Our team of dedicated staff is what makes our school a special place by creating an extraordinary learning environment for our students. Da Vinci teachers are specialized in project-based learning methodologies, which includes the design and implementation of inter-disciplinary curricula. Meet a few of them:
Steve Lege - Math
After graduating from UC Davis with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and earning a teaching credential from CSU Sacramento, I taught for several years in Sacramento. In 1983 I began teaching at Emerson junior high and five years later transferred to Davis Senior High, where I worked for the next 16 years. In 1996 I was selected as the teacher of the year. In 1999 I was part of a group that explored the feasibility of starting a small learning community based on the Napa New Tech model. The following year Ibecame one of the founding staff members at the new Da Vinci high school and continues to enjoy being part of the growing DV community.
Tyler Millsap - English & Social Studies
I was born and raised in Woodland, CA, live in Sacramento and teach here in Davis at Da Vinci Charter Academy. I am a graduate of CSU, Chico and hold a B.A. in Political Science and a M.Ed. in Cross-Cultural Teaching. I am credentialed in English/Language Arts and Social Science. My teaching career spans 10 years and a variety of settings. I have taught elementary, middle school and high school, and worked in private, inner city and suburban settings. I am very pleased to have found my teaching home here at Da Vinci, where I am currently in my fifth year teaching sophomore English and U.S. History. I thoroughly enjoy the inclusive community and positive school culture that thrives on this campus. I also enjoy the creativity and deep learning that comes from teaching with a project-based learning methodology. In my “non-teaching” life I enjoy running, mountain biking, do-it-yourself home projects and my Boston Terrier, Toots. In this past year, I completed my first marathon and competed in the World’s Toughest Mudder endurance competition, a painful new hobby that I hope to continue in the coming year.
Bekah Rottenberg - Life Science Teacher
I grew up in a tiny town in western Massachusetts, attended Brown University where I was captain of my lacrosse team and graduated in 2003 with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Upon graduation I traveled to Nepal to conduct research on pesticide use amongst farmers in the Kathmandu Valley on a LUCE scholarship. Upon return, I worked on an organic farm before landing my first teaching job in central Utah. I then continued my migration west and moved to Davis, enthralled by the lure of top notch agricultural studies. I earned my M.Ed in Education from UC Davis in 2010 and I hold credentials in Agricultural Education, Life Science and Biology. This is my third year teaching at DaVinci and I couldn’t be more pleased with the integration of real life scenarios and project based learning that occurs in the classroom. I teach Biology, Environmental Science, and the combined Zoology and Botany class. I also am in charge of the garden program and the Davis Mountain Bike Team. In my free time I enjoy mountain biking, running, skiing, backpacking, gardening, and any sort of food production or preservation.
Marguerite Fleming – Transcripts & Senior Trip Coordinator
I grew up in northeastern New Jersey, and was a dental hygienist there before marrying. After living in Kansas and Washington DC, my family moved to Davis in 1989. I started at Da Vinci at its beginning in 2004 as a parent volunteer, helping in the office, subbing for Adela, coordinating the first senior trip, and was heavily involved as a Booster parent. When my son graduated in 2006, I stayed on, continuing to sub, run the senior trip and help out. I was officially hired this past September after seven years. My responsibilities include maintaining Academic History, transcripts, and coordinating the senior class trip (our 7th this year!). Da Vinci is a great place for students and staff. My free time is spent with family (my first grandchild arrives this summer!), my two golden retrievers, Beau & Molly, volunteering with Davis Community Meals, quilting, gardening (roses) and food preservation.
Kristen Uliasz - Study Skills Teacher, Academic Coach, GSA Advisor
Since I can remember, I’ve always loved learning, and teaching anything to anybody. More than that, I love teaching people things they can actually use or that they, ahem, Need to Know. In high school, I tutored my friends and teammates in math. Throughout college at UCSB, I volunteered at local elementary schools teaching environmental science lessons while I also worked as a math and science fellow in junior high and high school classrooms, supporting underprivileged youth. Later, I got a job at a residential school, my toughest job to date, where I taught independent living skills to folks with severe autism and emotional disabilities. Since getting my teaching credential at UCSB in 2005, I’ve taught in elementary schools, junior highs, and high schools; both in my own classrooms and supporting students and teachers in their classrooms. I moved to Sacramento in 2009 and was lucky enough to stumble upon DaVinci Charter Academy, where I began working as an Academic Coach and Study Skills teacher. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this very student-centered and collaborative community! What else can I say? Learning is neat.
Carol Curinga – Counselor
I attended both Pitzer College and UCLA, where I earned a bachelor’s degree. For a number of years following graduation, I worked both in Los Angeles city politics, and ran a business featuring market feasibility analysis. After contemplating my life goals, I became a counselor and earned three masters degrees in school psychology, marriage and family counseling and school counseling from CSUS. In addition, I have also served as adjunct counseling faculty at Sacramento City College. I worked as a school psychologist in Elk Grove Unified and became a school counselor in Davis Joint Unified in 1993. From 2000 to 2010 I served as the Head Counselor at Davis Senior High School. I am a member of WACAC (Western Association of College Admission Counselors) and over the years have assisted in planning college fairs at UCD. I assisted in scheduling the first DaVinci students when DaVinci Charter Academy first opened as Leonardo DaVinci High School. After attending an inspirational DaVinci graduation, I decided that I wanted to be a permanent part of the exciting and innovative DaVinci Charter Academy and joined the staff in 2010. It has been a rewarding and exciting decision, counseling DaVinci students. When I am not working I enjoy visiting with our five children and friends, traveling, reading, cooking and walking our dog.
