Teachers - Learn Beyond The Book

Elmarie Hyman: Founder, CEO, and Teacher: Finance, Math, Science, History&Literature
Elmarie, is the owner of Learn Beyond The Book and has more than 13 years experience as an educator. She has taught her own 4 children (currently ranging in age from 4th grade to college), as well as group classes for homeschoolers and after school enrichment classes for public school students. She also has experience tutoring and has been a speaker at various homeschool seminars and conventions. She has been the coordinator of various homeschool co-ops and support groups, organizing numerous fieldtrips and other homeschool events as well. Before she started teaching, she obtained a degree in Accounting and worked as an accountant and auditor for years. She has a passion for education, and strives to accomplish that goal through means that go way beyond the textbook. She loves using projects, games, and hands-on learning while teaching, which is evident in the classes that she offers, as well as in the Where’s the Money curriculum she developed for teaching Economics, Finance, and Entrepreneurship.

Elizabeth Johnson: Science & Art & College Prep Elizabeth graduated from Harvard with a major in Psychology and a minor in Art. She is currently an educational consultant, focusing on students in grades K-12, from special needs to gifted and everyone in between, helping motivated and energetic clients who want to take ownership of their lives in the following ways: tutoring, one on one mentoring, custom classes, online classes, seminars, published articles, public speaking. Her classes focus on experiential, activity-rich, project-based, Socratic learning, utilizing motivation, learning styles, and goal structuring and accomplishment. With an extensive background in achieving academic and creative excellence, Mrs. Johnson is results oriented: developing communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, and relationship skills; she helps clients understand how they interface with the world. She is an excellent Science and Art instructor, with years of animal training on her resume as well. Integrated into worldwide projects, Elizabeth’s international reach extends to clients in London, St Maartin and Paris. Fluent in French, she and her family currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. Mrs Johnson has appeared on internet teleconferences, in newspapers on the radio, and speaking at conventions . She is a regularly featured expert for the Examiner, the Right Side of the Curve.com, and the Parent Times magazine, She was featured in Women’s Day magazine (12/08)

Jonny Hyman: Technology, Photography, Moviemaking & Let’s Fix That! Jonny is an exceptional student, having completed all but 1 class for his IGETC requirements at the community college at age 16! He has taught several classes before, including Guitar, Photography, Photoshop, Technology, and Adobe Aftereffects. He has extensive experience in graphic design, photography, visual effects for video, movie making, as well as technology skills and has done several projects for his own company that he is growing on the side: http://cargocollective.com/jonnyhyman/index . He has also built himself a high-end computer and knows it inside out. Jonny’s other love is Music and Aviation.
Kristy Robinson: Science, Social Studies, Math & Language Through Stories Kristy Robinson is thrilled to teach at Learn Beyond the Book this upcoming year. She began her journey in teaching as a second grade teacher in the Castaic School District. She taught there for 10 years and learned so much about the way children learn from all those beautiful students. Now through homeschooling her own children she has had the opportunity to teach various homeschool classes and co-ops. “It is so fun to work in small classes and be able to do hands on activities. I love pulling curriculum from all over and creating my own variations. Understanding that children are not all the same and learn in many different ways is a priority that guides the way I teach. I look forward to the challenge of figuring out how each of your children learn and all the many wonderful aspects that make them who they are.”, Kristy says.
Christine Orris: Sewing, Cultural Cooking, High School Health, Literature Christine graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Home Economics and has taught several Home Economics subjects for several years. She is also a credentialed teacher, skilled in teaching a wide variety of subjects. Everyone has come to love her as an awesome Sewing teacher in the past semester and we look forward to her taking on more classes in her area of expertise!
Cindy Dominguez: Spanish, Language Arts & Writing Cindy is a fully credentialed elementary school teacher and reading specialist, with over 20 years of experience. She majored in Spanish in college and has worked as a bilingual elementary school teacher and literacy coach. She has also studied Spanish in Mexico and Guatemala. She is currently working on her master’s degree in educational therapy at CSUN. This fall she will join SCVi Charter School as a homeschool facilitator.
