Faculty & Staff Directory

Allison Parker

First & Fourth Grade Aide

Allison joined The Geneva School staff as a first and fourth grade teachers aide in 2024. Allison and her husband, Zac, attended Oklahoma Baptist University, where she received a degree in public relations. They spent ten years in Louisville, KY, where Zac received his master of divinity and they served together in the college ministry of their church. In 2012, they moved to Indianapolis and ministered in a church plant, and their two children, Stone and Ainsley, attended a Christian classical school.

After moving to Florida at the beginning of 2024, her family was introduced to The Geneva School. She instantly knew this was where God was calling her family to be. Stone (TGS Class of ’28) and Ainsley (TGS Class of ’30) are both students at TGS.

Allison believes that investing in children by raising them in a godly school is just as important as creating a foundation in a Christ-centered home. These beginning years are pivotal for the years to come, and Allison delights in being a part of a team that strives each day to nurture and impact students for the kingdom.

In her spare time, Allison and her family enjoy exploring Florida, being outside, and serving and worshiping together at Lake Mary Church. They also have two labrador retrievers to keep them busy!

Kristin Partlow

School Nurse

After graduating from Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus, OH, in 2008 with a BSN, Kristin worked on an adult cardiac unit for two years at Mount Carmel East. She has always had a love for children and felt called to the neonatal ICU, where she worked as a NICU nurse for eight years in Ohio and at AdventHealth Winter Park. In 2019, Kristin continued her call of caring for children when she joined the Geneva team as a part-time grammar school nurse.

Kristin is married to her husband Jeff, and is the mother of three children: Blake, Madison, and Violet. She enjoys being active and spending time with her family. She also enjoys vacationing, wakesurfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and CrossFit.

Julia Patenaude

Third Grade Aide

The Patenaude family joined the Geneva community in 2022 when they enrolled their children at The Geneva School: Berlyn (’28), Olive (’31), Hazel (’33), and Abel (’35).

Julia was born and raised in Florida. While earning a degree in interior design, she met and married her husband, Jacob. They welcomed their first child in 2009, and Julia had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom until joining the 3rd grade team in 2023.

If Julia is not at work or caring for her family, you will most likely find her on the tennis courts. She joined the Geneva Love tennis team in 2023. She counts it a blessing to be on a team with so many wonderful Geneva moms.

David Petrak

Director of Technology
321-422-0211

David has been the technology manager at Geneva since 2004. He received his BS in Mathematics from Iowa State University, and his Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.

David has been married to his wife Erin since 1992. They have been members of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church since 1996, and enjoy the blessings that come with being parents to two daughters: a current student and a TGS alumna.

Erin Petrak

K4 Teacher

Erin and her husband, David, moved to Florida in 1995 so he could attend Reformed Theological Seminary. After finding St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, they soon made Orlando home. Erin received her BA in history at the University of Central Florida and then worked at the Maitland Historical Society and Museums as the volunteer coordinator and director of educational programming before Erin and David had children.

In 2010, Erin joined the TGS early childhood team as a teachers aide when her youngest entered the K4 program. During her time at Geneva, she has cultivated a deep understanding of the classroom environment and the beauty and benefits that come with a classical education. In 2024, when Geneva opened a third K4 class, Erin made the transition from aide to teacher.

Erin is passionate about creating a safe classroom environment where mistakes are a part of learning and students are encouraged to revel in wonder as they learn about our God and the world he created. She considers the opportunity to get to know the students and their families a great privilege and loves to see former students in the halls.

In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her girls—Tabitha (class of ’21) and Samantha (class of ’25).

Hannah Phelps

Latin Teacher

Hannah joined The Geneva School upper school faculty in 2024 and currently teaches eighth grade Latin. She enjoyed attending a classical school and has a passion for language, history, culture, and literature. Hannah completed her bachelor of arts in Latin from Houston Christian University in 2021 and her master of fine arts in creative writing in 2023. She has been teaching Latin in one form or another since 2018.

Outside of academics, Hannah enjoys reading history and fantasy, taking long runs on the beach, losing chess games to her grandfather, and dreaming of traveling overseas.

