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. 

Michelle Stokes has been working with children of various ages, from middle school to primary age children for the past 8 years. Prior to her eight hers at COCSD she coached cheer and dance for 17 years at Mingus Union High School and Cottonwood Middle School. Michelle has taught in the classroom for the past 3 years and has found that teaching is her favorite. She is looking forward to many more years of teaching with Liberty Leadership Academy. 

Nicole Loper has worked with school age-8th grade students for the past 8 years. She worked at Cottonwood Oak Creek school district in many different capacities such as screening for hearing and vision, health aide and teaching. Nicole is super excited to start a new chapter at Liberty Leadership Academy! 

  Shelly Wilcoxson has worked with preschool age-8th grade students for 20 years in many different settings. Miss Shelly has an Associates Degree in Graphic Design and is finishing up her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. We are excited to have Miss Shelly on the Liberty Leadership Academy team!

Mrs. Linford resides in Clarkdale. She has a husband and four children that keep her busy and happy. She graduated with

a degree in Early Childhood Education from Brigham Young University. She has studied piano and voice in her youth,

and she has taught her own children to play and sing. Currently, she teaches music and singing to the children of her

church congregation and has done so for the last two years. She has a passion for teaching children. She loves fitness as

well. She weekly teaches a dance fitness class in the community and hikes around the area as much as possible. She loves

living in the Verde Valley and is excited to teach music at Liberty Leadership Academy.