Leadership

Ami Adams received a Bachelor of Science in Education with an emphasis on Language Arts and Social Studies from Malone University and her Master of Arts in Education from Muskingum University. She is dual licensed in Middle Childhood Education (4-9) and as an Intervention Specialist (K-12). She completed additional coursework to graduate with her Reading Endorsement certification and has earned HQT (Highly Qualified Teacher) status in the fields of math and science. Since her graduation from Malone, she has worked as a community educator for the Domestic Violence Project, a volunteer coordinator for Community Hospice, and as a teacher for the Stark County Educational Service Center and Plain Local Schools. Ami has lived most of her life in the Canton area where she currently resides with her husband, Jared. She finds joy and beauty in reading with a cat on her lap, spending time with friends, teaching kids, listening to music, and watching films.  

Mrs. Adams will be teaching Introduction to Writing.

Stacey Baker received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Kent State University with a focus

in Interior Design. She has taught art for many years while homeschooling her children. Currently 5 of her 6 boys attend Lake Center Christian School where she is actively involved in their school day. Whether it is decorating the showcases, volunteering at events, listening to bible verses or running the school’s annual auction; her heart is to show the love and service of Christ in any way that she can. She loves to create beauty in every way possible whether it is in someone's home, painting a canvas, or in her flower garden. Her husband and boys love all things athletic and you can usually find her cheering on her crew wearing yellow and blue! 

Mrs. Baker will be teaching Elementary Art

Emily Berg received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Adolescent/Young Adult Language Arts Education from the University of Akron. She embodied the entirety of the English department at Heritage Christian School in Canton for two years - teaching Bible, Speech, 9th grade Language Arts, World Literature, American Literature, and British Literature - before becoming a full-time mom. She is currently a wedding planner and coordinator, and this is her third year teaching at Bridges. She loves to teach whenever she has the chance - including in various church capacities and while her kids are trying to have fun, much to their chagrin. She believes that no matter what you most love to learn about, you can’t do so without language; words (and putting them together effectively into sentences!) are power! Emily loves the Harlem Renaissance, semi-colons, gardening, tea, traveling, and meeting new people. She lives with her husband Andrew, a pastor, and her two ornery, opinionated children in North Canton.

Mrs. Berg will be teaching Language Arts and 9th & 10th Grade Literature.

Amy Borland received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.  Her roots are from Carrollton, Ohio, but she has lived in both Wisconsin and Indiana where she taught in the regular public-school classroom.  For the previous thirteen years, Amy lived in Arkansas, beginning to homeschool when her firstborn daughter began kindergarten.  She has continued to homeschool for the last fifteen years, adding another daughter and three sons into the mix.  Through the years, Amy has been very active in her homeschool community and co-op.  Amy also teaches ESL and tutors online part time. She enjoys hiking, running, spending time in nature, and laughing with her kids.     

Mrs. Borland will be teaching Physical Science.

Ashley Cole received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary and Spanish Education from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.  Mrs. Cole taught for five years at Chapel Hill Christian School before deciding to stay home with her kids. During this time at home, she has maintained her Ohio teaching license. Ashley and her husband have two awesome boys whom she has homeschooled for the past eight years. As a family, they enjoy spending time reading, playing games, traveling, camping, soccer, and exploring new places. Mrs. Cole has traveled to many different countries all over the world and even studied abroad in Costa Rica. She loves making learning fun, tea, staying healthy, the outdoors, experiencing different cultures, and teaching many different subjects. It is a joy for her to see and learn how God’s hand has been evident throughout the history of the world.  She looks forward to teaching American History this year! 

Mrs. Cole will be teaching 5-7th Grade American History.

Linnea Cook received her Bachelors of Science degree in Middle Childhood Education from Malone University and her Masters of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Ashland University. She taught in Canton Local Schools for 11 years. For the last five years she has taught and tutored part time online while homeschooling. She enjoys the hands-on approach to science that she used while working for the National Inventors Hall of Fame through teaching the Camp Invention Summer Program. 

