Instructors
Mrs. Christy Bebeau
Christy Bebeau has been a home school STEM educator (math through calculus, natural science, engineering, computer programming, CAD, etc.) for nearly 20 years. (She also offers a popular literature class!). She teaches grades K – 12 and was the first to offer elementary engineering classes. She has a degree in engineering, has worked in private industry, has been an active advocate for home school choice, is co-owner/founder of Preparatory Academy, Inc. a private not-for-profit K-12 school. In addition to teaching homeschool classes, Christy is a student at USF seeking a PhD in geoscience (aka geology).
Ms. Marcela Espejo
BIO:
Marcela was born in South America to a Bolivian father and an American
mother. She grew up in a bilingual, bicultural home, making her a native
Spanish speaker, with Latin culture, traditions and folklore running through
her veins. Marcela attended art school in Bolivia, attaining a master’s degree in
graphic design and fine art. She later came to own an art studio and a
children’s gallery in the U.S. and is known as an international artist for her art
exhibits in South and North America. She spent many years teaching Spanish
to young English-speaking children and English to Spanish speaking children
as a Head Teacher in Saint Andrews well known Bolivian Catholic School and
Top Kids, the only English learning private Pre School in La Paz Bolivia at the
time. Today she lives in Safety Harbor Fl and works at the Safety Harbor Public
Library. She does Story Time for toddlers through preschool every week, assists
with children programming and teaches ICRE8, a very popular
intergenerational art class once a month. She is well known in her community
for her engaging teaching ability and contagious, upbeat personality.
CONTACT: MARCELA ESPEJO /EMAIL: [email protected]
Mrs. Sue Farrell
As an artist, mom and teacher, with a degree in Elementary Education and minors in Sociology and Art, my life has been geared toward people, much of it with children and art. As a result, I have taught grade school at St. Christopher’s in NY, and have volunteered taught and at both the individual and community levels.
At the class level we created mosaics for MOSI, silk painting for the FL Aquarium’s educational classroom, scarves for school banquets, large murals in a middle school etc. At the county level we took the Reflections Program that encourages students to be involved in writing and the arts from 26 to over 1800 entries in 2 years. taught parents and teachers ways to introduce and use the arts with their children. In other volunteerism I coordinated murals for the county to help calm children going through the court system, co-chaired the Festival of Trees Art Show to include public, private and home schoolers next to a professional artist show, museum and gallery displays, and more.
My own works, particularly those in pencil, pastel and silk painting, have hung in numerous shows throughout Florida and elsewhere.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of working with JMJ and home school groups for the past several years. My goals with these wonderful children include a broad-based experience; teaching hands-on as well as learning based skill sets, working from the Elements and Principals of Art in age appropriate lessons. We work in a variety of mediums, and I strive to introduce styles of art as well as a variety of artists.
Art is one of those things that add depth and dimension to our lives. I believe (as many studies have also shown) that the experience of art, particularly in children, spills over into other areas- including learning, expression and accomplishment.
Mrs. Laura Gallop
Laura Gallop is a former professional actor/singer/model who has worked in Television, Off Broadway,and with producers from London's West End. Usually known as the "Leading Lady Ingenue", she has held the title role in a myriad of shows in Musical Theatre, Drama, and Comedy. She has performed on the Tonight Show stage with Jay Leno in Hollywood, modeled for Liz Clayborn and toured with numerous plays. She holds a BS in Education, Communication/Theatre Arts, and has studied in NYC under the direction of Broadway and Movie Actors such as Uta Hagen, Salem Ludwig, Edward Morehouse, Madeline Guilford. Laura has also studied voice for well over a decade, taught children and adults, voice, acting and public speaking. She has directed numerous plays and Theatre Camps. Laura is wildly excited to teach your beautiful children all she has learned over the years, ALL FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD!!
Mrs. Tara Garofalo
My name is Tara Garofalo but the children call me Mrs. G. I am 5th gen of family to live in Lutz. I am married with 2 daughters, 22 and 10. I attend Northwest Community Church and enjoy being very involved! Science has always been a favorite of mine and being outdoors in nature is the best! I volunteer with Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife rescuing wildlife when I can. Being able to teach has been the highlights of my weeks. I am looking forward to another wonderful year!
