Marco + Schools = New Teachers

The start of the 2024-2025 school year has been accompanied by the presence of new instructors at the island’s three public schools. Below is a rundown of many of the teachers who made their Marco classroom debut when the first school bell rang

TOMMIE BARFIELD ELEMENTARY

Amy Wohler

What do you teach? I am a school psychologist for the Collier County school district, assigned to Tommie Barfield and Everglades City School. I love that the school psychologist’s job is so multifaceted. I enjoy consulting with teachers, working with parents, being a member of the school community, and working with students. 

Academic background: Originally, I studied classical vocal performance and music in Boston. Later, I transitioned to study behavior and psychology. I received my master's in psychology and then my advanced master’s degree in school psychology from William James College in Newton, Massachusetts. I enjoy infusing my knowledge of music and music therapy techniques into my current school psychology practice. I also have previous experience as a behavior therapist in Boston-area schools, working with students with behavioral difficulties and on the autism spectrum.

What brings you to TBE: This is my fifth year with Collier County Public Schools and my eighth year, overall, working in education. I am very excited to begin a transition to working at TBE. I have had amazing experiences working at other diverse schools in the district. I was eager to work at TBE as I have been a resident of Marco for many years.

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? I was inspired to work in education after seeing the incredible impact my mother made in the lives of her students as an ELL (English Language Learner) teacher. Witnessing the devotion and passion she had for her students inspired me to want to help others. I aspire to do the same in my career every day.

Family: I have a very large Irish extended family that still resides there. They visit multiple time times a year. Most recently, I became an aunt for the first time, so I have been taking frequent trips home to visit my beautiful niece, Ava.

Hometown: I am originally from Easton, Massachusetts, which is outside of Boston.

Hobbies: Music, day trips exploring Florida, art galleries, a love of coffee, and all things Boston sports.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? If not in education, I would pursue a career in design or music.

Chrisy Lannon

What do you teach? First grade. 

Academic background: I went to college and grad school in Ohio. 

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? (CCPS) Taught for 27 years in Michigan.

What brings you to TBE: I have been a “vacationer” in Florida my whole life, so becoming a teacher in Marco is definitely a dream come true!

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? I love to see students meet their goals and surpass their expectations in class. Witnessing the “lightbulb” moments is magical. I’m so lucky to be able to work with children and help them meet their highest potential.

Family: I raised my three kids in Michigan. Two of them are now living in our area.

Hobbies: In my spare time, I love to do anything active and outdoors. I love to travel and also can’t wait to continue exploring Southwest Florida.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? If I hadn’t become a teacher, I could have been a health coach or a travel agent.

MARCO ISLAND CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL

David Rimkus 

What do you teach? Spanish

Academic background: I earned my bachelor's degree from Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. I have taken additional courses in psychology, sociology, anthropology, economics, political science, and geography at Union County College, Rutgers University at New Brunswick, New Jersey. I was certified through Florida Gulf Coast University in 2018.

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? I have worked in education since I was 18 as a camp counselor, teacher's aide assistant. I became a substitute teacher and took my tests to become a teacher in New Jersey. But student-teaching fell through, and I decided to move down to Florida back in with my parents. At this moment, I am teaching Spanish, but I have experience in both history, grades six through 12, Spanish, and math.

What brings you to MICMS: I wanted to see what was outside of CCPS but not too far away.

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession?

Family: I have a fiancé, a three-year-old daughter, and a six-month-old son, who are my reason for existing.

Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey.

Hobbies: Science, video games, JRR Tolkien, Star Wars, Star Trek, Legos, history, foreign languages, anime, comics-animation, etc. etc.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? I would probably have a federal job, like a mailman, or maybe have a trade like a plumber or welder.

Kiley Rotella

What do you teach? English Language Arts

Academic background: I graduated from James Madison University in December of 2023 with a degree in English and secondary education. In my academic career, I gained field experience in both middle and high school settings across three separate counties.

