Junior Kindergarten
Heather McCaw: Mrs. McCaw has taught Junior Kindergarten for five years at Live Oak and six years of Kindergarten and first grade in public schools. She holds a B.S. in Child Development and Family Relations with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine. She is certified in Pre-K through 8th grades.   Mrs.  McCaw plays the clarinet and loves athletics, especially field hockey. She  is still looking for someone to play in a pick up game.  Anyone interested?    She is married to Ian, Athletics Director at Baylor University. They have four children, all of whom are students at Live Oak.

Kathryn Pelser:

Kindergarten

Chesley Maeyaert:

Sydney Cox: Mrs. Cox is from the Waco area and is a Baylor University graduate.  She earned her degree in Child and Family Studies and holds a Texas teacher’s certificate for grades PreK-4.  Mrs. Cox taught second grade last year and is enjoying teaching kindergarten this year.  She lives in Hewitt with her husband Jacob and their cat Stewie.  This is her first year teaching at Live Oak Classical School.  Mrs. Cox enjoys refinishing furniture, making jewelry and spending time with her family and friends.

Grammar One
Alisha Baker:

Sarah Johnson: Sarah Johnson is a graduate of the University of Oregon where she earned her degree in Elementary Education as well as Minors in Special Education and Music. She began working as an aide in a kindergarten class at Eugene Christian School and cooperating in field studies at other public schools, working with students from first to third grade. When her husband, Dan, was accepted to the Philosophy Ph.D. program at Baylor University, they left the Northwest mountains for Waco and have found an incredible community here. This is Sarah’s third year at Live Oak Classical School and her second year teaching Grammar One. She enjoys music and the outdoors and is happy to be a part of the wonderful community at Live Oak.

Grammar Two

Marsha Shields:

Allison Buras: Mrs. Buras is a Baylor graduate with a B.A. in English and a minor in History. She holds a Texas teacher’s certificate for grades PreK-6 and has taught in kindergarten, first, and second grades in public and private schools, as well as high school English at Westover School, an all-girls boarding school in Connecticut. At Westover she also lived in the dormitory with students and served as Director of Residential Life. As a founder of Live Oak, Allison has served the school by working in the administration and by teaching kindergarten and now Grammar 2. She is married to Todd Buras, who is on faculty in the Philosophy Department at Baylor, and they have three boys, Benjamin, Jonathan, and Michael.

Grammar Three
Tish Tucker: Mrs.Tucker has been teaching at Live Oak since its opening six years ago. Her loves are children, nature, great literature, and humor! She is affectionately known as Live Oak’s Dr. Doolittle.  Mrs. Tucker earned a BA in Christian Education from Ouachita Baptist University, a MA in Christian Education from Southern Seminary, and a MA in Teaching from Spalding University. In recognition of her outstanding teaching, Mrs. Tucker was listed in Who’s Who of America’s Teachers. She holds a Texas teacher’s certificate for grades K through 4th and has taught in Pre-Kindergarten, first, and second grades. She is married to Dennis, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Christian Scriptures at Truett Seminary. They have three daughters: Hannah is in Grammar 6, Sarah is in Grammar 4, and Hope is in Grammar 2.

MaryJane Dennison:

Grammar Four
Dave Sikkema: Mr. Sikkema teaches Grammar Four core.  After finishing his undergraduate degree in History at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario (Canada), followed by a year of working and traveling the coast of South Africa with friends, Mr. Sikkema moved to Waco to complete a Masters degree in History at Baylor University.  Aside from history, Mr. Sikkema enjoys playing sports such as basketball or ultimate frisbee, hiking and drawing.

Lindsey Watson: Mrs. Watson is in her fourth year of teaching at Live Oak. She currently teaches Grammar Four core subjects in addition to Grammar Six Latin and Intermediate Logic Latin. Mrs. Watson holds a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in Classical Studies from Texas A&M University. Mrs. Watson lives in Temple with her husband, Stephen, a teacher and youth minister in the Central Texas area.

