2023-2024 Faculty & Administration

Mollie was homeschooled for most of her early education and holds a B.M. in Piano Performance and an M.A. in Dramatic Productions. An artist and musician, she has worked in education through Kindermusik, a private piano studio, and teaching art classes in community and co-op settings. Having homeschooled her own children for 17 years, Mollie approaches education using eclectic resources that build on the natural curiosity and interests of her students while inspiring and challenging them to grow and learn. In addition to teaching, Mollie continues to study the piano and the cello, and creates mixed media and three dimensional art in her home studio. Mollie and her husband Aaron have four wonderful children — Henry, Jude, Lola, and Dot.

Dawn has been a homeschooling mom of two for 14 years with a recent highschool graduate!  Dawn holds an associate degree in business, has an odd love for spreadsheets, and continues to pursue a certification in homeopathic medicine after a hiatus from nursing school. She has a heart for ministry, especially for foster care, and volunteers as a K4 Sunday School teacher. Her desire to homeschool was sparked in her early teen years while babysitting for a precious homeschooling family.  She was intrigued by the difference in family dynamics and approach to learning. Dawn spent nine years homeschooling with Classical Conversations and several years exploring a variety of homeschool options. She values thoughtful, in-depth teaching and inspiring a love of learning in children. In addition to all things homeschooling, she adores the ocean and mountains, reading, researching holistic care for her family, and her job as an insurance broker. Dawn and her husband, Robert, have two children — Luke and Tess.

Jessica has homeschooled her children for the past nine years. She earned a bachelor of music in Piano Performance from Bob Jones University and continued her studies at Florida State University, where she earned a master’s and doctorate in Collaborative Piano. A professional pianist, Jessica serves as a staff pianist and vocal coach at Furman University as well as a pianist for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra. She enjoys an active performing life in the Greenville area and is a founding member of Gloria Baroque and Triptych Musica. Jessica currently serves on the board of the Greenville Jazz Collective, where she supports the mission of jazz education of the Upstate’s youth. Her homeschooling approach has always been to guide and support her children in discovering and developing their God-given gifts and interests while encouraging curiosity and a true love of learning. Jessica and her husband Bevan, an entrepreneurial scientist, have three children — Eleanor, Ronnie, and Jane.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Katie spent the better part of her early childhood living outside of Paris, France. Katie grew up a pastor’s kid and missionary kid, making her a “third culture kid.” After moving back to the United States, Katie’s family lived in a few different places in the Southeast before she moved to Statesboro, Georgia to attend Georgia Southern University. With a B.A in English and a minor in religious studies, Katie got married two weeks

after graduation. Katie and Jered have been in Greenville for 12 years and have five beautiful daughters. It was shortly after their first daughter was born in 2011 that Katie read the book For The Children’s Sake, by Susan Schaeffer McCaulay. Through that book, Katie was introduced to Charlotte Mason and to the great Liberal Arts Tradition of classical education. A voracious reader, writer, and self-described lifelong learner, Katie loves to learn more about what it means to “spread the feast” for her children. Katie loves partaking in that feast, not only through homeschooling her own children, but also through pursuing a MATS (Masters of Art in Theological Studies) degree from Erskine Theological Seminary. While she has worked with children in volunteer and paid positions in various ways for over two decades, Katie is excited to join the teaching staff at Esprit GVL.

Priscilla Lindsey has been a homeschooling mom for over ten years. After studying early childhood education and art in college, being able to teach her three daughters from home has been one of her greatest joys in life. Creating an atmosphere of learning that nurtures the hearts and minds of her children, giving them numerous opportunities to pursue their unique gifts and interests, and designing a curriculum to best suit the needs of her children has become a highlight of each school year. Priscilla and her husband Randy have three daughters-Emery, Ava, and Addisyn. She is thrilled to be able to share her passion of learning beautiful things with the little ones of our homeschool community.

