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Administrative Staff |
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Phone:
1-309-752-7760 1-309-738-0265 |
Dr. Diana
J. Muir, Founder/CEO
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1-800-409-0234 X-1 |
Chief
Educational Officer, Caroline Thornton A native of Minnesota, Dr. Thornton has more than 35 years experience
teaching in the international arena. A graduate of Cambridge University in
Education and Technology, Caroline’s focus is on the Social Sciences and the
integration of technology into the classroom.
Dr. Thornton has taught in Ireland, England, Canada, the UAE, and
South Africa. Most recently, as a former headmistress of a boarding school in
India, Dr. Thornton now lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada with her
husband and four sons who own a horse breeding farm for track horses. An avid
animal enthusiast, Caroline spends her free time with her horses and 3 dogs,
while managing the Personal Learning Center which she joined in October of
2009. Dr. Thornton believes “that not one of us had a choice as to where we
were born, what color we are, or what we look like. We never asked to be male
or female, short or tall, skinny or fat. However, we do have a choice as to
whether or not to accept the challenge of helping those who are less fortunate”
and is dedicated to the dream of equitable education to students around the
world. |
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Dean of
Staff, Sarah Rose A former WAC in the US Army Signal Corps, Sarah Rose is now the mother
of seven and grandmother of twelve. With a Bachelor’s degree in History and a
minor in Sociology, Sarah is also a professional genealogist who belongs to
the DAR and has published several volumes of poetry. Methodical and a
perfectionist, Sarah is a great addition to our staff. |
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Registrar/Student
Counseling, Dina Kocsa |
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Directors
of 9-12th Grade Curriculum Development, Kat Lowrie |
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Director
of 4-8th Grade Curriculum Development, Judith Burns |
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Director
of American Marketing, Cynthia Kuhlman |
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Chief
Financial Officer, Mark Compton |
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Technical
Director, Tony DePrato |
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Office
Managers, Darlene Hollingsworth and Rosemary Kinney |
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Instructors |
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Dana Bauries, Physical Science |
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Kelli
Callahan, Criminal Justice, Psychology and Anthropology Kelli has worked in the
Criminal Justice field for over eighteen years and has taught criminal
justice and forensic science classes to adult learners for several years both
in the live classroom and online. Her work experience includes employment in
forensics and crime scene processing, forensic medical investigation, law
enforcement, corrections, and probation/parole. Kelli has held peace officer
status in three states and possesses a Master's Degree in Forensic Science
(M.F.S.), a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology (B.S.), and a Bachelor
of Arts Degree in Anthropology (B.A.). Kelli possesses
certifications in Forensic Medical Investigation, Crime Scene Processing, and
Homeland Security and maintains membership with numerous professional
organizations. She is also a member of the North American Council for Online
Learning and the American College of Forensic Examiners International
Commission on Forensic education. Kelli resides in the emerald city, the
beautiful city of Seattle and enjoys partaking in all of the activities that
the northwest has to offer. |
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Stephanie
Campbell, Art |
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Renata
Celin-Meier, Italian Teacher
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Alicia
Estis, Earth and Space Science I am excited about the opportunity
to get to know you as we work together, challenging each other to create
effective study habits, schedule time wisely, and work efficiently. It is my
belief that a learner’s mind is as a flower; beautiful and unique, yet
requiring individualized attention and consistent care. Having obtained a
Master of Education Degree with an emphasis in Gifted Child Education, and
experience instructing the intellectually advanced, my goal is to provide you
with enriching and stimulating instructional nutrients so you will grow
critically and creatively. I have high expectations for you and am here to
facilitate and assist you through designated virtual classroom time as well
as emails in order to make this a positive and productive learning
experience. |
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Marty
(Lamar) Estis, History and Social Sciences Welcome
to class and this international learning experience. Meeting the learner’s
needs is the most fundamental and challenging characteristic of
teaching. Determination, coupled with effective research methods and
study habits, the willingness to communicate your educational needs during
virtual instruction time, and the ability to apply the information obtained
play a key role in the success of each student. I
hold a Master’s Degree in Education, and I am a National Board Certified
Instructor. My goal is to provide quality instruction and further
instill a passion for learning in each student. I recognize there are
different learning styles and capabilities within each person, but everyone
can achieve success to their individual potential. I have great expectations
for you that, through our efforts, you can meet the challenges posed to you
during the course of this class. The mind of each person is the Earth’s
greatest natural resource. Through the activities and learning
sequences offered to you in my class, I hope to make a lasting impression
that each person holds the key to their own destiny, and, through the doorway
of education, the possibilities are limitless. |
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Carolyn Faulkner-Beitzel, US History |
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Susie Hartley, Psychology and British Literature My passion for education stemmed from
growing up in Kenya, East Africa, where my parents were missionaries. My
dad was a principal and my mom was an art teacher at a boarding school in the
Rift Valley. As a child I remember our holidays visiting schools
throughout Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. I remember standing in front
of audiences sharing about my experiences like finding an abandoned nest of
ostrich eggs in the Serengeti National Game Park or climbing Mt.
