Kindergarten
Michelle Parkes
Hello, my name is Michelle Parkes, and I love teaching kindergarten at Vassiliadis. As a native of Las Vegas, I attended CCSD schools and graduated from Bonanza High School. I attended Southern Utah University for my undergraduate degree and have earned Master’s degrees from Grand Canyon University and UNLV. During the past 26 years, I have taught kindergarten, first, and second grade, but my heart belongs in kindergarten. I love the joy, wonder and enthusiasm that kindergartners have as they discover the world around them.
When I am not at school, I love spending time with my family. My awesome husband and I have three fantastic kids. My son, Mason, lives in North Carolina with his family- my daughter-in-law and their two beautiful daughters. My oldest daughter, Madeline, lives in Ogden, UT, and my youngest daughter, Lily, attends BYU-Idaho. My favorite activities are reading, running, and visiting my grandbabies.
I feel honored to be part of the community here at Vassiliadis, and I am looking forward to another wonderful year. I love helping children meet the challenges of learning new things and achieving new goals. “We can do hard things!” is the motto in our class, and each day we realize just what wonderful things we can do.
Email: parkemr1@nv.ccsd.net
Theresa Naecker
Hello! My name is Theresa Naecker (pronounced 'Necker') and I am honored to be a part of the Kindergarten team at VES! I am originally from Maryland, graduated from Elon University in North Carolina, but am most recently from Colorado. I have taught Kindergarten, First, and Second grades for the past ten years and find joy in teaching little ones the foundational skills needed to be successful in school and beyond. I also enjoy creating a learning environment that is safe and joyful, where students are encouraged to explore, take risks, make friends, and achieve learning goals that are just right for them.
In my free time I enjoy yoga, kayaking, hiking throughout the southwest, and learning new things. Some of my favorites include cupcakes, the color green, labrador retrievers, the fall season, and silly jokes.
I am so excited to begin our year of learning, discovery, and FUN! It's going to be an amazing year!
Email: naecktl@nv.ccsd.net
Audra Ford
Hello! My name is Audra Ford. I am so fortunate to be a part of the Vassiliadis Family. During my 19 years with CCSD I have taught kindergarten, first and second grades. I have loved all three but there is something so special about kindergarten. I am a native of Las Vegas and attended CCSD schools from elementary through high school and graduated from Bonanza High School. I attended Utah Tech University, formally Dixie State and then returned to Las Vegas to finish at UNLV where I received my bachelors and masters degrees.
In my free time, I love to have fun with my family. I have two beautiful children, Tyler is 6 and attending first grade at Vassiliadis this year and my angel daughter, Ava who would be 4 is watching over us from above. Also, I enjoy attending concerts, trying new restaurants, and sneaking in the occasional spa day!
I have always wanted to be a teacher because of my amazing and kind teachers.They made me feel important and always provided a fun and engaging classroom. My goal is to create a safe, warm and fun environment for my classroom children. Together we will grow, learn new things and achieve our goals. Vassiliadis is a special place, I'm so happy you’re here, too!
GO CUBS!
Email: fordar1@nv.ccsd.net
Stephanie Koons
Hi! My name is Stephanie Koons and I am thrilled to be teaching another fabulous year of kindergarten at Vassiliadis Elementary School. I have been a teacher in the Clark County School District for 21 years. I have taught first, second, and third grade and have been in kindergarten for the last 11 years. Kindergarten is where my heart is; it is so much fun to teach! The littles ones are eager to learn and able to absorb so much information during their first year of “big kid” school. It’s absolutely amazing to see the academic and social growth they make in one short year!
I have lived in Las Vegas for the past 30 years. I attended CCSD elementary and middle schools and went to Bishop Gorman for high school. I graduated from UNLV in 2003 with my undergraduate degree and in 2007 with my Master’s Degree in education.
When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have a wonderful husband, two children at middle school, and 2 little yorkies that are SO cute. During time off, my family and I enjoy going up to the family cabin or taking the boat out on the lake. We love being outdoors!
I feel very lucky to be teaching kindergarten at this amazing school! I look forward to having another great year at Vassiliadis.
Email: lannisl@nv.ccsd.net
Amy Willey
Hello! My name is Amy Willey, and I am thrilled to be teaching kindergarten again this year at Vassiliadis Elementary School. I feel so lucky to have been a part of the VES Cub Family since the school’s opening, as there is truly no other school environment quite as spectacular!
