Teaching Staff (2011-12)

School Year 2011-12

High School

English Department

English I, II, III/IV; AP Literature & Composition
Elias Assaf holds a B.S. in Political Science from the University of Central Florida. He has worked as a Writing Consultant at the University for the past two years helping many students become published, and he has contributed his own work to The Central Florida Future regularly. Elias has been featured on FOX News Online, and has edited many books and articles currently in print.

Mathematics Department

Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Advanced Topics, Honors
Melody Washington spent two years teaching the Orange County Public School’s Chapter One Math Program and ten years in private tutoring in high-school and college Algebra.  She has taught at Circle Christian School for ten years, teaching 6-7th grade Basic Mathematics, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Algebra II, and Advance Topics Mathematics.

Algebra II, Honors; Pre-Calculus
Mayra Lingvay holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Miami and an M.S. in Industrial Electronics and Computers from the University of Miami. She worked at the Kennedy Space Center as a Senior Design Engineer with The Boeing Company for 12 years. She has taught high school math and science for years and has been a head coach of FIRST Lego League robotics teams.

Science Department

Biology; Marine Science; Anatomy & Physiology, Honors
Alicia Braswell has a B.S. in Microbiology, as well as a Teacher’s Certificate in Secondary Sciences, from Mississippi State University.  She has taught high-school science at Circle for four years, including Biology, Chemistry, Marine Science, and Anatomy & Physiology.

Chemistry, Honors
Brian Snyder earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from Messiah College, in PA, in 1988.  He also holds a PA Level I Teaching Certificate, which he earned from Messiah College in 1994. He has taught high-school Chemistry for five years, Physical Science for three years, 5th-grade Math for one year, and 6th-grade Math for one year at Circle.

History Department

World History, Honors
Bethany Dickens Assaf is a Circle Christian School alumna with a B.A. in History from the University of Central Florida. She has served in teaching and research roles at the University, where she is currently seeking an M.A. in Public History.

American History, Honors; American Government and Economics, Honors
Leslie Albaugh earned a B.S. in Journalism and Communications degree from the University of Florida.  Formerly, employed in the corporate world as a writer, trainer, and communicator, she has home schooled her three sons since 1991.  As a volunteer advisor with the YMCA Youth in Government organization since 2005, Leslie annually takes a group of students to Tallahassee State Assembly for a mock legislative session.

Foreign Language

Spanish I
Lourdes Sloan joins the faculty of Circle Christian School this year.  Mrs. Sloan’s native language is Spanish; she also studied French at Florida International University, and has taught grammar-school Latin.   She has over ten years of teaching experience, including nine years of homeschooling.  Lourdes earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Florida International University, an M.B.A. from the University of Miami, and an M. Ed. in Vocational Education from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Bible/Worldview

PATH 11/12
Andrew Lamb has a B.S. in Music Composition and Arranging from Belmont University in Nashville, TN.  He also has a degree in Pastoral Care from Life School of Ministry in Nashville, TN.  He and His wife Jocelyn are currently planting a Church in the North Orlando area.

Performing Fine Arts

Speech I and Debate I
Shelly Ransom recently left her executive role at a major hospitality company and joins the faculty of Circle Christian School this year. She is an accomplished debater and has ranked nationally in the Lincoln-Douglas and Congressional Debates.

Academic Electives

Creative Writing and Journalism
Kathryn Jean-Rejouis has a B.C.S. in Photojournalism and a B.A.S. in Creative Writing from the University of Miami. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Miami International Seminary. She has taught and worked as a photographer for over 10 years and served as a Communication Director for Miami Youth For Christ.

Int’l Business & Money Management
Jennifer Millikan holds a B.A. in Finance and an M.B.A. from the University of Central Florida. After graduating, she was a financial accountant for a large national company and conducted financial reviews for major international business clients.

Non Academic Classes

Girl-Talk
Stacie Sagel graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor’s degree in Religion, specializing in Women’s Ministry. She has been teaching Girl Talk at Circle for one year.

Bethany Dickens Assaf is a Circle Christian School alumna who recently attained a B.A. in History from the University of Central Florida. She has served in teaching and research roles at the University, where she is currently seeking an M.A. in Public History.

The Academy

Humanities-English I (H), American History (H), Worldview
Julie Crawford has a B.S. in Nutrition Science from The University of Georgia, which she applied to hospital and county-level educational programming. She has been actively teaching and leading in the homeschool/parent-directed arena for thirteen years, and she teaches Biblical studies in non-academic settings to college students.  She also has a breadth of high-school classroom teaching experience in Bible, History, and Language Arts, in a model similar to Circle’s university model of education.

Pre-Algebra; Algebra I, Geometry, Honors
J. Patrick Boyhan attended Marietta College, OH and did graduate work at Ohio State and University of Central Florida.  He has been teaching math since the early 70’s and has been active in math product development with Chalk Dust Productions and other publishers. He is certified through Scantron Company to administer math assessment tests. Patrick is also an accomplished tutor, often working with students who have either learning difficulties and/or have fallen behind in their work.

Biology I, Honors
Pamela N. Knopf has a Christian Education Degree from Logos Christian College with a minor in Biblical Studies.  She is also a Certified Temperament Counselor.  She was a principal of a private school in Jacksonville for ten years and has been teaching in a classroom setting since 1994.  She moved to Central Florida and began teaching at Circle in January of 2011 in the subject areas of General Science and Physical Science and 7th/8th grade Language Arts.

