Read about our wonderful teachers!
Mrs. Linda Apen
Linda has homeschooled with her children since 2006, and her family joined our Learning Center in 2017. As members of Mother of Divine Grace school, her family has enjoyed using the classical, integrated curriculum they provide for homeschooling students. She brings to the classroom her love of books, discussion and reflection, as well as the inspiration to strive for growth in virtue. After completing a BA in Media Study at SUNY Buffalo, she returned to school for nursing, and became an RN, shortly before marrying Eric in 1995.
Mrs. Debbie Derwald
Debbie has been home schooling her own children as well as other students for the past 10+ years. She helped to found the St. Francis Home- school Co-op in Tonawanda. Debbie brings her experience with acting and live, educa- tional school performances to the classroom to provide stu- dents with an inviting, creative learning environment.
Mrs. Tracie Doty
Tracie has only been home- schooling since Jan of 2021. She is a wife and mother of 3 kids ages 19, 18, and 15. Her kids are enrolled in Mother of Divine Grace and take classes at GCC. Her oldest is at Franciscan University. Tracie earned a BA in Education and Special Education from Niagara University in 2003. The Doty family resides in Wilson where they have 3 horses and 2 Golden Doodles. They love rodeos and camping and all things Catholic!
Mrs. Rebecca Kruszka
Rebecca is a homeschooling mother, who began her study of History at Canisius College as part of the History Honors program. She did two semesters of European History with a specialized Church Historian and returned to Canisius to specialize in local and American history, as well as taking multiple segments on Russian History. She received the Robert J. Sullivan Award for Excellence in Historical Writing for her thesis on Mark Twain's Buffalo Experience and has actively participated in local history groups- being a Board Member of the Bflo Lighthouse Association, and the South Buffalo Lighthouse Group. She lectures and teaches as part of this involvement as well as being part of our Learning Center for 13 years.
Mr. Dan Lawson
Dan is husband to Shannon and they have seven children together. Dan has been interested in the combat arts since his childhood. He has trained in western boxing, Aikido, Wing Chun, Kali-Escrima, and Systema (Russian Martial Arts). He started The St. George Fight Club for men 13+ and instructs weekly in Systema and Wing Chun. Dan is also a licensed psychotherapist. He has been practicing therapy for over 16yrs. Dan is the founder of Catholic Therapy Solutions, a private therapy practice combining the genius of Catholicism with his psychological training. Along with his private practice he provides in-demand training and consulting to parishes, schools, government agencies. For more information go to Catholictherapysolutions.com and www.heartsrenewed.org
Mrs. Shannon Lawson
Shannon is a former homeschool student and lives in Wheatfield with her husband and children. She graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Education and a minor in English from Niagara University and then completed a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from Buffalo State College. Her teaching experience includes more than three years teaching at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School, over six years of private tutoring experience, and thirteen years of freelance teaching “a-la-carte” classes to homeschool students. Shannon has been playing guitar since childhood and has played in different folk groups in the area, teaching guitar since age fifteen.
Mrs. Victoria Levine
Victoria earned her Bachelor's Degree at Canisius College in Childhood and Special Eduction with a concentration in Mathematics, and then completed a Master's Degree in Differentiated Instruction. She taught for 5 years in a variety of roles, starting in middle school math for one year, then 2.5 years teaching second grade, and finally 1.5 years as a special education teacher. Victoria now enjoys being a stay-at-home mom, wife and homemaker, and is excited to start homeschooling her two young daughters.
Mrs. Chantel Muntain
The Muntains took the leap to homeschool in 2014 and then took another huge leap of faith and converted to the Catholic faith in 2015. Since then, the family has reaped and enjoyed all the blessings that come through the sacraments and through their vocations. Prior to having three amazing children, Chantel received her Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities with a Minor in Latin and Greek at Indiana State University. She then received her Master’s Degree in Performing Arts at American University. Post college, Chantel wrote letters, articles and speeches for the president at Savannah College of Art and Design. In Potomac, Maryland, she taught a variety of subjects at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School: Latin, Religion, World Religions, AP English, and 7th grade English. In recent years, Chantel and her family have devoted much of their time to fixing up an old house and starting a small farm with chickens, sheep, and two sweet cats.
Mrs. Lisa Pietras
For 28 years and counting, Lisa and Joseph have been homeschooling their nine surviving children, ages 33 - 13. Lisa earned an Associates Degree in Business and is currently studying in the school of Life. She is a Household Engineer simply trying to survive everyday challenges.
Mrs. Kristin Pratt
Kristin is a certified emergency RN/BSN with over 15 years of experience working in an emergency room. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and worked in various other hospital units. She is a mother of 6, and currently homeschooling some of her children. Her family have been part of Guardian Angel for many years. Her other children attend Chesterton Academy of Buffalo, and she is involved in many committees at the school. She enjoys teaching first aid, and is looking forward to next year.
Mrs. Paula Reese
Mother of 8 children and grandmother to 2 (and a third on the way!), Paula began her Catholic homeschooling career in 2001. She focuses her homeschooling days on hands-on activities and experiences and brings these ideas to the classroom at Guardian Angel. Never shying away from an adventure, she and her family enjoy traveling, camping, gardening, small animal husbandry, arts and crafts, kayaking, skiing, sports and trying out new things. Paula has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Buffalo State College and an Associate’s Degree in Paralegal Studies from ECC.
Mrs. Rachel Rumbold
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Mrs. Quincy Stewart
Mrs. Stewart is a mom of six and grandma of five. She only taught in public school for one year after graduating from college, though she has used her degree in elementary education to homeschool her six children for over 25 years. She read the whole Bible for the first time with Father Mike during the first year of the Bible in a Year podcast. She fell in love with the Word and the way it has everything to teach us about ourselves and the world. She was so struck by the similarities of Biblical times and the present time that she is enthusiastic to promote Bible literacy wherever she can.
Mrs. Maria Walker
Mrs. Walker is a wife and mother of 8 children (and 3 sons-in-law and 1 daughter-in-law), ages 32 through 16 (and six grandchildren!). Maria has been homeschooling her children for 27 years and counting. She and her family are very active in Quiet Waters Rosary Musicals and have also been active in Children of Mary Home Schoolers and the March for Life. She loves to learn more about the Catholic faith! She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Marketing from Buffalo State College.