Biblical Worldview II

Cameron and his wife, Jane have midwestern roots; Missouri and southern Indiana, respectively. Together they enjoy walking/running, relaxing on the beach, as well as surfing and working out. Cameron works as a consultant for Deloitte. Their shared passion is teaching and helping others discover who they are in Christ and overcome hurt and pain through inner healing. Cameron is a Pastor of 20+ years, having served in in Texas, California and now Florida. They moved to Amelia Island several years ago, being drawn to the peace, beauty and charm of the island. Together they have a history of planting churches and are passionate about fulfilling their purpose. They are currently hosting a house church in their home every Sunday (House 242 Church).

Composition & Ancient Literature, World History

A native of upstate New York, Veronica has spent most of her adult life here in Florida, and the last 30 years in Fernandina Beach.  Professionally, she spent 15 years in a variety of positions in banking before returning to the University of Florida to earn a BA in English and a MEd in English Education.  Veronica then spent the next 25 years teaching secondary English, with most of her experience being with 10 -12 grade Honors, AP, and Dual Enrollment students. On a more personal level, Veronica is married with three grown children and four grandchildren.  She has enjoyed her retirement from public school teaching for the past couple of years, spending her days taking long walks with her husband, visiting family and friends, attending a Community Bible Study, participating in a monthly Book Club, taking literature classes through Amelia Lifelong Learning, cooking vegan meals, tending to her plants, and reading. She often be found reading two-three books simultaneously—a faith-based resource book to enhance my spiritual growth, a contemporary historical fiction novel, and a literary classic. 

Introduction to Literary Analysis, Composition & American Literature, Yearbook

Leisha Cowart has been a teacher for 24 years, most recently at Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, FL. In her career, she has taught English, drama, journalism, yearbook, and Bible for grades 3-12. She holds a degree in journalism from Auburn University, and began her career as a sportswriter. She then worked in minor league baseball public relations for the Durham Bulls and spent a number of years in advertising, marketing and graphic design before finding her true calling in teaching and yearbook production. She and her fiancé are members of The Church of Eleven22, and her favorite Bible verse is “Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe.” (Psalm 118:2)

Earth Science, Drama

Lisa Giza has a BFA in Acting from Ithaca College where she also studied tap, jazz and modern dance.  After graduating from IC she enrolled in George Mason University where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Biology before transferring to the Graduate School of Education to earn her Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. During her 20+ years in education Lisa has taught Life Science 7, Earth Science, Earth Science 2, Astronomy, Biology, Technology Tools, Algebra 1, Power Math 8 and Environmental Science.  She has held teaching certifications in Virginia, Georgia and Florida for grades K-12 Drama, grades 6-12 Biology, and grades 6-12 Earth and Space Science.  Since 2019 she has taught science at Fernandina Beach High School, but with each year that has passed, her career prayer has always been a simple one, “God, do you want me in the public school mission field – or equipping your army of young believers?”  The answer has always been missions – until now.  So, it is with great excitement and spiritual fervor that Lisa steps away from public education to join the PEP Fernandina Beach campus!  She is excited to pour into the scientific minds of the next generation of Christians and to share her passion for the glory of His creation which He has so “intricately woven”!

New Testament Survey

Doug Hurley holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ohio University, a Master of Arts in Interpersonal Communications from Austin Peay State University, a Master of Arts in Biblical and Christian Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Spiritual Formation from George Fox University. After college, Doug commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army and served as an active duty pilot for twelve years, deploying multiple times to Afghanistan and Iraq. Following his military career, he moved into the business world, building a career in sales and sales leadership before answering a call into pastoral ministry, where he served on staff at a large church leading men's ministry and marketplace outreach. Today Doug is the owner of RethinkWork, a leadership consulting and coaching firm, and serves as Executive Director of Souly Business, a Christian men's ministry with chapters across the U.S. and around the world. He sees his work in the marketplace as every bit as much a ministry as anything else he does. Doug and his wife live in Fernandina Beach, Florida, with their three children. He believes the most important thing any person can know is who they are in Jesus. Everything flows from there.

