Middle and High School Instructors
Joshua Allen - CCS and WS
Joshua graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2006 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Physics. He has served two non-profit ministries over the course of his post-collegiate years, and most recently accepted the responsibilities and blessings of the Director of Spiritual Formation/Academic Mentor position with Circle. Josh is currently pursuing his Master of Divinity degree at Reformed Theological Seminary. A graduate of Summit Ministries' Worldview conference, Josh is passionate about answering questions about Scripture and the Christian faith and encouraging his peers and students in their spiritual journey towards the Truth of Jesus Christ. Josh and his wife, Kelly, have been married for one and a half years and have one "teenage kid"--their cat, Muffin. Josh will build upon his experiences as a Sunday school teacher for teens, an Academic Mentor for college students, and a youth group sponsor to reach Circle students most effectively and challenge them to pursue disciplined academic and spiritual growth. A lifetime native and student in the Central Florida area, Josh is excited about the opportunity to stand together with the Circle Community as we equip and train students of Central Florida for the glory of God. Alicia Braswell- CCS and WS
Alicia and her husband, Larry, have been married for twenty-three years and homeschooling for fifteen. Their oldest son, Wray, is in college, and their younger three children are CCS students: Drew is a senior, Caitlyn is a junior, and Lucas is in seventh grade. After serving as missionaries to the Gaucho people in southern Brazil for over nine years, they have been in the Orlando area for four years, where they are continuing to plant churches in much the same way as they did in Brazil. Alicia received a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from Mississippi State University and was also certified to teach all secondary sciences. After teaching public school in Texas while her husband was in seminary, she feels blessed to be able to teach science from a creationist and Biblical perspective now. She believes in the importance of helping students have fun as they learn to understand the orderly universe that God created, how they relate to it, and how they can defend their faith intellectually in the secular world.Catelin Brown - CCS and WS
Catelin joins Circle this year teaching Spanish I & II. With a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rollins College in Spanish, having studied Spanish in Spain, and having been homeschooled herself, Catelin brings a fresh and unique set of strengths to our foreign language offerings. "I love seeing the light bulbs go on and figuring out new ways to explain things that will make more sense to students," is how Catelin expresses her joy of teaching.
Rhonda Ewasiuk - CCS and WS
Rhonda has been married to her husband, Keith, for eleven years and together they have two children. She holds a Master's degree in Materials Engineering and has worked in the steel industry and space industry. She left her job as a failure analyst for the Space Shuttle program when she and her Keith decided they wanted to homeschool their two children. They were members of HIS Kids of Brevard for five years, directing and teaching homeschooled students in various programs, including high school Math and Science classes. Her children will begin a new journey in CCS's elementary program this upcoming year. Rhonda feels blessed to be such an integral part of her children's lives and the lives of those she teaches. She is excited and honored to impact and positively influence the lives of homeschool students and families for God's glory.
Christi Griffith - WS
Christi is a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and an emphasis in Vocal Performance. Christi sang professionally in Nashville, performing opera and oratorio, before studying abroad in Munich, Germany. Her teaching experience ranges from music and drama to integrated classical curriculum in the elementary and middle school classrooms. She has owned and operated her own private music studio for voice and piano, both private and group lessons, for fifteen years. A veteran of the stage, Christi has performed both musical theater and book theater roles throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara Counties, as well as touring vocally throughout the Southern and Eastern U.S. regions. Christi and her husband, Rob, moved to the Orlando area from Southern California so that Rob could begin working toward his seminary degree at Reformed Theological in Oviedo. She and Rob reside in Winter Springs with their sons, Brennan and Soren. A long-time supporter and advocate of homeschooling, Christi is very excited to be a part of Circle and is passionate about God's call to teach children His truth in a loving and encouraging environment.Tammy Lanzi - CCS and WS
Tammy and her husband Don have been married for twenty-six years and have two daughters: Trisha, a junior at Florida State University, and Joanna, a ninth-grader at CCS. Tammy graduated from Grand Rapids School of the Bible and Music in Michigan with a certification in both General Bible and Christian Education. But it wasn't until she started homeschooling her girls fifteen years ago that she discovered a love for teaching and a passion for putting the puzzles of history together in an understandable manner. She has taught in several Circle programs for nine years. In all her classes, Tammy encourages her students to value their God-given gifts and abilities, think beyond the apparent, and enjoy the breathtaking hand of God in all history. Yesterday, today, and tomorrow He is always the same!
Andrea McClure - CCS and WS
Andrea is engaged to Timothy Werner, and the two of them will happily marry this July. Andrea graduated high school from Circle in the class of 2005 and loved being homeschooled. She started college at Southeastern University and transferred home to UCF two years ago when she began dating Tim. She will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. She intends to eventually get her Masters degree in either Speech Pathology or Marriage and Family Counseling. Andrea loves wedding coordinating, and hopes to continue this as a God-honoring passion. Last school year, Andrea began the "Girl Talk" program at Circle, and has loved building relationships with her girls, while teaching them the truths of God's word. Her passion is combining the strengths God has deposited in each young woman with living a "set apart" life in this faithless world.
