PRINCIPAL & PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

Dr. Connie Y. Stolworthy ​(Founder & Principal) 
[email protected]

• Ed.D in Education (Walden University)
• M.A in Teaching (Grand Canyon University)
• B.S. in Elementary Education ​(Utah State University)
• 20+ years teaching elementary school
• 25+ years experience in facilitating instruction for groups of  30 - 150 children, teenagers, adults

A Message from Connie:

​Over 15 years ago I joked that I was working on my doctorate of education so that after my husband retired, I could go with him to the wilds of Idaho and be the superintendent, principal, teacher, and custodian of a one-room schoolhouse. Here is proof that the Lord has a sense of humor. My husband, retired from being a paramedic/firefighter with the City of Las Vegas, has been helping with the custodial duties of an 8 room school in the Las Vegas area--where I am superintendent, principal, and teacher.  It is not what I had thought it would be... it is something much better! 

I have been greatly concerned about the direction of education in our country. I feel that the focus needs to be more on students learning and growing in a supportive environment. Being with family is more important than homework. The focus should not be on test scores and students should not be going home with hours of homework. Kids still need to be kids! Technology is a tool that can compliment their education, but it should never be used as a replacement for the teacher.

Because of these concerns, I have worked to create JOY Academy of Southern Nevada, a private, nonprofit, faith-based school to empower students to become lifelong, self-directed learners. We start the day with prayer, then we work together doing hands-on learning as much as possible. We are as likely to be using a hammer or measuring tape as a pencil! Our students have recess. At the end of the day, they go home to be with their family or do activities that they want to do: there is no homework. Students have time to read what they want to read and spend time doing family activities. 

The Academy name of JOY is in honor of my parents: my mother's initials are J.O.Y. My parents raised a family of 10 children on my dad's teacher's salary, and he always referred to his wife as his greatest joy.
 
My husband and I have raised 6 children in Henderson, Nevada. We have 18 grandchildren.

TEACHERS

Brent Bartlett (High School)
[email protected] 
Brent Bartlett grew up on a farm in Maine. He joined the United States Navy in 1995 after high school and served 4 years, leaving due to injury. Brent earned an Associate Degree in Electromechanical Engineering and spent 12 years working in manufacturing as a technician specializing in electrical, mechanical, robotics, and automation control systems. He has been married to his wife, Sherah, since December of 1999, and has 2 children – Gracelyn and Annelise.

He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from Western Governors University in 2010 and a Master's Degree in Education Technology in 2011. Brent taught for 9 years in Clark County School District at Coronado High School. He has taught Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, College Preparatory, Topics of Modern Mathematics, Trigonometry, and Personal Finance. Brent is looking forward to individualizing students’ learning and developing a plan for life after high school.

Journee Richardson (High School Language Arts)
 [email protected]
Journee, called Ms. J by students, grew up in the small town of Ramona, near San Diego. She was active in gymnastics, dance, track, cheer, and also loved spending time with her horses.

While exploring different career paths, she began her college journey at Palomar College in nearby San Marcos.
(At first, she thought she wanted to be an archaeologist!) After completing her General Education and receiving guidance from a school counselor, she transferred to California State University San Marcos. In 2013, she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis in Literature and Writing.
In 2018, Ms. J moved to Nevada, where she enjoys life with her bonus son, Christian (12), and her boyfriend, CJ.
Outside the classroom, Ms. J had a unique adventure: she competed in off-road racing for over 10 years. She was crowned Miss Offroad Nights in 2016 and went on to win The Mint 400 in Las Vegas in 2018. She also raced in Mexico’s famous Baja 1000, 500, and 400 and more. Over thousands of miles of racing through dirt and dust, she not only learned about engines, wrenching and mechanics but also discovered resilience, determination and learned so much about herself. She retired from racing in 2022, but still enjoys supporting CJ as he competes with one of the top-level teams.

Today, Ms. J spends much of her free time at the barn with her horse, Ravyn, or at home with her cats, Rajah and Jasmine. She also loves reading and writing—and is excited to share her passion for stories, learning, and adventure with the high school students of JOY Academy.

Gwen Buckles (5th - 8th grades, Language Arts, History)
[email protected]
Gwen Buckles is originally from Northern Minnesota, but grew up mainly in Henderson, NV.  She graduated from Basic High School in 2003 with Honors, and after spending 2 years attending the University of North Dakota, decided that the frozen tundra was not for her, so she headed back to the sunny weather and finished her Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Nevada Las Vegas in December of 2007. She has been married to her husband, Randen, since September of 2009, and has 2 children - Ben and Emma.