Old Testament Survey

Bryan graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in communications, then earned a master’s degree in Bible and Ministry from Lubbock Christian University. Bryan has one son, Dylan, and his wife Lara who lives in Oklahoma City. Bryan has served the church for the past 32 years and currently serves as preaching minister for the Fernandina Beach Church of Christ. Bryan served as a youth minister for 13 years and really loves helping teens to find freedom in Christ. 

Saxon 8/7, Geometry, Logic

Laurie has a BA in Mathematics Education from the University of South Florida. She has been teaching high school as well as tutoring and evaluating home school students for most of her adult life. She has been with PEP almost from its inception and enjoys being in partnership with parents to help her students chase their dreams. She has the experience and passion to make difficult subjects easier to digest, and she loves seeing her students progress and push themselves harder than they believed they were able. While not everyone will love math, the study of it points us to an ordered universe and a divine creator. Too many students choose their path based on avoiding the subject, but she wants her students fully equipped to pursue any course of study they desire. She has also enjoyed playing the piano for worship services at her church for many years.

Biblical Worldview I

Adam Page is currently serving as primary preaching pastor at Amelia Baptist Church in Amelia Island, Florida. He has served on the ABC staff for 12 years, but he has served in vocational ministry since 2009. He is a Jacksonville native, UNF graduate, holds a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently enrolled in the DEdMin program at SBTS. The Doctor of Educational Ministry is a professional doctoral degree for experienced Christian educators and ministry leaders, focusing on applied research rather than traditional academic research. Pastor Adam lives in Fernandina Beach with his wife of 16 years, Amy Jo, and their four children: Ellie Jo, Teagan, Zoey and Deacon. Adam enjoys spending time with his family and church family, reading, writing for a variety of publications, Little Talbot Island, watching movies, playing guitar, and hopelessly rooting for his Jacksonville Jaguars.  

Art

Paula Schutte has a BS in Art Education from Edinboro University, Edinboro, PA.  Her first teaching assignment was teaching elementary art in the Kansas City, Kansas inner city school district #500.  Paula returned to PA and worked in Greensburg, PA at the Westmoreland School District, first as a psychiatric technician and later as a classroom assistant for grades 7-9,  with students who had mental health diagnosis.  During this time she developed an art program for grades 1-12 and summer camp art classes for physically and mentally handicapped students.  After retiring, she became Studio Programs Coordinator in the education department for the Westmoreland Museum of American Art.  Here she created art programs for art summer camps, school tours, Saturday children's classes, Sunday studio classes for children and their parents, special events and adult pop up studio classes. Currently, Paula lives in Northeast Florida and has become involved with various educational 4-H programs through UF/IFAS Master Gardener program.  Paula is involved with her church crafting group, where they hand craft items to be placed in Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.

Geography, American History

Dana Strickland is a Second generation native of Fernandina Beach. She and her husband, Joseph have been married for 22 years. Together, they have three beautiful children from the ages of 14 to 17 and have homeschooled for the last 13 years. Dana graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelors degree in education in 2006. She worked in the public school system for 3 1/2 years before stepping away to stay home with her babies and then eventually homeschool. Dana has a passion for the education of children, especially when rooted and grounded in Christ.

Introduction to Composition (Core A), Grammar

Michelle Walsh is proud to have grown up as a missionary kid in South America! She currently lives in Yulee, Fl and is married to her husband, Dan Walsh, a minister at Mercy Hill Church. She is blessed with 5 children, 1 amazing daughter-in-law, 1 awesome son-in-law, a grandson (arriving in mid June) and 2 dogs, Chewbacca and Han Solo! She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Secondary Education. She taught middle school English for a few years, homeschooled her children for many more years, and has been teaching Spanish at a local Christian school for the past five years. She loves teaching any age group, reading, exercising, traveling, and making healthy food. Her greatest goal in life is to know Christ and to make Him known. Jeremiah 9:23-34 is one of her favorites. She hopes you will read it soon. 

Biology

Kirsti Woods is originally from San Diego. She moved to Fernandina Beach in 2017 with her husband and our three children, ages 9-14. She has been homeschooling for more than ten years and has taught for a local homeschool co-op and at a private Christian school. Teaching is a true joy, and her goal is to inspire a love of learning while helping students develop an appreciation for God's design and the beauty of His creation. His fingerprints are everywhere! Some of her favorites verses are: “We love because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8 , "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!" — Psalm 150:6, and “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” — Psalm 139:23.