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Brandi Hallmark - Founder

Mrs. Hallmark is the Founder and Director of Learn Upstate Hybrid Academy and Learning Center. She received her BS from the University of Alabama in International Marketing / Spanish, but she knew even then she would eventually become a teacher.  After college, she worked in various corporate environments managing Customer Service, Corporate Training, and Human Resources. She was blessed to stay home with her children in their early years before going back to school to fulfill her dream.  She received her Master’s in Teaching from Anderson University, and she taught in various school environments throughout Anderson County.  


As a public and private school teacher, she was able to work with diverse groups of students and families, witnessing firsthand their struggles in learning. Eventually, she found her calling in the homeschool environment.  With four children, who each learn very differently, Mrs. Hallmark realized something more was needed outside of the normal classroom. She understands that families need an environment where student needs are met on their level. Moreover, an education that is individually tailored for the student in an environment meant to promote success while inspiring confidence. This mission led to private tutoring out of the library, and after only a short time, the founding of LU Hybrid Academy.   


The aspect she enjoys most about teaching is the challenge of helping students see success in school where they might not have in the past.  She especially enjoys creating new ways to learn and collaborating with her staff to build confidence in learners.  Mrs. Hallmark is married to Joey Hallmark and has four children, Gabe(20), Cole(18), Lucy(12) and Nora (12).  In her free time, she enjoys gardening, traveling, reading books, and spending time with friends and family. 

Learn upstate - Elementary staff

Debbie dunn - kindergarten

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

Debbie dunn - kindergarten

Mrs. Dunn graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from New Mexico State University.  Her experience ranges from private school Kindergarten to 3rd grade public school.  She also taught  English to students in China via the online platform VIPKid.


Debbie and her husband Kelly, originally from Southern Colorado, moved to Anderson in 2020.  They  have 2 children, and she was  afforded the opportunity to homeschool them for six years.

Andrea Jones - 1st Grade

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

Debbie dunn - kindergarten

Andrea is a graduate of Clemson University with Bachelor's degrees in History and Education.  


After college, she worked with Anderson District One in several capacities, from Kindergarten to Middle School.  She also has experience teaching at Trinity Methodist Preschool in the PreK program.  She has been with Learn Upstate since the fall of 2020 where she has taught K - 2nd grade.


Andrea is mom to Finley and Adalynn, and her furry, four-legged Golden, Max.  She is a huge Clemson fan, a lover of all things PINK, and cookie dough is her Jam!


She is looking forward to start the 2022-2023 school year at Learn Upstate.

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

This is Dana McElreath’s first year at LU and she says, “there is no other place I would rather be.”  


She has a degree in Elementary Education from Lander University, and she used her degree in several different settings. She's taught in public school, homeschooled her own children, and taught Theater for Co-op classes. Further, she spent six years as the Office Manager at Electric City Playhouse, while also assisting with youth theater. Most importantly for this role, she has been involved in various aspects of theater, both on and offstage, for 20 years. 


She is excited to get to know, and work, with her students.  “We are going to have a fun year!”

Marcia Whaley - 3rd Grade

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

Dana McElreath - 2nd Grade & Theater/Drama

Marcia has an Associates Degree in Business/Marketing, a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Winthrop University, and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston.  Her Masters Degree had special emphasis toward History, Language Arts, and Gifted Education.


Mrs. Whaley taught in the public school system in Summerville for 30 years.  She then "retired", moved to the Upstate, and taught another five years in Greenville, SC.  Next, she began working with an equestrian coach at Virginia Tech, and soon after started training horses and teaching horseback lessons.  


If she can find spare time, she enjoys working in her yard, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, restoring her 93 year old home, and designing fiber arts.

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

 

Mrs. Henderson is a graduate of Ball State University with Bachelor’s degrees in Elementary and Special Education.  She brings with her 18 years of classroom experience, having taught in Illinois, Indiana and  South Carolina.  Most recently she taught an Upper Elementary  classroom for a Montessori school.  


Jeanie has been married to her husband Bud for 16 years and they have twins, Greyson and Thomas, who are starting middle school this fall.  She loves working in her garden and with all of her plants, reading way past her bedtime, traveling and spending time with her people.  


She is looking forward to an exciting year being back in the classroom at Learn Upstate.

Dana Coker - 5th Grade

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

Jeanie Henderson - 4th Grade

Mrs. Coker has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Erskine College and a Masters in Teaching from Clemson University.  She has been teaching for 39 years, with 36 of those years spent teaching in Anderson District 5.  The last three were spent at New Covenant in Anderson.   


Mrs. Coker and her husband Buddy, lifelong residents of Anderson, have been married for 37 years.  They have two grown children, Chas and Molly.  They have four amazing grandchildren: Jude (6), Clark (4), Kennedy (4) and Mary Allen (2).  Mrs. Coker enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren in her spare time. 