Although Stephanielynn has been teaching in a classroom since 2005, she considers it her highest privilege to learn alongside her own children. She earned both her bachelor and Master’s degrees in Communication (Interpretative Speech/Performance Studies). Stephanielynn began her teaching career instructing college communication courses while simultaneously traveling as a faculty advisor and debate coach for an intercollegiate debate team. In 2010, she shifted her focus in the classroom from full-time university instructor to create and teach high school performing arts, communication, and debate classes for the homeschool community in the upstate of SC. She currently serves as the coach for the Upstate Area Debate Club, and adjunct-teaches collegiate public speaking courses as time allows. Stephanielynn embraces the power of story to approach big ideas and delights to see curiosity create beautiful, meaningful connections. She truly believes in the principle of setting “a feast of ideas” before students and has faith that God uses that wide spread to gently guide parents and children alike to their unique gifts and interests. Stephanielynn and her husband Brian, a pianist & composer, have three children — Ellise, James, and their little Lydian.

Julie began homeschooling her two children in 2017 to offer her children a more unique, personalized style of learning as well as to spend more time as a family. She and the children traveled with her husband for work, as often as they could; taking school on the road. As her children began learning at their own pace, through play, projects, exploring their environment and the cities they traveled, she soon realized they were learning and thriving in a very non-traditional way. In 2020, she and her husband sold their home in upstate NY and began traveling full-time in their RV, exploring National Parks and the beauty of God’s creation, coast-to-coast. The family traveled through the Greenville, SC area a few times and fell in love with the climate, culture and people, ultimately feeling called to settle down again. After leading a homeschool community for a couple of years, Julie discovered she enjoys guiding children through project-based, hands-on learning, learning through literature, and encouraging children to develop a love for life-long learning. She believes in embracing failure and that mistakes can be our strongest teacher. She is an advocate for encouraging children to discover their passions and their God-given gifts and talents and learning to use them to lead a meaningful life as they feel called. As a Registered Nurse and Certified Functional Nutrition Counselor, she has gained a passion for learning, practicing, and educating others about the lost art of traditional nutrition practices and using food as medicine. She and her family are currently busy building their little homestead in Pelzer, SC.

Hollie earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Education and a minor in Wellness from the University of North Georgia. Her teaching experience includes teaching high school Spanish, elementary Spanish, K-3rd grade at a local Charter School, as well as homeschooling her own children for 11 years, teaching in several classical, homeschooling communities for fellowship, friendships, and support. Hollie is an advocate for investing in a life-giving, homeschool community!  Outside of teaching, attending her children’s soccer games, and serving in her local church family, Hollie loves gardening, thrifting cool finds, studying nutrition and food science, and enjoying family adventures in nature with her husband of 19 years, Hugh, and her three wonderful children: Laney, Mattie, and Bennett, and her dogs Timber & Andy.

Heather Keew has enjoyed homeschooling her 1st and 2nd grade children, Nora and Owen, for the past year and a half, along with her toddler, Lena. She earned a BA and MFA in studio art and continues to explore and create artwork. She currently paints watercolor flowers, verses, and portraits. For the past 13 years, she has dipped in and out of teaching art classes on the university level as well as individual and group drawing lessons in her home. She loves helping students learn to observe and mimic the beauty God created in our world. Heather grew up in Greenville, then she and her musician husband moved to Virginia and then Georgia for a several years. They have loved being back in Greenville as of three years ago and introducing their children to favorite Greenville spots and spending time with family.

Sarah holds a Bachelor or Science in Movement science with a focus in human anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, athletic training, and motor control and graduated summa cum laude from Gordon College. In addition being a homeschooling mother of 5 since 2004, Sarah has taught multiple science classes at Upstate Homeschool Co-Op including Earth Science, Health and Nutrition, General Science, Life Science, and Human Anatomy and Physiology. Sarah’s energy and enthusiasm for science is contagious!