Marty Phillips

Head Cross Country Coach

Marty Phillips joined The Geneva School in the summer of 2022 as the cross country coach, and has over thirty years of coaching experience. His leadership skills and coaching style first emerged while he was still in high school and was chosen to be the captain of the cross country team. As the captain, he learned how to properly train as a distance runner and planned the workouts for the varsity team. Phillips would go on to set several school records for distance running and upon graduation received a scholarship for cross country at the University of Central Florida.

Once at UCF, Marty continued to grow in his knowledge and experience of the sport, but attributes his greatest influence as an emerging coach to one evening spent at an FCA event. It was here that Phillips first learned about sin and the reason Jesus went to the cross. Accepting Christ to be his Lord and savior, Marty began to see coaching as a God-given opportunity to serve others.

After college, Marty continued to compete in local races with continued success and also studied three dimensional coaching, which emphasizes how to capture the heart of the athlete. Marty has been married to the love of his life, Amy, since 2020 and they have three children. Coach Phillips attends Willow Creek Church where he serves as a deacon.

Mickey Poole

Hospitality Coordinator

Crystal Prado

Second Grade Aide

Crystal Prado joined the second grade team as a teachers’ aide in 2021. She joined the TGS community in 2019, when her son Dyson started in kindergarten, and quickly fell in love with Christian classical education. She has fulfilled the roles of room mom, SALT co-captain, and volunteer whenever she was able.

Crystal graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2013 with a BS in Psychology. That same year, she married her husband, Luis Prado. From 2016–2021, she stayed home to care for her children, Dyson (TGS Class of ‘32) and Davina (TGS Class of ‘35).

Crystal developed a love for teaching when she began volunteering for Crosspointe Orlando’s kids ministry in 2016. She began as a helper in order to learn more about pointing her own children toward Jesus, but she quickly moved into the role of teacher and then the lead of the preschool team. In 2019, Crystal moved to Proximity Church in Orlando, and her love for worship and singing to the Lord led her to explore new avenues of service. She currently serves on the worship team and also as a substitute helper/teacher in the children’s ministry whenever the need arises.

Crystal loves animals, especially her Siberian husky, Sybi, who her family adopted in 2021. She enjoys serving on the worship team, crafting and creating, using her talents and capacity to serve others, and spending quality time with her family.

Keira Raesly

Lower School Assistant Director
321-422-0209

Keira Raesly joined The Geneva School faculty in 2015. She taught fourth and fifth grade before moving into an administrative role as a director of lower school in 2018. In 2023, Keira transitioned to the position of lower school assistant director. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2000 with a BS in Social Science Education, she spent two years teaching American History, World History, Economics, and Global Studies at Lake Mary High School. Although she loved teaching, she decided to gain experience working in a corporate environment before beginning a family. Keira was able to fulfill that experience at CNL until stepping down to stay home with her children in 2008. In 2010, she felt called to pursue an MA in Elementary Education from the University of Central Florida. It has been a wonderful journey and she was grateful for the opportunity to teach at Brookshire Elementary before being led to The Geneva School.

Keira met her husband Chris when they were both undergraduate students at UCF and they have been married since 2002. They have been blessed with two children who are very grateful for their Geneva education, Ella (’24) and Blake (’26). The family worships at Orlando Grace Church and serves together on the hospitality team. In her spare time, Keira delights in a simple life of being home with her family and their menagerie of pets.

Nathan Raley

Senior Thesis Director

Nathan Raley leads seniors through the Capstone Thesis and Bible class. A graduate of Davidson College and the Université de Provence, Nathan’s work in education goes back to 1999, when he coordinated a program in the spiritual life department at Houston Baptist University. He has since taught French, debate, AP English, medieval literature, American literature, apologetics, rhetoric, and spiritual formation at Geneva and at Christian schools in Texas and Massachusetts.

