Tyler Anderson is 15 years old and has been dancing since the age of 4. He has won national dance competitions twice, performed in the Orange Bowl half-time show, and was selected to participate in a dance instructional DVD. He has taken classes with some of the biggest names in the industry including: Mia Michaels, Tyce Diorio, Mandy Moore, Lane Napper, and more. His dream is to dance on Broadway and be a successful choreographer/teacher.
Jessica Anderson has been a dancer and teacher for many years. She started dancing in elementary school and eventually studied at the PCCA program at Gibbs High School. Since then she has taken many classes over the years (as time allows with three kids to homeschool!) and has assisted and/or taught classes in ballet, tap, jazz, acting, and musical theater.
Jan Anschuetz has been teaching Environmental Education in Pinellas County through summer camps, birding walks, scouting badges, field trips, eco tours and park programs. She is certified in the Florida Master Naturalist program, Growing Up WILD: Exploring Nature With Young Children, and has been very active in local environmental organizations. Jan and her late husband owned and operated two nature stores in Seminole and Tarpon Springs for 7 years. Currently she teaches Nature's Elements two Saturday mornings each month at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve along with Fall, Winter and Spring Break camps and Young Naturalist Summer Camp.
Cassidy Brooks (14), has been acting nearly half her life, and theatre has changed her life! She has assistant directed two productions for the summer camp at American Stage Theatre Company and has acted in more shows than she can count! She hopes that she can help the joy of theatre reach more people the way it reaches her. She intends to major in Theatre when she gets to college.
Her mom, Tracy Brooks, has been homeschooling for six years, has four kids and has worked with young people almost all her life. She has taught both preschool and yoga (for all ages!) and is currently a writer and alternative healer.
Karen Sun Ray Coletti began her dance career at home learning dances and music of Polynesia and Indonesia from her parents. At an early age she performed at luaus and a weekly show at the Hilton Hotel in Gainesville, Florida. As a young teen she began studying International Folk Dancing and Belly Dancing. She later became the Performance Director for the University of Florida International Folk Dancers holding that position for five years. She also had the honor of choreographing and performing folk pieces for the internationally acclaimed professional ballet company, DanceAlive! Later she became the dance director at the St. Petersburg International Folk Fair Society for three years. She toured the nation for a summer with a Polynesian performing group. She performs with the Sahnobar Dance Ensemble which has performed for Disney's EPCOT Center, Universal Studios, the openings of the International Museum's "Splendors of Egypt"' and "Alexander the Great". They also perform annually at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in Gainesville, Florida.
She is the Performance Director and Co-Founder of Hip Expressions Dance Studio and performs and teaches regularly in the Tampa Bay area and beyond.
Rebecca has a B.S. double major in Chemistry and Environmental Studies from Warren Wilson College and is a Florida certified teacher. Her background is in teaching chemistry at St. Petersburg High and marine research with the state of Florida. As her hobbies and passions grew into full-time efforts she transitioned a couple years ago to urban beekeeping and teaching natural living classes to the community. Her purpose in life is to teach and learn.
Brenda R. Gregory is a native Floridian artist residing in the city of Tampa. She has been teaching adults and children since 2007, after leaving her job in corporate banking. Brenda received her BFA in Medical Illustration and Associate of Applied Science in Fine Arts from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1984. She began her diverse art career as a medical and scientific illustrator and then as a graphic designer. In 2000, she started studying metalsmithing and jewelry making. Brenda enjoys sharing her love of art with adults and children. She is currently working with recycled plastics, papers and metals, focusing on the importance of recycling. Brenda believes that the arts enhance the minds of children; not only in learning creative skills but using logic and applying creativity to strategic planning.
