Faculty & Staff - Grace Episcopal Day School

Angela Bast

Head of School

It is a privilege to serve as the Head of School at Grace. I am passionate about providing an environment that is both academically challenging and spiritually encouraging. I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin with a focus on history and government. I taught at both the middle school and high school level from 1993 - 1997 and served as the Director of a church-affiliated Early Learning Program from 1999 - 2005. Our family relocated to Jacksonville in 2006, and I was offered a position as the Director of the Extended Day program at St. Mark's Episcopal Day School. In 2013, I returned to the classroom teaching social studies to 5th and 6th grade students. I enjoy spending time with my husband and two children, and I am actively involved with Young Life, an inter-denominational Christian outreach to middle school and high school students.

Ginger Neitzke

Office Manager

Hello my name is Ginger Neitzke. I am married with pets, and I enjoy reading in my quiet time. I have been a banker in the Jacksonville / Orange Park area since 1983. I joined Grace Episcopal Day School in 2017, and I feel extremely blessed to be a part of such a wonderful school. The staff and students are a joy to work with, and I have felt welcomed since the first day I was here. I look forward to the many years ahead.

Martha (Moppy) McGee

Director of Admissions

I'm honored to serve Grace Episcopal Day School as Director of Admissions. Grace is a wonderful school and in so many ways similar to the Episcopal grade school our son, Parker, was fortunate to attend for 9 years (PK3 - 6th grade). I'm a lifelong Episcopalian and have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Wake Forest University. I spent 10 years as a capital equipment sales representative in the wholesale baking industry and 18 years as a buyer and marketing representative in commercial aviation. I've served on the Alumnae Board of my high school, Salem Academy, and I'm a Sustaining Member of the Junior League of Jacksonville. My husband, Bill, and I have been happily married since 1989. In my spare time, I enjoy cooking, entertaining and needlepoint.

Melissa Van Horn

Director of Development and Communications

I'm excited to be working at Grace Episcopal Day School as the Director of Development and Communications. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from Stetson University, a Master of Science in Higher Education Administration from Florida State University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching Elementary Education from Queens University. I came to Grace with university administration and elementary school teaching experience. Grace Episcopal Day School provides an educational opportunity unlike any other, and I am thrilled to be a part of the tradition of this school.

PK3

Sloan Lewis

My name is Sloan Lewis. I am a wife and Christian mother of two amazing boys. I grew up in Auburn Alabama and received a B.S. degree from Troy University. I have over five years experience working in a preschool as an assistant and over ten years experience working in the children's ministry at my church. I enjoy interacting with children and watching them grow and develop new skills. I am blessed and privileged to work with the talented and dedicated team at Grace Episcopal Day School.

PK4

Cari Rahn

My name is Cari Rahn, and I teach PK4. I graduated from the University of North Florida with my Bachelors in Elementary Education in 2001. I have taught first grade, second grade, and preschool. I am happily married with two daughters, and I feel extremely blessed to have found such a wonderful home here at Grace. I enjoy teaching at Grace, and I'm looking forward to many years to come!

Kindergarten

Kristi Campbell

I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Florida, and I hold a current Florida teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education. I come to Grace with several years of teaching experience in kindergarten through third grade.

I have been married for 20 years. I have a daughter who attends Florida State University and a son who is a junior in high school. I am excited to join Grace!

First Grade

Leslie Bransford

Hello! I am thrilled to be a part of the Grace Episcopal Day School family. I am a Georgia native and a graduate of Georgia Southern University, but now a proud Floridian. My college sweetheart and I have three children. Some of my favorite activities include reading (especially children’s books), learning about the past, taking walks with my dog, dining out and trying new cuisines, and exploring Florida. After teaching for sixteen years, first grade has become one of my favorite grades to teach. This can be a special year in a child’s learning to see the growth that takes place while recognizing their unique gifts and talents.

Second Grade

Kay Stewart

I am a Jacksonville native but moved to Alabama after middle school. I have been working with children for over 20 years. While living in Alabama, I owned and operated a 24 hour 7 day a week childcare and learning center. I moved back to the Jacksonville area in 2014 where I began teaching 2nd grade at a Christian private school. I am excited to be here at Grace and look forward to what God has planned for me!

Third Grade

Alice Dunn

I attended the University of Georgia and received a degree in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. I have teaching experience in grades first through fifth. Although I am originally from Georgia, I have taught in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. I joined the faculty of Grace Episcopal Day School in the spring of 2014.

I have a daughter named Mimi. I enjoy cooking and reading to Mimi. We share a love for animals and have four dogs and two cats. I also enjoy tennis, riding horses, and walking.

Fourth Grade

Kim Hines

I graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education and Reading. During my teaching career I have taught 3rd through 8th grades. I am married and have two children. In my free time I enjoy shopping, going to the beach and boating with my family.

