Meet our Support Staff

AZVA's staff is committed to ensuring the finest education possible for your children. From providing expert tools and strategies to teaching materials and parent support, our staff is dedicated to making sure that you have what you need to deliver a well-rounded, enriching education to your children. Here are some of the people who maintain AZVA's high standards of education.

Response to Intervention Coordinator
Hope Terhaar has been with AZVA since September 2006, and has ten years of experience in education. After graduating from Ottawa University with a BA in elementary education, she received her MA in elementary education from Northern Arizona University. During her career in education, Hope taught second and sixth grades, and also worked for the Arizona Department of Education in the Character Education Department. She is an Arizona Highly Qualified Teacher and is certified in regular education for K-8.  She is excited to support students through the Response to Intervention program.

Compliance Coordinator
Sharon Slater joined AZVA in 2004. She has her bachelors in Accounting from Arizona State University, a post-baccalaureate in Elementary Education from Ottawa University, and is currently pursuing her masters. She has eight years of experience as a public school teacher for the Kyrene and Chandler districts, as well with a Phoenix area charter high school. Her teaching experience includes kindergarten through high school and long-term substitute positions in special education. Prior to working in education, Sharon worked as a corporate controller for a mining equipment distributor.

Testing Coordinator
Melody Williamson joined AZVA in February 2006. She received her Bachelor of Arts in education with an ELL certification from Arizona State University, where she graduated summa cum laude. Melody was hired straight out of college by the Washington School District, where she completed her student teaching, to teach in a multi-age classroom. After four years of classroom teaching experience, she accepted a music-teacher position within the Washington School District, where she taught grades K-7. She feels her applied experience in an extensive multi-age environment has prepared her well for her position at Arizona Virtual Academy and is excited to be a part of our team.

Coordinator of Title Programs
Cindy Wright Carter has been with AZVA since August 2005. Her classroom experience includes teaching Special Education in all curriculum areas from preschool through high school in Arizona and California. For the previous three years, she has worked with AZVA’s Title I Program assisting struggling students in the area of mathematics. Cindy graduated from Arizona State University, Summa cum Laude, with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education. Cindy is highly qualified in Special Education, Elementary Education, and Middle School Mathematics.

Regional Technology Manager – Central Region
Mike Kunz joined K¹² in 2008. He is responsible for all teacher, administration and site technology for every school within the central region, including AZVA. Mike has a Masters of Science in Information Management from Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business and has over a decade of experience in the IT field. Prior to coming to K¹², Mike worked for the Federal Public Defender’s office.