HOUSE Instructors
Dana Bergman
Tammie French
Elisabeth Graeser
Elisabeth graduated from Circle in 2002 and from The Florida College of Natural Health with a National Massage Therapy License. Elisabeth is currently working full time as Circle's Assistant Athletic Director. She was homeschooled at Circle from K-12th grades, has worked at Circle for four years, and has taught sign language for two years. Elisabeth was married in May to her husband, Tim. Having been born and raised a Circle student, Elisabeth has loved participating in the lives of students every day. Elisabeth took sign language from 6-10th grades with Mrs. Beth Mattox and looks forward to teaching the students who will be in her classes.
Laura Miller
Laura Miller graduated from and worked at the University of Minnesota using her Bachelor's Degree in Biology and passion for art as a technical research assistant and has several publications that include her art and illustrations. Laura began homeschooling when her daughter Amber started kindergarten in 2001, and has enjoyed teaching art for two years at Circle Christian School's HOUSE Apopka program as well as the the arts program at Winter Springs for the last two years. Laura is very excited to continue to inspire in our children the love of our Master Creator, the expression of His nature in character in art, and a passion for nurturing their God-given creativity!Katelyn Neal
Katelyn graduated from Circle Christian School in 2006. She is currently attending Valencia Community College. She plans to major in elementary education with a focus on missions. Katelyn loves children and looks forward to seeing just how much teaching will influence her life. She was a gymnast for seven years and has also been cheering for seven years. Though she does not currently cheer for a college squad during the school year, Katelyn works for a Christian cheerleading company over the summers called FCC which is the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders. FCC consists of teaching top-notch cheerleading camps with a Christian basis. Cheering for Circle, Katelyn was always the flyer and tumbler. However being a part of FCC, she knows now that learning every aspect, part, and position on a cheer squad is essential. She looks forward to teaching the Spirit Club the importance of safety, proper cheer techniques, having fun, and, of course, cheering for Christ. Katelyn also knows the importance of team work and how that applies to cheering and representing not only Circle Christian, but more importantly, Christ Himself.Susan Newman
Susan and her husband of thirteen years, Howard, have three children, Rebecca, Howie, and Nancy. Susan received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from FSC and fifteen years later received a Bachelor of Music Education from UCF. She pursued the Music Education degree because of her love of handbells and the desire to promote handbells in mainstream music education. Ringing handbells for over thirty years, being a member of AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers) and a past AGEHR Area IV board member, traveling to Europe, Japan, England, and Australia, and becoming a AGEHR Level One Certified Director have helped Susan as she was a clinician for local and national AGEHR ringing events, organized community benefit concerts, and co-founded the professional group Bay Area Ringers of Tampa. Susan is currently on the planning committee for the 13th International Handbell Symposium and AGEHR National Seminar, both to be held in Orlando during August 2008. Working at a Tampa engineering firm for thirteen years brought her to Orlando where she met Howard. In addition, she has been a church music director in Tampa, Brandon, and Orlando for seventeen years. Susan and Howard began homeschooling five years ago and attend the First United Methodist Church of Orlando. Susan loves to cross-stitch, sew, teach piano, and she especially enjoys learning right along with her students.Sandy Pelton
Sandy has served the HOUSE program for the past three years as both a teacher's assistant and a teacher. Her daughter, Lexi, will be a HOUSE seventh grade student this coming year and her older daughter Mariah will be helping as a HOUSE student assistant for the second year. Sandy relocated from New York to Florida in 1979 and previously worked in the fields of Public Relations and Advertising. She is a Florida State Press Association award winner for an Advertorial she wrote for Gulfstream Publications while working as a writer for eighteen of their community newspapers in the Broward and Palm Beach County area. Paul, her husband of eighteen years, works for an area law firm. In the past they have served together as Sunday School teachers, Youth Directors, and executive board members of several churches. Sandy loves to teach and delights in finding innovative and exciting ways of imparting knowledge to her students that enhance their desire to learn and grow.Mary Rang
A Florida native, Mary's travels began as an Air Force "brat." She earned a Bachelor of Arts and MBA in finance and economics. This is her fourth year homeschooling her daughter, Anne-Louise. Her son, Sam, is a sophomore at Trinity Prep. Mary and husband, Paul, have been married for twenty-two years, and in addition to working hard, they enjoy traveling, dining, visiting friends and family, laughing, reading, and watching movies. Her previous work experience includes VP at SunBank, director of children's ministry, and college teaching. In addition to homeschooling, homemaking, HOUSE, and the children--and their lacrosse, tennis, horse, pets and friends--keep her running from pillar to post. Like many, she holds firm opinions about homeschooling and believes that when childhood classroom experiences are necessary, they should consist mainly of inspiring, amusing, fully-engaging, and relationship-building activities. Mary plans her lessons so that her students will respond with laughter and enthusiasm, hoping they'll graduate from the experience with the desire and personal skills to learn more, and at least one lasting friendship.Allyson Russell
Allyson and her husband of nineteen years, Steve, are native Californians. They have two children, Meghan and Bobby. Allyson received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and has been teaching grades K-8 since 1985. Following the Lord's leading, she and her family moved to Florida five years ago as she was called to be music director at Grace Lutheran School in Winter Haven. The following year the switch to homeschooling was made. Allyson has taught science, history, and music classes at HOUSE as well as served as the director and currently holds a Florida Educator's Professional Teaching Credential. She is involved in children's ministry, music ministry, and is the education leader at Lamb of God Lutheran Church. Her passions include Christ, family, travel, reading, and scrapbooking.