Nathan believes that a liberal arts education does more than just prepare students to navigate the complexities of life and career in a complicated modern world. Ideally, the liberal arts help us grow in virtue and live as free people, not bound by appetites, not swayed by the latest trendy philosophies, not beholden to the influence of the most rhetorically powerful voices in our culture. This is why Nathan loves to teach at Geneva—this, and also the fact that teaching high school students is a lot of fun. Nathan wants his students to love learning and to approach God’s Word and creation with awe and pleasure and appreciation. Additionally, as a rhetoric teacher, he strives to help his students grow in their respect for the great potential—for good or ill—that we have with our words.

Nathan spent about half his childhood overseas as a missionary kid in Cambodia, Singapore, France, and the Philippines, and he spent a year as an adult in Aix-en-Provence, France, as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar. He volunteers occasionally with Samedis Francais, a Saturday school in Orlando for French children, and he attends Lake Baldwin Church. Nathan loves to read, cook, juggle, fish, act in plays, wrestle with his son Micah, and spend time with his wife Gretchen, who is a mental health counselor and a wonderful pianist.

Betty Ralls

Reading Teacher

Betty Ralls taught first grade at The Geneva School from 2003–2013. She now teaches reading to first graders giving special attention to students who need extra reading support. Betty earned her BS in Elementary Education at Tift College, now a part of Mercer University. She began her teaching career in the Seminole County Public School System where she was an instructor for fifteen years, and was certified by the State of Florida. Betty also taught first grade at Covenant Christian School for seventeen years, where she received her ACSI certification.

Betty enjoys “storytelling,” both true and make-believe. Through the years her students have become participants in her story lines. In addition, she enjoys reading and “dabbling” in the arts. She is a “cat whisperer” and greatly appreciates the wonders of God’s creation. She enjoys listening to others, especially children, and unraveling the mystery of who they really are.

Gina Rivera Fickett

Drama Teacher

Gina Rivera Fickett joined Geneva in 2021 as a grammar school drama teacher. Theater has played a significant role in her life from an early age. She received her BFA in Acting from Avila University and also studied Theater and Creative Writing at UCF. Post-graduation, she participated in a nine-month acting/education internship at Orlando Shakes, where she was able to perform, continue her training, and teach children of various ages about acting and Shakespeare. Later, she moved up to NYC to continue pursuing an acting career. She was blessed to be able to perform in a broad range of productions from Shakespeare plays to contemporary comedies to musicals, including an Off-Broadway musical with the Classical Theater of Harlem that won four Audelco Awards, one of which was Best Musical of the Year.

Her favorite role was playing Celia in Shakespeare’s As You Like It, where she met and fell in love with her husband, Hal (who was producing and acting in the show). Together they attend NewCity Orlando and have two amazing (and very dramatic) children, Elijah and Gabriella.

Kelly Rives

Science Teacher

After being a part of the TGS community since 2020 as a parent, volunteer, and substitute teacher, Kelly joined the dialectic teaching team in 2024. She currently teaches physical science to eighth grade students. Kelly loves that the curriculum provides the students a hands-on exploration of God’s creation, including the study of atoms, elements, chemicals, stars, catapults, and much more.

A native of Mississippi, Kelly graduated from Ole Miss where she earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education. She taught elementary school for four years before going back to school and earning a master’s in middle grades math and a specialist degree in middle grades language arts from Mercer University. It was at this time that Kelly discovered her love for middle school students, teaching both math and language arts. Kelly continued to teach for thirteen years until she and her husband, Ben, began having children and she had the opportunity to stay home with them.

The Rives family lived in Atlanta and Raleigh before landing in the Orlando area. Over the years, she has taught at her children’s elementary school, volunteered for a number of positions, tutored many grades, and substitute taught. Ben and Kelly have three children: Caroline (currently at UF), Sarah (currently at Seminole State), and Lindley (TGS Class of ’25).

The Rives family attend River Oaks Presbyterian Church. During her free time with her family, Kelly enjoys going to the beach, doing puzzles, and snuggling with her precious puppy, Ruby.

Montanna Roberts

Second Grade Teacher

Montanna joined the Geneva second grade team in 2022 having previously taught fourth grade for one year in Kentucky. She graduated from Kentucky Christian University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in ministry.

