Faculty & Staff
Brittany Botta
Director of Teaching and Learning
Brittany has been an elementary educator for over six years, with experience in both general and special education. She began her career in New York City teaching at a high performing charter school and has most recently taught in Nashville, Tennessee, at a community school that emphasizes whole child learning with a project-based curriculum. Brittany holds a Masters Degree in Childhood and Special Education from Touro College and has developed curriculum for her students as well as for the Warwick Valley Central School District in Warwick, New York.
Brittany strives to create a joyful classroom community where every child feels loved and celebrated. She believes that all students should have access to an engaging curriculum with authentic learning experiences that foster curiosity. She is excited to be joining UP Academy because of its inclusive environment and its project-based curriculum. Outside of the classroom, Brittany enjoys traveling, Disney, reading, and fitness. She is pursuing her yoga teacher certification and takes pride in bringing yoga and social emotional learning into the classroom.
Alexandra Kelly
Director of Math and Innovation
Alexandra is a passionate educator who has been working with children for the last decade. A Bay Area native, she began her career as a developmental psychology researcher at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital, which inspired her interest in child development and social emotional learning. For the last three years, Alexandra has been an elementary educator at a Bay Area independent school and has taught in both general and special education classrooms. She holds a California teaching credential and a masters degree in elementary education from the University of San Francisco.
Alexandra is passionate about instilling a love of learning in her students by fostering a vibrant and welcoming classroom. She is enthusiastic about developing innovative, interdisciplinary curricula that integrate social emotional learning and equity-based practices. Alexandra helps students develop self-efficacy and agency in the classroom by providing differentiated instruction, individualized resources, and focusing on the development of critical thinking, executive functioning skills, and a growth mindset.
When Alexandra isn’t teaching, you can find her playing board games, reading, or spending time with her two dogs.
Grace Moen
Elementary Educator
Hello! I'm Grace Moen, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Platteville. At my time at UWP, I studied Elementary Education with minors in Early Childhood Development and German Language. Outside of school, I was also able to teach German, English, and Junior Achievement courses to students of many ages. As my parents would say from the many times I made them play my "students" as a kid, I have always had a love for teaching. However, it wasn't until my first year of College when I found my passion for helping students grow academically and personally. Another one of my favorite things in life is traveling, so I was able to combine my two passions during my two student teaching placements at the International School of Como in Italy and the Berlin British School in Germany. There I was able to open my mind to completely foreign curriculums and solidify my stance as an educator. Outside of school, I also love hiking, being at the beach, spending time with family, and cooking. I am so excited to be a part of the UP Academy® team and hope I can learn just as much as I teach.
Irene Yeh
Elementary Educator
Irene is an elementary educator from Taiwan. She received her B.S. in elementary education and Illinois teaching credential from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Irene also holds a master’s degree in Social Sciences and Comparative Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. As an international student and third-cultural kid, Irene has spent the past year researching about the identity of third-cultural kids and how schools can better accommodate them.
Irene aims to create a warm and welcoming classroom community where every child gets to learn and be curious. She is enthusiastic about bringing in what she has learned about third-cultural kids into the classroom, so that students can learn about themselves and about others. Irene is excited to learn about the amazing students at UP Academy®, and for the students to learn from her.
Outside of the classroom, Irene loves spending time with friends and enjoys traveling. She loves visiting and learning about new countries and their cultures. Irene has also started playing golf in the past few years, so she likes to visit the golfing range or play a round of golf occasionally.
Sarah Kwan
Elementary Educator
Greetings to all! I am Ms. Sarah Kwan and it is my pleasure to be teaching at UP Academy® next fall. This will mark my third year of my life-long passion of teaching and encouraging a love of learning. I am proud to be a part of shaping our future of responsible, kind and inquisitive citizens. I started out my career as a teaching assistant with grade 2, then I taught grade 4, then performing arts for Kindergarten to grade 3, and recently as a learning support teacher at an IB-PYP school called Southpointe Academy in my hometown in Canada.
I am so privileged to share my passion for teaching, and to learn from supportive administrators and colleagues at UP Academy®. I look forward to getting to know all the students and to support them in becoming the best that they can be. I hope to share my Canadian culture with them, as well as learn lots from all the children’s skills and talents so they can experience success in every way!
Harold
Canine Ambassador
Harold was a rescue dog who is now a therapy dog! The kids love reading to him and taking “Harold Breaks” to pet the dog and think through a problem. His disability offers the perfect conversation starter to discuss differences and similarities among, people, dogs and everyone! He proves everyday that life is about attitude and doing your best.
Follow Harold on Instagram @haroldonwheels