A New School Year Brings New Staff

This is the first in a three-part, Q-and-A series profiling new employees at Marco Island schools. First up is Marco Island Academy, where aside from celebrating a brand-new school building, principal Melissa Scott also welcomed five new staffers when the 2021-2022 school year began. One of them has particularly strong MIA ties to the Manta Ray family. 

Amelia Fontella - Receptionist

Background: I was born and raised in Naples and graduated from MIA in 2021. 

What brought you to this job? I accepted the receptionist position as a way to hone my communication and writing skills. Being able to hone these skills is perfect for me because while working as a receptionist, I am also attending Florida Southwestern State College to obtain an associate degree. If it wasn´t for Melissa Scott offering me the job as receptionist, I would probably be working at Publix or selling the paintings I create for commission.

How’s it feel to be working at MIA just months after graduation? It feels surreal but incredible to work here at Marco Island Academy after graduating from it.

Family: My parents are Jennifer and Darren Ginther. I am also the third child in my family to be an alumnus of Marco Island Academy. My two siblings who also graduated from MIA are Kyle and Jason Ginther.

The Future: I am leaning towards studying criminology at Florida Southwestern. My career goal is to hopefully become a crime scene investigator. 

Edward DoMonte - Facilities Manager

Academic background: Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, Fall River, Massachusetts; Machine shop trade; Associates in Mechanical Drafting, Hall Institute Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Quality Management Certificate, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts.

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School system? I am a new employee to CCPS and MIA. 

Professional Background:  Twenty years in building management - everything from rental property to the 38,000-square-foot Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples for the last five-and-a-half years. 

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? The opportunity to manage a new facility which supports and mentors the young minds of our future. The question is why not work at Marco Island Academy? 

How does it feel to be part of the return to the classroom after last school year’s upheaval? I feel happy that the students and staff are able to return!

Why did you enter your profession? I have had the pleasure to travel and work with people all over the world. Hopefully I may share my experience with students. That would give me joy!

Family: I have been married to my wife Laura for 29 years. We have a daughter, Sarah, who just recently married her husband, Colby Mcilroy.  

Hometown: Fall River, Massachusetts. I have lived in Naples since 2014.  

Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, kayaking, and bowling.

If not in building management, what might your profession be? World travel tour guide!

Rachel Ganser, M.Ed.

What classes are you teaching and what grade level(s)? I will be teaching one senior English class and I am the Students with Disabilities inclusion teacher.

Academic background: Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Science in Special Education, both from Indiana University.

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School System and what is your previous teaching experience? One year teaching at Manatee Middle School in Collier County and more than 25 years of experience teaching for the South Bend Community School Corporation in South Bend, Indiana.

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? The opportunity to work with the young people at the Marco Island Academy was a thrilling prospect. The students here have a strong sense of responsibility and community. Both are commendable characteristics and a dream come true for a classroom teacher. Marco Island is such a unique place. As I visited here over the years, I knew I wanted to finish my teaching career surrounded by the intelligent students at Marco Island Academy and in the beautiful paradise that is Marco Island. 

Why did you enter teaching and what do you find fulfilling and enjoyable about the profession? One of the most fulfilling and enjoyable experiences of a high school teacher is watching the students succeed in the classroom and ultimately graduate. My heart melts when I see the students I’ve helped, especially the students who have specific learning disabilities, graduate. For these students, graduation is an extremely proud moment and I love knowing that I’ve played a role in their success.

Family:  I have two sons. My older son, Griffin, went to Purdue University for his undergraduate degree in business and I am happy to say that he just graduated from The DePaul School of Law and will be practicing law, specializing in real estate, business, government law and civil litigation in Chicago. My son Dominic is a sophomore at The Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and is studying Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation. My boys are the lights of my life, and I am so proud of them and the people they have become.

Hobbies: My hobbies include painting, embroidery, and fishing.

If not an educator, what might your profession be? If I weren’t a teacher, I would work in the jewelry industry. I am a GIA Graduate Gemologist, which means when given the proper tools, I can identify and appraise gemstones and metals. I have around 15 years’ experience in the jewelry field, but it doesn’t even begin to compare to the fulfillment I feel as a teacher. Education is my calling and I love it.

Lea Mahan

What classes you’re teaching and what grade level(s)? Psychology, 11th and 12th grades; World History, ninth and tenth grades; IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education) World History, ninth and tenth grades.

Academic background: Undergraduate degrees in Art History and Education (minor in Psychology) from Georgian Court University in New Jersey. Graduate studies in Art History at San Diego State University and master’s degree in Teaching, History/Social Studies, from the University of Southern California. 

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School System and what is your previous teaching experience? I am new to the district. I taught at Southern New Hampshire University for eight years. Prior to that, I taught at Edward Waters University, in Jacksonville, and before that, at the Art Institute of San Diego.

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? A great opportunity coupled with a great team to work with.

