Our amazing teachers!

Hazel has been involved with music the majority of her life. Music is truly her passion; she expresses this with each and every student she aids.

With technique from world renowned coaches, and education from great mentors and professors, she has the ability to prepare students for any opportunity they may have or want to accomplish. 

She is educated to teach any genre of piano, guitar, and especially voice. Her biggest focus being strong healthy technique and finding your uniquely catered sound.

Mrs. Susan Bickerton has taught Spanish for 23 years. She has a Bachelors degree in both Spanish and Portuguese. Her passion is teaching  her students about world culture and the beauty of connecting through language.

My name is Shauna Brown and I am a former Middle and High School History and Spanish Teacher.  I taught for four years in Utah and one year in California before moving to the beautiful state of Colorado.  I have been busy raising my three children but have missed the classroom and students I can teach and mentor.  The last three years I have been a Substitute Teacher in the Douglas County School District which ignited my passion for teaching once again.  I am thrilled to be a part of the Summit Homeschool Academy and look forward to welcoming students as they work to achieve their goals.  

Mr. Fitz is a Flight and Private Pilot Ground School Instructor. He also teaches Science, Physics, and Math.  He has been teaching for over forty years and is a CFI, I I, and MEI.  He has given over 3,000 + hours flight Instruction. Fitz retired from United Airlines in 2018, after thirty-one years. He was Captain on the Boeing 747-400 and finished up his last five years based in Guam. He and his wife Becky have been married thirty-five years and make their home in Larkspur, CO. They have seven children and nineteen grandchildren, some from St. Petersburg, Russia, where they founded, and continue to oversee a Christian Music Ministry there. Fitz has 28,000 hours in over forty different models of airplanes. He has an adventuresome spirit, holds five International Speed Records in the Boeing 747-400 and is a Master SCUBA Diving Instructor. 

Hello everyone!  I am a certified and highly qualified secondary math and science educator for the state of Colorado.  I obtained my bachelor of science degree in Biology on full scholarship from Regis University in Denver, CO in 1999.  In addition, I pioneered the first technical math class at the high school level in Elbert County - combining math with vocational education.  I am truly impassioned to foster the  love of STEM in the lives of young people through experiential learning.  I live in Elizabeth with my husband, Brian.  We have four children together and served as foster parents for many years.  I am currently homeschooling our two youngest children, and I absolutely love my job!!

Hi! My name is Katchen Marlow. I started working in education in 2000. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Adolescent Studies/Development, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Master of Arts in Cross-Cultural Education. I have taught preschool to sixth grade. I also have experience working with children with learning disabilities and special needs. After becoming a mom I have primarily spent the last twelve years at home with my own three children. Our family relocated from California to Colorado about a year and a half ago. Now that my youngest child is in school, I’m excited to be getting back into education and the classroom. I’m looking forward to helping guide and support you and your child in your homeschool journey and to being a part of Summit Homeschool Academy.

I have been a teacher for 28 years - going into my 29th year as of this August 2022. I am passionate about providing learning to each student so that their unique needs are met. I attempt to include all modalities into my lessons to accommodate every learner, but am very open to a student saying that they need something taught again or in a different manner. 

Pearl Nanninga's love for children started with growing up in a large family in Kansas. She received her Elementary teaching degree in Nebraska, teaching elementary school in Nebraska, and two years of special education in Ohio.  With the growth of her young family, she homeschooled her five children Kindergarten through 3rd grade.  Those years at home with husband and kids where invaluable and a strong foundation for all of their growth-- through the good and the hard seasons. Her goal is for her students to grow in their desire and love of reading and the lifelong learning reading brings.  

Hello Summit families! 

I am Natalie Sounart! This year, I have the privilege of spending time with your kiddos for the Science Enrichment piece of their homeschool journey, as well as assisting with overall administrative tasks as Dean of Students. My background is Special (k-12) and General Education (k-8) with an endorsement in English instruction through high school. Since moving to Colorado in 2019, I have been immersed in this sector of learning as a private Homeschool teacher for a family right here in Castle Rock. I taught four students across three years from kindergarten to eighth grade across all subject materials. I have grown a love for an education that is nontraditional in structure and partnering alongside parents to deliver personalized instruction to each individual child. I am overjoyed for what this year will bring for the Summit homeschool community. 

