Instructors
Eddy Barnes
Eddy Barnes is a husband, father of three, and a pastor. He is pursuing a M.A. in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary. He likes to read, drink coffee, take walks with his wife, and hang out with his family.
Jamie Brock
Jamie Brock has bachelor’s degrees in both biology and nursing from North Georgia College and State University. She tutored peers in math and science throughout high school and college and taught college level biology lab after graduation. She worked as a critical care nurse until stopping to focus on homeschooling her seven children. She is so excited to share her love of learning with the students!
Amanda Coburn
Amanda Coburn is a mother of 4 and has been homeschooling her children since 2013. Amanda was raised in Inwood,WV. She graduated from Musselman High in 2000 and then attended Word of Life Bible Institute in NY, where she met her husband Isaac. They now reside in Hedgesville,WV. Amanda and her family attend Independent Bible Church in Martinsburg, WV where her husband and her lead a Teen Bible Study on Sunday nights and Amanda co-leads a moms group. She loves spending her spare time reading , baking & crafting.
Melissa Conklin
Melissa is a mother of four and has been homeschooling since her oldest was born in 2008. She and her husband, Matt, met while serving in the Air Force together. The military took them to California, Japan, Georgia, and Colorado - one location for each child's birth! In 2021 they moved to Virginia to be closer to family. She has had a passion for science since a young age, enjoyed participating in science competitions, pursued a degree in engineering, and started a career in electronics. Melissa has spent years teaching in homeschool co-ops, coaching Science Olympiad, and leading forest school classes. She enjoys board games, knitting, reading, and hiking.
Sara Cooper
Sara Cooper has been homeschooling since 2020. Mrs Cooper is a native of Alexandria, Virginia, lived in Western Massachusetts for five years, and has lived in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia since 2012. She and her husband, Scott, have four children. She has a Masters in International Commerce & Policy from George Mason University. Her graduate classes included a summer studying international trade at St. Peters College, Oxford University in Oxford, England.
Her past work experience includes working for a lobbyist and a think tank in Washington, D.C. among other positions. She volunteers for her church’s Bible Quiz team. She enjoys reading (non-fiction), cooking, and traveling(especially international).
Sarah Folk
Sarah Folk, a mother of three, has been dedicated to homeschooling her children since 2012. Growing up in a military family, she had the opportunity to live in England, Scotland, Utah, Mississippi, South Carolina, Virginia, and eventually West Virginia. Sarah graduated from Broadfording Christian Academy in 2002 and pursued further education at Hagerstown Community College. She worked in an outpatient oncology unit for several years before deciding to focus on her children’s education. In her free time, Sarah enjoys walking her dogs, spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, and caring for the family farm.
Lori Girard
Lori Girard has been homeschooling her three children since 2009. Two of her children have graduated and she has an 11th grader here at SAIL. Prior to living in Linden, VA for almost 25 years, she was born and raised in Colorado. She and her husband are youth leaders, and teachers at their church. She has previously taken part in Compass as a parent, a teacher, and a board member. Lori has a passion for teaching Civics and Government along with Personal Finance and Life Skills. Her interests include serving in her local church, spending time with her family, snuggling with her dog, hiking, anything musical, and striving to satisfy her wanderlust.
Abigail Griffeth
Abby Griffeth has been homeschooling her two daughters since 2013. She holds a B.A. in History from the University of Georgia where she was invited as a senior to join a special research group at Gettysburg College to intensely study and research topics in the American Civil War. She went on to receive her M.A. in American Studies from The George Washington University, where she began her college teaching career. In 2005,she published her master’s thesis on the American Civil War in public memory. Prior to having children, she also worked as a college textbook editor and wrote many study guides to newly published textbooks in the humanities, particularly history. Currently, she is an adjunct professor at Laurel Ridge Community College and works with students making the transition to college learning. Additionally, she is a member of the Warren Heritage Society and Troop Coordinator of her local American Heritage Girls troop. Along with her husband and daughters, she reenacts the Civil War and World War I, a hobby she began as a teenager. She and her family have lived in Front Royal since
2006.
