Two Associate Deans Join Enrollment Management Team
The Office of Enrollment Management is pleased to announce that two Associate Deans have joined our team – Callie Byron and Yanitza Irizarry-Rivera.
Callie Byron will help shepherd families seeking placement in Lower and Upper School through the admissions process in her role as Associate Dean. She brings extensive experience in education to her role at MVA, having served as a Director of Admissions at the Woodlawn School near Charlotte, North Carolina, where she helped build the new school’s Admissions Office from the ground up. She also served at Cape Henry Collegiate School in Virginia Beach, Virginia as a Director of Student Activities and Community Service, and at the Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina as its Director of Theatre Arts.
“I was drawn to Montverde Academy because it is beautifully balanced,” said Callie. “While the stellar academics are forefront, the school’s commitment to character development, as well as the depth of the arts and athletic programs, allows a student to develop as a responsible, thoughtful, and contributing member of society. Who wouldn’t want to be part of this community?!”
Callie earned her bachelor’s degree from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, and pursued her Master of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Purdue University Global. Originally from Maine, she is passionate about the theatre and has worked as a professional mime; she also enjoys practicing yoga (which she is certified to teach), singing in the shower, and power sleeping. She and her son, Lou, currently lives in St. Petersburg and plan to relocate to Montverde in the coming months.
Join us in welcoming Callie to the Enrollment Management team.
After faithfully serving Montverde Academy for the past ten years, Yanitza Irizarry-Rivera will transition from Office Coordinator, where she has overseen our complex student visa process, to the role of Associate Dean, commencing later this summer. Yani has been an integral part of our Enrollment Management team, and in her new capacity, she will also work with existing Lower School families and all prospective Middle School families, in navigating the enrollment processes.
“What I enjoy the most about working in Enrollment Management is the opportunity to work with families from around the world,” said Yani. “I like helping families. It’s especially rewarding when they see how easy the process is for them when I help them in Spanish, if that’s their first language. When I receive a phone call from Saudi Arabia asking for my help because they only speak Spanish, that’s just amazing. I feel blessed for been here and for the opportunity that God has given me, as my days very dynamic and interesting. I can’t wait to start my new chapter as an Associate Dean to give the families all the knowledge, time and dedication each of them needs during the application process. My goal is to see their children enrolled and happy to celebrate all their accomplishments during the school year.”
Yani earned her bachelor’s degree in Office System Management and Technology in Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Originally from Villalba, Puerto Rico, she and Victor, her husband and former MVA teacher and coach, and Jan Lester, her son, live in Groveland. Her family is active in church, where she participates as a leader in different ministries. Yani and her family are avid baseball fans who enjoy everything about the sport, which has given so much to her family.
Congratulations to Yani! We are excited to have her involved in this new capacity on the Enrollment Management team.
