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Meet the Explore Summer Camp Instructors
Our instructors are the best of the best. They are caring, supportive, concerned about the welfare of all students, knowledgeable about their subject matter, work extremely well with parents, and are genuinely excited about the work that they do in UWF’s Explore Summer Camps.
The safety of your child is our number one priority, and we take pride in our outstanding reputation in providing a very safe and enjoyable experience for your child. Our staff is full of energy and driven to provide motivating curriculum choices for you and your child. Everyone in the Explore Summer Program staff has a thorough background check at the time of their assignment.
Meet Our Instructors
Instructor bios are listed below in alphabetical order by last name.
Danette Albino
Summer Program: Jr. Art Rageous: The Art of Upcycling! & Art Rageous: The Art of Upcycling!
Danette Marie is a recent graduate of the University of West Florida, in which she majored in Art Education and minored in Exceptional Student Education. She spent the past fall student teaching in Sicily, Italy and the past summer interning at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida. She is looking forward to teaching art this summer in a fun and enriching environment.
Summer Program: Marine Explorers & Science Olympiads
Frank Beckwith has been involved with Science Olympiad at the Regional and State level in North Carolina and now Florida since 1993. He also coaches BEST Robotics in the design and building of robots for competition. He is a wildlife enthusiast and fisherman. He has taught Middle and High School Science for 19 years. He currently teaches at Avalon Middle School and is excited for his second year on the Explore Summer Camps team!
Julia Berry
Summer Program: Investigation & Imagination
Julia Berry has been teaching for 28 years. During the 2007-2008 school year, she was recognized as the Teacher of the Year for her school and one of the top five finalists for Escambia County. As the gifted coordinator and teacher of K-5th grade gifted students, she initiated and wrote the proposal to start the gifted program on the west side of town. Berry has her Masters in Gifted Education and a B.A. in Communicative Disorders. She teaches UWF Gifted Endorsement courses to help classroom teachers get their Gifted Certification. Her passion is teaching her students and colleagues how to think creatively.
Kristin Beverly
Summer Program: My Summer Passport around the World (Grades 1-3)
Kristin Beverly has a life-long love of different cultures stemming from a childhood of experiences in Austria, Costa Rica and Paraguay. She earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Elementary Education from Wheaton College and taught bilingual 4th grade as well as 6th grade Social Studies and Language Arts. Kristin also developed and taught summer programs for children preparing to live overseas. In addition, she developed and taught a year-long geography class to lower elementary home schooled students in North Carolina. She also collaborated to develop and teach a year-long geography/current events class to home schooled students in Pensacola, FL. Most recently Kristin has been sharing her love of our world and the people who live in it as an instructor with The Global Corner.
Cindy Bradley
Summer Program: Jr. Mad Scientist (Grades 1-3) & Math Madness
Cindy Bradley has lived in Pensacola her whole life and graduated from UWF. She has been teaching for 9 years in Escambia County. She is certified to teach grades 1-6 and Gifted Education. She taught fifth grade at Longleaf Elementary for 4 years and for 1 year at A.K. Suter Elementary. For the past 4 years, she has taught third grade at A.K. Suter Elementary School. This year, she is teaching a Gifted Cluster class made up of 12 gifted learners and 5 high achieving students. She is always looking for ways to incorporate more hands-on, high interest activities in her classroom. She loves teaching Science and encouraging her students to get excited about learning.
Summer Program: Marine Science
Trudy Comerford, 29 years old, was raised in Pensacola and then attended the University of Florida in Gainesville. There she received her undergraduate and graduate level degrees in elementary education. She is a wife, mother, and teacher-- currently working as a sixth year kindergarten teacher and serving as math leader at Ferry Pass Elementary School.
Kris Danford
Summer Program: Broadway Bound: A Musical Comedy Production (Grades 1-6)
Kris Danford is the head of the Musical Theatre program at UWF. Previously based out of New York City, Kris is a classically trained actor, singer and teacher. She earned her Master's degree in Acting from the FSU/Asolo Conservatory for Actor training in Sarasota, FL. She also holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the State University of New York at Fredonia in Fredonia, NY. In addition to maintaining her acting and teaching careers, she is also a voice, speech and dialect coach, most recently having served as assistant dialect coach on The Devil's Disciple at The Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, FL. Kris' performance credits include four seasons at The Asolo Repertory Theatre, The American Theatre of Actors (New York, NY) The Peterborough Players (Peterborough, NH) and several seasonal contracts throughout the regions. Favorite roles include Hermione in The Winter's Tale and Cathy in The Last Five Years (Asolo Rep.)