Candace Spain-Smith: Mrs. Spain-Smith teaches Latin to Grammar 4 and Logic III and History to Grammar 5 and Logic II. She graduated from Baylor with a B.A. in Latin and in Greek. After teaching Latin for several years at a classical school and to homeschooled students in the San Antonio area, she returned to Waco when she married her husband, Scott.

Shanie Wenzel: Mrs. Wenzel received an undergraduate degree in Journalism/English/Education from Baylor University in 1988, and a master’s degree in Education along with cerification as a Reading Specialist and Librarian in 1992. For eight years, she was a classroom teacher in a private Episcopal school. During this time, she worked as an adjunct professor at MCC teaching reading skills. She has also taught a children’s literature course at Baylor University. She and her husband Brian have two daughters: Alison in Logic 1 and Amanda in Grammar 5. Her family has been a part of LOCS since 2005. This year she is teaching Encore Nature Studies,  aiding in the Pre-K and Music classrooms, and coaching the Grammar 5 volleyball team.

Spanish
Ann Bradley: Ann Bradley graduated from UT Austin with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Spanish. She has taught 3rd grade in public and private schools, 2nd grade in private school, and substituted in all grades including high school, PE and music. She taught K-3 grade Spanish in two home school coops before teaching grammar 1,2, and 3 at Live Oak Classical. She is beginning her second year here this fall. Ann has traveled much–every continent except Antarctica. She has seven grandchildren–three of which attend LOCS. Her husband is a Distinguished Prof. of Mechanical Engineering at Baylor.

Jean Watters:

Grammar Five through Rhetoric I
Math/Science
Wendy Cox: Mrs. Cox is teaching Grammar 6 mathematics. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Education and is certified to teach math and science through the eighth grade. Over the last sixteen years, Mrs. Cox has had experience teaching 2nd-6th grades in public and private schools; has spent several years teaching math, reading and SAT courses at Sylvan Learning Center; has tutored math students in high school and college, as well as having home schooled her own children. She has recently returned from Morocco where she lived for four years with her husband Ben, her son Jonathan (Grammar 3), and her daughter Amy (Grammar 1). Mrs. Cox loves cooking, reading, relaxing at cafés, and being outdoors. Professionally, her greatest joy is derived from instilling competence, confidence and hopefulness in students ofall ages who consider themselves to be “math-phobic”!

Meg Bierwirth: Mrs. Bierwirth teaches math in the logic school. She has a B.A. in Mathematics and History from Trinity University, a M.A. in teaching from Trinity University, and a M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has Texas secondary certification in mathematics and history. Previously, she has taught business calculus at Baylor and algebra at UAB. She and her husband Matt, a local pediatrician, have four sons. Their son Gabe is an eighth grader at Live Oak.

Katherine Pitts: Mrs. Pitts teaches science in the logic school at Live Oak Classical School. She graduated with a B.S. in Science Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986. She holds a teaching certificate in composite science. Her first teaching position was at University High School where she taught physical science, physics and chemistry. While her husband Bill was pursuing medical training (1988-1999) she taught physcial science, pre-AP biology and AP biology at R.L. Turner High School in Carrollton, Texas. Additionally, she was involved in the ESL, academic decathon, and Odyssey of the Mind programs and helped to establish the Biomedical Academy, a magnet to introduce children to studies in healthcare and biomedical research. During those years she pursued graduate studies in Chemistry at the University of Texas at Dallas. Since 1999, when her husband joined a medical practice in Waco, she has primarily enjoyed being a stay-at-home mom of three children (Will-9, Emma-9, and Ellie-7), but she has also served as church outreach minister for First Baptist Church Waco from 2004-2006, and as president of the South Bosque Elementary School PTA from 2006-2008.

