Earth Science, Life Science, Geography

Christal Banks has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Wilmington College and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Wright State University. She taught 2nd, 4th and 5th grade in Lakota School District and, most recently, has been the director of Heritage Presbyterian Preschool. Christal volunteers as a CASA for Warren County. She and her husband Mark are active members of Grace Baptist Church. Christal enjoys quilting, biking and a good cup of coffee.

Biology, Spanish I, II, III, & IV, Logic

Lydia completed her BA (Magna Cum Laude, University Scholar) at Xavier University with a double major in Spanish and Education and a minor in Music. She studied abroad at La Universidad del País Vasco in San Sebastián, Spain in 1993 and went on a mission trip to Monterrey, México in 2008. In 2009 she completed her MEd with a concentration in Spanish, also at Xavier University. Over the years she’s taught K-12 Spanish in public school, private school, and homeschool co-op settings. She’s been teaching at PEP since 2017. The Brashear family completed their own homeschooling journey in 2020 after homeschooling their two daughters for 12 years. In addition to teaching, Lydia likes to crochet and read voraciously. Some of her favorite genres are Christian apologetics, 19th-century literature, fantasy, and science fiction. She also loves llamas & alpacas and hopes to have a small herd one day.

Anatomy & Physiology

Abbie spent her middle and high school years at an international school in Kobe, Japan. She then attended Augustana College and graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sociology. Throughout the years, she has embraced a life of investing in her family and community by serving on leadership teams for preschools, moms' groups, and children's ministries. She and her husband, Ben, have four children. As a family, they enjoy reading books together, taking walks in their neighborhood, and bantering at the dinner table.

Introduction to Composition (Core A), Introduction to Literary Analysis (B), Fiber Arts (Crochet)

Rachael graduated as a University Honors Scholar from Wright State University with a B.S. in K-8 Education. She and her husband, Neil, have home-educated their daughter (now a homeschool graduate) and son since 2010. Prior to joining PEP, Rachael taught courses in literature, social studies, and critical thinking at a local homeschool co-op. She especially enjoys helping students develop the executive skills and study strategies needed to move into high school and beyond.

Chemistry, Conceptual Physics

Amy earned a BS in Agricultural Engineering from Purdue University, where her field of study was food process engineering. While working as a research assistant after graduation, she completed licensing requirements to teach chemistry and math to grades 5-12. Amy and her husband Lee moved from Indiana to the Cincinnati area in 1996 and have been actively involved in Hope Church since then. They home educated for a total of 17 years before graduating their third daughter in 2021. During those years, the Haney family was part of Mason Co-op and then Kingdom Builders, where Amy taught classes, including chemistry labs for elementary through high school, Physics with Toys, high school physics lab, Math Games, and Stomp Rockets, Catapults, and Kaleidoscopes. She enjoys helping students to build a greater understanding of science and, therefore, a deeper appreciation for their Creator.

World History, American History, US Constitution (Gov't), Economics

Jim's passion for history and teaching has come true with the help of PEP. He started teaching a government class on the Constitution in 2018, and over the years, he has added more classes to his teaching portfolio. As a United States Marine Corps veteran, Jim still honors his oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution. He is also the Chairman of Building Blocks For Liberty, an educational non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the U.S. Constitution. Jim finds great joy in tutoring the young men and women at PEP. His journey to teaching at PEP is a testament to his faith and waiting on God's timing for things to happen. 

Biblical Worldview II, Biology

Kyle Linville is the pastor of discipleship at Grace Baptist Church where he has served on staff since 2008. He received a bachelor’s degree in Bible from Cedarville University and a Master of Divinity degree from Faith Bible Seminary in Lafayette, Indiana. Kyle is married to Heather and they homeschool their six children: Alaina, Noah, Spencer, Luke, Emily, and Ellie. Kyle enjoys coffee, reading, Star Wars, and running.

Math 7, Pre-Algebra, Finance Survey/Seminar

Erin received her B.S. in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise from Virginia Tech in 2000 and her M.S. in Health Promotion from Purdue University in 2003. It was at Virginia Tech that she met her husband, Aaron, through campus ministry. Upon graduation from Purdue, she decided to stay home and become a full-time mom. Erin has 4 children and has been a part of the homeschooling community for over 10 years and the PEP community for over 5 years. Three of her children are currently attending and thriving at PEP. She is also a member of Parkside Christian Church where she volunteers with the Children's Ministry and Impressions teams.

Geometry, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus

Erica graduated with her Bachelor of Science, summa cum laude, in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. After graduation, she worked as a Project Manager for Procter & Gamble until she left to stay home with her children. Erica and her husband Doug have two teen children and they have homeschooled in various methods (including PEP). Erica has taught all levels of high school mathematics to homeschool students since 2012 and this is her 4th year teaching at PEP. She loves teaching math and helping students, whether it’s their most or least favorite subject, and she loves teaching math at PEP.

Ancient History, Medieval to Early Modern History

Leah Stapleton graduated from Grove City College in 2007 with a B.A. in History. After graduation, she worked in Academic Affairs at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia until 2010, when she left the workforce to raise her children. She and her husband Andy have three elementary aged children and are active members at North Cincinnati Community Church. Leah enjoys gardening and reading.