About Summit

Katie Blum earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Arizona State University and has dedicated the past 15 years to inspiring young artists from kindergarten through high school. Throughout her teaching career, she has fostered creativity, confidence, and a love for artistic expression in students of all ages.

Katie has a deep appreciation for nature and enjoys spending time outdoors, often finding inspiration in the beauty of the natural world. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and together they are raising three wonderful children.

Katie is passionate about helping students discover their unique artistic voices and is excited to share her enthusiasm for art, creativity, and lifelong learning with every student she teaches.

Hi! I’m Mrs. Buchholz!

I am so excited to be joining the Summit family as a science teacher this year! I believe the best learning happens when kids are curious, asking questions, exploring, and getting hands-on with the world around them. My goal is to create meaningful experiences that spark wonder, inspire discovery, and help students develop a lifelong love of learning.

I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Educational Studies and previously taught first grade. When I’m not teaching, you’ll usually find me with my husband, Andrew, and our six amazing kids. We love traveling, spending time outdoors, and making memories together as a family.

I can’t wait to explore, discover, and make incredible memories together this year!

 Elizabeth Burnside graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music and Marriage and Family studies at BYU-Idaho. She loves being able to help young minds find and develop their own talent. She believes every child has a unique talent. She loves children and loves watching them grow. 

Elizabeth is married to the man of her dreams and they have five beautiful children. Her family loves to spend time together through board games, bike rides, swimming, and anything that involves a ball. 

Elizabeth is excited to be able to teach her love of music to the kids at Summit this year, and can’t wait to get to know each child. 

Jonathan is an Arizona native who earned his Bachelor of Arts in History for Secondary Education and his Master of Education in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He is also certified in the Spalding Method, a research-based literacy program that builds strong reading, writing, and spelling skills.

Jonathan has spent many years coaching high school and club basketball throughout the Valley and currently coaches at Desert Ridge High School. His passion for mentoring students extends from the basketball court to the classroom.

After transitioning to the homeschool community in 2022, Jonathan joined Summit Learning Center, where he teaches Physical Education and Reading & Grammar Exploration at the Chandler and Cannon Beach campuses. He is passionate about creating a positive, structured learning environment where students grow academically, physically, and personally.

Jonathan and his wife, Mandy, are the proud parents of four children and recently welcomed their first grandchild.

 Anne Driscoll earned her Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Michigan State University and a Master's in Media Arts from The University of Arizona in Tucson. She is a graduate of Scottsdale Leadership. Anne spent nine years as a volunteer instructor in the Art Masters program at Redfield Elementary in Scottsdale, where her daughters were students.

Throughout a 10-year public relations career, Anne built relationships with area businesses and leaders to make Scottsdale a more connected place.

Anne has an appreciation for the natural beauty of Arizona and enjoys hiking in the McDowell Preserve and practicing yoga. She finds artistic inspiration in books, movies, music, photography, and dance. She is married to an Arizona native and together they are raising their two teenage daughters, who each pursue their own artistic pursuits in cello and ceramics.  

Anne is passionate about the arts and helping students tap in to their creative abilities by doing meaningful projects in a caring and supportive environment where their imaginations can soar. Anne loves helping students enjoy the artistic process, strengthen their creative voices, build connections, make friends, and have fun.

Leslie is a wife, mom of five amazing kids, and a homeschool veteran who's been in and out of the homeschool trenches for years. Between lesson plans, laundry piles, science experiments, and teaching life skills around the kitchen table, I've learned that education doesn't always happen from a textbook—it often happens in everyday moments.

Having homeschooled my five children on and off through the years, I've developed a passion for helping students build practical skills, confidence, and independence. I love finding creative ways to make learning meaningful, useful, and even fun.

When I'm not teaching, you can usually find me juggling family life, solving problems with coffee in hand, or wondering how the dishwasher is already full again. I'm excited to share real-world skills, plenty of encouragement, and maybe a few laughs along the way!

 ¡Hola! I am thrilled to be returning as the Spanish teacher this year! As an Arizona native and a native Spanish speaker, I am so excited to share the beauty of this language and culture with your family. My goal is to make Spanish a favorite part of your child's day! We will learn together using fun games, lively songs, and creative, hands-on crafts.

As a homeschool mom myself, I truly value the partnership between teachers and parents. When I am not teaching, I stay busy as a Jiu-Jitsu coach and gym owner. I love building confidence in kids, both on the mats and in the classroom. I look forward to working with you and your child for a fantastic school year!

Hello! My name is Brayton Pelke, though most students know me as Coach B. My background includes teaching as a swim instructor and studying flight instruction in college. I have always enjoyed working with students and helping them build confidence through learning and new experiences.

As a PE instructor, I strive to create a fun, positive environment where students can stay active, develop new skills, and grow both physically and personally. One of my favorite parts of teaching is encouraging students to challenge themselves, believe in their abilities, and celebrate their successes along the way.

 I began my teaching journey at Summit last year, and I quickly discovered how much I love working with kids and helping them grow. I have always had a passion for art and believe it is much more than just a hobby. Some of my favorite memories are from art class, where I learned to be creative, explore techniques, and express myself. I love being able to draw from lessons and projects I remember as a student and bring them into my own classroom today.
Before becoming a teacher, I graduated from the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, where I continued to develop my creativity and appreciation for the arts. One of my favorite parts of teaching is getting to know each student’s personality and watching them grow throughout the year. I’ve loved connecting with our students and their wild personalities, and I am so excited for another year of learning and creating together.

As a passionate PE Coach with a long standing involvement in volleyball, I have developed a deep love for athletics, sports, and physical education. My experience in sports has strengthened my commitment to helping students achieve their full potential both on and off the field. As a coach, I enjoy leading, motivating, and developing student performance by focusing on both physical fitness and mental resilience. I believe that success in sport comes from dedication, discipline, and a positive mindset, and I strive to inspire these qualities in every student I work with.

  ¡Hola! My name is Veronica Zayas. I was raised in Mexico and have a deep passion for sharing my culture and the Spanish language with others. I have been married for 16 years and am the proud mother of four children.

At Summit Learning, I teach Spanish and Leadership/Life Skills, where I enjoy helping students build confidence, develop practical skills, and gain a greater appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. I love creating meaningful learning experiences that encourage personal growth, connection, and curiosity.

Outside of the classroom, I enjoy camping, traveling, and cooking especially for large groups. Each year, I volunteer as the lead cook at Girls Camp, where I find great satisfaction in planning, shopping for, and preparing meals. I’m grateful for my amazing “kitchen team,” whose friendship and support make it all possible.

Sharing my heritage, serving others, and helping students learn and grow are things I truly value. I am so excited to be part of the Summit Learning family!

 Hello Summit Families! My name is Ms. Julie, and I'm thrilled to be your Reading teacher again this year! I hold a bachelor degree in English and have taught in traditional and non-traditional classrooms. I'm also a homeschooling mom of four, and believe in parent choice for educating your children. Summit Learning Center helps support homeschool families and I'm grateful to be a part of their educational team. When I’m not teaching, you can find me exploring Arizona with my kids, online shopping, and of course reading lots and lots! I can't wait for a fantastic year of learning and growing together!