born and raised in Tallahassee and attended Kate Sullivan Elementary, Raa Middle and Lincoln High School. She has a BS in Marketing from Florida State University and was a member of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. She currently teaches 6th grade Math at Deerlake Middle School and US History/Eastern Geography for Leon County Virtual School. Ms. Striplin has two children at Deerlake Middle School and one child at Chiles High School. Ms. Striplin is the Girls Cross Country Coach at Deerlake and sponsor of the Deerlake Green Team.
Mrs. Youngblood has been teaching in the International Baccalaureate Program at James S. Rickards High School since 2008. She has taught Latin 1, Latin 2, AP Latin Vergil, AP Latin Literature, IB Latin Literature and French 2 & 3. She received her BA from Villanova University, a Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Classics from the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Classical Civilizations from Florida State University. She is currently working on a second MA in the field of Late Antique/Early Medieval Art History, also at FSU. She is originally from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania and has lived in Tallahassee since 2005. She is very interested in archaeology and has participated in many archaeological excavations abroad, including several in Italy, Greece, Israel and Bulgaria. On a personal note, she and her husband are the proud parents of a happy little black lab named Zoë!
Carlos Fernandez is a proud teacher at Raa Middle School along with Leon County Virtual School. Mr. Fernandez has received a BA in History from Florida State University and a Masters in Education from Capella University. He is originally from Havana, Cuba and grew up in Miami, Florida. Although he has strong roots in Miami make no mistake, he is a true Seminole. Mr. Fernandez has a strong passion for History and is rarely seen without a book or his laptop. He has taught World Cultures, Civics, U.S. History, and Florida History. Mr. Fernandez is certified in Social Studies Education 6-12. He is currently Department Head and Raa Middle Schools 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year. He enjoys his spare time researching and learning more about History and Educational Technology along with spending time with his beautiful wife and daughter.