Instructors
Mrs. Kylee Boutchia
Kylee has been sewing for 30+ years and loves sharing this skill with young, aspiring makers. She enjoys sewing home décor, clothing, tote bags, children's toys and more. It's a joy to pass on a life skill that kids and teens can use in practical and creative ways
Sewing is a skill that can serve you for a lifetime! This course is designed to teach beginner machine sewing skills as students create fun, practical items. Sewing teaches patience, precision, how to follow directions, and results in creative projects to enjoy or gift to others!
Mrs. Donna Brokaw
Donna has been homeschooling for 34 years and has designed gardens for over 27 years. Her home garden includes 75+ medicinal herbs which she uses for the health and healing of her family. Her Great-Grandmother Nettie (born 1864) was an Eclectic & Herbal Nurse Practitioner. Some of Nettie’s knowledge and practices were passed to Donna, but most were lost. Donna has made it her ambition to recover as much herbal medicinal knowledge as possible and to teach her 4 children, her grandchildren and others what she knows. She is currently studying with Rosemary Gladstar, the nation’s leading herbalist, while also working towards a certification with the Christian Herbalist’s Guild.
Mrs. Laura Bruner
I have a doctorate in horticulture from Auburn University. I have taught horticulture classes at Auburn University and most recently Blue Ridge Community College. I own and operate a landscape design business and supervise installation of my landscape designs for clients. Above all, I am continually stuck by awe and wonder at the beauty God created for us to enjoy through plants and our world. I am a curious life long learner because there will not be enough time this side of heaven to learn everything God has created for us to explore in plants, design and beauty.
She has spent years teaching and inspiring others to enjoy plants, gardening and horticulture. She enjoys seeing students’ excitement growing plants and creating beauty in the landscape.
Mrs. Alyssa Calvin
Alyssa Calvin has been in love with the game of volleyball since she started playing in middle school. She is married with three children, but that has not stopped her from sharing her passion for the game. She played volleyball at Daniel High School where her team won the state championship in 2009. She is an experienced player with club volleyball, and has coached high school and travel teams. Coach Calvin loves to work with young people both on and off the volleyball court. She loves to teach players the fundamentals of volleyball as well as challenging them on and off the court. Alyssa believes that winning is great, but more importantly she strives for her players to learn, grow, and better themselves as athletes and as young ladies. The greatest win for Coach Alyssa is to develop the whole player, physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Mrs. Lisa Cato
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After 19 years as a Chemical Engineer, Lisa left the work force in 2010 to homeschool her three girls. She is a part of the Classical Conversations community in Simpsonville. Lisa also works as an assistant/bookkeeper for a local architect and enjoys gardening and reading in her free time. Her oldest daughter is a rising senior at Clemson University and her middle daughter is a rising sophmore at USC. Her youngest daughter is a rising 9th grader. |
Mr. William Cline
William is a professional drummer and percussionist experienced in live performance, recording, music production, and teaching. He has been playing the drums for 14 years and holds a B.M. from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where he studied commercial percussion. He has performed and recorded in many different contexts, from small jazz combos to symphony orchestras, and has helped lead worship for many churches and other ministries. Recently, he was also a member of the Norton Hall Band.
Mrs. Kimberly Driskill
Kimberly Driskill is a Christian wife and mother to two beautiful children. She has an Associates Degree in Health Science and is a Registered Medical Assistant. Kimberly has served as a medical assistant for various medical practices in Virginia and South Carolina, including neurology, pulmonary and chiropractic offices. She is well versed in several billing software programs and has a great deal of experience in the medical assistant field. She looks forward to working with the students at Velos Collective.
Mrs. Nikki Eoute
Nikki lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her husband Philip Eoute and their four children. Nikki holds a B.Mus and M.Mus in voice performance and an M.Mus in choral conducting performance. Nikki was an auditioned participate in the 2006 Westminster Choir College Summer Workshop studying choral music and conducting in Florence, Italy with Dr. Joe Miller of Westminster Choir College and in 2012 she was an auditioned singer for the first Northwestern Summer Music Institute with Dr. Steven Smith. Nikki was a founding member of Rivertree Singers, a choral ensemble in the burgeoning South Carolina upstate arts scene, that has twice been featured in Piccolo Spoleto’s Spotlight on Choral Music Series in Charleston, SC. She served on the Rivertree Singers management team, working closely with director and mentor Warren Cook. Nikki has been a featured soloist in many choral concerts, choral recordings, and has won several awards at the National Association of Teachers in Singing competitions in classical and musical theatre. She works closely with Dan Forrest and Beckenhorst Press. She was also selected as a soloist for Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 4 in 2013 and was considered to audition for the British choral ensemble Voces8. Nikki was the Artistic Director and founder of the Greenville Youth Chorale. She was an adjunct professor at Bob Jones University as a vocal teacher, coach and choral conductor while maintaining a vocal/violin. studio at home. Nikki’s desire is to give back with what she has been given and is currently teaching a homeschool choral and string program with Velos Collective while spending more time writing music and recording.
