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Meet Our Tutors

Barry Bond

Mr. Bond began his training in Tae Kwon Do in 1974 at Oregon State University while studying his MBA degree in Marketing, Finance, & Accounting. Barry received his MBA from OSU in 1975, is a real estate Broker, & martial arts instructor with a 2nd Dan Black Belt Certification in Tae Kwon Do & 3rd Dan Black Belt Certification in Tatsu Te Ryu Karate-Do.

Diane Bowman

Diane has been a homeschool mom since 1988. She enjoys learning about history and loves to make it come alive for her students. Her hope is for students to see God’s hand in history and how He has worked through all the ages. Diane has been married to Brian for 40 years and they have 12 wonderful kids and 6 grandkids.

Melanie Brown

Melanie Brown received her Bachelors Degrees in Psychology and Addictions Counseling from Indiana Wesleyan University. She worked as a social worker for Head Start and the foster care system for many years. Melanie is a home school educator for three children from PreK-High school and has home schooled for 12 years. Melanie is currently a youth leader with her husband and loves working with teens!

David Chapman

David is the father of five amazing children and husband to Sarah. He is passionate about homeschooling and teaching the next generation! David has a Business Management Degree from Michigan State University and  Master's in Business Administration from Wayne State University. He has taught Business Management, Marketing, Personal Finance, and Professional Workshops and SMC. David also currently owns and operates two real estate companies. Instructing students in Business, Faith, & Life is his passion! 

Erin Crane

Erin Crane graduated from Michigan Technological University with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. After a short stint as an engineer, a passion for teaching young people prompted her to earn a teaching certificate in Science and Mathematics. She worked as a substitute teacher, and taught at Battle Creek Central until her first child was born. Along with homeschooling her three children, Erin has also tutored many other students. She is dedicated to teaching the wonders of the Creator that are evident in those tough, but rewarding, disciplines of science and math.

Ann Cripps

Ann holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s Degree in Education from Western Michigan University. After teaching in both public and Christian schools in the Kalamazoo area, she has spent the past 20 years at home educating her four children and teaching at various homeschool co-ops near Three Rivers. Her two older daughters graduated in 2017 and 2019. Ann’s son and youngest daughter are current KAT students. She has been married to Jim for 30 years, loves teaching, and counts it a privilege to serve alongside other homeschool families as they educate their children.

Anthony Dear

Mr. Dear, Tony, is the pastor of FaithWay Church in Plainwell, MI. His passion is to teach others about the bible, history, and, most of all, Jesus. Tony has a Bachelor's Degree in Bible and Youth Ministry from Cornerstone University & a Masters in Biblical History & Archeology from Liberty University & Newburgh Theological Seminary. He is excited to bring his love for history and bible to the classroom.

Charity Dear

Miss Charity is a high-energy, enthusiastic, and FUN educator! Making memorable experiences with children & allowing movement and energy is her mantra! She received her B.A. from Cornerstone University in Language Arts & Elementary Education. She worked in Rockford Public Schools before starting her family. Charity's ultimate passion and calling is children's ministry and she is currently the Children's Ministry Director of FaithWay Church. Miss Charity believes God is at the center of all wisdom & knowledge & is eager to translate that into the classes she is teaching at KAT!

Chase Garrett

I’m a dad of six (five boys and one girl) and have been married for fifteen years. In addition to teaching this class I also teach Music Theory and Appreciation through KAT, percussion lessons and percussion ensemble with WMHFA and I also teach drivers training. I completed my B.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2008 with an emphasis on percussion performance. Currently, I’m finishing up a Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics from Liberty University.

Kristen Greene

Kristen Greene is a homeschool mom of four and has homeschooled for eleven years. Before homeschooling, she was a 7th grade ELA teacher for six years at a public school. Her love for teaching has led her to seek out effective ways to teach reading, writing, and spelling. Using a multi-sensory approach and an Orton-Gillingham based method, Kristen personalizes every tutoring session and looks forward to helping your child reach his or her goals.

Kaela Hartmann

Kaela has a background violin, viola, cello, piano, guitar, clarinet, saxophone, and flute. She has a Bachelor of Music. Kaela is very nurturing and positive in her approach to instruction.

Lisa Hyma

Lisa has been teaching at KAT since 2015. Prior, she taught 3rd and 4th grade a total of three years. She has a B.A. from Grand Valley State University majoring in English with a minor in Elementary Education. She also received her Master's of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on educational differentiation from GVSU. Lisa has experience working with students from various age ranges and reading levels and strives to meet each student where they are to nurture their love of reading.

Karen Kiser

Karen brings over 20 years of experience to KAT! She been with us since 2007 and what a joy it has been! Karen holds a B.S. in Secondary Education. Previously she taught for 12 years at Southside Christian School in SC. She herself homeschooled three of her eight children. Karen ignites a love for learning in her students!

Sue MacQuarrie

Mrs. MacQuarrie is a fun teacher who loves exploring God's creation and encouraging her students in their art and the things they are passionate about. Sue believes classroom fellowship and friendship are an important part of the art experience. Sue has been tutoring homeschool students for 25 years in art and dance. Her 3 sons are homeschool graduates and she's been married to Rod for 33 years. Sue is a WMU graduate and has also studied art at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Sue has been a teacher for the Young Rembrandts program and also teaches at paint parties. Sue has also been an adult and children's leader through Bible Study Fellowship and Community Bible Study.

Richard Mayer

Mr. Mayer is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. He brings over 32 years’ experience teaching in grades K-12 in the public schools with a focus in high school and has been a beloved KAT tutor since 2010. Rich has a Bachelor of Science and Masters in Teaching of Science from WMU. His major is Earth Science with minors in Math, Biology, Chemistry, and Elementary Science.