Viviana De Felipe

Amy Rexrode - Elementary Science

Amy Rexrode - Elementary Science

 Viviana was born in Lima, Peru, and she was educated in a British/English School. She also studied Psychology in Lima Peru for four years before I arrived in the United States. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from The University of South Carolina and received a Master's degree in psychology with specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Kaplan University.


More importantly she comes with many years of hands-on experience. For the past 20 years, she worked with thousands of children over the years providing ABA therapy services, early Intervention services and teaching in a variety of settings and with children of all ages. She worked with many different professionals and families to create and develop individualized learning programs for children with all abilities, addressing each child's specific needs. 


Further, she also coached and helped hundreds of families on how to deal with the difficulties of raising children with disabilities. Watching children and families increase their quality of life and helping them reach their full potential is amazing to experience together. After all, to have quality of life and be as independent as possible is what it's all about 

Amy Rexrode - Elementary Science

Amy Rexrode - Elementary Science

Amy Rexrode - Elementary Science

  Amy Rexrode graduated from Winthrop University with a B.S. in Business Administration (major in Accounting), and from Virginia Tech with a Master’s in Business Administration (major in Human Resources).  


She worked for several years as a Human Resource Manager and Corporate Recruiter before feeling led to become a stay-at-home wife and mom.  Mrs. Rexrode has always been a teacher at heart.  Even in business, her passion was Training & Development, and throughout her life she has taught children, or teens, in a variety of church and community activities.  She taught preschool for several years at a local Christian school before deciding to homeschool her two children.  


Mrs. Rexrode loves providing an engaging learning environment where children are inspired to explore the world around them.  She currently serves as the Learn Upstate Elementary Science teacher.

Learn upstate - middle & high school staff

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Mrs. Anspach graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, obtaining her degree in Middle Grades Education with a minor in History.  She has 9 years of diverse classroom experience, having taught in the Public, Magnet, and Charter school settings. Her specialty is Project Based Learning and STEM curriculum. 


Mrs. Anspach is a military spouse with two children, and her husband Andrew is a Captain in the United States Air Force. The military life has afforded Mrs. Anspach and her family the opportunity to live in several regions of the United States. As a result, she’s taught in North Carolina, South Carolina and Nevada.  Furthermore, she loves to travel and loves all things Disney. 


Mrs. Anspach is very excited for the upcoming school year and looks forward to working with the Learn Upstate families!!

Bettyann Martin - Middle School Math

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Ms. Martin is said to have started her teaching career at 10 years old.  As the middle child of five, she taught her six year old sister math and science. She then went on to receive her B.A.  from Clemson University in Elementary Education and her Masters from Clemson in Learning Disabilities.  She completed her formal education at Converse University in Spartanburg, graduating with an Ed.S. in Administration and Supervision. 


Ms. Martin has extensive experience in the classroom having taught taught K-5 in Spartanburg for five years and in Anderson for two years.  Lastly, she taught at Lakeside Middle School in District 5 teaching 6th-8th for 10 years. 


Ms.  Martin is a lifelong resident of South Carolina and an avid gardener. Her neighbors say her yard is the prettiest in the neighborhood, and she has been accused of having two green thumbs!  

Linda Clipperton - Spanish & English

Margaret Anspach - MIddle school science & history

Jay F. Schaefer - High School Science and Bible

Linda Clipperton teaches middle school Language Arts and high school Spanish for Learn Upstate.  Mrs. Clipperton completed her Bachelor’s degree, graduating magna cum laude, in Education, with a minor in English from Bob Jones University in 1988.  In 1999, she earned a Spanish certification from Rio Grande Bible and Language Institute as she lived in Argentina for four years.


Mrs. Clipperton taught Spanish I and II, middle school and high school Language Arts, and Resource Math for 3 and a half years at Easley Christian School.  She spent another year tutoring various ages in English as a Second Language, Spanish, middle school Math, Literature, and Reading Comprehension for Core Languages.  


 Linda homeschooled all four of her children and all have gone on to attend college.  She particularly enjoys the middle school students as she can watch them grow and mature. During her free time, Linda enjoys singing, playing the piano, learning new words, reading novels, and petting her cat Speckles. 

Jay F. Schaefer - High School Science and Bible

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

Jay F. Schaefer - High School Science and Bible

Mr. Schaefer attended the University of Louisville where he was awarded his BS in Chemistry.  After, he earned his MA in Management from Central Michigan University.  In furthering his education, Mr. Schaefer took continuing education courses at Loyola College Baltimore, George Washington University, College of Charleston, and Southern Illinois University.


He served in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and as a Naval Officer.  After, his career took him to laboratories at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Smithtown Hospital, and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC).  He has also taught at Porter Gaud School in Charleston, SC, Trident Technical College, City Colleges of Chicago, and Learn Upstate.

