Our Staff at Gately Academy
An important component to ensuring the success of each student is to have a faculty who fully understands the developmental characteristics and unique learning needs of middle-school students. It is also important to develop and implement a curriculum that addresses the unique needs of individual students. Gately Academy is fortunate to have a professional, creative, knowledgeable and caring staff.
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David Ball is the director of Providence Youth Services. He has extensive experience and background in all aspects of middle school education. He has taught elementary and middle school students as a Title I Reading/Mathematics specialist, as well as middle school language arts/social science. Additionally, he has served as a middle school activities director and as an elementary school assistant principal. Mr. Ball completed the prestigious two-year Leadership Training Program at the California Schools Leadership Academy. He joined Gately Academy in Dec. 2003. When Mr. Ball is not at work he loves to travel and often spends time at his home on the Oregon coast.
Allan Coyle currently teaches math, music, and fitness, but has previously also taught science, drama and challenge. Mr. Coyle has been in education since 1997 when he started teaching fitness and computer science at Clackamas Community College. He most recently worked in special education for the Lake Oswego School District. Mr. Coyle has coached baseball, basketball and soccer. He enjoys spending time outdoors, and especially enjoys fishing with fellow educators.
Susan Decker is the academy's administrative assistant and general "go to" person for staff, parents and students alike. When she is not at school, Mrs. Decker enjoys singing, spending time with her family, running marathons and reading.
Abby Houston received her M.A. in Art Therapy and Counseling from Marylhurst University and composed her thesis on using Art Therapy interventions with school age children with ADD/ADHD. She has a rich history of working with middle school students to help them see their creativity as an asset in the classroom and in the community. In January 2009 Mrs. Houston received her Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Registered Art Therapist License (ATR) credentials. When not teaching, Mrs. Houston enjoys playing and coaching soccer, going to the movies with her husband, creating art, garage sale shopping and rearranging furniture.
Craig Lowery has been in education for nearly a decade, several years of which were spent in the Peace Corps teaching English in the distant Pacific island archipelago of Kiribati. Mr. Lowery completed his M.S. in school and clinical counseling at Portland State University and works as both a teacher and counselor here at Gately. He is an avid reader, enjoys all the sports that the Pacific Northwest has to offer (including snowboarding and hiking), and can often be found toting his children around on weekend adventures.
Megan Nealis has been a teacher at Gately for nine years. Her focus and love is in Language Arts and Literature, and she recently completed the Reading Specialist certification at Portland State. Ms. Nealis enjoys reading (which she has the opportunity to do when she's standing up and chasing a toddler), portrait photography, urban agriculture, culinary experiments, bumper stickers that say "Speak your mind even if your voice shakes," and spending quality time with her family.
John Pank is the Assistant Director of PYS. Mr. Pank teaches Social Thinking Class and is clinically educated and focused. He is the administrator of Providence Youth Services’ Adolescent and Family Clinic. He has the longest tenure of all the staff, having been at Gately since it began in 1986. He has a remarkable reputation for working collaboratively with teachers, students and parents. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and helps students gain self-confidence in their ability to be successful in interpersonal issues. Mr. Pank enjoys time with his family and hosts Asian exchange students.
Desi Pritchard graduated from Concordia University with a BS and M Ed in 1998. Since then she has taught in public and private venues, including owning and being the head teacher of the biggest martial arts school in Oregon. She has personal experience with raising an ADHD child and comes to Gately with both a parental and professional perspective. She has traveled extensively and loves animals, particularly her dogs and cats.
Markelle Sams is Gately’s lead teacher. She has been teaching science and math for fifteen years, the last ten of those have been at Gately. Ms. Sams taught high school biology and anatomy in New York and Idaho before returning to her roots in NE Portland. She studied cellular biology at the University of Oregon and loves sharing the mystery and the logic of science with the curious, developing minds of middle-schoolers. She has recently completed her master’s degree in special education. Ms. Sams enjoys spending time with her three children, gardening, hiking, and cross-country skiing.
Matt Walker teaches Social Studies and Fitness. Mr. Walker, who hails from White Salmon, WA, completed his Masters in Special Education in 2005. Prior to becoming a teacher he worked in several different fields, including athletic event planning, health telecommunications, and social services. When not teaching, Mr. Walker enjoys reading, cycling, and spending as much time as he can with his wife, Kay, and two young daughters.