Our Leadership Team
Sarah Hofstra, Cofounder
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Prior to co-founding Constellation Learning, Sarah created the Hybrid Learning Consortium and served as its Founding Director for eight years, creating a network of independent schools offering online learning. An MA, Ed from Michigan State with an emphasis in technology and learning, along with teaching first and third grades, led her to explore how technology could elevate human-centered pedagogy. She served on the Blended Learning Competencies writing team for iNACOL and continues to connect with organizations identifying impactful learning practices. Sarah is inspired by learners of all ages who have the confidence to ask questions and courage to try something they have not before. She looks forward to bluebird sky days, whether in Kansas City or Chapel Hill, NC.
Christopher Mullis, PhD, CoFounder
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Christopher Mullis earned a BA from Columbia University in New York and a Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese) and PhD in History from the University of Melbourne in Australia. He has taught Music, English, Humanities, and Social Sciences to secondary and tertiary students on three continents. Before co-founding Constellation Learning, he served as the Associate Director of the Hybrid Learning Consortium, where he supported teachers in planning and teaching online courses. Chris is passionate about using technology to connect and empower learners across boundaries of time, space, and culture. He lives in Honolulu.
Teachers
Wyatt Ashby
Wyatt Ashby, an enthusiastic high school math educator with five years of experience, is dedicated to nurturing a passion for math in her students. Holding a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Denison University and a Master's in Education and Social Change from the University of Miami, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her teaching. Wyatt's teaching approach emphasizes discovery-based learning and collaboration, fostering an interactive environment where students actively engage in problem-solving. Through breakout sessions and hands-on projects, students explore real-world problems collaboratively, enhancing their understanding of mathematical concepts.
Tim Buli
Tim Buli, originally from New Jersey, has lived and taught in several different states and countries throughout his career. In addition to education, he also has a background in Space Sciences and worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Tim uses his past experiences to incorporate hands-on activities and engaging real-world applications into the lessons he teaches.
Matt Davison, PhD
Dr. Matthew Davison has for the past 13 years been a Latin instructor at Friends Academy, where he loves teaching students about the ancient world. He especially enjoys showing students that Latin, far from a "dead language," is in everyday use as a prominent feature of the English language, as well as Romance languages, such as French and Spanish. Matt, who has 20 years’ experience teaching at the university and secondary school levels, earned his M.A. in Classics from the University of Maryland College Park, and a Ph.D. in Classics (Latin and Greek) from the University of California, Irvine.
Ivy Lan-Chi Gauler
Lan-Chi Gauler, known as Ivy by colleagues and Ivy Laoshi (老师/teacher) by her students, began her career with five years as an English teacher in Taiwan. Ivy moved to the United States to pursue her master's degree in Education and has since dedicated herself to teaching Mandarin Chinese. She taught at Maumee Valley Country Day School for 15 years before relocating to California to care for her family. Currently, Ivy enriches the learning experience of students at Bowen Academy as a Mandarin Chinese teacher. Passionate about education, Ivy embraces an interactive teaching approach that encourages students to believe in their unique abilities and potential to achieve anything they set their minds to.
Matt Hanne
Matt Hanne is the Director of Fine Arts at The Independent School in Wichita, KS, where he teaches a variety of classes and enjoys seeing students grow and develop. Matt serves on the National Board of the Organization of American Kodály Educators as the Secondary Education Advisor and Past President of the KS chapter. He teaches graduate-level courses in music pedagogy and musicianship for Kodály. Matt also serves on the board of Music Theatre for Young People in Wichita, directing over 15 musicals. Active in his community, as Director of Music at Pleasant Valley United Methodist church, directing the Wichita Broadway Singers, and a past section leader for the Wichita Symphony Chorus.
