sarah brown
psychology & ap psychology
Sarah graduated from Tulane University in 2002, with a B.A. in History and French, but her experience volunteering with young children in New Orleans led her to a career in education. After teaching in middle Georgia, she became a Teacher on Assignment for the Georgia Department of Education, traveling the state to work with teachers and districts to improve social studies instruction. Sarah has since continued this work, writing curriculum for museums, historic sites, and organizations, including the Carter Presidential Library and the Georgia Council for Economic Education. She has also taught in a variety of non-traditional settings, including homeschool co-ops and environmental education programs. Sarah has been married to her husband, Lindsey, since 2005, and they have three children who are SGA students. Sarah and her family live in Lithonia with more books than shelves. They enjoy serving at their church and spending time outdoors.
laura cooper
ap Human geography
Laura and her husband Andrew have been married since 2008. They have the joy of raising three active boys, Perry, August, and Bowman. Laura pursued her love of history at Georgia Tech and graduated in 2010 with a B.S. in History, Technology and Society. Her education brings a unique perspective to history as she focused her research in college largely on the role of technology in history. Laura enjoyed a career in non-profit development for several years before becoming a full-time homemaker after the birth of her children. She is an active member of Grace Fellowship Church in Snellville and enjoys travel, running, and exploring nature.
Chad Hambrick
Chad Hambrick has been serving the body of Christ since 1995 in several diverse church settings. God has equipped Chad to encourage and equip ministry leaders. Chad currently serves as the Director of Discipleship at Eastridge Community Church in Covington, GA. He is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and an ordained minister. Chad’s life experience and undergraduate study in counseling has given him the insight needed to minister to those who lead others. Chad’s main focus is to encourage and equip Christian leaders to implement a lifestyle of abiding, serving and multiplying in order to fulfill the Great Commission. Chad desires more than anything to see followers of Christ become the servant leaders that God has created them to be.
jenny hammons
music/art appreciation
Jenny and her husband, David, have been married since 1998 and have been blessed with three children. She is a homeschool mom who has graduated two children from SGA with one to go! She graduated from Samford University with a Bachelors of Music degree in Piano Performance. She also has a Master of Music degree from Georgia State University in Piano Pedagogy. She is currently working toward a Ministry Certification through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jenny has been teaching piano, music theory, and music history classes since 1996. She has taught in university settings, fine arts schools, and privately. She is also an art enthusiast. At Scholars Guild, she teaches 5th-7th Visual Arts, 7th/8th Grade Faith Foundations, High School Music & Art Appreciation, and assists the Musical Theatre program. She is a private piano teacher and the owner of Hammons Music Studio. She loves to serve the Lord at her church as well in the worship and youth ministries. All of this is great, but her number one passion is to love God, her family, and people. Discipling SGA students toward a growing understanding of Jesus and His love for them is one of her greatest joys in life!
mary leigh harper
personal finance
Mary Leigh met her husband, Lee, at Georgia Tech while earning a Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics. After graduation, she taught at Brookwood High School in Gwinnett County until she delivered their first daughter. They now have four children …two spunky girls and two very energetic boys. Mary Leigh is a self-professed “math geek” and has delighted in tutoring middle, high school and college mathematics for more than 20 years as well as homeschooling her children for many years. She was elated to get back to the classroom when she began teaching Math (and eventually Personal Finance) at Scholars Guild in 2011. She enjoys traveling with her husband and snuggling on the sofa with her kids.
DAnny James
computer science discoveries & ap computer science principles
Danny graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Computer Science. Since that time he has held numerous positions covering the gamut of computer technology. His current role is a Principal Software Engineer with a major healthcare data analytics company. Danny recently moved to Bethlehem with his wife (Scholars Guild's very own Ginny James) and two of his children. His oldest daughter was recently married. He loves cooking, CrossFit (which he has coached as a CF-L2 trainer for 6 years), golf and just hanging with his family.
Sara Lunsford
musical performance theatre
Sara graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. By the age four, she had a love for theatre instilled by her mom and old musical classics. Sara has served as Choreographer, Musical Director, and Assistant Director for numerous productions. She taught Drama at Young Americans Christian School, claiming back to back One-Act State Championships in 2015 and 2016, as well as producing Seussical and The Little Mermaid. Sara trained in vocal performance for six years and currently teaches private vocal lessons and serves as the Contemporary Worship Leader for First Conyers Baptist Church. Sara is happily married to her middle school sweetheart, Brian. They have three beautiful children, Selah Grace and their twins, Eleanora and Asher.
sande oliver
apologetics & discipleship basics
Sande has been married to her husband, John Mark, who also happens to be her pastor, since 1983. They have four grown children (two by marriage), and are the proud grandparents of Selah, Eleanora, Asher, and Teddy. Sande learned the Spanish language and culture in her home from her Cuban daddy and Mexican nanny. She earned her BFA in Acting from U.S.I.U. School of Performing Arts and her teaching credentials from Columbus State University. With twenty years in both public and private schools, she has taught Theatre, Public Speaking, Spanish, and Bible. Besides being “SoSo” to her grandkids, her greatest passion is studying and sharing God’s Word. You can visit her blog [ThePlantingPlace.com], and join Sande in her three-year daily devotional that considers how God is revealed in every chapter of His Inspired Word.
angel straight
logic
Angel has been married to Jesse since 2005. She graduated from Georgia State University with a B.A. in Political Science. She worked throughout and beyond college with a state Senator. After a couple of years working at a law firm, she went back to school to earn her Master's in Social Studies Education from UGA. She worked as a high school teacher for Gwinnett County, but came home full-time once her first son was born. She currently homeschools her 3 children. Throughout her time at home, she has worked at SGA and other homeschool co-ops, sharing her passion for social studies, seeking truth, thinking logically, and developing a biblical worldview. In her free time, Angel enjoys reading, yoga, spending time with her people, and traveling.
CAthy strange
leadership skills development & leadership communication/application
Cathy feels blessed that God has directed her to SGA. She has a BS degree in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Management and Administration. Cathy has been married to her wonderful husband, Mark, since 1998. She has a daughter, Taylor, who graduated from SGA in 2018 and is attending Auburn University seeking a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Her son, Logan, attends Georgia Southern University working on a degree in Sports Management.. In her early years, she studied Criminal Justice Investigation and Forensics, however, the Lord knew her love would be with teaching and ministering to the next generation. After moving here from Ohio, she has since worked as a Product Marketing Manager, for a large corporation, and later a Preschool Teacher for 7 years and became certified in Leadership Development with Growing Leaders. Cathy is passionate about serving the Lord and spends much of her time staying involved in her church and serves in youth activities and events She is currently a leader in Community Bible Study enjoys spending time with family, near and far, sharing time with friends, visiting her children at college, and going to the beach.
beth wright
health/physical education
Beth has been partnering with SGA since 2013 when her son started taking middle school science classes. Several years later she joined the support staff as Café Supervisor and has been serving in that role since 2015. During the 2022-2023 school year, she became the Health/Physical Education teacher. Beth is devoted to Jesus Christ and spends most of her time supporting three grown children and homeschooling her youngest who is in high school at SGA. She has homeschooled a child or multiple children in some capacity since 1999. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Georgia State University and loves to share her God-given gift of hospitality by serving the staff, students, and families at Scholars Guild Academy. It has been her delight to serve at SGA.
