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.

Amy Alfaro (SenoraAlfaro@pottersschool.org) - 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 is passionate about soccer, Spanish, and mission work and hopes to pass that on to her elementary-aged "mini-kickers" Alex, Allen and Hannah. Amy also enjoys reading, playing piano, scrapbooking, and being a stay-at-home mom. The Alfaros dream of someday relocating to Honduras to serve there.

Rachel Arney (MrsArney@pottersschool.org) - 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 Weatherford, Oklahoma with her husband and young sons.

Ghaida Azeez (MrsAzeez@pottersschool.org) - 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.

William Boyer (DrBoyer@pottersschool.org) - William Boyer graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS in Chemistry and MS and PhD degrees in Nuclear Science (Materials Science option) from the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Science department. He has worked in research and information technology and has taught college chemistry and physics. Because Dr. Boyer knows that both God's written Word and creation reveal God's glory, he delights in tutoring homeschooled students from his church in science and math. He has also been a small group Bible study leader in his church for many years. Dr. Boyer and his wife have two children whom they homeschool. They enjoy biking, hiking and model rocketry. They reside in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Vanessa Bush (MrsBush@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrConnor@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsCooper@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrCooper@pottersschool.org) - 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. 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 (MsCorrin@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrCrosby@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsCrosby@pottersschool.org) - 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, Bill, live with their three beautiful children in Rogersville, Missouri.  She enjoys reading a great book with a cup of coffee, swimming, scrapbooking, cheering for her children, and of course, solving math problems. :-)

Traci DeBra (MrsDeBra@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Jenny Dolton (MrsDolton@pottersschool.org) - Jenny, a former homeschool and Potter's School student, received her bachelor's degree in Literary Studies from Washington State University in 2008 and is currently working on a Master's of Library and Information Science from the University of Washington. Over the past six years, she has worked with students aged six to sixty-five, covering subjects such as English, Math, American Sign Language, and Creative Writing. She has a passion for literature and libraries, and hopes to be able to introduce students to books that are simultaneously good for them and a joy to read. As a second generation Potter's School teacher, she is pleased to join her mother, Heidi, who also teaches English. When she isn't busy researching, Jenny enjoys serving with her church's community group, reading, baking, crocheting, and writing novels and short stories.

Martha Falk (SenoraFalk@pottersschool.org) - As a Rotary International foreign exchange student, Martha spent a year in Bolivia, South America learning Spanish through immersion. Returning from that adventure, she studied Spanish and biology, receiving bachelor’s degrees in both fields from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN.  She has been employed by school districts to work with children in their bilingual programs and she has served in a Spanish speaking population counseling women and teaching nutrition classes.  Utilizing her experience and wanting to teach her children Spanish, she has written a Spanish curriculum for elementary age children.  Motivated by a love for learning and a strong desire to cultivate consistent Christian thought in young people, Martha also teaches a worldview class to homeschoolers in her area.   She and her husband have home schooled their four sons since 1992, three of whom currently attend private college.  As a family, they have served in children’s and youth ministry including Awana and are active in both Boy Scouts and Venturing.  The Falk’s reside in Placerville, CA, where they enjoy hiking and cycling in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Ruth Ann Frederick (MrsFrederick@pottersschool.org) - As a young child of five, her mother knelt and prayed with her as Ruth Ann realized that she was a sinner in need of a Savior.  Many years later, she and her husband served for six years as missionaries with New Tribes Mission's stateside training program.  Ruth Ann's husband taught Bible, while she worked in academic management and curriculum development and assisted him in his task of developing a program for mentoring and training teachers.  They worked with special needs college students studying God's Word through an academic mentor program they developed and managed.  While going through the missionary training, Ruth Ann and her husband developed an understanding of God's Word and found themselves living less and less in Romans 7 as frustrated Christians, and more and more in Romans 6 and 8 as equipped believers able to know God's truth and walk in it.  Together, they learned to study God's Word more effectively and developed a love for inductive Bible study.  The Fredericks have four beautiful children, two by birth and two by adoption.  Three are in highschool, and one in junior high.  It is Ruth Ann's joy to serve God from her home by ministering to the family He has given to her.  Ruth Ann holds a BS in English Education from Liberty University, and 20+ years of experience teaching English and developing curriculum in public and private schools, in the homeschool community, and online.

