Premier Staff

Ms. Martin began her career in education research while completing her B.A. in political science at Arizona State University. After starting her family, she spent time at home caring for her four children. During this time, Ms. Martin volunteered in her community coaching youth basketball, teaching ESL courses at an orphanage in Mexico, and directing children’s ministry programs. For the past seven years, she has served as a court appointed special advocate for foster-involved youth. As an advocate, Ms. Martin conducted multiple classroom observations that exposed the limitations of a “one-size-fits-all” educational model and the necessity of personalized education to meet the needs of unique populations.

In 2016, she started teaching in blended learning programs, and in 2019, she returned to ASU to complete her master’s degree in secondary education. Her experiences include teaching history, government, economics, speech and debate, and English as a second language. In 2020, she was named LEAD Charter’s Secondary Teacher of the Year. At Leading Edge Academy, Ms. Martin served as a teacher mentor, academic advisor, and curriculum specialist. She was also responsible for implementing the English Language program, where she oversaw the highest AZELLA growth scores in the network.

Ms. Martin enjoys consuming a good cup of coffee and a stimulating economics podcast. In her free time, you will find her hiking, traveling, and playing board games with her family.

I grew up in small-town Ohio and have been in Tucson since 1986. I have a 35 year-old daughter who is the mother of my 17 month old granddaughter and a 31 year-old son whose wife gave birth to my grandson seven months ago. I also have been blessed with two stepsons who are 30 and 26 years old respectively. Their mother and my wife and best friend of 11 years is Ana.

I have been in the business of working with youth most of my adult life. I of course have my children as well as coaching in some capacity for the past 30 years. The last 20 years, I have been coaching and teaching at the high school level. I've coached almost every sport offered, but boys' basketball has been my primary calling as a coach. Teaching teenagers has been the one profession I've always wanted. I've taught a variety of subjects, but most importantly, I've endeavored to be a mentor the students can count on. In addition to teaching, I have been a curriculum service provider, simply meaning I worked as a teacher coach. I very much enjoyed this challenge, but the personal connections with students was lacking and what I missed most.

Working at Premier Prep Online offers the best education model for students today! Students get individualized attention and help as needed. We are also able to offer in-person, classroom, and teacher instruction. Relationships and achievement are married together perfectly. PPOA checks all the boxes when it comes to differentiated student achievement.

Sarah Williams, Director of Education, began teaching elementary school in 2006 including kindergarten, fourth, and second grades at Ryan Elementary in Chandler School District while also serving in the leadership roles of grade-level chair, district curriculum specialist, social studies curriculum writer, literacy coach, and host to three student-teachers. In 2015, Sarah moved to Knox Gifted Academy, one of the top elementary schools in Arizona, to teach gifted and talented second-grade students. Concurrently, Sarah worked seven years as adjunct faculty for Northern Arizona University’s distance learning program at South Mountain Community College where she taught undergraduate courses in Early Childhood Classroom Management and Elementary Curriculum and Social Science Methods. Sarah was also involved with preparing, vetting, and placing undergraduate students in south Phoenix schools. In 2017, Sarah accepted a position at Leading Edge Academy Online to expand her knowledge of education by teaching students in a blended learning environment (online curriculum supported with in-person instruction and Resource Centers). Sarah has served in the Leading Edge administration as the dean of students, assistant principal, and finally as principal. During Sarah’s tenure as principal, Leading Edge Academy Online experienced over an 85 percent growth rate and added kindergarten through fifth grades to become a K–12 school. As principal, Sarah was also responsible for academic advising, management of the learning management system, student scheduling, and virtually managing a staff of over 20. Under her leadership, Leading Edge Academy Online offered a rigorous and robust online curriculum and an unprecedented four-year graduation rate of 95 percent, a major accomplishment for an Arizona online school.

Erik Gray, co-founder and director of operations at Premier Prep Online Academy, is a visionary leader with a profound commitment to revolutionizing education. With over 15 years of experience in the field, Erik has demonstrated exceptional expertise in both academics and athletics.

Previously serving as the network and site athletics director at LEAD Charter Schools and Leading Edge Academy, Erik's diverse background includes extensive roles such as elementary classroom teacher, middle school math teacher, physical education teacher, and coach. His versatile experience has equipped him with a deep understanding of educational dynamics at various levels.

Erik's outstanding leadership capabilities have been recognized through numerous positions at the district and school levels he held, including athletic director, assistant principal, transportation director, and marketing director. His dedication and strategic initiatives resulted in the establishment of a remarkable athletics program at Leading Edge Academy in 2008. Under his guidance, the program grew into one of the premier charter school athletics programs in Arizona, boasting the participation of hundreds of students across multiple Leading Edge Academy campuses and securing an impressive record of 25 state championships.

As a girls high school basketball coach, Erik's exceptional coaching prowess has garnered him six state championships and 13 regional titles. His unwavering commitment to student-athletes extends beyond the court, as he has successfully facilitated over 20 student-athletes in receiving offers and opportunities to pursue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level.

Erik's passion for fostering excellence in sports administration is evident through his role as a founding board member of the Canyon (Charter) Athletic Association (CAA) in Arizona. His dedication and strategic guidance have played a pivotal role in transforming the CAA from a small athletics association with less than 50 schools to a robust organization serving over 300 schools, with an annual budget exceeding $1 million.

Furthermore, Erik's commitment to the advancement of interscholastic athletics is exemplified by his position on the Arizona Interscholastic Administrators Association Board, where he served as the 2A conference representative. In this role, he served as the vital link between the AIAAA and the Arizona Interscholastic Association 2A Conference. Erik's involvement includes providing training and professional development to athletics administrators across the state, ensuring compliance with multiple athletics associations, the Department of Public Safety, and oversight entities.

As a co-founder and director of operations at Premier Prep Online Academy, Erik brings his invaluable expertise, leadership, and dedication to creating a transformative educational experience. With his visionary approach and extensive background in education and athletics, Erik aims to establish Premier Prep Online Academy as a leading institution that empowers students to excel academically while nurturing their athletic abilities, setting them on a path to success in both their academic and personal pursuits.

I am an Arizona native, born and raised. I graduated from Higley High School and attended the East Valley Institute of Technology. With my passion for fostering learning and development, I have worked with children for over 15 years, five of those being in online education. I believe in creating a positive and safe learning environment where students feel valued and empowered to succeed. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending quality time with my husband of 13 years and four children. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your child's education at Premier Prep Online Academy.