As a Las Vegas native, I developed my passion for education within CCSD schools. After graduating Cum Laude from UNLV I began my teaching career as a third-grade teacher. However, my true love, and the majority of my career, has been spent teaching kindergarten! I look forward to coming to school each day and helping spark the flame that is your child’s passion for learning. I love seeing excitement in the eyes of my students as they enter their first year of elementary school and explore different ways of learning within my classroom. I find pure joy in providing my students the opportunity to learn in a setting that is structured yet, hands-on, fun, silly and full of love!
When not at school, I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband Julian and I have two sons, Jace and Austin, who keep us very busy. We love watching our boys grow and play together. There is nothing better than the sweet laughter they share! Some of my favorite activities include family story time each night, walks around our neighborhood/to the park, trips to Target, hosting meals or BBQs for family and friends, and watching VGK hockey games!
I am looking forward to another exciting year at Vassiliadis! GO CUBS!
Email: teifeas@nv.ccsd.net
Tara Leppert
Hello! My name is Tara Leppert, and I am proud to be a part of the Vassiliadis team—Go Cubs! A lifelong Las Vegas resident, I am a product of CCSD schools, and it was the inspiration of my own teachers that led me to pursue a career in education. I graduated from Valley High School and earned my teaching degree from UNLV.
I have been an educator in CCSD for 26 years, teaching first grade for 17 years before finding my true passion in Kindergarten, where I have spent the past 9 years. Kindergarten holds a special place in my heart, and I truly enjoy watching young learners grow socially, emotionally, and academically during such an important year of growth.
As a parent myself, I understand how important it is to feel confident and connected to your child’s teacher. I believe in open communication and partnering with families to support each child’s success. You can expect regular updates, clear expectations, and a welcoming environment where your child is known, valued, and celebrated.
Outside of the classroom, I am a proud mom to two wonderful sons. Logan, 24, is an aspiring jet pilot, and Deaven, 19, enjoys animals and playing guitar. Our family also includes two dogs and a desert tortoise!
In my free time, I love superhero movies, science fiction, and comedies, as well as attending concerts and live shows. I’m also a big fan of Vegas sports and enjoy visits to Disneyland whenever I can. I also have a special love for children’s literature—some of my favorite authors include Robert Munsch, David Shannon, and Shel Silverstein, with The Giving Tree being my all-time favorite.
In our classroom, students are encouraged to be kind, respectful, and responsible. We focus on building strong relationships, practicing good manners, and learning how to take care of ourselves, others, and our environment. I believe in setting high yet attainable expectations and helping every child develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning.
It is truly an honor and a privilege to be part of your child’s educational journey, and I look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growth together!
Email: leppetl@nv.ccsd.net
Lindsay Anton
Hello Cub Families! My name is Lindsay Anton, and I am so excited to teach Kindergarten at Vassiliadis. I am originally from California, however, Las Vegas has been home for the past 15 years. I graduated with my degree in psychology in 2012, and I recently completed my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. Throughout my career, I have taught kindergarten, second grade, and third grade. I have also had the opportunity to serve as a literacy specialist where I provided professional support to teachers, and intervention to struggling readers. Through my years of teaching I have found a special love for kindergarten, it is simply the best!
When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my kids. I have two daughters, ages 18 and 15. Some of our favorite things to do include going to Disneyland, going to the movies, playing board games, or visiting the beach. I also enjoy getting lost in a good book while enjoying a nice cup of coffee or taking a shopping trip to Target.
I am so honored to embark on this journey, and I am looking forward to a wonderful year. My goal is to create a safe, loving, and fun environment where students can develop a lifelong love of learning. I look forward to partnering with you to make this the best year yet!
Email: antonlr@nv.ccsd.net
Alexis Wayne
Hello! My name is Alexis Wayne, and I am so excited to be a part of the Kindergarten team at Vassiliadis Elementary School. I was born and raised in Michigan, where I attended Michigan State University and earned my bachelor’s degree in Child Development with a minor in Elementary Education. After graduating, I moved to Las Vegas and began my teaching career in 2007 with CCSD. In 2011, I earned my Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from UNLV. I have taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade. Teaching Kindergarten holds a special place in my heart.
I believe that children learn best through a balance of explicit instruction and structured play within a safe, supportive, and caring environment. I focus on creating a caring community within my classroom and encourage students to develop a love of learning, be curious, and persevere.
Outside of the classroom, I love spending time with my family, practicing yoga, and traveling. I have been married to my husband, Brandon, since 2014, and we have two wonderful children, Juliana and Luke.
I am excited to have an amazing year with a wonderful group of students and families!