Angela Viera
Oasis Academy has a new leadership team for the 2025-2026 school year.
Dane Nott, the K–12 school leader, is assisted by Shannon Garcia, the K–6 vice principal, and Andy Lenon, as the vice principal for grades 7–12. Together, the team brings extensive educational experience, community dedication and a clear vision for the future of the school.
During the past two years, Oasis has seen several changes in its leadership. The Oasis Academy Board of Directors re-evaluated the structure at the end of the 2024–25 school year and created the K–12 leader, K–6 vice principal and 7–12 vice principal positions.
Dane Nott, K–12 school leader
Nott draws on over two decades of teaching and leadership experience in his new position. Nott’s credentials include a Master of Education from the University of Nevada, Reno, extensive classroom experience in multiple grades, experience in the corporate sector and youth athletics coach.
Nott first came to Oasis four years ago and was drawn to the school and community for several reasons. Nott is also a military veteran serving in both the Army and National Guard. Pictured right: Kelly and Dane Nott.
“I was recruited about four years ago to teach at Oasis Academy and became more and more excited about the school with each visit,” Nott said. “Our school holds a unique position in our community serving local families and their students. I was excited to work with families who care deeply about their students' education as much as their social well-being.”
Nott said he’s now wholeheartedly devoted to the school and its students. “I care deeply about this school and the students who attend, so I decided to put all my experiences together in an effort to rekindle that spirit and joy of learning for students when I applied for the school leader position,” he said. “I want to find more efficient ways to support our teachers to give our students the absolute best learning experiences possible. We will accomplish this hefty goal by working as a team of families and educators who put kids first, using forward thinking, and by letting learning lead the way.”
There are many goals for the school going forward, but Nott has one immediate goal. “We get back to the basics where all staff members focus on creating a nurturing and innovative environment where kids come first,” he said.
Nott and the leadership team will use a forward-thinking approach: integrating technology, personalized learning and real-world experiences to prepare students for the future, not just the next test.
According to Nott, he also wants to sustain school traditions in alignment with the mission and core values of Oasis Academy by improving lives through opportunity and the belief in the inherent worth and potential of each human and in the life-changing power of learning.
He has multiple ideas to do this. “We will celebrate individual growth, community connection, and the transformative impact of learning,” he said. “Whether it’s recognizing student achievements, hosting community learning nights, or holding annual service projects. Each tradition will serve a reminder that every person matters and has the power to grow, contribute, and succeed.”
Nott said Oasis will continue creating opportunities for student voice and leadership in the classroom, in the community and on the court or field of play.
Addressing one of the challenges facing Oasis Academy, Nott noted the issue of space constraints. “One of our biggest challenges is to maintain a high-quality learning environment while addressing infrastructure limitations,” he said. “We will have about 650 students in our K–8 building this year and our high school is also near capacity. We must be careful with overcrowding to maintain student safety and protect our teacher’s ability to give individual attention and care.”
Nott said this extension goes beyond classrooms to common areas such as cafeterias, restrooms, the small gym, playground and more. “We are also going to better utilize the Gordmans space this year to alleviate some of these issues,” Nott added.
To stay connected with the school community, he plans to be visible daily. “The leadership team will be visible during morning and afternoon drop-off/pick-ups, greeting students and staff in hallways. We will offer ‘open office’ times where staff can drop by informally to talk or share concerns,” he said.
Nott and his wife Kelly have four adult children. Outside of school, his passions include cars, motorcycles and nature.
“I find peace and inspiration in nature,” he said. “Mountains and waterfalls make me happy,” he said.
Shannon Garcia, K–6 vice principal
Garcia holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and will complete a master’s degree in Educational Administration and Leadership in December. She is a long-standing member of the Oasis Academy staff and values the foundation it creates for families.
“Oasis has given both my children and me a strong foundation,” she said. “I believe in the foundation, mission and values of OA and my heart is here for the students and staff of this school.”
Garcia’s vision for the school includes forward thinking and focuses on fostering a culture of integrity while maintaining relationships with students, staff and families. Pictured left: Antonio Garcia, Shannon Garcia, and Jorge Garcia.
“I want to promote positive morale and culture in the school as it is crucial for fostering a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment,” she said. “A positive school culture contributes to improved student achievement, increased teacher morale, reduced behavioral issues, and a more connected school community.”