Michael Lyn: Guitar Michael has 25-Years of Experience Teaching and Performing and is the current Director of the Guitar Program at Champs Charter High School. He has formal education in Classical Guitar and Music Theory. Michael is also the Worship Music Coach and Performer at Shepherd of the Hills, Church of the Canyons, and Real Life Church.He is the owner of Michael Lyn Music
Sonia Wike: Spanish, Science & Writing A native Spanish speaker, Sonia earned her BA in Liberal Studies at Cal Poly Pomona in 2004. She is a mother of three children, Tyler 19, Lucas 15 and Sasha 3.5 years old. She taught English as a second language in the Arcadia School District for grades K-5. Sonia taught 1^st and 2^nd grade as well as Spanish at The Waverly School in Pasadena for 3 years. She also created a successful after school class called Fun with Literature, where the children wrote, illustrated and made their very own books to take home. Currently, Sonia is the EAKK! (eco art kids kollective!) Coordinator for a non-profit organization called Family Love Village. She organizes art and craft activities while at the same time inspiring creative ideas to keep trash out of landfills by making art out of the trash found around the house. She has organized events at Lightning in a Bottle, The Los Angeles Decompression as well as various birthday parties and events. Her teaching philosophy is that she is the facilitator, a helper, in the learning process. Children carve the way to what and how while she facilitates.
Nancy Sell: Percussion & Culture, Art&Art History Nancy Sell is an accomplished Musician and Music teacher, having taught privately for 15 years as well as being an experienced educator in Local Southern California Public as well as Private schools.Nancy has taught Piano, Music theory, ear training and composition. She has an expertise in Percussion ensemble performance, Marching and Concert bands and was a Percussion instructor for the local “Impulse Drum and Bugle Corps”.Nancy was also a performer in the Prestigious Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle corps as a Lead Mallet Percussionist, specializing in Marimba and Vibraphone. Nancy traveled with this top ranking group all throughout California competing with other Drum Corps.Nancy started her musical journey at age 4 learning Classical Piano and has performed since age 15 in many performing ensembles and orchestras as a Percussionist and Timpanist.Nancy has studied music through private teaching of many accomplished musicians in the local Los Angeles area. She learned concert percussion techniques from Bruno Cilloniz, an accomplished concert percussionist and performed exhibition shows in the esteemed Kingsmen Drumline under the instruction of Tom Float- a Marching band “Guru” who has his own line of drum sticks and sponsorships. Nancy furthered her studies at Citrus College performing in the Wind Ensemble under the direction of John Magnussen, a studio percussionist who plays with the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.Nancy currently homeschools her daughter and teaches privately in addition to workshops she teaches in music and the arts.She has a passion for teaching children of all ages. Nancy teaches private lessons, group ensembles, drum circles and believes in bringing out the musician in every child because we can call find our inner musician.
Freshi Media: Video Game Design Tyler J. Shoemaker – Videogame Design Levels 1 & 2, App-making Since an early age, Tyler Shoemaker has been involved with media, music, game design, film and film festivals. Prior to becoming Freshi Media’s sales director, he taught Freshi Media curricula for several years with numerous clients at public & private schools, civic community centers and homeschooling environments where he gained invaluable, firsthand classroom experience.Tyler earned his Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts (History) from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He has performed extensive volunteer work with youth in Africa (Rwanda), The People’s Republic of China as well as in Los Angeles, which has positively shaped his outlook on K-12 education. He sees the good in people and the potential for self-empowerment in youth, which inspires his approach to teaching for Freshi Media.
ASE Enrichment: Lego Robotics, Ceramics Art-Sports-Education (A.S.E.) Enrichment, Inc. is a non-profit corporation specializing in enrichment classes which are geared to enhance children’s education. Students are involved in hands-on activities that stimulate creativity, imagination, problem solving, critical thinking, and much more. Both Jeanne Hammonds and Kim Hammonds manage A.S.E. Enrichment, Inc. and have a passion for quality education to be given to children in the Santa Clarita Valley. Bart and Kim both were homeschooled for part of their lives and look forward to working with homeschoolers.
