Faculty / Staff
Revo Academy educators are fully credentialed with experience and expertise in gifted education. We select only the finest educators with a proven track record, and a genuine passion and connection to our mission and the students that we serve.
Additionally, our enrichment classes are taught by subject area specialists. Together, their areas of expertise, in conjunction with our academic program, students receive a comprehensive, whole child and engaging approach to learning.
Kris Alesna
Lower School Director of Physical Education
Coach Kris brings 30 years of coaching and mentoring experience to Revo Academy. He graduated with honors from UCLA with a Bachelor’s degree in Physiological Science and Kinesiology, specializing in Health and Wellness.
Prior to graduating, he started Alesna Health & Fitness, a consultation company which focuses on designing and supervising innovative Exercise and Physical Therapy programs to individuals ranging from 4 to 94 years of
age. Coach Kris’ primary mission is to introduce students to concepts of safe stretching, strengthening, and conditioning techniques. He has a variety of opportunities to pass on his knowledge and passion for physical wellness; some of which include working with schools, hospitals, and mentorship programs.
Outside of the sports court, Coach Kris loves sports, such as basketball, football, hiking, surfing, and baseball, and has competed all across the country on a championship tournament softball team. He loves music and going to concerts, and has been the lead vocalist in two rock bands, and cantered masses at Our Lady of Grace Church in Encino.
He is most proud of being married to his wife for 23 years and raising their 21-year old son who currently attends The Ohio State University.
Melissa Dodos
Credentialed Teacher
Melissa Dodos earned a B.A. degree in social justice from the University of California at Santa Barbara, graduating with honors and distinction in her major. She completed her graduate units in elementary education from Cal State Los Angeles and holds a CA clear multiple subjects teaching credential. Her dedication to children spans over 20 years with experience in both traditional and progressive educational settings.
Most recently, Mrs. Dodos worked as an intervention and enrichment teacher with K-1 students in the Rio school district in Oxnard. She planned foundational literacy and math activities for small groups and implemented STEAM classes that nurtured creativity and critical thinking. She has worked for both Santa Barbara Charter school and Ventura Charter, helping implement project-based learning units with K-5 students. She has two gifted children of her own and understands the unique learning needs of gifted students.
As an instructor at the Summer Institute for the Gifted at Cal Lutheran, she enjoyed working with two classes of gifted and talented students, focusing on literacy development. She has a passion for curriculum development and student-centered learning. Her whole-child approach builds upon individual strengths and supports areas of need while incorporating student goal setting and reflection. She seeks to instill a love of learning in all her students while inspiring them to be explorers, innovators, and problem solvers.
Mrs. Dodos has lived in Ventura with her husband and children for the past 20 years. She loves reading, sewing, and going to the beach with her family.
Zoe Fox, M.A.
Latin & Middle School Humanities Teacher
Zoe Fox has a BA in Classical Languages from Bryn Mawr College, an MA in Classics from UCLA, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Classics through the University of Birmingham. She began her teaching journey as a teaching assistant for undergraduate courses at UCLA, but quickly decided that her true passion lay in the K-12 classroom.
Ms Fox has spent the past several years developing her own approach to education, both teaching humanities to students who are gifted and have learning differences, and creating and implementing her own middle school Latin curriculum. In particular, she specializes in developing curricula that are personalized based on the students’ passions, and adapting these curricula in order to encourage student voice and choice in their education.
In Latin class, Ms Fox models this passion-led inquiry every day by bringing her own passion, Ancient Rome, into the classroom, and helping students discover the joy in lifelong learning. Besides her PhD work, she continues her own lifelong learning by spending summers completing fieldwork and excavating on archaeological digs in Rome. In addition, she volunteers as a museum site docent at the Getty Villa.
In her free time, Ms Fox loves going to Disneyland with her husband Patrick, and cuddling her cat Octavian.
Olivia Howard, M.Ed
Credentialed Teacher
Ms. Howard earned her B.S. from Northern Michigan University. She then went on to earn her teaching credentials from the Friends School Teacher Preparation Program in Boulder, CO, as well as earned her Masters in Learning, Development and Family Science from the University of Colorado Denver. Ms. Howard also holds her Elementary Multiple Subjects Credential in California.
