Meet our team
Meet Our Administrators
Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) leadership is committed to empowering our school community and providing students with high-quality learning experiences.
Amy Tregaskes | Principal
Amy Tregaskes, Principal at AZVA, started her career as a High School math teacher. She has taught adult education for several years at the local community college. She has worked in online education since 2008. This is her 29th year in education. She has a bachelor’s degree from NAU in Mathematics and a master’s from Grand Canyon University in Teacher Leadership. She is passionate about helping students discover what they love and helping them develop the skills to do it. She believes education is to help students become productive, kind citizens. In her spare time, she is teaching herself the violin and recently taken up the Ukulele. She loves gardening and preserving food. She loves to discover her family’s history and trace her roots around the globe. She is from south eastern Arizona. She is a self-proclaimed “Potterhead” and reads the entire series at least once a year! Reading is a passion. She believes success in life is a mindset that begins with small, consistent daily habits that have the power to change the world! Even mistakes can help us improve and be better people. If we learn from them, all things will conspire for our good! She has hope in our youth and feels it is an honor to help them along their own personal educational journey!
Alysha Tinsley | K-2 Elementary Assistant Principal
Alysha joined the AZVA team as a highly qualified teacher in July 2007, at that time she taught all grades K-8. After a few years she went grade level specific and has been teaching 1st grade ever since. She was a lead teacher and taught 1st and 2nd grades prior to coming to AZVA. Alysha graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. In addition, she has her SEI and Early Childhood Endorsements. She was honored to receive the Teacher of the Year award here at AZVA during the 16-17 school year. Alysha has been part of the K-5 leadership team for several years and is transitioned into the Lead Master Teacher role in 2020 and the Assistant Principal role in 2021. She believes working as team with the student, parent, and teacher is key.
Haley Tiss | Middle School Principal
Haley joined the AZVA team as a highly qualified ELA teacher in July 2017. She quickly became the Language Arts Department Lead and from there moved on to a Lead Master Teacher role. Haley graduated from California State University San Bernardino with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. In addition she has her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Design and is highly qualified to teach middle school ELA. Haley gracefully transitioned into the Assistant Principal role in 2020 and the Principal role in Spring of 2022. She strives to support teachers to meet their students individual needs.
Shonti Land | AZVA High School Assistant Principal
Father, son, brother, husband, and teacher are the best titles to describe me. My name is Shonti Land and I have been a dedicated educator for 20 years, holding positions from teacher to administrator. I married my high school sweetheart and we have been together for 30 years. I have two wonderful children. I graduated from Northern Arizona University with degrees in education and education leadership. I played football in college and coached Yuma Catholic to a state basketball championship. I believe in the following: “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today” Malcolm X
Amy Hart | AZVA Middle School Assistant Principal
Amy has been with Stride, K12 since 2016. She started as an eighth grade math teacher at ISAZ, then became a Lead Master Teacher with AZVA. Amy has a husband and two children and resides in Scottsdale, Arizona. Amy graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2005 with her Bachelors in Elementary Education, and then in 2007 with her Masters in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Reading. Amy is currently obtaining her doctorate degree at Capella University in Educational Leadership and Management, and is looking forward to applying her skills and experience into the schools at Stride.
Dr. Erica Young-Jackson | Career Readiness Education Administrator
Erica joined ISAZ in 2018 as business career readiness teacher after working various roles in K-12 education. After being a part of the Stride Career Prep program for three years, Erica became the Career Readiness Education Administrator at ISAZ in 2021, while obtaining her Doctorate from Northcentral University in Educational Leadership.
Erica has cultivated educational partnerships for our students with Grand Canyon University, Rio Salado Community College, Pima Community College, and several industry partnerships. Erica’s educational experiences have afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of educators to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement and providing an environment where students will benefit from quality instruction, hands-on training, industry certifications, and college credit.
Fun Fact: Erica and her family own several businesses which support her passion for every student to explore the possibility of entrepreneurship.