Montanna’s passion for teaching was inspired while working with elementary-aged students as a counselor at a Christian camp during the summers of 2016 and 2017. She built lasting relationships with the campers and parents, and she was able to share the gospel with many. She then got involved with the local school system through her work studies in college, which ultimately led to her degree in elementary education.

Montanna enjoys being outdoors, gardening, baking, thrift-store shopping, soccer, and hanging out with friends and family. Montanna is thrilled to be a part of the Geneva community where the gospel is central to every area of life.

Kara Rogers

Science Teacher

Kara joined the lower school science faculty in 2024 and is excited to return to classroom teaching. She studied in the honors program at Baylor University and received her teacher training through the Master Teacher Fellows Program at Wake Forest University. After earning her master’s degree, she returned to Texas where she taught middle school social studies in Colleyville and in Highland Park. While classically homeschooling her daughter for seven years, Kara earned her South Carolina Master Naturalist certification through a collaboration between Clemson University and the Lowcountry Institute.

Kara and her family relocated to Florida in 2023 so that her daughter, Ailsa (class of ’29) could attend Geneva. In her free time, she enjoys nature study and playing the piano. Her family attends First Presbyterian Church Orlando.

Mary Chris Rowe

First Grade Teacher

Mary Chris has welcomed students into her classroom for more than twenty years. She delights in coming alongside families in the spiritual nurture of their children and treasures getting to know each student individually. Playing games and making music are favorite ways of teaching critical thinking skills, creating happy memories, and building a culture of belonging.

A native Floridian, Mary Chris grew up in a Christian home where music and reading played an integral part of family, church, and community life. She graduated from The Florida State University in 1991 and joined The Geneva School faculty as a second grade teacher in 2004. Over the next eleven years, she taught piano lessons, led fun summer camps, and occasionally performed with the school orchestra. Mary Chris was the grammar school recipient of The Geneva School Paideia Award in 2012, its inaugural year.

After a hiatus of five years (teaching in Uganda, Tennessee, and Hawaii), Mary Chris returned to the community of faith and learning at TGS in 2020 and spent one year teaching fourth grade before moving to first grade to lead the team of four teachers. Mary Chris enjoys spending time with friends, going to the beach, and writing.

Luke Russo

Head Tennis Coach

Luke Russo came to TGS in 2019 and currently coaches the varsity tennis teams and students attending the after-school tennis programs. Geneva’s tennis program has grown and now has more than sixty players practicing year-round, and more than 350 athletes participating in Luke’s tennis camps that take place throughout the school year at the Geneva tennis courts.

Coach Luke grew up in Orlando and attended The First Academy where he found his passion for tennis, quickly moving up the ranks of the high school team. Luke became the team’s #1 player and team captain, and he received the MVP award for three consecutive years. While in high school, he began coaching when he was hired to practice with international students and was able to learn from the #1-rated coach in America, John Richards.

After graduating high school, Luke went on to play division II tennis at Lee University in Tennessee. His team finished top forty in the nation in 2016. While at Lee, Luke ran a special needs tennis camp, along with players on the team, to help kids who would not typically play tennis learn the sport. Luke went on to reach a career high of #199 in the ITF top 500 players in America and #11 in Florida.

In 2016, Coach Luke moved back to Orlando and started coaching at Lake Cane Tennis Center where he was promoted to head coach of the U10 programs and multiple women’s teams. After coaching more than three hundred players, gaining knowledge and experience, and improving his skill as a coach Luke started his own tennis program—Excellence Only Training—to help young players reach their tennis and life goals.

Luke loves nothing more than sharing his passion for the sport and is excited to work with players as they hone their tennis skills and learn to be leaders on and off the court.

Becky Ryden

English Teacher

Becky Ryden joined the TGS faculty in 2021 and teaches tenth grade English and eleventh grade rhetoric. In 2022, she created a journalism student magazine elective that publishes The Post and the TGS literary magazine, Asterope. Becky has been involved in classical education as a parent, volunteer, and teacher for over twenty-five years. She previously taught at Geneva School of Boerne for twelve years, and at The Covenant School in Dallas, TX, for two years. She has taught and developed curriculum for middle school English, and high school creative writing, English, and senior thesis. She has won numerous publication awards with the Texas UIL, National Scholastic Press Association, and the Gold Crown award with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Prior to teaching, Becky was a shoe buyer for Neiman Marcus in Dallas, TX, for fifteen years. She has a BA in English/Journalism from Baylor University.

