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Ms. Toon
I was born and raised in Michigan—both in Taylor and in West Branch, and came to Ann Arbor for my bachelor’s degree at U of M—and stayed to raise my family here. My partner Joe and I have five children, Brady-Bunch style (we're only missing a "Greg" for my "Marcia"). Our youngest, Miguel, is a 6th grader her at STEAM! I am no stranger to blended families, single parenting, and non-traditional ways people make a family work.
I taught for four years in Detroit Public Schools, then seven years each at Ann Arbor Open School and Bryant Elementary, divided by my taking an educational leave in 2010-2011 to get my Masters of Education at Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. In my twenty-three years of classroom teaching, I have taught every grade from K through 8th! My favorite place is with middle school-aged people, due to my intense passion for social justice curriculum-- people this age still have the clarity of childhood but also have the ability to see the world more globally. This is the perfect spot to grapple with the past and resolve for a better future.
Other than education, my passion is theater. I also teach the After-School Drama club. I love being a director and teaching children to thrive on the stage, but I do still have a couple of roles on my own acting bucket list!
Mrs. Sayles
I was born in Southfield, MI, but raised in Detroit, MI. After graduating Cass Technical High School, I began my collegiate studies at The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. After completing my Bachelor's Degree, I obtained my Master of Arts in Teaching Degree from Wayne State University. I took some time off before I began my Specialist in Education degree from Central Michigan University in Educational Leadership.
Mathematics is a passion of mine. Since certification, I have taught mathematics at the middle level. I enjoy challenging students and for those that find math challenging, I love helping them overcome their obstacles.
I also plan coach Academic Games. I plan on beginning a team here at A2STEAM. Academic Games is math-based gaming, social studies concepts and English sentence structure games.
In my spare time, I love to travel and spend time with my friends and family. Two summers ago, I went to Houston, Traverse City, Costa Rica and Atlanta.
Mrs. Allan
I am originally from Ann Arbor (Huron graduate!) and have taught in a variety of parochial and public school settings in Southeast Michigan. I love helping middle school students appreciate math and science. Studies show that interest in these subjects starts to wane in middle school, and I want to play a part in helping students engage in these areas.
I am very outdoorsy (a former white-water rafting guide) and enjoy backpacking, canoeing and camping. I also love to travel - at last count, I've been to more than 35 countries!
My philosophy of education is simple: I believe we should give children the tools they need to learn, and the inspiration they need to become life-long learners. I try to model these principles for my students every day. I believe strongly in project-based learning and differentiation, and in giving my students exactly what they need to excel academically.
Mrs. Monteleone
I am a home-grown Ann Arborite (graduate of Lawton, Slauson, and Pioneer) and love all of the resources, events, and nature that our city has to offer families. In the past, I have taught at both the elementary and middle school levels for several years each, and found that teaching middle school-aged children is where my heart is happiest! Language and Social Studies have always been my passion, but I find science (especially the soft sciences) to be of interest to me as well.
In my free time, I enjoy events in Ann Arbor with my family, reading novels and non-fiction of all sorts, canoeing on the Huron River, trail-hiking, and riding pretty much anything that has two wheels. I'm always up to explore new places in the natural world!
I'm so thrilled to be a part of the A2 STEAM community, and to guide middle school students in rediscovering their curiosities to help them unfold new opportunities for growth and learning. I believe that middle school-aged children need support and encouragement to develop their sense of self. The core of my teaching practice is ensuring that all students receive the tools and skills they need to make wise decisions that will be beneficial to maintaining a growth mindset and happiness as they progress through their academic careers and personal lives in the future.
Señora Nelson
Hola! I am looking forward to teaching one section of eighth grade Spanish this year at STEAM! I want to help students communicate in Spanish and be able to use the language in their daily lives. I earned my B.A. in Spanish and Sociology from Alma College. I earned my masters degrees in TESOL and secondary, adult and higher education from Grand Valley State University. This is my eighteenth year teaching in Ann Arbor. When I am not in the classroom I love to hang out with my two teenage boys, my husband, and my dog Snoopy. I love to travel to Spanish-speaking countries, go camping, and swim in the local lakes.
Ms. Jean Wilson
Hello! I am looking forward to teaching one section of eighth grade science this year. I look forward to helping students stretch their thinking and communicating skills! I earned my B.A. in Education with a major in Science and a minor in Math from the University of Michigan, and my M.A. in Educational Psychology from Eastern Michigan University. I have taught in Chicago Public, Dexter Community, and Ann Arbor, with this being my sixth year teaching in Ann Arbor. When I am not in the classroom I love to go on adventures with my family. This summer we explored the Badlands in South Dakota, Mount Rushmore, and Rocky Mountain National Park.
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