Fifth Grade

Julie Gregory

5th and 6th Math and Science

I feel blessed to be part of the Grace community and am proud to join the 5th and 6th grade team. My husband and I grew up in Orange Park, but we now reside in Jacksonville. After high school, we attended the University of Florida; however I finished my Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of North Florida, in Jacksonville. We have two wonderful girls and have recently become empty nesters, but we still have our chocolate Labrador, Kennedy, at home. In 1999, I began working in Early Learning Education and have taught multiple grade levels throughout my tenure as a teacher. I have always worked to instill a desire for life-long learning in my students and love to see the joy they feel when discovering something brand new. I love spending time with my family, reading, enjoying the pool and the ocean, and of course, Gator football!

Sixth Grade

Cyndi McKnight

5th and 6th Language Arts and Social Studies

I am a Florida native, as were my father and his parents, and I have lived in Florida all of my life. Upon graduating from The University of Alabama with a BA in Communications, I worked in the advertising field, for The St. Petersburg Times newspaper, and for Allstate Insurance. After going back to school to earn my Masters Degree in English Education from the University of South Florida, I have enjoyed teaching many different grade levels over the past 20+ years, from 4th to college level language arts, history, writing, and grammar. I recently received my gifted endorsement, which included courses in differentiating instruction for various student learning styles. I am married and have one son who is a college student, and a yellow Labrador retriever named Belle. I am looking forward to continuing my teaching career in a loving Christian environment.

Seventh Grade

Sharon Barber

7th and 8th Math and Science

I am excited to be teaching seventh and eighth grade science and math this year! This will be my twenty-second year in education. I am a graduate of both Jacksonville University and George Washington University. On a more personal note, I am a mother of four grown children and a grandmother of two. My husband Rick, and I are "empty nesters" and we have a fur baby named Teddy.

Eighth Grade

Carolyn Taylor

7th and 8th Language Arts and Social Studies

I am a graduate of the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where I received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. I hold certifications in ESE, ESOL, Reading, and English 6-12. I have taught for over 35 years in public and private education ranging in grades 3rd through 12th. My favorite pastimes are reading, crafting and spending time with my husband, children, and six grandchildren. Teaching children is my passion, and a wonderful gift from God.

Carol Britt

Librarian, Preschool through 6th Grade

I am originally from North Carolina, but I have also lived in South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia. I graduated from Winthrop College with a Bachelor of Arts in English. After college, I moved to Charleston, SC, and completed a Master of Arts in Teaching at The Citadel. I then went to the University of South Carolina and received a Master of Arts in English as well as a Master of Library and Information Science. I have worked as both a College Reference Librarian and a School Librarian. I am happily married to my husband, Steph, who has served as Rector of San Jose Episcopal Church since 2006. Our daughter, Katherine, attended Grace Episcopal Day School for 7th and 8th grades and is now a senior at Stetson University. It is a pleasure to be back as a part of this Christian-based community.

Amy Cid

Spanish Instructor, Preschool through 8th Grade

¡HOLA A TODOS! My name is Amy Cid. While I'm a New Hampshire native, I'm Hispanic at heart, and have loved languages for as long as I can remember. I graduated with honors in Hispanic Literature from Colby College, studied and lived abroad in both Spain and Argentina, and have been teaching since 2008 when I moved to Florida. There is nothing that I love more than helping students broaden their horizons through language, and I am beyond blessed that I can do that with all the sweet "estudiantes" here at Grace Episcopal!

Emma Corfield

PE Teacher

Hi! My name is Emma Corfield, and I am the PE teacher at Grace Episcopal. I graduated from University of North Florida with my Bachelors degree in Elementary Education. After teaching First Grade here at Grace, I’m excited to jump from the classroom to the field to teach the kids that I love in an active environment. I attended Grace from Kindergarten through 6th grade, my mom taught at Grace, and I worked in the Extended Day program for two years throughout college. I am so excited to be a part of the Grace family again. I absolutely love working with children, and I have a passion for creating a positive and loving environment for them. Kindness, respect, and love will always be my number one priority. I know we are going to have a great year!

When I am not teaching, I love to spend time with my husband and friends. We love to be outdoors or spending time doing anything active.

Lisha Dinkins

Art Teacher

I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Art Education. I taught Art for 4 years in the Clay County School System and was selected as Teacher of the Year at Grove Park Elementary School. I began teaching at Grace Episcopal Day School in 2010. I have three children who all attended GEDS. I have always been passionate about art and physical fitness. I was an athlete in high school and received both an art and athletic scholarship when I entered college. In my free time, I enjoy walking, running, reading, painting, listening to music and learning new things.

Meg Henning

Teaching Assistant, PK4

I am happy to begin my first year at Grace Episcopal as a PreK assistant. This will be my ninth year working in a preschool setting, and I absolutely enjoy working with this age group! My husband Brent and I have two wonderful children, Jack 19 and Holland 15. In my free time, I enjoy walking our two dogs Shelby and Georgia, hiking, traveling, and enjoying the Florida outdoors! I look forward to and I'm humbled to be a part of the Grace Community.

