Meet our team
Meet Our High School Teachers
Lead Teachers
Allison Miller
Allison is the high school master lead teacher. She joined Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy (OVCA) in 2012 and previously taught all levels of math, from pre-algebra to calculus. She has served as the master lead teacher for the past two school years. Allison earned a BS in mathematics education from the University of Central Oklahoma, a master's degree in mathematics education from Northeastern State University, an administration certification from Northeastern State University, and is currently working on her doctorate in K–12 school administration from Grand Canyon University, with an anticipated graduation date of 2020. She is certified in 6th-12th grade mathematics, special education, and school administration.
High School Teachers and Staff
Ashlea Babcock
Ashlea graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in education specializing in physical education and health. She is certified in physical education/health/safety through the state of Oklahoma. She currently teaches high school physical education, skills for health, and nutrition and wellness.
Brandy Brend
Brandy is a high school English teacher who joined the team in 2018. She earned a BA in English. Her degree focused on creative writing and literature. She brings many years of experience in education and holds a leadership role in her local homeschool community.
Vanessa Bryant
Vanessa is a high school math teacher and department chair. She joined the team in 2009 after teaching 7th grade math for seven years in Mid-Del School District. She earned a math education degree from Oklahoma Christian University and is certified in advanced mathematics.
Shannon Chambers
Shannon graduated from Cameron University and has taught pre-algebra, algebra I and II, and honors algebra I and II.
Amy Click
Amy graduated from Noble High School in Noble, Oklahoma, and went on to earn her BA in English at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. She moved to Chicago and earned a Master of Art in teaching secondary education language arts from Northeastern Illinois University. She was a substitute teacher for Chicago Public Schools for several years before returning home and teaching in several schools in Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City Community College, Rose State College, Seminole State College, and the University of Central Oklahoma, where she most recently earned a second master's degree in English creative writing.
Pam Dale
Pam is an 11th grade American literature teacher who has taught English for 29 years in the state of Oklahoma. Her 30th year of teaching is her first year at OVCA. She graduated from Midwest City High School in 1981, then attended the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1986 with an English major and vocal music minor. She also earned her master's degree in 1996 in public school administration at UCO. At Edmond North High School, she taught English, yearbook, and photography for 10 years and served as the AISP administrative representative the next eight years. After that, she taught middle school language arts, band, and vocal music throughout the state, at Crescent, Covington-Douglas, Oklahoma City, Ponca City, and Sand Springs.
Sarah Farrar
Sarah is a high school science teacher who joined the team in 2011. She brings 16 years of experience as a classroom teacher in both middle school and high school settings. Sarah earned a BA in science education from the University of Oklahoma. She holds certificates in the life sciences, physical sciences, and biological sciences.
Jaime Gilleland
Jaime teaches high school physical science for OVCA. She joined the OVCA team in February 2016. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 2007 with a BS in secondary education with an emphasis on science education. She is considered highly certified in physical science, chemistry, and biological sciences.
Jonathan Gregg
Jonathan teaches world history. He brings to OVCA more than 20 years of experience in teaching and coaching.
Tracie Grunewald
Tracie joined OVCA in September 2016. She has taught both algebra I and geometry. She earned her bachelor's degree from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and JD from Oklahoma University. She taught nine years in northwest Oklahoma and the panhandle area prior to joining OVCA. She is certified to teach mid-level and high school mathematics, English, and journalism, mid-level social studies, and mild to moderate special education. She is active in her church and community.
Katie Harris
Katie is a 12th grade English teacher who joined the team in January of 2018. She earned a BA in English with a double minor in education and Spanish from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, and she holds a certificate to teach secondary English in the state of Oklahoma.
Catherine Heenan
Catherine is a high school teacher who joined the team in 2018. She brings 16 years of teaching experience ranging from grades 3–11. Catherine earned a BA in education from Oklahoma State University. She holds certificates in elementary education, intermediate mathematics, and mid-level mathematics for high school.
Barbara Hinkle
Barbara is a high school tech teacher. This is her sixth year at OVCA and her 14th year in education. She earned her elementary education degree from Northeastern State University and has an advanced certification in mathematics.
Denese Noakes
Denese is a 1993 graduate from East Central University with a BA in art education. She holds a master's degree in human relations (2000) and a master's degree in arts in art history (2010) from the University of Oklahoma. Previous teaching assignments include seven years at Pauls Valley High School, one year at Little Axe Middle School, adult continuing education classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and undergraduate classes at OCCC and the University of Oklahoma. Denese currently teaches social sciences at OVCA, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and criminology.