Circle School of the Arts

Creative Photography
Kathryn Jean-Rejouis has a B.C.S in Photojournalism and a B.A.S in Creative Writing from the University of Miami. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Biblical Studies from Miami International Seminary. She has taught and worked as a photographer for over 10 years and served as a Communication Director for Miami Youth For Christ.

Intermediate Worship Band
Michael Simmonds holds a B.A. from Stetson University, in Deland, Florida.  He has served as worship pastor in Central Florida for over 20 years.  Michael began teaching for Circle last year as the worship band instructor and the Music Appreciation instructor for the Foundations program.

Music Theory I and Instrumental / Vocal Technique
Gabe Carson received a B.A. in Music from the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. In 2008, he started his own music teaching studio in which he teaches saxophone, flute, and piano lessons to students of all ages. He has also worked as a band clinician, competition judge, and freelance saxophonist in the Orlando area.

Acting III/IV, Actors Lab, and Company Director
Aradhana Tiwari has an M.A. in Theater from the University of Central Florida. She has been directing and teaching for a myriad of theater and dance companies for the past 6 years.

Mime and Movement, Company Choreographer
Olivia Richardson has trained in dance for 15 years, studying a wide variety of styles with nationally renowned instructors. She has worked as a choreographer for a number of shows and is excited to be working with Circle Theatre Company again this year. Olivia has also been training in theatre for 10 years and is currently pursuing a degree in Acting/Musical Theatre.

Visual Art, Drawing and Painting
Laura Bird Miller graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, with a B.A. after studying fine art and biology.  She has taught art at Circle for the past 8 years.  Laura works in a variety of media including watercolor, acrylic, oil and teaches drawing and painting.  As an artist, her work can be found in various business in the form of murals including Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Salon Zion, Ocean Nails, Lisa Nails and her canvases found throughout many homes and juried exhibits in Central Florida.   She coordinates the Art of Healing Gallery student exhibit at FL Hospital and has exhibited there as a professional artist as well.  Her passion is to share her love of painting and drawing with the students at Circle Christian School and point them to the Ultimate Creator.

Fundamentals

Literature and Writing – 7th, 8th and 7/8 Combined
Bryna Cannon is a Circle Christian School graduate who has a B.A. in English from the University of Central Florida.  She has worked as a substitute teacher and has taught in the HOUSE program at CCS.  She also helped pilot the Frameworks program, teaching the 6th-grade class, and taught Science in the Foundations program last year.

Cultural Language Prep and Academic Team Leader
Jahna Nair graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Medieval Literature and a minor in Secondary Education.  She continued her studies in graduate school at UF, where she taught Freshman Composition. After graduating, she began writing software training courses, which she continues to do today.  She is certified by the State of Florida to teach Language Arts and Social Studies in grades 6-12. After teaching in a public middle school, she taught for two years in Circle’s HOUSE program and helped pilot Circle’s Fundamentals program for grades 7 and 8.

Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Honors
Matt Recicar has a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Florida International University and an M.A. R. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. He also holds a Florida teacher’s certificate for 6th-12th grade Math Education. He has taught math in private and public schools and currently is an adjunct professor at Brevard Community College.

Comprehensive Science, Life Science and Physical Science
Pamela N. Knopf has a Christian Education Degree from Logos Christian College with a minor in Biblical Studies.  She is also a Certified Temperament Counselor.  She was a principal of a private school in Jacksonville for ten years and has been teaching in a classroom setting since 1994.  She moved to Central Florida and began teaching at Circle in January of 2011, in the subject areas of General Science and Physical Science and 7th/8th grade Language Arts.

American History, World History
Michelle Stewart received a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, Social Studies from the University of Oklahoma.  Michelle has been homeschooling for 14 years and has taught with Circle for seven years. Her teaching experience includes HOUSE and Foundations Art classes. Michelle’s passion for teaching children and watching them grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ has been her greatest joy.

Bible
Sally Bush has been in ministry with her husband for over 20 years. She has co-pastored a church, taught numerous Sunday School classes, and written Bible Study curriculum. Sally homeschooled her two children through CCS and taught in the HOUSE program, as well. She and her husband are currently teaching relationship seminars for other churches. Sally helped pilot the Fundamentals program last year, teaching Strengths & Study Skills and Worldview for both 7th and 8th grades.

Frameworks

Fourth Grade –Winter Springs and Winter Park
Rebecca Walker Morley holds a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (Theatre, Letters, and Modern Languages) from the University of Central Florida. Before joining the team at Circle during the 2010-2011 school year, she was actively involved in the homeschooling community in Brevard County.  Rebecca desires to use her top five strengths of Input, Maximizer, Empathy, Learner, and Intellection to influence the lives of her students.

Fifth Grade –Winter Springs and Winter Park
Lourdes Sloan’s native language is Spanish; she also studied French at Florida International University, and has taught grammar-school Latin.   She has over ten years of teaching experience, including nine years of homeschooling.  Lourdes earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Florida International University, an M.B.A. from the University of Miami, and a M. Ed. in Vocational Education from Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Sixth Grade –Winter Springs (Girls)
Gretchen Simmonds holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida.  She also holds a Florida Teaching Certificate for Elementary Education K-6.  Along with homeschooling, Gretchen has been teaching in the public and private fields for the last seventeen years and joined the CCS faculty as a HOUSE teacher last year.

Sixth Grade –Winter Springs (Boys) and Winter Park
Daniel Stitt is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature.  He is currently studying Christian Education at the Masters level through Liberty University Online.  Daniel hopes to inspire his students by integrating his Gallop strengths of Positivity, Ideation, Maximization, Input, and Futuristic thinking into his teaching methodology.