Our Instructors at Credo
Ty Bjorklund
Ty Bjorklund and her family currently reside in Aurora, Colorado. She is a wife and mother of four children. Ty pours her heart and soul into her family and photography. She loves and is most filled when she can appreciate creativity and art. You can usually find coffee in her hand as she is kind of becoming a coffee connoisseur. She loves to travel with her husband as frequently as time and life allow.
“For me, photography was just a side hobby, never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would one day become a business. For the past eight years, I have embarked on a journey of self-discovery, learning, and determining what I wanted Tyler B Photography to be. What I have found is that I want to be a photographer that gives my clients the priceless gift of captured life, the moments in time that we never want to forget. So, my job as a photographer is not simply to get the picture-perfect portrait shots but also the moments in between.”
Michael Carroll
Writer, lecturer and artist Michael Carroll has over thirty books in print. He is a science journalist, novelist, and—collaborating with his wife—children’s author. His fourth grown-up novel, a science adventure called Plato's Labyrinth: Dinosaurs, Ancient Greeks and Time Travelers, was released in January of 2022 through Springer, and his latest non-fiction science book, Smithsonian’s Envisioning Exoplanets, came out in November of 2021. Carroll is a Fellow and founding member of the International Association for the Astronomical Arts, and recipient of the Lucien Rudaux award for lifetime achievement in the astronomical arts. One of his paintings is on the surface of Mars—in digital form—aboard the Phoenix lander. He likes orange marshmallow circus peanuts, which have undoubtedly been outlawed by the nutritional councils of several countries. Mr. C tries to infuse his work with one of his life verses: "The heavens declare the glory of God."
Candace Dixon
Candace has been teaching math and science for many years in the Denver area; serving in public, Catholic, and Christian schools as well as various homeschool organizations. She also taught Human Anatomy and Physiology at Arapahoe Community College for almost ten years. About thirty years ago the Lord instilled in her a passion for Creation Science. She has studied at the Institute for Creation Research (when it was near San Diego, CA) and is an active member of Rocky Mountain Creation Fellowship. When their time permits, she and her husband also attend the monthly meetings of Denver Society of Creation, Pikes Peak Creation Fellowship, and Northeast Colorado Creation Group.
God’s creation is an awesome and magnificent reflection of who He is. Candace desires her students to learn to love science as they study it from a Christian world view. Students need to learn how to distinguish “good science” from “bad science”. We all must learn the truth in order to discern the lies of the world regarding scientific origins, issues of life and death, and the supposed advances of science (i.e. stem cells and genetic engineering). We must decide whether to rely on God’s Word or human reasoning.
Candace and her husband Ken have been married over 50 years and have 2 grown sons. Their elder son and his wife live in Montrose, CO and have a grown son and twelve year old daughter. Their younger son and his wife are missionaries in Costa Rica and have 2 daughters (ages 19 and 13) and one son (age 17). Grandchildren are truly a blessing and delight from the Lord.
Janean Fischer
Janean Fischer has had many different careers from corporate, to teaching at Lutheran High and public schools, to her most favorite, homeschool mom. She also obtained her master’s in education from Regis University. Janean and Jeff have been married for over 30 years and enjoy life with their son. She is thrilled to offer U.S. History at Credo next year. She enjoys utilizing all the learning styles, overseeing in-class projects, interactive learning, hands on activities and lively discussions. Janean’s educational viewpoint is based in Charlotte Mason’s philosophy of education. "Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline a Life." She believes that the student should be nurtured not taught, the guide is the Holy Spirit.
Allison Forney
Allison Forney is a graduate of Credo Academy which she attended as a student for ten years. She enjoys being involved in the Credo community and looks forward to walking alongside students while teaching. Allison has a passion for dance and especially loves teaching different styles to her students. She is currently teaching at CMA School of Dance, and Joyful Soles Dance studio. Her love for dance started at the age of three and she has taken a variety of styles over the years. Allison believes that dance is a form of creative expression and can also be used as a way to worship the Lord. She is one of four children and lives with her family in the foothills of Sedalia. Other than dancing Allison enjoys spending time with her friends and family, playing with her two Bernese-mountain dogs, the outdoors, reading, baking, and working out. Allison finds that through teaching dance she is able to see students express themselves and loves to encourage them to grow in their relationships with Christ.
Sharon Grimes
Sharon is a Christian homeschool mom who loves the Lord. She has been married to her husband for 28 wonderful years and the primary homeschool teacher for her 5 children for 23 years; four have successfully graduated. Her youngest child still homeschools and attends Credo.
Sharon has been privileged to teach other children and her own over these last 28 years. The first five years of her career were spent teaching 1st and 3rd grade students full time. Over the remaining years, she has taught all ages of students –from infants to high school – in a variety of settings. These settings include Sunday School, Mom’s Day Out, Classical Conversations, family co-op, a program similar to Credo, and Credo.
Colorado history is also a passion of hers. Learning Colorado geography, about the outdoors, and the people helps students form a bond with the state they live in. Learning about the people who came before, their experiences, and what they can teach us about life today is valuable.
Mary Langewisch
Mary Langewisch has been an artist all her life. Born and raised in Colorado, she is inspired by the light, colors, and textures in nature. To her, art is meant to be beautiful and leave an impression in your mind, much like nature does. Fragile Glory Impressions (FGI) is the name of her Art Studio where she teaches art workshops, paints, and offers online art instruction. FGI's missions is to empower you to reach your artistic potential and inspiring you to follow your artistic voice. Her mission as an artist is to create beauty and also to teach it to others. As a Homeschool and Credo Graduate herself, Mary has loved teaching art at Credo for the past 17 years. She continues to run her art business and is a wife and a mother. You can find Mary and all things FGI at FragileGloryImpressions.com and on social media.
