Meet the teachers and staff of The Potter's School. Each has been selected based on academic expertise, Christian character, and commitment to biblical standards of service and faith. Despite the diversity of backgrounds represented by these dedicated men and women, one common trait should commend itself to you: Though these individuals are all well qualified within their fields of expertise, they are not simply academics. They are teachers and mentors whose commitment to quality instruction, feedback and evaluation motivated them to equip themselves with academic and practical skills to better serve their students. Please feel free to email them (by clicking on their name) directly with questions about their backgrounds or their courses.

Jeff and Janna Gilbert - Jeff Gilbert graduated from Cornell University and spent over two decades as a naval officer training young adults for sacrificial service. Following his seagoing career as a nuclear submarine officer, he spent four years working with members and staff of the U.S. Congress. Janna Gilbert, a graduate of Texas A&M university, is a certified secondary mathematics teacher with over two decades of experience teaching in a variety of public, private, and cooperative settings. The Gilberts have performed educational technology consulting for corporations and schools. They provide plenary sessions and seminars on family discipleship and home education at conferences throughout the world. The Gilberts have two children, a daughter attending Baylor University and a son attending Towson University. They homeschooled their children through numerous military relocations and deployments, and have conducted and supported home education in a variety of settings. In addition to directing the services and ministries of The Potter's School, the Gilberts serve on the staff of their local church as Director of Family Ministries, where they help prepare teens and families to sacrificially serve God in the local community and abroad. They appreciate the value of home education for raising Godly children in a biblical covenant family.

Lattany Lamons - Homeschooled from "day one", Lattany took many classes with The Potter's School during her middle and high school years. She graduated in 2006, and was chosen by her peers and teachers to give the student commencement address. During her final year of high school, Lattany began pursuing her certification as a R.N. and a degree in pediatric nursing, but has temporarily postponed these pursuits to put more focus towards her work as administrator for The Potter's School. Lattany has a particular burden for reaching the lost with the Gospel and counts it one of the greatest privileges of her ministry with The Potter's School to lead and participate in numerous overseas ministry and service trips. Since her first excursion to Thailand in 2004, Lattany has spent time in Indonesia, Mexico, Honduras, Bulgaria, Laos, and China. In her spare time, Lattany enjoys playing and teaching piano, playing soccer, reading, drinking coffee.

Emily Watts - Emily Watts, the TPS Administrative Assistant, is a 2007 homeschool graduate. During High School, she took several courses from The Potter's School, including modern foreign languages, Greek, and Hebrew. She has continued after graduation to pursue additional language study through TPS. She has a great love of missions, and has served in various capacities on several TPS mission trips. Her interests include Irish step dancing, cello, Greek, reading, hiking, and talking with friends. She lives with her parents and two sisters in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Amy Alfaro - Amy received her bachelor's degrees in Spanish and Political Science from Guilford College, where she also played soccer for four years. During the summer of 1988 she interned with the YMCA in San José, Uruguay. After graduation, Amy taught junior and senior high Spanish, coached high school soccer, and earned her K-12 teaching certification for Spanish. During this time Amy also spent four summers serving in Honduras, where she met her husband Carlos. Amy remains passionate about soccer, whether watching UEFA or the World Cup or playing in the local women's outdoor league or the co-ed indoor league. She hopes to pass that passion on to her elementary-aged "mini-kickers" Alex, Allen and Hannah. Amy also enjoys reading, playing piano, scrapbooking, supporting Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and being a stay-at-home mom. The Alfaros dream of someday relocating to Honduras to serve there.

Rachel Arney - Rachel Arney graduated from Austin College in Sherman, Texas, with a degree in Chemistry, followed by a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She has taught various middle and high school math and science courses, including AP Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Physical Science, AP Calculus, and Pre-Calculus. She thoroughly enjoys working with students of all ages, challenging them to excel in all areas. As part of this commitment to young people, she has volunteered as a math and science teacher at her church's school. She and her husband serve on the youth team at their church, where she also participates as a coach in Bible Quizzing. She enjoys traveling, scrap booking, reading, church activities, and spending time with her family. She currently resides in Duncan, Oklahoma with her husband and young sons.

Ghaida Elaia Azeez - Ghaida Elaia Azeez is a native of the Middle East, most recently in Yemen. She studied to be a Chemistry teacher at Baghdad Educational University 1990-1994, and then studied theology at Jordan Educational University for a year. She participated in (as a student and teacher) discipleship and evangelism courses with YWAM in Jordan from 1995-1996. She participated in Islamic studies with YWAM in India for four months. She taught Arabic to foreigners at Kelsey School in Jordan from 1996-1997, and then in a private school in Egypt during 1998. She taught Arabic in Yemen from 1999-2008 to individuals and groups, including many foreign faith workers serving in the Middle East. Her passion is teaching Arabic as a second language, particulary in the context of supporting evangelism and discipleship with the people of her region.

Vanessa Bush - In 1999, Vanessa Bush received her B.A. in English from the University of Florida, after which she immediately went on to acquire her Masters degree, also from the University of Florida, in secondary English education. Vanessa has been teaching high school English, reading, and SAT prep since graduation. Vanessa lives near Ft. Lauderdale with her husband and two young sons. She and her husband are actively involved in the youth ministry of their local church. She enjoys serving as a youth sponsor, writing, acting, and directing for the drama ministry, working at VBS, and serving in MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). In her spare time, Vanessa loves to work on her scrapbook, bake desserts, watch Gator football, and spend time outdoors.

Mark Connor - Mark P. Connor completed his undergraduate education at The United States Military Academy at West Point, majoring in Engineering Physics. He also received his commission as an officer in the Unites States Army. During the next four and a half years, Mr. Connor completed U.S. Army Helicopter Pilot training, and served with the 4th Aviation Task Force at Fort Carson, CO. While stationed in Colorado, Mr. Connor completed his Masters in Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado. In the years since then, Mr. Connor has worked with numerous civilian employers in a range of job functions. Consistent throughout his career has been software development from integrated chip design to web design. Today, Mr. Connor is finishing his dissertation as a doctoral candidate in Electrical Engineering at The George Washington University. Mr. Connor also works full-time at Zeta Associates, Inc. in Fairfax, VA, as a software developer. When not working on his dissertation, or developing software, Mr. Connor leads a bible study at his workplace, and ministers to the children (and adults) at his church, The Calvary Road Baptist Church, through puppets.

Lisa Cooper - Lisa holds a B.A. in Bible from American Christian School of Religion. She is a literature advisor for Ex Libris, which reviews curriculum for homeschoolers across the nation. She is also former director of publications for a large church, rounding out her experience as both a writer and editor. She serves as an interpreter for the deaf and hearing impaired and she teaches Signed Exact English. Lisa's passion for producing good writing skills has manifested itself in her first students-her sons. Both are excellent writers and one is pursuing a career in creative and professional writing. Outside of the Bible, she enjoys reading Jane Austen, especially when curled up with her afternoon tea. She is also progressing through the works of C.S. Lewis and the Great Books series. Lisa is the mother of two TPS graduates and wife of former TPS instructor, Dr. Alan Cooper, a senior pastor and church growth consultant. She lives in Midlothian, TX, with her family and Bruce, a West Highland white terrier.

Nathan Cooper - After earning his Diploma in Theology from the University of London, England, and studying Classical Liberal Arts with a focus on Writing, Nathan is pursuing a graduate degree in Worship at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Nathan has been an instructor for Cogitans Classical Tutorials, covering subjects such as Mathematics, Logic and Chess, as well as a Fencing Instructor for Blade Fencing Academy. As a student of Chess, under teachers ranging from his father to National Master Mark Ishee, Nathan spent over five years in competitive play before going on to college. His accomplishments include the 12th Grade Title for the State of Kentucky, as well as placing nationally at the K-12 Grade Scholastic Championships in 1999. As a Chess teacher, Nathan has coached many students, even to have one achieve the 1st Place Scholastic title in Kentucky, two years after Nathan's own win at the same tournament. Nathan currently resides in Midlothian, TX, pursuing a career in Inspirational Ministry, born from a convergence of Worship Ministry and his love of Writing. Outside of his studies, he enjoys making three, four and eight-part acappella harmony with a few friends, reading as many good books as he can get his hands on, enjoying the company of Dr. and Mrs. Cooper, and the occasional romp with the family's much-loved Westie, Bruce.

Christina Corrin - Christina Corrin was introduced to TPS in high school during the six years she and her family lived in Steinalben, Germany. As a home schooled student, she appreciated how TPS allowed her to learn from teachers who understood and loved their subjects while she stayed home or traveled around Europe with her family of five. After high school, Christina returned to the U. S. to pursue her passion for literature and good writing at Grove City College. With her Bachelor of Arts in English (and an expanded “to read” list ranging from Homer to Tolkien), Christina settled back with her family and dog Lolli in Mechanicsburg, PA. In addition to reading, Christina enjoys listening to and making music, writing letters, and talking with friends over tea. She hopes to pass on the passion for learning (about all sorts of things) that her TPS teachers shared with her.

Bill Crosby - Bill Crosby received his undergraduate education at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, graduating in 1988 with a BA in History and a BA in Political Science. While at DePauw, he was a Carson Fellow in the History department. After earning his law degree at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1991, Bill clerked for a U.S. Magistrate Judge for a year prior to joining the Greene County, Missouri Prosecutors office, where he remained until 1995. From 1995 until 2004, Bill founded and managed a law firm in Springfield, MO. He practiced in the areas of trial, criminal and constitutional law, workers compensation and personal injury law, until he retired from the active practice of law in 2004 after over 30 jury trials, hundreds of bench trials, and arguing before numerous state and federal trial and appellate courts. Bill is currently pursuing his Masters in History with an emphasis in Religious Studies at Missouri State University, focusing on the history of the Christian church and world religions. He and his wife, Lisa, have three children, all still living at home. Bill enjoys playing golf and tennis, gardening (master gardener), camping, and fishing, and is very active with his two sons in Boy Scouts of America, having held numerous positions at the local, district and council levels both as a youth (Eagle 1979) and adult.

Lisa Crosby - Lisa Crosby earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics Education at University of Missouri-Columbia and her Master of Science Degree in Mathematics at Southwest Missouri State University. She has a teaching certificate from the state of Missouri. She has years of experience as an educator, including nine years teaching high school mathematics, four years teaching college mathematics, and 10 years working with young Christians in youth groups, Logos Bible courses, and vacation Bible school. Lisa and her husband live with their three beautiful children in Rogersville, Missouri.

Tracy DeBra - Traci DeBra has a BA in Literature and Secondary Education. Over the past twelve years, she has instructed junior high and high school composition and literature classes in both the public and private sectors, published articles as a freelance writer in several adoption magazines such as Adoption Today, and provided private tutoring for students in need of extra writing assistance. Her passions are her Savior, her family, and teaching students to look for God's hand in their lives and the world around them. Traci is a homeschooling mother who lives in Ohio with her husband and their six children.

Michael Dominguez - Michael holds a B. A. degree from the University of Maryland and a Master of Education degree from George Mason University. As a Marine officer, he served three years as advisor to the Venezuelan Marines in Caracas and La Guaira, Venezuela, where he often taught classes in Spanish. Due to his father’s work, from age three to seven he lived in La Habana, Cuba. For the past fifteen years, Michael has been a Spanish teacher in the Prince William County, Virginia public school system, and he is certified to teach AP classes. Michael is married and lives in Virginia with his wife, a retired social worker. His daughter, an attorney, and her family live within easy walking distance. His son is senior pastor of an Anglican church in Raleigh, N.C. Michael and his wife are active members of their church and are leaders of recurring small group evangelism efforts. They enjoy tending their large garden and traveling abroad.

Martha Falk - After high school graduation, Martha spent a year in Bolivia, South America as a Rotary foreign exchange student. Learning Spanish there, she returned from that adventure and studied Spanish and biology, receiving bachelor’s degrees in both fields from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN. Before becoming a parent, she was employed by school districts to work with children in their bilingual programs. Later, she counseled women and taught nutrition classes, again serving the Spanish speaking population. She has written a Spanish language curriculum for elementary age children which she teaches to students in her area. Martha and her husband have home schooled their four sons for 16 years, three of whom are currently attending private colleges. Passionate about teaching and motivated by a love for learning, she has taught numerous subjects for home school co-ops for years. Together as a family, their ministry focus has been in Awana and their community service has focused around Boy Scouts. The Falks reside in Placerville, CA where they thoroughly enjoy the outdoors hiking, cycling and kayaking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Ned Futoran - Ned retired from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Ned has been intimately involved in the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government for over 32 years, and has regularly interacted with the Legislative Branch on budget and language issues. He and his family live on St. Simons Island, Georgia. He is the proud parent of homeschooled Tim and Kelly, both of whom were Potter's School students before they graduated. Ned graduated from Shelton College, and has also completed advanced correspondence seminary training. He loves teaching, reading and fitness, and is an Elder in his local PCA church.

Janis Gaines - Janis Gaines graduated with a BA in English and minors in Bible and History from Harding University. Over the past ten years she has taught in a variety of academic settings, including public, private, and home school co-ops. She has been listed twice in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, she now makes her residence in beautiful Flowery Branch in the mountains of north Georgia. Janis believes that words are closely connected to the heart and that learning to write well and communicate effectively are spiritual disciplines. Likewise, studying classic literature and its components aids in developing discernment of truth, godly character and biblical themes. An aspiring Christian songwriter, Janis also works part-time as a freelance writer and editor. She developed the popular workshop The Three T's of the Heart: Touching, Training, and Teaching the Heart, which she hopes to publish and make available in the near future. Janis is mother to three wonderful children, Samantha, Braden, and Elizabeth.

Linda Gilliam - Linda grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. She graduated from the University of Tennessee with a BA in German and History in 1997 and a MA in German in 2003. She studied German in immersion courses both in the U.S. and Germany, and has a decade of teaching experience in various settings, including K–12 schools, a Christian university, and a state University. While teaching at Knoxville Christian School she established a 5th – 10th grade German program. She is currently an adjunct instructor of German at Lipscomb University in Nashville, and is involved in the "Friends Speak" program using the Bible to teach English as a second language. She is married to a retired U.S. Air Force officer, and has made a home for her husband and four children in California, Colorado, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, and England.

Samuel Gray - Samuel Gray has a B.S. in Mathematics from Towson University and currently serves as Worship Pastor at his church in Upperco, MD. He and his wife, Sarah, and their daughter, Hannah, are expecting a new addition to their family in May. In addition to spending time with his growing family and with the youth at his church, Samuel enjoys playing the piano, soccer and basketball. He also enjoys studying apologetics in his free time.

Guney Gul - Guney Gul was born of a Muslim family in Istanbul, Turkey, and raised as a Muslim. During the teenage years, he moved with his family to Netherlands. At age 17, he moved to the U.S., and in 1988 he became Christian and continued his education in Lake City, Florida. In 1996 he began purchasing air time and broadcasting to conduct Christian radio programs in Turkey, while continuing his education at Liberty Theology Seminary. He is currently conducting his radio programs from Georgia, in the United States. Guney is married to Rita (a Syriac Christian), and they have one beautiful daughter named Mary Joy.

David Hammer - David Hammer holds a B.M. in Music Education from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and has earned an M.M. in Jazz Pedagogy and ABD status on a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Miami. He has taught and developed jazz curricula at the Interlochen National Music Camp and Center for the Arts, New World School of the Arts (Miami), and the University of Miami. He holds teaching certification for Music K-12 in Florida, where he teaches elementary music. He also serves as Adjunct Professor of Jazz Piano at Florida Atlantic University. David spent nearly two years performing in the U.S., Japan, and Europe with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and has performed as artist/clinician at International Association of Jazz Educators conferences and with a variety of artists including Red Rodney, Jamey Aebersold, Dick Hyman, Marian McPartland, and David Baker. He performs regularly in jazz ensembles and big bands throughout the south Florida area. In addition to serving as an elder at his church, he is actively involved in the Music Ministry (playing keyboard and leading the praise/worship band) and the Children's Ministry. David and his wife, Susan, reside in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where they home educate their daughters.

David Hill - David is a science educator and online Community Manager for The Potter’s School. Additionally, he is a freelance instructional writer of secondary school science materials as well as a copyeditor in science and medical education. Occasionally, David writes on the integration of science and faith for TrueU.org, a webzine from Focus on the Family. These articles reflect his teaching philosophy and biblical worldview that are characterized by a "first principles" approach. Previously, David has served as an in-seat and online instructor in biology and chemistry at Colorado Christian University and the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Because of these experiences, he is passionate about the development of online learning communities. He attended graduate school in chemistry at the University of Illinois and did his undergraduate work at Point Loma Nazarene University. He and his wife, Angel, have three young children and live in Florida.

Shaunna Howat - Shaunna Howat has extensive experience teaching writing, rhetoric, logic and apologetics in Christian schools and a home school extension program, where she has designed curriculum and trained other teachers. She is a freelance writer/editor and syndicated columnist whose columns on family, education and other Christian life issues appear in newspapers across the nation. As part of a discipling ministry called the Amy Foundation, Shaunna edits Pen & Sword, a quarterly publication for Christian writers who desire to disciple the nation through the secular press. Shaunna earned her degree in English Literature and Mass Communication from the University of Denver. Shaunna serves as Academic Coordinator for The Potter's School, and is the primary architect of the classical curriculum in TPS. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their three children.

Rusty Hughes - Rusty and his wife, Cheryl, have been home schooling their children since 1997. He has been teaching with The Potter's School since 2001. Rusty has considerable experience teaching science courses, including chemistry and physics. He also tutors several other homeschooled students in the Indianapolis area using the Apologia science curriculum. His other interests include coaching baseball, playing golf, and making heirloom-quality furniture in his woodshop. He has been personally selected to teach these science courses by Dr. Jay Wile, the founder of Apologia Ministries and author of the course material.

Heather Ives - Heather Ives earned degrees in English and Religious Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University. While in school she was able to travel and do various faith-based service projects around the country and the world. Heather served in New Orleans for two summers, living among those with HIV/AIDS. She also found her way to Lesotho in Southern Africa, working in village and mountain ministries teaching English and AIDS education to various tribes. Heather’s previous job in America was education and programs coordinator for an international non-profit organization, where she trained teachers to use various techniques in the arts for children and adults with disabilities. Heather and her husband, Brandon, were married in 2004. They enjoy worshipping and serving in the inner-city of Richmond. Heather and Brandon enjoy the outdoors, canoeing and fishing, good food and time with friends and family. They live in Richmond, Virginia, with their son, Augustine.

Myron Kauk - Myron Kauk earned the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Talbot Seminary and a Ph.D. in Hermeneutics and Biblical Interpretation from Westminster Theological Seminary. He is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and a home schooling father of nine children. He has taught biblical languages and literature at the college and seminary level. He is an adult Bible study leader in his local church and has taught Greek, Hebrew, and Apologetics to high school students in his local home school community.

Deborah Kindel - Deborah Kindel grew up in Germany, France and England, and was exposed to literature in all three languages. She earned a B.A. in English, with a fifth year in education and child development, from Connecticut College, as well as a M.A. from the University of Connecticut. She has taught at both the college and high school levels, helped to design a culturally diverse university writing course, and assisted with development of a multi-disciplinary high school writing portfolio program. She recently left her job as an editor with a daily newspaper after nine years. She and her husband are active in Officers Christian Fellowship and their church. They have three adult daughters.

Vernice Koemmpel - A graduate of the University of Washington, Vernice Koemmpel taught high school math for eight years in the public school system, and holds a current Washington State Teaching Certificate. Based on her own personal experiences with individualized instruction in high school math, she desires to assist home educated students in the exploration and understanding of mathematics. She started teaching with The Potter's School in 1998, and she has found it very rewarding working with students from all over the United States as well as with students overseas. She enjoys sharing her love of math and having her students say, "Now I get it!" Vernice is married with three active children, and when she is not busy carting them around she is either sewing, scrapbooking, or trying a new recipe.

Melinda Lavorante - Melinda Lavorante graduated with a B.A in English with an emphasis in writing and a minor in biblical studies from Biola University. She was homeschooled from birth through high school, and it was through home school that she first developed a love for writing and literature. She spent most of her life in Los Angeles, but as of 2005 lives in the Boise, Idaho, area where she loves to explore the gorgeous landscape by car and by foot. Having grown up in the Awana program, she now enjoys serving as an AWANA leader at a local church. She also makes time to knit, read, freelance write, play the piano, travel, watch period and drama films, do freelance graphic design, and enjoy outdoor activities in the long Idaho summer evenings.

Bob Lemon - Bob Lemon graduated in 1987 from Trinity Christian College with a B.A. in Education. He has taught science and history courses at both the junior and senior high school levels. Since 1993 he has been employed at Mitchell Christian School, where he serves as the junior high science and history teacher as well as the elementary school principal. Bob graduated high school from Dalat School in Penang, Malaysia, and he still enjoys meeting and corresponding with people from different cultures. When not teaching, Bob spends time with his family, hunts pheasants and fishes for trout. In the fall, Bob also keeps himself busy coaching the varsity boy's soccer team. Bob and his wife, Jill, reside in Mitchell, South Dakota with their three children, Kayla, Scott, and Aaron.

Daniel Lewicki - Daniel Lewicki has been teaching science since 1969, first at the middle school level and then at the college level. He has a B.S. in Chemistry from City College of the City University of New York and an M.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Science Education from the University at Albany. As a Professor of Chemistry & Education at the Sage Colleges in Albany and Troy, New York, he teaches courses in chemistry and math/science education. He has also found many ways to utilize his knowledge, skills and devotion to teaching to play an active role to support his wife, Maureen, in the home schooling of their two children, Elizabeth and David. In addition, he helps other families in the Hudson-Valley Chapter of Loving Education At Home with their home schooling. He and Maureen are currently serving as Hudson Valley-LEAH Chapter Leaders. He has made presentations at many local and national conferences addressing issues relating to curriculum and instruction in science education. He is also a member of the Loudonville Community Church in New York where he has served as an Elder and on the Board of Christian Education. In his leisure time, he enjoys running, mountain climbing, playing tennis, and collecting stamps.

Bob Madison - Bob was born and raised in Piqua, Ohio. After graduating from high school, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps and served more than ten years. While in the Marines, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Diana (Di), and they had their first son, Scott, in May 1978. Bob also earned an Associates Degree in math from Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville, NC, and a Bachelors degree in math from the University of North Carolina as a Marine. Bob left the Corps in May 1978 and, after a year in graduate school at Ohio State, Bob returned to the military and earned his commission in the Air Force, where he and his wife had their second child, Andrew, in November 1982. After retiring from the Air Force in 1989, the Madison family settled in West Lafayette, IN, where Bob attended Purdue University and earned his Masters in Education, with an emphasis in Educational Computing and Instructional Design. Bob taught in the Computer Science Department at Purdue University for 12 years. In December 2005, Bob’s first grandchild, Alana, was born. Alana will have a new brother in July 2008. Bob began teaching with The Potter's School in 2004, and loves working with the TPS staff, families, and most all, the students.

Leonard Mailand - For over twenty-five years, Leonard Mailand has worked in the field of education at the college and secondary level as an administrator, teacher, and coach. He has taught classes in Bible, apologetics, logic, history, government, economics, introductory Greek, and comparative worldviews. His other contributions have included curriculum development and teacher training. Mr. Mailand is also a guest lecturer at the Student Statesmanship Institute in Lansing, Michigan, where he speaks on comparative worldviews and biblical leadership. Mr. Mailand earned his M.Ed. at Seattle Pacific University. In 2001 he founded a young men’s academic/leadership academy. He and his wife Brenda have four children. Their two oldest sons proudly serve in the U.S. military. Mr. Mailand and his wife live with their two youngest in Grand Ledge, Michigan, with their dogs, cats, goats, chickens, and other critters as they become available.

Lori Martin - Lori Martin attended the University of Oklahoma for several years and played on the Women’s basketball team. She graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma with a BS in Mathematics and minor in Chemistry. Lori received her Masters in Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1999. She taught at the high school level for over 10 years and was a head high school girls basketball coach for 5 years. She has taught mathematics from Algebra to AP Calculus in the high school classroom. While teaching in the public school system, Lori was recognized as the Presidential Award Winner for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching in 2003. She is also National Board Certified (2003). Since 2004 Lori has been teaching various subjects at a Veritas Classical Academy. Lori and her family live in Norman, OK, where they also serve in the College Department of their church. Lori’s hobbies are OU football (and other sports), reading, swimming, playing basketball, and cooking.

Ray Martin - Charles Ray Martin has a passion to penetrate the secular field of journalism with the gospel of Christ while training others to do the same. He is completing his BA in journalism and mass communication at the University of Oklahoma. He works on staff at The Oklahoman, Oklahoma’s state-wide daily newspaper, where he writes sports and news stories. He is also an editor the University of Oklahoma student newspaper, and has been on staff at two other publications. He is an alumnus of the 2007 World Journalism Institute, for aspiring Christian journalists who desire to work in secular newsrooms. He is also actively involved in leadership in the collegiate ministry at Trinity Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma. In his spare time, Ray enjoys reading about theology and controversial science issues, collecting fountain pens, playing golf and basketball and drinking coffee.

Kristy Massie - Kristy, who was homeschooled herself, holds a B.S. in education for grades K-8 from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she also minored in Bible, English, and Psychology. She taught in a traditional classroom for seven years, teaching seventh grade for five of those seven, and achieving National Board Certification in 2006. She has a strong passion for reading, writing, and critical thinking, and tries to inspire that passion in her students. When not teaching or studying, she spends time reading the classics, particularly the works of Jane Austen and Shakespeare. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband, Archie, and their children.

Lori McKeeman - Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and is currently working on her Master’s degree in health and exercise science. She has been working with youth since 1974 in a variety of capacities, from developing classes for at-risk teens while in college; teaching science, health, and English classes in home school co-ops; leading and teaching 4-H projects; developing home school athletics; and developing a youth street ministry. She has taught international, developmental, and nursing students for a state college in Indiana, where she holds an adjunct instructor certification. Lori has been home schooling since 1985, and her oldest son was of the first home educated students nominated to the USAF Academy. Lori owns Jeremiah29-11EducationalProducts.com, an on-line resource for home school curriculum. She is the mother of five, the mother-in-law of two and the very proud grandmother of four gorgeous grandsons. Lori loves long walks on the beach, playing basketball, watching football, baseball, anything outdoors, the Navy Blue Angels, music, and the ballet.

Maury Middleton - Maury was born in Hampton, Virginia, where he accepted Christ as his Savior in his senior year of high school. Maury received a BS in Industrial Arts from Virginia Tech and an MS in Technology Education from Old Dominion University. Maury's over 20 years of teaching include 15 years of homeschooling, 11 years in public education, and 7 years in Christian schools. Since 2000, he has been an Associate Professor in CADD and the Assistant Dean of the Math, Engineering and Technologies Department at Thomas Nelson Community College. In 2002 Maury was selected to "Who's Who Among America's Teachers", and in 2005 he received the Technology in Education Award from the Community College System of the State of Virginia. Maury and his wife, Pam, homeschooled their daughters beginning in 1988. Maury and his family spent 14 years serving God overseas in over 20 different countries, and their plans are to return to Thailand to serve full-time in the summer of 2008. In his spare time Maury enjoys giving lectures and holding debates about various Creation Science topics.

Justin Myrick - Dr. Justin Myrick has thirty years of undergraduate and graduate teaching experience in engineering, including twenty seven years at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he also served as director of Georgia Tech's Health Systems Research Center. Justin presently lives in Cookeville, TN with his wife, Melissa, and their two home schooled children. Justin holds the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in engineering from the University of Alabama, New York University, and the University of Missouri-Columbia respectively. He began his career as an engineer with Sikorsky Aircraft in Stratford, CT. Melissa, a nurse practitioner, was a nurse in Belize for six years. For fifteen years, Justin was the volunteer stateside manager of PREDISAN, a medical team in Eastern Honduras, and continues to be active with the project. Justin's teaching interests are science and math. He has previously taught physics, electronics, and ham radio to boys ages 7 through 15 at a summer science camp. Justin is a Radio Amateur Extra Class (W3EJ) and is active with a church-based Boy Scout Troop in Cookeville as well as a district scouting leader.

Naomi Neuman - Naomi, a "graduate" of The Potter’s School herself, received her B.A. in English Secondary Education from Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania. She grew up as a "third culture kid" in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where she spent her school-aged years with her parents and four younger siblings. Naomi now lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband Jeremy. Naomi’s long-time love-affair with literature encompasses both her vocation and avocation, as she thoroughly enjoys reading (particularly C.S. Lewis, the Inklings, Shakespeare, and Brit Lit in general) and writing (especially poetry) in her free time. She also likes to scrapbook, play volleyball, and try new recipes when she can. As one of Dr. Bridwell’s former literature students, Naomi was personally selected by Dr. Bridwell to teach the classes DrB designed.

Brent Nichols - Brent Nichols holds a masters degree from Western Oregon University and is state certified in secondary social studies and technology education. After teaching in public schools for over ten years, he taught children of evangelical missionaries in Latin America and Europe. His musical abilities have added a fun enhancement to his social studies courses. He and his wife have three children whom they have homeschooled for several years.

Sherry O'Hearn - Sherry graduated from Texas A&M University in 1983 with a degree in Accounting. After graduation, Sherry began her business career as an account manager with an employee benefits software firm. Soon after, she joined an engineering firm as the assistant controller. After marrying, Sherry began working as a Senior Accountant and Comptroller with Trammell Crow Company, a world leader in Real Estate management and development. She retired from Trammell Crow Company to care for their young children. Sherry has home schooled their two children, Kaitlin and Matthew, since 1994. Sherry loves spending time with her family, studying God’s Word, swimming, creating greeting cards, scrap booking, mentoring young moms, and ministering to moms with chronically ill children.

Lisa Perreca - Lisa, who was homeschooled from Grades 1-10, holds a B.S. in education for grades K-8 with minors in Psychology and Family Consumer Sciences from Liberty University. She has taught middle school English in the traditional classroom for the last seven and a half years. Six of those years she worked with at-risk students, helping instill in them a love of reading and writing. In addition to teaching, she also founded a student-run bi-monthly newspaper, coached a debate team, swim team, drama club, and reading club. Currently, she is a stay-at-home mom to her two young children—daughter Adeline and son, Alden. She is active in her church and in her local MOPS group. In her spare time, she enjoys scrapbooking, smocking, reading all forms of literature, and doing anything outdoors with her family. Her husband, Al, works in construction. Right now, they call Millsboro, Delaware home.

Erich Pratt - Erich Pratt graduated from Regent University in 1988 with an MA in Public Policy. Since then, he has worked as a lobbyist and communications director in the nation’s capital. Erich has appeared on numerous national radio and TV programs—such as NBC’s Today Show, MSNBC, CNN and Fox Cable News—and his columns have appeared in newspapers—including USA Today—across the country. Pratt enjoys teaching civil government to high school students and was selected for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He authored the text Constitutional Recipe for Freedom, used in TPS government courses and other homeschool programs. Erich and his wife, Stacy, have ten children and live in northern Virginia.

Kathryn Richards - A business school graduate with a Legal Secretarial degree, Kathryn Richards is also an experienced writer and teacher. In addition to homeschooling her own three children from Kindergarten through High School, she has developed educational curriculum and taught Preschool at a local school. Subsequent to her own children's graduation she continued tutoring homeschooled students. Kathryn assisted Dr. Bridwell in developing the current Journey Through Narnia course and thoroughly enjoys teaching the class. She has taught at The Potter's School since 2001. In her spare time, she loves to quilt, read, spend time with her husband, and play with their five grandchildren.

Steve Rosenoff - Steve Rosenoff's love affair with science spans thirty-six years. From his humble beginnings as a veterinary assistant, through his early career in medical research, and into his final position as an international consultant in the area of absorbent products, his enjoyment of science and learning has never diminished. He currently holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Boise State University, a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, and a Teacher Certification from the University of Washington. He has completed over 483 college credits, including coursework in Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Bacteriology, Serology, and Parasitology. He is an annual attendee at the Biology Advanced Placement Institute. Steve is a Washington State certified teacher and is a reader for the national AP Biology exam. Steve has been personally selected to teach these science courses by Dr. Jay Wile, founder of Apologia Ministries and author of the course material. In his spare time Mr. Rosenoff also coaches boys and girls golf at the high school level.

Don Rucker - Don Rucker earned his Bachelors degree in Accounting and Master of Arts in Teaching Business from the University of Louisville. He spent 10 years in the grocery business working his way from bag boy to assistant manager of a large grocery chain. The Lord then called Don to teach at his alma mater, Portland Christian High School, where he taught business classes for six years. He was then promoted to assistant principal for one year and head administrator for another five years. During these years Don supervised many extracurricular endeavors, including organizing camping expeditions, leading groups on tours of the American West, and leading service trips to Honduras. Don was also instrumental in establishing an on-going program to encourage students to serve the Lord overseas. In 1995 two doctor friends invited Don to manage a new medical practice they were starting. After seven years managing this family practice Don moved to managing a fifteen-doctor emergency medicine practice for another five years. In mid 2007 God opened the door for Don to join a Christian owned energy management and engineering firm as the financial manager. Don currently lives in Georgetown, Indiana, with his wife, Rebecca, and his three homeschooled children.

Brenda Runkle - Brenda Runkle received her Bachelors degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma in 1963 and her Masters degree in Education Administration from Central State University in 1984. She taught Geography, World History, and Government at the middle school level for 18 years, and began writing her geography books at the urging of John Saxon, her mentor and colleague. She has also been a Teacher Consultant with Oklahoma Alliance for Geography Educators through the National Geographic Society. In 1998 she opened Runkle Publishers, specializing in curriculum for the homeschool market. Brenda stresses that knowlege of geography increases our understanding of both history and current events. Brenda is the mother of four and the grandmother of two.

Nancy Shearon - Nancy graduated in 1985 from Southeast Missouri State University with a degree in Spanish and a minor in English. She taught junior high and senior high Spanish in a public school in Troy, Missouri, for nine years. Then the Lord led her to move to Mitchell, South Dakota, where after a two year sabbatical from teaching, she began teaching English and Spanish at Mitchell Christian School (MCS). She has taught Grade 9-12 English for thirteen years. Some may call her crazy, but she loves working with teenagers and takes her ministry of teaching at a Christian school very seriously. In her eyes, teaching and ministry are one and she is excited to see a young person mature spiritually, emotionally and mentally. After thirteen years at MCS and fifteen years in South Dakota, the Lord is calling her to Southeast Missouri to be with her dad to keep him company in his retirement years. She considers herself blessed to be able to continue teaching English and working with teens at the Potter’s School. Outside school Nancy enjoys reading, sewing and playing with her dogs.

Dave Spotts - Dave Spotts holds a M.A. in Classics from the University of Missouri, Columbia. Since completion of that degree in 1995, he has taught Latin, Greek, and English vocabulary to students from third grade to adult. Dave taught for six years at a classical Christian school in West Virginia before shifting his emphasis to college students at Marshall University and to his students at The Potter's School. He serves as an elder at Grace Fellowship Church in Hurricane, West Virginia, where he is actively involved leadership of shepherding and pastoral counseling. Dave and his wife, Martha, are both engaged in providing Christ's people with help and hope through biblical (nouthetic) counseling. The Spotts family has two children, both homeschooled.

Martha Spotts - Martha Spotts is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she received a Bachelor of Music (Cum Laude) and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Magna Cum Laude). She holds a current teaching certificate for K-12 instrumental music from the state of Missouri. Martha has taught music for grades 1-8 at a classical Christian school, where she developed a music history curriculum for grammar-level students, and has taught private flute and piano lessons for more years than she can count! She has also led numerous children's choirs. She is married to Dave Spotts, a member of The Potter's School faculty, and has two children—Lizzie, a TPS student, and Hannah, who can hardly wait until she's old enough to take classes at TPS.

Barbara Starosciak - Barbara Starosciak graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in Elementary Education and a minor in French. She taught for eight years at Timothy Christian School in New Jersey, where she was promoted to Middle School Supervisor. Throughout those eight years she also developed a French program for grades 8 through 12. She traveled to France several times for study and service work. When her own children were of elementary school age, she homeschooled them and taught them conversational French. Barbara organized and taught several French classes for homeschoolers in her area of Michigan. She has been teaching for The Potter's School since the Year 2000. Barbara has developed a comprehensive French program on-line and has a passion to make foreign language interesting and relevant to her students.

Mark Stevens - Mark holds a B.A. in Business and Economics earned in 1983 from Bridgewater college, an MEd. From George Mason earned in 1994, and an M.A. in History from George Mason earned in 2007. He has worked in all areas of United States History, but his primary research interests lie in U.S. Civil War, Slavery, World War II, and the history of the Holocaust. This all started some 41 years ago when he found himself to be a History fanatic. Mark has worked as a missionary to the public schools (public school teacher), since 1994, where he has honed his people skills working with a wide range of students. Mark has served a Civil War re-enacting group as a regimental chaplain for approximately six years. This combines two of his main loves, Jesus Christ and Civil War history, allowing him many unique opportunities for ministry in the Lord’s name. Mark believes that by studying man’s past through the lens of God’s Word we can recognize that History is the unfolding of His Story. Mark and his wife, Leslie-Ann, reside in Manassas, Virginia, where they have been home educating their daughters for over 10 years.

