Directory

Nikki received a masters degree in educational leadership from Wright State University and a BS in elementary education from Miami University, Ohio. Nikki taught First and Second Grades and coached high school boys/girls tennis and girls basketball in Englewood, Ohio, for five years. Nikki then moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to help open a new school and become the second grade lead teacher. After marriage, she moved to Augusta, Georgia, where she was a math coordinator for Sylvan Learning Center before relocating to St. Louis. Nikki has been the co-director of Simply Mathematics in Webster Groves, has made presentations for Teach for America's teachers, and substituted for Community School before joining the staff in 2010. She was a Lowenhaupt Award winner in 2016. Nikki enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and being outdoors.

Kristin is the Assistant to the Head of School at Community. Kristin was born in St. Louis, moved to Belgium and Minnesota, then returned to St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri St. Louis with her bachelor’s degree in business administration, with an emphasis in management and international business. Kristin previously served as Receptionist/Administrative Assistant at Community School. Prior to coming to Community School, Kristin’s background included working for Marriott International and Village Lutheran Church Preschool, as well as being a stay-at-home mom.

Kristin and her husband have two children. During her free time, she enjoys watching her children’s sports games and theater performances, as well as volunteering at her children’s school, cooking, and crafting.  

Jen is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Community School. Previously, she worked at the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement and the Office of Sustainability at Washington University. She has held several leadership roles in sustainability organizations across St. Louis and Northwest Arkansas.

Jen has a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Vassar College, and a Master of Arts in Communication and Graduate Certificate in Sustainability from the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys reading, hiking, traveling, and spending time with her husband Christopher and daughter Evelyn.

Donna has worked in the accounting field for more than 30 years. The first 22 years were spent working for profit-driven organizations. Eight years ago, Donna made the conscious decision to move to the nonprofit accounting field with the desire to work for mission-driven organizations. Most recently, Donna was the Chief Financial Officer with Connections to Success. Prior to Connections, Donna was the Controller with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. She earned her Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Missouri–St. Louis and her MBA from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. Donna was also a board member with United for Children and is a current board member with Men of Valor. Outside of work, Donna’s favorite hobby is quilting. 

Taylor received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia and her master’s degree in School Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She has spent the past five years as a school counselor in St. Louis Public Schools but she is no stranger to Community School. While in graduate school, Taylor was a substitute teacher here and is very excited to be back! She and her husband have two children, a cat and a dog. When there is free time, she likes to explore new restaurants, paint, read and travel.

Before coming to Community in 2012, Lori taught at the Clayton Child Center for 26 years. She has also worked as a parent educator through the Parents as Teachers program. Lori enjoys spending time with her three children, as well as boating, traveling, and attending sporting events.

Darla graduated from University of Missouri St. Louis with a degree in elementary education/special education and is certified in Early Childhood Special Education and Learning Disabilities. At Community since 2005, Darla previously worked for the St. Louis Special School District and St. John's Mercy Child Development Center. At St. John's, she administered screenings; supervised, consulted, and provided in-service training to staff of the onsite daycare/preschool program; and taught pre-school age children in a team teaching arrangement with physical therapists and speech and language pathologists. Darla likes to read. She and her husband, Rick, have three children, two beautiful granddaughters and an adorable grandson. Read more about Darla in her Faculty Friday feature.

Kara graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor in elementary education and is certified in elementary education and early childhood. She recently earned her master's of education in special education from Webster University. Before joining Community School, Kara taught kindergarten and first grade at Better Learning Communities Academy. Outside of school, Kara enjoys running, reading and playing with her daughter.

Rebecka Briney joined Community School as a First Grade Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Rebecka graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in Education and is currently earning her master’s degree in Reading and Dyslexia Certificate from Webster University. Rebecka has taught abroad in Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. She spent the last eight years teaching kindergarten through third grade at Premier Charter School, with five years spent in first grade where she was awarded the Early Childhood Teacher of the Year as a first grade teacher for the 2018-2019 school year.

In her spare time, Rebecka enjoys traveling, hiking, working out and spending time with friends, family, and pets (Bentley, her golden retriever mix, and Alaska and Brooke, her two cats).

Jessica graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis with a bachelor of science in elementary education. She also completed her masters in elementary education from University of Missouri St. Louis. Jessica began teaching first grade here in 2004. She and her husband, Jason, have one son, a student at Community.

Wendy is a 2004 transplant to St. Louis from Indianapolis. She taught in Indianapolis public schools, Rockwood School District and has been an Assistant Principal in Wentzville School District for the past four years. She is happy to be back in the classroom again! During her free time (that is not spent at a dance competition or soccer game for her children), she enjoys traveling with her husband. Read more about Wendy in her Faculty Friday feature.

Megan received a B.S. in Psychology and a Masters in Elementary Education from Truman State University and recently earned her Educational Specialist degree in Mental Health Practices in Schools from University of Missouri. She has been teaching for fourteen years in St. Louis Public Schools, Community School and most recently as an English and social skills teacher at an international school in Dongguan, China. While living in China for three years, Megan studied Mandarin, taught English, and traveled South East Asia. She currently teachers the best grade in the world, fourth grade! 

Mitzy Barnstead joined Community School as a Fifth Grade Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Mitzy earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and her master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from Lindenwood University. She went on to earn an Advanced Science Certificate from Washington University and an ELL (English Language Learner) Certification from UMSL’s TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program. Mitzy has been teaching for fourteen years at Iveland Elementary in the Ritenour School District alongside her husband, Adam Barnstead. During that time, she spent eight years teaching in the upper grades, four years as a Reading Specialist for K-5, and the last two years as an ELL teacher.