Heather Holmes
Heather Holmes is a homeschool mom of five students; two homeschool graduates are now in college, two are high school students, and an elementary student. While growing up in Southern California with a mom teaching in the theater department at Fullerton Community College, Heather studied theater and historical costume design before feeling called to overseas missions. Heather has a certificate in Biblical Studies from Torchbearers International, Thetis Island, BC, Canada, and a certificate in Overseas Missions from Sojourner School of Ministry, Merritt Island, Florida. Heather served with Torchbearers International in India for a year before moving to Teen Missions International, where she served two years in short-term missions to Europe and Asia Minor before transferring to their sister ministry, AIDS Orphans and Street Children International to serve in Africa for the next 5 years. Heather met her husband Mike while speaking about missions at a Christian music festival in 2002. In 2015 they felt called out of public school and have been homeschooling ever since. Heather currently serves
as the Saturday Kid’s Ministry Coordinator at Fellowship Bible Church.
Rebecca Hott
Rebecca Hott is excited to teach ART at SAIL, combining her passion for creativity with her love for students. Art has always been her favorite subject, and she believes it’s important to let yourself explore and express your creativity. She earned her degree in Bible and TV/Video Production from Johnson University. Rebecca works as the media director for a parachurch organization and enjoys blending her creative skills with her professional work. Her husband, Anthony, is a student pastor, and together they are passionate about investing in the next generation. After having lived in 7 states Rebecca has been a resident of Stephens City since 2018. Rebecca is also a proud mom of three girls, loves good walks, movies, and all the coffee!
Rysa Hulsey
Rysa has been homeschooling her three children since 2008 (her eldest graduated in 2023). She holds a B.A. and M.A. in Mathematics from Georgian Court University and is a lifetime Certified Secondary Mathematics Teacher. Before having children, she gained 2 years of middle-school gifted & talented teaching experience, 6 years of high school teaching experience, and 5 years of college teaching experience. From 2003-2008, she was an Assistant Professor at Fairmont State University. Rysa has taught all levels of math up to Calculus 3. In her free time, Rysa enjoys kayaking, camping, and hiking.
Christine Marion
Christine has been homeschooling since 2016 and graduated her oldest of four in 2024. She has been a lifelong WV resident and attends Independent Bible Church in Martinsburg, WV where her husband, Chris, is the Children's Pastor. Christine enjoys bringing hands-on activities into the classroom to make learning engaging and relevant to all learning styles. In her spare time she enjoys reading, thrift shopping and spending time with her family.
Melissa McKay
Melissa McKay has been homeschooling her children since 2007. Prior to homeschooling, she spent ten years teaching at various levels. Since moving to Virginia in 2010, she has taught at various local homeschool coops as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Patrick Henry College. She holds a BA in English from Oglethorpe University and an MA from Middlebury College.
Brian McKee
Brian McKee is a husband and father of two (soon to be three!) homeschooled daughters. He has a BA in English and Creative Writing from James Madison University. He enjoys the outdoors, cooking, reading and writing poetry and spending time with his family. He works as the Town of Strasburg's Business and Engagement Coordinator, running events and assisting local businesses in growth and sustainability.
Stacy Patton
Stacy received her BS from Liberty University and M.B.A. from Point Park University. She has been homeschooling her 4 kids since her oldest was in kindergarten and she just proudly graduated her this year (2024)! She loves to build confidence in her students by teaching them to process their reading material and use conversational style speaking to discuss what they learned with the class. Her favorite
family tradition on her birthday is to tour a US President’s home. She also loves hiking with her dog and organizing just about anything!
Katie Perry
Katie Perry is a homeschooling mother of three. She has been homeschooling since her first child was born, in 2009. She grew up right here in Frederick County and moved back after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. Katie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Studies and holds a Virginia teaching certificate to teach middle and high school Biology. She has previously taught at two of the local high schools as both a Special Education teacher and Biology teacher. Katie also taught elementary level science at the STEAM School co-op. In the classroom, Katie strives to create an environment that is warm and welcoming. It is important to her that the students feel part of the community, that they enjoy learning, and that they know it’s ok to make mistakes along the way!
