Administration
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Rachelle Gardner
Chief Operating Officer
One of the school’s founders, Rachelle Gardner began her career as an addictions counselor, and is now chief operating officer of Hope Academy. She previously served as director of adolescent services at Fairbanks Recovery Center and as the board chair for the Association of Recovery Schools. Rachelle holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Indiana University, and a master’s degree in organizational management. She is also a licensed clinical addiction counselor in Indiana. With over 20 years of experience in the field, she is passionate about helping adolescents affected by drug and alcohol abuse and addiction.
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Linda Gagyi
Principal
Linda Gagyi grew up in the Chicago area, attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in education. She earned a master’s degree in education and an administrator’s license from Indiana Wesleyan University. Linda has been an educator for over 30 years, having served as a math, science and technology teacher as well as a building-level administrator. Linda and her husband have two sons, Steven and Christopher, and one grandson.
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Jane Panyard
Director of Operations
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Mariann Williams
Director of Development
Mariann has been in fundraising since 1990 and loves the mission of Hope Academy. Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, she earned a bachelor of science degree from the University of Michigan and later received the CFRE designation (Certified Fund Raising Executive). She and her husband live in Carmel and they have two adult sons and a daughter-in-law-to-be.
School Staff
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Joe Dodridge
Mathematics Teacher
Joe Dodridge grew up in Ohio and attended the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky for college. He earned his master’s degree from Ball State University and is certified to teach both math and music. Joe has experience teaching in private and public schools, in rural and urban areas, as well as at the university level. He’s taught algebra I and II, geometry, probability and statistics, precalculus, discrete math and eighth grade math, as well as band, orchestra, general music, music history and appreciation, and music theory. He and his wife Sara have two children, and he enjoys writing short travel books and Christian devotionals in his free time.
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Jane Drascic
Art Instructor/STARR facilitator
Jane Drascic teaches art classes full-time, and also facilitates the needs of students in our STARR program. She graduated from John Herron School of Art and Design with a bachelor of fine arts, and also earned a master’s degree from Purdue University in the studio arts. She is married with four daughters.
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Jordan Mills
Social Studies Teacher
Originally from Evansville, Jordan Mills moved to Indianapolis in 2008 to teach at Hope Academy. An avid board gamer who attends Gen Con every year, Jordan enjoys finding social deduction and bluffing games to bring back to school for the students to play. Additionally, he enjoys collecting antiques – many of which are on display in his classroom – and running half marathons.
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Deb Leser
Guidance Counselor
Mrs. Leser’s goal is to ensure that all students are Career and College ready before graduation. She helps students determine what classes they need in order to keep students on track for graduation. She coordinates special education services and is a member of the new student interview team. Mrs. Leser provides help with FAFSA, college and scholarship applications, and assists students in meet testing and submission deadlines. She coordinates all the state required testing.
Mrs. Leser earned a Bachelor of Science in Science Education with her teacher certification in Chemistry and Biology at Ball State University. She has a Masters degree from Butler University’s CACREP Accredited School Counseling Program, an Administrator’s Certification from IUPUI and an ED.S. from Indiana University. In addition, she recently completed an Associates Degree in Cybersecurity at Ivy Tech Community College.
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Bill Jensen
English Teacher
Bill Jensen grew up in Ohio and Wisconsin graduating from Lawrence University in Appleton WI with a BA in English. He earned his MA in Education and his administrator’s license from Indiana Wesleyan University. Bill has been an educator for 40 years having both served in the classroom and as a building level administrator. His career began in Wisconsin and moved to a private international school in Tokyo, Japan, then to Los Angeles Unified, to Indianapolis Public Schools and now to Hope Academy. He considers the opportunity to serve young people on the road to recovery a very rewarding experience. Bill and his wife have three children.
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Georgia Wynne
Recovery Coach
Georgia Wynne graduated from Hope Academy in 2011 and joined the Hope Academy staff as recovery coach in 2018. She is passionate about advocating for anyone that is on the journey of recovery, and considers it a privilege to guide young adults on the path of healing their mind, body, and spirit. She enjoys reading, exercise, coffee, scuba diving, and hanging out with her cats, Prudence and Peach.
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Sarah Platt
Peer Recovery Specialist
Sarah Platt is a former student of Hope Academy and a current freshman at IUPUI studying Psychology. She graduated Hope in the spring of 2019 and joined the Hope team the fall of 2019. She enjoys getting to know students and assisting them on their high school journey. She has a love for art, fashion, and traveling.
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Renee Carberry
Special Education Teacher
Renee Pieroni Carberry retired, after 42 years, from full –time employment in education in June of 2018. She has a master’s degree in special education. Renee has provided support to teachers in developing strategies for student success in the classroom while also monitoring IEP compliance. She has been married for 49 years and has 2 sons and 2 grandchildren.
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Alex Shaffer
Peer Specialist - Guiding Paths to Success
Alex Shaffer is a person in recovery. He grew up in Carmel, Indiana and went to Carmel High School. He got his undergraduate degree from Indiana University Bloomington in May of 2019. He is am currently halfway through his Masters Degree in Social Work degree at IUPUI. He has a large family, with 4 siblings and over 100 people in his extended family. He enjoys exercising, watching sports with his dad and brothers, and playing with his dog.