Hello! I am Nicole Burbank, the founder of STEAM Studios. I am also a wife, mother of three, and educator. I have my bachelor's in Elementary Education and Master's in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University. I spent the first part of my career in public education as a teacher at two different arts academies, curriculum writer, and high school administrator.

I came to the homeschool world a year ago when my daughter started Kindergarten and have absolutely loved this lifestyle change for myself and my family. For fun I like to exercise, go to Disney, travel, play video games, and learn new skills.

Hello everyone! My name is Chantell Mendon. I’m a mother of 2 awesome kids and wife to a great husband of 16 years. I also have two fur babies, my cavapoo pups Buster and Oakley, who are big parts of my life. Some of my hobbies include, exercising, cooking, organizing, cleaning, watching baseball, and my favorite thing of all- hiking! I have been a substitute teacher for the past 3 school years. I enjoy teaching but substitute teaching has left me wanting more; I am looking forward to teaching your awesome kids, building relationships with them, and watching them learn and grow!

Chantell has her degree in mathematics.

Hello, my name is Christie Maestas. I'm a dedicated educator originally from California, now happily residing in Arizona. I have been married for seven years and have a three year old daughter. With six years of teaching experience, I've taught kindergarten for three years, fourth grade for one year, and fifth grade for two years. In addition, I hold a Master's Degree in Education. I am passionate about fostering a love for learning in my students and creating a supportive environment that encourages academic and personal growth. I'm committed to making a positive impact and inspiring young learners in their educational journeys. I look forward to the opportunity of teaching your child in this unique and amazing program!

Sharesa graduated from St. Xavier University in Chicago in 2005 with a degree in Music Education and went on to earn her Master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in 2010, completing the program with a 4.0 GPA. With over 20 years of teaching experience in a variety of settings including a traditional classroom setting as well as teaching theater and music, she is passionate about building strong relationships with her students and helping them achieve their personal and academic goals. Sharesa lives in Surprise with her husband, their dog, and two bunnies. 

Hi there ! I’m Kristina Gatewood (or Mrs. Kat) and if you can’t tell already I love Color and Art ! I’m a mom to one amazing kiddo with my husband of almost 17 years .  We live on a small grassy patch of land with a gaggle of different animals including horses, goats , chickens , two dogs , a turkey , and a small snake. 

I wanted to share my love of Art with kids and really help them grow and explore their creativity. Seeing them each week excited to start class has really been an amazing feeling ! I’m really looking forward to helping all students build confidence with their work and have fun with their art . 

Hello Steam Community! I am Renee Sargent. I teach Scholars and Scribes and Lego Robotics for Steam Studios in Surprise. I have taught for 30 years in the Peoria School District in grades 2nd-4th. I am newly retired and enjoy teaching at STEAM. Writing has always been a passion of mine, and I tell my students we all have a story to tell.   I have two adult children, two cats and a dog. In my free time my husband and I enjoy road trips, hiking, and singing.