Teachers & Staff

DAVID SPEARS served in the military for six years and then gained his B.A. in Economics and Political Science from George Fox University. He is currently pursuing a Master’s from Gordon College in Classical Christian Leadership. David is a permanent board member at Paideia and serves as head of school. He and his wife Rose have four boys and a passion for advancing Christian education in the Portland metro area. (Head of School)

ROSE SPEARS graduated from New Saint Andrews College with a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture. She has been teaching secondary-level classes using Classical curriculum and pedagogy for twenty years, first at King’s Academy and Schole Academy, and now at Paideia. Rose also oversees academics and admissions at Paideia. She and husband David have four boys enrolled at Paideia. In her spare time, Rose writes historical fiction. (Secondary Principal; Director of Academics; 10th Bible, 11th Junior Thesis, 12th Art History)

LISA POINDEXTER is a former orthopedic RN and mother of six who has been at Paideia for the last eight years teaching at the elementary level and then serving as elementary principal. Prior to that, she tutored with Classical Conversations and homeschooled her six children, one of whom graduated from Paideia with the first graduating class of 2021. Lisa has a passion for helping newcomers at her church and at school feel welcome and make connections within the community. Her favorite thing about Paideia is the joy and freedom teachers have in proclaiming Christ as Lord and pointing to Him as the creator and sustainer of all things.  She enjoys traveling with her husband, having coffee with friends, and spending time with her five adorable grandchildren. (Elementary Principal)

REBEKAH SCHNEIDER has had over ten years of office administration experience in the for-profit, non-profit, and church sectors. Though originally from a Chicago suburb, she is happy to be raising three Oregonian children with her husband, Joshua. Rebekah’s sons are both students at Paideia and her preschool-aged daughter aspires to one day follow in her brothers’ footsteps. Rebekah loves to spend time with her family and church family, eat at Portland-y restaurants with her husband, and read books across a broad spectrum of genres. Most of all, Rebekah loves being kept by Christ to spend eternity with him. (Executive Assistant; Elementary Administrative Assistant)

ALICE BARNARD attended Trinity Western University to gain her Bachelor of Arts degree. She enjoys teaching elementary Latin, spending time with family, gardening, and reading. (Executive Assistant; Testing & Transcripts Coordinator; 4th & 5th Latin)

KATEE CORPRON has a B.S. in Nutrition and Food Sciences from Utah State University. She and her husband, Trent, have four children (two of whom are Paideia alumni), a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter expected to arrive in January 2027. Prior to coming to Paideia, Katee homeschooled her children. She is passionate about classical education and taught in Classical Conversations for several years. She loves to read, hike, and go on walks with her husband. (Secondary Administrative Assistant)

ALI TERTIN earned a B.A.S. in Physical and Math Education from the University of Minnesota-Duluth and started her career in Brainerd, MN, teaching middle school and coaching multiple sports. Now, with almost three decades of teaching and coaching experience, her love for math and love for students drive every lesson. She’s coaching cross country now, which makes her smile all day. And when school’s out, she’s usually outside somewhere with her husband and two kids, camping, exploring, or hanging out in the back yard—showing Jesus’ love to family and neighbor like she does each day in math class. (Secondary Administrative Assistant; Pre-Algebra, Algebra II)

AMY HAYES has been teaching for the past 25 years in a variety of educational settings including everything from homeschooling to early-learning and dyslexia intervention. As a classroom teacher, Amy began with the first Paideia class and has taught kindergarten exclusively the past nine years. Amy has been an avid book-lover from childhood and loves being the one to open reading for the first time to young students. When not teaching, she loves reading, baking, gardening, and being involved in church life. She and her husband Doug have been married for 27 years and greatly enjoy their 12 grandchildren, some of whom you might see arriving at Paideia in the little yellow “Grandfather Express” bus. (Kindergarten Teacher)

JAYNA HEATH graduated from Northwest University with a B.A. in Elementary Education, including endorsements in ESL and English. She is a native Oregonian who returned home after living in Washington, DC and Louisville, KY with her husband and family. Kurt and Jayna have four children, two of which are launching into adulthood. She enjoys trying new recipes, reading engaging and thoughtful books, and the occasional watercolor project. She also loves seeing her kids grow to love what brings them joy whether that be soccer, theater, music, or fishing. Teaching first grade and discipling young hearts and minds continues to be a great privilege for Mrs. Heath. (First Grade Teacher)

JUDI BRADLEY is the mother of nine children and considers them her “Magnum Opus,” to quote Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web). She homeschooled her children for 25-plus years and enrolled her younger children at Paideia when she discovered the school through a friend. She taught art for three and a half years at Paideia and has substituted and worked as a TA as well. Through teaching K–8 art, she discovered her love for lower elementary students and enjoys their unabashed enthusiasm and their ability to continually be in awe as they learn. She loves God’s amazing creation and aims to point her students to the beauty, wonder, and majesty of it all—even rocks. Her personal joys include playing and reading with her grandchildren, spending time outdoors, reading, sewing, crocheting, singing, spending time with her family, and traveling with her sweet husband of 38 years. (Second Grade Teacher)

