Faculty

The Classical Academy's Faculty

John Brunner is The Academy’s Headmaster as well as a Core Teacher.  Mr. Brunner’s zeal for quality education, with a particular passion for reading instruction, drives his tireless efforts as the leader and visionary of The Academy as well as a core classroom instructor.  With over 15 years of teaching elementary and middle school students, Mr. Brunner shares his enthusiasm for learning with his students and their parents.  In addition to education, Mr. Brunner is active in the Collier County community as well as a member of The Naples Players theater group.  Mr. Brunner is certified by the Florida Department of Education and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Education and Behavioral Science at Western Kentucky University and his Master of Education degree in Education Leadership at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Elizabeth Thompson is one of The Academy’s Core Teachers and has been with The Academy since its first day of classes.  Ms. Thompson has been in the classroom for 15 years, 10 of which were at St. Paul's Episcopal Day School, Kansas City, teaching various grades from pre-kindergarten to 6th grade.  She exhibits a great understanding of each student and how to reach him or her.   Ms. Thompson received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in Economics at Durham University, England.

Samantha Adamczyk is The Academy’s Latin Teacher.  An honors graduate from the University of Florida, Ms. Adamczyk is a student of the classics and brings the Latin language to life for the students at The Academy.  Ms. Adamczyk began teaching as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida and has been instructing children through the Florida Virtual School.  She received her Bachelor of Art degree in Classical Studies with a minor in Art History at the University of Florida and her Masters of Art degree in Classical Philology at the University of Florida. 

Mary Lynn Fisher is The Academy’s Music Teacher and also serves as a teacher’s aide.  Ms. Fisher has been instructing children for over 30 years and has focused on music instruction for over 20 years.  Her experience includes classroom direction as well as serving as music director for children’s productions and as a private instructor. She has taught children (both in English and in Spanish) in four countries and five states of the United States.  Ms. Fisher received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education for the Normal and the Multiply-Handicapped at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and her Masters of Science degree in Child Development and Family Studies at the University of Tennessee.  She is certified by the Florida Department of Education.