Garcia said she wants to be a supportive leader and knows the team has an important role not just for students but for staff and the community also.
“A strong school leader elevates others,” she said. “I value the stakeholders of Oasis Academy greatly. The decisions of our new leadership team will set the tone for the entire organization; influencing the school culture and student outcomes.”
Garcia is committed to maintaining the school’s high standards. “Oasis Academy is committed to exceeding expectations for all students. I plan to keep our educational expectations high while continuing to build relationships within the school, families, and our community partners,” she added.
To address attendance challenges, she is proposing using incentives. “I want to implement perfect attendance awards for students as an incentive to increase attendance. Poor attendance disrupts learning and increases the risk for academic underachievement,” she added.
Garcia also knows that funding challenges are also something Oasis Academy faces since the state consistently ranks among the lowest states in the nation for school funding.
“This negatively impacts teacher salaries, class sizes, resources and overall education quality,” she said. “The state's dependence on fluctuating federal funding further complicates the situation, as these funds may not always align with Nevada's educational needs.”
Being visible is another one of Garcia’s plans. She will be accessible through both a traditional office and a mobile office cart. She will be present in classrooms, hallways, and school events.
Garcia is a mother to three boys and three pets: a dog, a gecko and a snake. She does not like to fly, but loves her family in Montana, coffee and Dr. Pepper Zero.
Andy Lenon, 7–12 vice principal
Lenon holds a Master’s in School Counseling and brings a rich background in school counseling and human services to the leadership team. Pictured right: Taryn Lenon, Andy Lenon, Lynlee Lenon, Lyndon Lenon.
Since joining Oasis Academy in 2016, Lenon has had the privilege of leading the school counseling department as it has evolved and expanded. His vast experience made moving into administration a logical choice. “After dedicating 17 years of serving as a school counselor, I recognized that transitioning into administration would be a natural next step,” Lenon said.
He is committed to continuing the legacy of strong leadership that Oasis has known. “It is crucial to establish a robust in-house leadership pipeline that can continue the legacy left by Melissa Mackedon (one of the founders of Oasis Academy) and Rochelle Tisdale (former Oasis principal),” he said.
Lenon said his vision for the school emphasizes continuance on Oasis Academy’s academic excellence and focusing on student well-being.
“One of my goals is to build upon our strong legacy of dual enrollment, continue our 100% graduation rates, and create a place where every student feels valued and challenged,” Lenon continued.
Lenon said the vision for Oasis Academy goes beyond academics. “We’re about supporting the whole child, which means providing solid mental health resources and that is a reason our counselors spend so much time in the classrooms,” he said. “Prevention and skill building are essential. We’re looking forward to stronger family engagement, and a culture that celebrates running with the Bighorn herd.”
This year the leadership team said it would like to expand STEM (science, technology, English and mathematics) programs and electives for students and give teachers valuable professional development opportunities. This includes using funds raised from Future Fest to update equipment and re-evaluating classes offered and instructional spaces for better utilization to fit STEM.
Lenon also wants to stay connected to students and staff. “My personal goal is to spend less time in the office and more time with students — whether that’s eating lunch together, check in/check out, observing activities, or simply connecting with them. Presence is a large component to prevention,” he said.
That connection includes celebrating successes. “We are eager to explore new recognition programs that celebrate our students, staff, volunteers and parents, by focusing on highlighting not only academic achievements but also the positive character, leadership, and teamwork,” he said. “All things that make the Oasis Academy school community unique.”
Lenon’s personal interests include listening to audiobooks, particularly ones about neuroscience. His favorite activities include spending family time, camping, lifting weights and taking care of his lawn. He is an avid fan of all things Titanic and Mount Everest, and he loves to vacuum. While Lenon leads an active and healthy lifestyle, he does have one soft spot.
“There's nothing quite like a two-cheeseburger meal, extra-large fresh hot fries and three apple pies to cap off a long week,” he said.
Together, the new Oasis Academy Leadership Team is united by a shared commitment to putting students first, fostering a positive and inclusive culture, and building on the school’s tradition of excellence.
To contact members from the leadership team email Dane Nott at [email protected], Andy Lenon at [email protected], Shannon Garcia at [email protected].
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