We boast a gifted, passionate teacher group at SLO Classical Academy! Our teachers are sought after for their natural teaching abilities, their demonstration of a passion for lifelong learning, their love of and commitment to students, the ability to work on a team and for their creative, think-out-of-the-box attitudes!
Junior Kindergarten
Denise Indvik
Denise Indvik grew up in Orange County and attended the University of Redlands, where she earned her elementary school teaching credential. After teaching for several years in Southern California, she moved with her husband Martin to San Luis Obispo--the best decision they ever made!
When the first of her three sons were born, Denise left the public school classroom to concentrate on being a mom. She kept her skills sharp, however, by teaching in the county’s Parent Participation program, running a tutoring business out of her home, and eventually committing to 8 years of full-time homeschooling. Denise is thrilled to be back in the classroom at SLOCA, where her middle son is a happy 7th grader, and her 5 year old is eagerly awaiting the start of kindergarten next year.
Olivia Richardson
Olivia's family has been homeschooling with SLOCA for three years. She has served as a member of the Fine Arts and Academy Class committees, whose goals include the development of the school’s fine arts programs as well as helping parents find a way to plug the arts into homeschool days. She also teaches music at SLOCA on Fridays for grades pre-k through primary and a Latin primer class during the week.
Olivia is no stranger to the pre-kinder classroom. Her love of teaching young children developed from ten years as a Kindermusik educator as well as good-ol’ parenthood. Her knowledge of early childhood music has given her the valuable opportunity to work at many different schools. Through those experiences, she decided to go back to school and get her B.A. in Special Education. She has a passion for teaching because of the opportunity to do something that can change a child's life.
Kindergarten
Amy Houser
Amy Houser received her B.A. and teaching credential from Hope International University in Fullerton, CA. She worked as a Kindergarten and first grade teacher for four years in the Savanna School District in Buena Park, California before moving to Santa Maria in 2003. Amy was then employed with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District for six years teaching reading instruction to students ranging from grades K-6.
Amy is a homeschool parent to her own children who also attend SLOCA. She is a big fan of the classical hybrid approach to teaching and is looking forward to an engaging and creative year!
Mary Knudson
Mary earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Sonoma State University. After graduation Mary found herself working with children and young adults in the aquatics world. Her love of coaching led Mary to earn her teaching credential from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
As a mom of two young boys, Mary fell in love with what she saw at SLOCA as both a parent and credentialed teacher and knew she wanted to be a part of a school that approaches academics in such a classical, rich and interdisciplinary way.
She enjoys bringing learning to life through play, literature, art, science, and music. Mary encourages all of her students to discover, wonder, and explore through hands-on-experiences. She enjoys the hybrid model offered at SLOCA because it provides a nurturing community between teacher, parent, child and staff. She is committed to inspiring each student to reach his or her full potential. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, vegan cuisine, photography, and the sunshine.
Primary (1/2)
Lisa Ann Dillon
Lisa has been teaching at the elementary school level for 13 years and has worked with young children for nearly 20 years. She earned a B.F.A from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri and received her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Pacific Oaks College where her studies focused on a child-centered approach to education.
Lisa Ann has a passion for bringing the learning experience to life through the use of art, drama, music and poetry and encourages all of her students to work at their highest level. She has a particular interest in teaching mathematics in a dynamic manner. Her focus on hands-on exploration and critical thinking skills result in motivated mathematicians who enjoy being challenged as much as they appreciate being supported and encouraged.
Additionally, Lisa Ann spent more than four years traveling throughout the country educating teachers as an expert presenter for Staff Development for Education. She now puts that experience into curriculum development here at SLOCA and her passion and knowledge help fuel our classical educational program and enrich the lives of all of our students. Lisa Ann is also an enthusiastic SLOCA parent and lives in Atascadero with her husband and two delightful children.
Jamie Foster (Primary Math)
Jamie Foster earned his B.A. in Geology at Carleton College in Northfield, MN and holds a secondary teaching credential in the sciences. His career has centered around computers and software, ranging from founding a personal computer store in the Kansas City area in the 1980s to managing millions of lines of code in the finance industry. Jamie has developed and/or implemented dozens of learning experiences for children and adults, ranging from railroading units to astronomy/cosmology courses.