Sara Richardson
Sara began homeschooling in 2010 and soon after she began teaching at co-ops throughout the area. She has a heart for struggling learners and is skilled at adjusting coursework to suit a variety of learning styles and abilities. She is a member of Fellowship Bible Church where she teaches Sunday school. In her free time, Sara enjoys cooking and creating recipes, gardening, hiking, and relaxing with a good book and a strong cup of coffee.
Paula Roberts
Paula Roberts, an experienced homeschool mom since 2018, possesses a profound passion for both sciences and art. Through her unconventional journey that included various roles in management, customer service, software administration, and military service, she consistently found solace and inspiration in engaging with art and science activities. Her unwavering commitment to nurturing her interests amidst diverse career paths underscores her resilience and adaptability, showcasing a multifaceted professional profile enriched by her love for the arts and sciences. Presently, she operates a small business uniting the community through her love for art, aspiring to create, inspire, educate, and entertain. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, Paula relocated to the picturesque Shenandoah Valley in 2005, considering it her cherished home.
Steffanie Simpson
Steffanie Simpson is a home school parent, educator, farmer, and licensed contractor. She has a BS in Agricultural Economics from Virginia Tech. Early in her career she was involved in real estate sales, mortgage lending, and new home construction. She and her husband raised American Saddlebred horses for nearly 20 years before transitioning to Katahdin hair sheep 2008. They focus on low input grass fed lamb which is marketed direct from the farm. Steffanie regularly assists the UMD Small Ruminant Specialist with research and special events. She is a speaker at sustainable agriculture and small ruminant conferences. In 2014 she has been home schooling their son, and in 2021 began teaching Entrepreneurship at SAIL Homeschool Co-op. She attends Crossroads Church in Martinsburg, WV and has been a servant leader with XRKids since 2018. She enjoys traveling and camping with her family, horseback riding, hiking, and reading.
Elizabeth Spence
Elizabeth Spence is a second-generation homeschooler who has been homeschooling her three children since 2013. She grew up in Pennsylvania but moved to Winchester in 2003 when she married her husband Dave, a local real estate agent. Elizabeth holds a B.A. in French with teaching certification from Messiah College and spent a year studying abroad in Strasbourg, France. She has previously taught French at both the middle and high school level as well as several classes at Jr SAIL/Compass. Her other interests include reading as many books as possible, exercising, and participating in leadership at Bible Study Fellowship.
Loretta Stepanian
Loretta Stepanian has been homeschooling and teaching in the home school community for over 25 years. She enjoys reading, nature, spending time outdoors, and making craft items for her small craft business.
Lisa Strimple
Lisa Strimple taught English for 11 years at James Wood High School and currently works part-time in the Shenandoah University Writing Center where she helps undergraduate to doctoral students with their writing for class assignments. She has worked in the SU Writing Center for 11 years as well. She has been active as a teacher consultant for the Northern Virginia Writing Project and helped teach university courses for teachers on how to research their writing practices in the classroom and improve student writing. When she isn’t taking care of her special needs daughter, Joy, and her other two teenage daughters, Anya and Vika, she enjoys backpacking, gardening, traveling, and looking for ways to engage people (especially international students) in finding and growing in Christ. She’s thankful for her supportive husband, Tom, who shares so many of her passions.
Nicki White
Nicki White began homeschooling her children in 2014. She took a break from homeschooling in 2017 in order to pursue a new career and sent her children to public school. In 2022, Nicki made a career change and went back to homeschooling her youngest child. She grew up near Front Royal, Virginia, and currently resides in Strasburg with her husband, Stephen, and their three children. Nicki has a B.A. in Communication Studies from Virginia Tech and currently teaches part-time as a substitute teacher in the public schools. Her other interests include teaching children’s classes at New Hope Bible Church, gardening at her home, cooking up new recipes, and studying local history.