Mrs. Emma Grace Franco
I spent most of my time during high-school and college in theater and Dramatic Arts classes being trained by professionals in the field. I have spent countless hours learning and practicing the different elements of dramatic arts including production, script and screen writing , stage and blocking, voice control, voice acting, line memorization skills along with many other elements that are used in the arts. I look forward to passing my love of the dramatic arts on to your young person as well as show them the beauty of communication skills that will last a lifetime.
Mrs. Shawn Garzony
Shawn has spent many years teaching and inspiring others of all ages to enjoy creating artwork. It is a joy to watch each person’s unique style flourish as they gain confidence in using their abilities to share their art with others.
My family and friends, including my 3 lovely children, know I might squeak with delight if I see a rainbow, sheep or turtle anywhere. I love all things Irish, collecting children’s illustrated books, reading literature for all ages, creating art and spending time with my family.
I look forward to meeting your children and finding ways to encouraging them.
Mrs. Anna Gonzalez
Anna Gonzalez grew up in the Hispanic culture since childhood. At age 13, she began living abroad each summer, traveling to countries such as Honduras, Venezuela, and Nicaragua working in feeding programs and orphanages. She lived in Mexico for almost four years, where her oldest daughter was born. She earned a bachelor's degree from USC-Upstate in languages with a focus in Spanish and minor in Psychology. She also is certified to interpret in the medical field.
She has a passion to connect cultures and bring out the beauty in each. Since graduating from college, she has worked as an interpreter in the hospital, translator for several private companies, bilingual banker, and Spanish teacher/ESOL tutor.
She and her husband, Andres, have 9 children together, and have been homeschooling them since 2010 when their oldest daughter turned 5. They all enjoy life together with music and dance, a golden retriever/hound, cat, and lots of chickens. She is excited to teach Spanish to fellow members in the homeschool community.
Mrs. Allison Hoffmeister
Allie is a high school science teacher who was homeschooled her whole childhood and who has a passion for teaching in homeschool environments. She has a Bachelor's degree in biological sciences and now teaches at Crestview and Velos homeschool co-ops. Allie's mission in the classroom is to facilitate worship of the Creator by helping students to develop an understanding and awe for the world He has made. In addition to learning and teaching, Allie enjoys gardening and making amazing coffee at a local coffee shop.
Mr. Andy Huddle
22 years with Michelin North America in the fields of tire/wheel mounting quality management, auditing, inventory control and forecasting. Now employed with tire retailer Tire Rack. BS Management and BS Statistics - University of Tennessee - 30 years automotive experience including building engines, transmissions, driveshafts, U and CV joints, batteries, starting systems, electrical wiring/troubleshooting, suspension components, braking systems and their maintenance incl ABS , engine coolant system, fuel systems including both carburetors and fuel injection systems, power steering, engine maintenance, tires changes, wear, blow outs, flats, inspections, aged tires, wheels, bearings, A/C, lubrication and fluid types and exhaust. Experience in fabrication, welding and modifying components for high performance. Emphasis on the balance of reliability, cost and safety. Problem resolution and Maintenance on 12 family vehicles over 3 decades.
Mrs. Michelle Huddle
Michelle has taught Spanish since 1995 in the public, private and homeschool community schools. She has taught Spanish 1 through Spanish 5, as well as Kindergarten through 5th grade. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and her Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, with a minor in Secondary Education, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Mrs. Caroline Hutton
Caroline took ceramics at Bob Jones University and has been teaching adults and kids Hollowed Earth Pottery for the past 3 years. Her personal work shows her quirky and fun spirit and she enjoys embracing the whimsical aspect of pottery.
Mrs. Mary Beth Lambert
Mary Beth is our instructor for ballet/lyrical and pointe. She resides in Moore with her husband and homeschools their 8 children! From the age of 10, she began her training at Ballet Spartanburg. She then joined a pre-professional division a couple years later with many memorable performances throughout the years. She is happy to have been sharing a love of the arts and a love for people with the Upstate for over two decades and looks forward to continuing in this calling for many years to come!
Mrs. Jamie MacGregor
Our instructor Jamie MacGregor lives in North Greer with her husband and 3 children. She started dancing when she was 5 years old and began to teach when she was 16. Jamie is originally from Tampa Florida, but moved to Texas to be apart of a Christian dance company called Ingredients. After three years of training , she decided to pursue teaching dance as a career. Her favorite styles to perform are hip hop and jazz, but loves them all. Jamie loves the Lord and is passionate about seeing her students use their gifts and talents for Him!
Mrs. Ashley Mansfield
Ashley Mansfield has pursued many hobbies, with crochet starting as far back as elementary school. She picked crochet back up more seriously in 2021 when chronic illness kept her home for months on end. Ashley lives in Greer with her husband, daughter, and cat.