She taught for 7.5 years in Clark County School District, mainly in Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade Science. During her time as a public school teacher, she also advised several clubs, including Student Council at Hollingsworth Elementary School in Downtown Las Vegas, and Leadership (Student Council) at Greenspun Junior High School in Henderson. In her role as Leadership Advisor at Greenspun, Gwen worked with her students and community partners at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Greenspun Media Group to create an environmental ad campaign (https://lasvegassun.com/news/2013/may/13/junior-high-students-spread-word-lake-mead-ban-two/). In May of 2015, she resigned from the school district to stay home with her two small children. After 3.5 years of being at home, her passion for education has called her back into the classroom. She loves the idea of being able to work in an environment that encourages students and families to take ownership of their education, and where the teacher is free to foster a love of learning. ​

Laureen Pelayo (5th - 8th grades, Math & Science )
[email protected]
Mrs. Pelayo is married with 3 children. Her youngest is a High School student at JOY Academy. 
She graduated with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education (Mathematics) from the University of the Philippines
Diliman, then earned her Master’s in Science in Urban and Multicultural Education from the College of Mount
Saint Vincent in Riverdale, Bronx, NY. She has certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary Education,
Mathematics (Middle School, Junior High, and Secondary) in both New York and North Carolina. She has
been a volunteer for nine years as a parish catechist, both in NY and the Philippines, and a parent volunteer
for the Special Olympics. She hopes to show her love for Math, and to ease any anxiety that it may bring to students, and, of course. She hopes to bring light and joy in learning!

Jamie Wallace (3rd/4th grades) 
[email protected]
​Jamie was born and raised among the beautiful rolling hills of Northern Georgia, in a little town called Cohutta. She began her educational journey to become a teacher at a small college not very far from her home in 1998. As it will, life interceded when she met her husband, Kyle, at church in Atlanta, GA a few years later. Together they moved to Cleveland, OH where he completed a law degree and she had their first darling baby, a little girl they still call Goose. After almost 15 years of being a SAHM (and two boys later), Jamie decided it was time to finish what she had started so many years before at Dalton State College. She was no longer content with just being a classroom volunteer; she was ready to be the teacher! 

A few years ago, Jamie graduated with a BA in Elementary Education as a summa cum laude graduate from Nevada State College. Go Scorpions! She also secured a TESL endorsement qualifying her to work effectively with ESL students in the classroom. Much to her husband's dismay, Jamie has already started researching programs to obtain a master's degree as a reading specialist. 

The Wallace family settled in Henderson, NV after a job offer brought them here from the East Coast. Jamie has 3 children and 3 dogs... yes, one for each child! She has been married to her husband for over 20 years, and is looking forward to the next chapter of her life working as a classroom teacher at JOY Academy!​

Bonny Fikri (2nd grade) 
[email protected]
​
Ms. Bonny received her Bachelors in Elementary Education 3 years ago. She has had years of experience working in the classroom. Her classroom is where chicks, quails, turkeys, frogs, etc hatch. Horses are one of her first loves, right there with her husband and 2 girls. She loves to do things with science and nature. 

Melissa Sadler (1st grade) 
[email protected]
Mrs. Sadler received her education degree from UCSD. She taught in California for a few years, even did music, before moving to Henderson, NV. Coming from California, she is experienced with the Waldorf world of being hands on. She is married and has 3 children. 

Sherah Bartlett (KINDERGARTEN)
[email protected] 
Ms. Sherah has been part of the JOY Academy family for 5+ years. When students come to her Kindergarten classroom, they don't want to leave! 
She loves things in nature, especially horses. She is the lucky teacher who gets to have Spike the turtle in her classroom. 
​
Rena Deming (Art, PE)
[email protected]
Rena Deming, aka Mrs. Deming (Art) or Coach Deming (P.E.), graduated from Weber State University with a degree in Art. Before coming to JOY Academy, she taught for 8 years: 1 year as a PE Coach for K-5 and 7 years as a 6th grade teacher at Legacy Traditional. She loves to play all sports and going camping, fishing, hiking, and swimming with her family: Jared- her wonderful husband, and their 2 kids. Her son Nathaniel recently returned from serving a church mission in South Africa and will be a college student at USU. Her daughter Miley attends Nevada State High School. They have 2 furry babies (dogs) named Ahsoka and Kylo Ren.  Mrs. Deming loves drawing and creating new things. She loves being at JOY Academy and being one of our great teachers! 

Mary Jane Wallace (Music)
Ms. Janie, has taught music for over 30 years. For 5 years, she taught general music K-4 and choir for grades 5-8 at Pinecrest Horizon Charter School. Before that, she facilitated an educational arts assembly program for 24 years, overseeing 17 musical groups in five school districts throughout Utah.
We are so lucky to have her with us at JOY.  

Aides & Volunteers
Kyra Christensen- 3rd/4th grades, office, Cooking TEAM
Brenda Brand - 5th-8th grades, Cooking TEAM
Gracelyn Bartlett - High School 

​BOARD OF DIRECTORS

​JOY Academy of Southern Nevada is led by a Board of Directors: experienced businessmen and women, an attorney, and parents with students in elementary and secondary schools. 

Board Members are all concerned with providing engaged learning for our children, grandchildren, and for the families in our community.

SECRETARY: Lara Allen
​[email protected]

• B.S. in Family Science
• 17 years teaching weekly children classes
• Office manager for home real estate business since 2005

DIRECTOR: Jim Shapiro

• Small business owner
• Practicing Real Estate Attorney
• Proud parent of 9 children
• 1 grandchild... and counting...

DIRECTOR: Tina Snedden

• Holistic health practitioner/Massage Therapist
• Single mom

JOY Academy Documents available upon request: Bylaws, Conflict of Interest, Tax forms