Jennifer Lancaster

Christian Education, 3rd - 8th

I am so happy to be working at Grace Episcopal Day School as the Christian Education teacher for grades 3-8. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology from Florida State University and a Master of Arts in Communicative Disorders from the University of Central Florida. I was a speech-language pathologist for almost 12 years before changing directions to be able to volunteer and serve more in ministry. For the last four years, I have worked as a children’s ministry coordinator and now the Director of Children’s Ministry at Grace Anglican Church. I have two children, and we are going into our eighth year as part of the Grace Episcopal Day School family. I am looking forward to exploring the Bible and helping students better understand the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ!

Neal Mars

Athletics

Hello, my name is Neal Mars Jr. I have been coaching at Grace since 2016. I have been coaching youth sports since 2001, and I have been a certified soccer referee since 2010. At Grace, I coach soccer, flag football, cross country, and track & field. I enjoy teaching student athletes about sportsmanship, rules of the game, importance of physical fitness, and the importance of being part of a team. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a Masters of Business Administration both from the University of Phoenix. I believe there is an athlete in all of us and there is a place in sports for everyone. Dream Big Work Hard!

Donna McDaniel

Teaching Assistant, PK3

I am excited to have the opportunity to assist in the preschool ministry at Grace Episcopal Day School. I graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition. The following year, I completed my internship at Florida Hospital in Orlando to become a Registered Dietitian. My most rewarding dietitian position was working for a Pediatric Endocrinologist, as I helped educate children and their families with Type 1 diabetes. My husband and I, along with our two children moved to the Orange Park area in 2011. I have had the opportunity to serve in preschool ministries ever since. I have developed a passion for working with preschool children, and l am excited to serve at Grace.

Cathy Porfidio

Music, Art, and Christian Education Instructor for Preschool / Kindergarten and Christian Education Instructor for 1st - 2nd Grades

I was raised in Richmond, VA. I attended college at James Madison University and transferred to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Music Education and Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Music. I’ve been involved in education for over thirty years teaching Kindergarten through High School, in both public and private school settings.

I’m married to Joe Porfidio and have three adult children and an adorable eight year old grandson, Sterling and Miles who will be four in September. I'm Children's Ministry Director over nursery through six grade at Resurrection Anglican Church, where my husband is the Rector. One of my great joys has been to serve the church in children’s ministry as a teacher and children’s pastor.

Kelly Porter

Enhanced Learning

I have been happily teaching at Grace Episcopal Day School since 2005. I have taught grades 4-8 here, and I currently coordinate our Enhanced Learning Program, which supports PK3-8th grade. I am excited for the opportunity to offer reading/math enrichment to grades 2 and 3, and STEAM classes to grades 4-8.

I received my M.S. degree from FSU in Exceptional Student Education. Since then, I’ve received a Math Endorsement for grades 5-9, as well as a Reading Endorsement. I am trained in the LiPS method, a multi-modality program that helps children with reading, spelling, and speech. I am also trained in Seeing Stars which develops symbol imagery, and Visualizing and Verbalizing which builds concept imagery. I have also received training in On Cloud Nine, which addresses math visualization.

I married my college sweetheart, and we've raised three beautiful daughters together. Now we enjoy visiting them in Arizona and Colorado. It’s especially fun playing with my three grandchildren! When I’m not perusing Pinterest for fresh, fun classroom ideas, I choose to spend my time kayaking, hiking, or combing the beach for shark’s teeth. God speaks to me through nature, and through the people of Grace Episcopal Day School.

Alise Reynolds

Director of Technology

I graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Computer Science and had a career in Information Technology prior to working in the private school sector. I was the Lower School Technology Teacher and provided technology support to the teachers and students at St. Johns Country Day School while taking the college classes necessary to obtain a Florida Teaching Certificate. I joined Grace Episcopal Day School as the Director of Technology in the Fall of 2016. I enjoy being a part of Grace’s small, Christian school community.

Darren Ronan

Music and Band Instructor

I am a professional musician who has been teaching at Grace Episcopal Day School since 2008. I graduated from University of North Florida with a B.A. in Music in 2002, served as Band Director at St. Johns Country Day School '00 -’07, and founded Ronan School of Music in 2010. While at UNF I was fortunate to study percussion with Charlotte Mabrey and drum set with Rick Kirkland. I also toured the southern and eastern United States playing in a variety of musical settings; opening shows and sharing stages with such notable performers as Booker T., Diane Schuur, Dwight Yoakam, Dick Dale, Syl Johnson, Mickey Thomas from Starship, Evan Dando, Randy Weston, and Junior Brown. I have provided percussion for local productions of musicals such as Pippin and Bye Bye Birdie, and along with respected Broadway pianist Eugene Gwozdz as music director, backed Theater Jacksonville executive director Sarah Boone on her show, "The Double Threats: A Celebration of Composer/Lyricists.”