Staff Biographies

Dr. Kayleen Marble has been an educator for almost 30 years. Her experience spans traditional district, charter, and virtual schools across 6 states. As an administrator, she has had the opportunity to start 3 schools and work in school improvement and transformation. As a mother of 6 and a grandmother to 8, Dr. Marble is a strong advocate for parent choice in education – her own children have attended a variety of schools depending on their individual needs. Dr. Marble has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, a second Master’s degree in Adult Education and Distance Learning, and a Doctorate in Teacher Leader in Digital Transformation. She is the Superintendent of Academy with Community Partners in Mesa, Virtual Preparatory Academy of Arizona, and is an adjunct professor for Teacher Leadership courses.

Carla Mannes, LMSW joined Academy with Community Partners in August 2024. She has a Bachelor and master’s in social work. Prior to joining ACP, Carla has built a career coaching and counseling teenagers and their families. Carla has a strong mental health background and is licensed by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health. She is passionate about her work with teenagers and building stronger families. Carla has four grown children and eight grandchildren.

Coach C.J. Freas has been enriching Arizona kids’ lives through sports for the last 20 years, From the YMCA to multiple high schools along his journey to the ACP family. Through his vision of school, family, sports and hope, he is helping kids prepare for their next step in life. As a husband, and father of 3, the next great calling in this world is “coach”. He has been coaching the kids at ACP for the last 3 years with great success on and off the court. He was a 2022 Coach of the Year candidate, and 1 of his players earned Student Athlete of the Year with the CAA Vinny Award for Student Sportsmanship.

Kristina Norris is the Student Success Coordinator for ACP’s online program. She has been educating and supporting families navigate educational options within her community and online education in several states for two decades. Her experience home educating her four children and teaching online provides with unique empathy to the needs of the families she supports. Since her start at ACP in the Fall of 2022, she has affectionally become known as the “School Mom” by many of her students. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Betty Guzman joined Academy with Community Partners High School July of 2013 as the Office Manager and has been managing the front office since then. She provides families with all the information needed to enroll their student and to be a part of ACP. Previously, Betty worked at a different charter high school for 3 years as an Administrative Assistant. Originally from Los Angeles, CA she moved to Phoenix, AZ as a child. Betty has 2 beautiful kids with her husband and is living life to the fullest.