Jamie currently teaches 2nd and 5th grade math at SLOCA, as well as astronomy enrichment, and will add earth science in the Spring. His passion for learning is currently taking him into the life of Saint Patrick, photography, and the Latin language. Jamie and his wife, Lynn (3rd grade teacher in Santa Maria), have lived on the Central Coast since 1986.
Corrine Garrison
Corrinne Garrison received her Bachelor of Arts, Liberal Studies degree and teaching credential in 1995 from CSU Bakersfield. She followed with her Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction five years later. While teaching in the Panama-Buena Vista School District in Bakersfield, she focused her attention on the primary and kindergarten grades and found success in developing curriculum, serving as a mentor teacher, and presenting workshops. A highlight of her teaching career was receiving an Excellence of Education Award from the state of California.
After twelve years in public schools, Corrinne opened Original Wisdom Learning. At OWL, she specialized in developing individual curriculum plans, teaching privately, and growing a love of learning in the hearts of her students. She closed OWL in 2009 when she had the chance to move to the Central Coast. Corrinne loves being a teacher and inspiring young minds to think outside the box. She loves reading, writing, and being creative. She has a grown son who lives in Portland, Oregon.
Jennifer Perneel
Jennifer Perneel graduated from Cal Poly, SLO with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development. She then went on to earn her Multiple Subject teaching credential from Chapmen University. Before joining the SLOCA staff, Jennifer taught 1st grade in a local school district. During her time there, Jennifer was a mentor teacher as well as a lead teacher and helped to organize many family functions and fundraisers. She also implemented a reading intervention program for struggling students and served on many committees including the Early Childhood Action team and Curriculum and Instruction committee. Jennifer attended many Language Arts conferences, Math Institutes and enrichment courses throughout her years in the public schools.
Jennifer believes that given the opportunity, with the appropriate guidance, every child can and will meet his or her potential. She strives to meet each child’s unique needs and discover the gifts that each child brings to the classroom. Jennifer enjoys working with students and their families and helping to create a positive environment both at home and in the classroom.She and her husband Peter, also a local teacher, have made their home in North County, with their two children, Brooklynn Rose (2) and Dylan (a student at SLOCA!)
Intermediate (3/4)
Maren Milligan
Maren earned her Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Hearing at UCSB. She went on to receive her Masters degree in Special Education from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. She was also trained as a reading specialist and loves nothing more than to see a student find a fresh pathway to successful learning. Maren was a 2nd grade teacher at the Washington State School for the Deaf where she taught reading, history and math; she just did it all in sign language! She was able to stay at home with her three daughters for most of their childhood. During that time she helped to start a volunteer-run international adoption agency. Maren homeschooled her own girls through various seasons of their education. Two of her children are now in college and one is in high school. Maren's husband is a big SLOCA History Day fan and enjoys helping at the school with science projects or gold panning demonstrations!
Maren is thrilled to be teaching at a school that is rich in learning, flexible in style, and full of joy! Besides seeing the students learn, Maren's passion is to support the parents and watch them thrive as they try things with their children they never thought possible!
Amy Stith
Amy Stith is both a teacher and a parent at SLOCA. She and her husband have lived on the Central Coast for over 20 years and have 3 children, all of whom attend SLOCA. Prior to attending SLOCA, her oldest two attended a private school. While Amy liked the school, she knew she wanted more and SLOCA was the perfect fit. When the opportunity came for Mrs. Stith to be a teacher here, she knew it was something she wanted to do.
After earning a degree in Human Development at Cal Poly SLO, Amy pursued a teaching credential because it not only fulfilled her, but it was a career that would allow her to be with her children. Amy truly believes that SLOCA has been a tremendous blessing to her family. It allows her to teach, and learn, alongside her children in a way very few families have the ability to do. To put it in Amy’s own words, “As a teacher I feel blessed to work at a school where thinking and learning outside of the box is encouraged. The time spent in the classroom, balanced with homeschooling my children, has led to a very rich and full life.”
Lisa Wallace
Lisa studied Spanish at CSU Long Beach and earned a California Multi-Subject Teaching Credential from University of LaVerne. She has taught Spanish to area students for over 13 years and has been a regular substitute teacher for Atascadero and Templeton schools as well as local private schools. Lisa is the founder and director of a Mommy and Me parent-participation preschool in Atascadero where she has been teaching pre-K for four years. Lisa has been a CASA worker in SLO county and is currently an AWANA leader and a keyboard player for her church. She has a great love for children and a passion to inspire learning.
