Jennifer grew up in Oklahoma and has called the Kansas City area home since 2015. She has been an animal lover since she can remember.  She attended Oklahoma State University after high school, where she gained a Bachelor's Degree in Zoology.  Jennifer is currently pursuing her master's degree at Pitt State University for Career and Technical Education. She began her career in the animal care industry in 2007.  She has held several different positions, including petcare technician, animal hospital receptionist, veterinary assistant/technician and animal shelter staff as humane educator. She has always been passionate about education and teaching and feels fortunate that her path led her to OATC! Her goal as a teacher is to provide students with worthwhile experience in her classroom that will help them grow as confident individuals as well as guide them on their path to a successful, exciting career.

Sara grew up in New Jersey but has always had a love of the Midwest. She attended Purdue University and received her Bachelor’s in Biology. After graduation, she decided to pursue veterinary nursing and enrolled in Purdue’s Veterinary Nursing Distance Learning Program. She worked in general practice as a vet assistant until she received her license and became a Registered Veterinary Technician. At that point, Sara transitioned to Overland Park Veterinary Emergency and Specialty where she worked primarily with the internal medicine team. In her free time, Sara enjoys reading, singing, playing piano, crafting and volunteering. She loves the outdoors and enjoys exploring all the local parks and trails with her husband and their Australian Shepherd mix, Grainger.   

Jesse grew up in Oklahoma but has called the Kansas City area home since 2011. He worked in the automotive field his whole life, starting at a racetrack when he was 13. Jesse started working as an automotive technician in a Chrysler dealership his senior year in high school. He has also worked selling parts, managing, and working as a service advisor.

Jesse earned his associates degree from Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and is currently pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Education at Pittsburg State University. He has been ASE certified since 2001.

Jesse started working at Olathe Advanced Technical Center in 2021. He also currently works for Johnson County Community College as an adjunct professor.

Jesse is married and has two children. Both are currently in high school. His hobbies include fishing along with anything else outdoors.

Chris arrived at the Olathe School District from a background in automotive sciences and education. He began his professional career at a local community college, earning an Associate's Degree in Automobile Sciences. This foundation led him to a tenure as a senior master technician at Ford Motor Company. After a successful career as a transmission and driveline specialist at Ford, Chris leveraged his expertise to open his own automotive repair shop, as well as a stint as a light wheel vehicle mechanic for the Department of Defense. Transitioning into education, Chris joined a local school district as an automotive instructor, sharing his knowledge with the next generation of professionals. While teaching, he advanced his education, earning both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Career and Technical Education (CTE) as well as a Master's degree in Educational Administration. Chris is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education.

After graduating from Olathe North High School, Dave continued his education at Pittsburg State University where he holds two degrees.  He has taught Construction Trades in the Olathe School District and the Shawnee Mission School District.  He enjoys being outside, fishing and hunting.

Erica is a graduate of Olathe South High School and the OATC Culinary program. She competed in culinary competitions during her junior and senior years, earning scholarships to attend The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where she graduated with honors with her Bachelors in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. During her time at The CIA, she had opportunities to work at Michael Chiagello's Bottega Ristorante, cook at the James Beard House in NYC, and study at the Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine in Chengdu, China for a few weeks. After graduating, Erica's journey took her to Napa, California, where she held the pivotal role as the dining room expediter at Thomas Keller's renowned establishment, The French Laundry.  After four years she made a decision to transition her career toward her true passion: teaching.

Erica earned her teaching Credential in Family and Consumer Sciences from Sacremento State University, followed by a Masters degree in Instruction and Curriculum, as well as a Masters degree in School Administration from Emporia State. Returning to her roots in Olathe, she embraced her role as an educator at Olathe West High School, teaching Baking & Pastry for four years before transitioning to her role as a Chef Instructor at OATC. Her unique blend of industry expertise and academic achievements are a testament to the possibilities and opportunities that arise when one combines dedication, hard work and a commitment to being a lifelong learner.

