Tony Mark
Drama Teacher: amark@northphoenixprep.org

Tony Mark comes to North Phoenix Preparatory with decades of experience in the film and theatre world. After attending the Performing Arts High School in San Francisco and then NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, Tony moved to Hollywood where he worked on both films and television projects, with the highlight of winning an Emmy in 2006.

In 2010, Mr. Mark moved to the Cayman Islands and founded and ran the Cayman International Film Festival until he moved back to the States in 2018.

Mr. Mark has taught at the high school and junior college level and even ran an acting school for several years in Hollywood. He is excited to be part of the great team at Great Hearts and looks forward to raising the prestige of the theatre department.

Richard Davis
Drama Theater: rdavis@northphoenixprep.org

Mr. Davis is now in his third year as a GreatHearts teacher, and is happy to be teaching at North Phoenix Prep. After a lifetime working in live theatre it is a great pleasure for him to be teaching an introduction to drama class, and to be running the Drama Club this year. A fascination with the spoken and written word makes teaching Lit/Comp for 6th and 8th grades a real pleasure as well. Go Gladiators!

Dr. Elizabeth Leyva
Choir: eleyva@northphoenixprep.org

Dr. Elizabeth Leyva teaches Choir and Music Theory at NPX. Originally from California, she moved to Arizona to pursue graduate studies.

 Dr. Leyva holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal arts from the University of Southern California, as well as a Master of Music, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts in voice performance from Arizona State University. Highlights of her teaching credits include California State University Bakersfield, Bakersfield College, the Herberger Community School at Arizona State University, and a one-year appointment as a Faculty Associate in the School of Music at ASU.

 In addition to her work in academic institutions, Dr. Leyva also directs the children’s music program at First United Methodist Church of Phoenix, and has performed as a chorister with Arizona Opera for the past 15 years.

James Crowley
Music: jcrowley@northphoenixprep.org

Mr. Crowley has a passion for music and the fine arts that goes back to his early childhood.  He has played piano since the age of five and began composing and conducting while still in his teens.  As this same time, he started vocal training with the world-renowned operatic bass, Giorgio Tozzi, which led to a singing career that took him to Europe and across the United States, including New York City, where he worked on the Broadway stage and with the Metropolitan Opera Company.  Mr. Crowley holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Grand Canyon University, as well as two Arizona State teaching certifications—one in English and the other in Music.  He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Music Education.