Michelle Holcman
Michelle Holcman has taught in the social sciences for more than 25 years, in middle and upper schools, as well as college, with the goal of helping students understand the importance of their history and having fun while learning it. She points to Ziggy Marley’s lyric –– “You don’t know your past, you don’t know your future” ––as part of what drives her as a teacher. She says about her work, “What also “drives” me as a teacher, and it sounds a bit clichéd, is when the student I have been trying to reach all year, finally has that ‘Aha’ realization – and I know that I have reached them. It is a beautiful moment. “
Ali Kossen
Ali Kossen is an upper level math teacher with 13 years of experience in teaching math at both public and private schools. Ali earned a BA in Mathematics from the University of Kansas and a MS in Education from Emporia State University. She currently lives in Wichita, KS and is an instructor at The Independent School. Ali’s favorite part about education is making connections with her students. She enjoys seeing the pride the students feel when they’ve mastered a challenging concept.
Jared Magee
Jared Magee has been moved by stories since growing up with tales told on the front porch of his grandparents’ houses in rural Mississippi and Arkansas. He went on to earn degrees in English and history and taught English Literature, Composition, and Rhetoric courses for several universities for over a decade before relocating to Massachusetts to teach at The Winchendon School. Still teaching at Winchendon, but now on the Brooklyn campus, he also writes, produces, and builds All Things Prose, his podcast of short fiction. The true aim of Jared’s teaching is to “Read critically. Write consciously. Speak clearly. [To] tell [their] truth,” as Clint Smith stated in his “The Danger of Silence” TED Talk.
Maricel Millet
Maricel's curiosity for languages, culture, and technology led her to graduate in Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Havana and later to complete a Master's degree in Arts, Letters, and Languages at Jean Jaurès University in Toulouse, France. She's had the privilege of living in Cuba, Benin, and France, experiencing diverse cultures firsthand. For over a decade, Maricel worked at the International French High School of Havana, teaching subjects such as Technology, Spanish, History, and Geography. She integrated technology into pedagogy for dynamic learning experiences. Having taught in multicultural environments, she's cherished the opportunity to foster cross-cultural understanding and appreciation among her students. Maricel thrives on the challenge and flexibility that online education offers, allowing her to connect with students from around the world.
Sarah Murphy
Sarah has served as a librarian, middle School ELA teacher, 10th grade English teacher, and elementary and middle school theater director. Sarah received a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from Drew University and a Masters Degree in Library and Information Science from Long Island University. While completing her coursework, Sarah began working in school libraries. Later she completed a Masters in English from Middlebury Bread Loaf School of English, where she studied at campuses in both Vermont and Oxford, UK. Sarah Lives in Greenwich, NY with her husband and dog.
Cory Park
Cory Park works for the University of Hawaii as an American Sign Language Lecturer at Honolulu Community College. He is a CODA (Child Of Deaf Adult) raised using both ASL and English and surrounded by the Deaf community. Although he is a heritage signer, Cory studied ASL at Brigham Young University–Hawaii. Working there as an ASL tutor, he understands the learning experience for non-native signers. He earned his master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology through Bellevue University and applies that knowledge in his Constellation Learning classes. Cory also is a nationally certified educational interpreter with Hawaii state interpreting credentials.
Kristina Podsiadly
Kristina loves teaching biology, chemistry, and middle school science at Constellation Learning. With a profound belief in the resilience and creativity of her students, she embraces the challenges they bring, finding joy in the magic of young minds. With over 15 years of experience in education, Kristina has held diverse roles such as Science Department Chair, Health & Wellness Coordinator, Advisor, Grade Team Leader, and educational consultant. She holds a Bachelor's in Biology and Adolescent Education, as well as a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College, Columbia University. Originally from Rochester, NY, she has lived in NYC her whole adult life and cherishes raising her children in the vibrant community of the Upper West Side.
Kristina Rinard
Kristina Rinard has been a passionate educator for twenty years. Her vast array of experiences include roles as a traditional classroom teacher, building administrator, adjunct professor, student teacher mentor, and online instructor. Kristina enjoys subjects in the humanities arena, with her favorites being geography, history, politics, and composition. Kristina has earned both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in education and her Specialist degree in school leadership. She resides in Kansas City with her husband and four daughters.