Ned Futoran (MrFutoran@pottersschool.org) - 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. Ned lost his wife to cancer and remarried Liz Stortz, who also lost her husband to cancer. They live in St. Louis, Missouri. 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 (MsGaines@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Janna Gilbert (AsstDirector@pottersschool.org) - 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. She is currently the director of Harvester Teaching Services, a local homeschool cooperative organization that provides rigorous core courses for elementary through high school, and serves over a hundred students in Bible classes every year. Janna oversees staffing and curriculum for The Potter’s School, as well as conducting group seminars and providing individual consulting on family discipleship and home education topics.

Jeff Gilbert (MrGilbert@pottersschool.org) - 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. The Gilberts provide plenary sessions and seminars on family discipleship and home education at conferences throughout the world. The Gilberts have two children, a daughter who graduated from Baylor University and is now married, 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.

Linda Gilliam (FrauGilliam@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrGray@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrGul@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Jesse Hake (MrHake@pottersschool.org) - Jesse Hake completed an M.Litt. in history (Reformation studies) from the University of St Andrews (Scotland) in 2001, and earned his BA in history and philosophy from Geneva College (Beaver Falls, PA) in 1999. His teaching experience includes middle, high school and college classes in a variety of subjects, including history, literature, rhetoric, theology, world religions, and philosophy. Before moving to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 2006, Jesse taught at the Chelsea School in Laurel, Maryland and at Davis College in Johnson City, New York. Jesse currently lives with his wife and two children in Harrisburg where he teaches full time at a classical Christian school. In addition to teaching, Jesse has experience grading essays for the SAT and works full-time during the summers as a carpenter. Homeschooled from 5th to 12th grade himself, Jesse and his wife now teach their school-aged daughter at home. Jesse is also conversant in Taiwanese and Mandarin, having grown up in Taiwan where his parents were missionaries. Reading, watching offbeat movies, and hiking occupy most of the Hake family’s cherished free time.

David Hammer (MrHammer@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrHill@pottersschool.org) - David has been a science educator for The Potter’s School since 2007. Additionally, he works as a freelance instructional writer of secondary school science materials as well as a copyeditor in science and medical education. David has written on the integration of science and faith for TrueU.org, a webzine previously published by Focus on the Family. These articles reflect his teaching philosophy and biblical worldview that are characterized by a "first principles" approach. He has also 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 children and live in Florida.

Shaunna Howat (MrsHowat@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Tyler Howat (MrHowat@pottersschool.org) - Tyler Howat graduated from Miami University in 2008 with degrees in English-Literature and History. He currently teaches Ancient Composition and Literature, 8th grade Composition and Literature, as well as Rhetoric, at a local home school extension program in the greater Cincinnati area.

Heather Ives (MrsIves@pottersschool.org) - 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 (DrKauk@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsKindel@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsK@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Pam Kunkel (MrsKunkel@pottersschool.org) - Pam Kunkel is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education.  She is certified by the State of Illinois to teach art togrades K-12 and her past teaching experience ranges from after-school art programs for local public schools, to teaching high school, to private lessons, to teaching art for local home school groups.  She is passionate about art, and continues to expand her own portfolio in painting and fiber arts, while teaching others to love art.  Beloved by students, Mrs. Kunkel strives to encourage her students to understand and develop their creative side and realize that everyone can learn to be expressive and successful through a variety of art forms.  Pam resides in Champaign, Illinois with her husband and two sons where she enjoys distance running when her busy schedule allows, and recently completed her first marathon.