Ms. Howard has worked in a variety of educational settings, both traditional and nontraditional. She has several years experience as an outdoor and experiential educator, as well as classroom teaching experience in Colorado. Ms. Howard has been trained in Responsive Classroom, a student-focused approach to teaching and learning that concentrates on social emotional well-being and classroom community, and uses these values as the foundational elements for her classroom. She encourages a classroom environment where students are highly active contributors in their learning and growth, with a core value on ongoing classroom community building.
Ms. Howard brings tremendous experience adapting and differentiating curriculum to meet the needs of her individual students. She is committed to being a life-long learner herself and aspires to continued growth and advancement both personal and professionally.
Ms. Howard moved from Boulder, CO to Santa Clarita and is originally from West Michigan. In her free time she enjoys camping, trail running, rock climbing and reading.
Lee Anne Kallen
Credentialed Teacher
As an elementary credentialed educator, Mrs. Kallen graduated from California State University. Her fifteen years of teaching experience includes working in private, charter, and Native American schools. Mrs. Kallen has also spent over 20 years working with students in a leadership program where she taught character development, public speaking and organizational management.
Among other areas of expertise, Mrs. Kallen integrates her leadership development and student government experience, as well as service learning and community building within her daily teaching approach.
The spirit of watching students grow throughout the year is what excites Mrs. Kallen to teach each and every day. Her passion is igniting the personal passions and interests of her students, and providing them the time and space to make unique, meaningful connections..
Mrs. Kallen has been married for 27 years and has raised four boys. She understands the hectic life of school, sports, organizations, and working. Mrs. Kallen is a big believer of school and home life balance to nurture early habits of purposeful living and overall wellbeing.
Heather Scott, M.Ed
Credentialed Teacher
Ms. Scott has been using research based practices to teach young children since 2009. Her career in education began by teaching in early childhood programs, where she developed curriculum using the whole child approach and project based learning.
Ms. Scott earned a baccalaureate degree in Child Development from the University of La Vern, with cum laude, as well as her master’s degree in Education and multiple subject teaching credential, from the University of La Verne.
Ms. Scott's mission is to help students overcome barriers to learning by fostering students' sense of agency and developing personal positive social identities.
With her experience working in a nature explorer certified school, Ms. Scott skillfully brings the environment into her classroom through interdisciplinary lessons on the wilderness and how it pertains to science, social studies, and literature. Her purpose is to give all students an opportunity to explore, investigate, and learn in the way that matches their particular learning style. By providing students with meaningful learning choices and project based learning opportunities, she taps into each students’ intellectual strengths, and fosters a love for learning.
Born and raised in Ventura county, her personal passions include exploring the great outdoors and all that it has to offer. In her spare time, she often goes to the beach, hiking, camping or backpacking with family and friends. She especially loves visiting national parks such as Yosemite and Sequoia.
Kristen Webb, M.Ed
Middle School & Mentor Teacher
Kristen Webb earned her education degrees from California State University and has a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential specializing in literature. Before coming to Revo Academy, she taught for over a decade in the Los Angeles Unified School District for the Gifted and Talented program. During that time, she had the unique experience of working with students who were gifted as well as students with learning differences.
Mrs. Webb has expanded her knowledge of gifted education by attending regular specialized professional development programs, including the USC Summer Gifted Institute. She specializes in cross-curricular, project-based learning and possesses a seasoned ability to cultivate each student's unique gifts and talents to reach their highest potential. In addition, Mrs. Webb spent many years as a science lead teacher and has a passion for bringing the joy of scientific investigation and exploration to her students.
Mrs. Webb has an extensive athletic background and has won many titles in both softball and volleyball. Her versatile background shines through in her close connections with her students and their interests.
Caitlin Wilson, M.Ed
Credentialed Teacher
Caitie Wilson earned her BA from UCLA in Linguistics and Psychology and her Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Cognitive Diversity.
She began her teaching journey working with students who are both gifted and have learning differences. Mrs. Wilson spent the last seven years in the 4th and 5th grade classroom teaching a variety of subjects. Here, she found a love for creating and developing curriculum that met the talents and interests of her students.
Mrs. Wilson loves finding ways to engage the learner through innovation and excitement. She is committed to supporting her student’s various interests and talents while also fostering a love for the learning process.
Mrs. Wilson is a native to the Ventura County area. When she is not in the classroom she loves spending time with her young baby, Remi. She also loves finding the best iced latte in town or eating sushi!