Bluegrass United Academic Center

The Core Program

CORE INSTRUCTORS

Beth Augsburger, Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry

Mrs. Augsburger has 23 years of teaching experience and is state certified to teach Math K-12. She has a Bachelors of Science in Education from Eastern Mennonite University and a fifth year of graduate studies in Math Education at the University of Washington. She has been a classroom math teacher and has taught and/or tutored middle school and high school math students. She has served as a learning styles consultant, been involved in curriculum research and development and has been a private tutor for many years. Currently, Mrs. Augsburger is a private math tutor and home schools her two children.

Sam Augsburger, Physics

Sam Augsburger holds undergraduate degrees in Biology, Theology, and Education from Eastern Mennonite University and a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington. He has taught physical science, chemistry, and physics at the high school level. He is currently the director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at Shriners Hospital for Children.

Lenore Breeden, U.S. History, Civics & Government

Mrs. Breeden has a B.A. in history and English from the University of Kentucky. She taught middle school Bible for a year and high school history for five years at Trinity Christian Academy. She homeschooled her three daughters through elementary school and taught in an area homeschool program. Mrs. Breeden hopes to instill in her students some of her own passion for history.

Chris Kiesling, Moral and Spiritual Development

Chris Keisling is in his tenth year of teaching at Asbury Seminary where he serves as Professor of Human Development and Christian Discipleship. He has taught classes in youth ministry, campus ministry, discipleship development in the home, moral development, discipleship and development in young and middle adults, and backpacking. He has an undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University in General Studies, a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Seminary, and a PH.D. degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University. Prior to becoming a professor, he served as a campus minister and a pastor serving campuses/parishes in both Arkansas and Texas. He is married to Suzanne and has two sons, Daniel, who is fifteen, and Samuel who is nine.

Shelly Johnson, Latin 1, 2, 3, Logic, Critical & Creative Writing Lab

Shelly Johnson has taught middle and high school for fifteen years, twelve of which have been in the classical school setting. She earned a degree in secondary English education from Malone College and a MEd from Covenant College. Throughout her teaching career, she has taught various courses including English, history, Latin, logic, and rhetoric. In 2008, Shelly authored a book called The Argument Builder which was published with Classical Academic Press. Discovery of Deduction, which Shelly co-wrote, will be published this summer, 2009, and her third book, Everyday Debate, which she is currently writing, will be published in 2010. She lives with her husband John in Lexington and enjoys reading, writing, fencing, and walking.

Robert Littrell, Chemistry

Dr. Littrell is a pharmacist who received his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Pharmacy in 1988. Robert then served for 15 years as a faculty member at the UK College of Pharmacy. During this time he taught multiple classroom courses on topics ranging from basic science to advanced pharmacology and therapeutics. He also provided practical and clinical instruction to graduate and post-doctoral level students. Robert currently serves as Chief Executive Officer for Artemetrx Healthcare Resources, Inc, a company founded in 2003 based on intellectual property developed in the course of Robert’s academic work at UK. Using data analytics and clinically sound outreach programs, Artemetrx enables large employers to provide cost-effective and affordable healthcare to their employees and their families. Robert is a homeschooling father of two with one child in the BUAC Core Program.

Robin Morton, Spanish 1, 2, 3

Robin is a returning teacher with the BUAC team this year. She and her family served as missionaries in Spain for over 10 years. She completed her formal language studies at The Colegio de Espana in Salamanca, Spain. Since their return to the U.S., she has taught Spanish in Christian School, co-ops, and has tutored many students. Her love for teaching, for the Spanish language, and for her students, creates a unique classroom experience. She has taught her own children for 8 years.

Susan Ormsbee, ACT / SAT / PSAT / College Prep

Mrs. Ormsbee is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She has 30 years of experience as a teacher, educational administrator, and testing coordinator/counselor in both public and private schools in Virginia, Indiana, and Kentucky. Since 1992, Mrs. Ormsbee has been actively involved in the central Kentucky homeschool community by coordinating standardized testing for hundreds of homeschoolers and by teaching and administering programs for high school students in leadership and academic pursuits, including college and career preparation. Her two daughters, Annie and Katie, were homeschooled through high school. Mrs. Ormsbee also works with the women’s ministry and with financial counseling at her church. She has been happily married for 30 years to her high school sweetheart, Lindell, who is a research director and a professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Kentucky.

Lisa Powell, Physical Science

Bio is coming soon

Grant Robbe, Algebra 2

Grant Robbe holds an undergraduate degree in Math Education from Liberty University with some additional college studies in engineering. He has taught a broad range of math courses on the high school level in Kentucky and Caracas, Venezuela. Grant currently works at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Body Operations Quality Projects. He and his wife, Kathy, have 2 children that they homeschool.

Susan Samples, English

Susan Samples earned a B.A. in English from the University of Kentucky and a M.A. in Education with an emphasis in Secondary English from the University of Kentucky. She is certified by the state of Kentucky to teach secondary level English. Mrs. Samples taught eleventh grade English and Humanities at Lexington Christian Academy for three years. For the past eight years, she has taught English, writing, and literature to many area home school students.

Kimberly Taylor, Biology

Kimberly Taylor received a BS in Microbiology and a BS in Chemistry from Alderson Broaddus College in 1989. Her graduate work was in Microbiology and Immunology at UK. Before becoming a homeschool mom she ran a thyroid cancer lab at UK and worked for a private cancer research firm. This will be Mrs. Taylor's 11th year homeschooling her four children and her 7th year teaching science at homeschool co-ops. She is also teaching the biology lab at BUAC Electives.

Dr. Reid Thomas Jr., Old Testament Survey

Dr. Reid Thomas Jr. obtained his Bachelor of Arts from Houghton College (Major: Sociology, Minors: Communication and History) in 1987, and then earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary (1991). In 2005 he received his Doctor of Ministry degree (also from Asbury Seminary) in Preaching and Leadership as part of the Beeson Pastor Program. A pastor since 1991, Reid currently leads LifeBridge Church in Lexington (a church he helped start, for more information go to www.lifebridgelex.com). He also serves as an instructor for Northwest Nazarene University (online) and for the College of Adult and Professional Studies program at Indiana Wesleyan University. He and his wife Amy have 2 children.

Mark Tucker, Pre-Calculus

Mark Tucker received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a Mathematics minor from the University of Kentucky in 2000. In addition to further graduate studies in engineering, Mark has served several years as a Teaching Assistant or tutor in chemistry and high school math. He is currently a Signal Integrity Engineer for Lexmark International, where he has been employed since 2000. Mark lives with his wife Kristy in Lexington and enjoys history, woodworking, tennis, and the country life.

Colleen Vanover, Ancient History & Western Civilizations

Mrs. Vanover graduated from Asbury College with a BA in History in 1991. She has also studied history, geography and political science at the University of Louisville and has done graduate work in history at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She was a classroom teacher and taught History to 7^th and 8^th grade students. Mrs. Vanover also has a post baccalaureate degree in Paralegal Studies and worked as a corporate legal assistant at Lexmark for seven years. More recently, she has been a stay-at-home, home schooling mother to her two children and enjoys teaching in a variety of venues in her local church.