Philip grew up in the Kansas City area, graduating from Shawnee Mission North High School. He started working in the foodservice industry at the age of 15. After high school, he went on to receive a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas while working in restaurants and country clubs in Lawrence, Kansas. After the completion of his undergrad, he went through the culinary arts chef apprenticeship program at Johnson County Community College, and now he is working on a master’s in education. Chef Phil worked 17 years in the industry with experience in restaurants, country clubs, hotels and corporate dining. His last job before entering teaching was as the executive chef at Cerner corporation in Kansas City where he oversaw more than $2 million a year in sales from his kitchens. Chef Phil has decided to pair his two passions of education and culinary arts here in Olathe. The combination of educational and industry experience allows him to help students achieve success and direction for a post-secondary education or a career in culinary-related fields.

LeAnne grew up as a Navy brat who joined the U.S. Navy after graduating from Hueneme High School in Port Hueneme, California. She spent the next 11 years in Naval Aviation. As an Aircraft Electrician, she worked in the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, where her specialty was autopilot and automatic flight control systems. She trained all new personnel entering the shop and had the distinct honor of training the first female crew chief coordinator in the history of the Blue Angels! 

After leaving the military, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of New Orleans and started teaching high school mathematics as well as teaching math at the junior college level. She became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2006 and earned an MBA from Grand Canyon University in 2019. She taught Basic Electricity/Electronics at Remington College and Technical Math at Vatterott College. 

She has three wonderful children and three grandbabies.  

Greg has lived in the area his entire life. He found his passion in emergency services through the Boy Scouts Explorer program with a local fire department where he volunteered as a firefighter and EMT for many years. After high school, Greg was hired by the local county MED-ACT, where he became a certified Kansas paramedic from Johnson County Community College. Greg continued his studies and obtained training and certification in hazardous materials as a technician and medical specialist, confined-space patient care and rescue, and infection control officer to name a few. Greg has completed his bachelor's degree in management and human resources and his Master of Business Administration. Greg retired from MED-ACT after many years of service. He joined OATC as an instructor to help share his experience and knowledge with students to help them become successful as they consider health career paths in the pre-hospital emergency fields.

Cherie is a native of Olathe and a graduate of Olathe South High School.  After high school, she earned a degree in Medical Record Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Barry University.  While working as a Registered Nurse, she completed her Master of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University and became Board Certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner.  Over her career, she has worked in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, long-term care, homecare, and community health settings.  She loves being a nurse with her practice focus always being older adults.  She serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Nursing at Johnson County Community College.  Her goal is for students to successfully complete the Kansas Certified Nurse Aide course work and state exam.  Along with teaching, she hopes to inspire students to pursue careers in healthcare.

After graduating from Ottawa High School, Tara received her Bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in Health/PE Education.  She started her teaching career in Liberty, Missouri and joined Olathe Schools in 2000.  She received her Master's degree from the University of Kansas in Health, Sport and Exercise Science.  She started the EMS program at OATC in 2020.  After a year of working for Oracle-Cerner with Electronic Health Records, she has rejoined OATC in 2023 as a Certified Phlebotomist, EMT and former CNA.  She also works part-time at KU Med in the Energy Balance Lab as a Health Educator/Research Assistant.

Sam started his welding career learning through Mill Creek Welding Center (currently OATC), and Tulsa welding school. This is where he graduated top of his class and won multiple awards while in the program. He then moved to work in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri and ended up back in Kansas where he was born and raised, and where he is now raising a family of his own. He has 12 years of combined work experience. Including being the lead welder at a Burger and Brown Engineering, where he first realized his passion for teaching. It was only after leaving the field and earning his place in OATC that he finally felt he could be the best version of himself by teaching students who he hopes to share his passion, knowledge and skills of welding with.

His hobbies include spending time with his wife and daughter and extended family, skateboarding with friends, spending time outdoors, and eating anything with chocolate.