Instructors
Get To Know Our Teachers
Alex Small runs our History Detectives Classes which are now offered online. She has taught with LOL for many years and has always developed classes through the lens of critical thinking and based on the interests of her students, many of whom have been returning for the next installment of the History Detectives every semester. Some past examples of History Detective Classes have been Ghosts of Standing Rock, Civil War, Cold War, World War 2, Titanic, Conspiracy Theories, and Vikings just to name a few. Alex also runs a another class each semester called Civics on Steroids where she covers Current Affairs through the critical thinking lens that she has shared with her students. She holds a Bachelor of Science from Leslie University as well as a Master of Education from Cambridge College.
Andre has previously taught our Fun & Fitness classes where his bright and shining light and core value focus gets kids active while making sure they feel good about themselves and others. We can't wait to see Coach Andre back on the field. Andre Jones was born on December 3, 1979 in Clearwater, Florida. He was raised in a musical family and the youngest of four: one brother and two sisters and a proud father of three beautiful girls. Andre attended Pinellas County Schools and was active in athletics throughout. At East Lake High School, Andre was a great talent on the Football team until he graduated in 1998. Andre has 20 years experience working for childcare and now the Founder of The Vision Center, an after school program for youth ages 9-17yrs. As a Recreation Counselor, Coach and Mentor he daily touches the lives of the youth and young adults. The Vision Center is driven towards impacting the lives of youth and young adults through mentoring, education, recreation and spiritual development. Additionally, Andre is involved in the community. He is active in a number of volunteer capacities and is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed. He is a DJ as well! DJ Dre rocks the crowd and motivates his audience to have a good time. Andre Jones is a Gospel Recording Artist, Composer and Musician. He, willingly, shares his gifts with others and serves as a keyboardist for a number of choirs/groups.
Brielle Hernández is an independent young artist from Largo Florida. She is experienced in many different mediums such as oils, watercolor, graphite, colored pencils, alcohol based markers, digital and fiber arts. Brielle has been part of the home school community since she began her education. She has participated in many different programs and competitions like "Fashion at the Dali" and "The Florida state fair" and has won several awards in the process. She has also been a teachers assistant at the Morean Arts Center for two years working with children and young teens. Life and its many intricate details come to life in the world of art.
Brooke Bradley Tedio
Hi! I'm Brooke - homeschool mom to 3 wonderful people. We have been homeschooling and in the community attending co-ops for 7 years now. I have taught, or been a co-teacher, at two different co-ops these past 7 years. I have a degree in Psychology and one in Nursing. As for yearbook experience, I love taking pictures (my kids will tell you I take too many!). I was on the yearbook team in High School (just a few years back in 1998) and I love making Shutterfly books to cover our bookshelves at home! My hope is to inspire the class to take pride in preparing a yearbook all our kids can have to look back at and remember their amazing time at LOL in the years to come!
Cynthia Hetz
Cindi Hetz has been working in community education since 2014 with the University of Florida IFAS Extension in Pinellas County. Currently, her role focuses on providing life skills classes, financial wellness, and first-time home-buyer classes. She is continuing her pilot program, "Making it on Your Own," to participants 14 and older.
Damon is the owner of Wild World Experiential Education and is fortunate to have been teaching outdoor education and traditional skills for more than 25 years in the Tampa Bay Area and has taught classes for 100's of homeschool families. Through the years he has managed educational programs for institutions such as Lowry Park Zoo, HCC: Institute of Florida Studies, MOSI, Great Explorations, Sunline Nature Cruises, and Pathfinder Outdoor Education. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys spending time learning and teaching about nature, whether it be hiking in the backcountry, participating in wildlife research studies, or honing his bushcrafting skills.
In addition to being a home-schooling parent of three kids for 10 years now, I have been working with children in some form or another for nearly 3 decades. I have my Masters in School Psychology and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology with focus on children, adolescents, and families. In earning these degrees and in my professional life I've worked with young people in schools, intense milieu clinical settings, and everywhere in between! As a home-schooling parent I've taught many, many classes and was president of the board at our former co-op before moving to sunny Florida and joining the LOL community. I'm very excited to be a part of this community and have the opportunity to get to know everyone better by teaching some of our kids.
