Fine Arts Faculty

Sarah Weatherly | Director of Fine Arts: Mrs. Weatherly joined Live Oak’s administrative team as our new Fine Arts Director in 2023. She has 14 years of experience in fine arts education, specifically visual arts and theatre arts. In recent years she has led a team of art educators, focusing on collaboration, mentorship, and practical professional development; worked with developing award-winning artists of all ages; and co-directed a theatre company. She earned her degree in studio art from Baylor University and holds a certification in visual arts EC-12 education as well as a gifted and talented ed certification. She is an artist who primarily paints in oils and acrylics, with a special interest in portraits and seascapes. Mrs. Weatherly is married to Austin, and they have four children. She believes that every one of us has a God-given ability to create. She strives to build a community of educators and learners who build each other up in their ability to express beauty, highlight the good and call out truth.

Email: sweatherly@liveoakclassical.com

Jeanenne Bezerra: Mrs. Bezerra has been teaching at Live Oak since 2010 and teaches Grammar 1-Grammar 6 music, as well as Grammar 6 Liturgical Drama. She brings many years of music teaching experience to the classroom, including general elementary music as well as elementary and high school choirs. She received her music degrees at Baylor University. In addition to the vocation of teaching music at Live Oak, she teaches private piano.

Email: jbezerra@liveoakclassical.com

Katie Crews: Mrs. Crews has been a part of the Live Oak community since 2014, and has been a Yearbook advisor since 2021. She received her Associates of Science degree in photography and film communications from Calhoun Community College in Decatur, AL. For 8 years following, she ran a successful family and wedding photography business. She is now a stay-at-home mother to her two small children, but is thrilled to sneak away a few hours a week to be able to teach photography to the Yearbook staff at Live Oak.

Email: kcrews@liveoakclassical.com

Dodie Morris: Mrs. Morris began teaching Logic & Rhetoric handbells at Live Oak in 2022. She has over forty years of experience in music education, including elementary music and choir at the junior high and high school level. For fourteen years, Mrs. Morris served as director of music ministry for a church. She received her music education degree from Baylor. At Texas State University, she earned her MME with Kodaly certification. Mrs. Morris and her husband, Bill, have two children and five grandchildren.

Email: dmorris@liveoakclassical.com

Carolyn Still: Mrs. Still is one of Live Oak’s three founders and has either taught or served as a Dean every year except one since we opened our doors. She most recently served as Director of the Senior Thesis program. She returned to the music classroom in 2021 to teach Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten music classes. Mrs. Still holds a B.S. in Education from Baylor and an M.A. in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Dr. Todd Still, Dean of Baylor’s Truett Seminary. They have two sons who graduated from Live Oak.

Email: cstill@liveoakclassical.com

Michael Vela: Mr. Vela has been a part of Live Oak community since 2010 and an instructor since 2012. He is the husband to Chelsey Vela and the proud father of one amazing daughter and 3 awesome sons. Michael earned a B.S. in Psychology‎ with an emphasis in art from Tarleton State University with the hopes of one day earning a Master and L.P.C in Art Therapy. He loves teaching Woodshop, Sculpture, and Metalworking. In his spare time he enjoys playing the role of MacGyver (the original), by solving the never-ending list of Live Oak obstacles, producing minor miracles with minimal resources, repairing various items and equipment, and rescuing small children from strangers suffering from Silo Sepsis (otherwise known as Magnolia Madness); symptoms include driving while taking photographs, hiccups, the inability to notice traffic signs, overwhelming joy that blocks all other senses, and, in severe cases, dry skin. Michael finds his joy interacting with his students as they acquire new skills, increase in their capability, and create fascinating artwork. Michael’s hobbies include hanging out with his kiddos, traveling, problem solving, reading, creating, fighting crime, and lamenting the University of Baylor and the Denver Broncos football programs. His current motto is “Age is always advancing and I’m fairly sure it’s up to no good”.

Email: mvela@liveoakclassical.com