After earning her bachelor of science degree from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Beth worked as a registered pharmacist for 25 years, focusing in several  fields, including intravenous home care, hospitals, nursing homes, and retail. Currently Beth is a substitute teacher at Bob Jones Academy and is concentrating on the lives and well being of her kids by being more present! She has a love for children of all ages and is involved in the children’s ministries at her church while exploring what God has for her future. She lives in Simpsonville with her husband, Marc, and has 6 children – Samuel, Ryan, Adam, Maxwell, Jason, and Karis.

Stephanie has homeschooled her two sons for the past decade, recently graduating her oldest. Stephanie holds a B.A. in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Kentucky and J.D. from the University of Michigan. Prior to discovering her love of homeschooling, she practiced law for almost 10 years.

Stephanie enjoys leadingdiscussions with students, helping them to make connections and to think deeply about literature. She educated her own children for many years with Classical Conversations, serving as both a tutor for elementary students and director for ninth grade students.

Stephanie and her husband Stephen have two sons, Matt and Rankin.

Kristin has homeschooled her three boys for the past 10 years.  She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary and middle grades education at Clearwater Christian College as well as a master’s degree in art education from the University of North Georgia.  She has taught in elementary, middle and high school in both public and private school as well as 8 years at Upstate Homeschool Co-op.  She loves exploring art with all ages and encouraging that creative space and discovering talent one didn’t know they had. In addition to her love of making art herself, Kristin loves researching natural and holistic health and healing and spending time with her family.

Growing up in Northern Virginia, Caroline Stipp experienced a wide range of educational experiences including Montessori, homeschooling, Sudbury, and traditional classroom settings. She now holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Bob Jones University with additional certifications in Middle School Social Studies, Middle School English and Language Arts, and Teaching English as a Second Language. Caroline’s teaching experience includes teaching 7th and 8th grade Social Studies at Mitchell Road Christian Academy, substitute teaching grades K-12 in the Greenville County School system, and tutoring English students online through the VIPKid platform. Among Caroline’s greatest joys in life are her book club, reading and writing poetry, and engaging with students in the learning environment. Caroline and her husband, Andrew, provide a home-based education for her three children, Cairo, Alora, and Bryant.

Amy has taught high school English in homeschool co-ops as well as private, public, and charter schools. She has spent years privately studying art and has been teaching jewelry making, art, and leather working professionally for several years. She runs several summer camps that integrate art, culture, literature, theater, and sword fighting to create active learning experiences. Amy is entering her second year of full-time homeschooling her son Falcon.

Kim Merriwether has taught science for over 17 years. She has a B.S. in Science Education and an M.S. in Biology. After teaching in public school, Kim was introduced to homeschooling and saw the numerous benefits this type of education affords. She chose to homeschool her children (K-12th grade). She has taught science courses and lab components for students in the Taylors and Travelers Rest Areas since 2004. She and her husband Wes have four children — Nathan, Lainey, Reid, and Perry.

Béatrice Deligny was born and raised in the Loire Valley in France. She graduated from college with a B.A. in International Business and worked as a trader for a few years. After raising her four children and moving to the USA in 2004, she went back to the workforce but this time decided to dedicate herself to teaching. Béatrice has been able to reach a large public (from students 3 to 80 years old!) in different settings, including homeschool co-ops, Montessori schools, middle and high schools, a conversation club for adults, and private tutoring and language coaching. She loves to share her native language and culture and takes an approach based on storytelling.

Jocelyn Kabakjian is a wife and stay-at-home mom of two littles. She grew up in a homeschool family and spent four years living overseas in England doing mission work. She has a passion for creativity and teaching, loves writing, natural living, and a long run on a cool day. She looks forward to teaching and exploring with our kindergartners this year as their parents teach or volunteer.

Olivia was born and raised in Conyers, Georgia, and moved to Greenville with her family as a teen. Home educated through high school, she thrived in literature, English, and world history. She pursued an interest in creative writing from a young age, and hopes to begin the publishing process of her first young adult novel within the next year. She currently works part-time as a barista in addition to caring for staff and volunteer children during Esprit mornings. Olivia also loves to spend time reading, cooking, thrifting, swing dancing, and all kinds of adventures outdoors.