HUNTSVILLE - Key Persons
Ann Schrimpsher graduated from the University of Alabama - Huntsville with a B.S. Electrical Engineering/Math (1996) and an MBA International Finance (2014). She is currently a Doctoral Candidate for a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (expected graduation 2019). Mrs. Schrimpsher has worked as a Test Engineer (1992-1996), a senior software engineer (1996-1997), a product manager (1997-1998), a software manager (1998-2000), a system engineer (2000-2001), and a technical lead (2007-2010). Most recently, she has served as a research scientist at UAH (2014-2018). She has published articles and given presentations on her work. She loves science and math and thinks everyone should have a basic understanding of both. Mrs. Schrimpsher is a member of Mayfair Church of Christ.
Autumn Mayfield attended Dallas Baptist University to major in History and minor in Biblical Studies. She served as the Director of Education in Action (Keller, TX) for 4th & 5th Grade history and science. She previous taught at ARDA Language School (Pakse, Laos) and served as a 3rd-5th Grade tutor at OH Stowe Elementary (Haltom City, TX). Ms. Mayfield attends Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville, AL.
Bethany Piercy attended Liberty University to major in English Creative Writing. She has served as an AVID Tutor (Athens, AL) for 6th-9th Grade English, history, and occasionally science. Ms. Piercy desires for students to learn about good stories and what makes them good while considering the context and history. She hopes to improve students' analysis and reflection of literary works by using pointed questions to drive at the meaning of those works. Ms. Piercy attends Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville, AL.
Jeff Robertson was born in Jackson, MS and raised in Prattville, AL. His parents were faithful Christians and raised him and his brother in the faith. He became theologically aware and curious as a student at Auburn University. He studied Philosophy and History, and it was in Auburn that he found his love of teaching. He was a student-athlete tutor for several years, and in his final year of school decided to help a small classical school that met in his church at the time. He taught English, History, Logic, and Bible at Auburn Classical Academy for two years before heading off to Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia with his wife, Amanda. At ACA, he fell in love with classical Christian education as he found it answered a philosophical pet question he had pursued about the nature of man. Clearly, to educate a man, one must know what a man is, and the classical Christian educators he met and began to engage with had a depth of wisdom on that question that he couldn't turn away from. Mr. Robertson received an MAR in Theological Studies from seminary, but at every opportunity he took electives on education, arts, culture, spiritual discipline-anything that resembled his interest in how to cultivate a child into a well-ordered man or woman, a man who loved the Lord with his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and who loved his neighbor as himself. As he wrapped up his time at seminary, he looked back South for a teaching position at a classical Christian school. He landed at Providence Classical School, where he has been teaching for the last five years. He was also the varsity and JV basketball coach for 3 of those years-another experience he looks back on with pride and joy. He loved his time at PCS but could not resist the opportunity to take on the responsibility of being a headmaster. Mr. Robertson has studied and pondered for years, dialing in his vision for what school is, how it should function in Christian society, curriculum, pedagogy, etc., and he cannot wait to begin his work at Veritas in cultivating students into men and women of God.
Jonathan Haynes graduated from the United States Naval Academy (B.S. in Political Science, 1995) and Covenant College (M.Ed. Integrated Curriculum and Instruction, 2009). Upon graduation from the U. S. Naval Academy, he received a commission in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Haynes and his wife, Karena, married in the same year. While on active duty, Mr. Haynes became familiar with Classical Christian Education which led him out of the active duty Marine Corps and into Christian education. From 2000-2006, Mr. Haynes taught logic and rhetoric, worked with curriculum development, and assisted with ACSI accreditation at Providence Christian School in Dothan, Alabama. From 2006-2008, he served as the Director of Curriculum and assisted with SACS accreditation at Heritage Preparatory School in Atlanta, GA, while also teaching language arts, history, math and logic. Mr. Haynes has taught seminars on logic and rhetoric at the Association of Classical Christian Schools and Association of Christian Schools International conferences and has attended teacher training at Ambleside School of Fredericksburg (TX) and AP Summer Institute training for U.S. History. In 2008, Mr. & Mrs. Haynes moved back home to start Veritas Classical School. Mr. Haynes is a Ruling Elder at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Cullman.
Julie Dean graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a BBS in Exercise Science & Biology minor (1992). She went on to earn a Masters in Physical Therapy from Mount St. Mary's College (1995). Mrs. Dean has served as a volunteer science teacher at Lindsay Lane Christian Academy Home Education Co-op for six years. During this time, she has taught numerous labs for biology, chemistry, and anatomy. Mrs. Dean is a member of Capshaw Baptist Church where she leads a small group for high school girls and chaperones for youth events and summer camp.
Laura James graduated from the University of Tennessee (B.A. in History, 1986). During her college summers, she worked for the National Park Service building trails and bridges in the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park. She returned to Nashville to begin a career in professional sales with the dream of moving back to Montana someday. In 1997, she made the move to Montana, continuing her sales career until meeting and marrying her husband. She became a stay-at-home mom, and in 2008, the James family moved to the Huntsville area so her husband could continue his career in electrical engineering. She became an officer of the PTA and began volunteering and setting up a copy program for the teachers at Madison County Elementary/Middle School where her children were in school for six years. Mrs. James has worked at Veritas since 2015 when her son began attending Veritas. Her daughter left public high school a few months later to attend Veritas after reading and becoming interested in her younger brother's assigned books. The James family attends Malachi Church.
Lea Cruz has a BA in Healthcare Administration from Texas State University (1992). From 2004 to 2018, Mrs. Cruz worked for Verizon as a Supervisor in Wireless Data Tech Support, Financial Service Manager, and Project Manager. Mrs. Cruz attends GTWY in Shelbyville, TN.
Lu Hastings has a M.Ed. degree in Special Education from University of Texas at Austin (2017). She taught two years at public elementary schools in Los Angeles, CA and one year at a public middle school in Huntsville, AL. Mrs. Hastings grew up in Beijing, China and became a Christian after one year studying abroad in the United States. She and her husband attend Providence Presbyterian Church in Madison, AL.
Matt Rogers has a BA in History from the University of Alabama (2012) and an MA in Teaching from Covenant College (2019). Following completion of his BA, Mr. Rogers was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer and served on active duty for four years before leaving to pursue a MA in Teaching. He taught 6th Grade History at Chattanooga Preparatory School for one year before returning to active duty in the Marine Corps for the past year. Mr. Rogers is currently a member of Covenant ARP in Chattanooga, TN.
Stephanie Clark has a B.A. in English (Minors: French & Liberal Arts) from the University of Alabama (2009). She has served as a tutor in the Tuscaloosa County School system. Mrs. Clark is currently pursuing a MA in Classical Christian Studies from New Saint Andrews College. Mrs. Clark has an enthusiasm for teaching and an enjoyment of sparking a similar enthusiasm in her students. She also enjoys leading meaningful discussions about literature that help students make connections between their readings and other subjects. Mrs. Clark attends Trinity Reformed Church in Huntsville, AL.