Summer Program: Invention Convention
Jill Dudley is the Librarian at Hellen Caro Elementary School. She has 23 years of teaching experience. Mrs. Dudley is currently the Treasurer of the Escambia County Librarian’s Association and Scholarship Chairperson for the Florida Association for Media in Education. She was awarded Hellen Caro’s Teacher of the Year in 2002. She enjoys reading, traveling and gardening.
Summer Program: Art Studio & Photoshop for Photographers
Winston Foster has been teaching for 7 years. Prior to teaching, he spent 15 years working as a Graphic Designer in the private industry. He is currently the Art Teacher at Woodham Middle School where he also serves as the advisor for the Yearbook and Art Club. In 2007 and 2008, he worked as an Instructor with the University of West Florida Explore Summer Programs teaching Cartoon Camp. Winston is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a BA in Studio Art and a M. Ed in Curriculum and Instruction. He is also a recipient of the Woodham Middle School Teacher of the Year Award.
Summer Program: Elementary Robotics, Mythbusters & Jr. Tech Kids
Ryan Graber is currently a 3rd grade teacher at Montclair Elementary School. He spent the past 2 years teaching K-2 at Brentwood Elementary School. Ryan worked for Explore Summer Camps for a few years, and is excited to be part of the Explore family again.
Summer Program: Explorations in Space & Space: The Final Frontier
Pam Hicks has taught science for over 30 years in Escambia County schools. Her specialties are chemistry and physical science. In addition to teaching middle and high school science, Pam has conducted numerous teacher-training workshops in Northwest Florida. She has bachelor's degrees in education and biology. She earned her master's degree in education from the University of West Florida. In addition to holding Florida certifications in general science 5-9 and chemistry 6-12, Pam is nationally board certified in early adolescent science. Currently, she teaches 9th and 11th grade science at Booker T. Washington High School in Pensacola Florida.
Summer Program: Environmental Investigators & Resource Rangers
Chasidy Fisher Hobbs has been an Instructor in the Department of Environmental Studies since 2005. Prior to earning a MS in Environmental Science and joining the department she worked as an environmental consultant and was also Executive Director of a non-profit dedicated to educating the public about the importance of protecting local waterways and drinking water. Ms. Hobbs spent several summers during her college career working at a variety of environmental summer camps. She worked with the Environmental Studies faculty to develop the Environmental Investigators summer camp lesson plans and environmental professions throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties to develop the Resource Rangers camp lessons.
Summer Program: Ancient Egypt: Land of the Lost
Jennifer Langford is a graduate from the University of West Florida in Elementary Education. She is a teacher at Warrington Elementary School, and has been for 9 years. Her father is retired from the Navy so she has had the opportunity to live in many difference places. Jennifer has a 6 year old daughter and two dogs. Her favorite subjects are Reading and Social Studies. She is very excited to be a part of the EXPLORE Summer Camp this year.
Summer Program: Pensacola's History and Archaeology Camp (Grade 4-6) & (Grade 7-9)
Sheyna Marcey graduated from the University of West Florida with a BA in Telecommunication and Film; she has been with West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. (WFHPI) for eight years. Sheyna has worked as a museum interpreter, Living History Coordinator and is currently a Museum Educator. She is responsible for the managing of daily operations and part-time staff and may be seen regularly conducting tours and interpretive talks. Historic Pensacola Village annually welcomes thousands of students of all grades levels. Sheyna has been a part of History and Archaeology Camp for many years in her role as Museum Educator. Sheyna is a certified Interpreter with the National Association of Interpretation and her passions are European History and travel. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of Pensacola history with visitors and looks forward to leading History and Archaeology Camp as co-director this year.
Jennifer Messer
Summer Program: Digging up Bones, 1, 2, 3 Blast off! & Operation Overboard!
My name is Jennifer Messer. I teach Kindergarten at McArthur Elementary School. I have been teaching for 12 years. One of my favorite subjects is Science. I am interested in learning about different teaching methods as well as finding new ways to make learning fun.
Penny Moore
Summer Program: Marine Science
Penny Moore has been teaching middle school science for 8 years at Avalon Middle School. She was recognized by the faculty as their 2008 Teacher of the Year. Penny has been active in various aspects of the school's growth. She has co-sponsored Science Olympiad, acted as the BEST sponsor, has served on the school advisory council, discipline committee, safety committee, Literacy Leadership team, and was an integral part of the planning of the school's career day. She believes that getting students excited about science is crucial to the future and encourages all of her students to do the best they can, always!
Mary "Bea" Nash
Summer Program: Marine Science (Visual Arts)
Bea has been an art teacher for over 25 years. She is currently an Art Instructor with Escambia Schools. With a double major in Art and Elementary Education, she brings knowledge and imaginative art projects for all ages. Bea has been the lead art instructor at Marine Science Camp for 5 years. Growing up on the shores of South Carolina, her love for the beach is evident.