Danielle Kuznetsov (MrsKuznetsov@pottersschool.org) - Danielle graduated from the University of Connecticut as a dual major with a BA in Spanish and Slavic and Eastern European Studies. During her time college career, Danielle lived in Spain and Russia, where she met her husband, Alexei. Together they have four children and have been homeschooling since 1995. Her children say that she likes to clean and work in her spare time, but it’s not true!  Danielle enjoy watching movies, traveling, and just spending time together with her family.  She currently resides  in Moscow, Russia.

Lattany Lamons (administrator@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Bob Lemon (MrLemon@pottersschool.org) - 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 (DrLewicki@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrMadison@pottersschool.org) - 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. He enjoys spending time with his two grandchildren, Alana (born Dec, 2005) and Aiden (born June, 2008).  Bob began teaching with The Potter's School in 2004, and loves working with the TPS staff, families, and most all, the students. His goal is to meet 100 of his former, current, and future Potter students. His current count is 35!

Leonard Mailand (MrMailand@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsMartin@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrMartin@pottersschool.org) - Charles Ray Martin is a senior at the University of Oklahoma and a BA candidate in journalism and mass communication with a minor in the history of science. He works on staff at The Oklahoma Daily, OU's independent student publication. He is an alumnus of the 2007 World Journalism Institute. 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 (MrsMassie@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MsMcKeeman@pottersschool.org) - 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. 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.

Melinda Meuser (MrsMeuser@pottersschool.org) - Melinda Meuser 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, during which she developed a love for writing and literature. She grew up in Los Angeles but now lives in the Boise, Idaho, area where she loves to explore the surrounding mountains and run an Awana club at her church. Melinda also makes time to knit, read, write, travel, rock climb, and enjoy other outdoor activities in the long Idaho summer evenings. She and her husband, Garret, were married in June 2009.

Maury Middleton (MrMiddleton@pottersschool.org) - Maury was born in Hampton, Virginia where he accepted Christ as his Savior in his senior year of high school.  He 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, 7 years in Christian schools, and 8 years as an Associate CADD Professor in the Math, Engineering and Technologies Department at Thomas Nelson Community College. In 2002 Maury was selected to join Who's Who Among America's Teachers, and in 2005 he received the Technology in Education Award from the Virginia Community College System.  Maury and his wife Pam homeschooled their daughters beginning in 1988. Maury and his family spent 14 years serving overseas as missionaries in over 20 different countries and now reside in Thailand.  In his spare time, Maury enjoys giving lectures and holding debates about various creation science topics.

Justin Myrick (DrMyrick@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsNeuman@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrNichols@pottersschool.org) - 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.

James Nickel (MrNickel@pottersschool.org) - James Nickel, B.A. (Mathematics), B.Th., B.Miss., M.A. (Education), taught high school mathematics and other subjects (history, science, economics) in Christian schools in Hawaii (the late 1970s), Australia (the 1980s), and Wenatchee, Washington (since 2005), where he currently resides with his wife Lila (his three adult children are all pursuing their vocations). He also has nearly 30 years of experience in Information Technology (in the areas of science, business, and education) holding positions from programmer to systems analyst. In the 1970s, as a mathematical analyst, James worked for the United States Navy designing test software for the F14 A Tomcat and the Tomahawk Cruise Missile at Pt. Mugu Air Station in California. He has always had a fascination with numbers starting with keeping baseball statistics in the 1960s. James is the author of Mathematics: Is God Silent? (Ross House Books) and is currently engaged in constructing three worldview-based textbooks: Rudiments of Arithmetic, Mathematics: The Language of Science (advanced algebra, geometry, and trigonometry), and Mathematics: Building on Foundations (pre-calculus). He loves mentoring young people along with researching and writing (especially in the areas of mathematics and science but his interests also include theology, history, government, economics, education, and law). For more information, refer to his web site: www.biblicalchristianworldview.net

