Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson earned her bachelor’s degree in 2007 from The University of Tennessee where she studied English Literature. During and after college she worked as an assistant teacher at the university’s Early Learning Center. After she and her husband welcomed their first child, Heather chose to stay at home. They now have three children and she has been homeschooling for six years. 

 

Olivia Atkinson

Olivia Atkinson is a homeschool graduate and is blessed to have been teaching at Peachtree for 8  years,  She is a certified Family Herbalist through Vintage Remedies, has formally studied photography, and has a professional photography business. She has studied piano, theater, and voice over the last 10 years with the Annie Moses Conservatory, and has furthered her classical vocal career with Melissa Shippen Burrows.   Olivia has participated in a number of shows through the Annie Moses Summer Music Festival and Conservatory, taking her to Carnegie Hall, the Grand Ole’ Opry, and a roles in the premieres of  “Merry Christmas, Uncle Scrooge!” and "Tom Sawyer", as well as a drama masterclass with acting legend John Rhys-Davies.  Olivia was a member of Peachtree’s bell and vocal choirs from their beginning through her graduation. She loves working with young children and helping develop their creativity, and is thankful for the opportunity to share her interests with children while encouraging them to develop their talents to use for God’s glory.

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Lisa Barrett

My name is Lisa Barrett, and I am a veteran homeschool mom of seventeen years. In addition to being a homeschool mom, I have a BS in Applied Human Science, and also recently finished certifications as a Holistic Nutritionist and Health Coach with American Fitness Professionals & Associates and certification as a Certified Nutrition Coach with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.  This fall’s semester Health will use books 3&4 of LifePacs, along with print-outs from Nutrition 101: Choose Life. You will need to purchase the two consumable Life Pac books from Alpha & Omega. Total cost for both books will be $22.00. We will cover select body systems, discuss emotions, hygiene, spiritual health, first aid and safety, as well as incorporate preparing recipes from Nutrition 101 in class!

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Canaan Bowman

After graduating from Tennessee Tech University in 2013, he has taught 9 years of high school math and assistant band director, as well as private piano. He and his wife, Paige, are blessed with six children.

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Ellie Figura, Aide

My name is Ellie Figura.   I am so thankful  the Lord brought me to Peachtree 3 years ago through my sister Hannah Rentschler. I enjoy seeing the kids in the art classes laugh snd have fun times and how the teachers snd staff care for each other.

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Jessica Figura

Jessica Figura graduated with a B.A. in liberal studies with an emphasis in elementary education from California Polytechnic University Pomona. She taught kindergarten for two years before being blessed with her first child of six. She has educated her children at home for over twenty years using a Christian classical approach to learning. She believes that we were created to glorify the Lord in all things.  , “ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:36    

        She  started teaching Budding and Sprouting Artists in 2019 at Peachtree. She loves that Peachtree desires to see the arts redeemed for Jesus Christ and used for His glory. 

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Cara Gaetjens

Cara is a mother of three homeschool graduates and one high school senior. Cara spent her junior year of college in Barcelona, Spain and earned a B.A. in Spanish from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. She also has a M.S. in Library Science from the University of Illinois. She loves to see her students learn to speak, write and understand Spanish and to use it to share God’s love.

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Grady Giffey

Grady is a homeschool graduate and student at Tennessee Tech. As the oldest of 5 brothers, he has enjoyed Peachtree throughout the years, where other older boys have poured into him. He is now looking forward to pouring onto the younger generation of boys. Grady is a gifted Mandolin player, active in 4-H showing beef heifers and livestock judging, he is also a small group leader at church. His interest in animals will lead him to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine.

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Sonya Henderson 

Sonya is a wife of over 30 years, a mother of 6 children and grandmother of 5.  She began homeschooling her first child in 1995 and has now graduated the youngest in June 2021.  Before having children, she earned a degree in Early Childhood Development and taught preschool at U.T. Knoxville’s Child Development Center.  She is excited to begin working with preschoolers again on a regular basis and counts it as a blessing to do that in the sweet environment of Peachtree.  She will be teaching a literature-based class which will include music, crafts/art and games.  She also works in Peachtree’s office on Mondays.

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Catrina Howell

Catrina is excited to be a part of Peachtree Learning Center as a teacher for the American Girl Historical Class II. While growing up as a child of educators north of Chattanooga, she developed a life-long love of history that began with walking down the halls of her elementary school carrying stacks of biographies to take home to read, helping her dad grade his junior high history classes’ test papers, and making frequent visits to the Chickamauga Battlefield National Park. Her background is diverse and includes painting, drawing, ceramics, needlework, calligraphy, writing, and medicine. She feels very blessed to have worked for many years with children of all ages. She is especially thankful that she is able to homeschool her own three young daughters, who also happen to enjoy American Girl dolls themselves. She has been involved in Community Bible Study (CBS) for the last ten years and the Upper Cumberland Christian Co-Op for going on three years now. She loves interacting with the children as she watches them learn and grow. While focusing on the American Girl historical dolls and what their lives were like during their time periods, she hopes to help bring history to life and desires that they will become aware of God’s providential hand which is evident throughout history.

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Bryan Knowles

Bryan Knowles:  Bryan Knowles received his B.A. in History and Politics & Government from Bryan College in 2020. He is a homeschool graduate of Daniel 1 Academy where he and his wife, Justice, met and played basketball. His senior year of high school, Bryan participated in Peachtree's High School Choir, and the next year was honored to teach the American Boy class. Bryan focuses on American History and U.S. Government, with emphasis on the American Founding and the Second World War. He is thrilled to be teaching again at Peachtree.

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Adonna Pryor

Adonna is a Christian wife and mother that has lived in the Cookeville area for 30 years.  She and her husband homeschool three children, and successfully graduated a fourth from homeschooling in 2015.  Adonna has been the coordinator for the Upper Cumberland Christian Co-op, a homeschooling cooperative, for the last 5 years and the Math and History tutor at Sharp Arrows Tutorial.

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Sherri Sparkman

I’m a native to Sparta and mom to 2 boys whom I was blessed to homeschool for 9 years. I spent several years teaching ESL classes to Hispanic ladies and have taught Sunday school for the past 20 years. Before staying home to raise my boys, I worked as a surgical tech for about 5 years and graduated from Coastal Carolina College in 1997. 

 

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Chris Sullivan

Chris is blessed to have worked with children for over 30 years.  She has worked with children as a gym teacher, daycare teacher, taught children at church, volunteered in the school system helping them in their reading skills, and childcare in her home.  At present she tutors Reading and Math at home and guides children in “Early Reading Foundations” at Peachtree where she uses the “Sing, Spell, Read, and Write” program.  It is her joy to guide your child along with you.

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