Instructors
Get To Know Our Teachers
April is a certified Eco Educator through the University of Florida IFAS Extension, and she earned her educator certification from the state of Florida. She is certified to teach from Project Learning Tree curriculum as well as Project Wild and Project Wet. She has also been endorsed as an Eco Educator by Pinellas County 4-H Youth Development, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Wildflower Foundation. She was a classroom teacher for nearly 10 years and has been focused on Eco Education for the last 6 years. WanderKids, a homeschool club created and facilitated by April and her daughter, has existed for 6 years utilizing these amazing resources and sharing the importance of environmental awareness with our youngest advocates in hopes to truly make a difference.
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.
Hello! My name is Christian. I have been going to LOL for over 10 years. I Love playing D&D I have been running games for almost 2 years now. I also assist with Minecraft Educational courses. I am a avid video game player. My favorite game genres are RPG, Strategy and sandbox.
Cindi Hetz works at UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County as the Family and Consumer Sciences Agent. She has been working in community education since 2014. Some of her current programs involve life skills classes, first time homebuying classes, and tax preparation assistance. She also helps her family, Matt and Max Fahy, with Heroic Health Group’s administrative work and has some pretty good mock combat skills.
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!
Haley Tedio
Hi! I’m Haley Tedio. I’ve been participating at LOL for 4 years. This will be my second semester teaching Highland dance. I’m a 13-year-old who has spent 6 years learning and perfecting her dancing. I love going to competitions and performing at local Scottish games. I hope to spread the love of Highland Dancing to our co-op.
I grew up in the burbs of Philadelphia and moved to Florida as a photographer in 2015. I have a deep interest in all the different ways of life and especially art! My husband and I have also traveled all over Mexico to visit so many pyramids, ruins and museums that I have lost count! We didn’t stop there and have lived and visited other countries in Central America as well. We also took many cross country trips to visit Native American sites and I just can’t stop wanting to learn. I’m doing my best to accurately represent all cultures so we can expand our knowledge and understanding of these cultures together!
My name is Jacquelyn Vincent. I am a wife and mom of three awesome kiddos! I currently homeschool my three kiddos but also substitute teach part-time as well at the charter school my children used to attend. I have been substitute teaching for five years and am currently a student in the College of Education at St Petersburg College majoring in Special Education K-12. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 16 years but we have been together 21 years. In my spare time I love to read! As a family we spend a lot of time at Disney World and our big fans of anything Disney! I love teaching and am so excited to teach for our little homeschool community!
My name is Jenn and my passion is all things science! Many moons ago, I recieved 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!
I have wo children and we have been happily participating at LOL since 2015. My educational background is in psychology, and prior to beginning our homeschool journey I worked in education.
Leslie graduated from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio with a Bachelors of Music Education with a certification in Pre K- 12. She has served in all types of public and private schools in Pinellas County for over 15 years. She has taught private lessons at the Calvary Baptist Musical Art School, in her home and worked with the Tampa Bay Children's Choir. Leslie was also the music director for multiple theaters including Saint Pete City Theatre, Gulfport Backdoor Theatre and Saint Petersburg Catholic High School. I am a former school board member with over 25 years of performance and teaching experience and I am very excited for the opportunity to work with your children. The LOL community is truly my favorite part of homeschooling.
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!
Hi. I’m Lily! I’ve been practicing yoga for 5 years, and have a passion for creating flows and sequences, learning new poses, and ultimately connecting with the present moment, which is what yoga is all about. I also create many different kinds of art (such as digital drawing, charcoal sketching, jewelry making, sewing, clay sculpting, and wood carving) and am constantly looking for new creative outlets. I look forward to seeing you 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 is ready to work with youth in the area 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 is a graduating senior in the program.
Hi! I'm Melissa de Pineda and I live in Roanoke, VA. I have been homeschooling for 18 years and am currently homeschooling my 14 year old son. I have taught Spanish in private schools and homeschool co-ops during this time. I started teaching my own classes to homeschoolers about 7 years ago and went totally online in the spring of 2020. Besides my own Spanish classes, I teach English to kids in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. I like to incorporate lots of games and fun into class and hope you will learn to love the Spanish language and culture as much as I do!
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
Sara Ratza is a Clinical Western Herbalist, Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, and Author. With a degree in studio art and over three decades of working with children, Sara has a background in teaching in the public school setting for all age groups as well as years in summer camps including locally at the Dunedin Fine Art Center. With a minor in art history, Sara has had the pleasure of teaching AP Art History at the high school level. After her son was born in 2010, she left the public school system to homeschool which lead her to the field of holistic health. The study of Chinese Medicine lead to her certification as a Clinical Western Herbalist with food as medicine as her expertise. With her creative spirit to intertwine her interests, she found joy in studying cacao as medicine and opened her award-winning chocolate shop Ratza Chocolate. With a passion for all plants and the natural environment, Sara has taught about herbalism at the Florida Herbal Conference, Traditions School of Herbal Medicine, and her local herbal collective “The Sage Society”. Sara travels nationally to herbal conferences and has studied with some of the world’s best herbal educators. With her knowledge of foraging, Sara is currently receiving bushskills and survival skills certification through “DVI Bushcraft and Survival” in which she collaborates in teaching. In her spare time, Sara works with acrylics on canvas painting nature inspired themes, as well as uses natural elements to make handmade grapevine wreaths, botanical printing, botanical fabric printing and dying, and cyanotype printing. She has experience in almost every aspect of art, but being in nature with her family is what brings her the most happiness.
Spencer S Cross
Hi there! My name's Spencer Cross, and I've been an Improv Performer for the last 9 years, since my freshman year of high school. I was originally a member on the Seminole High School Improv team in my time attending, and I've also been performing with Spitfire Comedy House since the summer of 2017. I have taught what's now in the hundreds of students at Spitfire in my time there as an instructor, from high school students all the way to those in their 60s. I'm currently one of the two heads of Education at Spitfire, and getting a chance to perform and teach has always been one of my biggest passions, and I look forward to continue 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'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.
Hello! My name is Timotey, but my students call me Coach Tim. I have been chess instructor since 2007. I have two teacher's degrees, first I got qualification for Elementary School teacher and then I received my bachelor of Arts in Teaching History. I love playing and teaching chess!Three of my students are National Champions and Florida State Champions. I am US Certified District Chess Coach-Level 2 and US Certified Local Tournament Director. I am President of Saint Petersburg Chess Club and Chess Club Joy. I am one of Directors of Florida Chess Association and Regional Vice President for West Florida. Right now I am full time chess Instructor with more than 20 students. I have been doing for the last two years group chess classes every Sunday. I teach online chess lessons as well. I love working with children from all ages!