Sarah McCollum

Mrs. McCollum is married to the love of her life, Austin McCollum, and they have two children. Sarah
was saved as a child, and has been a long-time attender/member of Calvary Bible Church. She attended
GVSU and Arizona State University for her education, and is bilingual in Spanish. Her professional
experience includes early childhood, articulation/phonological impairments, language impairments, work with children with Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Cleft Palate-affected speech.
When Sarah has free time (difficult to get with two little ones), she loves to go for runs, spend time with
church friends, and try new coffee shops with her husband Austin.

Nancy Micklatcher

Nancy has been teaching at KAT since 2008. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Plymouth State College in New Hampshire and a master’s degree in Literacy Education from the University of Southern Maine. For over 15 years she taught in elementary classrooms throughout New England before starting her family and moving to Michigan. Over the years she has taught writing to hundreds of students. Both of her sons are homeschool graduates.

Amy Nelson

Amy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical and Controls Engineering from Valparaiso University
and has been working as a database professional for 25 years. She and her husband Steve have been
married for 27 years and have 5 children, 4 of whom have homeschooled for their high school years.
Currently a part of the IT team at Hillsdale College, Amy loves to dive into the challenges of data
management, and how well-organized and neatly presented data can become an invaluable tool for
reviewing past activity and making plans for future endeavors. She’s looking forward to sharing with
students and their families how learning database skills can greatly benefit not only students preparing
for tech careers, but also small business administrators, ministry leaders, and homemakers.

Cori Nichols

Mrs. Nichols' mother was a Home Economics teacher, so my culinary education began early in life and has continued ever since; I have counted cooking as a favorite hobby for many decades, consistently seeking out new recipes and techniques to learn and perfect. My father was also a teacher, so with two teacher parents, it was perhaps not surprising that I should pursue my Bachelor of Science in English, Secondary Education from Taylor University. I have spent the last 10 years homeschooling my four children. I also coach middle school volleyball for the Kalamazoo Cougars, and work with middle schoolers at Calvary Bible Church.

Sarah Ohland

“I love teaching math” is Mrs. Ohland’s mantra! Sarah began tutoring at KAT in 2013. She has a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Physics from WMU, and a Master’s of Arts in Mathematics Education from WMU as well. From 1992-1995 Sarah taught at Schoolcraft High School and taught part-time at WMU until 2000. She homeschooled all five of her children. She loves Jesus first, loves her family, but also loves teaching math as a way to connect with students. To God be the glory!

Kristen Olson

Kristen is a homeschool mom of six children and has been homeschooling for eighteen years. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in elementary education. Kristen’s loves to share her love of teaching with others and has been an essential part of the tutoring team at KAT for over eight years.

Chelsea Pierce

Chelsea has a Bachelor of Arts in K-12 Music Education and decades of experience with teaching, piano accompanying, singing, and performing on the flute. She has taught piano, voice, and Spanish. But as a pastor's kid, she has been a children's choir director, Sunday school teacher, Awana leader, and camp counselor. Chelsea has also been a soloist on a Grammy-award-winning album.

Pat Polstra

Pat has a BBS (secondary education) from Crown College. She loved teaching at a small private school in Grand Rapids and have continued my love of teaching and community with children’s church ministries, RBM’s Released Bible Time, and co-op.

Steve Rice

Steve has been married for 13 years and has two children. Steve graduated from Western Michigan University with a B.S. in chemistry and math. He currently works in the R&D lab at a local food and beverage ingredient manufacturer. One of Steve’s passions is working on their hobby farm. Whether it is working with plants or repairing equipment he is always learning. Steve looks forward to sharing his passions with students in the upcoming year.

Natalia Saba

Natalia is from Venezuela. She graduated from the Universidad Rafael Urdaneta with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Currently, Natalia is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Spanish from WMU. She has taught students in K-3, upper elementary, middle school, high school and adults Spanish for over 10 years.

Kristen Scranton

Kristen Scranton has taught at KAT since 2006. Prior to that, she worked as an eighth grade language arts teacher at Mattawan Middle School for three years before having her son and choosing to stay home. She earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree with a major in Elementary Education and minors in English, Math, and Science from WMU. She earned her Masters degree in the Art of Teaching from Marygrove College. Kristen has served on various English/Language Arts committees at Mattawan Schools that integrated curriculums between grades six through twelve. She has worked with over 1,000 public school and homeschooled students who have had a variety of needs, from special education, dyslexic, emotionally impaired, and autistic students to those honor students who needed challenging to keep them interested.

Corey Thompson

Corey has a background in instrumental music instruction. He has a Bachelor’s of Music (Educational Emphasis). Corey served as Director of Bands at West Branch/Rose City Schools, Kalamazoo Schools, and Kalamazoo County Day. He is the owner of Thompson Tutoring, LLC and has been providing private lessons in the greater Kalamazoo area for over 20 years.

Dawn Thompson

Dawn has been an educator in the Kalamazoo area for over 20 years. She has a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education (music). Dawn also has an extensive background in teaching piano, voice, and guitar along with serving as a elementary school music instructor, church choir director and organist.

Shawna Wilder

Shawna graduated from Hope College in 1993. She is a homeschool mom to six children with three being graduated. Shawna has been married to Craig for 29 years! She is a faithful follower of Christ and attends Calvary Bible Church.  Shawna has been a tutor with Homeschool Performing Arts for many years and a part of the KAT community as a parent and serving on the board and PAC and now as a tutor! 

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