View table: TSASFacultyStaff

I’m a Brooklyn transplant via the Tulsa Artist Fellowship. Growing up in Florida, I spent most of my days skateboarding, making art, and shooting hoops. The most important advice I can give: if you can, grow a beard. Favorite childhood movies: The NeverEnding Story, Labyrinth, and White Men Can’t Jump. Greatest TV show: Gumby.

I am blessed with the most beautiful woman on the face of this planet, Abisola (Abby), the wife of my youth (over 12 years), and because of her, we have the 3 most gorgeous, smart, and intelligent children in the world; Simi (10), David (6), and Esther (2). I recently ran and completed my very first half-marathon (13.1 miles). I used to be so scared of dogs, but I found out just recently I do NOT have that fear anymore. I saw a Coyote head-on during one of my practice runs, and it kept coming close to me and my friend, but noticing we didn’t flinch, it found an escape route through a fence and ran away!

I am a huge shark fan and originally pursued marine biology before discovering my passion for education. I have two dogs (Samson & Meeka) that I absolutely adore that make my days brighter for just existing. I love reading, I’m a big Spotify stan, and I like watching basketball & hockey whenever I can. I advocate for mental health wellness, and I have a heart for people at all stages. If you have any questions about sharks or my dogs, or any song suggestions, feel free to swing by my classroom!

Hello! My name is Ana Barros. I am a first-generation immigrant, who grew up in Brazil, Venezuela, and Panama before coming to the United States in high school, 10 years ago. I speak fluent Portuguese, Spanish, and English. I am here because I believe that every single person deserves an excellent education. Before coming to TSAS, I taught 7th and 8th grade to the wonderful students at East Central Junior High.

I keep up with all things nerdy and love to talk about them. I can probably talk your ear off about most video games, movies, comics, or TV shows. When I'm not being a super dork, I'm 2 seconds away from going on some random adventure. I enjoy spontaneous travel and if it's a road trip, you can best believe my cat is in the car with me.

I live in Broken Arrow with my husband and two dogs. I teach part time and work part time as a professional artist. I also have a dog sitting business through Rover.com. If I’m not at home or school, you can usually find me at the gym, Crossfit BA, where I go almost every day. I have 6 favorite things: my husband, dogs, art, Dr. Pepper, naps, and chocolate!

I hail from Louisville, Kentucky, but it’s been a long time since I’ve lived there. I’ve led an interesting life that has taken me from studying ancient meteorites in New Mexico, to working as a geologist in the deepest depths of a sweltering underground gold mine in Nevada, to teaching English and climbing mountains in Japan. I taught in New York City for two years and saw how starkly segregated the school system is there and I have been inspired to bring people from different backgrounds and cultures together. I’ve been in Tulsa for the last year and I really love the communities here. I’m learning more about anti-racism in science and how I can incorporate that into my teaching at TSAS.

I grew up in and around Tulsa, but moved to the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado in 2015. I am grateful for the opportunity to come back to teach at TSAS! Besides creating music I spend my time mountain biking, trail running, hiking with my dogs, skiing and gardening, and there is generally loud music playing in the background of whatever I am doing. I own a farm that I have been fixing up on an old property that used to be a dairy farm and a sawmill in a small town called Del Norte, CO. I have two dogs Schroeder and Ralphy, and my seven chickens, Rosie, Hennyetta, Betty, Small Betty, Karen, Foghorn, and Leghorn. I live in Tulsa now, and could not be more thrilled!

My favorite quote is, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” by Maya Angelou. These are my words to live by, because I know how true they are, and I try to be mindful of them from day to day. I love my family, and I particularly adore my mother. My nephew Quincey has stolen my heart, and I love animals (especially dogs and elephants, the only exception would be snakes). I also love to watch movies; new movies or old movies, I just love movies.

When I am not teaching, I am learning! My favorite thing to do is learn a new hobby or about something new. I love reading, hiking, rowing, skating, and baking something I’ve never attempted before. Also, I have a dog named Brie who loves to hike- so taking her on a hike is definitely my favorite hobby!