Rachael Sanguinetti Hayes
Rachael Sanguinetti Hayes is a passionate educator who lives and teaches music in Upstate New York. She has experience teaching musicians ages six months through adulthood and loves the variety of ages she gets to teach on a daily basis. She loves watching students of all ages develop their own musical skills in a wide variety of ways. Rachael has degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Ithaca College and is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Education.
Sorela Schultz
Sorela Schultz believes all students can learn and grow, and she sees her task as supporting and stimulating them as needed. She is a lifelong learner, and an enthusiastic, experienced and dynamic teacher with a master's degree in French from the University of Chicago. Her teaching interests and experience encompass French, ESL, and popular culture. Sorela says of her work, “For me, teaching is a calling, a passion, a joy, an opportunity, and a great responsibility.“
Jennifer Short
Jennifer Short has been teaching art and art history in both traditional classroom and museum educational settings for the past 12 years. Inspired by the human need for visual communication, Jenn finds art to be a means of creating connections between individuals, cultures, and generations. As an educator, Jenn loves sharing her passion for creativity and visual expression with her students. She hopes her students can glean inspiration while furthering their understanding of how humanity has shown its creative "voice" from ancient cultures to contemporary times.
Nicolas Shump
Nicolas Shump is a native Kansan who studied at Reed College, then went on to earn a BA in Comparative Literature and an MA in American Studies from the University of Kansas, and will graduate in Spring 2021 with an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Nic, who writes a bi-monthly opinion column for Gannett, is a voracious reader and film buff whose wide-ranging interests support his teaching a variety of courses. When he is not teaching, reading or writing, he enjoys watching and studying sports.
Marvine Stamatakis
Marvine Stamatakis has a BA from DePauw University and an MA in Literacy from Central Michigan University. She lived and taught in Greece for 20 years, then returned to the US where she taught English at Interlochen Arts Academy for 22 years. She has worked for Constellation Learning since its beginning, teaching English, Middle School Civics, and World Literature. She divides her time between southern California and northern Michigan. She enjoys being a docent at the Gamble House in Pasadena, CA and learning about the architecture of southern California. She enjoys teaching online and interacting with her students.
Maiyen Sulera Freyre
Maiyen Sulera Freyre, who has taught for 20 years in high schools and universities in Cuba, Spain, France and the United States, considers working with bright, thoughtful young people from different countries a privilege. Before coming to the United States, she spent three years teaching Spanish in France. She holds a Master's Degree in Education from the Pedagogical University of Havana and two postgraduates diplomas in Teaching (French and Spanish).
Will Thayer
Will Thayer has taught math in independent schools for over 17 years. He graduated from Connecticut College with a degree in mathematics, which he later followed up with a Masters in School Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania. He has taught all levels of high school math and coached soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, while also working as the master carpenter for the theater department. Will is an avid runner and reader, whose favorite book is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.
Lesley Tye
Lesley Alicia Tye is a writer and instructor of screenwriting and film critical studies at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Previously she worked in Los Angeles in film and television after graduating from University of Southern California with a degree in screenwriting. Lesley also writes and produces original theatre with her nonprofit company, Mashup Rock & Roll Musical.
Courtney Vowels
Over the past two decades, Courtney has taught, managed, and developed programs for all ages in subject areas including science, visual arts, general and special education, professional development, and more. She has been a classroom teacher at the preschool through middle school levels; an online instructor of graduate-level science courses for teachers; and a museum educator at institutions including Tacoma Art Museum, the American Museum of Natural History, and Wave Hill. Courtney received her BA from Columbia University and her MSEd from Bank Street College of Education. She has earned elementary teacher certification in NY and WA states, and is also a certified educator in lactation and babywearing. Courtney currently lives with her family in the Philadelphia area.
Brian Webster, PhD
Dr. Brian Webster, who holds advanced degrees in mathematics and law, is a high school teacher with seven years of professional experience in education. For the past five years, he has taught computer science at the middle school and high school level. Dr. Webster is passionate about working with students to prepare them for the real challenges they will face upon their exit from academia into the adult world.