It is a new school year and we are excited to announce we have a few new faces joining us this year! Please take a moment to learn a bit more about each one and welcome them to the AEA family!
My name is Dante Rapp and I am the health and physical education teacher for AEA Strongsville. I recently graduated from Kent State University with a degree in health and physical education. I am certified to teach PreK-12th grade. This is my 1st year teaching! I am a member of the state and national organizations for health and physical education, OAHPERD and SHAPE America. I love being active and everything that has to do with sports. I am recently engaged to my high school sweetheart. I am very excited to get to know all of my students and spread life long knowledge through activity!
Hi! My name is Amber Calzada, and I am so excited to be a part of AEA this year! I will be an Intervention Teacher, providing individualized support to students in grades K–3. I previously taught third grade for two years and spent one year providing support in a kindergarten classroom. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cleveland State University and am currently continuing my education at Kent State University. Outside of school, I live with my husband and our two cats. In our spare time, we love camping, reading, and spending time with friends. During the summer, we often visit friends in Anchorage, Alaska, where I have the opportunity to volunteer with the local Special Olympics program. I really enjoy working with students with all different abilities and getting to know each student as an individual. I love finding ways to help students grow, feel supported, and become more confident in their learning. I look forward to getting to know my students and their families while being part of their learning journey this year!
My name is Ava Kast and I am so excited to be teaching fourth grade at AEA in Strongsville! I am working toward getting my reading endorsement this winter, and have a Bachelor's degree from Miami University for Primary Education (pK-5). This is my first year teaching! I love to draw, watch movies, and make crafts. I am also a Browns fan, win or lose! I have an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister, as well as my dog Woody. I look forward to an awesome year with all of my lovely students!
My name is Franci Hainley and I am so excited to be the 2nd grade teacher this year for AEA in Strongsville! I graduated from Kent State University, and this will be my second year of teaching. I absolutely love working with students and am so excited to create a classroom where every student feels welcomed, supported, and excited to learn! Outside of school, I enjoy going golfing, working out at the gym, and shopping. I also love spending time with my family and friends and making the most of my free time! I am looking forward to getting to know each of my students and their families. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in 2nd grade!