Becky and her husband Brad have been married for thirty-eight years, and are the parents of four children: Alex, a doctor in Salt Lake City, UT; Ethan and his wife Sidney, architects in San Antonio, TX; Audrey, a designer in Atlanta, GA, along with her husband Jacob, working as an architect; and Eliot (TGS Class of ’23), a student at the Culinary Institute of America.

Brad Ryden

Head of School

Brad Ryden joined The Geneva School in 2020 and serves as the head of school. He comes to Geneva after having served as head of school at Geneva School of Boerne, Texas, from 2006 to 2020. Prior to that, he served as a fifth grade teacher, lower school headmaster, and head of school at The Covenant School in Dallas, Texas, from 1994 to 2006.

Brad earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas in 1988 followed by an MA in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1990 and an MA in Counseling from Denver Seminary in 1993. His intentions were to open a counseling practice. God intervened, presenting him with the opportunity to teach a fifth grade class at a newly formed Christian classical school. One year of teaching led to another, and soon Brad knew his life’s calling was in education. He has pursued graduate level studies through various programs including the Teacher’s Academy at the Dallas Institute of Humanities and Culture. Brad has also served on the board of the Society for Classical Learning (SCL).

Brad is married to Becky, and they are parents of four children: Alex, a resident in internal medicine in Salt Lake City, Utah; Ethan, an architect in San Antonio, Texas; Audrey, a designer in Atlanta, Georgia; and Eliot (TGS Class of ’23), a student at the Culinary Institute of America. Brad enjoys reading, watching and occasionally playing basketball, and pursuing the perfect cup of coffee.

Laura Salas

Fourth Grade Teacher

Laura Salas joined The Geneva School faculty in 2017 and taught first grade for five years before moving to the fourth grade team in 2022. Laura had the privilege to attend The Geneva School from 2005–2007 for her sixth and seventh grade years before her family moved to Gainesville. Laura began her teaching career in Alachua County teaching third grade in a local public school before returning to Geneva, this time as a teacher.

Laura graduated from Florida State University in 2015 with a degree in elementary education and an endorsement in ESOL and reading.

Laura married her husband, Connor, in June of 2023 and they are members at NewCity Church, Orlando. Together they love traveling (especially cruising), finding new restaurants, watching movies, and playing with their dog, Baron.

Carol Sanders

Accounting Specialist

Carol joined the Geneva business office in November 2023 as an accounting specialist. After graduating from the University of Florida with an accounting degree, she married an army officer and spent the next thirty-five years moving all over the US and Germany, using her accounting background in a wide variety of jobs. Her most recent position before The Geneva School was as an accountant at Wakefield School in The Plains, Virginia. Carol has two grown sons: Tom is married and works as an analyst in Herndon, Virginia, and Jack is married and is a veterinarian in Winchester, Virginia.

Carol spends her free time caring for her nonagenarian parents and reading voraciously. She is currently a member of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo.

Vanessa Schaefer

Science Teacher

Vanessa Schaefer joined the Geneva faculty in 2004 where she teaches science to grammar school students. She earned a BS in education from Concordia University with a concentration in early childhood education. Her career has spanned more than forty years teaching in elementary classrooms in Miami, Chicago, Oviedo, and Casselberry. She has had the opportunity to teach in a bilingual school, a multi-age classroom, and an inclusion classroom.

Vanessa currently resides in Longwood, Florida, with her husband Jay and son Peter. She and her family enjoy traveling, spending time at the beach, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Vanessa and Jay are active members at their home church, Ascension Lutheran Church in Casselberry. They currently teach confirmation classes and adult Bible studies as well as leading the middle school youth group.

Jill Schubert

Lower School Curriculum Coordinator

Jill earned a BS in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Grove City College and joined The Geneva School faculty in 2006. Her certifications include elementary education, early childhood education, and middle school mathematics. In the summer of 2019, she completed a 60-hour course on the Orton-Gillingham Approach to teaching reading and spelling.

