Staff
Rita Klenk: Principal
Graduate of State University of New York at Cortland with a BS in Math Education K-9. She earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education. Her current State of Florida certifications include: Educational Leadership, Elementary Education 1-6, Math Education 6-12, ESOL endorsement, and Middle grades endorsement. She has been in the field of Education for over 30 years, with eight years experience in Palm Beach County and has been a member of the Epiphany staff since 1995.
Julie Ishler: Kindergarten Teacher
Graduate of St. Leo University with a BA in Elementary Education. She earned a Masters degree in Elementary Education at Florida A & M University. She is a State of Florida certified teacher in Elementary Education, 1-6 and Primary Education, K-3. She has been a member of the Epiphany staff since 2000.
Mikala Edenfield: First Grade Teacher
Graduate of Florida Gateway College with her Associate of Arts degree focusing on Elementary Education. She is a graduate of Saint Leo University with a BA in Elementary Education. She is a state of Florida certified teacher in Elementary Education K-6 with her Reading and ESOL endorsements. She recently just became a member of the Epiphany staff again in 2020.
Amy Baughman: Second Grade Teacher
Graduate of Lock Haven University with a BS in English. She earned a Masters in Education/Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. and currently has a State of Florida Professional Certificate in Elementary Education, K-6. She has previously taught in Pennsylvania as well as Summers Elementary School and she has been a member of the Epiphany staff since 2016.
Renee Kostenko-Hrichena: Third Grade Teacher
Graduate of Minot State University with a BS in Education. Her current State of Florida certifications include Elementary Education, 1-6 and Primary Education, K-3. She has previously taught in Mayo, FL and has been a member of the Epiphany staff since 1993.
Carol Lou Lester: Fourth Grade Teacher
Graduate of Gulf Coast State College with an AA in Elementary Education. She went on to earn a BA in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from the University of West Florida. She is State of Florida certified teacher in Elementary Education, 1-6. She has been a member of the Epiphany staff since 2014.
Barbara Zydek-Florez: Fifth Grade Teacher; Grades 1-5 French
Graduate of Florida Gateway College with an AA degree. She graduated with honors and earned a Bachelor's degree in Education from St. Leo University. She is Florida certified in Elementary Education, K-6 and French K-12.
Mark Wilson: 5th-8th Grade Social Studies
Mr. Wilson returns as a state-certified teacher in Social Science and History. Mr. Wilson is a graduate of Brevard Junior College and University of Central Florida with a B.A. from UCF and further graduate coursework in Education. He taught at Epiphany for 17 years, an returns after a 2-year "retirement hiatus" to teach Social Studies for 6th-8th grades. He has a total of 25 years experience as a classroom teacher, as well as 16 years of experience in the field of social work with the State of Florida. Mr. Wilson also enjoys being a weekend musician.
Lisa Stewart: Middle School Language Arts
Lisa Stewart earned her Bachelors of Art (Sociology) at Louisiana State University. Later, she earned a Masters of Education in Multicultural Education and a teaching certificate from Ottawa University. (Phoenix) She has 21 years of teaching experience in Arizona schools grades 4,5 and 8. Holds a Florida Certificate in K-6 and 5-9 Elementary and Middle School Language Arts.
Saradhia Voltaire: Middle School Science and Math Teacher, MS Honors Algebra I
in Exceptional Student Education at Carlos Albizu University. She also earned an Educational
Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership at Nova University. Her current State of Florida
certifications include: Educational Leadership, Math Education 5-9, Middle School Science,
Exceptional Student Education K- 12. She has been in the field of Education for over 15 years,
with thirteen years experience in Dade and Broward County Public School System. Prior to
joining the Epiphany family she was a member of Annunciation Catholic School in the Diocese of Miami since 2016.
Sr. Philomina Chaneparambil: K-8th Grade Religion Teacher
Graduate of Trinity College with a BA in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Theology. Sr. Philomina has been a Carmelite Sister for the past 31 years. She has been a part of the Epiphany staff since 2001.
Dr. Cynthia Higgins: K-5 Library/Media, K-8 Art
Graduate of West Virginia University with a BS in Agriculture and a Masters degree in Agriculture Education. She earned a Doctorate degree in Agriculture Education and Communication with an emphasis in Leadership. Dr. Higgins has comes to us from the UF IFAS program, where she has worked for the past 32 years. She has joined our Epiphany staff in 2018.
Tonia Edenfield: Office Manager
Ms. Edenfield worked in the Hospitality Management Industry for Mississippi Management Company for 27 years. She was the Administrative Assistant to the Clerk of Courts in Columbia County for three and a half years before becoming a part of the Epiphany staff in 2006.