Lisa and her husband of 34 years homeschooled their four sons for more than 20 years, enjoying the benefits of time spent together dreaming, creating, playing, learning, reading, traveling, and exploring. Over the years, she has also welcomed close to 20 foster children into the arms of their home, family, and life. Nurturing and loving such a multitude of children made for a challenging, memorable, and very rewarding period of Lisa's life. With her extensive background in homeschooling while raising a large family, Lisa has much to offer the families here at San Luis Obispo Classical Academy.
Lower Middle School (5/6)
Aaron Bayles (Latin)
The Rev. Aaron R. Bayles teaches 5th and 6th grade Latin. He holds a B.A. from Ashland University and a Masters of Theology from Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Prior to coming to SLOCA, he served two Anglican parishes in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He currently serves as a chaplain to the Air National Guard. In addition to Latin his interest include theology, history, sports, and current events.
Paige Bartel (Level 6 Math)
Paige has a Bachelors of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Westmont College, and a Masters of Arts in Education, Curriculum & Instruction (Science, Math, & Technology) and secondary teaching credential from Cal Poly SLO. While Paige’s major focused on the cellular and molecular aspects of biology, she cultivated a love of environmental science after a semester abroad in New Zealand and Western Samoa studying sustainable development, aquatic biology, and environmental literature.
Paige’s husband teaches English Composition and Rhetoric at Cal Poly, and they have one son. She and her family love the outdoors, especially gardening, camping, and fishing. Paige cofounded Mindful Mothers, a nonprofit devoted to encouraging mothers to be actively involved their community by volunteering together with their children from a young age. She is also training to be a doula (labor support) with the Doula Organization of North America. Paige agrees whole-heartedly with Peter Oliva when he states that, “a child learns best when actively experiencing his or her world as opposed to passively absorbing preselected content.”
Jamie Foster (Level 5 Math)
Jamie Foster earned his B.A. in Geology at Carleton College in Northfield, MN and holds a secondary teaching credential in the sciences. His career has centered around computers and software, ranging from founding a personal computer store in the Kansas City area in the 1980s to managing millions of lines of code in the finance industry. Jamie has developed and/or implemented dozens of learning experiences for children and adults, ranging from railroading units to astronomy/cosmology courses.
Jamie currently teaches 2nd and 5th grade math at SLOCA, as well as astronomy enrichment, and will add earth science in the Spring. His passion for learning is currently taking him into the life of Saint Patrick, photography, and the Latin language. Jamie and his wife, Lynn (3rd grade teacher in Santa Maria), have lived on the Central Coast since 1986.
Heidi Frago (Science)
Heidi Frago has been teaching at SLOCA for six years. She is passionate about teaching math and science, and her goal is to pass her enthusiasm for learning to her students –a goal she steadily meets! Heidi comes from a strong background in math and science. Throughout her high school and college years, she tutored math and science to students of all ages. She graduated from Cal Poly SLO with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and received her CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Chapman University.
While in school at Chapman, Heidi was a substitute teacher for the Lucia Mar School District. Upon receiving her credential, she taught sixth grade math through geometry at a local school. A wife and parent of a little boy, she has been an integral part of growing with the school since the 2006/2007 school year, and we've loved every minute of it!
Catherine Panofsky- Pardeilhan (Art)
Catherine Panofsky-Pardeilhan joined SLOCA as the Lower Middle School Art teacher for track A & B. She was self-employed for 18 years as a commercial artist, teacher and consultant. Her early career encompassed large murals, sign painting, botanical illustration & decorative painting, calligraphy, goldleafing, faux marble & wood.
After taking a break to start a family in 2001, her work shifted to paint color consultation and long-term studio projects in painting, metal work and paper arts. Concurrent to her painting career, she also worked in historical costume design, custom bridal wear, and sewing arts.