Hello! My name is Emily Tackel. I am a first-generation college graduate from a small, rural town in southwest Oklahoma. In my spare time I love reading, Netflixing, and spending time with my loved ones. I am an avid sticker collector and passionate recycler. My dream is to live on the beach where I can grade papers with my feet in the sand.

Artist, gamer, technology buff, lover of animation, fantasy & science fiction, and all things heavy metal! With these powers combined, I am a huge nerd!
Animation is art in motion. It is a visual medium of endless possibility that the human imagination can conceive. If you can dream it, you can animate it. Animation is an illusion of movement; it truly is magic. As my friend often says, “magic is real!’, and it exists here at TSAS. That magic is inspiring the students to learn, create and achieve their goals! It’s really all about them, they are the future.

I'm a 7th generation Texan who has called Tulsa, Oklahoma home for the past 8 years. I live right in Owen Park with my husband Mitch and my lab-mastiff Tucker. I love hosting gatherings in my home and watching long hours of crappy reality television. I'm an avid college football fan and am always down to talk sports.

My name is Fallon Jazz and I live in Owen Park with my wonderful husband Wyatt, my dog Luna, and my cat Sugar. I love all things creative and all things nature! I spend most of my time working in my yard, at the dog park, or thrifting. My preferred form of self-expression is music and both my husband and I write or jam in our free time. We hope to have a children’s album completed in the next few months and another album soon after that!

I go by Felix. I’m passionate about nature, creativity, stewardship, permaculture, native species, xeriscaping, all the animals, insects, baking, nutrition, language, and other elements of life on Earth. I love people and get a lot of energy from working with youth. I have a partner & two elementary age children. I spend a fair amount of my spare time playing strategy board games, gardening, and camping.

My name is Gabrielle Holston and I am a small town girl from the lovely state of Alabama. I am the aunt to a lovely little girl and the god mother to 2 wonderful children. My family is my world. I love sports, but basketball is my favorite. I played Division 1 basketball for 5 years. After traveling the world I developed a passion for fashion and photography. I look forward to working with TSAS students to create a healthier tomorrow.

I came to Tulsa when I was 9 years old from Colombia. I taught for three years in San Francisco as a Spanish bilingual 4/5th grade teacher while leading a modern band program at the school. I currently love doing street art, photography, traveling, exploring, learning, riding horses, and sk8boarding. Have a nice day.

I was born in Fort de France, Martinique and was raised in Miami, FL by my mother. I absolutely love teaching kids. Teaching has been a passion of mine for the past 9years. I love to dance, sing, and have fun with my family. I am a wife to a beautiful man and a mother of 3 beautiful girls. I got into my first professional dance company at the age of 19 (Dallas Black Dance Theatre), I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to tour all of Europe while performing on the Independence Of The Seas with Royal Caribbean, and I was one of the top 20 dancers in the world on SYTYCD Season 7. My husband and I have a love for Pitbulls and I enjoy putting mustard on my pizza! I teach because it is my obligation to train up the next generation in physical and wellness awareness.

My first area study was art therapy, and I hope to become certified in horticultural therapy once I complete my graduate degree. My husband, Clay, and I live a 10-acre farm called ‘Blackberry Burro’ with 3 dogs, 5 donkeys, 1 goat, 8 beehives, and a multitude of birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks, and guineas). We currently reside in a 1973 Airstream as we continue to build our home. I was a horticulturist at the Tulsa Zoo prior to teaching at TSAS. My favorite quote is, ""Breathe properly. Stay curious. And eat your beets"" by Tom Robbins.
I teach to touch the future. I teach for laughter. I teach for curiosity. I teach for growth. I teach for love. I teach for leadership. I teach for well-being. I teach for knowledge.

My teaching career began in China in 1987. Three years later, at the American Academy in Istanbul, Turkey, I adopted my life’s motto: “I want to dance with the whole world!” Include everyone, exclude no one. I have been devoted to my partner in life for over 30 years, the last 20 of those in our little home on the river bend near downtown Tulsa.

After spending two years reading, thinking, and growing in OSU’s Curriculum and Leadership Master’s program, I am eager to return to the classroom doing what I love. In my free time, I love to travel to new states and countries, dragging my husband and two teen daughters to museums and historical sites, rain or shine. While home, I continue to learn more and more about Tulsa, having lived here for seven years now. I hope to draw upon this rich history and our amazing community in order to help my students feel more connected to themselves and their place in this world.

I started at TSAS in 2006 as a substitute barely three years older than my students. I was hired full-time the next year, teaching World Lit, Brit Lit, The Graphic Novel, YA Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Contemporary Nonfiction, Mythology, AP Lang, and Computers I and II over the next ten years. Seeing a need to better serve our graduates, I created the College & Career Counselor position; then, seeing a further need, I began building our library. When I’m not at TSAS I’m working on my house, building drawing machines, knitting/crocheting, reading, or designing CNC projects.

I have lived in Oklahoma my whole life, but that doesn’t mean I’ve seen it all. In fact, I feel like I am constantly learning about places I’ve never heard of in or facts I never knew about our state. I am a true nerd at heart. I am always ready for a discussion on a variety of fandoms and ready to learn about new ones! I am also a writer and musician. While on the outside it may seem like math, writing, and music might not work well together, that’s how it’s always been in my brain. I love surprising people with my variety of skills and showing them that you don’t have to limit yourself to one area.

I’m a lifelong Tulsan and proud alum of Booker T. Washington HS who’s taught art and art history at TSAS since 2006. Before then, I worked at the Philbrook Museum of Art in the education and curatorial departments, and taught in multiple other local arts organizations as well. I speak 4 languages and was part of the inaugural Spanish Immersion class that began the dual language programs in Tulsa in 1981. I firmly and wholeheartedly believe that public education is the most important investment we can make in our kids and I hope to use my public education foundations to give back to my community, because they invested in me. I’m married and have an 8 year old son who is my favorite person and a 17 lb cat who sleeps on me. My favorite thing to do is reading, more reading, buying books and talking about books, but also all pop culture and history. I unabashedly love good animated shows with excellent storytelling.

I’m a 5th Generation Oklahoman who moved to Colorado the summer before 8th grade, I consider both to be home. I moved to Tulsa three years ago and love working at TSAS. In middle school, I lived to beat a girl named Danielle (who obvs had it all) for first chair clarinet. I rarely won. Even though I held down 2nd chair, I wasn’t allowed to march with my clarinet crew because I couldn’t keep in step with the rest, but I could be found holding the flag in the front. In 9th grade I rode in the back of a golden El Camino through the desert to find a secret punk rock show. That was all a long time ago, and now I mostly chill with my family–husband and two children, plus our dog. I like to read books/stories, watch TV/movies, read the news, and make things. I can get weirdly competitive when I play board games. I like grape flavor, Central Asian/Middle Eastern food, Tajin, Chamoy, & popcorn. Music is great too.

I grew up in 6 states and 7 school districts, but the classroom has always felt like home. I earned my BA from Berkeley, studying the intersection of modern art and computer science- which is a concept I love exploring in the geometry classroom! Before coming to TSAS, I taught math and graphic design in other TPS high schools, and worked in the STEM space for tribal governments and local nonprofits. Outside of school, I love to crochet, weave, play trivia, and go on road trips with my husband and our dog.

Hiya! My full name is Mina Flores Daneshvar and I’m originally from Southern California (San Bernardino/Redlands). I moved to Tulsa to attend the University of Tulsa to study petroleum engineering and fell in love with the city so much I haven’t wanted to leave! But I’ll always root for my LA teams above all else. My cat Jian (Gigi) is the fuzziest little floof who loves cuddles, especially when I’m in the middle of playing video games. I’m a big ol’ nerd who loves to learn as much as I can about anything I can.