During her time at TGS, Jill has taught third grade, fourth grade, and early childhood Spanish. In her role as Curriculum Coordinator, she supports the administration and faculty of the school in a variety of ways. Whether she is developing teaching materials, crafting a schedule, analyzing data, researching, or planning for the Spelling Bee, Jill is always looking to solve logistical puzzles in ways that will improve the teaching and learning experience for all involved.

Jill loves learning new things and delights in sharing this love of learning with others. She has interests in a number of creative areas including handcrafts and making music. She plays the piano, flute, oboe, handbells, and ukulele and enjoys singing. Most weekends she and her husband can be found taking in the local sights or completely absorbed in good books.

Hannah Seneff

Sixth Grade Teacher

Hannah Seneff returned to Geneva as a member of the sixth grade team in 2021. She is delighted to be able to share the halls with two of her nieces! From 2003–2006 Hannah was a member of Geneva’s fourth grade teaching team. In her time away, she lived and worked in Kenya, attended school in New York, and taught seventh and eighth grade English for five years. She is thrilled to share her skills and experience with Geneva’s sixth graders.

Hannah was born and raised in Winter Park and graduated from Winter Park High School before heading to Wheaton College where she earned a degree in elementary education with a minor in sociology.

Hannah is a member of NewCity Church. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new cities, hosting friends, and painting.

Ryan Sharp

Director of Dialectic School / Bible Teacher

Ryan Sharp has been involved at Geneva since 2016 when his oldest four (of five) children enrolled at TGS and his wife, Shelly, began teaching fourth grade. In 2022, he transitioned from a very involved dad and occasional substitute teacher to a part-time employee, teaching the freshman Bible course. He currently serves (full-time) as the director of the dialectic school while continuing to teach the Foundational Biblical Doctrines class to ninth grade students.

Prior to serving at Geneva full-time, Ryan held senior management positions at Ligonier Ministries, Amazon, and FedEx Express. Ryan also tutored middle school students in English grammar for Classical Conversations for many years. All of these careers have enabled Ryan and his family to live in six different states and eight different cities.

Ryan holds a BS in Religion from Liberty University and an MDiv in Theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he is currently pursuing a doctor of ministry degree at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando. Ryan is also an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Outside of work, Ryan enjoys hiking, camping, fishing, boating (although there’s more “fixing” than “boating” going on these days), playing guitar, trying not to get hurt while playing soccer, and reading broadly. Most of all, Ryan enjoys spending time with Shelly and their five children, all of whom can be found roaming the halls of TGS.

Shelly Sharp

Fourth Grade Teacher

Shelly is a native Floridian, she graduated from UCF (Go Knights!) with a bachelor’s in elementary education. After college, she taught various grade levels in both public and private schools in Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Shelly and her husband Ryan married in 1999 and they have five children: Michael, Matthew, Mark, Molly, and Megan, who walk the halls of Geneva.

In 2010, Shelly joined Classical Conversations as a tutor, where she fell in love with the classical model of education. She continued to tutor for the next three years, and in 2014 became a director of Classical Conversations in Seattle, WA, where she started a thriving community dedicated to knowing God and making him known. In 2015, she started another new Classical Conversations group in the Chattanooga, TN, area and tremendously enjoyed serving in that community as well. In 2016, Shelly had the honor of joining the fourth grade teaching team at The Geneva School.

Working full-time and raising five children is somewhat prohibitive of free time, but when Shelly does have a few moments to herself, she loves to do anything outside: hiking, walking, camping, swimming, and gardening—just to name a few things. She enjoys having friends over for conversation and a delicious meal. And, she loves playing with her kids—on occasion, you may even spot her with her favorite softball glove playing a game of catch.

Rob Shelton

Rhetoric School Director of Student Life / History Teacher
321-422-0208

Rob Shelton came to The Geneva School in the summer of 2021 and served as the director of the upper school for two years. Rob is now the rhetoric school director of student life and teaches Western Civilization II (10th grade), eleventh grade rhetoric, and a rhetoric school academic elective: The Life and Works of C.S. Lewis.

