Matthew Gallatin, M.A.

Matthew Gallatin is a noted author (Thirsting for God in a Land of Shallow Wells), speaker, and podcaster (Pilgrims from Paradise).  Matthew received his M.A. in Philosophy from Gonzaga University, and taught philosophy at Gonzaga University and North Idaho College for 17 years. Matthew has participated in home school cooperatives, and has been active in teen ministries for many years. He and his wife Alice live in beautiful Sandpoint, Idaho. They have two adult children, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and three terrific grandchildren.  When not writing, speaking, or teaching, Matthew pursues his other calling as a professional singer/songwriter/guitarist.

Carrie Lukens, M.A.

Carrie Lukens began studying classics as a homeschooler many years ago, and has never stopped learning and teaching classical languages and literature. She studied Classics and Biology as an undergraduate student at Truman State University, and later graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Master's of Arts degree in Teaching Latin and Classical Humanities.  She also is a graduate of the Classical Summer School program at the American Academy in Rome. Carrie has had the privilege of working with students of all ages, from elementary school through university level.  In addition to teaching classes at the University of Massachusetts as a graduate student, she has developed and taught science classes for elementary school students, helped build a middle school Latin program in a classical charter school, and tutored students in her local homeschool community.  Her most recent teaching position as been as a homeschooling parent. Carrie lives in Chicopee, Massachusetts, where she enjoys reading, being outdoors and playing with her four children.

Kiernan Schroeder, M.A. (pending)

Kiernan Schroeder earned her bachelor’s degree in English Literature (summa cum laude) from Hillsdale College in 2010, where she was awarded the English Department Award for Excellence. She is currently a master’s degree student in Shakespeare Studies at King’s College, University of London. She has been a private tutor for junior high and high school students in English and writing for over six years, and before attending graduate school, she worked as the 6th grade teacher at Ambleside School in Denver, CO, teaching literature, composition, grammar, spelling, history, and geography, among other subjects. Kiernan is herself a homeschool graduate and delights in sharing her love of literature and writing with the homeschool community online. Her favorite authors are William Shakespeare and Jane Austen, and she also loves to read Old and Middle English literature aloud to her siblings. She has lived in five U.S. states and two countries, but, as of August 2012, she resides in London, England, where she enjoys watching plays at the Globe Theatre and taking walks along the south bank of the Thames.

Ruth Rutledge, B.A., Teaching Credential

Ruth Rutledge holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a credential to teach English and Instrumental Music.  She has been one of the choir directors at St. Barnabas Antiochian Orthodox Church since 1990.   She now teaches chant at St. Barnabas and privately.  Mrs. Rutledge has developed a set of chant charts that she presented  at the Antiochian Sacred Music Institute on both the East and West Coast.  She has been homeschooling her four children for 11 years.

James S. Taylor, Ph.D.

Dr. James S. Taylor, Ph.D, has been teaching Great Books to college freshmen and middle and high school students for thirty years. The last twelve years he has taught a four year Great Books program online for high school students. He also teaches classes in Shakespeare, Poetry, and, Writer's Workshop. Taylor received his B.A. in Humanities, and M.A. in English from Southern Illinois University. In 1997, he received his Doctorate in the Philosophy of Education from the University of Kansas where he also attended for several years the famous Integrated Humanities Program taught by Professors John Senior, Dennis Quinn and Frank Nelick. His first book, Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education, was published by State University of New York Press and remains in print.

 Anne Van Fossen, M.A.

Anne Van Fossen spent seven years working with her husband, John, to found and develop the Saint John of Damascus Academy, a Christian Classical K-8 school in California. Anne was the Director of Program and Curriculum Development and head of the Ancient Languages Department.  She has over 10 years of experience teaching classical Greek and Latin to all ages from Kindergarten to adult. Anne earned her Master's degree in Classics from the University of California at Santa Barbara where she was awarded the Keith Aldridge Memorial Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Classics and taught Greek Mythology, Classical Archaeology, Greek Civilization, and Greek Tragedy as a teaching assistant for four years.  Anne earned her bachelor's degree in Physics and Chemistry (summa cum laude) from Mount Holyoke College and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi Societies. Anne lives in Bonners Ferry, Idaho where she homeschools her three sons with her husband John.  She loves reading, running, and romping with her boys.

John Van Fossen, M.A.

John Van Fossen spent seven years founding and developing the Saint John of Damascus Academy, a Christian Classical K-8 school in California.  John was the headmaster of the school and also taught history and mythology classes to all age levels. John earned his Master's degree in Classics from the University of California at Santa Barbara where he taught mythology for 5 years as a teaching assistant.  He earned his bachelor's degree in Political Science with Departmental Honors from Occidental College and spent several years substitute teaching in public junior high and high schools and assistant teaching in private pre-school, elementary, and junior high school classrooms. John lives in Bonners Ferry, Idaho where he homeschools his three sons with his wife Anne.  He loves reading, watching movies, and chopping wood to keep his family warm in the winter.