Meet The Team
Deborah Bodony
Director of Operations
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Natasha Capell
Faculty, Science
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Eileen Chen
Faculty, Chinese
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Jordan Conerty
Head of School
Faculty, Social Studies
Cristina Flores
Faculty, Spanish
Zane Gream-Sevingy
Faculty, Physical Education
Athletics Coach
Megan Hutchison
Faculty, English & Writing
Joe Cleveland
Faculty, Math & Physics
Isabel Scott
Faculty, Social Studies
Mrs. Bodony joined Academy High in the fall of 2021. A graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Biology and a secondary education teaching certificate, she has taught science at the middle school and high school levels in Indiana and California as well as served as a Curriculum Developer at NASA Ames. Since moving to Urbana-Champaign in 2006, she has served in many volunteer roles in educational institutions including being a member and secretary for the Countryside Board of Directors.
Before joining Academy High as a founding faculty member, Mrs. Capell taught high school, worked in curriculum development, and spent time as a researcher studying limb regeneration in amphibians. She holds an M.S. in Biology from the University of North Texas, an M.S. in the Teaching of Biological Sciences, and an Ed.M from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In her science classroom, students work together engaging in hands-on activities where they learn science through exploring real-world issues.
Mrs. Chen is a Illinois State K-12 Certified Chinese Language Teacher. She received a B.A. from Tamkang University, Taiwan, a M.S. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Nazareth College in Rochester, and an M.A. in Multilingual Education, University of Northern Colorado. Mrs. Chen achieved the TESOL certification from the University of California, Irvine. Mrs. Chen participates in many professional development conferences to bring new knowledge to the classroom. She encourages students to travel to broaden their horizons.
Mr. Conerty joined the faculty in 2018 as a social studies teacher, bringing a wealth of experience in secondary and higher education. He was appointed Interim Head of School in 2022 and became Academy High’s permanent head in 2023. He earned a bachelor's from Augustana College (IL), a master's from Yale University, and a certificate in Educational Leadership from Berkeley Divinity School. Conerty has taught courses in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s College of Education, where he has begun pursuing a doctoral degree in Education Administration & Leadership.
Mrs. Flores, a native Spanish speaker, has taught Spanish for nearly two decades. She teaches at both Academy High and University Primary School and has also taught at various other local schools and homeschool co-ops. She holds a B.A. in Management Information Systems and certifications in Project Management and Business Process Reengineering, and an M.A. in Spanish Language and Culture. Mrs. Flores is passionate about sharing the language and culture of Spanish-speaking countries with her students.
Mr. Gream hails from Tuscola and holds a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science Kinesiology (Pre-Physical Therapy) from Eastern Illinois University, where he graduated as an Honors College student. Mr. Gream eagerly leads our Physical Education and Health & Wellness programs and coaches our Cross Country, Boys Basketball, and Track & Field teams, bringing a passion for fostering a love of physical activity, collaboration, and connection among students.
Ms. Hutchison holds a B.S. from the University of Houston Clear Lake in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Math, and an M.A. from Fontbonne University in The Teaching of Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum, as well as completing the coursework to certify as a Reading Specialist. In addition to her 20+ years of classroom teaching experience, Ms. Hutchison has a long history as a professional developer, training teachers in the application of writing as a mode of learning in all subjects and as a Technology Specialist, supporting teachers in the integration of digital learning into their existing analog curricula.
Mr. Cleveland pursued his academic interests at University of Illinois Springfield, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematical Science. After graduating, Mr. Cleveland filled a middle school opening at Schlarman Academy in Danville for a time, where he taught seventh and eighth grade math and science classes. In coming to Academy High, he is particularly excited about teaching the subjects he loves at a college-preparatory high school level. His ability to connect everyone in the room to the math components of the topic, making it accessible and matter, speaks to his creative and engaging approach to teaching.
Ms. Scott is a Champaign-area native and a graduate of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, where she earned degrees in both History and Secondary Education. She completed her student teaching at Cambridge Jr./Sr. High School in Cambridge CUSD #227, where she taught World History, U.S. History, and U.S. Government. During her time at Knox, Ms. Scott was recognized with multiple undergraduate awards for research and writing in history—demonstrating not only academic strength but also a deep engagement with the discipline. A graduate of both Next Generation School and Centennial High School, Ms. Scott is excited to return to her hometown and contribute to a school that values curiosity, critical thinking, and authentic connection.
Academy High is thrilled partner with the following community members for our module offerings in the last few years:
Della Perrone
Instructor, Digital Photography
Colin Ramage
Instructor, Personal Finance
Shannon Percoco
Instructor, Drawing Technique
Alex Shaffer
Instructor, Intro to Cryptography
Tai Josek
Instructor, Intro to Entomology
Mike Ingram
Instructor, Modern Music History / Appreciation, Rock Band
Josh Houchin
Instructor, Jazz Band
Aidan Menees
Instructor, 3D Printing & Design
Kathleen Isenegger
Instructor, Computer Science (CS+X)
Amy Chesser
Instructor, Exploring Human Behavior
Sasha Rubel
Instructor, Art in Action
Board of Directors
Sowmya Anand
Board President
Tracy Sulkin
Board Vice President
Jeff Magee
Board Secretary
Katie Stafford
Board Treasurer
Colleen Braun
Board Member
Cherie' Weible
Board Member
Anna Nesbitt
Board Member
Djante Castillo
Board Member
Jordan Conerty
Head of School