BETH ANNE CACKA graduated from Hyles-Anderson College with a B.S. in Elementary Education. She taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade for several years before marriage and becoming a mom of two boys. Before teaching third grade, she taught elementary art at Paideia and assisted in a variety of elementary subjects as a teacher’s aide. She loves art, history, music, animals, baking, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her family in our beautiful state. She spends her summers cultivating a large garden and canning the produce she raises there; she also has a lot of chickens. (Third Grade Teacher)

CAITY GENTLE holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible and Christian Ministry from New Hope Christian College and a Master’s Degree in School Counseling from Bushnell University and has fourteen years’ experience in education. She and her husband, Rob, have twins who are off to college. Caity loves being a wife and a mom, and is excited to discover more interests as she and her husband launch into being empty nesters! (Fifth Grade Teacher)

CAROLYN VAN HOUTEN has a B.S. in History and a Master of Education from Portland State University. She has been a substitute teacher for many years, but is excited to have her own classroom teaching 6th grade this year. She and her husband have four children, all of whom attend Paideia. She loves cooking, reading with her kids, and being outside. (Sixth Grade Teacher)

BROOKE BUBNA delights in fostering a love of music in her community. She holds a Bachelor of Music from Willamette University and a Kodály Music Education Certificate. For over ten years, Brooke sang professionally with the Portland Dickens Carolers, and today, she can be found playing violin for Jane Austen-style Portland English Country Dances. She, her husband Nate, and their four kids share a love for outdoor adventures and making music together—playing in their family folk dance band, singing in church choir, and harmonizing around the dining room table. (Elementary Music Teacher)

KERRI WALLEN is the elementary and junior high art teacher at Paideia and the founder and director of Grace Fine Arts. While teaching art at Masters School of Arts in 2013/14 she started GFA in her small town of Vernonia as an after school program. Her program further expanded to serve a large community of classical homeschooling families in the greater New Orleans area after moving there with her family. She is the mother of four beautiful children and grandma to two precious grandchildren. (Elementary & Junior High Art Teacher)

BETHANY TUTTLE has loved being part of the Paideia community as both a teacher’s aide and a math teacher for upper elementary students over the last five years. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Idaho before moving to Oregon with her husband, Steven. Bethany spent ten years in engineering project administration before staying home to welcome and raise her two children. In her free time, she is most often found with her family, at home, enjoying their garden and backyard together. (Pre-Algebra; Elementary Teacher’s Aide)

JOANNA CASELLI earned a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Communications from the University of Alaska. She worked in publishing, marketing, and event planning before embarking on a career as a mother and homeschool teacher to her three children. One child has since graduated from Paideia, and two are currently enrolled in the school. Joanna is a perpetual student, and loves just about any outdoor activity from running to farming to snowboarding. She is passionate about coaching the next generation to honor God through athletics. (Elementary Teacher’s Aide; Cross Country Coach; Athletics Director)

CAITLIN CUMMINGS is the mother of four girls, three currently attending Paideia and one alumna. She loves contra and folk dancing, reading a variety of books (especially picture books), walking through Oregon’s beautiful woodsy areas and sharing poetry and good words with her children. (Elementary Teacher’s Aide)

STEFANIE STERN graduated from George Fox University with a B.A. in Organizational Communication. She worked for many years in higher education as an executive-style coach before switching gears to homeschool her four children, all of whom now attend Paideia. She loves a house full of music and dance parties, hosting a great meal for friends, learning a new handicraft, helping kiddos fall in love with Scripture and deepen their connections to God, and climbing the occasional mountain with her husband, Mike. (Library Assistant; Elementary Teacher’s Aide)

BONNIE VON WALD was graciously saved by Jesus at a young age and has been joyfully following him ever since. Bonnie is the proud wife of Mark and has been home with their delightful boys–Ben and Jon–for the past 10 years. When she is not spending time with her family or fellow church members, Bonnie can be found enjoying all things related to forests, books, coffee, and theology. Bonnie considers it a great joy to come alongside the staff and families at Paideia as they strive to raise children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. (Elementary Teacher’s Aide)

ANA DAU received a Liberal Arts degree from the University of Idaho where she majored in Classical Studies. She and husband Matt live in Oregon City and have four children, two currently at Paideia and two alumni. Ana loves being involved in Paideia and over the years has enjoyed the opportunities to serve as Art teacher, Latin teacher, and Theater Director. (Theater Director; Elementary Theater)

SARAH ASHWORTH has a B.A. in Studio Art from University of California, Davis, a Master of Architecture from University of Oregon and was a licensed architect in California and Oregon. She and her family love hiking, camping, and playing on the beach. Sarah’s interests mostly fall into the theme of making—from gardening, cooking, sewing, and drawing to interior design and architecture. (Advanced Mathematics, Statistics, 11th Chemistry, 12th Physics)

