Mrs. Covington
Art Educator
Mrs. Covington was born and raised in Las Vegas and am proud to be from this beautiful, desert city. Her favorite subjects in school were Art, ELA, and International Language Studies. Shevgraduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelors of Science in Education with an emphasis on art education and a minor in ceramics in 2010 and completed her student teaching at Las Vegas Academy in the arts department.
As an artist Mrs. Covington loves to explore all types of mediums. She has dabbled in drawing, painting, screenprinting, graphic arts, sculpture, ceramics, crochet, and more!! She enjoys all forms of artistic expression but has focused for the last few years on textile arts and quilting. Mrs. Covington is excited to share her love of artistic mediums and sewing with children. Originally her plan was to teach highschool art but now that she is a mother of two elementary age boys she has become passionate about being a part of those early, formative years. Mrs. Covington wants to be a welcoming face that helps them feel excited to come to school and learn each day.
She is a lover of the written arts too! In school, she loved written assignments and excelled at essays. That said, she knows that MANY students are overwhelmed by essays, writing prompts and handwritten Q&A. Her hope to help children find a love of writing. She also enjoys teaching Greek and Latin roots of words. Understanding root words and etymology can help children decode words that they do not know and it can be a very fun and exciting process.
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Ms. Berman earned a Master’s degree in school counseling in 1983 from UNLV and has developed innovative programs for families of gifted students and their parents. Allison Berman was SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) certified in 2003 and has coached parent and student groups. In addition, she has created the curriculum and course work for the Nevada State Gifted Endorsement Program at Sierra Nevada College and taught several foundation courses for new GATE specialists. Allison was part of a team of GATE specialists that developed the Scope and Sequence for the CCSD GATE Program in 2005 and has presented at national and local conferences on various topics related to gifted education.
Ms. Berman’s experience and passion for gifted students is prominent. She is excited to work with the team of professionals at Nasri Academy for Gifted Children. Her goal is to guide students to meet their academic and social potential. She looks forward to being part of this exciting opportunity to serve the educational needs of gifted learners in our community.
Ms. Fallico
Early Childhood Educator
Ms. Fallico, originally from Chicago, has been residing in Las Vegas since 2000. She’s a devoted mother who takes pride in her son’s involvement in the choir. In her free time, Ms. Fallico volunteers for the Nevada Special Olympics and at the Italian-American Club, showcasing her commitment to community service.
With a love for the beach and an active lifestyle, she frequents the gym and cherishes moments with loved ones. Laughter is her remedy, and as an enthusiastic preschool teacher, she brings joy to her students every day.
As a dedicated and passionate preschool teacher, Ms. Fallico brings over 25 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. With a warm and nurturing approach, she creates a stimulating and inclusive learning environment where young minds can thrive. Ms. Fallico is committed to fostering social, emotional, and cognitive development through hands-on activities, learning projects, imaginative play, and meaningful interactions. She believes in the power of building strong partnerships with families to support each child’s unique journey. With a background in Early Childhood Education, she holds a CDA credential, and over 575 Nevada Registry training hours. Ms. Fallico is excited to embark on this journey of growth and discovery alongside the Nasri Academy Early Childhood Development program.
Mrs. Jensen
Lower School 1 Educator
Mrs. Jensen joins Nasri Academy teaching team this year after almost thirty years with Clark County School District. Her roles in CCSD included teaching Kindergarten, Second Grade, Gifted and Talented Education, Reading Specialist, TESL Specialist (teaching children who are learning English as their second language), Dean of Students at the middle and high school levels, fifth grade, and finally working with special needs children at the preschool level. While with CCSD, Mrs. Jensen received several excellence attendance awards and twice received the Southeast Region Distinguished Educator Award.
Mrs. Jensen grew up on a farm in Oklahoma with her three sisters and lots of farm animals and farm chores. Surrounded by nature and being part of a farming family, Mrs. Jensen learned from a young age to work hard and appreciate the richness of nature.
In her free time Mrs. Jensen loves spending time with her husband, three grown children, and two adorable grandbabies. She also enjoys the challenge of half marathons (sometimes walking, sometimes running) that benefit different charities. In the past she has participated in runs benefiting The American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Association, Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, and other local youth organizations in Southern Nevada.
Mrs. Jensen is delighted to be back in the classroom this year as one of the Nasri Academy teachers. Creating a joyful and engaging classroom climate is her top priority for the upcoming school year.
Mr. Kubetz
Unit and Lower School Science Educator
Mr. Kubetz began his career in education with CCSD in 1990, after receiving a degree in Human Development from the University of Wisconsin. Fourteen years was spent as an elementary teacher. Mr. Kubetz then moved into gifted education and was a GATE teacher for grades 3, 4, and 5 for six years. During the ten years prior to retirement he was a Gifted Education Program Specialist. This position allowed him to work with highly gifted students from Kindergarten to grade 12.