Mrs. Liesa Gonzalez
I am the mother of seven children, ages 26-6, all of whom I homeschooled. I have over 20 years of homeschooling experience, specifically following the classical education method.
Mrs. Erika Greelish
I am thrilled to be teaching writing for JMJ once again! I have been a part of this wonderful group since January of 2006. Towards the end of my six-year tenure as a public elementary school teacher, I became involved with the local homeschooling community. I support a focus on the individual child as a whole, and believe that the daily guidance a child’s family offers is the most crucial underpinning of his or her development. I have a B.A. in Literature and a Master’s degree in Education. My services include the following: private tutoring for ages 5 and up, curriculum consultation and design, end-of-year portfolio evaluations, and standardized testing. My phone number is 813-760-3795 (cell); email me at [email protected],
Mrs. Brittany Higgins
Wife and Mother. Amazing Homeschool educator and Service Council member.
Mrs. Carolyn Lang
Carolyn Lang is a doctoral student in Geology at the University of South Florida, focusing on geochemistry and geoscience education. Her research interests include aqueous and hard rock geochemistry as well as innovative teaching practices in K-12 and undergraduate science courses. She employs hands-on methods to improve student spatial visualization skills and to foster student science literacy and numeracy. She is co-founder and owner of a K-12 not-for-profit school in Hillsborough County, where she teaches STEAM classes to all grades. Her undergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science in Geology with a focus in geochemistry. She is a mother and grandmother who homeschooled her children until college and has continued teaching math and science classes to homeschool groups. She returned to college for a terminal degree when her youngest child started college.
Mrs. Mary Macht
Mr. Osvaldo Meireles
Osvaldo Meireles is a graduate student at the University of South Florida pursuing his PhD in Geology/Geochemistry. He has over 7 years of experience in tutoring and teaching STEM subjects such as geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and math (up to Calculus 1). While his style of teaching encompasses a variety of tools, he focuses on solidifying lessons with real world examples and visual if not physical aids. He has a bachelor’s degree in Geology from the University of Florida and is originally from Miami, FL.
Mrs. Valerie Merimee
I am blessed to be a "Founding Mother" of JMJ and I love this group more than you can imagine! I am married and have three beautiful children who now fall in the adult or young adult categories. I homeschooled my girls, but didn’t know anything about homeschooling when Michael was in public and private schools. I was on the JMJ Service Council for 10 years when my girls were being homeschooled and I assisted with the Mosaic group back in 2014 when it began. Time sure flies! I never imagined I would be asked to mentor Mosaic after Amanda graduated, but I am thrilled to be back as a part of JMJ once again! The Mosaic teens are such an amazing group and our focus is to create a dynamic high school community where every person feels valued and included. I am looking forward to another amazing year with the JMJ high school group! Feel free to contact me with any questions or suggestions: [email protected] Home: 813-962-3984 Cell: 813-597-9868
Mrs. Julia Murray
I graduated from University of Colorado and joined the USMC as an intel Officer. I met my husband. I got out of the USMC after our first son was born and hav stayed home ever since. During my time in the Marine Corps I was certified in curriculum development, I wrote classes for recruits and I gave classes to recruits. I have homeschool our four children through Highschool. I am certified to tach IEW and have taught 4 years with different Classical Conversations groups.
Mrs. Mary Ramsey
"Mary Ramsey took ballet classes for 12 years, starting at age 7. She was taught using the RPM technique (Revolutionary Principles of Movement), which uses energy patterns in dance to help each individual reach his/her fullest potential in range of movement and expression of music. At ages 11 and 12, she accompanied her ballet teacher on week-long teaching seminars, and uses those experiences in her teaching methods. After 9 years of training in South Tampa, she attended Ballet Palm Beach's trainee program (which is also based in RPM) for 3 years, during which time she trained seriously to become a professional ballet dancer.
In 2021, she moved back to South Tampa, where she taught classes at Epiphany Catholic Church for a year and a half before getting married in 2024.
She has a passion for passing on God's amazing gift of being able to express music so that an audience can visualize the beauty of the music they hear."
Mrs. Alaina Sproull
The religious beauty and ordered simplicity of an Atrium speaks to the innate dignity and precious soul of every child. Even before completing CGS Level I training in 2018 Alaina was called to be involved in her daughter's Atrium as a Catechist assistant for two years. She spent her first year as a Catechist in northern Virginia and her second year at St. Mark's in Tampa. She looks forward to spending time with your children and the Good Shepherd this 2020-21 school year.
