The Classical Institute Instructors

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Cultivating a passion for learning, our teaching staff provides enthusiastic instruction based on years of training and experience. Small class size and the best in education facilities produce a perfect learning environment. Join us at the Classical Institute.

Lisa Bird is a Master Gardener and received additional certification as a Native Plant Master. She is a volunteer at the Carnegie Library Plant Select Demonstration Garden and pursuing certification in Botanical Illustration through Denver Botanical Gardens.

Diane Brunjes is a Master Gardener and has been gardening for 25 years. Passionate about all aspects of gardening and formerly employed by Harris Seeds, she has grown everything from houseplants to trees from seed.

Candace Campos is licensed as a School Counselor and has a BA in Psychology and MA in Counseling. She currently teaches 5^th grade at TCA and is a certified “Step Up to Writing” trainer and TCA Writing Instructor

Jessica Conner teachers black and white photography, graphic design and digital Imaging at Fountain-Fort Carson High School. She has a BA in Art Education and a Masters of Teaching in Technology and Instruction. She has taught several workshops on digital photography and photo-editing software.

Louise Cutler is a multimedia, multicultural artist. Her educational background includes being the first student at Malcolm X, Jr. College to graduate with an Associates Degree in Fine Art. Her paintings have been shown in the DuSable Museum of African American Art, The Museum of Science and Industry, and throughout Illinois, New York, Atlanta, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and several venues in Colorado. Her paintings have also graced the covers of business brochures, calendars, and directories. Louise has won numerous competitions, awards and grants and has been featured in several newspapers throughout Chicago and Colorado Springs.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has taught private lessons and class voice for two years, and Elementary General Music at The Classical Academy and in District 11 for three years.

Julie Dunham is the owner/operator of SummitLife Adventures. She is an outdoors instructor at Pikes Peak Community College. A high school PE teacher specializing in outdoor education, she is also a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer. An avid outdoors person, she enjoys extending her backpacking and climbing experiences to international adventures.

Randy Eaton holds a BS in Education with a major in Business Education. He teaches computer classes for The Classical Academy.

Kerri holds a BS in Music Education from Toccoa Falls College and a MM Education from the University of Georgia. She also holds a Colorado Teaching License in Music grades K-12 and is currently a Music Educator at The Classical Academy.

Chaney holds a BFA in Art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, as well as K-12 Art Certification. She has studied printmaking in Florence, Italy, and has taught Elementary Art for 4 years at The Classical Academy.

Thom Hatch has written extensively about the Plains Indians Wars, the Civil War, the Alamo, and Custer and the Little Bighorn. He was recipient of a Western Writers of America Spur Award for literary excellence and has served as a consultant and on-screen expert commentator for History Channel documentaries. A Marine Corps veteran, Thom lives in Colorado.

Eric Hunter is an outdoors instructor at Pikes Peak Community College and is an avid mountaineer. He holds an Outdoor Adventure Guide certification along with certificates for “Leave No Trace Ethics”, “Avalanche Level II”, Wilderness First Responder” and “High Altitude Mountaineering School”. He has been instructor at the Colorado Mountain Club and PPCC for many years and volunteers extensively in local outdoors programs.

Kathy Krumland is a studio trained ballroom instructor currently based at Colorado Music Studios. She has taught ballroom at various studios and recreational centers around the front range for 6 years after having been a competitive/and award winning student for a number of years. Her passion for Ballroom dancing shows through her volunteer work as a board member and past president of the Pikes Peak Chapter of USA Dance.

Catherine Moravec was a recent Horticulture Agent for CSU Extension in El Paso County, she has also been a professional landscaper, a greenhouse manager, and helps manage the Xeriscape Demonstration Garden for Colorado Springs Utilities. Passionate about vegetable gardening and water-wise gardening, she holds an M.S. in Horticulture.

Melissa Paisley is a Certified Athletic Trainer and has been a CPR Instructor since 2006. She holds a bachelor's in Health and Human Performance and is a Track & Field Coach. Her passions include her husband, her daughter, photography, album-making, and teaching.

Will holds an MA in Linguistics. He has a degree in Mandarin and has travelled through the Peoples Republic of China. He teaches language at The Classical Academy.

Billy Ramsdell is a federally and state licensed Financial Advisor with 25 years of experience in business and financial management. With five kids and 15 years of marriage, Billy has experienced the practical challenges of family, career changes and uncertain futures. He brings an easy-to-understand approach to building financial peace through proactive disciplines and real-life practices.

Elizabeth holds a BS in English, from John Brown University. She teaches 7th grade English at The Classical Academy and taught 6th grade science for four years. Elizabeth lived in the Southern Hemisphere for over a year, and has seen stars from both sides of the planet.

Annie has a State of Colorado Professional Teacher's license with endorsements in Elementary Education and Linguistically Diverse Edcation. She has taught first grade at the TCA Central campus for three years.

Lori holds has been teaching art in the Pikes Peak region for 12 years. Her work has been published by Waterbrook Press and the Department of the Army Chaplain’s Association, just to name a few. She specializes in illustration, watercolor and silk painting and is a proud TCA parent. She owns Great Company Studios. You can check out her work at www.greatcompany.org.

Maria is a proud Colorado native, born and raised in Colorado Springs. She holds a BA in Elementary Education from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She knows Tap, Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip Hop, and Latin forms of dance. This is her 18^th year dancing at the Barbara Ellis Studio of Dance. Maria is a Tutor at The Classical Academy.

Kaye holds a BFA degree from Missouri State University and a MFA degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She has acted, coached, and directed over 50 productions in several cities in the U.S. and overseas. Kaye has taught acting for youth at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center and is currently teaching for the Academy of Children’s Theatre and TCA. Kaye was the Director of Drama ministries at Woodmen Valley Chapel for seven years and acts as their artistic consultant. She currently enjoys free-lancing as an actor, vocal coach, director, writer, and teacher.

Don Westapher is the Head and Master Instructor at Total Health Programs Conditioning and Self Defense School. He was certified by ACE as a Personal Trainer in 1994 and has been a licensed Massage Therapist since 1991. He and his wife Vicki are passionate ballroom dancers and have been teaching public ballroom dancing for years. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do, with a Judo background, and teaches conditioning and Real Life Self Defense involving various types of martial art techniques.

Greg Wiggins is co-owner of Quest Adventures, LLC. A world-class cold weather survival expert, Greg has regularly conducted winter survival training for Colorado Springs Utilities employees and Arctic survival training for the US Coast Guard. He has developed his own line of personal survival kits and created a snow shelter used by the US military.

Scott Wilson is a retired US Air Force officer who has called Colorado home since 1997. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Nevada-Reno and a Master of Science in Systems Management from The University of Southern California.

Mr. Wilson is a Colorado Master Gardener and a Master Food Safety and Preservation Advisor. He volunteers extensively with El Paso County CSU Extension and has taught numerous gardening and food preservation classes throughout El Paso County.

Mr. Wilson is also the director of the Classical Institute.