Student Leadership Academy of Venice, Florida

Elective Subjects Teachers
Reading (Rm106) Graphics Design Photography Larry Deamud SLA email or Personal email Back to Top	Larry Deamud is married with 2 college aged children. One is studying to become a physical therapist and the other is still deciding, but is active with his church youth group and band. (He is an accomplished guitarist) His hobbies include racquetball, photography, reading, hiking, kayaking, camping, and a variety of card games.
CAP Madeline Kirsten SLA email Back to Top	Madeline Kirsten was born in Colorado; and moved to Florida in 1990, where she spent the next 8 years in Florida's public school system, until graduating from Venice High School in 1998. Madeline then attended college at Southwest Florida College; formerly Manatee Community College, before entering into service with the United States Air Force, where she spent the next four years working as a Linguist for the USAF working at NSA, Texas (National Security Agency) and DIA, Washington D.C. (Defense Intelligence Agency.) Upon completion of service in the Air Force Madeline happily moved back to Florida to finish school at University of South Florida, Manatee as a Technical Writing major. Madeline joined the Civil Air Patrol and the Student Leadership Academy family in 2009 where she leads the young cadets of the SLA 804 Civil Air Patrol Squadron, focusing on Aerospace Education and Civil Air Patrol's 4 core values; Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence and Respect.
Drama (Rm109) Cathleen Francis SLA email Back to Top	Mrs. Francis is very excited to begin her 3rd year at Student Leadership Academy as the 6th, 7th and 8th grade Drama teacher for the 2010 - 2011 school year. Prior teaching experience includes teaching one year of Drama, and one year of 8th grade science at S.L.A. Also, teaching fifth grade for three and a half years at Taylor Ranch Elementary. Mrs. Francis has an Associate of Arts degree in Music, a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Education with Specialization in Reading and Mathematics. She is certified in Elementary Education grades K - 6, Middle Grades Integrated certification 5 - 9, Drama 6 - 12 and is ESOL and Reading endorsed. Born in New Jersey, Mrs. Francis moved with her parents to the Venice area in 1974. After graduation from Venice High School and Manatee Community College, she moved to New York City for almost 15 years, working in the film, fashion and music industries. In 1997 she returned to Venice to be closer to family and friends while pursuing her education degrees. Mrs. Francis is married with a son, Sean, in his senior year at University of South Florida and a son, Ryan in his sophomore year at Booker High School. Her husband is an 8th and 10th grade teacher at Phoenix Academy in Sarasota. The Francis family also have a new Golden Retriever puppy named Cinnamon Willow and a kitten named Nigel Wellington.
Personal Development (Rm102) Bridgett Hart SLA email Back to Top	Bridgett Hart has been in the Venice area since 1976, attending Venice Junior High and Venice High School, then graduated high school in 1982. Bridgett then attended Troy State University in Troy, Alabama where she earned her teaching degree. Very little hiring was being done in Sarasota County after graduating college, so Bridgett moved to Marietta, Georgia where she taught first grade for five years in Cobb County. Bridgett became a stay-at-home mom of two boys, Benjamin and Charlie, for 11 years. In 2002, Bridgett moved back to Venice to be near family after her divorce. In 2004, Bridgett married David Hart and became a step-mom to Seth and Austin AND started teaching sixth grade at SLA. Bridgett has taught Language Arts, PE, Science, Geography and now teaches Personal Development. Bridgett enjoys teaching and the opportunity to get students to find their potential.
6-8 Math (Rm103) Chelsie Jacob SLA email Back to Top	Chelsie Jacob is a Florida native and product of the Sarasota County school system. She graduated from Venice High School in 2000 and went on to graduate from MCC with her Associates of Arts degree in business. From there she went on to complete her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of South Florida. After working in the banking/lending field for several years, Chelsie took on a permanent substitute position in Physical Education in Sarasota County. Chelsie is certified in Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum grades 5-9. Chelsie and her husband just had their first child in May. She is excited to be entering her third year at SLA and looks forward to teaching math!
Art (Rm502) Shannon Weed SLA email Back to Top	Shannon Weed grew up in Venice, FL, graduating from Venice High School in 1999. She got her Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design with a minor in Art from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Shannon has spent the last four years in the Venice area working as an interior designer. She is excited about helping her students find their passion for art as they explore many different mediums.
Physical Education (Rm500) Judy Ferretti SLA email Back to Top	Judy graduated from the University of Maine with a B.S. in Business (Marketing major) and became a computer programmer post graduation for about 8 years. After having 3 children, she became a stay at home mom. Eventually, with her children in the Sarasota school system, she decided to seek employment there and began by teaching P.E. at Taylor Ranch for 4 years, followed by a year in the Science lab and ESE Pre-School. Judy is business certified, P.E. certified (K-12) and ESE certified (K-12). After school you might see her teaching fitness classes at the Y.M.C.A. where she holds several fitness certifications there.