Faculty & Staff

Brittany Botta

Head of School

Brittany Botta is the Head of School at UP Academy. She brings over a decade of experience as an elementary educator with a background in both childhood and special education. She has taught in New York and Tennessee and now leads UP Academy with a vision rooted in joy, inclusion, and collective care.

Brittany previously served as UP Academy’s Director of Teaching and Learning for three years, where she helped shape the school’s approach to project-based learning, differentiated instruction, and teacher development. Before that, Brittany taught UP Academy's K/1 class.

At UP Academy, Brittany is dedicated to building a school community where every child feels loved, celebrated, and empowered. She believes all students deserve access to a rich, engaging curriculum filled with authentic learning experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding. She is the author of the REBEL Project Literacy Curriculum, a framework that engages students in purposeful, interdisciplinary learning while helping them grow as readers, writers, speakers, and thinkers.

In addition to her work with students, Brittany facilitates professional learning for educators on topics such as social-emotional learning, student resilience, and project-based teaching. She also brings training as a registered yoga teacher to her approach, weaving mindfulness and character development into classroom life.

Brittany is also known for her talent in designing school environments that feel warm, welcoming, and a little bit magical. These spaces reflect her pedagogy and nurture students to feel seen, valued, and inspired.

She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Elementary and Special Education from Mount Saint Mary College, a Master’s Degree in Childhood and Special Education from Touro College, and a California Clear Teaching Credential. Outside of school, Brittany enjoys exploring nature, practicing yoga and Pilates, tackling DIY projects, and traveling with her family.

David Garcia

Educator

Grace Minlend

Educator

Hello! I'm Grace Moen, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin Platteville. At my time at UWP, I studied Elementary Education with minors in Early Childhood Development and German Language. Outside of school, I was also able to teach German, English, and Junior Achievement courses to students of many ages. As my parents would say from the many times I made them play my "students" as a kid, I have always had a love for teaching. However, it wasn't until my first year of College when I found my passion for helping students grow academically and personally. Another one of my favorite things in life is traveling, so I was able to combine my two passions during my two student teaching placements at the International School of Como in Italy and the Berlin British School in Germany. There I was able to open my mind to completely foreign curriculums and solidify my stance as an educator. Outside of school, I also love hiking, being at the beach, spending time with family, and cooking. I am so excited to be a part of the UP Academy® team and hope I can learn just as much as I teach. 

Ilana Ingber

Arts Integration Specialist

Ilana brings over 10 years of dynamic experience working with children and a unique blend of educational expertise and wellness passion to UP Academy®. She holds a Master's degree in Art & Art Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and has taught in diverse settings including private and public schools, museums, and her own yoga and art mindfulness camp on a farm in Santa Cruz, California.

As a certified yoga teacher, professionally certified life coach (through the International Coaching Federation), and a trained hypnotherapist, Ilana approaches physical education with a holistic mindset that supports students' physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Her coaching experience spans from kindergarteners to CEOs, bringing vast perspective to her work with children. She has provided professional development to educators around teaching SEL, art, and mindfulness, and has coached countless teachers and parents in creating supportive learning environments.

Ilana's innovative curricula seamlessly blend physical education with creative expression, helping students develop mindfulness practices and body awareness while discovering the joy of movement through artistic exploration. She is a natural community organizer who believes in the power of play and authentic connection, whether leading yoga retreats in Mexico or creating transformative learning experiences for children.

When she's not at school, you can findIlanataking cold plunges in the ocean, walking her dog Frankie, or hosting Pizza Club. She is excited to bring her passion for wellness, creativity, and joyful learning to the UP Academy® community.

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Irene

Educator

Irene is an elementary educator from Taiwan. She received her B.S. in elementary education and Illinois teaching credential from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Irene also holds a master’s degree in Social Sciences and Comparative Education from the University of California, Los Angeles. As an international student and third-cultural kid, Irene has spent the past year researching about the identity of third-cultural kids and how schools can better accommodate them. 

Irene aims to create a warm and welcoming classroom community where every child gets to learn and be curious. She is enthusiastic about bringing in what she has learned about third-cultural kids into the classroom, so that students can learn about themselves and about others. Irene is excited to learn about the amazing students at UP Academy®, and for the students to learn from her. 

Outside of the classroom, Irene loves spending time with friends and enjoys traveling. She loves visiting and learning about new countries and their cultures. Irene has also started playing golf in the past few years, so she likes to visit the golfing range or play a round of golf occasionally.

Hua Xie

Mandarin Educator

Hua is a dedicated educator with extensive teaching experience in Mandarin kindergartens, public and private elementary schools. Her passion for teaching is reflected in her careful research and development of early childhood intellectual development programs. She has been teaching Chinese in the United States since 2007, and has 18 years of teaching experience, providing the best teaching services to students of different ages.

In her teaching practice, she attaches great importance to the psychological and emotional growth of children. She utilizes intellectual games to engage learners of all ages and create a positive and interactive learning environment. In addition to her teaching commitment, she actively pursues personal growth and eagerly meet challenges to acquire new knowledge and skills.

Outside of the classroom, she enjoys various recreational activities, such as solving a complex Rubik's cube with 180 different shapes. She also uses her spare time to tutor various subjects such as Chinese, mathematics, Go, chess, Rubik's cube, table tennis, dance, etc. She loves her students!