Marty Graham:
Mr. Graham teaches mathematics in the grammar and logic school. Although this is third year of teaching, this is his first year of teaching at Live Oak. Prior to moving to Waco Mr. Graham taught in a (very) small town in Eastern Arkansas. Born and raised in Michigan, Mr. Graham has slowly been making his way southward. He received his undergraduate degree in Mathematics/Physics/Philosophy from Spring Arbor University in Jackson MI. He then joined Teach For America, which sent him to teach high school in Marianna Arkansas. He has now taught everything from 6th grade to AP Calculus, and is very excited to be a part of the development of the Rhetoric mathematics program.

Rachael Younger: Rachael Younger is a native Texan, born and raised in Lubbock. She graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelors in Science, Zoology in 1999. From 2000 – 2003, she lived in the Far East, studying Mandarin Chinese and teaching English with OMF International. School called again in 2003 and Rachael moved herself to Los Angeles, CA to study Linguistics at Biola University. While there, she met her husband, Pete, and married him in June 2006. With the desire to return overseas guiding them, Pete applied to PhD programs and was accepted to Baylor University to start in the Fall 2009. This move brought Rachael to Live Oak Classical School where she now teaches science to grammar 4, 5 and 6. Rachael loves to cook, garden and swears by Flylady for smooth running of the home.

Humanities
Alicia Brummeler: Mrs. Brummeler is in her fourth year of teaching at Live Oak. She currently teaches Grammar 5 and Grammar 6 Literature / Composition and Bible. She earned her degree from Taylor University in English Education. She is passionate about seeing her students develop good reading and writing habits. In addition to teaching, Alicia enjoys opportunities to speak and write about faith intersecting with everyday life. Alicia’s husband, Brad, is a PhD student in the Philosophy department at Baylor University. The Brummelers have two children at Live Oak as well.

Margaret Carson: Mrs. Carson is in her fourth year at Live Oak teaching Grammar 6 History and Geography, Logic I, II and III Bible, and Drama. She has her BA in Religion from Whitworth College and her Master of Divinity from Regent in Vancouver British Columbia. She and her husband, along with their four-year-old daughter have moved to Waco for her husband to work on a PhD at Baylor.

Casey Goff: Mr. Goff serves as the Dean of Student Life in the Logic and Rhetoric Schools and teaches the Medieval History course to Logic II, Logic III and Rhetoric I. He is a native of Memphis, Tennessee where he graduated from Christian Brothers High School.  Casey attended both the University of Mississippi and Christian Brothers University. He received a B.A. in history and minored in English. Before moving to Waco, Mr. Goff taught English and history at St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School in Memphis.  He and his wife, Heather, have been married for five years.

Hannah Kaminer: Miss Kaminer teaches Logic II, Logic III, and Rhetoric I Literature and Composition, as well as Logic I (the class). She graduated from Baylor University, receiving a B.A. in Great Texts of the Western Tradition and in Spanish. Previously, she taught Spanish to English speakers in the U.S. and English to Spanish speakers when she lived in Monterrey, Mexico. She is passionate about languages (particularly Latin and Spanish), medieval literature, and the unit circle. She calls Asheville (NC) and Waco home, and she especially enjoys the opportunities for ultimate frisbee afforded by the Waco community. This is her first year at LOCS.

Candace Spain-Smith: Mrs. Spain-Smith teaches Latin to Grammar 4 and Logic III and History to Grammar 5 and Logic II. She graduated from Baylor with a B.A. in Latin and in Greek. After teaching Latin for several years at a classical school and to homeschooled students in the San Antonio area, she returned to Waco when she married her husband, Scott.

Carolyn Still: Mrs. Still serves as Dean of Curriculum and Instruction for the Logic/Rhetoric grades and teaches Bible electives at the Rhetoric level. She served as one of the founders of LOCS, and has taught various grades and subjects. She also teaches K-5th grade Music at Live Oak. Mrs. Still received a B.S. in Education from Baylor, specializing in English and history, and holds Texas certification for grades 6 through 12. As well, she earned the M.A. in Theology with Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Previously she taught high school English in Dallas and then in Glasgow, Scotland while her husband, Todd, was pursuing PhD studies there. Todd teaches New Testament and Greek at Baylor’s Truett Seminary. The Stills’ two sons attend Live Oak.

