Instructors
Joe Acayan
Joe has taught and performed improv theatre, and has formed and directed improv troupes for over 12 years. He was a Toastmaster for over 10 years. He has taught improv to all ages, and has used improv to teach public speaking to high school and college STEM interns at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Joe works with inventors at Fortune 500 companies and startups to obtain U.S. patents. He has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, minoring in German and French, from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and has a J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law. Joe grew up in California and recently moved to Johns Island where he and his wife homeschool their 11th grade daughter.
Mrs. Laurel Dangrow
Laurel Dangrow is a fellow homeschooling mom to three of her own beautiful children and has been married to her high school sweetheart for the last 12 years. Together they reside in the Summerville area, along with their three sweet pups. Her interests and hobbies include reading, writing, photography, sewing, and camping in the family's converted blue school bus "Charlie." Laurel is passionate about teaching in a multitute of areas. Some of those areas over the years have included art, writing, and photograpy. She has enjoyed competing and winning multiple writing competitions and loves growing within the artistic field of family documentary-style photography. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree and especially enjoys talking to and assisting youth to help manage their mental health. Laurel is also a very friendly and upbeat person who is always happy to answer questions and to chat. Never hesitate to reach out!
Jamie Dorsey
Jamie Dorsey graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelors in Mathematics and Minor in Psychology in 2005. That is the same year she gained her teaching certification in both subjects from the State of Michigan. Jamie went on to teach high school math from 2005-2014 in various schools in Grand Rapids, MI. She has experience teaching everything from Pre-Algebra to Algebra 2 and mostly worked with “at-risk” students. These were students who were no longer on track to graduate on time due to credit deficiency in math. It was this experience that really helped Jamie become passionate about working with individuals who found math to be frustrating and difficult. During this time Jamie gained her Masters in Educational Technology from Grand Valley State University. In 2014, Jamie and her husband Darnell decided to move their family to Charleston, SC. Instead of returning to the classroom in the fall, Jamie began the journey of homeschooling their children. The Dorseys anticipated homeschooling for one year as they made the move. They loved the homeschool community in Charleston so much that they are now in their ninth year! Jamie has continued to tutor students in both Middle and High School level math.
Shirley Hicks
Shirley learned crochet in Girl Scouts 60 years ago. She is has taught classes at JoAnn Fabric & Craft in Summerville for 5 years. Shirley now holds private classes to child and adults. Shirley has won multiple blue ribbons at the fair for her work and last year won "Best of Show".
Valerie Koontz
About Valerie: I'm a stay at home mom with a lot of different hobbies! We started our homeschool journey in 2016 and have loved it every step of the way. When I'm not teaching at Classeteria I am running my co-op, teaching karate, or enjoying our myriad of critters!
Susan Pidgeon
Susan W Pidgeon,MFA has been studying art over her entire lifetime. She grew up in Downtown Charleston, attended Bishop England where she studied under artist and Meeting Street Gallery Owner Virginia Fouche Bolton. She attended Winthrop University as well as College of Charleston where she studied art. She received her BA in Art from College of Charleston and later her MFA degree from UNCG. She holds the highest art degree you can have,a Master of Fine Arts Degree. After receiving her MFA degree she began teaching classes and private lessons under her business name The Studio Art Center. She also has worked for The Artists Loft in Mt Pleasant, The James Island High School Community Education program as well as The James Island Recreation Center. She has taught all ages and skill levels from beginner to advanced since 2001. Currently she teaches private lessons at The James Island Arts and Cultural Center. She is on The James Island Arts Council with the Mayor of James Island. She resides on James Island with her family and 3 German Shepherds and 2 cats. Ms Pidgeon can be reached at (854)2025394. Text is preferred. Her email is [email protected]. Feel free to contact her with any questions or concerns. Thank you.
Amy Plott
Amy Plott is a passionate artist who chose photography as her primary medium. She has owned and operated Amy Creates Photography for the past 15 years. She has a BA in Elementary Education and a Master in Technology and Human Resource Development, both from Clemson University. During her masters, she focused her communication technology courses in photography and post masters, she attended DSLRPRO Academy online for Basic and Advance Photography. She hones her artistic skills through self-taught and professional skill building courses regularly. After a few years of teaching in a traditional Dorchester District II classroom, then managing a private Kaplan Test Prep education center for several years, she moved to higher education as Instructional Designer for The Citadel, Military College of SC. Her education and career give her ample experience to create dynamic and engaging courses and to properly assess learning in students of all ages. In addition to her education and professional training, she has also served as a VBS director for PreK through 5th grade programs and as the 6th through 12th grade youth minister for 10+ years at Calvary Lutheran Church. She finds a true source of joy connecting with students and actively investing in their futures.
Mrs. Livier Salas
Born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Graduated from University of Guadalajara majoring in Chemistry . Moved to United States and studied accounting in Santa Barbara, CA. Opened my own accounting firm in Oxnard, CA in 2006. Moved to Charleston in 2015, I have been teaching Spanish at co-ops in Charleston area since 2019 loving every step of the way
Savannah Shuler
Savannah graduated from California State University, Chico in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in English and a Teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) certification. She also holds a national mastery of tutoring certification, which she earned from tutoring students in writing and English in community colleges and universities and working directly in the classroom as a live-in tutor for remodel classes—most recently being The Citadel in 2020. Aside from her certifications, Savannah has also worked on the board for her alma mater’s magazine and online communications department as a writer and editor where she has had multiple essays and writings published. She has also worked as a writer and editor for the literary magazine Watershed Review.