Prior to joining TGS, Rob served as the rhetoric school headmaster at Geneva School of Boerne, Texas, for fourteen years. Before his transition to Christian classical education, Rob worked for twenty-two years as a youth pastor (nineteen of them at one church). He was also a part-time lecturer in rhetoric and English for ten years at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Rob earned his BA and MA in English from the University of Texas at San Antonio and an MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. After the birth of their twin daughters, Rob and his wife, Kathleen, began investigating future educational options, and they were drawn to Christian classical education. He knew he had to be a part of this movement, so he transitioned from the church house to the schoolhouse, and now he is able to combine his calling to work with students with his desire to cultivate intellectually vibrant disciples of Christ.

Rob and Kathleen were married in 1987 and have twin daughters (very fraternal): Emily and Erica. Both graduated from Geneva School of Boerne and Calvin University and both are now married and living abroad: Emily in South Korea and Erica in England. Rob and Kathleen love Disney World and have spent way too much money there over the years, but they plan on spending more (especially now that they have grandchildren). Rob loves (in addition to his wife) reading, sports, and C.S. Lewis (mostly in that order). He and Kathleen attend First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.

Sandy Shepherd

Science Teacher

Sandy Shepherd, a graduate of Emory University School of Medicine, joined the Geneva faculty in 2021 and teaches chemistry, AP Chemistry, and the cartography elective. In addition to her master’s in medical science, Sandy also holds degrees in chemistry and biology from Georgia State University, where she graduated with honors. For over twenty years, Sandy has worked in the medical profession and continues her role as a physician’s assistant at the Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute, caring for patients hospitalized in Central Florida. In addition to her work as a PA, Sandy served as a director in Classical Conversations for three years leading seventh and eighth grade students while modeling a lifelong love of learning and fostering supportive and encouraging relationships within the community.

Sandy brings high energy and passion to everything she does, so her dual endeavors as educator and medical professional are understandable to those who know her best. They would not be surprised to find her teaching physics one day, since no one more than Sandy embodies Newton’s first law: a body in motion tends to stay in motion!

Sandy’s great desire is to inspire her Geneva students to develop an abiding love for God and others by deeply pondering our world, God’s marvelous creation, and to help them develop analytical thinking and refined reasoning as they pursue excellence in their lives in and outside of the classroom.

Sandy regularly travels to Mexico on medical mission trips and trains in Taekwondo. She also enjoys walking her dogs, kayaking, bike riding, and playing guitar. She and her husband, Tom, are active members of Orangewood Presbyterian Church and have a menagerie of pets on their acreage in Apopka, including two dogs, one horse, and eight chickens. High energy, indeed! Her twins, Lura and Mattie, are members of the TGS Class of ‘25, and her youngest, Alayna, a member of the TGS Class of ‘27.

Cyndy Shoemaker

English Teacher

Cyndy Shoemaker (aka Mrs. Shoe) joined the Geneva faculty in 2021. After teaching fourth grade for one year and sixth  grade for two years, she currently teaches eighth grade English. As a veteran classical educator, she has had the joy and privilege of teaching in classical schools in Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, and now Florida. After graduating from Rockmont College, now Colorado Christian University, with a BA in Developmental Psychology, Cyndy and her husband traveled America courtesy of the Air Force. With each new address, she served in children’s and women’s ministries and home educated their three sons through their high school years. Along with her BA, Cyndy earned a master’s in theology with an emphasis in marriage and family counseling from Trinity College of the Bible and Seminary and a certificate from the Rosemond Leadership Parenting Coach Institute. A passion for partnering with parents as they train their children to love the LORD their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength, and their neighbors as themselves has manifested itself in the education arena, where Cyndy’s biblical training and love of God’s word equip her to integrate the Scriptures and Christ-likeness into the academic life of her students.

Cyndy and her husband, Carl, have been ministering together for over forty years and have three grown sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, and nine delightful grandchildren. They have had the privilege of seeing our beautiful country and meeting its amazing people. One of Cyndy’s bucket-list goals is to visit all fifty states; she has one left, Alaska!