Stefani was born and raised in Saint Petersburg before spending part of her childhood in Lima, Peru, where she attended both American-International and British schools. Immersed in Spanish-speaking classrooms, she developed a lasting love for languages, travel, and multicultural education. She is bilingual and fluent in Spanish.
After returning to Florida, Stefani graduated from the Canterbury School of Florida in St. Petersburg and went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre, specializing in Scenic Design, from Florida International University. Her passion for working with children led her to pursue a Master of Arts in Teaching – Elementary Education from the University of South Florida, graduating summa cum laude. She holds a Florida Professional Educator Certificate in Elementary Education (K–6), with additional endorsements in Reading and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages). She is also certified in Literacy Intervention through the University of Florida and holds Florida DCF Child Care Training credentials.
Over the past ten years, Stefani has taught at the elementary level across Pinellas County’s public, charter, and private schools—including Bay Point Elementary, Sexton Elementary, and most recently, Pinellas Preparatory Academy. In addition to her classroom teaching, she has served as a team leader, a mentor for new teachers, and a coach for virtual instruction. This diverse experience provides her with a unique understanding of the local educational landscape, allowing her to support FASTB families.
These days, traveling, reading, watching movies, and enjoying musicals take a backseat, as Stefani’s world now revolves around her one-year-old son—who she can’t wait to see join the FASTB family someday! Whether she’s crafting engaging lessons or sharing her enthusiasm for Spanish, Stefani brings to FASTB a rare combination of global perspective and deep local knowledge in her role as the school’s full-time English Language Arts teacher.