I was born in Germany, but for the most part grew up in Lawrenceville, Georgia. I had the opportunity to teach in Namibia for a couple of years with the Peace Corps, which was truly life changing. I love traveling and hope to make it to as many countries as I can. In my free time you can find me reading/writing, watching tv, or researching random facts.

I love politics, philosophy, poetry, and my cats (Dionysus and Descartes). I have had the privilege of mentoring young debaters and actors for 10 years. I’ve been professionally associated with the Harvard National Invitational Forensics Tournament and OSSAA Speech and Debate. I’m a theatre nerd who has worked in stage production and costuming since 2017. I’m a writer with a special interest in journalism and research; I’ve been published by three newspapers, showcased in two symposiums, and awarded for my radio and social media work.

Hi all! My name is Rebecca Alberty and I teach 8th grade US History. I graduated in May 2021 with a degree in psychology from OU and have experience with mental health work for all ages. Additionally, I have a passion for teaching history and showing children how history shapes our current events and even our day to day life. I aim to incorporate not only historical curriculum in my class, but also important life skills. A fun fact about me is that I have two cats. A calico cat named Peach, and a black cat named Pumpkin, who has three legs. They even have their own Instagram page! When I’m not obsessing over how cute they are, I’m usually hanging out with my friends or family, painting, or binging my newest Netflix favorites.

My name is Rogelio Contreras, but I go by Profe. at TSAS. My wife Diane and I have two beautiful children, Isabela and Joaquín. I have been teaching Spanish and American Sign Language at TSAS for 5 years. I love watching college football, dancing salsa, playing golf (recent hobby), reading, politics, traveling, trying new recipes, learning about different cultures, and spending time with family and friends.

I grew up in Kansas City, MO before going to college in Springfield, MO and Chicago, then landing here in Tulsa to teach- making myself a proud resident of the Plains and Midwest for my whole life. I have a black cat named Frog who I might be a little bit obsessed with even though I’m allergic to her. When I’m not telling everyone to look at how cute she is, I love watching all types TV and reading all types of books. I’m involved in the Ok, So Story Slam and have been a finalist in the Best Storyteller in Tulsa competition two years in a row.

I am blissfully married to Emerson teacher Arianna and am the proud stepfather to Julian and Evelyn (as well as doggos Lizzie and Penelope). As a Texas native with a love for the outdoors I love riding and working on bikes and can be found working or volunteering at various bike shops around town. I’m an avid music listener with a lust for a good metal show and enjoy playing a bit of music myself – lately a lot of cello and drums!

I’m a Colorado native who married his college sweetheart, with whom I have two kids and two cats. We have a third child on the way, due at the end of November. I’m a former football player who has recently discovered a second athletic career in kettlebell sport; I’m looking forward to participating in my first competition this October. I’m a drummer, I’m a Cormac McCarthy fan, and I love watching science fiction movies.

I'm a Catholic-raised Ohio boy taught to work for justice anywhere I see injustice. I know that while our souls and hearts must be our guide, we must hone our minds to make those dreams a reality. Oh, and I'm an Aquarius with my Pisces is in Venus, and I've been told that explains everything you need to know about me.

I love television as an art form and as a tool to educate. I am a huge fan of British costume dramas, the original Perry Mason, 30 Rock, and PBS documentaries. When I’m not watching TV, I read, write, play in my garden, sing really loudly and off key, and spend time with my 3 wonderful kids and my awesome husband. I was once a publicist and the best part of the job was free books and meeting some of the most famous authors on the planet.

My name is Tara Schiffelbein, but I go by Mrs. Tara because a student once told me that my last name scared him. I live with my husband, Jared, and our two fur babies, Bubba and Gertie. When we aren’t working on renovating our almost 4 acre property or trying to get my ’71 Volkswagen Squareback up and running, we enjoy watching movies, attending live music, and eating authentic meals from various cultures.

I worked in public history and education on the programming side for many years and learned a lot about what constitutes educational excellence. After a long-term substitute teaching assignment at TSAS in 2012 I knew that teaching here would be my dream job, and it is. TSAS gives teachers the freedom develop innovative and challenging curriculum and the students are awesome!