Lori Powers – Drawing & Art HistoryLori has been teaching art for the past ten years, two years out of her home and eight years out of Kids Art Studio in Santa Clarita. She attended the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, studying fashion illustration at Pasadena City College and studying fine art and graphic design, as well as The Art Center College, studying life drawing. She has been privileged enough to study under such prestigious mentors in art as Beverly Dunken and Deana Sanderson, as they have instructed her in the art of watercolor, acrylic, and oil painting. She has created a local business by doing freelance projects for schools and learning centers. She has also done many mural paintings around the Santa Clarita Valley.http://www.creativepowersart.com/
Melanie Parson – MusicMelanie is a seasoned vocalist, actor, and dancer. Melanie has had the privilege to perform throughout the world and has appeared on some of it’s grandest stages, including New York’s reknown Apollo Theatre and Madison Square Garden. She has also performed in concert with Clay Aiken. In 2007, Melanie won the True Star World Grand Prix singing competition sponsored by Solara USA LLC. In turn, she had the honor to represent the United States in a worldwide competition taking place in Tokyo, Japan. In 2008, Melanie won the prestigious competition, awarded the World Title. Melanie has been writing and recording original music with various legendary producers for the past 5 years now. She was discovered by and trained with Sal Dupree, who has coached vocalists to winning seasons on Star Search, America’s Got Talent, and celebrity status on American Idol. Melanie was the lead vocalist of the rock band Open the Coda. The group’s music fused their many influences which results in a blend of old and new. As an active employee with the City of Santa Clarita, Melanie has instructed and conducted local youth, ranging from 5-13 years of age, in music and movement for the past 1 1/2 years. Most recently, Melanie debuted the Jingle Bells (an all-girls choir through the Newhall Community Center, working with at-risk, low-income children within the Santa Clarita Valley). In addition to performing a set of music of their own, the Jingle Bells Choir also collaborated with the SCV Senior Center Choir and performed several combined numbers. In addition, Melanie has been dancing for over 16 years both professionally and competitively. She has also worked as a dance instructor, teaching hip hop, jazz, lyrical, and Latin dance. She has worked with Suzy Zucker (choreographer of the Philadelphia Eagles) and represented a wide array of dance studios across the country. Lastly, Melanie’s has extensive experience as an actress. She has starred in various short films, countless theatrical productions, and multiple commercials airing across the United States.
Aniela Perry – Strings & OrchestraAniela has been teaching music privately in the Los Angeles area since 2000 and at the Girl’s Rock Camp in Portland, OR and Girls Rock! LA every summer since 2001. As a teacher, she prides herself most on an adaptability that enables her to be an effective teacher for students of varying ages, backgrounds and levels. She believes deeply in the power of music to enrich any person’s life, regardless of goals or natural ability. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Multi-focus Violoncello Performance from The California Institute of the Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Performance/Composition, also from CalArts. She has studied electric bass with Carol Kaye, in addition to her cello studies. She is fluent in a wide variety of styles and possesses a deep knowledge of a multitude of musical genres.
CYCL Staff with Coach Jay Stallings have been teaching students in Santa Clarita Chess since 1993 and is known throughout our valley as THE place to go for Chess. We are very excited to have them teach Chess with us.
Lizzie Scott – Math & Logic Games Lizzie Scott is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher who has expertise in math, language arts, and psychology. Her classes incorporate discussions, games, and activities tailored to each student’s personality, strengths, and challenges. Lizzie holds both a B. A. in Psychology (with a minor in English), as well as an M. S. in Counseling. With experience in both the traditional classroom and small-group settings, Lizzie connects with her students as a group and as individuals, and works to build a supportive learning environment, and take the educational experience to a deeper level. As a member of Mensa and a game enthusiast, Lizzie has strong mathematical and logical skills as well, and uses games and fun activities to help students enjoy what they are learning and to bring out creativity and connection. Lizzie creates classes that are exciting for those who already enjoy the subjects she teaches, engaging for those who tend to find the topics challenging, and fun for all!
Kris Doyle – Literature, Social Studies & Theater Through Minecraft Kris Doyle has been working with children in both classroom and homeschool settings for over fourteen years. Since childhood, she has enjoyed theatre arts immensely and performed on stage in various theatre productions in both elementary and high school. For the past fourteen years she has worked behind the scenes on productions for Valley Presbyterian School, Canyon Theatre Guild, Moorpark College, and Los Angeles Baptist High School as assistant director, costumer, lead costumer, prop designer, stage manager, and playwright. She enjoys writing for various mediums. She wrote her very first short story in second grade and has been writing ever since. Over the years she has also had articles published in the Los Angeles Times, The Los Angeles Daily News, The Oakland Tribune, The Hayward Daily Review, The Santa Clarita Signal, and LAPD’s publication The Thin Blue Line. One of her original plays was recently produced on stage and she is currently in the process of having her very first children’s book published.
Laura Lanoil – Improv & Theater Games Laura Lanoil has worked in Film, TV and Commercials as well as Voice-overs and live theatre. She worked with Robert Altman,Anthony Newley Jane Curtain, Jon Cryer, Tyne Daly,Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon to name a few. She has taught at the Canyon Theatre Guild for eight years. She has performed at the local theatres in the Santa Clarita Valley.Teaching kids and giving them tools for self esteem is a great passion and she feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of SCV Theatre Community.