Mr. Kubetz also has worked with parents, teachers, counselors, and school administrators to make sure that the educational and social emotional needs of the gifted students were met. When asked about his goals he answered. “I am passionate about the social and emotional growth of my students as well as their educational growth. My goal has always been for students to be able to identify problems, seek solutions, and persevere when they do not succeed. I feel the best way to do that is to build a strong trusting relationship with students and their families.” It brings Mr. Kubetz joy to help children develop to their potential. He is looking forward to working with everyone at Nasri Academy for Gifted Children.
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Mr. Kubetz also has worked with parents, teachers, counselors, and school administrators to make sure that the educational and social emotional needs of the gifted students were met. Mr. Kubetz will be on campus regularly in November after he retires from CCSD. Many of our parents have already met Mr. Kubetz, he was one of Nasri Academy’s presenters during the ʹ2019-2020, Parent Education Program. When asked about his goals he answered. “I am passionate about the social and emotional growth of my students as well as their educational growth. My goal has always been for students to be able to identify problems, seek solutions, and persevere when they do not succeed. I feel the best way to do that is to build a strong trusting relationship with students and their families. It brings Mr. Kubetz joy to help children develop to their potential. He is looking forward to working with everyone at Nasri Academy for Gifted Children”
Mrs. Kidd
Spanish Educator
Mrs. Kidd is thrilled to be back teaching Spanish at Nasri Academy for Gifted Children. Since the time Mrs. Kidd was in elementary school, she has had a passion to learn different languages and cultures. Her mother is from Santander, Spain and her father is from Mexico City. She speaks Spanish, French, Italian and English. Her family owned a private school in Mexico, where her passion for teaching children began. Mrs. Kidd enjoys learning, teaching and motivating others toward achieving their dreams. Mrs. Kidd previously worked at the Mexican Consulate which enriched her career in many ways. Her philosophy is “the more languages and cultures you learn, the broader your horizons will be.” Mrs. Kidd believes that language learning should be fun in order to increase retention and engagement. She likes to implement the TPRS method in her classes. She loves spending quality time with her husband and their two sons ages 19 & 13. They enjoy going to basketball and baseball games together. Mrs. Kidd also enjoys running with her German Shepherd dog and working out. She is a passionate BYU Cougar fan. Mrs. Kidd believes that every student can be successful at learning a new language, so here we go school year 2021-2022!
Mx. Peerenboom
History & Math Educator
Mx. Peerenboom graduated from UNLV with a B.A. in History. While attending UNLV they studied abroad in China and was a moderator at a national convention in Montreal Canada. Ash aims to use the experience gained by working at Nasri Academy to obtain his masters in secondary education sometime in the future. They share a passion for working in the educational field, which was greatly impacted by one of their friends/mentors at UNLV. They are honored and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Nasri family and for the experience that comes with it.
Mrs. Hansen
Primary Reading and English Language Arts Educator
Mrs. Hansen is overjoyed to join Nasri Academy as the reading and writing teacher! Originally from Chicago, she moved to Las Vegas in 2018. Since then, she has been a teacher and case manager for CCSD and public charter schools. Prior to education, Mrs. Hansen worked in marketing and communications as a writer and producer.
Her experience in education supports her interest and desire to grow in the field of gifted education. Her strengths include fostering relationships, differentiating instruction, and integrating vocational skills through project-based learning. She has taught grades K-8. When not at work, Mrs. Hansen can be found reading a book or listening to a true crime podcast on her patio where she also admires her cacti garden. She loves to travel with her husband and cuddle her two cats, Hunter and Scout.
Mrs. Hansen earned a teaching certificate in K-8 special and regular education from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee in 2018. She also earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications, media/theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago in 2014. Mrs. Hansen’s expertise and dedication to supporting diverse students stems from her own experiences in K-12 education and those of her family members with significant needs.
Ms. Jones
Robotics and Coding Educator
Ms. Jones is thrilled to join the Nasri Academy family as the robotics and coding teacher! With years of experience in FIRST FLL and FTC robotics, she is eager to share her passion and expertise. With a major in psychology, she looks forward to applying her knowledge of child development to empower students with skills, confidence, and problem-solving abilities.
In her free time, she enjoys playing the guitar, reading, and all things Disney!
Mr. Valdera
Music and Theater Educator
Mr. Valdera is thrilled to join the faculty at Nasri Academy! Originally from New York City, he grew up deeply immersed in the arts. He was an active performer throughout his youth, participating in programs like Keen Teens, Kidz Theater, as well as school plays.
He went on to earn a degree in Musical Theatre with a minor in Technical Production from Nazareth College. During his time there, Mr. Valdera embraced every opportunity to expand his skill set—working in the scene shop to develop his carpentry skills, running sound boards, hanging and focusing lights, assistant directing, stage managing, and even choreographing stage combat. He also continued his training in both music and dance, rounding out his experience as a multifaceted theater artist.
After college, Mr. Valdera began his teaching journey as an after-school theater instructor for K–5 students, with a special focus on kindergarten. He then served as a summer music instructor before moving on to work at LE3 Academy, an early childhood enrichment center for infants through preschoolers.
Some of Mr. Valdera’s favorite performance credits include Gomez in The Addams Family, a Soldier in Dogfight, and Ensemble in Ragtime. He brings a passion for storytelling, creativity, and student-centered learning into every classroom and rehearsal space.