Hello LOL family! After multiple cross-country moves, I'm excited to put down roots and invest in the homeschooling community that my children and I are loving so much. Though I'm a Coast Guard veteran and have degrees in both Marine Environmental Science and Business, my passions are engaging with the natural world (gardening, beekeeping, snorkeling, etc.) and cultivating human connection through play and teamwork. With six years as a camp counselor and practically lifelong participation in team athletics, I look forward to getting us outside playing, moving, and making memories!
Doug is a Martial arts instructor with over 20 years of experience and several black belts in a number of martial arts. He has a wide variety of experience working with all ages and levels of fitness. He has served as the head instructor for years at a local martial arts school teaching adults(group & private lessons) and also run the children's programs. Doug has worked with local schools on their physical education programs. Having children of his own Doug understands the importance of well balanced,focused,self disciplined and well adjusted children. "One of my greatest joys is helping others reach their goals and make a positive difference in their lives."
I graduated from the University of Florida with a Master's degree in Special Education and Elementary Education with honors. Upon returning to my hometown in St. Petersburg, I worked as a Reading Intervention teacher using various reading programs at Maximo Elementary. I then spent 6 years in a self-contained unit in the ASD department at Bardmoor Elementary.
Hannah Flook
I have been teaching music lessons for homeschool students for over three years for my small business “Music Lessons By Hannah Marie”. I have been playing instruments from the age of six. The drums was my first instrument, then I went on to learn piano, guitar, ukulele. Recently I’ve taken up bass guitar and the violin! When I was younger my biggest passion was playing in a band and creating music. This is why I started band classes for students, it is so much fun to learn how to create your own songs and Melodies. It is also much more fun to play an instrument with others than by yourself.
I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and moved to Florida in 2015 as a photographer. I have a deep interest in all the different ways of life, especially art! My husband and I have ventured extensively across Mexico, exploring countless pyramids, ruins, and museums. Our explorations didn’t stop there! We’ve immersed ourselves in various Central American countries and have taken numerous cross-country trips. I can’t help but to want to learn more as I enjoy the rich tapestry of so many amazing sites and cultures! I’m doing my best to accurately represent art from all over the world so we can expand our knowledge and understanding of these cultures together!
Heather Smith-Levin
Hi. My name is Heather. I’ve been teaching with LoL for several years now. In the past I’ve taught painting classes, crafting classes, littles classes, musicals classes (behind the scenes). I also do the tie dye/spray bleach pop-ups each semester. I’ve been teaching new skills to kids and adults off and on for the better part of 40 years. I love helping kids and adults alike learn new skills and hone existing skills.
My name is Jenn and my passion is all things science! Many moons ago, I received a bachelor of science with a minor in American Sign Language, from USF. After having my son, I became a stay at home mom, and began my homeschool teaching journey. I initially taught a group of 10 kids, for two and a half years, before they started kindergarten and we joined LOL. I am excited to meet all of you and to share my love of science and learning.
Hi, My Name is Kelley Pitcher. I found a love for all things dirt, mud, and clay at a very young age, and have enjoyed being dirty ever since! I went to The Maine College of Art for a short time focusing on ceramics. After that I apprenticed for Wiltjer Pottery in Maine. I have worked with clay off and on for over 15 yrs., holding small workshops for children at a small private school, and selling my own pottery. I love sharing my passion! Playing with clay seems to put a smile on everyone's face!
Laura Ness
Laura has two children and they have been participating at LOL since 2015. She has an educational background in psychology and a professional background in education.
Leslie Brough
Hi! I'm Lillian. I'm a freshman in high school and I have been teaching for just shy of a year. My interests and hobbies include virtual reality, rhythm games, poker, and anything tech related. I can't wait to see everyone in class!
My name is Lisa Casey. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Exceptional Student Education. I also have over 25 years of experience teaching children of all ages in traditional and homeschool settings. I also homeschooled my son from 4th to 12th grade. He graduated from college with honors. In addition to teaching at homeschool co-Ops, facilitating online classes, and professionally tutoring, I run my business helping parents on their homeschooling journey. I can’t wait to teach your children. We are going to have lots of fun! Lisa Casey, M.S.Ed www.love2learn2day.com
Max has been working and playing for many years with Heroic Health Group. She has been working youth in Pinellas County that have interests in mock combat and D&D. She has been a member of Pinellas County 4-H Youth Development clubs for 13 years and has graduated the program. In addition to working with Heroic Health Group and volunteering for 4-H she attends college classes at SPC.
