Michelle Deering has been at River Springs for 14 years in the homeschool program.  She loves Math and English!  She has taught TK to 8th graders over her teaching career and has worked in private, public and charter school settings. She also homeschooled one of her children for a short time as well. She is currently a math manipulative support for our ILP Homeshool program and teaches in the learning center Classical Humanities program, supporting math and science students.  

Haley Falcioni is the Coordinator of Professional Development and Growth at Springs Charter Schools and a mom to two young children, ages 5 and 7. Passionate about helping other parents navigate today's digital world, she is excited to share practical strategies for communicating healthy technology boundaries, fostering open conversations, and equipping fellow parents with tools to confidently introduce and manage technology in their homes.

Kelly Harrel is an educational specialist with Springs and a retired homeschool mom (both her kids homeschooled from K-12th grade with Springs). With over thirty years of educational experience, she loves being able to assist and inspire parents in their homeschool journey. 

Dr. Janet Ilko serves as the Director of English Language Development at Springs Charter Schools, bringing 38 years of dedicated experience in K-12 education. A passionate advocate for educational excellence and equity, Dr. Ilko earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership with a specialized focus on Long-Term English Learner (LTEL) success. Throughout her career, her driving mission has always been to ensure that every multilingual student  has the tools, support, and opportunities to thrive. Dr. Ilko deeply enjoys collaborating with teachers, school leadership, and families to build inclusive, empowering environments where every student can achieve their full potential. 

Jose Lopez has 10 years of experience in education, spending the last seven years at River Springs. His diverse roles include serving as an Assistant Classroom Educator (ACE) for two years, a 3rd-4th-grade Academy teacher for five years, and the ELD Coach for Springs Charter Schools for the past year and a half. Jose supports our English learners by providing instructional best practices to our staff. He is proud to support all students, including homeschool and connection pathways, and looks forward to continuing his professional growth to best serve our families. 

Nikkole McAdoo is the Community Engagement & Events Coordinator for Springs Charter Schools, where she plans educational events that connect families, celebrate student achievement, and build community across Southern California. While much of her work supports the homeschool community, she also oversees Springs' four annual all-school academic competitions—giving students from every program the opportunity to showcase their talents and advance to county and state-level competitions. She is passionate about helping families discover meaningful opportunities that enrich their educational journey. 

Laura Nobiensky  has been in education since 1985. For 10 years, she taught Mathematics, History, Government, and Economics, mainly at the high school and junior high levels. Since 2001, she has been overseeing and teaching homeschoolers (including her own four children) from levels Tk to 12. For most of that time, she has been an Education Specialist with Springs Charter Schools. Laura has enjoyed helping students and parents become more successful in both doing and teaching mathematics. 

Shelly Poe  is a 1st grade Mosaic teacher.

Nadia Phillips has worked for Springs Charter School for 21 years as a Homeschool Education Specialist. She mainly serves the students of the San Bernardino Mountain region. She homeschooled her two sons in grades two through eight and started a Co-op at her local church. She loves working with Springs homeschool students! 

Cynthia Rachel is Senior Director of Education—Northern California. She joined Springs Charter Schools in 2026 and leads its expansion across Northern California. With experience in both district classrooms and non-classroom–based charter schools, Cynthia champions a student-centered approach and strong relationships among staff, students, and families. An advocate for personalized learning and a passionate supporter of charter schools in California, she is a founder of the Alliance of Parents for Personalized Learning Education (APPLE), helping grow it to 2,500+ parents statewide and amplifying families’ voices for educational choice and innovation. 

Carmelina Rosales has been with Springs Charter Schools for seven years, including four as Field Trip Coordinator. She leverages community-based learning to connect classroom curricula with real-world experiences. By curating purposeful field trips, she creates an interactive "mobile classroom" that promotes active student engagement, sparks curiosity about future career paths, and encourages collaborative family learning. Her goal is to cultivate lifelong learners equipped with critical-thinking skills and career-ready leadership.  

Tamara Rose started her career teaching in Jurupa Unified School District as a 5th and 6th-grade looping teacher. She served on the Student Study Team and School Site Council. She taught in a highly differentiated classroom with two ELD clusters, an RSP, and a GATE cluster. Once she had her son, she made the move to Springs Charter School. She served in the Homeschool Program as an Education Specialist, GATE Mentor, and AIMM Mentor. She homeschooled her two children, now 18 and 16 from TK-4th grade. She now works as the Director of Professional Learning and Development. Tamara is most happy when she is learning and growing, building relationships, and enjoying recreational activities in the great outdoors. 

Michelle Sullivan has been homeschooling her four children since 2004 and has been an ES since 2006. She firmly believes parents are the best teachers for their children, and her goal is to help parents feel confident and encouraged in their homeschool journey. 

Taya Yoakum is a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) on the TK–6 Curriculum & Instruction team at Springs Charter Schools. She is entering her sixth year with Springs and her ninth year as a Springs parent. With a background in early childhood and elementary education, Taya is passionate about supporting students, partnering with families, and helping parents confidently navigate the many curriculum resources available through Springs. 

Jacki York has been an educator for over 25 years and has a background in traditional public schools, charter schools and homeschooled her own children. She has a multiple-subject teaching credential, Masters of Ed and her PhD work is specialized in Mind Brain, and Education. She has experience teaching grades 2 through the University level both in the classroom and online, synchronous and asynchronous. She has been with Springs Charter School for 20 years. She even homeschooled her three children whom all graduated from Springs. She is currently a Director on Special Assignment working with online programs and overseeing our H.E.L.L.O. program.