Sherry OHearn (MrsOHearn@pottersschool.org) - 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.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 (MrsPerreca@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Joel Poortenga (SrPoortenga@pottersschool.org) - Joel grew up in Abbotsford, British Columbia, and received his B.A. from Trinity Christian College, in Palos Heights, IL.  While he has worked many jobs, from chimney sweeping to ice-cream making to underwater goldmining, teaching is what he loves.  Joel spent four months living in Sevilla, Spain, where he studied and practiced Spanish.  He has taught in public, secular-private, and Christian schools, and is thrilled at the new opportunity to support homeschooling families through this new adventure with The Potter's School.  Joel's interests are music, literature, art, skiing, and woodworking.  Joel, his wife, Katie, and their children currently live in Redlands, CA, where they enjoy reading together, visiting zoos and pet stores, swimming, riding bikes, and taking walks.

Erich Pratt (MrPratt@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsR@pottersschool.org) - 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 grandchildren.

Lindsey Rosie (MrsRosie@pottersschool.org) - Lindsey Rosie graduated summa cum laude from the Honors College at Baylor University where she studied Environmental Health (advanced Biology and Chemistry) with a toxicology emphasis, Russian, and philosophy. Growing up as a Navy brat meant Lindsey moved 12 times before starting college. During college, Lindsey continued this gypsy lifestyle by spending a semester studying in Russia and six months in Thailand helping a family home school their children and working with tsunami relief. Lindsey and her husband, David, met on a trip to Honduras with TPS and became friends because of their shared love of reading, science, and missions. David worked as a paramedic for four years and is currently in medical school. Lindsey’s home school education gave her a love of learning and her seven years of classes with TPS solidly prepared her for college and beyond. It is her goal to pass that lifelong pursuit of learning on to students.

Don Rucker (MrRucker@pottersschool.org) - 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 2007, God opened the door for Don to join a Christian-owned energy management and engineering firm as the financial manager. Don will be returning to full time teaching for the 2009 – 2010 school year.  He currently lives in Georgetown, Indiana, with his wife, Rebecca, and his three homeschooled children.

Brenda Runkle (MrsRunkle@pottersschool.org) - 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 knowledge of geography increases our understanding of both history and current events. Brenda is the mother of four and the grandmother of three.

Nancy Shearon (MissShearon@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Loretta Smith (MrsSmith@pottersschool.org) - Loretta graduated with a Bachelor of Liberal Studies and a Masters of Education from Barry University in Miami, Florida. She is currently working on a doctorate degree in Education and plans to complete this degree in 2010. Over the years, Loretta has taught effective writing skills to homeschool cooperative learning classes, private school students, and through private tutoring sessions at her home. She and her husband, Raymond, have two homeschooled sons, Anthony and Andrew, whom are affectionately known as the “AA Boys”. The Smiths enjoy traveling and sharing God’s Word.

Dave Spotts (MrSpotts@pottersschool.org) - 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 in 2001.  Dave, his wife, Martha, and daughter Hannah are involved in a conservative Lutheran congregation while Dave considers further theological education toward pastoral ministry.  The whole family is committed to providing Christ's people with help and hope through biblical (nouthetic) counseling. The Spotts family has two children, one a homeschool graduate and one still homeschooled.

Martha Spotts (MrsSpotts@pottersschool.org) - 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.  A member of The Potter’s School faculty since 2002, Martha has also 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 homeschool graduate, and Hannah, who adores her TPS classes.

Barbara Starosciak (MadameS@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrStevens@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsThomas@pottersschool.org) - Diana has taught at TPS since 2002 and has written the curriculum for Writers Workshop and English 2. Her background originally is in music with Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in cello performance from Cincinnati College-Conservatory and Cleveland Institute of Music, respectively. 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.

Lanie Timko (MrsTimko@pottersschool.org) - Lanie received her B.A. in Literature and Communications from Grove City College in 1997. Immediately following college, Lanie taught English and coached soccer until the arrival of her first child in 2001. The courses she taught included Lab 10, Honors 10, Academic 10, American Literature 11, and SAT preparation courses. Since leaving public education, Lanie has been working with homeschool families as a literature and writing tutor. In 2007, six weeks before the birth of her third child, Lanie completed her M.A. in Community Counseling and earned her National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) credential. Currently, Lanie homeschools her oldest children and is enjoying the challenges and rewards of the journey. Lanie adores her children, husband, and Jesus. When she finds herself with down time she is either out running, worshipping Jesus, reading, writing, or some combination of all of these.

