Department: Electives/Support Staff

Kathleen has been teaching STEM, Natural Science Studies, and Environmental Science/Education for over 24 years. She has a BS in Wildlife Biology from UMASS Amherst and an Early Ed Certificate. She has taught children from preschool through High School in Massachusetts, California, and Florida. She is passionate about the environment and inspiring young minds about the wonders of the natural world around us. She enjoys teaching outside and inside in a hands-on, project-based, group-collaborative environment. She enjoys teaching, her children, nature walks, hiking, the ocean, wildlife, animals, music, and singing.

Mr. Bertan joined the TDS team in 2014. He earned his BA in ECE from the University of South Carolina and his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on Integrating Technology into the Curriculum, from George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. He has been the Owner and Director of Technology Education for Computer Explorers in Tampa Bay for over thirty years and has been teaching for over forty years. He began his career teaching third grade in Fairfax County, VA,  where he took his first computer course and immediately began to apply this knowledge in the classroom. Shortly thereafter, he was awarded a grant to run an after-school computer lab for at-risk students. He was then appointed to the position of Elementary Technology Resource Specialist, where he focused on evaluating software, writing a curriculum that integrated technology at all grade levels, teaching all students each week, and developing and implementing a summer elementary technology camp. In 1992 he left the classroom to start the COMPUTERTOTS/Computer Explorers franchise in Tampa Bay. Today Mr. Bertan offers TechStars STEM classes/camps for preschool through middle school throughout the Tampa Bay area, and as part of the TDS team, teaches tech and elective classes to 5th-8th grade students.  Mr. Bertan enjoys the outdoors, the Bucs, and the Rays, and is the proud father of two sons and a daughter.

Declan is an assistant P.E. Coach who helps out with homework labs and aftercare. He has about Ten years of experience either inside or on the field. Previously a part of Hillsborough Community College Student Government Association and Students for The Environment as well as the former HCC soccer team co-captain, Declan looks forward to splitting his time between TDS and attending the University of South Florida.

Jim wears many hats at Tampa Day School, which is in keeping with his broad experiences in the business world before joining TDS. He is currently a PE Teacher, a Sports Coach, the TDS Athletic Director, and Building Manager. Jim joined TDS in 2019 after a 29 year career as a Human Resources leader for IBM. After earning a B.S. in Business from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse and a M.S. in Human Resources Management from the University of Illinois, he held HR leadership roles at four IBM sites, including a 2-year assignment in Dublin, Ireland, and finally at the corporate headquarters in Armonk, NY. While at IBM, he specialized in organizational transformation, leadership development and executive coaching. Jim was a certified executive coach and organizational culture consultant. Outside of his corporate roles, Jim also coached youth sports for 20+ years, starting with high school diving right out of college and then had 18 years of coaching youth soccer here in Tampa. Jim brings his broad global business experiences, along with his passion for helping others and coaching sports to everything he does at Tampa Day School.

Crystal has over 20 years of teaching, curriculum writing, and performing arts experience. She has been an instructor at the Straz Center, Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Mahaffey Theater, and U.S.F.. She earned a B.A. in Theatre from U.S.F. and is certified to teach Drama, English, and Social Science. She has trained at the SAK Comedy Lab in Orlando, the Applied Improvisation Network, and the Improv Olympic in Chicago. In addition to teaching theater, Crystal serves as a Creative Marketing and Social Media Specialist for Tampa Day School. Prior to Covid, she was the Artistic Director and lead trainer at the Box Theater in Tampa for 11 years. In her free time, she enjoys laughing and making others laugh, loving on her nieces and nephews, fishing, and doing anything creative.

Rebekah Krueger is our vibrant art teacher and Tampa native who turns the classroom into a canvas of creativity. With a master’s in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern and a heart full of artistic flair, she’s as passionate about teaching as she is about painting. At home, she shares her life with a charming cast: a husband, two French bulldogs, a bearded dragon, and a box turtle—all of whom are her unofficial muses or art critics, depending on their mood. In her downtime, Rebekah enjoys painting, reading, exploring new hobbies, and cherishing moments with her family.

Denise serves as a Teacher’s Assistant at Bowman Academy Preschool during the day and as a HW lab instructor and after care provider in the afternoon.  Denise has been a member of the TDS After Care Team for over 10 years.  She is an invaluable support person who assists the admin team with projects, works as a teacher assistant during special events, and supervises children during evening parent presentations.  In her free time, she enjoys going to the movies and spending time with her sons.