Mrs. Davis
English Language Arts and Literature Educator
Hello there! I am Mrs. Davis, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, and having lived in Las Vegas, basically since 2007, she is a wife, mother, and Nana; musician, artist, and poet; but English Language Arts is what she has taught for most of my professional life. Mrs. Davis has a BA in English, Master’s degree in Teaching, and Ed.D abd in Educational Leadership. Having spent most of her life as an educator, raising her four children with the love of her life, their father, she can say much about her rich and satisfying teaching journey; instead, Mrs. Davis will offer this poem, that expresses it best:
Song of a Sower
Brick by brick, building
A wall against
The tide of ignorance and deterioration,
A bridge from
The past’s glories, lessons, and horrors
To a future unknown, unbounded, unforeseen.
Casting a blanket
Of valuing, loving and embracing
What once was common knowledge—
Now nearly lost, and unknown to all
But the well-fed few—
Watching the heedless filter precious seed
Through sieves with holes far too small.
Yet I cast it to the winds
Purposeful, driven—hands in the clay
Looking upward for propitious
Weather, rain and sunlight—
Germination desired, rarely seen…
But always longed for;
I put my hand in the bag and draw out more,
Casting fireflies
Into perceived darkness.
Ms. Zielinski
Support Staff & FLL Coach
Ms. Zielinski is our Support Staff & one of our FIRST LEGO League Coaches! Recently graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Minor in Dance, and going back for a Masters in Public Administration. Her expertise in the program includes 6 years competing in FLLC, 4 in FTC, to being FIRST Nevada’s current FTC Southern Nevada event coordinator. They have been mentoring teams for 9 years, coaching for 3, and volunteering within FIRST for 15 years, most recently volunteering at the World Championship for the 5th time, this year as an Emcee! Outside of FIRST, Grace grew up in another youth non-profit, 4-H, where she learned vital social, life, and STEM skills! Some silly things about Grace is that she loves tutus, bananas, and connecting with people. Ms. Zielinski has over 9 years of experience running events such as Summer Camps, Outreach, STEM workshops, and Presentations. She is like a shot of espresso, where you can’t help but be energized after being around her!
Ms. Bowman
Physical Education Teacher
Bridget Littleton Bowman is a dedicated educator, coach, and athletics enthusiast with more than 28 years of experience serving students in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Louisiana. After retiring from the district, she relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where she is excited to begin her next chapter as a Physical Education teacher at Nasri Gifted Academy.
Ms. Bowman earned her bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, where she was also a student-athlete and played volleyball. She later earned her master’s degree in Administration and Supervision, further strengthening her commitment to education and leadership.
Ms. Bowman looks forward to being a part of the Nasri Academy and inspiring students through movement, teamwork, and the joy of physical activity.
Ms. Rasmussen
Lower School Math Teacher
Ms. Rasmussen is joining Nasri Academy this year as a math teacher. Born and raised in Idaho, she has spent the past 25 years here in Las Vegas, helping students grow both academically and personally. She has taught grades kindergarten through 6th and for the last five years, she has served as a Science and Coding Specialist, creating engaging, hands-on learning experiences that encourage curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
Miss Rasmussen believes the best learning happens when students feel excited about what they are learning, challenged, and inspired to ask questions. With her master's degree in technology and curriculum and instruction, her goal has always been to help every student build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, and discover the excitement of science, math, and lifelong learning.
Outside of the classroom, Miss Rasmussen enjoys spending time with her family, reading, cooking, photography, and spending time near the ocean or at the lake. She also has many pets that need a lot of care. She is very excited to be at Nasri Academy doing what she loves.
Ms. Gustafson
Science Teacher LS3-US2
Hi there! Ms. Gustafson is looking forward to joining the Nasri Academy staff this year as the science teacher for grades 3-8. She is licensed to teach in Nevada for grades K-8, with endorsements in science, math and reading. Ms. Gustafson taught at all levels of education in private, public and charter schools with a focus in Science, Math and STEAM. My B.S. degree is from Western Illinois University, as she is originally from the Chicagoland area. Utilizing this park and recreation degree, she gained valuable work experience as a naturalist in the TN State Parks, the Norris City Recreation Director, and various youth recreational behavioral counseling programs. My master’s degree is in science education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where my parents relocated. She and her son, Jonah followed her family south where he was then identified as gifted. She also have a wonderful adult daughter (his younger sister) named Lillian. They are both respected geniuses in their own fields. Ms. Gustafson enjoys hiking, swimming, reading, music, cooking and crafts.
Fast forward to today, she has been in Las Vegas over 15 years applying her diverse background to her methodology via the modern Engineering Design Process [EDP] and Next Generation Science Standards [NGSS]. Her passion is sparking student imagination and excellence for science related topics to keep them engaged not only in class, but as a push into the fields where great minds are needed. Ms. Gustafson plans to integrate technology and activity labs alongside note taking and research for a well-rounded approach. Meeting students at the level they are, students can feel good about reaching ‘their’ goals for the future.