Allison Trumble: Ms. Trumble is beginning her third year at Live Oak, teaching in both the Grammar and Logic Schools. Before moving to Waco, Ms. Trumble graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with a B.A. in English. In addition to her years at Live Oak, Ms. Trumble has taught English in public and private high schools, including the AP Language/Composition and AP Literature/Composition courses. While pursuing her master’s in English at Baylor, Ms. Trumble spent six years teaching freshman composition. In the Grammar School of LOCS, Ms. Trumble is teaching Latin, History, and Geography. In Logic, she teaches Literature & Composition, Latin, Advanced I Math, and Foundations of Writing.

Fine Arts
Jenny Dougherty: Ms. Dougherty graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Art and a concentration in Photography. This is her second year teaching all levels at Live Oak. She also does freelance photography in the Waco area.

Carolyn Still: Mrs. Still teaches the JK-Grammar 5 music classes at Live Oak. She served as one of the founders of the school and serves as Dean of Curriculum and Instruction for the Logic/Rhetoric levels,. Carolyn graduated from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is a life-long lover of music — from piano studies to choral singing to worship leadership to composing. She finds great joy in teaching Live Oak students that “music is for sharing!” Carolyn’s husband, Todd, teaches at Baylor’s Truett Seminary, and their two sons attend Live Oak.

Athletics / Physical Education
Jenny Amos:

Kristin Hill: Mrs. Hill teaches as part time faculty in K Spanish, Encore Spanish, K-Grammar 3 PE and coaches Cross Country at Live Oak. She also serves as the Meet Director for the CLASSIC track meet that Live Oak hosts for area private schools each spring. She has a BS in Spanish and in Nursing from Baylor University and is a licensed RN in the state of Texas. She lettered in Cross Country and Track 4 consecutive years at Baylor and was named an All-American in the 1991 season in the 4 x 800m relay. Her Spanish experiences include trips to Ecuador, Guatemala, Brazil, and numerous trips to the border and interior Mexico, which have given her many opportunities to practice her Spanish, in addition to translating for physicians and staff in the hospital. She is married to Tom Hill, and they have three children who attend Live Oak: Calvin (7th grade), Cora (5th grade), and Chase (3rd grade). Her family has been a part of Live Oak since the first year.

Brad Vardeman: Mr. Vardeman teaches as part of the faculty in P. E. Grammar 4-6. Mr. Vardeman will also be coordinating Athletics for these grades. As a Midway High School graduate, Mr. Vardeman was a member of the Jr. Varsity Basketball program as well as was a member of the Varsity Football program. He went on to attend Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Tx. where he graduated with a B.S. in Recreation and Religious Education. While at HPU, Mr. Vardeman was a member of the HPU Yell Leaders for three years. He has been involved in organized sports for over twenty years through community leagues, intramurals, school programs, and University athletics. Married to Monica Vardeman, they have three amazing children who attend Live Oak: Braden (Gram. 6), Makayla (Gram. 4), and Chandler (Gram. 2) Mr. Vardeman has been a part of the Live Oak family for the past three years.

Jordan Barker: Mr. Barker coordinates Logic School Athletics, and coaches football and basketball. He graduated from Hardin-Simmons University with degrees in Theology and Communication. Coach Barker is also in his last year at Truett Seminary, where he is pursuing a Masters in Theological Studies. Growing up in a small town in West Texas, he played six-man football and achieved both regional and state honors, won the Texas UIL Six-Man State Championship in 2001, and was named Offensive MVP of the 2003 All American All Star Game. Coach Barker is entering his second year with us at Live Oak, and is married to Rachel Barker, a Baylor Graduate who teaches Home Economics at Robinson High School.