High School Workshops
David Benitez
My name is David Benitez, and I am currently in my fourth year as an English teacher at Elk Grove Charter School. I also teach Independent Study, Advocacy, and Leadership. I obtained my bachelor's degree in English from UC Davis in 2020. Subsequently, I furthered my education at UC Davis to obtain my teaching credential and Master's Degree in Education. When I am not teaching, I enjoy running and spending time with my loved ones, as well as exploring various coffee shops and restaurants.
Josh Burt
Art has always been a part of my life. I took ceramics and photography classes when I was in High School. I attended Paso Robles High School and later Mendocino High School. I was very active in the ceramics community in Mendocino. I attended College of the Redwoods in Fort Bragg, CA and Eureka, CA, where I received my AA degree. I then transferred to Sacramento State to earn my degree in studio art. I worked as a studio potter through college and many years beyond, throwing pottery for Cloud's Porcelain in Folsom, and showing my own work in local galleries. I earned my teaching credential through San Francisco State in single subject art and started teaching at EG Charter in 2008. I have taught art, 12th grade ISP at EG Charter for 19 years at this point. In the "before times" I taught General Art, Digital art, Photography, and Computer Technology. I now do my best to teach art through a computer screen, while not ideal, it is unavoidable at this time. I also have 2 Kids, 7th and 10th grade.
Tristan Church
I'm Tristan Church, a History/Social Science teacher at Elk Grove Charter. I teach 7th-11th grades and have been at Elk Grove Charter for 4 years now. When I'm not in the classroom, I'm reading, gardening, cooking, or playing video games.
Alli Conway
Alli Conway is in her 10th year of teaching Mathematics and her 7th year teaching at Elk Grove Charter. She attended Sacramento State and National University earning her single subject teaching credential with a Master’s Degree in Math Education. She was inspired by all the wonderful math teachers she had to teach math and inspire other kids to enjoy math as much as she did. When she is not teaching you can find her baking/cooking or spending time with her husband and farm animals.
Carlo Giordano
Carlo Giordano
Spanish/Advocacy & ISP Teacher
916-7140-1653 x 51033
My name is Carlo Giordano, and this is my first year at EGCA. I earned my BA from UC Santa Cruz in Language Studies and a Master's from Grand Canyon University in Education. I previously taught Spanish at Elk Grove High School for 27 years. I'm teaching Spanish 1, 2, 3, and ISP this year. I bring a lot of energy to the classroom, so be ready! I love to ride my gravel bike along the Amercian River bike trail, travel, and be with family. My wife and I are lucky to have two wonderful children. They are both attending Cal Poly, SLO this fall. My daughter is a senior majoring in Environmental Engineering, while my son is a freshman majoring in Civil Engineering.
Timothy Moore
2026-2027 is the start of my 8th year as a HS math teacher, all of them at Elk Grove Charter Academy. I have always liked (and borderline loved) numbers and I hope to infect some of that love with students. The graphics, formulas, tables, and raw numbers are so interesting & describe so much. I specifically enjoy statistics and functions, but, it's not exclusive.
I have a family of 5, with 3 children, two girls and a boy. My wife Natasha, is also an educator & teaches at Florin High. My twin daughters graduated from Elk Grove High School in 2024. They are both in their 3rd year at college, 1 at Consumnes River and the other at UC Santa Barbara. My son Seamus is 11 years old, and doing his thing in sixth grade. My main hobbies are lifting weights and going on holiday. If you mix the two, then you have the perfect weekend. Seriously, I really do like visiting gyms in different cities. I've figured I have visited something in the ballpark of 150 different gyms. I also like to visit art museums, especially impressionist exhibits. I am a sucker for late 1800 Impressionist paintings. Monet & Sisley are probably my favorite. It may sound cliche, but Sunday Afternoon (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte housed in the Art institute of Chicago) by Seurat or Nympheas (housed in Le Musee de I'Orangerie) by Monet are my favorite.
I have a family of 5, with 3 children, two girls and a boy. My wife Natasha, is also an educator & teaches at Florin High. My twin daughters graduated from Elk Grove High School in 2024. They are both in their 3rd year at college, 1 at Consumnes River and the other at UC Santa Barbara. My son Seamus is 11 years old, and doing his thing in sixth grade. My main hobbies are lifting weights and going on holiday. If you mix the two, then you have the perfect weekend. Seriously, I really do like visiting gyms in different cities. I've figured I have visited something in the ballpark of 150 different gyms. I also like to visit art museums, especially impressionist exhibits. I am a sucker for late 1800 Impressionist paintings. Monet & Sisley are probably my favorite. It may sound cliche, but Sunday Afternoon (A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte housed in the Art institute of Chicago) by Seurat or Nympheas (housed in Le Musee de I'Orangerie) by Monet are my favorite.
Erik Prussel
Erik Prussel
Science/ISP Teacher
916- 714-1653 x 51032
Science/ISP Teacher
916- 714-1653 x 51032
eprussel@egusd.net
This ‘26 - ‘27 school year will be my 33rd year teaching and my first year teaching at Elk Grove Charter. This year I will be teaching 7th - 12th grades. My wife of 32 years and I have four children ages 28, 25, 23 and 14 as well as two grandkids ages 16 months and 8 months and one more grandkid on the way.
Melissa Wade
Melissa Wade
Advocacy/ISP Teacher
916-714-1653 x 51020
Advocacy/ISP Teacher
916-714-1653 x 51020
I have been working in education for 18 years, and I truly enjoy helping students learn, grow, and feel successful at school. I teach 9th-12th grade and I am starting my 13th year at Elk Grove Charter Academy. I am married and have three adult children, two daughters and one son. I have a fur baby too, a golden retriever named Goose!
When I’m not at school, I stay busy working a fun weekend job at a small local business and supporting my husband, who is a high school football coach. I also enjoy being involved as a member of the football booster club, and playing trivia at local places in Elk Grove.
One of my favorite things about working at Elk Grove Charter Academy is the small-school setting. It gives me the opportunity to really get to know my students, build meaningful connections, and create a supportive learning environment where every student can feel valued and successful.