Brianna Tittel (MrsTittel@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsTroxell@pottersschool.org) - 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 Madison, 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.

Emily Watts (AdminAsst@pottersschool.org) - Emily Watts, the TPS Administrative Assistant, is a 2007 homeschool graduate. During High School, she took several courses from The Potter's School, including Latin, 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.

Adele Weeks (MrsWeeks@pottersschool.org) - 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 before homeschooling her own sons through high school. Now, with her own homeschooling responsibilities completed, Mrs. Weeks holds a chemistry lab class for homeschoolers in her home, and gives a course in Intelligent Design to local homeschoolers. She also tutors students in math and chemistry. In her spare time, Mrs. Weeks likes to swim laps, to sew, and to read. She and her husband enjoy the outdoors and like to camp, hike, and bike ride.

Sally Wheeler (MrsWheeler@pottersschool.org) - 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, and leading a ministry that provides toys and clothing at a local charity for children of women fleeing domestic violence. She is a Master Gardener and uses her knowledge for her own gardening of vegetables and flowers, and enjoys sharing her knowledge with the public. Raising her own organic eggs, learning Tai Chi and spending as much time with her grandchildren as possible are favorite pastimes.  Sally began teaching for The Potter’s School in 2000.

Chris Williams (MrWilliams@pottersschool.org) - Chris Williams graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985 with a degree in Systems Engineering.  He was a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy for 22-1/2 years where he served on six different submarines, including two assignments as the Commanding Officer, before retiring in 2007.  His other jobs included a 2-year tour in Yokosuka Japan, an assignment to the Navy staff in the Pentagon, and an assignment to the Naval War College where he earned his Master’s degree in Strategic Studies. Chris and his wife, Helen, were married shortly after his graduation from college and raised their family through numerous deployments and re-locations, seeking to use each assignment as an opportunity and call to disciple and minister to other families in the military.  They have three children (one attending Wheaton College and two still at home) which they have home-educated all through their school years.  Chris and his family reside in Chesapeake, Virginia where the family is actively involved in their church and Chris serves as the is the Pastor for Familiy Ministries, which includes leading a parent-run youth ministry.  The Potter’s School hired Chris as the Ministries Coordinator in 2007.

Helen Williams (MrsWilliams@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrYonts@pottersschool.org) - 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.

Heather Yost (MrsYost@pottersschool.org) - Heather holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education with emphasis on curriculum development and instruction.  Since 2000, she has taught at a junior high and a high school level, most recently teaching advanced literature and composition courses and remedial composition instruction.  An avid reader and writer herself, she enjoys taking time out for cooking, traveling, scrapbooking and watching baseball.  She lives in Northern California with her husband, Ryan, and one young son.  She is also an active AWANA leader and volunteers for two other committees at church.

Kris Zehm (MrZehm@pottersschool.org) - Kristofor (Kris) Zehm joined the United States Army at the age of 18, and graduated from West Point as an Armor lieutenant in 1990. Zehm served his country for twelve years, and was decorated eleven times for outstanding performance. Since his time in the Service, Zehm has earned a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Colorado in 1998, and an American Institute of Architecture Seattle Honor award for design in 1999. He is currently attending a three year executive program at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  Kris has his own design firm, and is passionate about the creative process as it gives glory to God. Kris volunteers regularly, and is involved with several local and national charities in addition to loving his own church. He has been involved with Compassion International, helping kids overseas, since 1994. He resides with his wife, son, and two daughters on the Icicle river in Leavenworth, Washington.

Dan Ziebarth (MrZiebarth@pottersschool.org) - 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 (MrsZylstra@pottersschool.org) - 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.