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? In January, I entered the CCPS school district and began my teaching career in Golden Gate High School.

What brings you to MICMS: I came to MICMS because of the vibrant atmosphere and the location. 

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? I entered this field because my teachers have always been my heroes. I love seeing the face of a student when they realize that their hard work has finally paid off.

Family: Family is the most important after God.

Hometown: My hometown is Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. My family moved to Florida while I was finishing my education.

Hobbies: Singing, running, surfing, and reading… but I am always looking for more! 

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? I would have either been a wedding planner or a professional vocalist. I am very grateful for my opportunity to teach at MICMS!

Carly Hill

What do you teach? Sixth grade science.

Academic background: I graduated from East Carolina University this past May with a degree in elementary education and a concentration in interdisciplinary human studies. 

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? This is my first year teaching and my first year with CCPS.

What brings you to MICMS: My family lives on Marco Island and I wanted to stay a part of the community. 

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? In high school, I started coaching gymnastics. I then realized how fulfilling and enjoyable helping kids learn new things is. That is what brought me to teaching!

Family: I have a sister and my mom and dad.

Hometown: I am originally from Northern Virginia but moved down to Marco Island with my parents about three years ago. 

Hobbies: Coaching cheer and gymnastics, baking, and playing pickleball.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? I would have been a pediatric nurse or a child life specialist.

Paul Eden, Jr.

What do you teach? I’m a long-substitute teacher and the after-school program commissioner.

Academic background: Sports management and a minor in coaching

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? This is my first year as a teacher. 

What brings you to MICMS: What brings me to MICMS is the fact it is an A+ school, a great team and kind people who care about students. I am all about involvement and growth. 

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? Teaching is like coaching and I have a passion for coaching. They go both together in my world.

Hometown: Naples.

Hobbies: Sports and Entertainment 

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? A professional footballer

MARCO ISLAND ACADEMY

Charles Doebert

What do you teach? English; grammar, writing, and literature for tenth and eleventh grade classes, including eleventh grade honors classes. 

Academic background: Received a bachelor’s degree in English from St. Bonaventure University in New York in 2023.

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? Spent four months as a full-time substitute gym teacher at CS Driver Middle School in Marcellus, New York. Then, I taught seventh-grade English and literature for one year at Mason Classical Academy, a charter school in Collier County that exemplifies the importance of having a classical education and employing certain virtues forthrightly.

What brings you to MIA? I am very fortunate and grateful that MIA has accepted me into their community. I noticed right away that MIA is a capstone for empowering students to make the world a better place and change people’s lives in positive, memorable ways. Undeniably, the values of MIA are all in an elite class by themselves. This is one of the main aspects about them that grabbed my interest in being an English teacher at MIA right away.

Furthermore, MIA’s values are easily applicable and useful for students long after they have graduated and entered some field of work. Plus, the staff connects with the students in ways that are far larger than simply the academic subjects that they teach them. “The staff here wear many hats, Mr. Doebert,” according to a staff member I spoke with recently about school spirit. As a result, the students are able to become well-rounded citizens at MIA. 

In short, MIA brings forward and expresses the importance of having unity, knowing well that learning is a never-ending journey, and we can always be better in all aspects of life, only if we are willing to advance courageously and honestly, of course. And I’m looking forward to teaching as a Manta Ray at MIA this school year.

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? My mother was an art teacher who hosted and taught art classes five times a week inside our home in suburban Syracuse, NY. At age 13, I started teaching children those art classes who were half my age. I did this all the way up until I graduated from high school in 2019. I taught students for five years before becoming an actual subject teacher.  My mother taught me the importance of always having flexibility, openness, generosity, dealing with the unexpected in an even-tempered way, and thinking outside of the box in the classroom without delay. 

