Fine Arts & Languages

Mrs. Pamela Cox

Choir, Theater, Executive Internship, Creative Writing

Mrs. Pamela Cox graduated from the University of Kentucky with a major in Communications, and a minor in Vocal Performance. She performed professionally at King’s Island in Cincinnati, OH, Opryland in Nashville, TN, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines out of Miami, FL, and abroad for American Entertainment Productions. She has taught classically for many years, and enjoys combining her skills to inspire a love of learning in all her students. She lives in Sarasota, FL with her husband, Bart, and her three children, Charles, William, and Libby Jane.

Ms. Elena Bockman-Pederson

Art (Lower School)

Elena Bockman-Pedersen graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2020 with a BA in Theatre Arts from the Supper Honors Program. Coming from an artistic family, Elena has been performing, crafting, and expressing herself artistically her whole life. She is passionate about education and instilling a love for creativity and the arts in children. Elena has worked in theatre education for the past four years and is excited to transfer that passion into teaching pre-k and art this year. She is so excited to pour into your students and get to know your families!

Mrs. Krista Kauffman

Art (Upper School), Graphic Design & Set Design

Mrs. Kauffman was born and raised in Sarasota, FL, and has enjoyed creating art from a very young age which led her to earn her degree in Graphic Design. Through her passion for creating, sewing, and designing, she has worked with the theater department in costume and set design for the past three years. Mrs. Kauffman enjoys sharing her love for art with her students, and is excited about her third year at TCA. When she is not creating, she enjoys spending time with her husband and five children.

Dr. Glen Olsen

Musical Arts

Glen Olsen holds degrees from Wheaton College (IL, BA in music); Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey (MM in choral conducting); and a doctorate in music and art history as well as a second master’s degree in liturgical studies from Drew University (NJ). Dr. Olsen has served churches in New York City as well as its greater metropolitan area, West Texas and throughout Southwest Florida; and continues to serve churches in music and worship arts ministry. Dr. Olsen was the Director of Choral Activities for 10 years at the Hawthorne Christian Academy in northern New Jersey, where he developed an academic program of study in music and toured with the choirs throughout the United States as well as overseas to Denmark and Norway. Dr. Olsen has also been on the adjunct faculty at Drew and on the associate faculty of the University of Phoenix, Jersey City Campus. He is excited to be teaching again here at TCA.

Ms. Charlene Tillman

K-5 Music & 6-8 String Orchestra

Ms. Tillman is a native of Florida, growing up in Manatee County and now resides in Sarasota. She attended Stetson University in DeLand, Florida graduating in 1996 with a Bachelor of Music. Ms. Tillman also earned a Masters in Education from the University of Cincinnati in 2016. She has been teaching at TCA for the last 5 of her 15 years of teaching. Ms. Tillman taught 5th grade for her first 4 years at TCA and then moved to lower school music and upper school Wind Ensemble. She is currently working on building an instrumental music program at TCA for the development of aspiring musicians, and is also the aftercare director. Ms. Tillman enjoys spending time with her two children, reading with a great cup of coffee, playing the oboe, and attending local performing arts events.

Mrs. Melissa Spenner

Latin K-5th & 7th Grade

Melissa Spenner graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a BA in Theatre Arts. She is excited to start teaching at TCA, and is looking forward to working with various age groups. Melissa grew up learning about Latin, and cannot wait to share her love of the subject with her students. When she is not at school, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband, Christopher. They are avid Disney fans, and are looking forward to celebrating their one-year anniversary this year.

Mrs. Amy Olsen

Latin 6th

Amy Olsen has taught Latin and Language Arts in classical schools and co-ops in Texas and New Jersey. Born and raised in Massachusetts, she holds her BA in music from Wheaton College, and is completing her M.Ed. Degree from Liberty University. When not teaching at TCA, Amy, a classically trained singer, helps her husband with his music ministry in Venice, and manages her company, Writing Tales, which distributes her own classical elementary writing curriculum. Amy and her husband Glen have three grown children.

Mr. Drew Sarchet

Latin

Born in Sarasota, Drew is a Florida native. He studied philosophy at the University of South Florida where he earned his B.A. He then moved to Southern California to continue his studies at Biola University earning an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion & Ethics and an M.A. in Theology with a Greek Emphasis. He moved back to Florida in the Spring of 2015. He enjoys teaching and discussing topics in philosophy, ethics, religion, and language.

Señorita Bella

Spanish K-5th

Isabella Mia Ortiz (Señorita Bella) was born in Boston and moved to Florida when she was 10 years old. Spanish is her first language. Growing up in a Puerto Rican household has helped Señorita Bella throughout her entire life, personally and professionally. Isabella spent three years working with children from the ages of 5-18 teaching them how to swim recreationally and competitively. Isabella is currently working towards her BA in Education virtually from the State College of Florida. She has a love for teaching and feels very blessed to work at TCA. In her spare time she enjoys reading on the beach, playing with her two dogs, attending Vous Church, and spending time with family.

Rose Martín LaGarde

Spanish

Rose Martín LaGarde (Señora Rosa) was born and raised in New York City and moved to Sarasota (along with her family) in the mid 1970’s. She is a first generation American from Cuban parents, descendant from Spain. Both her mom and dad immigrated to the United States in the 1940’s-1950’s (her dad came in order to escape the ongoing revolution of Fidel Castro). Growing up in a bilingual household has served Señora Rosa well throughout her entire life, personally and professionally, though Spanish was the primary language spoken at home and at family gatherings. Rose holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida in Food Science & Human Nutrition. Her career experience within the field has included lab technician for a food safety testing laboratory, nutritional counsellor/team leader for an established weight loss center, and as general manager/trainer/menu consultant within commercial kitchens and the restaurant industry. She maintains a passion for leadership and instruction.