Mitzy and Adam have two children who attend Community School. Harper is a second grader and Quinn is in Junior Kindergarten. In her spare time, Mitzy loves being outdoors, reading, and spending time with family.

Joey Murphy is a Sixth Grade Teacher at Community School. Joey is a native Saint Louisan. He earned a bachelor of arts in religion from Princeton University in 2002. He was a member of the charter corps of Teach for America in Saint Louis where he taught fourth grade in the Saint Louis Public Schools. Joey went on to attend the Yale Divinity School where he earned a master’s of divinity in 2007. Since that time, Joey has spent six years teaching at a private high school, as well as working for over ten years with the Aim High program. He joined the Community School family in the fall of 2017 working in the school’s extended day program and Homework Club. Joey is a local sports and live music enthusiast.

Amy Breier Kwentus joined Community School as the Lower Division P.E. Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Amy graduated from Rockhurst College with an undergraduate degree in Psychology and received a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy. Along with working in home health care, ICU to rehab, Amy has spent the last ten years teaching P.E. to lower division school children, as well as providing them OT services. She was published in Brain and Language in 2004 for Longitudinal fMRI study of aphasia recovery in frontal stroke. Amy has found that as a P.E. teacher for young children she is able to teach two of her passions, sports and educating children about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, as well as helping students with their gross motor skills.

Amy has three children, volunteers at her parish, loves anything to do with the outdoors, and is an avid biker, trail runner, and tennis/pickle ball player.

Trisha Stanley will be joining Community School as the Lower Division Science Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year. Trisha received her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of

Missouri-Columbia and is currently finishing her Master of Education degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She taught high school biology and oceanography for five years. Trisha has over

ten years of experience in the informal science education space, having worked at a zoo, in afterschool programs, and as a freelance writer.

In her spare time, Trish loves to spend time with her husband and three children hiking and biking.

Meriam received her bachelor's degree in vocal music from Missouri State University, and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Missouri St. Louis. She studied middle-eastern music in Cairo, Egypt, for a year, and has taught over twelve years at Premier Charter School. She was born and raised in St. Louis to immigrant parents from Egypt. In her spare time, Meriam enjoys traveling, scrapbooking, crafting, and playing with her cats.

Rob has taught at Community since 1997. He has a bachelor of science in social work and child development and a master's degree in social work from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Before coming to Community, Rob was a clinical social worker at Child Center of Our Lady. Woodworking has been a hobby of Rob's for many years. In his free time, he enjoys camping, hiking, gardening, and cooking. Rob and his wife, Julie, have three children. Read more about Rob in his Faculty Friday feature.

Dave has been Community's art teacher since 2005. He received a bachelor of arts from Providence College in drawing, a bachelor of fine arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in video art, and his master's in teaching at the University of Maine. Prior to returning home to St. Louis, David and his wife, Maureen, also spent two years as US Peace Corps volunteers in the Philippines where they worked with teachers at all levels to improve critical thinking and assessment and evaluation skills. David enjoys the outdoors and traveling with his wife and two sons. He pursues his video installation artwork and has exhibited it in conjunction with the Pulitzer Foundation and The Luminary Center. He has also won several awards for his short film work. In 2010, David was the recipient of the ISSL Teacher of Distinction and Emerson Excellence in Teaching awards.

Before coming to Community in 1994, Lori taught at a local high school. She received a bachelor of arts in French and education from St. Louis University and completed her master of arts in teaching at Webster University in 1998. In addition to her French credentials, she is a certified reading specialist. Lori was selected to participate in the New Technologies Institute at Iowa State University, as well as the FLES Institute sponsored by Concordia College. Lori has also shared her knowledge of French as an instructor for St. Louis Community College’s Continuing Education and College for Kids Programs. Lori and her husband have two children, one a Community graduate and the other a current student. She currently serves on the board of directors for the St. Louis Language Immersion School.

Abby holds a Masters in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Missouri Baptist University. In 2019, she completed a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her teaching experience in independent schools spans multiple years at the elementary level, having taught junior kindergarten, second grade, third grade, and fourth grade. In addition, Abby was the 2014 recipient of the Yvonne Banks Caring Teacher Award while working at Lake Forest Country Day School in Lake Forest, IL. She is also a teacher trainer for the Math in Focus program and facilitates professional development for schools across the country. She began working at Community School in 2015 in second grade and transitioned to the math specialist position in 2017.  

Nancy holds a B.S. in Exercise and Sport Science from Colorado State University, and joined Community in 2002. Nancy has taught P. E. both in the Webster Groves and Clayton School Districts. She has coached five different sports at the high school level (at five different high schools!). In addition, Nancy is a varsity Field Hockey coach at John Burroughs and a certified high school lacrosse official. She and her husband, Frank, have a daughter and a son, both graduates of Community School. In her spare time, Nancy enjoys playing and watching sports, coaching and photography.

Wayne joined Community in 2011 after five years at John Burroughs School, where he was a middle school P.E. teacher, as well as basketball, volleyball, and track and field coach. He remains the head JV Volleyball coach there. He has a masters in health and physical education from Northwest Missouri State University and an undergraduate degree in recreation and administration from Oral Roberts University. Wayne was born in Negril, Jamaica, and is a professional beach volleyball player, and represented Jamaica in Olympic qualifying beach volleyball. When he isn't training, Wayne enjoys playing volleyball, basketball, and going camping.