DAVEY BILLINGS is an avid lover of languages, particularly ancient languages. He earned a B.A. in Biblical Languages and Linguistics from Oklahoma Baptist University (where he also met his wife, Sarah), and an M.A. in Biblical Languages and Linguistics from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in North Carolina. He loves to read a wide variety of fiction (his favorite author being Charles Dickens), and he loves playing board games in his downtime. (9th Greek I, 10th Greek II, 11th Spanish I, 12th Spanish II, Secondary Theater; Secondary House Coordinator)

JOSEPH FORSTER graduated from George Fox University in 2009 with a B.A. in Music. He plays a variety of musical instruments and has taught music in many contexts, including giving private lessons and directing church and university choir groups. He is currently the Chief Musician at Reformation Covenant Church and owns Sterling Piano Tuning. He lives in Oregon City with his wife Hannah and their five children and enjoys board games in his spare time. (Junior High & Senior High Music)

JILLIAN GATTEY graduated with honors from Wilson Hill Academy in 2023. Following her high school graduation, Jillian taught first and second grade at Mountain Scholars Latin Heritage School in her hometown of Mount Shasta, CA for the school years between 2023-2025. During this time, she met and married her husband, Sebastian, who is a student at OHSU, and they now make Portland their home. Jillian has a passion for classical Christian education and deeply desires to see the next generation instructed in the good, true, and beautiful. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, skiing, and cooking. (6th, 7th, & 8th Latin, 10th Rhetoric)

JULIE GREENE earned her B.A. in Music Education from Azusa Pacific University. She enjoys playing and listening to all kinds of music. Julie is married to a lawyer/musician and has four children, two attending Paideia at present, and two grown and married. Julie teaches piano, accompanies choirs, and plays for her church worship team. Besides being a wife and mom, Julie also enjoys the outdoors, animals (especially her two cats), gardening, board & card games, and puzzles. (Piano Accompanist; Music Teacher’s Aide)

ASHLEY LOCKHART is an Oregon native and received her B.S. in nutrition from Oregon State University. After college, she spent the next fifteen years staying home and homeschooling her four awesome kids, during which time she gained an appreciation for the classical model of education. She is thrilled that God has called her family to be a part of the Paideia community this year. Ashley enjoys gardening, cooking, going on adventures with her family, raising various livestock animals, and finding time to read from the stack of books on her night stand. (7th & 8th Literature & Language Arts, 7th & 8th History)

ELLY LORTZ graduated from the University of Idaho in 2002 with a B.S. in Accounting. She and her husband, Michael, have been married for 25 years and have five children; three are Paideia alumni, while two are currently enrolled at the school. In her personal time, Elly enjoys reading, gardening, and connecting with friends over coffee. (Pre-Algebra)

LELIA MANN has a B.A. in computer science from PSU. She was born in Romania and came to the US at the age of ten. She and her husband have six children, whom she homeschooled for fifteen years. She taught science classes for her homeschool co-op for many years. In her spare time she loves to read, travel, and go camping with family and friends. (Geometry)

ALISSA MULLEN teaches secondary math and science at Paideia. She loves helping students develop curiosity about the world around them and encouraging them to think deeply about the order, complexity, and beauty of God’s creation. She and her husband Nathan have three children, two currently in high school at Paideia and one alumna. In her spare time, Alissa loves reading, playing games, listening to podcasts, and singing. (Algebra I, 7th Life Science, 8th Earth Science, 9th & 10th Biology)

JON ROBERTS attended George Fox University and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a high school/middle school teacher for 16 years, and a coach for 25 years. He has been a pastor for the last 10 years. He loves buying and eventually reading books and has quite the collection. His wife’s name is Kati, and he has three children attending or graduated from Paideia: Kyle, Olivia, and Lincoln. In his spare time (when he has it) he loves spending it with his family, which includes coaching all three kids in sports ranging from football to basketball to volleyball. He loves studying God’s Word; one of his favorite times is when he gets to start into a new book of the Bible that he has not studied in depth before and gets to see how God reveals Himself anew. (7th Bible, 12th Apologetics) 

LAUREN SHEARER has a B.S in Marketing from WGU, and is currently a grad student (MA Theology) at Reformed Theological Seminary. She spent two years in west Ukraine as an English tutor for an after-school center. In her spare time, she volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, reads widely, and takes early morning walks. (9th Bible, 11th Church History)

JOSHUA WILDER has served in overseas missions, church planting, pastoring, and teaching since 2004. He holds degrees from Multnomah Bible College and Princeton Theological Seminary. In addition to Paideia, he also teaches as a faculty mentor at SALT Seminary in Portland. Josh is married to Mackenzie, and they have five wonderful children. (8th Bible, 10th & 11th Great Books: Ancient, 12th Great Books: Modern)

ELSHA WINSOR graduated with a degree in English and an M.A. in education from the Master’s University in Santa Clarita, California. Entering her tenth year at Paideia, she has been honored to witness the school’s growth. Her favorite part of her job is seeing the students grow throughout their education. She always buys more books than she can read and less coffee than she can drink. Together with her husband Ryan, she has four children, of which the oldest three attend Paideia. (7th & 8th Logic, 9th Rhetoric/Logic, 9th Great Books: American, 12th Senior Thesis)