Kenya. I thought that I could tour the world as an English
teacher. While working on my undergraduate
degree, I taught English to refugee children who had fled to Kenya from
Rwanda, Uganda, and Somalia. After marrying, my husband and
I taught English in Moldova. In 2004, it was on to Japan as a Fulbright
Memorial Fund Scholar, where I was an ambassador to Japanese schools. I became a mother for the first time
in February 2006. My daughter is the joy of my life. For the past
three years, I taught graduate level education courses for the University of
Phoenix. I enjoy traveling, taking photos, and going on family walks. I
like to read, and lately I have been reading lots children books to my
daughter. |
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Lynnice Hockaday, Earth Science |
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“Kip” Casey Horstmann, ROTC, Law, Instructional Design, Web
Design |
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Karen
Koupal, Social Studies Hi all and welcome! My
name is Karen Koupal and I live in the beautiful Black Hills of South
Dakota. I just finished my eighth year
of teaching social studies, a subject I am very passionate about. I have two
grown children and a dog named Poe, who is kind of a crazy Chihuahua mix. I
love to hike, bike, write poetry, and listen to music. Some of my past adventures include
traveling the United States in a van and working as a dog nanny in New York
City! My dream is to someday travel
the rest of the world. |
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Mr. Ahmed El Kharroubi, Arabic
and French Instructor A resident of
Morocco, Ahmed was an exchange student to Atlanta, Georgia where he learned
to appreciate American life and culture. Now a dental student in Morocco, he
is looking forward to a career in dentistry, as well as teaching Arabic and
French to English speaking students in the United States. Ahmed has excellent
English speaking and writing skills, and we are excited to have him on board. |
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Kimberly McClain,
History and Social Sciences |
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Charlotte Meyer,
Japanese and Spanish A
former translator for the US Army, Charlotte Meyer lives in Maquoketa, Iowa
with her husband Herb. She is the mother of 4 children and is very involved
in youth activities with her youngest daughter. A member of the Mormon
Church, Charlotte is a die-hard genealogist and loves doing research on her
family, as well as helping others do genealogy online. |
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Laurie Nesbitt My name
is Laurie Nesbitt I am a graduate of The University of Georgia, and I
received my Masters of Education from Columbus State University. I am
currently an Educational Technologist with the DDESS (Department of Defense
Education State Side) school system and an associate faculty member of the |
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Brooke O’Gara, Mathematics |
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Dan O’Gara, Forensic Science |
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Theresa Owens,
Medical Assisting and Medical Terminology |
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Mel Petrosky,
British Literature, Language Arts, and Psychology |
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David Queen, Latin and
World Language Instructor |
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Shonna Robinson,
Drivers Education and Physics |
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Stephanie
Sandifer, Art I
am an artist and educator living in Houston, Texas (United States). I have
degrees in studio art, design, art education, and education leadership.
Over the past twelve years I have had the pleasure of teaching art at all
levels - university, high school, and through museum community art programs
for children and adults. As a studio artist I have focused on painting,
printmaking, and collage, and have had the opportunity to exhibit my work
regionally, nationally, and internationally. I also have experience as
a graphic designer - most recently doing some freelance web & multimedia
design in my spare time. My
passion for technology integration and innovation in education has led me to
online learning. I believe that online learning makes education and
additional career training accessible to a wider range of learners, and I
look forward to our learning experiences together! |
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Renee Scott, Math and
Business Management My name is Renee Scott and my background
includes 16 years of teaching experience with certification in Math and
Business. In 2008, I completed certification as an online instructor through
the Texas Virtual Schools Network (TxVSN).
In addition, I have been trained, through the United World College,
as an International Baccalaureate instructor in the area of Business
Management. During my career, I have taught Math
Fundamentals, Algebra 1, 8th Grade Math and a number of courses
related to Business, Careers, and Technology.
I live in Houston, Texas and I am married with 3 adult children. One
of my favorite quotes is “Discipline
is the bridge between goals and accomplishment” (Jim Rohn) |
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Matthew Waymack, Mathematics A native of
Georgia, I
have taught math online since 2000. I look forward to working with you
to achieve your goals |
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Robin Worley, English |