How does it feel to return to the classroom after last school year’s upheaval? It feels great to be back with the kids and colleagues, interacting in a live classroom.

Why did you enter teaching and what do you find fulfilling and enjoyable about the profession? I love the interaction, relationship development and when the lightbulb moment happens.

Family: One significant other and one 10-year-old son.

Hometown:  Bamber Lake, New Jersey.

Hobbies: Karaoke, Orange Theory and paddleboarding. 

If not an educator, what might your profession be? A nurse.

Saul Sotolongo

What classes you’re teaching and what grade level(s)? I am teaching biology, forensic science, and marine science.

Academic background: I have B.S. in biology from Loyola University New Orleans and a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School System and what is your previous teaching experience? I previously taught in the Hendry County School District. This is my fourth year in education.

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? I recently started building a house on Marco Island, and when I saw an opportunity open up at MIA for a science teacher, I jumped at it. I actually worked at MIA part-time last school year. Mr. Swope, our chemistry and physics teacher who started last year, was unable to come until the end of the first semester. So, I was able to come in and cover his classes in the fall until he came down from North Carolina. During the spring semester I covered, as needed, for teachers who were out sick. I also kept myself busy by coaching the MIA baseball team, last season.

How does it feel to return to the classroom after last school year’s upheaval? I feel very good about it. The experience from the last two school years tested the ability of educators to adapt to a new situation. So, it is nice to be able to return to a sense of normalcy.

Why did you enter teaching and what do you find fulfilling and enjoyable about the profession? I would say that the most fulfilling aspect of the job is knowing that you are having a lasting impact on the students' lives. I work hard every day with the knowledge that my efforts will be repaid by the future success of my students.

Family: I am married and do not have any children. My wife Claudia was an educator some years ago. For the past three years, she's worked as a commercial real estate agent at Coldwell Banker's Fifth Avenue office.

Hometown:  New Orleans.

Hobbies: Sailing, beach combing, and hiking.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? For this one I can give examples of professions that I've worked in previously. I've been a small business owner, a claims adjudicator for Social Security and a property manager. Out of the three, I would say that the most enjoyable was being a property manager, and it is the one that I'd consider doing again.

Shane Totten

What classes you’re teaching and what grade level(s)? Painting and Design, ninth through twelfth grades. 

Academic background: I received my bachelor and master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point. 

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School System and what is your previous teaching experience? Art and science education for more than 30 years, including 20 years at Marco Island Charter Middle School. Also taught art and science in Wisconsin and Alaska for 10 years.

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? Glad to accept the new fine arts position and to work side-by-side with fellow fine arts teacher Robert A. Eder. Also, the parent of one MIA students. 

How does it feel to return to the classroom after last school year’s upheaval? Thrilled to be in a new facility, with renewed energy, and to be part of a new teaching and family community.

Why did you enter teaching and what do you find fulfilling and enjoyable about the profession? I enjoy helping make the world a better place, one student at a time and one moment at a time.

Family: Wife Peggy is founder-director and lead teacher of St. Mark's Preschool. Son Elliott is a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University. Son Julian is a freshman there. Daughter Helen is a Freshman at MIA.

Hometown:  Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Hobbies: Adventuring with my family and fishing.

Mariah Walther

What classes you’re teaching and what grade level(s)? Hola! My name is Mariah Walther and I will be teaching Spanish I, Spanish II and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education. 

Academic background: Graduated from West Chester University, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where I majored in Spanish and education.

How long have you been with the Collier County Public School System and what is your previous teaching experience? This is my ninth year of teaching. After having my two sons, I taught for three years in Pennsylvania, until we relocated to Florida for my husband’s job. Unfortunately, our stay in Florida was short as my husband was transferred to metro-Atlanta after just one year. I taught in a large public high school in Snellville, Georgia for three years and in 2019, we moved back to Florida.

What brings you to Marco Island Academy? I am “newish” to MIA, as I taught part-time last year and was a teacher here in 2015 to 2016 before moving to Atlanta for three years.

Why did you enter teaching and what do you find fulfilling and enjoyable about the profession? I absolutely LOVE teaching! I also LOVE MIA! Teaching is by far the most rewarding career out there and I learn something new from my students every day. They teach me just as much as I teach them. Over the years, I have grown so much as an educator and have really found my home here at MIA. It is such a welcoming, family-oriented place with amazing students and teachers. The administration and the board are amazing! I have never felt so supported and appreciated as I do teaching here. The building may be new, but the heart of our school has never changed. I am so proud to be a Ray!

Family: I live in Estero with my husband and our two sons. My boys are in third and fourth grade this year and are growing up too fast! I can’t wait for them to be Manta Rays one day!

Hometown: I am originally from the Philadelphia area.

Hobbies: In my free time, I love to stay active. I like to go for walks, runs, and work out in our (mini) home gym in the garage. I also love to bake and originally planned to go to pastry school, but when I interned in a bakery in high school and realized they got to work at 3:00 AM, I changed my mind about that career!