She has been married 17 years to her husband Ryan, who is a Family and Marriage Therapist as well as a professor at the University of Mount Union.  They have 5 fabulous kids between the ages of 12 and 1. Linnea and Ryan both love sports and have enjoyed the opportunity to coach their children in basketball, baseball, and hockey. As a couple, they have done pre-marriage counseling with engaged couples for many years and have helped run parenting and marriage seminars. Her desire is to bring light to those around her by reflecting the love of Christ in practical ways. Linnea loves reading with her kids, being outside, sudoku puzzles, playing the piano, traveling, eating blizzards and cheering for the Cleveland Guardians. 

Mrs. Cook will be teaching Junior High General Science.

Erica Fill received a Bachelor of Science in Art Education from Bowling Green State University for grades K-12. Mrs. Fill taught art for three years at Waterloo Local Schools before her girls were born. She enjoys learning about health and fitness and is constantly looking for ways to improve the health of her family. She is currently teaching flag classes through Simply Praise, a dance company she started with a friend. She and her husband, Dan, have homeschooled their two daughters - Jocelyn graduated in 2021 and Mischa graduated in 2023!  She enjoys being outside soaking up the summer sun, spending time with her cat, Linnycat, and doing crafty things like card making. This is her ninth year being a part of Bridges. She looks forward to getting her students to move!

Mrs. Fill will be teaching Physical Education.

Nathan grew up as a Christian homeschooler from Kindergarten through high school. He has earned his Bachelors of Science in Business Administration in General Management from Thomas Edison State University and his Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Malone University. Nathan is an Eagle Scout, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM), and an international leadership trainer. Nathan runs a nonprofit called LITE: Leadership Influencing Teen Empowerment that provides leadership development training and emotional intelligence training in-class to students. Nathan has served over 4,000 students in Summit, Portage, Medina, Stark, and Cuyahoga Counties since 2018. Nathan has trained leadership skills across the country and in China to both youth and adults for about 14 years. Communication and Public speaking skills are a major part of leadership. He looks forward to working with Bridges and the students each year.

Mr. Jarosz will be teaching Speech.

Catherine Marx received a Bachelor of Arts in Finance with an emphasis in Accounting from Malone University.  She was employed by ComDoc, Inc. and Diebold, Inc. as a purchasing agent before leaving to stay home full-time with her children.  After 2 years of being home, her husband thought it would be fun to start his own business.  Mrs. Marx kept the books, ran payroll, invoiced customers and handled taxes for that business and to this day she does similar bookkeeping work for another small business. She and her husband, Derek, have 4 amazing children and they have been homeschooling for 11 years.  This is her fifth year as part of the Bridges co-op and her fourth year teaching.  She looks forward to teaching her students financial responsibility as good stewards of all that God has given.  

Mrs. Marx will be teaching Economics.

As a former missionary kid, Julie Moledor lived in Zimbabwe and Tanzania, Africa until the age of 20; thoroughly enjoying any adventures the continent had to offer such as scuba diving, hiking, safaris, camp-outs on the beach, outdoor markets, and most importantly the opportunity to serve others. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Malone University. She has worked as an R.N. in a variety of hospital settings, including medical surgical, infectious disease, and the emergency department but is currently focusing on her role as a homeschool mom. Julie and her husband Joel have four boys and have been homeschooling for twelve years.  She enjoys exploring the outdoors with her boys, and nurturing their love for science. She loves tea, all things health and fitness, baking, and of course teaching and leading at Bridges!

Mrs. Moledor will be teaching Biology and Elementary Science 

Caleb Norrick received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Sport Management from Malone University as well as a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership. Caleb spent five years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Operations at Malone where he oversaw all 18 varsity sports, including their home games, travel, equipment, and budgets. Caleb currently works at Faith Bible Church where he oversees the student ministries and helps with missions and operations. He is well-traveled and enjoys visiting new places, reading a good book, and trying his best to play along with Jeopardy! He has a passionate interest in history and government and loves a good discussion about them. His favorite books are historical biographies and memoirs, especially those on post-World War II American leaders. Caleb and his wife Lexy live in Plain Township with their daughter Selah and enjoy traveling and hosting friends and family. 

