Kindergarten
Teacher: Janelle Harrelson
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Subject(s): Humanities
Education:
Church Name:
Why I love teaching:
Grade 1
Teacher: Michele Crooks
Grade Level: 1st grade
Subject(s): Humanities / 1st and 3rd Math
Education: Taylor University
Church Name: Smyrna Presbyterian Church
Why I love teaching: I believe that I was called to teach children while attending a private Christian school in Ohio. This call has been confirmed in many different areas of my life – family, friends, church and neighborhood. Whether babysitting, leading Bible school or teaching in the classroom, I love having an opportunity to watch children change and grow.
Grade 2
Teacher: Blaire Smith
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Subject(s): Humanities
Education: Erskine College
Church Name: The Vine Community Church
Why I love teaching: It is an absolute joy to teach children! I hope each child leaves my class encouraged in their gifts and abilities, inspired to continue learning and exploring, and with a knowledge of the Lord’s deep love for them.
Grade 3
Teacher: Terry Thompson
Grade Level: 3rd
Subject(s): Humanities
Education: Florida State University
Church Name: Canton Bible Church
Why I love teaching: I love children, and I particularly enjoy fostering their God-given hunger to learn.
Grade 4
Teacher: Ashley Deighton
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Subject(s): Humanities
Education: University of Alabama
Church Name: Old Peachtree Presbyterian Church
Why I love teaching: I love working with children and teaching students how to love learning.
Grade 5
Teacher: Deonna Bettis
Grade Level: 5
Subject(s): Humanities
Education:
Church Name: Parish Anglican
Why I love teaching: I have been curious and eager to learn my whole life-- some may call me a nerd, and not be wrong. However, one of the sweetest joys is when I observe and get to mirror the excitement and wonder in a student's face when a concept or idea "clicks" for him or her and a whole new facet of the created universe expands. Teaching is being able to perpetually offer an invitation, to extend hospitality. It is truly evangelistic in nature-- I love being able to "Go and tell" the Good News in all the ways it is revealed in God's creation. The freedom to do so in a setting like Veritas is a gift I don't take lightly.
Grade 5
Teacher: Renae Reese
Grade Level: 5
Subject(s): Humanities
Education: Toccoa Falls College
Church Name:Christ Church in Suwanee
Why I love teaching: I teach because I love the group and one-on-one interaction with students. I love to find creative, out-of-the-box ways for students to learn and I love to see their eyes light up with the realization that they own that knowledge.
Grade 6
Teacher: Jamie Mehaffey
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Subject(s): Humanities
Education: Biola University
Church Name: First Baptist Woodstock-- Shallowford
Why I love teaching: I love watching the students fall in love with life, education, and God. I like the conversation and interaction that education creates, and more than anything, I love learning from the students!
Grades 7-8
Teacher: Laurie Blackwell
Grade Level: 7th & 8th Grades
Subject(s): English
Education: North Georgia College (B.A. in English Education),
Clemson University (M.A. in English)
Church Name: Johnson Ferry Baptist Church
Why I love teaching: Great literature not only inspires us to improve ourselves but also serves as a warning about mankind’s sinful nature. I love sharing the timeless messages of classic works with young people. Equally rewarding is witnessing students mature in their writing ability as the year progresses.
Grades 7-8
Teacher: Landon Glenn
Grade Level: 7-8
Subject(s): History, Bible, and Logic
Education: The King's College
Church Name: Grace Church at Town Center
Why I love teaching: There is an incredible degree of useful knowledge densely packed in the sprawling collections of Humanities. I love teaching humanities because students approach the same historical text from different perspectives, requiring a collective effort from all students to best understand. Most importantly, the complexities of humanities reveals a divinely inspired narrative constantly reaffirming its purposeful creation and begging to be explored.
Grades 9-12
Teacher: Anna Wells
Grade Level: High School
Subject(s): English
Education: University of Georgia
Church Name: Perimeter Church
Why I love teaching: I teach because it’s fun! I love helping develop the minds and hearts of students into lifelong learners who think critically.
Grades 9-12
Teacher: April Murphy
Grade Level: High School
Subject(s) English / AP English / AP Seminar
Education: Memphis State University, B.A.; University of Memphis, M.A.T.
Church Name: Living Hope
Why I love teaching: Teaching repeatedly reminds me of the depths of the Christian faith—our connectedness to God, to the Word, and to each other. We embody our faith in profound ways when we gather together and learn.
Grades 9-12
Teacher: Jason David
Grade Level: High School
Subject(s): History, Bible, Rhetoric, AP Psychology, AP History
Education: Florida State University
Church Name: Roswell Community Church
Why I love teaching: Having become a Christian as an adult, I have a deep passion concerning the need for people - especially young people - to understand the larger context of their lives in hopes that they take hold of their faith. My desire is to empower, challenge, and shepherd these young people - through the lens of various subjects - to seek for the knowledge of God and discern what part he has for them in this incredible Story of Redemption.