Meet our Aspen TeacheRs
Amy Wheeler: Aspen Supervisor
After marrying Jim, her high school sweetheart, Amy spent several years teaching in Philadelphia and Maryland. Later, she was blessed to be able to stay home with her three children and to homeschool them through graduation. Amy has always been passionate about education and early on in homeschooling discovered Charlotte Mason's philosophy. She feels that Mason's understanding of children shows a deep respect for the individual and the way God has made him or her, while also urging us as parents to help them form good habits and always require their best efforts. Amy tried to build her homeschooling plans around these ideas, while trusting God with the outcome.
While continuing to teach middle school history and geography, Amy is excited to also take on the role of administrator for the brand new Aspen program. Since we cannot know what might excite our children and awaken their minds to new ideas, we will offer a wide variety of the very best books and activities, time in nature, and free play outdoors. As PHA continues to expand to meet the needs of the growing homeschool community, Amy hopes to encourage parents and lead a new team of teachers in "spreading the feast".
Michelle Lingle: Kindergarten
Michelle Lingle is thrilled to be teaching Kindergarten with the Aspen program. She lives in Quakertown with her husband and family. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from The College of New Jersey and earned her teacher certification in music education K-12. She is also an experienced ESL instructor and even spent 2 years teaching English as a foreign language in China’s Sichuan Province. Upon returning to the US, she helped to start a non-profit multicultural resource center in the diverse Delaware County area. During her time there, she taught lessons to students of all ages, at all levels of fluency. This included developing an early childhood program and creating curriculum for moms & kids, toddlers, Pre-K and Kindergarten. She has also taught many classes in music and drama for students in grades K-8. She has had the privilege of teaching in many settings including homeschool groups, children’s ministry, private schools, non-profit organizations, childcare centers, summer camps, private tutoring and vocal instruction but she is most proud of having completed over 20 years of homeschooling her own 3 children, K-12. As a singer, she enjoys teaching with songs, dramatic games and creative activities. It is her desire to help students develop a love of learning and grow in confidence as they understand that God loves them and has given them gifts that they can share with others.
Sarah Turner: First Grade
Growing up as a pastor’s kid in a large family I have always been drawn to working with children. Some of my earliest jobs included babysitting and counseling at summer camp. During my final year at Lancaster Bible College, I was recruited to teach missionary children in Guyana, South America. It was here where my unconventional journey into education began.
After returning to the states I married my college sweetheart, Will. For several years, I taught first grade at a private Christian school. These teaching experiences helped cement a love for education and a desire to approach it from a unique perspective. Five children and many years later my roles have shifted and changed: pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, foster mom, adoptive mom, community art teacher, neighbor and friend, but foremost a follower of Christ. I am thrilled to be joining the PHA family and am grateful to be partnering with families on their homeschool journey. Above all, I desire to equip children to know and love God with their heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30)
Grace Gulbis: Second Grade
Grace Gulbis and her newlywed husband, Dāvis, live in a tiny farmhouse outside of Hosensack, PA. Influenced by educators throughout her life (including her mother, grandparents, siblings, friends, mentor professors, and her husband!), Grace is honored to start her own teaching career, and is blessed to be doing so at Providence Hybrid Academy.
Grace thrived as an unconventional homeschooler from K-12, seizing the opportunity her Junior year to herself homeschool a family of four siblings in Cambridge, England. Throughout high school, she also worked and volunteered at the John Paul II Center for Special Learning where she was first inspired to help each student she encounters reach his or her own God-given potential.
At DeSales University, she continued her love of learning as an enthusiastic English major, with minors in Creative Writing and Theology. Her passion for writing led her to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Publishing (MFA) at her alma mater in December, 2022.
While a graduate student, Grace worked as an Assistant College Campus Minister for a year; then as a Middle and High School Learning Support Aide and Pole Vault Coach in the Twin Valley school district. She is currently completing her PA 7-12 English Teaching Certification, and pursuing publication of her MFA thesis manuscript (a collection of linked historical fiction short stories).
Grace can be caught hiking at French Creek State Park, playing her vintage accordion, and teaching Italian to her nieces and nephew. She also runs a literary society and magazine, swing dances, and always keeps her passport in date should an unexpected invitation to travel arise.
Grace is ecstatic to start her second year of teaching at PHA, and is continually delighted as she learns more about the Charlotte Mason method. Grace is looking forward to all her classes this year, and to sharing her belief that "Learning is its Own Reward."
Cheryl Smith: Nature Study
Cheryl comes to PHA with over twelve years of caring for and teaching children in an in-home child care. She has a BS degree in Horticulture from Penn State University. She has had the privilege of working in greenhouses and of being a florist for over 20 years. She loves teaching children, using puppets and exploring the outdoors.
