Our Staff.
Staff Profiles
My name is Saundra Ballard. I was born in Fort Worth Texas and grew up in Southern California. I moved to Arizona about 10 years ago. I started working with the Special needs community about 7 years ago in Mesa working specifically with adults in a day program. I moved to Surprize Az and transitioned to working with students here at Heritage Academy. I am looking forward to working with all of your scholars and getting to know each and every one of them. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and 2 children. We love to go back to California and camp and off roading every chance we get.
Andrea is new to Heritage Academy. She has been in the education field for around five years and she’s from Yuma, AZ but moved to Phoenix in 2017. Her son is currently a student at Heritage. In her free time, she likes to go camping, watch sports with her son, and visit family. Working at a school, Andrea finds it fulfilling to build connections with students and their families.
America is thrilled to be starting her first year with Heritage. With seven years of experience in office administration, she has worked as both a front office receptionist and registrar in a charter school setting. In her free time, America enjoys spending time with her family. She is the oldest of five siblings and has a three-year-old nephew. America is also a food enthusiast who loves trying new dishes and exploring our beautiful state while traveling and camping.
Mr. Conti is excited to continue the journey of teaching the importance of history to young minds at Heritage. Born and raised here in Phoenix, Mr. Conti first attended Paradise Valley Community College where he received an Associates of Fine Arts before transferring to Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science focusing on Political Science, Communications and History. When not in the classroom, he can be found at one of the many Phoenix parks playing disc golf, attending concerts, as well as many other activities that can be found locally.
¡HOLA! I would like to introduce myself as your Spanish teacher. I was born and raised in Nicaragua. I earned an AA certificate in Psychology at Glendale Community College; I will soon be finishing my BA as Speech Therapist with a minor in Spanish at ASU. Before becoming a full-time teacher, I used to teach Spanish private classes to high school students for five years. This will be my nineth year teaching as a full-time teacher Spanish I through Spanish IV, AP Spanish Language and Culture. I am passionate about teaching Spanish but especially I love teaching high school students. I have witnessed every student’s growth and potential over these years. I have been delighted to see how creative my students have been when writing and making up stories in both languages; their minds just fly away. I know these young minds have so much to offer, they are the future of our nation. I am excited for a new school year, and I am ready to teach them not only the Spanish language and culture but also the best that they have within them.
Mrs. Curfew was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. She received her BA in Secondary Education specializing in math from ASU, Master’s in Secondary Education from GCU, and is currently taking post-graduate level math classes. During the past 15 years in the 4 schools she has worked at, she has taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Statistics, and AP Calculus AB along with an elective of Marketing. Currently, she is teaching Algebra 2, Statistics, Financial Applications, and Keyboarding/Study Skills.
While not teaching, Mrs. Curfew enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and (so far) 2 dogs. Some of her favorite things include otters and all things Disney
My academic background is in electrical engineering, for which I received my bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. I have at least four years of experience in graduate-level research of solar cells and semiconductor material characterization. Concurrently with my graduate research, I was employed for over two years as a teaching assistant for a college-junior level semiconductor device physics course. I begin my career in full-time education with my fantastic peers at Heritage Academy Pointe, and look forward to bringing my heavily-based STEM background to my students. Away from the classroom, you can find me practicing my perpetually-novice cooking skills, playing guitar and songwriting, listening to music, and supporting local record stores and local musical talents around the Phoenix region.
Mrs. Ashley Green is a fifth generation native of Arizona. She was raised in Glendale and currently resides in New River with her Husband Bryan, two sons, Hudson and Easton and their dog Bizzy. Ashley studied dance at Arizona State University and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from Ottawa University and is certified to teach PreK-12. Mrs. Green has taught secondary dance in public school for 14 years. Throughout her time in public education she was the Department Chair of Performing Arts, an active member in Phoenix Union’s Dance Professional Learning Community and the recipient of Arizona Dance/PE Teacher of the year. She is well versed in the genres Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Improvisation and Choreography. Mrs. Green has enjoyed the opportunity to manage well over 30 productions, performances and recruitment tours on and off campus. Ashley is also entering her 10th season with an Arizona based dance company, The Parking Lot Project. She has performed with them in several festivals throughout the valley and will be on stage in The Parking Lot Projects upcoming show “Endings/Beginnings” fall 2023. Ashley Green has a passion for dance but loves most of all teaching young dancers how to move and be confident on and off the stage.
