FOUNDERS & DIRECTORS 

“There is nothing noble in being better than someone else; nobility comes in being better than your former self.”   –Whitney Young
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“What we learn with pleasure we never forget.”   –Louis Mercier

Dr. Heather Tracy, Ed.M., Ed.D. 
Executive Director & Co-Founder

Dr. Heather Tracy is the co-founder and Executive Director of both New Summit Academy and The Bridge - Costa Rica young adult gap program. Heather earned an Honors Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in psychology and French at Saint Louis University where she was 1 of 10 Freshmen to earn the highest honor of a full-ride, four-year scholarship as a Presidential Scholar. She then continued her studies at Harvard Graduate School of Education, earning a Master of Education in Human Development & Psychology with coursework and research focusing on adolescents at-risk and school reform. In 2014, Heather completed her Doctorate of Education in K-12 Leadership with a dissertation about the importance of academic enablers (specifically, the social, psychological, physical, and emotional foundations of cognition, learning and growth) for at-risk adolescents to build resilience and learn and live more effectively and efficiently.
Being co-founder and Executive Director of New Summit Academy (since 2004) and The Bridge young adult gap community (since 2012) has been the highlight of her career. Leading learning environments that support young people to find their purpose, build skills to achieve goals, and contribute to their community is a gift. Motivated to articulate the successful approaches at NSA and The Bridge as well as assess student growth in a strengths-based way,  Dr. Tracy and Dr. Danny Recio co-authored Supportive Immersion theory (2016) and articulated PROPS skills as the 21st Century skill set needed to thrive in today's world. 
She is tri-lingual (English, Spanish, and French), studied abroad in France for one year, backpacked all over Europe, and has lived in Costa Rica since January 2002. Heather is also a certified yoga teacher, and in her free time, she loves to travel, dance, read nerdy books, eat good food, and spend time with her family. See Heather's resume here.

​Mario Duran, LCP 1499 / Lic. Psych, MS in Substance Abuse Treatment 
Personal Growth Clinical Director & Co-Founder

Mario Duran is a clinical psychologist with postgraduate studies in group psychology and substance abuse treatment. He is currently working on his doctoral dissertation in educational research. Mario is the director of a postgraduate program in Addiction studies at UNED Costa Rica and serves as the liaison for The International Consortium of Universities for Drug Demand Reduction (ICUDDR). He is a professional member of the International Society of Substance Abuse Professionals (ISSUP) and has been teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels for over 20 years. He has been a clinical supervisor in the US and Costa Rica and has trained as a neurofeedback practitioner. Mario has been an active member of the Costa Rican Professional Board of Psychologists since 1998 (license # 1499) and has served in the Ethics Committee.
Mario has been working in residential settings in various capacities over the past two and a half decades, ranging from lead therapist to Clinical Director in both non-profit and private facilities, serving a variety of clients and families in multicultural settings. He has consulted for mental health and educational institutions, NGO’s and international organization and has published several articles and research reports on behavioral health, best practices and addiction.

Mario invests himself in mentoring our clinical team, building healthy relationships with students in the milieu, and supporting parents in their journey through parenting planning groups and workshops. He implements a relationship and solution-based approach in his clinical practice to guide people in matching their intentions with actions in meaningful and practical ways. He has lived in Costa Rica most of his life and has had the opportunity to also live in the United States and France. He is a proud husband and father and an enthusiast of spiritual teachings.

​Andy Myers, BS
Experiential Education Director & Co-Founder

Andy received his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Environmental Policy and Behavior from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment. As well, Andy was the Trip Coordinator for the University of Michigan’s Outdoor Adventure Program, where he planned, organized and led backpacking, rock climbing and sea kayaking trips for participants of all ages. His experience also includes working as a High-Ropes Course Facilitator at University of Michigan’s Challenge Program, where group and team dynamics are the focus. He has several years of extensive experience with at-risk high school students in environmental education and in therapeutic residential settings. Andy served as the Experiential Education Director at Coronado Academy after working as the Assistant Director for the Costa Rica Program of the Academy of Swift River (a satellite program of an emotional growth boarding school based in Massachusetts). Andy is bilingual and has lived in Costa Rica since 2001.
Andy’s work is his passion. He views his work with adolescents as a unique opportunity to positively impact the future of our global community. Andy speaks fluent Spanish and has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, experiencing the warmth of the Costa Rican culture first-hand. He holds a position on the Board of Costa Rica Rainforest Outward Bound, overseeing safety of their courses in Costa Rica. As Experiential Education Director of New Summit Academy, Andy organizes on and off campus recreation activities, “Aventuras”, organized sports and cultural immersion opportunities.

