Mr. Lievre is the current Band Director at Sierra Verde STEAM Academy in the Deer Valley Unified School District; teaching 4th through 8th grade band. Mr. Lievre provides private lessons for Trumpet across North Phoenix.

Mr. Lievre graduated from Glendale Community College in 2021 with his Associate's in Arts Degree and Ottawa University in 2023 with his bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education. Mr. Lievre has been accepted to continue his education at Boston University in order to obtain his Master's in Music Education degree. Prior to graduating, Mr. Lievre completed his student teaching in the Deer Valley Unified School District at Sunset Ridge School, under the direction of Dr. Caryn Kunz, and in the Glendale Union High School District at Moon Valley High School, under the direction of Mr. Eric Zimmerman. Lievre remains very active in the marching band scene as a former brass and visual instructor at Boulder Creek High School. Lievre is looking forward to filling a new position this fall at Mountain Ridge High School as Brass Caption Head. 

Since fall 2022, Mr. Lievre has been actively performing as a trumpet section member and working as administration for North Valley Symphony Orchestra. 

Mr. Lievre has completed performances with Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps, an ensemble competing in DCI's 'World Class' division, as well as various symphony orchestras in Arizona. 

Mr. Lievre is looking forward to his first year teaching K-8 and is excited to inspire all new and returning Viper Band Members.

Miss Bethany is so happy and excited to be teaching music at Sierra Verde! She has taught violin, viola, and voice out of her home for the past five years. Bethany studied music at BYU for her undergrad and just recently finished two masters degrees at ASU—Vocal Performance/pedagogy and also Music Learning and Teaching (with an emphasis in string pedagogy).

Miss Bethany loves singing, playing violin/viola, watching and participating in music theater, playing pickleball, being a mom to her two teenage kids, and loving on her sassy Goldendoodle, Honey.

I am so excited to be back and a part of the team as a special education teacher! I have my Bachelor's in Education, and I am now a part of the TPP program for special education! I have pursued other business endeavors over the years, but I am now ready to teach full time.   I am so excited to do so! As many of you already know, my passion is baking and cooking! If I'm not at work, you can find me in the gym or in the kitchen! I do have a wonderful husband as well as 2 fur babies we love very much! I look forward to a wonderful year with all of you Vipers!

I knew I wanted to be a teacher from the time I was a young child growing up in central Florida where I would play school with all of my stuffies in our sweltering garage all summer long. At the age of 18, I moved to Utah to attend BYU where I fell in love with studying the sociology of education. I went on to obtain a Master of Education degree at the University of Utah. The beginning of my 16 year teaching career was spent in dual-language classrooms where I loved to incorporate song, drama, movement and visual arts. Once I had my 2 children, I discovered Waldorf education, a nature-based holistic approach to schooling, where I learned to slow down a bit and rediscover the joy of learning and of teaching.

I most enjoy hiking with my children, anything to do with the mountains, doing yoga and playing board games with my kids. I am a certified conscious parenting coach and hold as my premise in parenting as well as in teaching to first accept the child as they are. I believe it is this acceptance that will allow us to truly connect with the child and help the child be and experience all they were meant to.

Hello! I am very excited to start at Sierra Verde as the School Psychology Intern. I am currently in my fifth and final year in the doctorate program at Azusa Pacific University for Clinical Psychology. I also have a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from APU. My passion is working with children and their families to ensure they are receiving the best support during these important years! I value collaborating as part of a team to figure out how we can get them that support and use their strengths to help them succeed. In my free time, I enjoy watching movies, reading, traveling, and spending time with my husband and two cats. I am so excited for this upcoming year and the chance to be a part of the Sierra Verde team!

My name is Chey Baker. I have a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Business Administration! I have a Cavachon named Butter. I am very excited to start this new career in this new field because the last couple of years I have been in Finance/Accounting. I am a first generation & I love to dance. I look forward to building new connections while being a new Viper!  

My name is Hannah Sawin and I am the speech-language pathologist at Sierra Verde for the 24/25 school year! I am transitioning into the school setting after spending the last year in outpatient pediatrics, and couldn't be more excited to be working with such an amazing team of educators. I am incredibly excited to work with the students, families, and staff here at SV, and look forward to watching the students build their confidence and skills to be effective communicators. Feel free to contact me using the information below with any questions or concerns.

About Matti Kurbatt

*Her older brother and sister both attended Sierra Verde when school originally opened! They were the first graduating classes and had Mrs. Orr, Mr. Connolly, and Mrs. Thomas as their teachers!

*Matti attended developmental preschool at Sierra Verde and continued elementary school at Greenbrier, then attended Hillcrest & Mt. Ridge

*Matti attended a 1 year internship through PROJECT SEARCH (program which provided hospitality and culinary training)

*Matti loves volleyball (was the Manager for MRHS Varsity Volleyball team)

*She also enjoys music/concerts, movies, shopping, food, animals, playing UNO & SKYJO, spending time with family and friends

*Matti loves Disneyland and HALLOWEEN

    I'm Shari Pleiter OTRL, I have been an OT for 23 years. I've worked in both Public and Residential schools, in addition to acute and post acute rehab. I'm from MA and still own a home there. I love to sing and dance though I'm not good at either, but don't be surprised if you here me coming down the hall. I never let a lack of skill keep me from doing anything:) I enjoy yoga, biking, hiking, kayaking, reading and gardening. I'm a coffee snob. I only drink Starbucks Sumatra. I'm a mother of two and grandmother of one. My son lives here in AZ and my daughter, grand daughter and new son in law live in MA. My granddaughter is just completing her Doctorate in Physical Therapy, Yeah I'm proud:)