Lynn Fowler – Social Studies/Psychology
After graduating from UC Davis with a degree in Psychology (I studied abroad in Australia for a year and highly recommend study abroad!), I substitute taught for a year. I realized I loved teaching, but I continued on to Bowling Green (Ohio) for a Master’s in College Student Personnel, with an emphasis on Counseling. I wanted to work with students at the college level. I then began a career at UC Davis in Student Affairs, where I worked in several departments developing programs for students and teaching (student housing, study abroad, and lecturer in the School of Education for a Leadership Minor). I also worked on Semester at Sea- the non-profit university ship that travels around the world! Finally, I decided it was time to get back to teaching full-time. I earned a teaching credential from National University (and was at home for a few years with my little ones), completed my student teaching at Emerson junior high, and was lucky enough to join the Da Vinci team this year. In my spare time I love to read (almost anything), do yoga (I’m a certified yoga instructor), play tennis, and live in my cooperative housing community where I help facilitate children’s activities and hang out with my family.
Cara Leppington – Counselor
I have always been a happy camper. I attended a small summer camp in Lake Tahoe and eventually went on to help run the camp while attending college. After completing my BS in Psychology at UC Davis, I worked to end violence against women by educating youth and adults in Davis and throughout the Napa Valley. I then worked on a national grant with the US Department of Justice helping over twenty universities in the US create or strengthen their programs to end violence against women. After an incredible time travelling all over the US, I decided I wanted to return to work with kids. Combining my professional experience with serious and sensitive issues and my passion for providing fun times at summer camp, I earned by MS in Educational Counseling and joined DJUSD in 2002. I have been a counselor at Davis Senior High School (intern), Emerson Junior High and Harper Junior High. Joining the staffs of both Da Vinci Junior High and Da Vinci High School this past fall has filled me with daily inspiration and lots of fun. When I’m not on either campus, I am a happy camper playing with my niece and nephew, doing projects around my house, taking photographs and travelling, especially to my favorite country of all, Northern Ireland.
Susan Kirby – Internship Program Coordinator
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Education from the University of Arkansas and a Masters Degree in Religious Education from Southwestern Seminary. I served for 10 years as a campus minister at Texas A&M University from 1980-1990. My husband, young daughter and I moved to Davis in 1993 for him to attend graduate school at UC Davis and we never left. I was heavily involved for 10 years in volunteer work in Davis schools at both the elementary and secondary level, and served as DaVinci Booster President in 2009-10. I also served on the Davis Schools Foundation Board for 2 years during the campaign that raised $1.7M for Davis schools. I love DaVinci and the unique opportunity it gives students to learn and began serving as the Internship Coordinator in the fall of 2010. I am a member of the Davis Chamber of Commerce and this has given me a strong connection with the Davis business community that has welcomed and mentored many DaVinci students in this growing program.
Steve Harvey – Math, Robotics Team Advisor/Mentor
I was born in England, received my B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Leeds and my M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering from U.C. Davis. After working as a Geotechnical Engineer for 17 years, I began my teaching career at Davis Senior High School and eventually joined the Da Vinci team in 2008 where I teach math and also mentor the robotics team, Citrus Circuits. I am an avid windsurfer and also like to mountain bike, snowboard and rock climb. I love to play music and am currently the keyboard player in a Latin rock band and a jazz band.
Scott Bell – Vice-Principal & Teacher (Social Studies)
- Education: University of California, Davis: B.A. International Relations. University of Bristol (UK), and California State University Stanislaus: M.A. History (British) and teaching fellowship (respectively).
- California State University, Sacramento: Teaching Credential, Social Science, English, Administrative Services
- Claim to Fame: 1) Knowing more about the British Monarchy and the Commonwealth than most people believe possible 2) Knowing silly trivia 3) Knowing the words to the I Love Lucy theme song.
- Favorite Book: I am currently reading the second set of stories in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. The Hunger Games. The Wheel of Time series is good. I love all of the Harry Potter books (the original British editions, naturally). The Shannara series by Terry Brooks. I love the autobiography, Me, by Katherine Hepburn: The Dragonlance Saga by Margaret Weis and Tracey Hickman: The Dragon Prince, and The Mageborn Traitor series by Melanie Rawn: Royal: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Robert Lacey.
- Classic Movie Recommendation: The entire Thin Man series. Arsenic and old Lace, Holiday, The Philadelphia Story, It Happened One Night, Bringing Up Baby, His Girl Friday, Midnight Lace, Pillow Talk, (so many classic British and U.S. films that I cannot possibly list them all)
- Choice Quotes: “Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink” Lady Astor.
“Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it!” – Sir Winston Churchill’s reply. - Shoe Size: U.S. 12, UK 11, EUR 47.5
- Comfort Food: Meatloaf, baked potato, creamed corn, sourdough bread
Nicole Chiamparino Roper – Academic Coach & Homework Club
After growing up in Napa, I moved to Sacramento to pursue my education. I graduated from Sacramento State with both my bachelor’s and master’s degree, and teaching credential. I moved to Davis in my final phase of student teaching, where I had the privilege of working in the Davis Joint Unified School District at the elementary school level. After completing my credential, I was given the opportunity to come and work at Da Vinci Charter Academy and that is where I have been for the past three years, and have loved every minute. When I am not working, I love going to concerts to hear new bands and hope to someday travel to Australia and Italy.
Adela Johnson – Site Administrative Secretary
Originally from San Francisco, my family and I moved to Davis from the Bay Area in 1999. I have been with Davis Joint Unified since 2003 and welcomed students to Da Vinci since its opening in 2004. My parents are from Central America and I am fluent in Spanish. My passion is collaborating with students and their families. Every day is unique and challenging, yet fulfilling. I’m very proud to say that my son graduated from Da Vinci Charter Academy in 2011 and my daughter is a Da Vinci student, class of 2016.