Maya Norine James
Maya James is a 17 year old homeschool student who first learned how to spin POI when she was 9 years old at LOL families. Over the years Maya has worked with school age students as an employee and volunteer. She believes learning should be a fun and creative environment for everyone.
Melissa Hanna
Melissa is history buff and developed deep love of diving into ancient cultures in college. She shares her passion for history with students from preschool age to teens by incorporating relatable story telling, manipulatives, art projects, songs, and games. She has taught with LOL for years both in person and online and has has rave reviews and lots of return students.
Sara Norine is a professional artist and teacher with over 20 years experience. Her supportive studio environment allows each artist to find their own voice while encouraging them to use more advanced processes and techniques. Art is a form of personal expression and practice leads to articulate expression of each human’s own experience and personal style. As a homeschool parent, her commitment to each student is long term. Sara is committed to bringing new techniques and inspiration each semester. www.saranorine.com
I'm a huge science nerd that's been teaching in the homeschool community for the last 7 years. My degrees are an Associate in Science Chemistry and Biology from Glenn Oaks Community College and a Bachelor of Science Chemical Engineering minor in Biochemistry from University of South Florida. I use hands on experiment based classes to teach. We look at concepts and their applications rather than get bogged down in terms and equations. My goal is to foster the love of science in my students and hopefully inspire a few to make it a career.
Hi there! My name's Spencer Cross, and I've been an Improv Performer for the last 10 years, since my freshman year of high school. I have taught what's now in the hundreds of students at in my time there as an Improv instructor, and I'm always learning more along the way. I currently own my own Improv Teaching business, Spencer Cross Improv, where I teach classes as local as St. Pete to classes as far south as Venice. I also preform locally on my own Improv team! Improv, both teaching and preforming is my passion, and I look forward to being able to keep doing so! Raised in NJ, but lived on the west coast most of my life, I am a new transplant to Florida and am loving it! I am a teacher and work with K-9 core subjects, focusing on interdisciplinary models and holistic learning styles of students. I am specialized in working with students with learning differences, including dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, auditory and visual processing disorder and delayed processing. My approach is playful positive and empowering. I believe mastery is the goal of learning with all subjects and we do not move onto a concept until the foundation is mastered. Many students that come to me frustrated with math simply have not had the foundational skills mastered and teachers rush through to the next skill, building frustration and the classic IHM syndrome develops (I Hate Math Syndrome, lol). Exploring all learning styles, examples, games and fun, we master skills. I teach in a narrative, to build process for multi steps and use pneumonic devices that I have college aged students that I taught many years ago still use and remember. I love to laugh and think each student has special gifts they have only to discover and explore. I am an extrovert, speak many languages, have lived all over the world, and a homeschool veteran of daughters who are now thriving in college. For Japanese: Susan Embury has traveled the world extensively, and spent a year living in Japan. While living there, she consistently took Japanese classes to improve her Japanese language skills. Susan has a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley, and a MS in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from London School of Economics. She also speaks fluent Portuguese and conversational Spanish. For Sex Ed: Susan Embury is a certified Our Whole Lives (OWL) sex education instructor in grades K-12. She has a BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from UC Berkeley, and a MS in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from London School of Economics. She's bold and fearless, extremely comfortable in her skin, nonjudgmental, and quite matter-of-fact when it comes to discussing matters of human sexuality. I spent 5 years teaching in Miami before moving to St. Petersburg. During my time as a teacher, I found a passion for helping students who struggle in math find their potential. In St. Petersburg, I started tutoring one-on-one and with students who had fallen behind in their math classes. I opened up the first LOVE Learning Center in January 2019. I now create fun, engaging math classes for homeschool students. I have created a program to help students pass the PERT math test for Dual Enrollment. Timotey Gospodinov has two teacher degrees from Bulgaria- Bachelor of Arts in Teaching History and Associate of Science in Elementary Education. He has placed first over 30 times in chess tournaments in Bulgaria from 1981 to 2002. Since 2002, he has played in the USA chess tournament circuit. Timotey is a United State Certified District Chess coach level 2 with over 15 years of experience, and the chess coach of two National Champions and three Florida State Champions. Timotey is also a United States Certified Chess Tournament Director level 2 since 2012, President of the Saint Petersburg Chess Club & Chess Club Joy, and Regional Vice President for West Florida. Vonn Catherine Capel