Student Leadership Academy of Venice, Florida

Eighth Grade Team
8th Grade Honors Academy (Rm409) Trina Aker SLA email Back to Top	Trina Aker holds a B.A. in English and Psychology from Vanderbilt University. She began teaching seven years ago after a 20 year career in business. After a year teaching 7th grade and five years teaching 8th Grade Language Arts, she is excited about teaching the 8th grade Honors Academy this year. She is certified in Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum and ESE. She has completed the Gifted and ESOL Endorsements. Trina is also strongly committed to the mission of SLA. She has been involved with the school since its inception, serving in a variety of roles. She enjoys acting as the faculty advisor for Builders Club, working with students to publish the yearbook, and planning the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. and the SLA Relay for Life Team. She is married and has two sons and one granddaughter. Her husband Dave recently retired from the Venice Police Department and joined the staff of SLA as Dean of Students. Her son Nathan lives in Punta Gorda with his wife Sarah and their daughter Sadie. Her son Ashton recently graduated from Venice High School and is in his freshman year at the Burnett Honors College at University of Central Florida.
8th Grade Physical Science/ Athletic Director (Rm 404) Jonathan Cooley SLA email Back to Top	Jonathan Cooley will be teaching eighth grade Physical Science. This is his second year at SLA. Jonathan graduated from Auburn University and holds a B.A. degree in Communications. He is also certified in Science, ESE and Physical Education. Jonathan was born and raised in Sarasota and graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School. He attended Auburn University on a football scholarship. After college, he spent a year playing professional football in Europe. He currently coaches varsity football and track at Venice High School. He enjoys traveling, golfing, hunting, and watching college sports. He especially loves hanging out with family and friends! Jonathan is excited to be a part of the SLA family.
8th Grade Math (Rm405) Katie Hunt SLA email Back to Top	Katie Hunt teaches eighth grade Math. This is her sixth year at SLA. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2005 and holds a B.S. degree in Marketing and a B.A. degree in History. She then finished graduate school in 2006 with her M.Ed. in Social Studies Education. She is certified in Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum (all subjects 5-9), Social Science 6-12, and Mathematics 6-12. She has completed her gifted endorsement and is continuing her education in classes for ESOL and Reading. Katie was born and raised in the Venice community and graduated from Venice High School. After graduating college she decided to move back to Sarasota County because she received such a wonderful education here and wanted to continue the tradition. Katie is very excited to be teaching math because she appreciates the connections to the real world. Katie and her husband Gavin welcomed their first child in May. She loves to spend time with her family, read, the outdoors, travel, watch college sports, and she especially loves the Florida Gators!
8th Grade Language Arts (LA) (Rm403) Cortney Struble SLA email Back to Top	Mrs. Struble is thrilled to be teaching 8th grade Language Arts this year at the Student Leadership Academy. Born and raised in Venice, Florida, she went on to graduate with her B.A. in Psychology from the University of South Florida. Upon graduating, she was accepted into the University of South Florida's Master of Arts in Teaching program and became certified in Social Sciences grades 6-12 and Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum grades 5-9. She is married to her high school sweetheart with whom she shares a sweet puppy named Mowgli. She dedicates her free time to family, physical fitness, or what she actively encourages her students to do most- READING!
8th Grade American History(SS) (Rm406) Stephen Waite SLA email Back to Top	Stephen Waite is starting his fourth year at SLA. He has a total of fifteen years in career education and teaching, and thirteen years experience in business management. He earned a B.S. degree from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. He is the proud father of two daughters, one who is married and pursuing her second degree in nutrition, and the other is in the second year of a physical therapy doctoral program. His wife of 28 years is a 4th grade, National Board Certified teacher and author in Sarasota County. Stephen is hugely passionate about history, especially 18th and 19th century U.S. history as well as the French Revolution/Napoleonic period. He enjoys reading, sports, specifically soccer and college football, fitness, hiking, kayaking, biking, and music.