Annie Gilbert is a Certified Public Accountant with over 10 years working in charter school finance. Prior to rejoining Ball Charter Schools, Annie worked for the Arizona Department of Education as the Director of Innovative Learning and the Arizona Charter Schools Association as the Director of School Operation and Finance. Ms. Gilbert previously worked for Ball Charter Schools from 2002 to 2011.

Ms. Gilbert graduated with a B.S. from the State University of New York at Buffalo and began her career in public accounting for Deloitte and Touche and then Ernst and Young. Ms. Gilbert has pursued a Master’s in Education and currently serves on Governor Ducey’s Classroom First Council and has four children who have all attended Arizona charter schools.

Sr. Director of Finance and Operations

Annie Gilbert

Parker Gallope has been the Director of Student Support Services for Ball Charter Schools since July 2015. She has 20 years of experience in the area of special education. Ms. Parker has worked as Manager of Student Support Services, in various Coordinator roles in Special Education, and as a Special Education teacher for the Deer Valley Unified School District and for the Accelerated Learning Center, a North Central Accredited Charter School in Phoenix.

She is a member of the Council for Exception Children and a member of the Council of Administrators of Special Education. She has written and presented many professional development courses in the areas of special education and educational law.

Her accomplishments include: staff support and development of best practices in the field of special education, management within a comprehensive preK-12 school district, serving as legal liaison for Office of Civil Rights complaints and Arizona Department of Education due process complaints, and serving as district section 504 coordinator.

Ms. Parker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcasting, a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Special Education, and a Master of Educational Administration and Supervision all from Arizona State University.

Director of Student Support Services

Parker Galope

Connie Johnston is pleased to serve Ball Charter Schools as Governing Board Coordinator, and Central Office support, since April 2018.

Ms. Johnston graduated from Eastern Washington University with a B.A. in Secondary Education, and a B.A. in English. She moved to Arizona from Washington State to assist the Dean, University College in establishing a Liberal Arts College on Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus.

Ms. Johnston has worked for several state and local agencies: as a Personnel Officer for the Department of Energy; Assistant to the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, University of Washington; and most recently, the Dignity Health Foundation.

Connie has two adult children and two amazing Grandsons! She is a philanthropist, active in P.E.O., and enjoys socializing, gourmet meals (both eating & cooking), Mahjong, and her Book Group.

Board Coordinator

Connie Johnston

Amanda deNight has been with Ball Charter Schools since July 2016, after volunteering at Val Vista Academy for 3 years. Mrs. deNight has served as a parent representative on various committees for Ball Charter Schools and passionately continues to give back to the community. She currently has two daughters who have been attending Val Vista Academy since shortly after opening in 2012. Prior to Ball Charter Schools, she has worked and volunteered in an educational atmosphere, after graduating from Mesa High School in her junior year.

Mrs. deNight graduated honors (Summa Cum Laude) from Grand Canyon University with a B.S in Business Administration and Management with an emphasis in marketing.

Additionally, she is an ambassador for the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce, Secretary of Val Vista Academy Booster Club, and a member of Delta Mu Delta business society. Her most treasured accomplishments include being a mother to her two daughters and a wife to her high school sweetheart.

Director of Marketing and Enrollment

Amanda deNight

Hi, my name is Lauren Raymond and I am the newest member of the Student Support Services team. I am , however, not new to Ball Charter Schools or Special Education. I began in 2010 as the Special Education paraprofessional at Dobson Academy. I took a brief hiatus in 2017, and have now returned to the new Support Services Specialist position. I am so excited to once again be a part of the Ball Charter Family!

I am an Arizona native; born and raised in Prescott. I have a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University and am the mom of 2 beautiful girls. 

Support Services Specialist

Lauren Raymond