Faculty & Staff
Mr. and Mrs. Wright
Founders and Owners
Favorite children's books:
The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews Edwards
The Thing About Jellyfish by Ali Benjamin
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Our Teachers
Beyond Academics’ teachers are qualified to teach in the public and/or private school sectors. Some have degrees in English / Creative Writing, some have professional writing experience, and some also have teaching credentials. When applying for a position at Beyond Academics, hopeful teachers are given an extensive, rigorous grammar and writing exam. Periodic in-service training sessions are held; training continues throughout the school year. We also all adhere to a strict accountability system: both teacher and student work are analyzed by administration throughout the year.
Ms. Kyria
"My favorite part of teaching is being able to share my love of language. I love being able to demonstrate, even within the constraints of grammar, how flexible language really is, and how writers can manipulate it to effectively communicate their ideas. Kids feel a great sense of empowerment when they can confidently express their opinions, and I enjoy creating an environment in which it's safe for them to do that." —Ms. Kyria
Her favorite childhood book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle.
From a 7th grader: "Ms. Kyria always provided feedback in the assignments I did, whether it was good or bad, making me feel supported and appreciated."
From an 8th grader: "Ms. Kyria was very supportive and very flexible and made my learning experience fun!"
Mr. Chris
"My favorite aspect about teaching is the unique challenge of communication. How do we choose the right words? There are an infinite number of ways in which to convey a message, and teaching allows for creative flexibility. Words turn dreams into new realities, and I enjoy the endeavor of helping students discover new insights through a gamified pedagogy. While I enjoy teaching rhetoric and first-year college writing, working on dynamic fundamentals with younger students is just as rewarding. My favorite thing about teaching at Beyond Academics is the unique atmosphere of the students: They never fail to surprise me with their unique perspective.." —Mr. Chris
His favorite childhood book is Jack and the Fire Dragon by Gail E. Haley.
From a 5th grader: "I mostly enjoy how my teacher would support students and check in on the class. I also enjoy the games that make me laugh. Clearly, my teacher is a very funny, supportive, and awesome teacher."
From a 5th Grader: "What I enjoyed most is that the teacher was very nice and let us express our ideas and thoughts."
Ms. Audrina
"I enjoy teaching because, as someone who genuinely appreciates the power of literature, here I am able to be a crucial resource in helping students empower themselves and others through their writing. As a teacher, I am able to, in some form, be used as a tool in their academic growth, and I am honored to show all that I know in hopes of lifting them to achieve their highest potential. I enjoy working at Beyond Academics particularly because we have an amazing, supportive staff who are passionate and teach in ways that challenge and nourish our students' work using curriculum that has been crafted to help them express their own valuable voice through words." —Ms. Audrina
Her favorite childhood book is The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket.
From a 4th grader: “I enjoyed everything this year from prizes, points, classmates, and Ms. Audrina. (Honestly though, I really liked the Sticky Gooey Mystery. Beyond Academics did a wonderful job preparing it!)”
From a 2nd grader: “I learned a lot this year. Ms. Audrina was a great teacher, and we had fun writing topics!”
Ms. Kristen
"I love teaching because I love guiding students to uncover understanding. Through writing, students can open themselves up to new ideas and can communicate in ways that extend beyond what they thought they were capable of. Showing students how they can apply vivid words and purposeful techniques to their writing brings me so much joy! I love teaching because I love supporting students as they grow personally and learn to communicate this growth effectively." —Ms. Kristen
Her favorite childhood book is The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Ms. Wynene
"Each and every day spent teaching at Beyond Academics has been a deep and enriching experience for me, both personally and professionally. My years here have taught me that working with children is a gift that is ripe with countless opportunities to impact students' lives in positive ways. Not only is it vital to guide each child to be a powerful writer and student, but also, it is my desire to support students in their personal growth towards being confident, kind, and well-rounded adults." —Ms. Wynene
Her favorite childhood book is Charlotte's Web by E. B. White.
From a 6th grader: "One thing that my teacher did was acknowledge my writing piece, describing all the good things that it did have, but also describing the areas where there could be improvement."
From a 6th grader: "One thing that Ms. Wynene does is that she provides clear and supportive feedback for your writing to improve; she knows what you are capable of, so she pushes you to do what you can do, something that has really helped me this year."
Our Office & Administrative Staff
Ms. Sahar - School Registrar
"Part of the reason why I appreciate working at Beyond Academics so much is because of how passionate the staff is about teaching, and their genuine love for the subject and for their students. The curriculum has been created in a way where the students are learning how to think critically and creatively, all while having fun. Tom and Wendy Wright have created an environment of support, allowing students to express themselves while developing their own ideas and writing to develop their own voice." —Ms. Sahar
Her favorite childhood book is Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss.
Ms. Liz - Instructional Content Specialist
"My favorite part about working at Beyond Academics is how creative I get to be. I enjoy producing content for students and teachers to have a fun learning experience. The staff along with Wendy and Tom have made the learning environment such a positive experience for students. I strive to expand the knowledge and creativity of students through my work here at Beyond Academics." —Ms. Liz
Her favorite childhood book is the Goosebumps series of horror novels by R. L. Stine.