A very special man came into her life and they were married in 1979. He went to seminary after they had 4 children. He has now been a Pastor for 25 years. They have raised 4 children and now they have 5 grandchildren. Cheryl has been involved with some wonderful Women’s groups and Christian Ed in the church. At the age of 12, she became a Christian when a Substitute Sunday School teacher taught her class about Salvation.
Cheryl is both excited and humbled to be a part of this very unique and Christ-centered school.
Vonna DeArmond: Third Grade
Vonna DeArmond is a mother of 3 boys and has homeschooled for 13 years. She has a degree in Chemistry and left the biopharma industry to pursue Christian homeschooling and teaching. Realizing that she has always loved teaching and had always been teaching in some capacity, she obtained her level one PA teaching certification. While homeschooling, she discovered a passion for teaching children of all ages and gained experience teaching homeschooled children ages 4 through 16. She also has classroom experience with special needs and a heart for kids who learn differently. Her other interests include pickleball, fitness, nature, gardening, and healthy holistic living. She is also Certified Fitness and Integrative Nutrition Coach and teaches adults, kids, and special needs/abilities of all levels privately and at local fitness and wellness centers. Vonna feels blessed to be teaching at Providence Hybrid Academy using the Charlotte Mason philosophy where she can share her love of Jesus and of learning with your children.
Katrina Angeleri: Fifth Grade
With an awe of God’s sovereignty and a love of teaching, it is with gratitude that Katrina Angeleri works with the students and families of Providence Hybrid Academy. Children have been the major theme of Katrina’s life as a teacher in public and private schools, a mother, a director of Sunday School, a homeschooler and a director of a homeschool co-op.
Through the last 30 years of marriage to a devoted husband, God led her to homeschool 3 wonderful children for the last 16 years. She sees the journey as an ever-changing dynamic of abundant blessings and challenges with a constant need to look to Christ for His provision and plan.
Katrina is confident that the Lord has brought her to PHA and prayerfully seeks for the Lord to bless all her students and families with the grace and knowledge of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Briel Rhoades: Fourth Grade
This is Briel’s first year teaching 4th grade, and she is thrilled to be part of the Aspen program! She began her professional career in social work, supporting children, families, and adults. She later earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling from Eastern University, completing internships at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She served as a high school counselor for four years before stepping away to stay home with her children.
While raising her two wonderful daughters, now ages 6 and 9, she remained involved in education—teaching healthy relationship education through the LifeSMART program in public schools, providing online counseling for students attending cyber school, co-leading her church’s youth group, coaching her daughter’s Odyssey of the Mind team, and even teaching some PHA Root & Branch classes. Last year, she had the privilege of working as an aide for the PHA Aspen program and quickly fell in love with the vision of the school, the families, and the personal impact it has had on her own family.
She believes every individual has been created on purpose, for a purpose, by their Creator. They have immeasurable value and worth in His eyes, and it is her goal that each of the students she comes in contact with becomes more aware of this truth—and learns to live out of this truth. She aims to present truth and beauty to her students, working alongside them to grow in knowledge and in their faith.
Briel lives in Northampton, PA with her husband and two daughters. She first met her husband on the frisbee field, and 15 years later, they still enjoy playing Ultimate Frisbee together every week. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, camping, playing games, and going for walks—especially with her family.
She is honored and excited to serve as the 4th grade teacher for Aspen this year. She looks forward to a year of growth, learning, and drawing closer to our Savior alongside her students and their families.
Kim Misiti: Sixth to Eighth Grade Forest School
Kim didn't grow up wanting to be a teacher, but the profession chased her down and, eventually, caught up to her.
After more than a decade teaching skiing and snowboarding in the Poconos, teaching English to international students online, substitute teaching as a side job in college, running children's church groups, nannying, homeschooling her brothers during the pandemic, teaching in early childhood centers, and working as an Advancement Coordinator at a private school- she's finally admitting that, despite her best efforts, she might be a teacher after all (just like her mom, her sister, her cousins... maybe it's genetic?)
A former homeschooler herself, Kim graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree in Mass Media Communications and Political Science. She lives with her husband Nick in Easton, PA, raising their baby, their toddler, and their rebellious teenage dog.
She can usually be found out-and-about, playing soccer, paddleboarding, swing & salsa dancing, attending poetry readings, and throwing elaborate parties with very silly themes.
Kim was blessed to teach Kindergarten at PHA in 2021/2022, and is excited to return from her hiatus to pioneer the 5-8th grade Forest school program. She believes that there is nothing more fulfilling and life-giving than to be immersed in an environment where Christ is centered, childhood is honored, nature is accessible, and the powerful effects of good literature are recognized.