Our Middle School Team

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

Alisha Gripp
​Dean of Middle School

Alisha joined the CWCKC team as the founding Middle School Principal after serving as an Associate Principal in the Shawnee Mission School District.  Prior to that, Alisha was an Assistant Principal at William Chrisman High School in Independence, MO.  She entered the education profession in 2003 as an English teacher and coach at Raytown South High School.  Alisha earned her B.S. in English Education from Northwest Missouri State University and her M.S. and Ed.S. in Administration from the University of Central Missouri. ​

Emily Bodfish
Learning Fellowship Coordinator

Ms. Bodfish joins our founding faculty as the Learning Fellowship Coordinator.  She has a Bachelors degree in Mathematics and Secondary Education and a Masters of Science in Mental Health Counseling.  Her diverse background of teaching experiences includes work at an Expeditionary Learning school in Northern Colorado, a trauma-sensitive school in the Denver area, and a high school on the Hopi Reservation in AZ.  She is moving from Colorado with her two children so that she can become a Citizens of the World family!  She is drawn to Citizens because of our mission to help students learn how to become well-rounded learners in an ever-changing and diverse world.  She believes this school model makes time for students to learn who they are as individuals and how to successfully and comfortably grow and work together.

FACULTY

Sixth Grade Teachers

Becky Brents

Ms. Brents joins the middle school’s founding faculty as our Math teacher.  She holds Bachelor’s degrees in Sociology and Criminal Justice from MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, KS.  She also received her teaching certificate through Avila University.  Before coming to Citizens, she taught in both the Gardner Edgerton and Shawnee Mission School Districts as a middle school math teacher.  She also spent time in South Korea teaching English.  She is excited to join our team because she understands the value of real-world experiences within the math classroom.  Citizens of the World offers a unique opportunity to partner with the community and experience the diversity and rich history that the Kansas City area has to offer our students. ​

Abbigail Hix

Bio Coming Soon!

Joel Nkusi Rwabera

Mr. Nkusi joins our founding faculty as our Courses teacher.  He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Global University in Springfield, MO and a Master’s in Education from Relay Graduate School of Education in New York City.  Prior to joining our team, Joel taught 6th grade English & Language Arts in a New York City public school and 7th grade History in a New York charter school.  He was born in Rwanda and lived in five different countries before moving to the United States.  French is his first language.  Joel says he was drawn to the mission of Citizens of the World because of our commitment to diversity, and because middle school students are at such a unique time in their development and he wants to support their growing awareness of the world they live in.

Levi Wright

Mr. Wright joins the founding faculty through the Kansas City Teacher Residency and will serve as our Communications Lab (English/Language Arts) teacher.  He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Iowa.  Before coming to Citizens, Levi worked for a newspaper in Iowa and served in the US Army.  ​​

Student Services

Ever Fierro

Bio Coming Soon!

After-School Staff

Rhonda Raglon

Bio Coming Soon!
Get to know the the rest of our school community: