Alpharetta-Tutors

KINDERGARTEN

Susan Ouellette received her BA Degree in Liberal Studies/Elementary Education at Loyola Marymount University. Susan has taught kindergarten for twenty years in Los Angeles, CA and Roswell, GA. Susan’s teaching methods support the view of developmental education by matching instructional methods and materials to children’s development - intellectual, emotional, social, and physical. Susan is a trained Gesell examiner and administers the Gesell Developmental Assessment to determine a child’s developmental readiness to sustain emotionally, socially, physically, as well as intellectually in a classroom environment. Susan’s desire to help children struggling to learn led her to the National Institute for Learning Disabilities. This is a unique program that provides direct and focused stimulation in areas of weakness in perception and cognition. Susan is a trained therapist working with elementary students in the NILD educational therapy program. Presently Susan is a part time educational therapist working at a Christian school and tutors for several home school families. Susan attends Stonecreek Church. She lives in Canton with her husband Eric and three sons.

GRADE 1

Terry Thompson received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University, and has taught elementary classes in both the Florida and Georgia public school system. More important than her educational background, however, is her real strength: she demonstrates a love for children and enjoys fostering their God-given hunger to learn. She stepped out of the public teaching arena over twenty years ago to raise her three children together with her husband. She oversaw their education at home from pre-kindergarten through high school. She was actively involved each year researching and choosing appropriate curriculum for all three children, establishing their schoolwork schedule, administering tests, organizing and keeping records. Additionally, she was a home education support group leader advising other parents on curriculum, organization and testing. She has now seen all three of her children graduate from home school high school, and two from college. Terry has been teaching women Precept Bible study classes, both in church and in the community, for over 20 years, and also involved in a Biblical counseling ministry at her church. This Fall, Terry will be entering her sixth year with Veritas Classical schools teaching the first grade at the Alpharetta campus.

GRADE 2

Kay Wagner earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Winthrop University. She has taught elementary school for 17 years and was a stay at home mom in the middle of her teaching career. She taught second grade for eight years at Fellowship Christian School. Kay and her husband reside in Lawrenceville and are both active in their church, Crabapple First Baptist Church. They have two grown sons.

GRADE 3

Ruthie Norton is a native of West Palm Beach, Florida, and received her BA degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1997. After marrying John, her high school sweetheart, and moving to Fort Worth, Texas, she spent three years teaching Kindergarten. She served on the Curriculum Planning Committee, and also as the designated special needs teacher for the Kindergarten grade level. Wanting to put her college minor to use, she spent the next two years teaching Spanish at the middle school level. During this time, she also served as the ESOL teacher for students with limited English proficiency and as a translator for parents of these students during ESOL meetings. During her last year of teaching, her son Ethan was born, and she was thrilled to stay home full-time after finishing that school year. She still has a desire to use her gift for teaching, so for the past four years, she has been tutoring students one-on-one in all subjects and at various grade levels, including college. This has been extremely rewarding for her as it allows her to stay home with her son and still help students achieve academic success while also developing in them a new love for learning. Her family moved to Buford, GA, in August of 2006, and she began teaching for Veritas. She is also an online tutor, which allows her to teach math and reading to students in grades 3-12 from all over the country. She enjoys reading and spending time outdoors with her family.

GRADE 4

Keri Cochran teaches the 4th grade at the Alpharetta campus. She is a graduate of Berry College with a degree in Education. She has over 10 years of experience as a homeschool parent and 4 years as an elementary school teacher. She and her family attend First Baptist Woodstock.

GRADE 5

Renae Reese is a graduate of Toccoa Falls College and has 8 years of teaching experience, including 6 years at Perimeter Christian School. She enjoys planning lessons that will reach students with different learning styles and wants to make learning enjoyable for her students! She and her family attend North Point Community Church.

GRADE 6

Paula Nix taught special education for 7 years before staying at home for a year with her daughter. She was led back into teaching at Veritas because of their commitment to educating students from a Christian world view, and assisting parents in raising up a biblically minded generation. She lives in Canton with her husband, Spencer, daughter, Piper, and another daughter that will soon join the family, Haddyn. The Nix’s are part of a church plant in Canton called Isaac’s Keep, where Paula’s husband is the preaching elder.

GRADES 7 & 8 - WEDNESDAY

Molly Powell teaches 7th-8th grade English at the Alpharetta and Woodstock campuses of Veritas. She received her B.A. in Education from Covenant College in 2002. She taught 6th grade for 4 years at Perimeter Christian School in Duluth. Molly is excited to share her love of literature with her students. As a homeschool graduate, Molly brings a special understanding of home schooling families. She enjoys working with parents as they educate their children, especially at Veritas where the Christian world view is presented unabashedly. Molly and her husband are very active in their church, Geneva Orthodox Presbyterian, where she plays the piano and teaches Sunday School.

Kathy Dietz teaches 7th-8th grade History at Veritas this year, her fifth year of teaching at the school. Kathy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercer University in Atlanta with a B.A. in English Education and taught 8th-10th grade English at Mount Vernon Christian Academy in Atlanta for five years. She home schooled both of her sons through high school (with much help and support from Veritas), and they are both now in college. Kathy’s older son was a student in the very first Veritas class ten years ago. Kathy served on the board of the Perimeter Christian School Homeschool Satellite Program for two years, assisting Carol Dolan with interviewing, setting guidelines, and planning events. Kathy and her husband, Michael, served on the Veritas board for three years. The Dietz family has lived in Duluth for the past twenty-two years, and they are members of Sugarloaf Community Church, where Kathy works with the youth and teaches a High School Girls’ Sunday school class. Their family also hosts a weekly Bible study for high school juniors and seniors in their home. Kathy genuinely loves young people and enjoys spending time with them. One of her greatest passions is challenging the next generation to be Christian thinkers who can clearly and intelligently articulate their faith to a lost world.

GRADES 7 & 8 - THURSDAY - ENGLISH

GRADES 7 & 8 - THURSDAY - HISTORY

Kari Mattingly graduated from Wheaton College in 1998 with a B.A. in Secondary Education, specializing in History and Social Science, as well as a minor in Psychology. She taught 10th grade World History at Providence Christian Academy, where she and her students coordinated the annual Renaissance Festival. She also served at PCA as the JV Cheerleading coach. After the birth of her first child, Kari left the classroom, but never lost her passion for teaching – or for what she regards as "His story". Now the mother of four children under six, Kari is back to teaching in the Veritas classroom, where her goal is to stir in her students a passion for both faith and learning. Although motherhood affords her very little free time, Kari enjoys spending time with her husband Tyler, as well as their children. Ella, Emily, Evie, and Ty provide her with a wealth of writing material! Kari also enjoys reading, sewing, traveling, and attending services with her family at Brownsbridge Community Church.

GRADES 9-12

Chad Bennett is a native of Griffin, GA, and a 2003 graduate of Berry College, where he majored in Religion and Philosophy, with a minor in Psychology. While at Berry, Chad served on the leadership teams for both Campus Outreach and the Berry College Republicans. An avid reader, Chad has a great interest in classical literature, theology, and golf. Chad is an active member of Trinity Reformed Baptist Church. After teaching with Veritas, Chad plans to attend Westminster Seminary to prepare for a career in missions.

Michael Browne will teach the 7/8 and HS History/Bible on Thursdays in Alpharetta. He will also begin teaching the 7th Math and Pre-Algebra courses at the Alpharetta campus. He has a passion for teaching and has found a great home in Veritas Classical Schools, teaching history, rhetoric, and Biblical studies to the middle and high school students at the West Cobb and Alpharetta campuses. After graduating from Wheaton College in 2005 with a B.A. in Christian Education and Ministry, combined with a double integrative degree in Biblical and Theological Studies, he taught for a couple of years at East Cobb Christian School. He received his Masters degree in Biblical Studies from Liberty and is working on his Masters of Divinity. Mike has a heart for students at the middle and high school age level and serves as the Youth Pastor at Roswell Community Church.

Anna Wells will teach high school and 7th–8th grade English classes. Mrs. Wells has 9 years of teaching experience at Eastside Christian and Fellowship Christian Academy. She is very excited about the opportunity to explore classical literature with your students. With her expertise, she brings a solid grammar and writing discipline to our program.

Sondra Sparks received her BA degree in Drama from the University of California at San Bernardino, and her Master of Arts in Education from Oglethorpe University, Atlanta. For the past twelve years, Sondra has taught sixth-eighth grades at Perimeter Christian School in Duluth, Georgia. For the past seven years, she has primarily taught English at Perimeter. Sondra also has nine years of teaching experience in California, where she taught high school drama and speech, and all subjects in sixth grade. She comes to Veritas with a total of twenty-one years of teaching experience and a love for teaching students how to write and appreciate literature. Sondra and her husband Terry, have a love for missions, having served on Campus Crusade for Christ for eighteen years. They attend Genesis Bible Church in Dunwoody, and are involved in leading a home fellowship. Terry and Sondra have three daughters and two grandsons.

GRADES 1 & 3 Math

Linda Salter will be the 1st and 3rd grade Math classes in Alpharetta. She received her Masters in Education from Mercer University and her undergraduate degree at UGA. She has an impressive 23 years of experience in the classroom. She enjoys helping children realize the joy and purpose of learning while discovering who they are now and who they can become in the future. She and her family attend Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church.

GRADES 2 & 4 Math

GRADES 5 & 6, Algebra I, Pre-Calculus

Bob Edwards graduated with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Rutgers University in 1969. Upon graduation he went into the military for two years as Army lieutenant (field artillery). After completing his service requirement, Bob started his professional career working for several chemical companies. During his 33 years in the industry, Bob held positions in technical service, marketing and sales management. He retired in 2005, and has worked since as a math teacher and tutor, specializing in all high school math courses. Bob is married with three grown daughters, one of whom is married.

7th Math and Pre-Algebra

Linda Salter will be teaching 7th grade math and Pre-Algebra at the Alpharetta campus. (Mike Browne will only be teaching Humanities this year.) Linda earned her Master’s of Education degree from Mercer University. She has 25 years of teaching experience in the classroom. She attends Mt. Pisgah United Methodist Church.

Geometry and Algebra II

Elizabeth Cook teaches our Geometry and Algebra II courses. she received her BS in Computer Science from Georgia Tech and her Masters in Math Education from Georgia State University. This is her 6th year teaching high school math and she is very excited to be teaching at Veritas. Elizabeth regularly tutors and teacher SAT and ACT classes outside of school and also enjoys running and cooking in her spare time. She lives in Historic Roswell with her husband Paul and their daughter Erin. They are active members of Northpoint Community Church.

5th, 6th, 7th, 8th Science

Patricia Whitley will be teaching the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade Science classes at the Alpharetta campus. She received her Master’s degree from Mercer University and has extensive experience in the business arena and classroom. Her expertise will be of great benefit to our students!

Physical Science and Physics

Holly Lynn Pierce teaches Physical Science and Physics at the Alpharetta campus. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Irvine. She has 13 years of experience in the classroom. Her family attends North Point Community Church.

Latin

Christion Murphy will be teaching Latin I at the Alpharetta and Cumming campuses. She received both her Master’s and undergraduate degrees from Baylor University in Texas. She has 7 years of teaching experience with several years at the college level. She also served as Corporate Trainer and Consultant with several large firms. She enjoys teaching Latin and uses a “parts-to-whole,” grammar-based methodology. Latin I students can look forward to also studying Roman culture and history that will make the language relevant and timely.

Spanish II

Graciela Guerroro will teach Spanish II at the Alpharetta campus. She is the president of a local firm called Spanish for Executives and has extensive experience teaching adults and students. She attended El Universal de Mexico and Instituto Chihuahuense.

Debate

Patsy Butman will teach the Debate class at the Alpharetta and Cumming campuses. She is a graduate of The King’s College and has a degree in elementary education. She has taught in various Atlanta area schools and has over 5 years of experience working with students in the classroom. She loves teaching and homeschooled her own three children. She and her family are active participants in GracePointe Community Church where she plays the piano once a month.

Spanish I

Elizabeth Turner will be teaching Spanish I to our high school students on Wednesday afternoons. She is a graduate of UGA with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. She has a lifelong passion for learning and hopes that her energetic style of teaching will ignite in her students a love for language! She has also worked with the North Georgia Homeschool Enrichment group and has experience in the classroom and as a tutor. She and her family attend Browns Bridge Community Church and she serves in the children’s ministry – UpStreet.

Science

Dr. Alison Widmann will be teaching several of the Science courses in Alpharetta. She graduated from UGA with a degree in Biology and went on to receive her doctorate degree in dentistry from the Medical College of Georgia. She practiced dentistry for several years and then decided to homeschool her children. She is a gifted scientist and will bring her knowledge to the classroom setting. She believes in hands on learning and will utilize labs as an integral part of her teaching. She and her family attend Perimeter Christian Church.