Department: Lower Elementary

Daniel has three years of experience teaching in both public and private schools. He previously worked as a teacher at elementary level. He has taught writing, social studies, and science to students in grades 4-5 at TDS. He is passionate about creating hands-on science activities. In his writing classes, he believes that students should find their voice. He received a B.A in History from the University of Coleraine and uses that knowledge throughout his Social Studies lessons. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and stepson and watching a lot of soccer.

Beth brings to the TDS lower division her expertise in early elementary education, reading intervention, and the social-emotional development of young children. She earned a B.A. in Social Work from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, New York and has over 20 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. She has been with TDS for over 17 years, is a specialist in early reading intervention and differentiation, and is passionate about teaching reading. In addition to classroom and small group instruction, Beth has served as new teacher mentor, has been a longstanding reading specialist on the Learning Solutions Intervention Team, and has supported several literacy initiatives in the lower division. In her free time, she loves to travel, devours books, and enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Cristina attended the University of South Florida for the majority of her undergraduate work and then earned her BA in Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Tampa.  She earned her teaching certificate through the HCC EPI program.  Christina’s teaching career began at TDS in 2011 as a Learning Solutions Tutor. She received advanced training in Lindamood-Bell and has developed expertise a variety of teaching methods to address the various learning styles of students who learn differently.

From 2014-2017, she taught 1st and 3rd grades at Carrollwood Elementary and then in 2018, returned to TDS to teach 2nd grade.  Mrs. Lentz is passionate about working with children and feels that having the ability to use specific strategies and skills to help children improve their reading skills is incredibly rewarding.  She loves to watch as students learn and experience success!

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and children and likes to travel.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, Kelly Newman earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Notre Dame of Maryland University in 1984 and began her career in teaching. She loves children and learning, and her passion for making a difference in the world has provided her with a wide range of opportunities in the field of education.  Her thirty-plus years of experience includes time as a Classroom Teacher, a Producer of Educational Services for America Online, a Director of a Britannica Learning Center, and an Educational Curriculum Writer with Sylvan Learning Systems creating curriculum for the Chicago Public Schools.

While living and working in Illinois, she took some time off to start a family. When her two sons were of school age, Mrs. Newman returned to the classroom. Her passion for providing students with a variety of pathways to be socially, emotionally, and academically successful furthered her involvement in education.  She became a moderator for Student Council, a school representative for the Standards and Benchmarks Committee, an Activities Director for Field Days, and a mentor for other teachers. Her commitment to excellence led to her nomination for the Bisk ‘Hometown Hero Award’ for Educational Leadership. This award granted her a scholarship to obtain a Master’s Degree, which she received in Curriculum and Instruction from Scranton University in 2016. Afterward, she was promoted to the position of Reading Resource and Response to Intervention Specialist. While she missed the classroom, this new position allowed her to maximize her Special Education skills in working one-on-one with children and collaborating with their parents and teachers as a team. 

“Nothing is more rewarding than watching a child go from ‘I can’t’ to ‘I can’.”

Ms. Pomet has been a career teacher for over 30 years, working for schools in Florida, Louisiana, and Arkansas. She has taught all subjects in grade levels from 1st through 8th grade, with a passion for helping students with developmental challenges, intellectually and emotionally disturbed disabilities. Ms. Pomet earned her Bachelor of Science in Education at the University of Arkansas. She has continued to build on her experience by working with a variety of foundations and programs, including; the Contentment Foundation’s Four Pillars of Wellbeing, Read Naturally Intervention Program, and The Orton Gillingham Approach. On the weekends, Jill can often be found listening to live music and jeepin’ with friends.