Welcome to the 8th Grade ASK Academy Page
We are excited to work with your scholars during their 8th-grade academic year. This year is all about preparation for High School, not only academically but also in helping them develop other skills needed to succeed. Our scholars will soon be choosing their pathway and deciding whether Engineering or Biomedical Sciences is where their passion lies. It is our goal to be certain they choose with confidence and excitement.
We look forward to working with our 8th-grade scholars and their families.
Meet Catherine Noble
My name is Catherine Noble and this year I am teaching PLTW Automation and Robotics. To introduce myself, I have been with The ASK Academy for 5 school years teaching a variety of different subjects. While my degree is in ELA, my passion is Robotics! As a middle schooler, I competed globally with RoboRAVE International, placing 3rd in the world. After this life changing experience, I became a board member for the company from 2015-2020. In my spare time, I enjoy watching sports, working out and cooking!
I am so excited to be working with your scholars throughout this year! Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns at [email protected].
Meet Bonnie Smith
Hello and welcome to The Ask Academy23-24 school year! My name is Bonnie Smith. I was born and raised in Albuquerque and am a graduate of UNM. I have two kids, my son is 21 years old and is going to college at the University of Kentucky. My daughter is 19 years old and going to college at the University of New Mexico. We have our dog, Duke, and 3 cats. I love to travel, hike, ski, go to the mountains, and do yoga. This is my 9th year teaching at The Ask Academy. This year I am happy to be teaching 8th grade Art.
Meet Samantha Vollmar
I am the ELA project manager for the 8th grade. I am very excited to start my fourth year at The ASK Academy and my eleventh year of teaching. I am lucky to have three young children, who I love dearly. In my free time, I love to read, hike, and travel.
Meet Steven Cole
Hello. I am, foremost, a father of four. As such, I really appreciate the opportunity to work with our scholars, and I do not take that opportunity lightly.
Meet Kim Ayres
Resource with Mrs. Ayres
Hello 8th graders and families! I am looking forward to working with many of you this year in Resource. We will work together to support you in being more independent learners. You will learn how to use great tools available to you in order to meet your own goals.
This is my 4th year at ASK and my 16th year teaching. When I'm away from school I enjoy hiking and camping with my family. I love to laugh and cannot resist a good pun. (Yes, there ARE good puns!)
Meet Yu Chen
Ms. Chen was born and grew up in Taiwan until she was 20. She came to the U.S. for her undergraduate and graduate studies in TESOL and taught English as a Foreign Language in colleges in Taiwan for eight years. She received her Ph.D. degree in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies in 2018 and taught ELA, Reading, Consumer Math, and Targeted Assistance in a secondary school before she started at The ASK Academy in 2023.
Ms. Chen lived in Chicagoland for 11.5 years and moved back to the Land of Enchantment/ Entrapment with her family in 2022. She has two senior dogs and loves spending time making friends with wildlife. One of her dreams is to have her own animal sanctuary to rescue and rehabilitate animals.
Ms. Chen has always wanted to be a teacher since her childhood. She always enjoys helping and learning with students. She is very excited to meet with the wonderful scholars at ASK.
Meet Crystal Bolton
My name is Crystal Bolton and this is my third year at The ASK Academy. I graduated with a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction emphasis on Gifted Education in December of 2022. My husband and I just celebrated our 20th anniversary and we have two beautiful daughters, both of whom attend UNM. I love to read, play board games and travel. Oh... and I collect all things Bees 🐝🐝🐝.
I look forward to learning with you this year.
Meet Daveed Korup
Percussionist & educator Daveed Korup sparks the imagination with his evocative synthesis of North African and Turko-Persian traditions interwoven with contemporary Western percussion styles. Since 1983, Daveed has been on an ever-evolving rhythm journey. Through school programs, residency projects, summer drum camps, festivals, and workshops, he shares his knowledge of world percussion in the guise of KidsDRUM!: a hands-on, multi-cultural drumming experience for people of all ages. Daveed Korup began teaching at The ASK Academy in 2018 as a substitute teacher and earned his permanent New Mexico teaching license in 2021. As of this year, Korup is now teaching US History for 8th grade.