Kim Schionning
Kim has been married for fifteen years and has three children. This will be her ninth year homeschooling with Circle and teaching in the HOUSE program. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida. She worked for the City of Orlando for approximately ten years in recreation. She taught almost every elementary grade level in Orlando at sites ranging from a small private school to one of the at-risk public schools. She was a part of the physical education program for several years in a local elementary school. She worked as a co-director of the Mothers' Day Out/Preschool program and was the President of the School Board for Southeast Christian Church where she is on the VBS team each year.
Michelle Stewart
Michelle is from Oklahoma and is married to Don, an Army Major, and together they have traveled the world with their three children. Residing in Orlando for the past four years, it is safe to say that this is now home. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education Social Studies from the University of Oklahoma. Teaching HOUSE and Foundations for Circle over the past four years has been a privilege and wonderful growing experience both professionally and personally. Teaching has offered her the opportunity to inspire and influence children to know Christ which is the desire of her heart. From Germany to Georgia, she has discovered God's presence, His people, and His amazing provision in each new duty station. While stationed in Hawaii, she was privileged to serve as co-leader of Hawaiian Grace Homeschool Group, and in Georgia, she taught geography and art appreciation for a co-op group. The Lord has revealed Himself in wonderful ways during the years as she has homeschooled her children. She brings to the classroom environment a passion to influence children to view the world through God's eyes.Becky Van Volkinburg
Becky grew up in Altamonte Springs but moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995 where she met Brian who is now her husband. Becky and Brian have been back in Florida for almost five years. They have two sons, Trevor and Nathan. Becky heads up the children's choir at her church where she not only directs the children but also writes the music they sing. Becky also works as a freelance proofreader for a Christian publishing house in Orlando. Her husband, Brian is on staff at the church as the video producer. Becky has a passion for helping children understand what the Word of God means to them personally. She believes that each child is called to greatness, and she desires to help them achieve all that God has for them.
Tim Werner
Tim is currently attending Valencia Community College. He was homeschooled at Circle from kindergarten through twelfth grade and is a 2006 CCS graduate. Over the years he has developed a love for working with children, especially in the area of sports. Tim has been active in competitive sports since he was in second grade and has a vast knowledge of sports and what it takes to improve and succeed. Having assisted in teaching some classes in the past, he is looking forward to this next year as he prepares to teach and influence his future students on a deeper level of training and commitment.Melony West
Melony and her husband of eighteen years, Rob, have three children, Jennifer, Joshua, and Jacob. Melony received her Associate in Arts Degree from Florida College, a Christian college in Tampa where she studied Pre-Med. Following college, Melony worked in the health insurance field for ten years. She worked as a Training Coordinator, developing training manuals and training new hires on all aspects of the company, and as an Appeals Coordinator, preparing and presenting appeal cases to the appeal board. In addition, Melony sang with the Voices of Liberty at EPCOT before making a switch to opera. She has been singing with the Orlando Opera Company as a chorus member for seventeen seasons. She has had the opportunity to sing several roles with Orlando Opera as well as having been a soloist with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Melony is very active in her church and has been teaching Bible classes of all ages for more than fifteen years.
Tracey Wozniak
Tracey and her husband, Michael, of fifteen years have five children and live in Lake Mary. Teaching has always been a love for her from the time she was pretending school as a little girl in the shed to receiving her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from UCF in 1993. Tracey taught in Orange County for six years then "retired" to become a stay-at-home mom. During her classroom Media Specialist role and Reading Recovery training, she discovered her ultimate desire is to teach teachers. The Wozniak family has homeschooled with Circle for the past three years and while attending the Advanced Mentoring Group with Legacy Principles, Tracey was presented with the truth that God not only created her to love teaching reading and writing but that it was her calling. She is most fulfilled when engaged in a book or story shared with children. When God provides extra time, you can find her in her studio quilting, card making, and creating digital storybooks. Her life mission statement is "Living to know and share truth to inspire growth and extend hope."