Ruthie Peterson
Ruthie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in English and Psychology from Cal Poly. She went on to earn a teaching credential from Cal Poly as well. She has spent countless hours working with non-typical learners on the elementary and middle school level. She is in her 5th year as a teacher at SLOCA, and her passion is connecting the curriculum to the students’ lives in meaningful and relevant ways. She is also passionate about building a strong sense of respectful, safe community among her students so that each child feels free to be him or herself. She strives to create a fun, positive, interactive, and caring classroom environment where students can freely learn and grow.
Ruthie also brings a unique and valued "parent" perspective to our teaching staff. Her family has been enrolled with our school since its inception. In addition to teaching on the Lower Middle School level, she is currently homeschooling two of her three children.
Troy Wathen
With nearly twenty years of teaching and educational leadership experience, Troy brings a rich understanding of classical education to SLOCA. In 2000, Troy moved from Southern California to become the founding headmaster of a classical school in Houston, Texas. During that time, the school grew from a handful of families to over 300 students in 2010 and nearly fifty graduates from the high school. Troy has been encouraged to see that classically educated graduates are more than able to excel in some of the finest universities in the country. It is also encouraging to watch students mature and participate in activities such as mock trial, speech and debate, and athletics with excellence. Troy believes that the classical model of education is applicable to all areas of life and offers great hope for training the mind, body and spirit of the individual. Troy has spoken nationally on topics of classical education, student discipline, non-profit leadership and governance, and the classical family life.
Troy received his Bachelors in Economics and Business from Westmont College, his masters in Educational Administration from Azusa Pacific University, and his doctorate in Educational Studies from Biola University. The emphasis of his doctoral studies was on the development of intentionally engaged students. He hopes to bring the strategies uncovered in his studies to the students at SLOCA to foster a true love of learning that comes when we fully engage our minds in the learning process. Troy will be working on student development in addition to practicing his craft of teaching with our lower middle school students. He is very enthusiastic about learning alongside his students and encouraging this same pursuit in the families of SLOCA.
Troy has been married to his wife, Summer, for over twenty years, and they have two daughters, Faith-Marie and Grace. They presently live in Morro Bay where they enjoy riding bikes, taking long walks, and taking their dog, Teeny, to the dog park. The entire Wathen family is happy to be back in California, closer to family and in the pleasant climate where they can enjoy the outdoors.
Jennifer Wright
Jennifer is thrilled to be teaching at SLOCA for her fourth year and loves being a part of the Lower Middle School team. As she continues to grow in her knowledge, understanding and integration of a classical education into her instructional style, Jennifer's strength as a creative, project-based instructor allows for learning to come alive, and she adores the students’ enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. Jennifer earned her degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1990. She completed her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at Cal Poly and taught in the Orcutt Union School District for seven years. While teaching in Orcutt, she presented at numerous conferences on technology integration and has received awards for her innovative use of computers in the classroom.
Prior to becoming a teacher, Jennifer worked as a marine science technician for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and taught marine science and awareness onboard a research vessel to Rhode Island school children. When Jennifer is not teaching, she stays busy with her own children's activities as well as training for triathlons, running races, and her most recent accomplishment: swimming from Alcatraz to San Francisco!
Upper Middle School (7/8)
Jenna Burns (History/Literature/Writing)
Jenna graduated from Cal Poly with a B.A. degree in English. She went on to receive her teaching credential at Cal State Monterey Bay. Jenna spent two years teaching Language Arts at Chalone Peaks Middle School in King City. She was thrilled to join the SLOCA team in Fall 2009 as the Upper Middle School Language Arts and History teacher. Her focus is providing engaging and rigorous activities that inspire students to go beyond their comfort zone and reach toward their fullest potential.
By intentionally integrating art, drama, debate, writing, critical thinking, and teamwork into her classes, she reaches students of all learning styles and makes History and Language Arts fun! In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, students can expect to thrive and benefit from Jenna's commitment to making every class a meaningful experience. She looks forward to learning, connecting, and growing alongside you!
Heidi Frago (PreAlgebra/Science)
Heidi Frago has been at teaching at San Luis Obispo Classical Academy for six years. She is passionate about teaching math and science and her goal is to pass her enthusiasm for learning to her students - a goal she at which she is very successful! Heidi comes from a strong background in math and science. Throughout her high school and college years she tutored math and science to students of all ages. She graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Business and Chapman University with a CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. While in school at Chapman, Heidi was a substitute teacher for the Lucia Mar School District. Upon receiving her credential, I taught at Mesa Middle School as a Class Size Reduction teacher for sixth grade math through geometry. A wife and parent of one little boy, she has been an integral part of growing with the school since the 2006/2007 school year and we've loved every minute of it!