I received my B.A. in English Literature from Occidental College in Los Angeles and a master’s from the University of York in England. I’ve been in education for 17 years, teaching 1st, 4th, and 6th grades before transferring to the 7-12 campus. Although, in my heart, I will always be an English teacher, I have also worked in special education and taught science, study skills, and various electives at the junior high and high school level. Before having a stroke in 2018, I coached JH track and field and directed JH theater performances as well. I recently stepped out of the classroom and into instructional coaching, which I loved, but I am now looking forward to returning to the English department and reading/writing with students again.
I was born in Phoenix, where I lived until my family moved to Ohio when I was in middle school. (I still regard myself as a Midwestern/Arizonan hybrid, which is a fairly common breed out here.) After high school, I acquired my Bachelor’s Degree in History from Bowling Green State University in western Ohio. A few years later, I finally made the decision to teach, and earned my MAC degree (Master of Arts and Certification) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. I have taught History (US and World), American Government, and Geography in Catholic schools, private schools, charter schools, and public schools, in Ohio, Michigan, and out here in Arizona. A confluence of circumstances saw a whole new generation of my family move west in 2006. The past several years in the Valley of the Sun have helped me grow into a more thoughtful and passionate educator, and I am committed to the academic and social well-being of all the young people in my family and in my classroom.
Hello! I’m Mr. Looney, and I’m a certified English teacher. This year will be my 9th year of teaching, and I’m looking forward to making it my best yet! I believe in the power of reading and writing to elevate human intelligence to its fullest potential. I grew up in New Jersey, and I am an alumnus of The College of New Jersey. My wife Dana and I have four rescued dogs. I enjoy nature, fishing, and making music.Hello! I’m an Arizona native who can’t imagine living anywhere else! I’ve worked with Heritage Academy as a coach for cross country in 2018 and 2019. I am not currently a substitute for Heritage as of 2022! I have my associates degree in General education with applied science from Estrella Mountain Community College. If I’m not in the classroom you can find me working in the nursing homes as a certified nursing assistant or reading the latest best selling author or some good old classics!
I am an Arizona native who has lived all over the state of AZ due to my dads work and even through the heat, I love it here!! I recently married my High School sweetheart and we are enjoying life with our two dogs! This is my 3rd year in Education as well as being at Heritage. Before joining the new Pointe campus I taught at the Laven campus (Algebra 1 & 2). This will be my first year as an Athletic Director and I am super excited to build our Athletic programs as we start this new chapter here at Pointe! I have a love for athletics and how sports can positively impact the lives of our youth. When I am not at work you can find me watching Netflix with my Dogs or planning my next vacation!
Graduated from Ironwood HS in Glendale, AZ in 2006. Earned B.A. from Western Governors University in K-8 Elementary Education and K-12 Special Education. Worked in the Peoria and Dysart Unified School Districts from 2013-2022 teaching special education students grades K-12 for math and science. Have also been coaching Basketball and Football for junior high and high school since 2008.
Ms. Randle has been teaching for 12 years. She is an Arizona native and attended ASU for her BA. in Education, and GCU for her M.A. in Education as well. She has been teaching high school math since 2019, after many years of teaching at the elementary level. In addition to teaching, Ms. Randle has experience as an instructional coach and support teacher. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dog and spending time with her family.
Michele Robison was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. After graduating Camelback High School, she attended The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles. She earned a degree in Merchandise Marketing and went on to work in the apparel industry. She has over 20 years of graphic design and marketing experience. Michele started teaching digital design during the 22-23 school year and obtained an Arizona Career and Technical Education Certificate. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge of business and marketing with our young scholars.
Mrs. Weiler joined the Heritage Academy Gateway Campus in 2015 as a Math Teacher. For three years she led the College Relations department growing the Early College Program at our Gateway, Mesa, Laveen and Maricopa campuses. From her outstanding efforts, she has been recognized by Rio Salado College as one of the finest high school advisors in all of Arizona. Heritage Academy’s early college programs have helped our scholars save thousands of dollars and years in their higher education plans.
For the past three years, she has served as the Assistant Principal of our Laveen campus. She has helped grow and strengthen their academic, arts and sports programs with her support, scheduling and expertise. She has helped Mrs. Asanovich in every way and will be missed at Laveen.
Mrs. Weiler is a first-generation college graduate who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University. She also has a Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Arts in Education, School Guidance Counseling from Ottawa University. Mrs. Weiler has an Adult Education Standard Certificate, AZ Standard Elementary, K-8 Certificate with multiple K-12 endorsements. She is a member of the Arizona School Counselors Association and American School Counselors Association.
Outside of Heritage, Mrs. Weiler has taught at Central Arizona College, University of Phoenix as well as the East Valley Institute of Technology. Prior to Heritage, she taught math at EDUPRIZE Charter School and Chandler Unified School District.