My father was an engineer and executive who worked for a company known as Carrier Global Corp. He oversaw thousands of workers and factories all over the world for this company until he retired. My father taught me the importance of following through on assigned tasks, being a man of your word, having discipline, handling the hardships of life, always being a leader when others shy away from ownership and taking chances to become the best version of yourself as we only have so much time on this planet because we are all mortals. Both of my parents were teachers in their own respect and motivated me to take a leap of faith and enter the field of education shortly after graduating from university. 

As a subject teacher, I enjoy meeting new people and learning their stories. Everyone is a book, in a way. It's always interesting to me to learn things you may have possibly never known before if you did not cross paths with them (students and teachers) inside the classroom. Getting to know people is truly the act of flipping through their pages (life and experiences) and finding and crafting lucrative ways to connect on a deeper level. I also look forward to being a person who explains the reasoning and importance behind being a top-notch, reliable, versatile communicator and the rewards that come with it, only if one works on their skills and strategies in that particular field daily. First impressions always matter in communication. Also, teaching inspires me to always be on my “A-game,” especially when no one is watching me work studiously.

Family: My family and I get up at the crack of dawn. We are early birds and blue-collar people. We got into construction shortly before the start of the pandemic and built a lake house together on Otisco Lake, the smallest of the Finger Lakes in New York. I have two Golden Retrievers. One is Moose, who is thirteen years old and behaves like a puppy. The second is Stella, who is five years old and is a class act. The Doebert family are big fans of having dogs around the house 24/7. I also have a stepsister who lives in Florida and works for a well-known entrepreneur. Vacation for us is essentially working on many projects together and enjoying Mother Nature at the same time. Truth be told, taking vacations has never really been our specialty. We Doeberts are a little different, to say the least. 

Hometown: I was born in Syracuse, then we went to France, Germany, Sweden and Memphis, Tennessee, before finally returning to Syracuse. 

Hobbies: I like to lift big weights in the gym; read science fiction, fantasy, and psychology books; write and publish fiction and opinion pieces, work on projects with my parents, and have long chats with friends, family, and acquaintances about the paradoxes, mysteries and sublime points of life that are most-often under the radar and are opportunities for mastering our own minds, long-term

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? I’ve always been a people person. Fortunately, I learned how to be a good host from my parents. My family and I hosted parties at our house when I was a boy. Many people would come over and be ready for good times to unfold in surprising, sometimes unconventional ways on the weekends. At these parties, it felt as if I was hosting a game show with my parents. I soon grew fond of speaking to others and listening to their stories at these parties. Plus, I watched a ton of Conan O’ Brian’s clips when I was a young teenager. Every guest he had on his show offered something special to me about studying and exploring human nature on my own accord. To put this another way, being an American talk show host is my alternative profession in life.

Juliana Pisculli 

What do you teach? Art, specifically drawing and photography. 

Academic background: I graduated from MIA in 2016 and then attended the University of Central Florida, where I graduated in 2020 with a bachelor's in art education.

Previous teaching experience - how long have you been with the Collier County Public School System? This is my first year working for Collier County Public Schools. However, I was a student in Collier County from 2010-2016. Previously, I worked in Orlando for Orange County Public Schools for four years. 

What brings you to MIA: Mr. (Robert) Eder, my high school art teacher, reached out to me regarding his retirement from MIA. He was hopeful I would be interested in following in his footsteps and taking over his art position. 

Why did you go into teaching and what do you find enjoyable/fulfilling about the profession? I decided to pursue education because of the outstanding educators I have had in the past. Specifically, Mr. Eder and Mr. (Shane) Totten both taught me art at different points in my education. Their love for their students and passion for teaching made me excited to do the same for the next generation.

Family: I have an older brother, a sister-in-law, a niece and nephew, as well as a wonderful partner. 

Hometown: I was born and raised in Toms River, New Jersey, until 2010, when I moved to Marco Island. 

Hobbies: I love to read, draw, paint and play video games.

If not an educator, what might your profession have been? If I did not pursue education, my next choice would have been social work, I have a passion for working with kids and helping those who need it.