Hi families! My name is Morgan Van Eps and I teach K-2 Science for our littles. I am beyond passionate about teaching and supporting ALL students to succeed and feel confident within the learning process. Science allows creative and thought-provoking thinking within our class community and I feel so lucky to facilitate some awesome lessons and discussions. 

I previously taught Special Education k-5 back in Chandler, Arizona for a few years and LOVED it, but needed a change of scenery and moved back to Colorado to be close to my family. Summit has been a special place to allow my love for teaching again and to support families just like you! 

A classically-trained musician, Jerusalem Walsh received her Bachelor of Music in Choral/General Music Education from the UNCG School of Music in Greensboro, NC. She has taught music for the last 27 years. She is certified and licensed in K-12 Music for both Colorado & North Carolina, and is a member of the Music TeachersNational Association, the Douglas Elbert Music Teachers Association, and the National Association for Music Educators. 

She is the owner/director of Walsh Music Academy, LLC; which offers both private and group instruction for a myriad of music lessons & classes (piano, voice, hand bells, Djembe drums, Boomwhackers, recorder, music theory/ear training). 

Jerusalem homeschooled her children for 11 years while maintaining both her home music studio and a second downtown music studio.  Her teaching philosophy is to improve students from wherever they are; however they come.  She brings a wide variety of experience working with students of all backgrounds, geographic locations, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, neurodiversities, genders, and abilities. 

She’s worked with students of all ages in a wide variety of subjects; and thoroughly enjoys every teaching opportunity. While a Choral Teacher with the NC Public School system, she served as a Mentor music teacher. She has also served as Worship Leader, Deacon, Marriage Ministry leader, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth and Children’s Director at various churches, and as the choral and/or music director of several music programs and performances. 

Most recently, she served as the Middle School Choral Director at Parker Performing Arts School, in Parker, Colorado. 

Mrs. Richelle Mckim is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Summit Homeschool Academy. She is a Colorado native, has a B.S in Business Finance and is a homeschooling mom to her high schooler. Her homeschool journey began in 2020 during COVID, along with so many others. After taking the leap, she learned how much better homeschool was than public school, and that academic and spiritual outcomes were beyond comparison. So, she built an enrichment program to reach more families, that would streamline teaching core academics and provide community locally.

Her leadership philosophy places the highest importance on providing a high quality academic program that focuses on virtue more than anything. She is committed to providing true classical learning, highly qualified Teachers to walk along side us, and a culture of community. 

Hello Summit families! 

I am Natalie Sounart! This year, I have the privilege of spending time with your kiddos for the Science Enrichment piece of their homeschool journey, as well as assisting with overall administrative tasks as Dean of Students. My background is Special (k-12) and General Education (k-8) with an endorsement in English instruction through high school. Since moving to Colorado in 2019, I have been immersed in this sector of learning as a private Homeschool teacher for a family right here in Castle Rock. I taught four students across three years from kindergarten to eighth grade across all subject materials. I have grown a love for an education that is nontraditional in structure and partnering alongside parents to deliver personalized instruction to each individual child. I am overjoyed for what this year will bring for the Summit homeschool community. 

Mrs. Kristina Wright is delighted to be welcomed by the Summit Homeschool Academy community, and she looks forward to knowing you and your children! She loves all things classical and ardently seeks to exemplify what it means to be a lifelong learner. As a 4th generation educator, Kristina graduated from Westmont College with a BA in English literature and has engaged families and taught students of all ages in public, private and homeschool settings ever since. As recent founder and owner of Paideia Consulting, she believes the purpose of education is whole person formation, which is best cultivated by the pursuit of wisdom, and practice of virtue. Three decades ago as an undergraduate student, it was this understanding of education that shifted her vocational calling and eventual parenting paradigm entirely. It will be her joy to inspire, equip, and encourage Summit parents in the homeschooling pathways of their children’s paideia, that is, their heart, mind and soul formation by way of a good, true and beautifully classical education.

Kristina has been married to the love of her life for 30 years, and together, they recently completed their 16th year of homeschooling, thereby graduating all three of their children to college and graduate school. She enjoys skiing, paddleboarding, international and domestic travel with her family, and is often found reading, listening to podcasts, sipping tea, tending to living things, and enjoying friends and colleagues scattered throughout our beautiful country.