Adriane Hughes (Algebra)
Adriane has always had an affinity for numbers and helping people, so it only made sense that she would go to college to be a math teacher. What she didn't realize is how rewarding that would be, especially given the right surroundings. SLOCA has what Adriane has not found in the other schools where she has taught: passion. She was drawn to the school because of that passion and dedication to finding the best way to encourage students to achieve all they possibly can.
Adriane loves being able to work and live where she grew up and where her family lives. She hopes that her future children will be able to have the SLOCA experience that she sees her students benefitting from right now!
AnnE Lorenzen (Logic)
Ann Lorenzen first introduced her Critical Thinking Curriculum in summer 2000 at Cuesta Colleges College For Kids program. A popular and enthusiastic presenter, she returns each year to invite children to consider how and why we think and communicate the way(s) we do, and how to argue or negotiate successfully. For the past 10 years AnnE has parlayed her education, passions, and life experiences into a unique status as a frequent talk radio guest and guest host on KVEC 920AM. She believes strongly in the power of this medium, and offers children and young people in the community a forum from which to express their concerns, challenges, etc. by including them in live radio conversations each year.
AnnE believes in the extraordinary benefits of a classical education and encourages all children to study classical Latin and Philosophy as early as possible. Her own curricula introduce both disciplines as a matter of course, and the students enthusiasm for the materials reinforces her commitment to participate in as many venues as possible where such interest is welcomed and supported. SLOCA is an extraordinary example of such a venue.
With these studies informing their conversations and experiences as young people, students will then be prepared to think critically, communicate clearly and fairly, and argue or negotiate successfully, increasing the probability of an inspiring and memorable high school experience.
Sarah McCurdy Weinschenk (Latin)
Sarah earned her B.A. in Latin from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During her junior year, she had the opportunity to study Roman history, archeology, Latin, and Greek at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. After graduating from Dickinson summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Sarah taught Latin for a year at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. From there she moved on to earn an M.A. in Latin at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. Sarah taught Latin and Integrated Liberal Studies at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx for three years. During this time she won a New York City Classical Club scholarship to study for the summer at the American Academy in Rome. Here she met her husband, Tom Weinschenk, also a Latin teacher.
After moving to California, Sarah taught for a year at the Santa Catalina School for Girls in Monterey before moving to Morro Bay where she first started working with the homeschool community on the Central Coast, as well as teaching at Morro Bay High School. Sarah has taught Latin to homeschoolers for approximately seventeen years. Sarah currently lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband Tom, son Ethan, and cat Pittsburgh.
High School
Sonja Bair (Chemistry)
Sonja Bair is, first and foremost, a science enthusiast who loves to share her passion with kids. From investigating the chemicals present in fireflies after watching them in her backyard (luciferin, by the way) to identifying the clouds in her perpetually overcast former home state (Michigan), Sonja is fascinated by the world around her. She earned her B.S. in Biological Science at Hope College in Holland, Michigan and then a Master’s degree in Environmental Science as well as a Master’s degree in Industrial Hygiene from the University of Michigan. After graduate school, Sonja was employed as an Environmental Health and Safety Officer for the state of Michigan. In this career she was able to enter into many fascinating industries to see and participate in science in “the real world."
While the job was interesting, Sonja came to the realization that teaching was her real passion. She returned to get her teaching certification and then taught both at the college and high school level for the last five years. Sonja and her husband Nathan have two beautiful children, Miriam, 3 years old, and Naomi, almost 1 year old.
Paige Bartel (Astronomy/Earth Science)
Paige has a Bachelors of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Westmont College, and a Masters of Arts in Education, Curriculum & Instruction (Science, Math, & Technology) and secondary teaching credential from Cal Poly SLO. While Paige’s major focused on the cellular and molecular aspects of biology, she cultivated a love of environmental science after a semester abroad in New Zealand and Western Samoa studying sustainable development, aquatic biology, and environmental literature.
