telephone: 602.248.3881
email: holytrinityacademy@holytrinityphx.org
Staff
We are truly blessed to have such outstanding teachers at HTA and invite and encourage you to take a few moments to visit our classrooms and get to know these special people who will be educating our young students. Our staff welcomes email and will respond in a timely manner.
Fr. James T. Paris, Dean of the Cathedral
Teachers:
Juli Pritsos, Preschool Director and Pre-K 4 Teacher, Director of Music and Fine Arts
Juli has been a successful graphic designer for over twenty years. Her art background combined with her training as a Music Together® instructor makes her the right person to impart in our students a love and appreciation for art, music, theater, and dance. A well-known and devoted member of our Holy Trinity community, Juli brings with her a number of years’ experience as a Sunday School preschool teacher and was the director of the Sunday School program for a number of years at Holy Trinity Cathedral. Juli loves working with children and seeks different ways to assist and educate her students in the loving, caring environment at Holy Trinity Academy, as well as sharing her experiences with all the families who support it.
Katina Wood, Kindergarten and 1st Grade Teacher 
Katina is a Phoenix native and long time and active member of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. She is a graduate of Arizona State University with a degree in elementary education and for four years worked as a lead teacher for a private preschool. Katina’s experience as an educator of young children has gained her a wealth of knowledge and a storehouse of fun and engaging activities for her students. An enthusiastic and caring teacher, Katina brings out the best in her students and inspires in them a love of learning.
Patricia Rock, 1st- 3rd Teacher
Pat is a master teacher with over thirty years of experience in the field. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Arizona University and graduated with a double major in elementary and special education. She holds a Master’s Degree from Arizona State University. Always striving to be the best teacher she can be, Pat has continued to take many university classes beyond her Master’s Degree. She has also had the honor of being nominated for the Deer Valley Unified School District Teacher of the Year Pride Award. With her experience and love for her students, Pat provides an atmosphere of enthusiasm, compassion, and high expectations.
Fine Arts Taught by Juli Pritsos Mrs. Juli holds a degree in Visual Communications and before teaching full-time, owned her own graphics studio, Zographos Design. Juli loves teaching all kinds of art using fun inspiring techniques that help kids remember, which in turn encourages confidence in self expression, all the while building a strong fine art appreciation. Her art background combined with her formal training in dance and as a Music Together® instructor makes her the right person to impart in our students a love and appreciation for art, music, theater, and dance. Music Taught by Sharon Daniolos Mrs. Daniolos has both a B.A. and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education. She taught in the Paradise Valley School district for 27 years until retirement. She has sung in choirs for 30 years and offers her vast musical knowledge to our aspiring Elementary singers. Mrs. Daniolos also works with all of our students in preparation of our annual Christmas Program and Spring Fine Arts Program. Greek Language Taught by Nektaria Petrou Ms. Nektaria Petrou has a BA Classics from SUNY Buffalo, a Postgraduate Diploma in Byzantine and Modern Greek from King’s College London, and an MA in Modern Greek Studies from the University of London. Her teaching qualifications include the University of Cambridge/RSA Certificate in Language Teaching to Adults and the University of Cyprus Greek Elementary Education Seminar. Nektaria taught Greek at the American University of Athens for several semesters and began teaching at Holy Trinity Greek School in 2009. She believes that teachers of young children must provide a solid base in functional Greek language (including the reading of the Greek alphabet and an introduction to basic Greek grammar) while keeping the lesson fun, upbeat, and enjoyable. In her lessons she uses many learning games, as well as music and videos. More information about her teaching philosophy can be found on www.pasayi.com Physical Education
HTA is a big advocate of physical fitness for all age, offering a once-a-week program for our students that focuses on body movement, including Greek dancing, good health, and fair play. Strings Taught by Christopher Ferman Mr. Ferman will be introducing a NEW strings program to the first through third graders. Mr. Ferman brings with him a wealth of musical background. He holds both Music and Art degrees from California State University, Dominguez. He has fifteen years of teaching experience in strings, orchestra, band and choir. He has had the pleasure to teach all levels of music from Kindergarteners to college level students. It is with great joy that he brings all of his musical talent to HTA.
Betsy Ferman, Pre-K 3 Teacher
Betsy holds her Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She later completed her Master’s Degree from Purdue University. She has taught kindergarten in the Los Angeles Unified School District, where she served as the Team Leader for seven teachers. In between teaching, Betsy has worked for Robeks Corporation in Manhattan Beach, California, as the Training and Development Manager. She also worked at Clear Creak Associates in Scottsdale, developing policies and training programs as their Human Resource Manager. For the last five years, she has been a stay-at-home mom, where she and her husband are raising three wonderful children. Betsy’s love of education and children has brought her back into the field of teaching.
1973 East Maryland Avenue
Kristen Vasilarakos
Office Manager
facebook: Holy Trinity Academy Orthodox School
Betsy Ferman
Pre-K 3 Teacher: betsyferman@holytrinityacademyphx.net
Juli Pritsos
Pre-School Director/Pre-K 4 Teacher: julipritsos@holytrinityacademyphx.net
Katina Wood
Kindergarten: katinawood@holytrinityacademyphx.net
Pat Rock
1st and 2nd Grades: patrock@holytrinityacademyphx.net
