New Teachers

Valerie Guillaume worked as a school counselor with Lorenzo Walker college students, and works with students on their schedules and graduation requirements. When working with a student, she likes to put the student first. In her free time, she can be found exercising, cooking, or taking dance classes. Guillaume enjoys the friendly environment and the people she works with.

Carinita Quintero worked at East Naples Middle School for 3 years and teaches English 1, 2, 3, and 4 for the EOL students at Naples High. She likes to have her students present together and collaborate regularly. Outside of school, she likes to dance, work out, and organize things and her favorite part about Naples High is the wonderful school community.

Dayna Pizzuti has worked at many places before coming to Naples High. She is an ESE specialist with 19 years of experience as a special educator, working in Baltimore, Maryland, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and spent her past 2 years at Immokalee Middle. Her job is to make sure students are caught up in their work and are up to date. She likes to keep her classes efficient and organized. Her favorite part about Naples High School is the school spirit, and outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Michael Russel worked at Lorenzo Walker for a year before coming to Naples High School. He teaches Regular World History and likes to keep his content as relevant as possible. The part about Naples High that he enjoys the most is teaching World History and how welcoming the NHS community was to him. Outside of school, he enjoys playing his guitar and practices daily.

Blanca Sommerfield has worked in private, public and charter schools for 12 years and teaches Spanish 2 and Spanish 3 at Naples High School. In class, she prefers traditional teaching styles, but will incorporate technology when needed. In her free time, she loves to play volleyball and soccer, and used to paint ceramics. Sommerfield’s favorite part about Naples High School is her department and the closeness of the teaching staff.

Adam Weikel has taught in Indiana for 10 years and teaches Honors and AP World History. He likes to have his students collaborate together frequently during class. His favorite part about Naples High School is the warm weather, and outside of school, he enjoys soccer and fishing.

Brian Camey has just graduated college, and worked as a long term sub and at Timber Creek High School. He teaches Geometry and has a flexible teaching style. His favorite part about Naples High School is the atmosphere and spirit that the school has to offer, and outside of school, he enjoys football and video games.

Mr. Derek Woods has previously taught at Gateway Charter High School, Palmetto Ridge High School, Lely High School and teaches Geometry. He likes to make his classes fun, as long as the students stay on task. When he is not teaching, he can be found coaching football, basketball, and baseball. His favorite part about the school is how the atmosphere of the school changes from athletics, to academics, and to clubs.

Michele Fineis is working her 20th year as a school counselor. She worked at Lely High School along with high schools in Colorado, Indiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Fineis is currently the A.I.C.E coordinator and works with the gifted students, and likes to let the students know that they have her support. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and doing arts and crafts. Her favorite part about Naples High School are the kind and inviting people.

James Connor is starting his first professional high school teaching job and teaches English 1, English 1 with Communications Honors, and Intensive Reading. He likes to wear spirit shirts on Fridays, an example on his relaxed classroom setting, as long as the students are respectful. Connor likes to read, play computer games, and listen to music, as well as try out new restaurants with his wife. His favorite part of Naples High School is the student body. “The students are very bright and motivated to learn” Connor said.

Timothy Ford was the Chief Warrant Officer at Gulf Coast High School for 5 years and teaches his classes according to his students specific learning perspectives. Ford enjoys jet skiing, watching college football with his wife of 32 years, and spending time with his grandchildren. His favorite part about Naples High School is the sense of strong camaraderie.

Sarah Burd has been in the teaching profession for 16 years and previously taught at First Baptist Academy, Golden Gate High School, and is returning to Naples High School. Burd teaches AICE General Paper and English 2 and has a variety of teaching styles, including interactive activities with the students. Burd loves eating good food, reading and photography, and going to the beach with her 3 children. Her favorite part about Naples High School is the variety of opportunities to get the students engaged, plus the buffalo chicken sliders!

Luke Garcia is just starting his teaching profession at Naples High School and teaches Digital Information Tech, Informal Geometry, AP Computer Science, and Computer Integrated Manufacturing. His teaching style depends on the student, and he likes to give his students real world examples for their applications. With his free time, he coaches the Naples High wrestling team, and enjoys swimming, golfing, riding motorcross, snow skiing, waterskiing and wakeboarding. His favorite part about Naples High School is the wonderful engineering equipment and the inviting staff.

Carolyn O’Leary was a member of the Discovery Education team before joining the Naples High School staff. O’Leary teaches English 2 and Intensive Reading. She loves to go to the beach, read books, exercise, and keep her class on a strict schedule. Her favorite part about Naples High School is the beautiful campus, especially the landscape.

Matthew Mule worked at Florida Gulf Coast University as a tutor now and teaches Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus at Naples High School. He likes to keep his classes efficient, so he plans longer lessons on subjects his students will need more time to work on in advance. Outside of school, he loves to read, program computers and work with electricity and his favorite part about Naples High School is the welcoming high school community.

Lauren Meinert is beginning her teaching career and teaches Language Arts and Intensive Reading. She likes to keep her classes interactive, with 50% teacher taught and 50% students learned. She spends her free time reading and spending time with her children. Her favorite part about Naples High is the beautiful campus.

Carly Jacob has been a high school teacher for five years in Jacksonville and two years at Golden Gate High School, and teaches Algebra 1, Algebra 1a and Algebra 1b. She prefers her classes to be collaborative, often making her students work in groups. In her spare time, Jacob loves to visit amusement parks, especially Disneyland and Universal Studios. Her favorite parts about Naples High have been the welcoming students and the staff.

Cecilie Masewicz taught one semester at Golden Gate High School and teaches Algebra 1A and Algebra 1B. She likes to keep her classes efficient and organized, and has her students work in groups often. Masewicz loves to play guitar, piano, and racquetball during her free time. Her favorite part about Naples High School are the cooperative student body.