“I believe that education is a process of living and not a preparation for future living.”  –John Dewey, from a pamphlet published by E.L. Kellogg and Co.(1897)

​Martin Naffziger, BA Creative Writing and English Literature, M.Ed. Global Studies in Education
​Graduate Certificate in College Counseling
Academic Director and ​College Counselor

Martin Naffziger is the Academic Director at New Summit Academy. After earning a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Creative Writing from Wittenberg University, he began teaching English as a second language as a means of traveling to and living in places such as Thailand, Nepal, South Korea, Mexico, Ecuador, Indonesia and Costa Rica.

Since joining NSA in 2006, Martin has taught Literature and Composition, Creative Writing,  U.S. and World History, Visual Arts, Global Citizenship, Archeology, and Culinary Arts, as well as designed and continues to coordinate our College Guidance Program.
While with New Summit Academy, Martin has earned his M.Ed. in Global Studies in Education from the University of Illinois, and earned his graduate certificate in college counseling from UCLA. Travel, the outdoors, culture, and education continue to be driving passions in Martin’s life, and he takes great pride in applying these passions to guiding and building an unrivaled Academic program at NSA.

​James Woody, BS, 9-12 Math Teacher
Co-Founder & Operations Director of New Summit
Administrator at The Bridge Costa Rica

James Woody is a high school math teacher who believes in incorporating real-life applications of curricular materials into his classroom every day. He has extensive experience in electrical systems design, building design, construction, and engineering. He enjoys the art of creation, especially when working in the woodshop. Mr. Woody is highly respected by the students he teaches thanks to his consistent, structured expectations and his ability to make math and science come alive through hands-on activities and real-life applications. James is dedicated to his students, serving as an honorable and influential mentor both inside and outside of the classroom.
Most recently, James took on a more influential role at The Bridge Supportive Gap Community Program for young adults where he serves as both an administrator and mentor to the young men participating in a gap year experience. He helps organize, teach, and mentor… all with a smile on his face!

Dr. Danny Recio, MA, PhD
Co-Founder of New Summit Academy
Director of The Bridge Costa Rica

Read a message from Danny here.

​Danny started his studies at the Universidad Autonoma Monterey in San Jose, Costa Rica, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He then continued his education at the University of West Georgia, in Atlanta, earning a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, with an emphasis in humanistic psychology and the young adult population.
Danny has been guiding young men since New Summit Academy was born, in January 2005, and is passionate about being part of the ever-evolving, collaborative, living being that the NSA community is. Simultaneously, Danny has recently completed a doctorate degree in Integrated Ecology, researching the impact of combining experiences in natural environments with mindfulness skills for the improvement of mood and creativity in adolescents. He has been applying these studies in his work developing and implementing the S2S Bridge Program since early 2012.

Danny lived for a year in Cape Town, South Africa as an exchange student, and has shared significant periods of his life with people from very diverse cultures. These experiences have sparked a strong interest for cross-cultural experiences and their influence in the identity development process. Another big interest for Danny is surfing; he finds both peace and excitement doing it, and loves sharing this sport with the NSA students. These, and many other human moments, are the main substance, from Danny’s perspective, for his therapy work and the student’s personal growth. Guiding students to find true meaning in and congruence between their relationships, goals, values, and identity is Danny’s aim in his work and relationship with them.
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But above all these interests and experiences, Danny treasures most being a parent, husband and family member. At the end of the day, all Danny wants is a playful good laugh with his family.