Gilbert Early College

Blue Anderson

I have served as Principal at GEC since 2022. Prior to GEC I was an Athletic Director/Assistant Principal in Colorado for 10 years.  I have been in education for 26 years teaching social studies and physical education. In addition to teaching I coached football, wrestling, and track.  I graduated from Western State in Gunnison, Co with a Bachelors in Social Science and Secondary/Elementary Education.  I earned a Masters in Academic Administration from University of Phoenix. I am married to my beautiful wife Jamie.  We have 3 children Tara, Abby and Shelby.  We have 5 grandchildren and 1 more on the way.  My hobbies include hiking, fishing, paddleboarding, traveling, and walking my dog Alina.  It is my great honor to serve the students and community of GEC.  GO SPARTANS!

Krista Robinson

Mrs. Robinson has been the Administrative Assistant at GEC since January 2022 and has worked in education since 2015. Outside the office, she enjoys spending time with her husband and kids, baking, hiking, and serving at church.

Mary Tarango

Laura Reinhardt

Dawn Romero

Tracie Kruszeski

Mrs. Kruszeski is beginning her 9th year at GEC and has been an educator since 1999. Her career has included teaching at Gloversville Elementary School (Grades 3–5), Stillwater Middle School (Grades 7–8), Stillwater High School (Grades 9–12), and Head Start programs serving children from birth to age 5. She has taught a wide range of classes, including elementary self-contained classrooms, middle school resource classes, and high school self-contained classes.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the College of Saint Rose in Albany, NY, and is passionate about supporting students in reaching their full potential.

Married since 2014, Mrs. Kruszeski enjoys life with her two cats and loves spending time with her three nieces, three nephews, and her goddaughter. Her hobbies include couponing and bargain shopping, crafting, attending concerts, reading, and trying new recipes.

Tanya Owen

Mrs. Owen is in her 11th year at GEC, where she has served in multiple roles—including long-term substitute, Special Education paraprofessional, and, for the past seven years, ELA teacher. She has taught 7th–12th grade English and currently teaches 9th and 11th grade ELA as well as Creative Writing for grades 9–12.

Before joining the GEC team, Mrs. Owen worked for 10 years as a behavioral health clinician. Inspired by her lifelong dream of teaching, she fell in love with Leading Edge Academy’s strong character standards and family-like community. Her connection to the school is also personal—her youngest son, a 2020 GEC graduate, attended LEA from 3rd through 12th grade and credits the school for helping him discover his career path in technology.

She holds a B.A. in Social Science from the University of Arizona Global Campus and has been an active leader in student activities, sponsoring the Leadership Club, Kindness Club, Bring Change to Mind, Debate Club, NJHS, and serving as the NHS Advisor for the past three years.

Mrs. Owen has been happily married to her husband, Tim, for 35 years, and together they have raised three accomplished children. In her free time, she enjoys nature—especially cooler northern Arizona—crafting with friends, painting, and doodling.

Amy Ivy

Mrs. Ivy grew up in Virginia, and she moved to Arizona in 2017. She attended Virginia Wesleyan College (now Virginia Wesleyan University). She has worked in the education field (Sylvan Learning Center, substitute teaching, and teaching) for over nine years. She has been with Leading Edge Academy since the fall of 2019.

Donna Pond

Mrs. Pond is beginning her 8th year at GEC and brings an impressive 34 years of teaching experience. She has taught at schools across the U.S. and abroad, including Lynchburg Christian Academy, Yokohama Jogakuin in Japan, Phoenix Christian, Altadena Middle School (Kyrene), and Hamilton High School (Chandler). Over the years, she has taught a wide range of subjects, including 8th Grade Math, Algebra 1 & 2, Geometry, College Algebra, Statistics, Bible, Japanese, and English.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics Education from Liberty University and currently serves as the sponsor of GEC’s Kindness Club.

Mrs. Pond is married and has three children. In her free time, she enjoys playing music and reading books.

Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith is entering her 10th year at Leading Edge Academy. She began her journey with LEA as the 7–12 math teacher at the online campus before transitioning to the Gilbert Early College (GEC) campus, where she served as the Algebra teacher. Over the past two years, she has taken on the role of Academic Advisor at GEC and continues in that capacity while also teaching Algebra I.

Prior to joining LEA, Michelle spent 11 years teaching in both Canada and North Carolina. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Indiana Wesleyan University (Marion, IN) and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton, NB).

Michelle also serves as an assistant advisor for the National Honor Society. She is proud to be a parent of two LEA graduates, Class of 2021 and Class of 2024. Outside of school, Michelle enjoys reading, baking, and refurbishing furniture.

Nikki Foster

Mrs. Nikki Austin Foster has taught at Leading Edge Academy since 2004. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Arizona State University. She has taught elementary, middle school and high school. She enjoys reading, traveling and playing softball. She is the head coach of the Lady Spartans varsity softball team and also has coached the junior high boys basketball team. She enjoys the opportunity to teach your children and share her passion of history and the world with them!

Shelley Spurgeon

Shelley Spurgeon is in her first year at GEC, after teaching with Leading Edge Academy Online last year. She brings over 20 years of teaching experience, having taught middle and high school science in California, Oregon, and Arizona. Her career includes roles at Palm Middle School, Moreno Valley High School, and North Lake School, where she taught grades 7–12 science as the school’s only science teacher.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from the University of Oregon and the University of California, Riverside, along with four years of graduate studies in Microbiology.

Mrs. Spurgeon has two grown children and one granddaughter, and enjoys spending time with her dog, Orion, as well as cooking, sewing, and traveling.

Katie Bradley

Micah Garcia

Mr. Garcia is in his second year teaching electives at GEC, but he has been part of the Leading Edge Academy family for 11 years. His signature class, Art of Duct Tape, blends creativity, craftsmanship, and problem-solving. This gives students a fun and unique way to express themselves.

Married for 26 years, Mr. Garcia is the proud father of three boys, all of whom attended GEC. Outside the classroom, he is an avid comic book collector and a skilled duct tape artist, often creating impressive and detailed works from the versatile material.

Madison Zijicek

Now in her third year at GEC, Madison brings a deep passion for the arts and performance into her teaching, supporting students in exploring their talents across multiple disciplines. A proud alumni of GEC (Class of 2018), she continued her education at CGCC (2016–2018) and Arizona State University (2018–2021), building a strong foundation in both academic and performing arts circles.
At GEC, she teaches Performing Arts, Dance, Vocal Ensemble, and Theater Production, and proudly directs the annual school Musical—bringing together creativity, teamwork, and community in a spectacular showcase each year. Beyond her classroom and rehearsal space, she contributes as a co-lead for the Arizona State Seal of Arts Proficiency, helping expand arts recognition and opportunities across the state.
When she’s not teaching or choreographing, she’s typically spending time with her son, Jaxon, curled up with a good book, cheering on live theater, or running her competitive dance studio, Rebels Academy of Dance.

Madelin Boatright

My name is Ms. Boatright, and I’m excited to begin my first full year at GEC. I started my teaching journey by leading a forestry crew at the base of the North Cascades, and now I teach both Spanish and Environmental Science. I attended La Universidad de Salamanca in Spain and earned my degree from Northern Arizona University, where I double majored in Spanish and Environmental Science & Sustainability Studies. In addition to teaching, I host Crochet Club on Wednesdays after school, where students can earn service hours by donating to local hospitals and charities—hope to see you there!

Daisy Cruz