Meet the Team

Melissa Hausmann serves as the Head of School for Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oregon, bringing nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, and school leader across both traditional and virtual settings.

Throughout her career, Melissa has focused on expanding access to high-quality education through thoughtful systems, strong leadership, and student-centered design. Prior to joining VPA Oregon, she served as Executive Director for multiple statewide virtual schools in Oregon, where she strengthened academic outcomes, built mission-aligned teams, and created sustainable operational structures that supported students, educators, and families.

Melissa’s leadership is grounded in clarity, accountability, and data-informed decision-making, paired with a deep belief in the potential of every learner. Her priority at VPA Oregon is ensuring families feel supported, connected, and confident in their student’s educational experience.

Outside of her professional work, Melissa enjoys spending time outdoors with her family and their two German Shepherds, bringing a grounded and balanced approach to both life and leadership.

My name is Dee Thomas, and I am the Student Success Coach at VPrep OR, where most students know me as Ms. Dee. I bring over 20 years of experience in education, including homeschooling my four children, working in elementary, middle, and specialty behavioral schools as a Special Education Paraeducator, and I volunteer at a high school. I am passionate about supporting students and families as they navigate daily challenges and plan for their futures, and I believe every student can succeed with the right encouragement and support. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my children, traveling, knitting, reading, painting, and refurbishing furniture. I am excited to be part of the VPrep team and look forward to helping every student feel successful and accomplished.

Hi, my name is Ms. Gross. I am an Kindergarten & 1st Grade teacher at Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon. I have been teaching for over 20 years in public, private, and online learning environments. I hold a Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in cognition and instruction, and my research focuses on how K–3 educators use multicultural strategies to support English language acquisition in diverse classrooms. I am passionate about creating inclusive, student-centered learning environments that support all students. My goal as an educator is to emphasize equity, family engagement, and meaningful community partnerships. I enjoy spending time with my family. I have three grown daughters that mean the world to me. We travel, cook, and play games together. We all love animals and have lots of dogs and cats. In my quiet time, I read, play the piano, listen to music, and stay active to keep my mind and body healthy. I am truly looking forward to a joyful and rewarding school year at VPA, filled with laughter, learning and special moments with my students.

My name is Stephanie Frazier, and I teach 2nd and 3rd graders at Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon. I’m passionate about creating engaging learning experiences tailored to my students’ interests and styles. When I’m not teaching, I love crafting and traveling with my family and our two dogs. I can’t wait to start this exciting learning journey with you!

Hello, my name is Samantha Johnston and I am a 4th & 5th grade teacher at Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oregon. I have 4 years of teaching experience and hold a B.A. in Elementary Education and a Master’s in Teaching and Technology. I am passionate about building relationships and believe students learn best when they feel seen, supported, and engaged. I strive to create a classroom where every child feels confident to participate and take risks. Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, caring for my pets, and exploring the outdoors in Central Oregon. I am excited to be part of the VPA community, supporting students and meeting each learner where they are.

I am so excited to meet every student who attends my classes here at Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon! I am an enthusiastic, supportive, dedicated, and passionate teacher who strives to empower every student to succeed in my classroom and beyond. I strive to make my classes engaging, enjoyable, and memorable, all while learning and growing our big ‘ol brains together! Outside of school, I am an avid world traveler, LEGO builder, paddleboarder, and sports fanatic.

My name is Deanne Motz, and I am excited to be part of the Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon team! I am a high school English Language Arts teacher who enjoys watching students connect to literature and learn how to express their ideas through writing. I am inspired as students grow academically, socially, and emotionally. When not working I like to swim, watch sporting events, camp, and spend time with family.

Ms. Cheyenne Herlandstein (Ms. H) is proud to be a science educator at Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oregon, a certified environmental educator, a lifelong naturalist, an Edtech specialist, and 200 hour Certified Yoga Teacher. She has created and facilitated workshops for adults, teens and children alike, as well as week-long hands-on science camps. Her background experience and passions lend themselves to great comfort with the chaos of hands-on, inquiry-based, cross-curricular technology-intensive learning. Ms. H will use anything from movement to music, local ecosystems to sourdough starter, from games and simulations to at-home labs using diverse materials, to create a deliberate learning community, inspire students to make connections, and continually innovate as an educator.

Hello, my name is Joci Manriquez, and I teach middle and high school social studies. I am ecstatic to be with Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oregon and transition into online education! I understand that everyone learns in different ways, and I look forward to utilizing different tools and strategies to support my students. This is my fourth year as a licensed teacher, and prior to that, I worked in several different roles in the schools including instructional assistant, attendance mentor, substitute teacher, and athletics coach. Outside of teaching, I love spending time with my family, being outdoors (hiking, snowboarding, camping, and more!), and traveling to new places.

Hi! I’m Michele Nicoli, and I’m excited to be the Middle and High School Math Teacher at Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon. I earned my B.S. in Mathematics and M.A. in Education from the University of Puget Sound and have more than 15 years of experience in secondary math education and private tutoring. Throughout my career, I have taught a wide range of courses, from Algebra and Geometry through AP Calculus. Outside of the classroom, I’m a mom to three daughters and enjoy spending time with my family, staying active, watching sports, and continuing to learn new things myself.

My name is Kelly McGuire-Morris. As the Special Education Teacher at Virtual Prep Academy of Oregon, I’m delighted to work with students from kindergarten through high school. I look forward to meeting students and embarking in spectacular learning adventures together. My main goals as a teacher are building confidence, strengthening skills, and having fun. Some of my favorite things to do are playing tennis, going white water rafting, watching Oregon Duck sports games, and attending cycling workout classes. I look forward to learning together!

My name is Adrianne Mahalia, and I am a Special Education Teacher at VPA-OR. With more than a decade of experience serving students in grades K-12, including several years in virtual learning environments, I am dedicated to helping every student reach their full potential.

I am passionate about special education and believe that students achieve their greatest success when they feel supported, valued, and comfortable in their learning environment. I strive to create positive relationships with students and families while fostering growth, confidence, and academic achievement.

Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my son and caring for our17 animals. Together, we love exploring the outdoors and appreciating all things about nature.

My name is Randee Startin. I am the part-time school counselor for the high school. I am originally from Idaho; my late husband and I moved to Portland by way of Las Vegas 13 years ago. I attended Lewis & Clark Graduate school, earning my Masters in School Counseling in 2013. I am passionate about a lot of things, graduating high school is one of them. I’m here to help everyone get the credits they need in the time we have with them. Earning a High School diploma opens so many more doors, whether that be college, a job, or learning a trade. It all starts with a diploma and I’m here to help! In my free time, I love reading, being with friends, and playing card games with my kids. I am excited about working with VPA of Oregon because of all the possibilities there are. Each person brings infinitely more opportunities to grow and learn.

My name is Andria Kelley. I grew up in the small town of John Day, Oregon, just 13 miles from Prairie City School. I have a deep appreciation for fishing, the mountains, and reading. I’ve always connected well with children, and I’m excited to channel that connection into my work in education. I’ve truly valued my experience with Virtual Prep Academy and am excited to see our school continue to grow and reach even more students.