School Staff


Barb Weaver, Interactive Academy Executive Director, Cheer Director Barb has a BS in Elementary Education and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Indiana State University. She has taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, 2nd grade and has over 30 years experience teaching gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading. Barb has owned and operated 2 gymnastics facilities outside of the Indianapolis area, since 1981 and 1994, and has recently sold them and retired to be closer to her family and home in Zionsville. Barb joined the InterActive staff in 2006 and is currently the School Academy Director and Cheer Director. Barb has been married to her husband, Mike, for 12 years and has 3 children. Cameron, 5th grader at ZMS and Nick, grade 4, and Chloe, grade 1, are at Union Elementary. Barb’s goal is to help each child achieve his/her academic and physical goals while having fun, building a strong foundation for the future. It is exciting and rewarding to watch each IA program grow and she looks forward to many years of success.
Roxana Heller, Pre-school 1 Assistant Teacher Roxana lives in Carmel with her two daughters, ages 14 and 11. Roxana has a degree in Accounting, and is currently enjoying her third year at Interactive Academy. She is CPR and First Aid certified. Prior to working at Interactive, Roxana spent 3 years as a special education Instructional Assistant at Towne Meadow Elementary. She spent numerous years volunteering in her children’s classroom. In her free time, Roxana enjoys the outdoors, travel, exercise, reading and family.
Jenny Tucker, Art Teacher Jenny graduated with a degree in fine art from DePauw University. Jenny bases all of her art lessons on the styles and theories of great artists, giving the students an art history lesson as well as the chance to grow artistically and develop their own talents.Before InterActive, Jenny worked in publishing for 7 years as an art director and graphics editor for some national publications in Chicago. Jenny started a custom stationery design business (Jenny Tucker Designs) in 2000. She also does freelance graphic design for a variety of clients. Jenny, her husband Matt, and their 2 children Sam (9) and Grace (7) are Zionsville natives. Jenny is also active in the community, donating her time and talents to fundraisers such as the annual "Oktoberfest," which raises funds to award grants to Zionsville teachers through the Zionsville Education Foundation. Jenny is CPR certified and has completed training in First Aid.
Dottie Strawn, Pre-school 3 Teacher Dottie has a B.S. degree in education with an endorsement in special education. She also holds a M.S. degree in learning disabilities and neurology impairment from Indiana University. She has twenty-three years experience teaching in the public school system in Indiana. Dottie has two children, a son who lives in Broad Ripple and a daughter with three little boys who live in Zionsville. In her spare time, she likes to read, ride her bicycle, do aerobics, scuba dive, sing in her church choir and baby sit her grandsons.
Kristen Bellisario, Music Teacher Kristen has an MFA in Music Performance from the University of California. Since moving to the Central Indiana area, she founded the Southern Indiana Youth Symphony (Musical Arts Youth Orchestra) to promote music education for children and has served as director for several arts organizations. She has worked in communities to provide music outreach programs funded by the Indiana Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. She currently is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Indiana University, Bloomington, a freelance multimedia developer for Global Voices Comprehensive, flutist for Music-Wellness and the Hendricks Symphony Orchestra, and enjoys sharing the joy of music with the young children at Interactive Academy. She and her husband have two children and enjoy nature, gymnastics and of course, music. Kristen is certified in First Aid and CPR. Kristin's website is available here.
Señora Rojas, Spanish Teacher Señora Rojas attained an Architectural degree from the University de Guadalajara in Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico. She moved from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to Zionsville 6 years ago, where she resides with her husband, who is originally from this area, and their two children, Ashley, who is a senior at ZHS, and Bobby, who is a 7th grader at ZWest. Señora worked at ZMS as a Special Education Instructional Assistant for 4 years. On a daily basis, she divides her time between LAL (Learn Another Language), where she has taught Spanish for the past 5 years and InterActive Academy, where she has been the resident Spanish instructor for the past 3 years. She is certified in CPR and First Aid. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working out, and visiting her family in Mexico every summer.
Susan Maler, Pre-K Teacher Susan has lived in Zionsville for the past six years with her husband and four children. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education, with a minor in French, from DePaul University. She is also certified in CPR, First Aid and Yoga. Susan is in her third year teaching at InterActive Academy and loves the staff, families and most importantly the children she teaches. She treasures watching the growth of her students throughout the year. They bring so many smiles to her face with all of the wonderful stories they have. In her spare time, Susan enjoys watching her own children’s recreational activities, exercising, travelling, shopping and going out to dinner with her husband.
Mykel Zwayer, Kindergarten Teacher & Gymnastics Coach Mykel is originally from Ohio, where she earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Early Childhood Education from Bowling Green State University. Mykel has substitute taught in elementary schools, grades kindergarten through fifth. She also has experience teaching preschool (PreK). Two years ago while teaching PreK, she was the Director of the school. She looks forward to a successful year, where the students will engage in developmentally appropriate activities and be challenged through small and large group instruction, hands-on activities, and learning centers. Along with having a teaching degree, Mykel also has over twelve years of experience instructing and coaching artistic gymnastics. She is currently a certified level 9 gymnastics official. She is a member of USA Gymnastics, NAWGJ, and has a safety certification, as well as CPR and first aid training. In her spare time, she enjoys watching college football, cooking and baking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Debbie Foust, Preschool Teacher Debbie has 30 years experience working with preschool children. She had her own homecare in Nebraska for over 3 years. She has the equivalent of an associate’s degree in early childhood development and is currently working to finish her BS. She lived in England for 12 years where she helped to start new churches. Part of her responsibilities were directing Vacation Bible Schools, Sunday School Director and Director of summer camps. She is First Aid and CPR certified. She has been at Interactive since August of 2007. She teaches preschool and is summer camp director. She has four children and two grandchildren.
