Our Team
At Holston Academy, we take pride in fostering a dynamic and engaging learning environment through our team of dedicated educators who are committed to our student-centered model of education.
Who We Are
Our team consists of passionate educational thought leaders, teachers, and staff who firmly believe that education is not a one-size-fits-all approach. We work to understand your child’s strengths, opportunities, interests, and future goals to tailor a Personalized Academic Plan that meets their individual needs. At Holston Academy, we don’t just deliver content, we focus on igniting curiosity, nurturing critical thinking, and promoting lifelong learning.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Megan O’Reilly Palevich
Executive Director
Megan O’Reilly Palevich is an award-winning visionary educational leader with nearly 30 years of experience. Her career has spanned public, private, elementary, middle and high schools; single sex and co-educational schools; along with brick and mortar and online schools. These experiences have provided Megan with a unique lens in leading educational communities, understanding the whole child and student journey, as well as personalizing the development of students and faculty. Megan is a subject matter expert in blended and online learning, personalized learning, and gifted education. She has spoken at national and international events and has been published in articles and in a book. Megan is an advocate for student-centered education models that meet the needs of all learners.
Christina Seamster, Ph.D.
Head of Schools, Stanza Education Schools
With a passion for innovative education, Dr. Christina Seamster brings extensive experience and enthusiasm to her role as Head of Schools at Stanza Education Corporation. Christina is dedicated to shaping and expanding cutting-edge, non-traditional learning opportunities tailored to the needs of today’s students. Her journey includes opening and nurturing thriving non-traditional schools, managing virtual learning environments, and leading educational technology initiatives. She has a proven track record of creating dynamic school communities that cater to diverse learning styles. With a robust background in both traditional and digital education settings, Dr. Seamster excels in fostering environments where innovative learning approaches and individual student needs are seamlessly integrated, ensuring every learner thrives in today’s ever-evolving educational landscape.
Taera Childers
VP, Education Operations
Throughout her 18-year educational career, Ms. Taera Childers has served at various leadership positions, including Principal, Superintendent, and VP of Expansion. Born and raised in California, she started her career as a substitute teacher in an independent study charter school in Palmdale, where she quickly realized working with underserved youth one-on-one was her passion. After receiving her teaching credential, she quickly moved into school administration to make a greater impact on the students in the community that she loves. Ms. Childers has a talent for building a positive culture on campuses and investing in and mentoring the team members that she serves.
Oscar Cancio
Senior Director Enrollment Management
Oscar embodies innovation and student-centered education with a remarkable fifteen-year journey across diverse educational landscapes. His impactful career spans esteemed higher education institutions, including his alma mater, Bates College, and USC, where he orchestrated transformative admissions strategies. Oscar’s dedication shines through his roles at renowned independent schools like Harvard-Westlake and Vistamar, deepening his expertise in fostering meaningful connections. Drawing from comprehensive experience in undergraduate and graduate admissions, as well as independent school admissions, he offers a distinctive vantage point in guiding families through the intricate educational landscape. Passionate about nurturing students’ passions and simplifying the admissions maze, Oscar stands ready to empower students on their educational quests, fueled by a profound understanding of their aspirations. Most recently, Oscar served as Director of Admissions for Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, CA.
Ed Zeto
Director of Partnerships
Ed comes to Holston Academy with an abundance of experience in the K-12 online education space. During his career, Ed has formed academic partnerships with more than 200 high performance sports academies, tutoring centers, performing arts schools, as well as private and independent schools, both in the US and internationally. Ed invests maximum effort to ensure that the academic partnerships he forms with these organizations are of the utmost benefit for the students, their families, and the partnering organization. Ed is passionate about learning the needs of the students, which allows him to design a multi-layered, customized support structure for the partnering organization, ensuring that every student enrolled through the Partnership program enjoys the fulfilling and impactful academic experience that they so richly deserve.
Laura Loughead
Director of Marketing and Communications
Laura is an accomplished business professional with a proven track record of driving successful marketing strategies and campaigns across diverse industries. With a dynamic career spanning more than a decade, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to innovate and lead teams to achieve strong results. During her time supporting growth initiatives for innovative education companies, she embraced the changing marketing landscape and implemented successful brand awareness and growth marketing campaigns. With communications being a second love of hers, Laura understands the importance of a well-crafted message and is always thinking about the most impactful way to share information with current and prospective families.