Mr. Norrick will be teaching World History and Government.

Janice Pahl graduated from Saint Anselm College with a B.A. in Natural Sciences.  While working as a medical researcher at Dartmouth College, she completed additional college courses in biology. Some of her research on peripheral nerve injury has been published in scientific journals, including Molecular Brain Research.  Throughout her thirteen years of homeschooling, she has regularly taught a variety of group science classes and nature studies.  Some of her fond memories include exploring vernal pools and blowing up water bottles with dry ice.  More recently, she has been teaching or tutoring high-school-level science courses in Physics, Chemistry, General Biology, and Marine Science.  In addition, she works at an after-school program as the math intervention lead.  She believes games are an effective way to learn, so she tries to incorporate them whenever possible! 

Mrs. Pahl will be teaching Intro to Spanish and Algebra Tutoring.

Jenny Petersen earned a doctorate in Exercise Physiology from Kent State University. She has worked as a professional advisor and adjunct professor in Anatomy and Physiology, as well as, Exercise Science at Walsh University and as a part time instructor in Exercise Science at Kent State University. Jenny is certified to teach biological science grades 7-12 and taught at Canton South High School while serving as the district Athletic Trainer before returning for her Master’s at Akron University. Jenny currently serves as a youth pastor at the East Canton Church of God. Jenny, her husband Dean, and their two daughters live on a hardwood tree farm and also raise pumpkins.  

Mrs. Petersen will be teaching Advanced Biology: Anatomy & Physiology

Darby Smith received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Malone University for grades 1-8 and Special Education K-12 and finished her Master in teaching in June of ‘06.  Mrs. Smith taught in a Resource Room for grades 5 and 6 in Northwest Local Schools for 7 years, focusing on Language Arts and Math.  She and her husband Bruce have four children and have been homeschooling for thirteen years.  During her time staying at home, she completed her Masters Degree in teaching and kept up her teaching license in the state of Ohio.  She has been involved in other homeschool groups and has taught a variety of classes.  She also meets with many families to perform their homeschool portfolio assessments each year.  This will be her sixth year teaching in Bridges.  Mrs. Smith loves to read and wants to share that love with her students.

Mrs. Smith will be teaching Elementary and Jr. High Literature.

Angie Waters was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. She graduated college with a BA in Interior Design. Later, she taught kindergarten in a Christian school for two years, and art and fifth grade for a year. She returned to college during that time and studied two years of Early Education until she relocated to the United States. Upon her arrival in the US, she attended college and received an associate’s degree in Art and Early Education. Upon graduating, she got married and raised her family of five children. She has homeschooled her children for 16 years. She has taught Spanish and art for ten years, seven of those years with Bridges.

Mrs. Waters will be teaching Jr. High/Sr. High Art and Spanish 1A and Spanish 1B.

Melissa Weimer received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism and an English minor from Malone University.  She has worked for The Press-News and The Repository and has held multiple corporate positions writing press releases, speeches, articles, and advertising for both radio and print.  She and her husband Jared have four children and they have been homeschooling for 18 years.  Melissa has taught a variety of classes in homeschool groups over the past 14 years, but writing has always been her passion. She believes that writing is fundamental for success in just about every subject, and thoroughly enjoys instilling confidence and developing skills in Bridges’ students.

Mrs. Weimer will be teaching two Essentials for Writing classes.

Kaylene Williams graduated from Malone University with a Bachelor of Arts in education and is licensed to teach grades 7-12 Language Arts, Speech and Drama as well as a licensed K-12 Intervention Specialist.  Kaylene has worked for Plain Local Schools, Canton Montessori, and is currently a teaching artist for Arts In Stark.  After performing with an improv company professionally in Cleveland for two years, Kaylene co-founded, directed, and performed with Canton’s professional improvisational comedy troupe, “Scared Scriptless,” for over a decade.  Kaylene is also a writer, director and enjoys creating original dramatic and comedic works for Canton First Friends Church.

Mrs. Williams will be teaching Drama.