Heritage Academy Pinnacle Staff

Welcome to the 25-26 school year heroes! This is my second year as principal of Heritage Academy Pinnacle and I am a proud Heritage Hero. I love our values and believe in our mission, that our scholars have the ability to impact the future of our country through exceptional citizenship and avid service, just like our forefathers.

I value collaboration with our parents and community and promise to devote myself to serving our scholars and promoting a clean, moral, and safe campus where scholars are inspired to learn.

Hello, my name is Andrea Lenhart! I have been working in education for 5 1/2 years, my education is in General Studies. I absolutely love working with the scholars and their families. I am a mother to a beautiful daughter, that is my sunshine! In my free time I love to travel, hike and the ocean is my happy place!

My name is Georgi Coto. Born and raised in Southern California, I moved to Arizona in 2017 and have loved calling it home ever since! With over nine years of experience in education administration, I am dedicated to supporting scholars, educators and families.

Outside of work, I’m a proud mom of two great kids (29 & 19) and two big, lovable girls (dogs).

In my free time I enjoy traveling, exploring the beauty of Arizona, going for walks, reading and spending quality time with friends.

I’m thrilled to be joining Heritage Academy for the 2025–2026 school year! Math has always been a true passion of mine, and I’m excited to share that enthusiasm with our scholars. I hold a Master’s in Education and a degree in Finance from Arizona State University. Over the past 18 years, I’ve taught in PVUSD with 8 years of middle school experience and 10 years at the elementary level. I also served for a year as an instructional coach.

My name is Zachary Smith. I was born and raised in Portland Oregon. I received my Bachelors in Biology in 2020 followed by my Masters in Secondary Education in 2021 from Pacific University. I moved to Surprise Arizona in 2021 and married my wife in 2024.

I have taught Jr. High Math and Science since 2021. I am passionate about fostering curiosity and critical thinking in young minds through engaging lessons and hands on activities. I have high expectations of my scholars and invite them to join me in the exploration of math and science this school year.

Outside of school, I enjoy playing soccer, hiking, biking, and camping with my wife and 2 Siberian Husky’s.

My name is Mrs. Kay Bryant. I am a native of Phoenix with no plans to move anytime soon. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and a Master’s in Education. I am currently working on my Advanced Degree in Leadership with the potential to go for my Doctorate all from Grand Canyon University. I have a variety of experience in different fields to include the medical field but teaching has my heart. Most of my teaching experience is in 6th grade ELA where I have been teaching for the last 3 years.

I love supporting students in any of their endeavors and encouraging growth academically and socially to include involvement in the classroom as well as volunteering for extracurricular activities.

I am looking forward to bringing my knowledge and experience to Heritage Academy - Pinnacle and collaborating with other teachers to creating a one of a kind learning experience for the students.

I am incredibly grateful to be part of the Heritage Family as the Special Education Teacher at Pinnacle! As a parent of a child with special needs, I truly understand the importance of communication, compassion, and cooperation between families and special education staff.

After raising my children, I began my journey in education as an instructional assistant in a self-contained special education classroom in 2013. I loved the work so much that I put myself through school to become a certified special education teacher. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in December 2019 from Northcentral University with a B.S. in Special Education and began teaching in January 2020. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with students across every grade level from kindergarten through

eighth grade.

I pride myself on organization, integrity, and open communication with families and colleagues. In my free time, I enjoy solving jigsaw puzzles and spending quality time with my two adult children, two cats, and one dog.

Hello, My name is Hannah Dodge-Zurita but you can call me Ms. Z. I was born and raised in New Hampshire and moved to Arizona in 2014 after spending several years in Texas. For more than 16 years, I’ve dedicated myself to working with children. Eight years ago, I discovered my passion for supporting children with special needs. I transitioned into the school setting in 2019 and sat for my Paraprofessional certification in 2020. I have worked with children of all ages and abilities and love nothing more than seeing a child accomplish a goal they never thought they could! I truly believe that each child is capable of greatness and I look forward to helping them discover that. I am very excited to join the Heritage family and look forward to getting to know the amazing scholars of Heritage Pinnacle. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling, especially to the ocean, gardening, camping, crafting, and spending time with my husband and our 4 rescue dogs.

Hello, my name is Karen Whitney. I am so excited to join the Heritage Academy family and become a part of the special education program at Pinnacle! I was born and raised in Glendale, Arizona. I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Applied Human Behavior. I have always felt a special connection with those with special needs and enjoyed my internship working with children with autism spectrum disorder. I want to continue making a different in the lives of children. In my free time, I enjoy golfing, doing crafts, being with friends, and traveling to see family. I am also an animal lover and have two dogs, a tortoise, and a snail.