Paige’s husband teaches English Composition and Rhetoric at Cal Poly, and they have one son. She and her family love the outdoors, especially gardening, camping, and fishing. Paige cofounded Mindful Mothers, a nonprofit devoted to encouraging mothers to be actively involved their community by volunteering together with their children from a young age. She is also training to be a doula (labor support) with the Doula Organization of North America. Paige agrees whole-heartedly with Peter Oliva when he states that, “a child learns best when actively experiencing his or her world as opposed to passively absorbing preselected content.”
Jenna Burns (American Letters –(History/Literature/Writing)
Jenna graduated from Cal Poly with a B.A. degree in English. She went on to receive her teaching credential at Cal State Monterey Bay. Jenna spent two years teaching Language Arts at Chalone Peaks Middle School in King City. She was thrilled to join the SLOCA team in Fall 2009 as the Upper Middle School Language Arts and History teacher. Her focus is providing engaging and rigorous activities that inspire students to go beyond their comfort zone and reach toward their fullest potential.
By intentionally integrating art, drama, debate, writing, critical thinking, and teamwork into her classes, she reaches students of all learning styles and makes History and Language Arts fun! In a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, students can expect to thrive and benefit from Jenna's commitment to making every class a meaningful experience. She looks forward to learning, connecting, and growing alongside you!
Suzanne MacArthur (Algebra 2)
Suzanne earned her Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics at Cal Poly SLO, where she also earned her Secondary Teaching Credential. She has taught math course ranging from Algebra through AP Calculus. As well as teaching math, Suzanne has coached swimming and headed academic decathlons. She has also been a student-teaching supervisor and department chair. She is currently a part-time mathematics instructor at Cuesta College.
Suzanne loves the beauty and magic that mathematics brings to life as it weaves through the fabric of our lives. In her words, “I do what I love, and I love what I do!”
Steve Rein (Geometry/Mathematical Thinking)
Steve has a Bachelors degree in Economics from UCLA, and Masters degree in Statistics as well as a Ph.D. in Statistics from UC Berkeley. He has been a faculty member in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia and since 1998, he has been on faculty in the Department of Statistics at Cal Poly SLO as an associate professor.
As the parent of four SLO Classical Academy students and as a believer in the learn-by-doing approach, he is student-focused and project-oriented in his mathematics instruction. His goal is to develop the quantitative reasoning skills of students by providing opportunities for them to discover, for themselves, the beauty of abstract mathematical thought applied to real-life problems.
Sandra Ronda (Art)
Sandra Ronda embraces the concept of “life-long learner” and is living out the principle in her own artistic pursuits. She has a passion for learning and growing in her own artistic ability that spills over to encouraging young people in their own growth in observation, mastering the fundamentals, and individual artistic expression. Her education in art includes college coursework, participation in painting workshops such as the American Artist Weekend with the Masters, and her own self study of master artists through literature, art portfolios, and video demonstrations. She has produced commissioned paintings and illustrations, as well as artwork for logos and marketing in the business world.
Sandra is a parent of two SLOCA students and has been involved with the school from the beginning. She has taught a variety of Academy Classes, including Sign Language, Drawing, Watercolor, and Copying the Masters. Teaching the yearlong enrichment class, “Meet the Masters,” was a particular highlight. Sandra is excited about the opportunity to continue sharing her artistic insights and enthusiasm for art with SLOCA’s high school students.
Sarah McCurdy Weinschenk (Latin)
Sarah earned her B.A. in Latin from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. During her junior year, she had the opportunity to study Roman history, archeology, Latin, and Greek at the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome. After graduating from Dickinson summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, Sarah taught Latin for a year at Bishop McCort High School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. From there she moved on to earn an M.A. in Latin at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. Sarah taught Latin and Integrated Liberal Studies at Riverdale Country School in the Bronx for three years. During this time she won a New York City Classical Club scholarship to study for the summer at the American Academy in Rome. Here she met her husband, Tom Weinschenk, also a Latin teacher.
After moving to California, Sarah taught for a year at the Santa Catalina School for Girls in Monterey before moving to Morro Bay where she first started working with the homeschool community on the Central Coast, as well as teaching at Morro Bay High School. Sarah has taught Latin to homeschoolers for approximately seventeen years. Sarah currently lives in San Luis Obispo with her husband Tom, son Ethan, and cat Pittsburgh.