Holly Parker
Holly teaches algebra and math foundations for OVCA. This is her 23rd year teaching mathematics in Oklahoma but only her first year with OVCA. She holds a mathematical education bachelor degree from Oklahoma Christian University and a curriculum and instruction master's degree from American College of Education. She has a passion for helping students find their love of learning and develop a positive growth mindset about learning and life. She has been married for 25 years and has three grown children and is looking forward to spoiling her grandchildren.
Phillip Przybylo
Phillip is a 10th grade English teacher and chair of the high school English department at OVCA. He has been teaching since 2008 and has been a proud member of the OVCA faculty since 2012. Phillip earned licensure through the University of Findlay's post-graduate program, a BA in English education from Wright State University, and an AA in communication arts from Sinclair Community College. He is currently certified to teach English language arts from grades 6–12.
William Roberts
William has taught music appreciation for OVCA since 2013. He has taught music for more than 25 years and also English as a second language in secondary schools in Japan as well as five years in an intensive English institute in Oklahoma. William (Bill) earned a Bachelor of Music Education from Eastern Michigan University as well as a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University. In addition, he holds a Master of Church Music degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary and the certificate of teaching as a foreign language to adults from Cambridge University in the United Kingdom. He holds teaching certificates for grades K–12 general, vocal, and instrumental music.
Amie Schweitzer
Amie is the science department chair and has worked for OVCA for six years. She currently teaches chemistry, physics, forensics, astronomy, and anatomy. Amie has a bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology and has almost completed her PhD in molecular genetics with a certificate in toxicology. She currently studies the genetics of pancreatic cancer at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.
Karla Shane
Karla graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern Nazarene University in 1995 with a BS in elementary education. She has since continued studies in specific subject areas to obtain endorsements in several upper-level subject areas. She has experience as a middle school classroom teacher in the brick-and-mortar setting as well as almost eight years teaching K–12 students online for a national educational service company. Karla has lived in many areas in Oklahoma during her own school years. She and her family currently live on the western side of the OKC metro area. She and her husband have two sons, the oldest of whom is a 2015 OVCA high school graduate. She is a flute player and an avid reader when she has free time. She loves to travel with her family and has visited most of Oklahoma's 77 counties, enjoying the diversity of geography that is uniquely Oklahoman. Karla originally joined the OVCA staff as a family support specialist in 2015 and then began teaching world history during the fall semester. She now enjoys teaching high school government and Oklahoma history classes for OVCA.
Tallie Stewart
Tallie teaches freshman English and honors freshman English.
Shelena Thomas
Shelena is a high school biology teacher who joined the team in 2018. She brings 10 years of experience in science and STEM education. Shelena earned both a BS and MT in biotechnology from Southeastern Oklahoma State University. She holds certificates in biological science and chemistry. Shelena is very passionate about science education in the State of Oklahoma. She has served as the high school director for the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association. She was also a part of the rewriting of the certification examinations for Oklahoma Educators Chemistry Exam and is a graduate of the first State Department of Education’s Oklahoma Science Leadership class. Shelena continues to be involved as a mentor for a FIRST Robotics team.
Dr. Bradley Walck (Brad)
Bradley has been an educator for more than 30 years. Twenty-two of those years were at Seminole State College (SSC). His first position at SSC was as the women's head basketball coach. He was in that position for eight years, winning six bi-state conference championships and runner-up twice. He coached serial All-Americans, and his 1992 team finished the season as the third ranked community college team in the nation. In addition to coaching, he was a history and health instructor. He also was the social sciences division chair for four years and his final eight years he served as the vice president for student affairs. Prior to working at SSC, he was a high school history teacher and head girl's and boys' basketball coach at Tecumseh High School. He has four college degrees, a PhD in education studies from the University of Oklahoma, two master's degrees in education from East Central University, and a BA in history from Oklahoma Baptist University. He is in his second year at OVCA. His wife, Kay, joined OVCA as a high school counselor. This couple was the first in the nation to compete against each other as head women's basketball coaches. While Brad was coaching SSC, Kay was the head coach at St. Gregory's University.
Jesse White
Jesse teaches high school technology courses. He has a BS in computer science.
Jody Whitehead
Jody teaches algebra 1. She graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma with a bachelor's degree in mathematics education and a master’s degree in secondary education. She is looking forward to being your math teacher. She begins her 5th year with OVCA in January 2019.
