Department: Middle School

Amy graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Missouri-Rolla (currently Missouri University of Science and Technology) with a B.S. in Geological Engineering.  She spent a decade in the Environmental Consulting Industry working in the St. Louis and Chicago areas.  She then took a few years off to raise a family.  During this time she was asked to teach high school Chemistry at a small private school near her home in Massachusetts.  This sparked a love for teaching and led her to complete coursework and receive teaching certification.  She graduated from the EPI Institute at St. Pete College and obtained Florida teaching certification in both Middle Grades Science and Chemistry 6-9.  She has 8 years of experience teaching middle school science in Florida private schools.  In her free time she enjoys any type of competition, from competitive sports including basketball and softball to board games.  She enjoys spending time with her Florida family which includes her retired parents, her husband of 30 years, her teenage daughter and her son and daughter-in-law.

Sofia has over 21 years of teaching experience in public and private schools. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education at FSU and holds a Florida Teaching Certificate.  While at TDS, she has taught-4th grade, middle school reading and language arts, SAT prep courses, and elementary school writing enrichment.  She has advanced training in clinical reading methods and has been a member of the L.S. Tutoring team. Given her enthusiasm for program and student development, she has taken on various leadership roles-writing coach, Common Core Committee member, and National Honor Society Advisor. She has a passion for developing young writers & providing a solid foundation for written language.  In her free time, she enjoys being a devoted mom to her son, shopping, writing, and spending time with family and friends.

Jim earned a B.B.A. and an M.B.A. degree in Finance from the University of Georgia, an M.A. in Teaching from U.S.F., and is certified in Mathematics.  He brings to TDS over 25 years of experience in the Financial Industry and over 16 years of teaching experience. Jim has taught math in grades 5-12 in college prep. schools and a school serving students with ADHD, Anxiety, and learning differences. In addition to his role as a 7th-8th grade math teacher at TDS, he taught Developmental Math as an adjunct professor in the Business School at HCC for 14 years.  Having taught in grades beyond middle school, his goal is to present students with the key concepts, procedural knowledge, and study skills needed in higher-level math classes.  In his free time, his hobbies include reading, biking, walking, kayaking, & paddle boarding.

Amanda has been part of the TDS family since 2011, when one of her children attended lower school. She has held many roles at TDS since then, and the student population at TDS has a special place in her heart.  Many students know her as Coach G. or Mrs. G. when she is on campus. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa, with a BA in sociology. Previously she worked in finance and corporate training. She has lived around the country including Texas, Arizona, Missouri and Iowa. Physical Fitness is a personal passion for Coach G., and she is always looking to continue to grow her knowledge and skills. In her free time, she loves to bike ride, travel, read, and enjoys spending time with her husband, and three children.

Jace has taught social studies in grades 6-8 in public schools along Florida’s Gulf Coast for five years. He earned a B.A. in Secondary Education from Florida Gulf Coast University and is certified in Secondary Social Studies. During his time teaching, Jace specialized in working with students from a wide variety of backgrounds and learning styles, finding ways to integrate unique needs with rigorous instruction. Jace enjoys scuba diving, cave exploration, rock climbing, and kayaking in his free time.

Shelly has over 21 years of teaching experience in Tampa. She earned her B.A. in Special Education and her M.A. in Reading Education from USF. She has held the roles of Department Head, Literacy Coach, and District Trainer during her time in the Hillsborough County Schools, and has taught all levels of English and Reading. She has also served on several curriculum writing teams for Language Arts, and as a Trainer for New Teacher Orientation for many years. Her philosophy of building connections and relationships with students has served her well, and she loves that so many of her graduated students have become her friends so she can share in their joy of weddings, babies, and new life experiences. Besides spending time with her family and dogs, in her spare time she loves to visit theme parks, crochet, and of course READ!