Allen McCoy - CCS and WS
Allen McCoy received his Master's of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Central Florida and his Bachelor's of Fine Arts Degree from Wayne State University in Detroit MI. His love and passion for literature and performing arts has been with him since childhood. Allen has held Adjunct Professor Positions at both the University of Central Florida and Seminole Community College, teaching both Dramatic Literature and Theatre History. He has held the Director of Education position at numerous organizations and has been teaching at the elementary, secondary and college levels throughout the country for almost twenty years. From 1991-2002, Allen served as the Artistic Director for the Timestep Players, an organization focused on using the arts to promote literacy and literature appreciation. He has also been a member of the World Showcase Players acting company at Disney's Epcot since 2003. Allen is married to Tracy McCoy, and they are the proud parents of Jesse Linn and Jenna Lee.
Tracy McCoy - WS
Tracy McCoy is a graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre. Tracy spent eleven years in Chicago, where she founded and produced Timestep Players national touring company with husband Allen McCoy. She moved to Central Florida in 2002 to start the Children's Theatre of Florida. Since that time she has taught and directed at Ocala Civic Theatre, Circle Theatre Company, Sands Theatre, and DeBary Children's Theatre. She also held the position of Administrative Director for the Sands Theatre Center in DeLand, FL. In addition, she served as a staff member at Northland Church in the Grade School Drama ministry. Tracy has worked professionally throughout the country acting, directing, teaching, and producing for over twenty years in theater and film, including working as an actress on the stages of the Orlando Shakespeare Theatre. However, her favorite role still remains playing "mommy" to her daughters Jesse Linn and Jenna Lee; they are her constant inspiration.
Laura Miller - WS
Laura Miller graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BA in Biology and a minor in Art and has enjoyed teaching art for CCS for the past five years. Laura began homeschooling her daughter Amber when she started kindergarten in 2001 and her son Jacob when he started kindergarten in 2003. Laura is very excited to continue to inspire in our children the love of our Master Creator, joy in the expression of His nature in character in art, and a passion for nurturing their God-given creativity!
Missy Oliphant - CCS and WS
Teaching Latin I & II this year is our Director of Group Classes Development, Linda "Missy" Oliphant. Missy hails from Louisiana, where she graduated from Louisiana College with B.M.A degree in Vocal Performance and Opera. After touring with a music and dramatic theater company, she spent several years in corporate education in Hartford, CT. During those years, Missy earned her Master's degree in Education Administration, Curriculum Design, and Adult Learning. Later, Missy joined Wilson Learning Corporation, published a novel and a collection of non-fiction stories, and formed Double Happiness Press publishing house and M & M Learning Lifestyles consulting firm. Missy and her daughter Mei adopted each other in Fuzhou, China in June 1992. She retired from corporate life to homeschool her daughter. A Ph.D candidate, Missy most recently taught middle school Language Arts, high school Honors English, Drama, and Latin at Smith Preparatory Academy, and she recently retired as Administrator of The Trinity School. In addition to teaching Latin I & II at Circle this year, Missy will be leading the Writing Workshops and the Strengths Labs.
Patricia Orlando - CCS and WS
Patricia has been married for 25 wonderful years to Michael. They have two daughters: Heather, 23 and Sarah, 20. Patricia began her teaching journey by home-educating both her daughters from kindergarten through 12th grade. Her homeschooling years were years of great growth spiritually as well as academically. She earned her Associate’s degree at Valencia and her Bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Florida Theological Seminary in 1996. During her home-educating experience she recognized her passion for government and history. She has had the fortunate opportunity to teach World Cultural Geography, AP Government, and Western Civilization at Circle over a period of three years. Currently, she is a senior at the University of Central Florida where she will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. She is excited about joining the team at Circle again and being able to share her enthusiasm about His Story.
Olivia Richardson - WS
Olivia's passion and love for dance began at the age of 2. She has had 15 years of dance training, studying such styles as ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, lyrical, modern (Graham and Horton), and hip-hop. Olivia, a Circle Theatre student for the past nine years, has assisted with the choreography of their musical productions for the past four years and is now thrilled to have the opportunity to teach classes for Circle. Olivia fervently believes in Ecclesiastes 3:4 "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to DANCE".
Brian Snyder - CCS and WS
Brian has been married over twenty-five years to Jill, and they are the parents of two sons, Matthew and Ryan. He brings to Circle an extensive background in science, math, and education. He graduated from Messiah College in Pennsylvania with a degree in Chemistry. For seven years he worked in medical research at Penn State's College of Medicine prior to completing his chemistry education certification in the state of Pennsylvania. In the past, he served eleven years as Principal/Administrator of Lake Monroe Christian Academy, a small K-8 school associated with New Tribes Mission. He has taught academic classes ranging from third grade Science to high school Algebra II and Chemistry and has privately tutored students and adults for over twenty years.
Jill Snyder - CCS and WS
Jill Snyder - CCS and WS
Jill loves teaching and is excited about teaching Language Arts at Circle Christian School. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, Jill is certified to teach kindergarten through eighth grade. She has taught at Lake Monroe Christian Academy for the past eleven years. She has taught every grade except kindergarten, and she enjoys helping students learn to communicate clearly. Jill has been married to Brian for over twenty-five years and she homeschooled their two sons, Matthew and Ryan.
Melody Washington - CCS
Melody, along with her husband, Dudley, homeschooled their two sons for eight years, graduating both from Circle. Melody spent several years in Orange County schools as a Chapter One math tutor and in special education substitute teaching before following God's call to complete her sons' schooling at home. Melody claims to be "one of those strange people" who loves math and thinks it should not only be fun for her, but for everyone. She likes to share the idea that if you give her an equation, she will show you three different ways to solve it.