Sue Masten, Cafeteria Manager, Before School Care, Computer Aide Sue is a native of Zionsville where she resides with her husband, Skip. They have three sons, Andrew, Alex, and Adam. She attended IUPUI where she studied business. She was an independent insurance agent and soon realized she wanted to work with children. Sue has been at InterActive for 5 years and enjoys watching the students try new foods and finds her job very rewarding. Sue is Serve-Safe certified and has worked in the food service industry for many years.
Luisa Stiggleman Luisa was born and raised in Chicago. She attended Northeastern Illinois University and received a BA in Social Sciences. Her family moved to Indy in 2002. Her teaching career began 5 years ago as a teacher at King of Glory Preschool in Carmel. She came to IA last year and worked with Ms. Sally. She also teaches Sunday School at OLMC. She and her children reside in Carmel.
Liz Efroymson-Brooks, Music Teacher Ms. Brooks has a BA in English from IU, an MA in secondary ed from IUPUI and a MM from Butler University in cello performance. She has been a cello instructor with the Indianapolis Academy of Music for over 25 years. She has also taught preschool music at the Jewish Community Center for over 12 years. Liz came to IA to teach music class to the IA students in 2007. She is certified in all 12 Suzuki cello books. She is a composer and has written 4 musicals. Liz and her husband, Jim, have 2 grown children.
Dave Poindexter Dave has a BA in ministry and education and a Masters in education as a counselor from Indiana University. He is a licensed guidance counselor, a nationally licensed youth soccer coach and an ordained pastor. Over the past 25 years he has acquired a wide variety of experience in working with children and families, including as a YMCA senior program director specializing in youth sports, day camping and team development. He has been married to Brenda for 22 years and they have 4 daughters, a Junior, 8th grader, 6th grader, and a 1st grader in Zionsville. Dave is an active volunteer in the Zionsville schools through the PTO and Campus Life. Dave directs Interactive's outdoor education program, Extreme Outpost Leadership Lab, and TEAM Works Challenge course. Dave is active in supporting the youth sports community in and around Zionsville. He is a trainer with the Positive Coaching Alliance and co-directs a non-profit, {I'm In} Character Development and Leadership Training here in Zionsville. Dave believes that it is an opportunity and our obligation to equip children with skills they will need for life in the areas of relationship, character, leadership and purpose.
Mandy Moore, Program Director, Trampoline and Tumbling Coach Mandy started as a coach in 2004 and has been coaching Interactive's competitive team here since May of 2007. She also teaches P.E. for the academy and is head coach for the Senior Cheer Team. Mandy is a USA Gymnastics Professional member, safety certified through USAG, and she is a level 2 judge on both Double-Mini Trampoline and Tumbling. Mandy is also CPR and First Aid certified. Along with coaching the T&T Team she also coaches the Pre-Team and a number of Tumble Tots and preschool classes. Mandy is very proud to say that her team is home to 4 National Champions with a total of 7 National Championships. She was a cheerleader for 16 years starting at age 5 and finishing at IUPUI where she met her husband and fellow T&T coach Shawn. They have been married since July of 2005 and their first son, Alex, was born in October of 2007. Mandy says: " I love my position here at Interactive because I get to work with kids of all ages (2-16) every day. I feel like as I teach them about gymnastics, tumbling, team work, respect, and self confidence, they teach me how to stay young, cherish life, and have fun."
Cheri Gibson, Gymnastics Instructor, Girls Team Coach Cheri received her Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education K-12 from Ball State University. She competed for 4 years at Ball State with a gymnastic scholarship. Cheri has been teaching pre-school, recreational, and competitive teams since 1982. Cheri is KAT certified (Kinder Accreditation for Teachers), member of USA Gymnastics, and is Safety Certified. Cheri also judged competitive gymnastics for 15 years, and has coached competitive teams 4-10 with several State, Regional, and National champions through the years. Cheri and her husband Steve, who was also a gymnast, have 4 children and 3 grandchildren and love to spend time with them and enjoy the outdoors.
Shelby Challandes, I.A. Teacher & Gymnastics / Cheer Coach
Amy Hochstetler
Jennifer North
Rachel Parker, Front Desk Staff, Teacher's Assistant, Gymnastics Instructor Rachel started working with special needs kids right after graduating high school as a teacher’s assistant. She has been with InterActive Academy since 2007 and works various roles throughout the programs. She is CPR and First Aid Certified. Rachel and her husband, Steve, have 3 daughters who are very active in IA activities. Kailyn is 7 and is a 2nd year level 4 gymnast. Hannah is 5 and is a level 1 gymnast and attends IA Kindergarten . Alyssa is 3 and is in the hotshots program and in IA preschool.