Sonya Lucia
Sonya Lucia has been a homeschool mom since her first child entered preschool in 2004. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX, and worked as a graphic designer in Christian ministry before marrying an Air Force officer and starting a family. She’s taught elementary science, literature and art, as well as middle school literature and art history to homeschoolers in co-ops in Colorado Springs and Alabama. Sonya enjoys introducing students to classic literature, and works to creatively engage students in both discussion and projects to enhance learning. Her oldest graduated from college in Spring of 2023; one daughter is in college, and her other three children are students at Credo. This will be her fourth year teaching at Credo.
Bill Maxwell
Acoustic guitarist and songwriter Bill Maxwell started playing the guitar at eight years old. After seeing two friends win a talent competition at school, the idea of playing guitar captured his imagination. His dad taught him a few chords to “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round The Mountain”, and the journey began. Bill organized and played in local bands and high school jazz ensembles and combos as a teenager. By the mid-seventies, he had experienced the local club scene in Houston as a solo artist and bass player in a contemporary jazz band. In 1978, life and music took on new meaning for Bill. Shortly after moving to Colorado, he believed in Christ as his Savior and Lord. His music and performance goals shifted to include more songwriting and acoustic work in local churches. He led worship with his guitar in numerous public venues, regularly in front of audiences of more than 2,000. Since 1980, Bill has used his guitar to help build music appreciation through teaching, playing, and singing. Today, he performs weekly with acoustic, electric, and bass guitars (playing in front of people is one of the keys to becoming a better musician). Also, his passion for songwriting has allowed him to hear his songs recorded and performed internationally.
Bill has over forty years of guitar playing experience, mixed with twenty years of teaching. Even though music theory concepts are the same for all instruments, its application on a guitar fretboard provides some unique and exciting challenges. Bill believes that the best players are the best students; he’s constantly searching for ways to apply new concepts personally and present these to an aspiring student, regardless of age.
Amanda Miller
Amanda has been teaching most of her life. She began giving horseback riding lessons and training horses when she was 16 with the assistance of another trainer. By 19 she had several students of her own whom she considered to be “her kids”. She finds joy in watching the “light bulb” come on, whether it is children, horses, dogs, you name it. She consistently volunteers working with youth through 4H, Awana, American Heritage Girls and coaching Volleyball. Her interests include gardening, canning, scrapbooking, horses, growing and hybridizing iris and precept bible studies. She’s been happily married to her husband, Jeremy for 18 years. Since God blessed her to be a mother, she has homeschooled her three girls. Amanda says, “It has its challenges but the joy and satisfaction more than outweighs them. What a privilege to train our children in the way that they should go.”
Sophia Miller
Sophia Miller is a homeschooled senior. She has attended Credo for five years and enjoyed all her classes taken. During her studies at Credo Academy, she has taken ASL I, ASL II, and served as an assistant teacher for ASL I while completing an independent study of ASL translation. She has a passion for learning foreign languages and loves to teach because it gives her a deeper understanding of the material she memorizes. Sophia uses ASL to memorize Scripture because it helps her to engage more fully with the text and makes the written Word come alive. She is so grateful for the ability God has given her to understand ASL and is excited to share this gift with others!
Joan Twedell
In over 49 years of experience in teaching, arranging, and performing, I have never stopped growing in my love and passion for the performing arts. Growing up in Ottumwa, IA, I began my study of music at the age of 7. Unfortunately, like many young pianists, I did not always love to practice, and I had to be pushed and spurred on by my music teachers and, daily, my mother. As I began to develop as a musician, I discovered a natural gift that pushed me to work harder and achieve higher playing levels. I found excitement in accompanying my high school and church choirs. Going into college I knew that all I wanted to study was music. It was there that my skills as a teacher, arranger, and performing soared. I traveled on summer musical teams for two years, playing the piano for the singers and in some cases singing in ensembles.
Since my college days I have continued to pursue a career as a musician. God has given me a passion and desire to influence others with my gift. I find joy in seeing my students develop their love of music and skills. I love all ages of students and find it gratifying to see older beginners pursue a love they were never able to develop as a younger person.
I believe in teaching theory, correct technique, and many genres of music to develop each student as the unique musician that they are. I teach from many different methods to cater to each individual, as I believe all have different styles of learning.
As a performer I have accompanied many musicals, including Beauty and the Beast, The Music Man, Sound of Music, The King and I, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, and Bye, Bye, Birdie. I also perform as a soloist for holiday parties, church functions, open houses, weddings, funerals, and many other venues. I have a knack for improvisation and playing by ear, which helps me in my more relaxed performances and hymn playing.
As the great Beethoven once said, "Music can change the world," and it has already changed mine. I seek to instill my love and passion of music to all those I meet, study with, and teach so they too may be changed by the world of music.
Alexandria Vaughan
Alexandria Vaughan is the current voice instructor at Credo since fall 2022. She is using this opportunity to improve her own skills in singing as she teaches others so that she can someday make leading worship her career. Until then, she works as a shift supervisor at Starbucks. She is serving on worship at BRAVE church and hopes to make it a permanent part of her life. Alexandria (Allie) has been professionally trained to vocally preform for seven years now and is sharing what she learned with her students. You can find her hitting the slopes on the week days and hitting a volleyball on the weekends!