Mr. Michael McDunn
Teacher: Michael McDunn
Michael has been making furniture and teaching classes in SC full time for 43 years and is one of the five co-founders of the Greenville Woodworkers Guild. His work can be found throughout the US and abroad. Among other things, he has worked with Greenville Fine Arts Center students on many occasions teaching woodworking, lectured at Furman University and Bob Jones University and demonstrated for many years at Artisphere, Greenville's premiere arts festival.
Mr. Ben Menking
Ben has over twenty years experience with computer systems and software development. He is employed by World News Group as a Systems Architect and has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Bob Jones University. Ben has prior teaching experience training new software engineers and he taught Physical Science in a co-op class setting.
Mrs. Jess Miller
I grew up in a close-knit family in Pennsylvania, where my mom homeschooled myself and my three siblings, first grade through graduation. My husband and I have been married 21 years and we have three wonderful sons (15, 14 & 5). We have homeschooled our boys from the very beginning and we LOVE it! My focus is to teach children of all ages a love for learning while also encouraging them to develop age appropriate skills to help them succeed in life.
Mrs. Shayla Prival
Hello!! My name is Shayla Prival and I have been signing for over 20 years! I’ve taught “unofficially” for as long as I’ve been learning. My love and passion has grown with time! I’m excited to get you excited to learn and grow to love this language also!
Mrs. Colleen Pusateri
Colleen Pusateri and her husband Patrick founded the archery program, Velos Storm Archery, ten years ago and she has coached and managed elementary, middle school and high school students. Students are instructed by BAI Certified Coaches as well as BAI Coaches that are former Velos Storm archers that hold State Championship records in target archery and 3D, as well as in the top ten archers/teams in the Nation. The archery platform has allowed her to combine her love of Christ and heart for youth in a perfect way!
Mrs. Hannah Rice
Hannah has had a love for makeup since high school and used to study her mom’s cosmetology books for fun. She has been a makeup artist for several years and has worked mostly with brides and bridal parties. She has taught online and in-person makeup lessons and is constantly learning to stay current with makeup trends, while appreciating a simple and classic look.
Mrs. Kristi Robbins
Kristi is a homeschooling Mom of three who has a passion for reading well. After receiving her B.A. in communications for Lander University she felt very uneasy with the psychological interpretations modern professors place on old stories. So she began educating herself along with her kids and became deeply interested in literature (British and American). She has paid for and taken many courses with experts in the field. These are the rare professors who believe that stories should speak for themselves, and that we shouldn't read ideologies into the text. She reads the best professors (most of whom are dead) and is in forums with the top minds in and out of the country who are living. She will help your student recognize when people are using stories as a form of manipulation, which is sadly the plight of higher education (Christian and Secular). She is a Christian who is endeavoring to serve with Lord with the gifts He has given her and wants to give kids a love for learning and literature!
Mrs. Dawnielle Rothell
Dawnielle is our instructor for Jr. Acro Jazz and VELOS CREW. She and her husband have three daughters and reside in Hickory Tavern with their 36 farm animals. She is also the founder of the Velos Dance ministry, birthed from a burden to see dancers honor God in their dancing. She desires to see excellence in dance just as one would do everything as unto the Lord. The love of dance began when she was young and she was able to be in several dance performances as well as drill team and gymnastics. Dawnielle has a degree in Child Development with a teaching credential and taught for seven years before homeschooling. Her and her husband have been involved in children/student ministries as well as fostering for several years. She is excited to inspire this next generation to be bold Christians and honor God in their dancing.
Mrs. Kayce Rutledge
Kayce is living her dream of being a wife and homeschooling mom to four amazing humans. She is passionate about helping others and has spent the past 25 plus years encouraging and empowering God's children to care for their mind and body. She studied Health Fitness and Psychology at UNCC and serves others through health coaching, teaching wellness and fitness classes, and through dance. Jesus, sunshine, people, and music make her heart jump for joy!
Kayce has a BS in Health Fitness/BA in Psychology/Health Coach Certification/Personal Training and Group Fitness Certification.
Mrs. Carmen Vermillion
With over 11 years of professional experience in the field of web design and development, I have established myself as a seasoned expert in WordPress design and development. As the founder and owner of my own web design agency, I have had the privilege of working with high-profile clients such as Gerber Baby and Fox Networks Group, as well as collaborating with some of the largest and most reputable local web design agencies in town.
My journey into web design was preceded by a diverse background in advertising and education, where I honed my skills in creativity, communication, and project management. Prior to my web design career, I worked as a preschool teacher, which instilled in me the importance of patience, clarity, and effective teaching methodologies—skills that I now apply to my work in web design and development education.
Apart from managing my web design agency, I also own another small business and homeschool my three children, currently in grades 7th, 5th, and 3rd.
Throughout my career, I have been passionate about sharing my knowledge and expertise with others. I am excited to bring this passion to my WordPress Website Development course, where I aim to equip students with the skills and confidence they need to build, design, and maintain professional-quality websites.