Diana Thomas - Diana has taught at TPS since 2002 and has written the curriculum for Writers Workshop and English II. Her background originally is in music with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in cello performance. After earning her Masters in Education from Portland State University in 1994, Diana taught writing and biology in Oregon and Virginia until 1998 when she became a full-time mother. Since then, Diana has been teaching writing and conducting writing seminars in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Her seminar Teaching the Art of Writing became the basis of the Writers Workshop program at TPS. These travel and teaching experiences have deepened her passion for serving home school families and overseas faith workers in support of their ministries. Diana and her husband, Lyle, homeschool their three children—daughter, Lydia, and sons, Kerith and Simon. On staff with Church Resource Ministries, the Thomases live in St. Petersburg, Russia serving and training church leadership and working in orphan ministry.

Brianna Tittel - Brianna Tittel (formerly Klecker), who was homeschooled herself, holds a B.A. in Secondary Education and has a deep passion for teaching. She spent three years interning with TPS in the junior high English department and has a love for language arts. Brianna is also an avid photographer, who has studied with the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, and has assisted with photo workshops and given private lessons in her local area. Brianna lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is crazy in love with her husband Mike. Together they love exploring God’s creation, traveling in search of artsy photographic possibilities, reading, hiking, cooking, and experiencing the life God has blessed them with together.

Nikki Troxell - Nikki Troxell graduated in 1999 with a degree in English Education from Bartlesville Wesleyan College, now Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Since graduation she has taught junior and senior high school English grammar, composition, and literature in both public and private schools. She has been teaching with The Potter's School since 2001. Her hobbies include writing, running, walking, gardening and just about any other activity that takes her outside. She lives near Spencer, South Dakota, with her husband, Jason, who works as an accountant at a local office. They have one child, Samantha, and enjoy spending time together as a family.

Sally Wheeler - Sally Wheeler, R.N., is an acute care nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Auburn University. For 24 years she served in hospitals while traveling around the world with her husband, now retired from the U.S. Air Force. Her medical expertise includes urology and neurology, with certification in orthopedics. She has three grown children and six grandchildren. Her other activities include working within the many ministries of the Christian Motorcyclists Association, witnessing to secular bikers and serving on a non-profit Board of Directors for a large benevolent ministry providing help to the needy in her city. She is also a master gardener, busy planting her own property and using her knowledge to teach others. She has been teaching with The Potter's School since 2001.

Adele Weeks - Adele Weeks grew up the oldest of eight children, and acquired a love of chemistry early in her life from her father who was a chemical engineer. He used to concoct everything from hair conditioner to fireworks out of his own personal store of chemicals at home, and to try them out on his family. Mrs. Weeks looks forward to similarly "infecting" her students with a love of and a desire to know more about the chemical basis of everyday life. In college, Mrs. Weeks majored in biology, minored in chemistry, and finished a program in medical technology. She worked for 17 years as a medical technologist, in several clinical chemistry laboratories. Mrs. Weeks and her husband have three grown children. With her own homeschooling responsibilities completed, Mrs. Weeks tutors other homeschoolers, presently in English and Chemistry. In her spare time, Mrs. Weeks likes to swim laps, to sew, to read, and is on her church EE (Evangelism Explosion) team. She and her husband enjoy the outdoors and like to camp, hike, and bike ride. She is active in politics in Wisconsin, and regularly holds "meet and greet" events for candidates, in order to keep the homeschoolers apprised of candidates' views, so they can vote intelligently.

Helen Williams - Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Helen Williams has spent the past 21 years as a Navy wife and the last 12 of those years as a home school mom. While schooling her three children in a variety of locations all over the US and overseas, Helen has continued to develop a passion for geography and history that started during her earlier schooling. She has shared that passion with her own children since 1994 and others in a variety of cooperative settings at the family's different duty stations. Currently residing (perhaps for good) in Norfolk, VA, Helen is actively involved helping her husband lead their church youth group and working with a fine arts home school enrichment program. When she is not working with youth, she enjoys cooking, reading and going to the beach. As she looks to the coming school year, Helen hopes to help her students gain a greater appreciation of God at work around us through the study of one of her favorite subjects.

Rich Yonts - Rich Yonts has been a professional software developer for IBM, working with both hardware and software. His career spans three decades in which he has designed, developed, and maintained small, medium, and large scale projects. His passion for computing began in the ninth grade and he learned Basic programming long before even seeing a real computer. He studied Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Northwestern University, joining IBM immediately afterward. He studied for years at Northern California Bible College, where he also taught, while maintaining his career and starting a family. Rich occasionally preaches on Sunday nights, leads a home group weekly, and advises the other church leaders in theology and practice. His wife, Kim, has been home schooling for twelve years, teaching three children from kindergarten through high school.

Dan Ziebarth - Dan Ziebarth graduated in 1996 with a B.S. in Civil Engineering from South Dakota State University. He worked nine years as an engineer in the electric utility industry before entering full-time vocational ministry as an Associate Pastor for Living Hope Wesleyan Church. Dan is an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church. For recreation, Dan enjoys spending time with his family, reading, camping, backpacking and keeping up with the NFL. Dan and his wife, Michele, make their home in Madison, SD, along with their three children, Bethany, Hannah and Benjamin.

Heidi Zylstra - Heidi Zylstra received her teaching certificate from California State University, Long Beach, after which she taught in the Long Beach public schools. She began homeschooling when her oldest child reached kindergarten age in 1992, and continues to homeschool her high school age children. While homeschooling her own children, she has also taught a variety of English classes at TPS and locally. Heidi and her family live in Kitsap County, Washington. During her "spare" time she enjoys singing in choir, teaching women's Bible studies, working in her church library, and reading.