Roy Oberto
Summer Program: Explore Arcadia Mill (Grades 4-6)
Roy Oberto has been the Museum Education Coordinator at Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site since October of 2010. Roy graduated with his MA in Public History from the University of West Florida. During his time as a graduate student, Roy worked on many projects in Pensacola and throughout the country. For his capstone project, Roy traveled to Philadelphia to work with the National Park Service and designed an educational classroom on the Liberty Bell. As Museum Educator, Roy oversees the interpretative and education materials for the museum. He is also responsible for organizing school tours, training tour guides, and expanding the school-tour curriculum.
Summer Program: Mad Scientist (4th-6th)
Summer Program: Animal Adventures & Tech Kids
Lucy Poole is currently a kindergarten teacher at Beulah Elementary. She has taught in Escambia County for 13 years in Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st Grade. Lucy is a wife and mother of 2 girls. She loves to spend time reading and traveling to watch her girls compete in rodeos.
Summer Program: Marine Science & No Bones About It
Karen Potter is a graduate from the University of West Florida. She has been teaching 13 years in Escambia County. She is certified to teach grades 1-6 and Reading K-12. She taught first grade at Navy Point Elementary for 3 years. For the past 10 years, she has taught at Pine Meadow Elementary, teaching five years in fourth grade and five years in fifth grade. She is always looking for ways to make learning fun while incorporating hands on activities. This is her first year working with the summer camp. She is excited and looking forward to sharing her love of learning.
Summer Program: Jr. Forensic Science & Forensic Science
Mindy Resmondo is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career in 2005, as a full-time substitute and has been teaching fourth grade in the Escambia County School District since 2009. She has currently returned to the University of West Florida as a graduate student and is in enrolled in their Educational Leadership Master’s Program. Mindy is a lifelong resident of Pensacola and enjoys spending time with her son, going to the beach, and running.
Adrianne Sams
Summer Program: Explore Arcadia Mill (Grades 4-6)
Adrianne Sams is the Site Manager at Arcadia Mill Archaeological Site in Milton, Florida. She graduated from Murray State University with a Bachelor's degree in Geo-Archaeology and is currently completing her Master's degree in Historical Archaeology at the University of West Florida. Before joining the staff of West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. (WFHPI), Adrianne worked with UWF's Archaeology Institute as well as the UWF Anthropology Department. She has conducted extensive historical and archaeological research on Arcadia Mill, which also serves as the topic of her Master's thesis.
Carl Shouppe
Summer Program: Secondary Robotics (Grades 7-10), Mysteries of the Medical Examiner & Crime Scene Investigation
Carl Shouppe is a graduate of the University of West Florida's Department of Professional Studies with a Bachelor's in Middle Level Education. He is a third year teacher and currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Science. This past year, Mr. Shouppe guided Woodham Middle School's Robotics team to a 2nd place overall finish in the BEST Robotics competition at UWF. Mr. Shouppe also sponsors an after-school 4-H Program called Tech-Wizards. In this club students explore technology with a variety of hands-on activities. Mr. Shouppe is a Co-Program Director of Spanish Trail Scout Reservation, a Boy Scout Summer Camp in Defuniak Springs, Florida. In his free time, Mr. Shouppe enjoys Ultimate Frisbee and Frisbee Golf.
Summer Program: Marine Science
Emily is a graduate student at the University of West Florida in the Biology department. She graduated from Carthage College in southern WI with a degree in Biology and since then has worked with animals from deer to sea turtles. Her research at the University of West Florida will be studying bamboo sharks and Atlantic stingrays. She is a teaching assistant at the university and is excited to keep on teaching and learning this summer!
Summer Program: Marine Science
Felicia graduated from the University of West Florida in May 2011 with her Bachelor of Arts degree. She majored in Political Science and minored in Public Administration. While Attending College, she worked at Creative School Age Child Care. After graduating, she worked at Warrington Middle School for the 2011-2012 school year. She is currently working with the Escambia County School District at the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center. I love the great outdoors and teaching children how to enjoy and respect the environment.
Carrie Young
Summer Program: Explore Hogwarts: Year 1, Explore Hogwarts: Year 2 & Marine Science
Carrie Young has taught in Escambia County for 8 years and has currently received her M. Ed. Ed. in Reading from UWF. Carrie teaches 5th grade at Warrington Elementary and is looking forward to teaching all about the mysteries of Hogwarts as well as Marine Science camp this year. Carrie resides in Pensacola with her husband and spoiled Doberman pinscher.