Ms. Michele Stone
Arts Advocate/InstructorTwenty years of experience with art advocacy and non-profit organizations, eleven years teaching art to children, programming art for afterschool programs, summer camp and extra-curricular art classes as well as 7 years instructing adults and senior citizens. Consistently demonstrated a record of excellent programming, engaging individuals through art and foresight of consumer expectations. Strengths include versatility, creativeness and exploration of numerous artistic mediums, mastery of strategic planning, collaboration, compassion and empathy for children and adult clients, critical thinking and problem solving, resourcefulness and a passion to share and grow through artistic expression and inclusivity. |
Mrs. Maria Tompkins
One of my favorite quotes from a Mother of Divine Grace Syllabus is "If the soul has in it good, true, beautiful, noble, and heroic images, it will become like those things. Additionally, since whatever is true is also beautiful, an appreciation of the beautiful prepares the way for an appreciation of the true. If children love the beautiful, they will love the truth as truth, when they are older. Thus, even in terms of intellectual formation, fostering the fine arts is important."
I believe classical ballet is one of those fine arts which nourishes the soul through inspiring music, graceful movements and beautiful imagery.
My love for ballet began when I was a little girl. For seven years during my youth, I studied under the direction of Bearice De Paris from Teatro Colon of Argentina. During this time, I danced with the Florida Gulf Coast Ballet Company and was offered a scholarshp to the Summer Intensive of the School of American Ballet in New York City.
As an adult, I returned to dance ballet in 2000 and still continue to take classes 3-4 times a week. My teachers have included: Sasha Yapparov, an Honored Artist of the Ukraine from the Bolshoi Theatre and Sarasota Ballet; Julio Montano from Ballet de Camaguey, Cuba and Ballet National del Peru; Erkki Tan from the Moscow State Institute of Theatrical Art and Tampa Ballet; and Carol Lee also from the Tampa Ballet and author of three books on ballet and dance.
My two youngest daughters were my first students receiving their first formal ballet training at home, and since 2006 I have been blessed to be the ballet teacher at JMJ. The JMJ ballet dancers have performed at the annual Evening of the Arts at the Eleanor Dempsey Performing Arts Center at the Bishop McLoughlin High School from 2009-12 and at St. Anthony's Family Center from 2013.
Personal Background
I graduated in 1981 with Honors from St. Petersburg Junior College with an Associates of Arts degree in Architecture and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. From 1978 to 1984, I worked as an architectural draftsperson.
Jack, my loving husband, and I were married in 1982 and blessed with eight children. We have homeschooled since 1994.
Time has flown by as our five oldest children have graduated from college with honors and four of them have married. We have been joyfully blessed with 12 grandchildren who are also being homeschooled by their parents :)
Mrs. Dawn Toomer
A native Floridian through and through, I love the outdoors from the beach to the trails to the springs and everything in between. My Catholic faith penetrates my life. I am blessed to have a job working at St. Anthony of Padua as the Faith Formation Director and Youth Minister. I am also blessed with three wonderful children, a daughter in law, a son in law, a granddaughter and a grandson on the way! I look forward to sharing my faith with your children through the beauty of the arts, the Saints and the richness of our Catholic faith!
Mrs. Kathryn Troyer
I am a former elementary teacher, and currently certified to teach K-6 elementary all subjects, and K-12 Special Education. I received my bachelors degree in Special Education and General Elementary Education from Grand Valley State University in Michigan, and my Masters degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders from University of North Dakota. I am a firm believer in hands-on learning that engages all the senses, and you will observe much of this multi-sensory learning in my lessons. I also have a passion for incorporating beautiful picture books and literature into my lessons, so you will often hear me engaging students in read-alouds.
My husband and I moved to Florida from Michigan in 2015. We have two beautiful daughters, and I have since left the public school classroom to stay home and do life with them.
I currently tutor K-5 students in reading, math, and writing, as well as perform homeschool evaluations for families.
Feel free to contact me with any questions!
Mrs. Rhonda Weidner
Steve and I have been married for almost 30 years. We have 9 beautiful children (ages 28-10), whom we have homeschooled for over 25 years. I have a bachelor's degree in psychology.