The San Tan Alumni Who Work at the School Include the Athletic Director, the Athletic Director Assistant, the Community Outreach and Special Event Director, and a Montessori Teacher

 

When teachers and other staff members are hired to work at a school, they often need at least a couple of weeks to learn their way around campus.

 

This was not the case for six current teachers and staff members at San Tan Charter School in Gilbert. When they were hired, they immediately felt like they were right at home, in a very familiar environment.

 

As Rita Sippel, CCO and Assistant Superintendent for San Tan Charter School noted, the school currently has six alumni who are working as teachers, directors, assistants and in maintenance.

 

“We have an amazing group of former students and graduates who have decided to return to our school as members of our incredible staff,” Rita said.

 

“We are thrilled that so many of our former students had such positive experiences here and they were inspired to give back to the San Tan community.”

 

Kristofer Sippel Jr. is one of the six San Tan alumni who now work at the school. Kristofer is in his third year working as the District Athletic and Facilities Director.

 

Kristofer, who attended San Tan from kindergarten through twelfth grade and graduated in 2020, said he was inspired to work at the school as a way of giving back to a place that gave him so much over the years.

 

“San Tan provided a family environment that allowed me to grow into the person I was meant to be. I can now instill that in the students today to be confident in who they are,” Kristofer said.

 

“I take a lot of pride in making this place the best it can be.”

Athletic Director Assistant Gavin Spinks works with Kristofer in the school’s athletic department. Spinks, who has been on staff for almost a year, attended San Tan his senior year and graduated in 2018.

 

As Spinks noted, he decided to return to San Tan because the school “never really stopped feeling like home.”

 

“The people here made my experience as a student so positive, and I wanted to be part of that again, this time from the other side. It’s cool to now be able to help create that same environment for the next group of students,” Spinks said.

 

For Kylie Sippel, her employment at San Tan began when she was still a student. Kylie attended high school at San Tan and graduated in 2020.

 

“Throughout high school, I worked during the summers, supporting the summer camp program and assisting wherever needed,” Kylie said, adding that since June of 2023, she has served as the school’s Community Outreach and Special Events Director. 

 

“I always loved the small school environment. It was amazing to know everyone and for everyone to know me. All of the teachers provided such a loving, warm, and welcoming environment, that I wanted to be able to give back to the San Tan community and help with whatever was needed.”

 

Madison Wilson attended San Tan Charter School for 14 years, graduating in 2020. As an employee, Wilson has worn a number of hats over the years, working as a lead in summer camp and after-care and as a preschool assistant.

 

After Wilson earned her bachelor's degree and Lower Elementary Montessori teaching certification two years ago, she knew she had to continue working at the school which has been such a huge part of her life.

 

“I now have the privilege of teaching first through third grade in our Montessori program,” Wilson said.

 

“My time as a student gave me more than an education, It gave me a foundation of belonging, encouragement, and confidence. Those experiences shaped the way I now connect with my students and inspire me to create the same safe and supportive environment that I was so fortunate to have growing up.”

 

Another San Tan alum who is now working in the Montessori program is Sadie Oswald. She attended the school for two and a half years, graduated in 2021, and was hired three years ago, currently working as a Montessori Assistant in the preschool while student teaching in the Lower Elementary Montessori classrooms in preparation to become a teacher next year.

 

“What brought me back to San Tan was the strong sense of family and community,” Oswald said.

 

“When I transferred from a large public high school, I had never truly experienced that feeling of belonging. I often felt like just another student being moved along in the system. At San Tan, however, I felt genuinely seen, valued and supported by the faculty, teachers and even my peers.”

 

Rounding out the group of six San Tan alumni-turned-employees is Presley Berhost, who has worked at the school for almost three years as a Maintenance Technician.

 

Berhost, who attended San Tan for 10 years before graduating in 2021, said he began learning the skills needed for his job when he was in middle school.

 

“In the seventh grade I used to be a Teacher’s Assistant for the former maintenance guy in exchange for an elective. I ended up being his TA all the way up until tenth grade when he left,” Berhost said.

 

“He taught me a lot of skills and really showed me how the school operated. So, when I was returning for a job at San Tan, it was very helpful to know all these skills and have a familiarity with what I'd be doing and how I’d be doing it.”

 

As for whether the six alumni let on that they used to attend the same school as their students, it definitely varies among the group.

 

As Kristofer noted, while his students know he used to be a San Tan student and get a kick out of it, it did require an adjustment period during his first year in the Athletic Department.

 

“But now it’s great to connect and relate with the students on a different level,” he said.

 

For Spinks, a few students have noticed his photo in the school’s trophy case and have asked him about it.

 

“I don’t really bring it up myself, but when they do ask, it’s cool to share a little about my time here and how it led me to play in college. Mostly, I just hope it shows them that hard work can take you places, even from a small school like San Tan,” Spinks said.

 

Wilson said her students always enjoy hearing about her time at San Tan.

 

“It often makes them feel more connected, knowing their teacher once sat in the same classrooms,” she said.

 

“Recently, my former fifth grade teacher’s class visited us to see projects my students had created, and it was such a full-circle moment to watch them present with so much pride.”

 

Rita said she is touched that so many former students have decided to call San Tan their work home.

 

“We are honored that they all decided to join our staff, and they all do an outstanding job in their roles at San Tan. It’s truly a pleasure to work with each of them.”