STAFF

Rachel began teaching dance while at the Phoenix Dance Academy. She graduated from NAU in 2004 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Rachel is Certified with the Royal Academy of Dance and Acrobatic Arts. 

Rachel has been teaching the love of dance for over 25 years and founded Liberty Performing Arts in Cottonwood in 2013. Rachel had a vision to start a performing arts charter school many years ago and began the application process in 2017. She was awarded the charter for Liberty Leadership Academy in 2019. 

Truly Blakely has worked with preschool age children for over 20 years. She has also worked in schools in many different capacities such as teacher, secretary, and admin assistant. After being a stay at home mom and in home childcare provider for 8 years Truly is ready to start a new adventure at Liberty Leadership Academy. 

 Lance Barnes is a lifelong educator, administrator and coach. He taught middle school and gifted in Tucson for 23 years. He’s also been both a principal and assistant principal for more than 7 years. Lance coached varsity football, tennis and basketball for over 20 seasons.

Lance earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University.

He’s a proud parent of three children one of whom is blessed with Special Needs. Lance is passionate about exercise and travel and recently restarted scuba diving! 

 Ceara has lived in the Verde Valley for 27 year. She enjoys reading and many forms of art as well as spending time with her husband, two children, family and close friends. 
As a mother of a special need child, Ceara became passionate about behavioral health over a decade ago and earned Associates of Arts degree from Yavapai and then her Bachelors degree in Applied Human Behavior with an undergrad certificate in Speech and Language Pathology from NAU.   After working in the kindergarten setting for multiple years as a paraprofessional while finishing her degree, Ceara moved on to work as an Educator and one on one student support for students ages 5-25 with a range of developmental disabilities.  In addition she took on responsibilities such as academic planning for multiple grade levels and preparing and writing IEPs for her students. Here is where she spent the last 4 years and became passionate about teaching and recognizing that every child learns differently and it is an educators job to offer a range of learning techniques to ensure student success. 

She also believes that sensory regulation provides a foundation for learning. It is key to maximizing a child’s ability to take in what they are being taught. Ceara believes the use of movement, music, and dance are just a few sensory strategies to assist in a successful learning environment and is looking forward to incorporating these and many others into the classroom setting. 

Ceara is currently working on her teaching certificate and is very excited to enter this new adventure  with the students at LLA. 

 Passionate about teaching, Nicci has dedicated the past 12 years to working with students from pre-K to eighth grade. Within the Cottonwood Oak Creek school district, she has taken on various roles, including conducting hearing and vision screenings, serving as a health aide, and delivering impactful lessons in the classroom. Witnessing her students' growth fills her with excitement and fulfillment, and she eagerly anticipate embarking on another fruitful year at Liberty Leadership Academy. 

  Vanessa is a loving mother, sister, daughter and friend. She was born and raised in Southern California and in 2016 moved to Cottonwood, Arizona with her family. She grew up in love with creativity and the arts and all the ways to express it including creative writing, theater, musical theater, photography, animation design and interior design. Vanessa completed her Associates of Arts Degree at Yavapai College in 2020 where she found her interest in America Sign Language. Alongside her daughter, they learned the beautiful language together. She hopes to continue expressing her love for the arts, music and ASL by sharing what she has learned with the students at Liberty Leadership Academy.  

  Christina Viotti is an experienced educator with a passion for supporting growth and development.  Christina has served as an elementary teacher for the past three years.  Christina has also been a paraprofessional aand special education paraprofessional.  With over 30 years of coaching experience, Chrristina brings a strong background in mentorship and teamwork to her teaching.  She is proud to be part of the Liberty Leadership Academy community, where she is committed to creating a positive, engaging learning environment.  Outside the classroom, Christina enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her husband, four children and her grandson.

Angela  Hernandez is a passionate educator with over 20 years of experience in both domestic and international classrooms. She brings to the classroom a rich background in student-centered learning and interdisciplinary instruction.

Her diverse teaching history spans middle school classrooms in California, Arizona and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as adult and youth language education in Prague, Czech Republic where she earned her International TEFL certification. She holds an M.A. in psychology with a concentration in Human and Organizational Behavior from NU, and a B.A. in Liberal Studies Education Track from CSUSB.

Angela is known for her engaging, nurturing classroom environment and her ability to meet the academic and developmental needs of upper elementary students. She is committed to helping every student grow in confidence, curiosity, and critical thinking while fostering a love of learning that reaches beyond the classroom.  

 I am a passionate and dedicated teacher with a deep love for helping young learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally. With several years of experience working with children, I strive to create a supportive, engaging environment where curiosity is encouraged and every child feels valued. My goal is to inspire confidence and a lifelong love of learning in each of my students. Every day, I feel grateful to be part of their journey and growth. I am excited to continue my journey at Liberty Leadership.  

  Originally from Maine, Nicole (Cole) has found a new home in Arizona, bringing with her a passion for both the arts (singing, dancing, writing) and education. Though her initial studies at university were in creative writing, it was her experience teaching English in South Korea for three fulfilling years that truly sparked her love for educating children. She quickly realized the immense joy in being able to ignite curiosity and foster a deep love for discovery and lifelong learning in her students. She’s excited to share her experiences and passion for learning at LLA.

  Born and raised in Southern California, I’ve always had a passion for helping others and making people feel their best sometimes with a laugh, always with kindness. After graduating high school in 2017, I began working as a caregiver for the elderly, which eventually led me to discover a deep passion for working with individuals with disabilities.

For over three years, I supported adults with autism, and that experience sparked my journey into education. I went on to serve as a special needs paraprofessional at a high school for five years, where I developed a strong belief that every person deserves to feel equal, valued, and loved. I also hold a caregiving certificate and take pride in staying grounded in compassion and kindness in all that I do.

Now, as part of the Liberty Leadership Academy team, my goal is to help young minds grow into the best versions of themselves equipped with confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging as they move forward in life.