George L. Heinrich owns and operates Heinrich Ecological Services, a St. Petersburg-based company conducting wildlife surveys and research, natural history programming, and nature-based tours. A graduate of Memphis State University, his research interests include southeastern upland and brackish wetland ecosystems, conservation challenges facing Florida’s non-marine turtles, and the role of education in conserving herpetofauna. A former park ranger at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (BHNP), George has taught ecology and herpetology to students of all ages for over twenty years. He has also taught a series of very popular weeklong nature camps at BHNP, Weedon Island Preserve, and Brooker Creek Preserve for a number of years. He has served twice as co-chair of the Gopher Tortoise Council (an uplands conservation organization) and is the founding president of the Florida Turtle Conservation Trust. George has received a number of awards from state and regional NGOs for his conservation work, the most recent being the Golden LEEF Award for Outstanding Contribution to Florida Environmental Education from the League of Environmental Educators in Florida. For more information, please visit: www.heinrichecologicalservices.com.www.heinrichecologicalservices.com
Nora, Dylan, and Nina Jenkins are 2010 and 2011 Millennium Dancesport Youth and Junior, American Rhythm & Smooth and Latin Champions. As well as 2009 Florida State Triple Crown Top Junior Dancers! They love ballroom dancing- Competing, performing, and teaching. They've taught homeschoolers ballroom for a few years now and they love it! They love watching their students learn and grow through ballroom dance.
Mr. Al has been the director and owner of the Chess Center for 16 years. He is a certified USCF (United States Chess Federation) Tournament Director. He has built many chess teams including National and State Champions. He is loved by his students for his fun and always encouraging approach. Please feel free to visit his website at www.chess-center.com for more information about the Chess Center.
Jennifer holds a current Florida teaching certificate in Primary and Elementary Education. She has a master's degree in Math & Science Elementary Education. She has taught in the public school system for 8 years and tutored many students from age 5 through high school, as well as, college students for over 10 years. She is a true Floridian, born in St. Pete and a beach lover. She is married with 2 wonderful children. She enjoys math and hopes to instill a love for math among students and an ease of skill in that area.
Jennifer is a 200 Hour RYT through the Yoga Alliance. She has over 10 years experience teaching Children's Yoga, health and nutrition classes. Jennifer is also a Certified Yoga Ed (c) Instructor, allowing her to teach K-8th Grade for Physical Education credit in the public, private or co-op schools.
Jennifer's most recent training took her on a journey to the Omega Institute to work with Dr. Bali in a Quantum Leap through Yoga. She also has continued to enhance her personal practice by including studies with the Isha Foundation's Inner Engineer program.
Currently, Jennifer teaches at the JCC Suncoast and The Namaste Studio.
Yarrow Ries is a fiber artist in residence currently working in our community with both disabled and normally developing children. Yarrow is an early childhood educator, having taught in both Waldorf and Montessori schools K-8. She has owned her own Therapeutic Art and Movement business "Lifeways" since 2002 serving both public and private sector.
Doug has a M.Ed. in teaching the visually impaired from Boston College and a BA in Fine Arts from Rutgers University . He taught Orientation and Mobility to the visually impaired and then science at the secondary level in the Pinellas County school system. He was awarded Pinellas County Science Teacher of the Year in 1990 by his peers. In 1991, he became Education and Exhibits Director at Great Explorations Museum where he created one of the first homeschool science programs in the area. Since 1996, he has owned and operated Hands-On-Planet-Earth, H.O.P.E., offering Science & Nature Classes to thousands of homeschool children in the Bay area, science and nature educational programs at schools, earth camps, nature tours and safaris, and wildlife exhibits that have been seen throughout Florida, North and South Carolina, Delaware and Connecticut.
Dave Shepard is a well known musician in the Tampa Bay area. He is a revered guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, song writer, recording artist and playwrite. His band, Dave Shepard and the Blues Riders, is one of the best blues rock acts in the state and has opened for groups like the Marshall Tucker Band. See 3 videos of Dave by googling "you tube-dave shepard". Dave is also a local activist for human rights and dignity, and respect. He leads a Bible study group weekly and provides street meals for the poorest of St. Petersburg's citizens.
Dave has lived in St. Pete since 1970. He graduated from St Pete High, SPC and USF with majors in trombone, guitar and religious studies. He is the owner of the most fun and educational music school around-The ROCK'n'BLUES Academy. On any given week, you could catch Dave rocking out at a local biker bar, presenting a concert of kid bands and leading worship at a local church. Dave's positive attitude is infectious and he has dedicated his life to sharing his gifts and talents with others. Your child will be inspired and challenged by participating in one of his exciting music classes!