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

Mrs. Amy Hunt is a graduate of USCS, earning her BA in elementary education.  She spent the past 18 years teaching in Phoenix, AZ with grades 4 - 8 in a STEM project based classroom.


Mrs. Hunt family includes her "wonderful" husband and 4 "delightful" children.  However, the sparkle in her eyes is derived from spending time with her 2 grandchildren, Atticus and Emory.


When Mrs. Hunt is not in the classroom, she can be found tending her chickens, baking bread, working in the garden, or making soap and herbal remedies.

Stephen Tilson - Middle and High School Math

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

Amy Hunt - study skills and middle school history

 Stephen Tilson graduated from Southern Wesleyan University with a B.S. in Business Administration. He Also graduated from North Georgia Technical College with a two-year degree in Machine Tool Technology.

 

He worked for several years as a Senior CNC Machinist/Programmer, a Continuous Improvement Specialist, and a Supervisor in the Aerospace Industry. Moreover, Mr. Tilson has served in the ministry for 17 years, and in 2021 became Pastor if a church in Oconee County, SC. 


On top of that, he emphatically declares that teaching and instructing young people to be the most gratifying. He loves providing an engaging learning environment where young men and women are inspired to explore the world of mathematics. Mr. Tilson spends his summer break teaching at youth camps with the purpose of preparing young people to make a Godly difference in the world.


Mr. Tilson has been married for 12 years and has 3 children of his own. 

Stacie Sizemore - High School English

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Dr. Kent Sizemore - High School Science

Mrs. Sizemore teaches high school English at Learn Upstate.

Dr. Kent Sizemore - High School Science

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Dr. Kent Sizemore - High School Science

Mr. Sizemore teaches high school Science at Learn Upstate. 

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Mr. Byrd completed his undergraduate degree in History at Southern Wesleyan University and just recently graduated with his MA in History from Clemson University. 


He is a middle school history teacher and high school geography teacher here at Learn Upstate as well as a college professor at local colleges. 


Mr. Byrd has an amazing wife, Kaleigh, and they enjoy spending time with their baby girl Violet. In his spare time, Mr. Byrd loves to play guitar, read about history, and watch college football! 

Cristy Buczko - English and Grammar

Cristy Buczko - English and Grammar

Daniel Byrd - MS History and HS Geography

Cristy  Buczko teaches middle and high school English Grammar, Writing, and Literature classes. After community college, she was accepted into the  Social Work program at the University of Washington. Before the program  began, her military husband received unexpected orders to move to  Savannah, GA. God always has a plan. Having worked before at a private  school leading their summer and after-school programs, she knew God might have another path for her. She had always been a self-proclaimed  grammar snob and loved to get kids excited about reading and learning.  She began homeschooling her own children and taught Grammar and Writing  at a homeschool co-op for 2 years in Georgia and 3 years in South  Carolina after her husband retired. 

Since then, she has taught ESL to children in China and Hong Kong via online classes and has worked for the past several years as a contracted writer  and editor for an SEO company based in Oregon. She has also worked here  at Learn Upstate as a regular substitute teacher. She’s excited to work at LU officially and to be back in a real classroom, combining her love  and experience of working with children with her love for ELA. Her goal  this year is to instill confidence and a love of reading for pleasure in  her students with her own classroom library. 

Her  oldest son will be in college this fall, and she will have 2 children  here at Learn Upstate in the 6th and 10th grades. She’s married to a  wonderful and supportive husband of almost 20 years. As a family, they  love having fun together. They enjoy traveling, visiting theme parks,  and playing board games together at home. 

Learn upstate - specialty staff

Heather Bruynell - Orton-Gillingham Specialist

Mrs. Bruynell is a graduate of Liberty University with her Bachelor's degree in Journalism/Marketing. 


Heather discovered her love of teaching when she worked in her sons’ preschool for 12 years.  After working as a long-term substitute in elementary Special Ed for District 5, she became passionate about helping children with reading difficulties.  As a result, she is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method through the Orton-Gillingham Academy.  Further, she was a Reading Intervention Teacher for three years in a public elementary school. 


Though a native of Raleigh, NC, Heather has lived in Anderson for 22 years.  Heather and her husband Tim have two sons, one in college and the youngest leaving for college in the fall, three grown daughters, one precious new granddaughter, and a loyal Cairn Terrier, Walker. 


"I am so thrilled to be joining the Learn Upstate team!"


 


Learn upstate staff

Chrissy Cox - Administrative Assistant

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

Chrissy Cox attended Toccoa Falls College to study Missions. She has worked with children for over 20 years in different capacities including teaching preschool, Co-Director for after school care, and Elementary Aide for the last 6 years. 


Chrissy is originally from Florida and has lived in Anderson for 24 years. She is married to Mike and they have 4 children & a son-in-law; Sophia (22) & her husband, Grayson (22), Kellett (19), Mary Eva (13), and Whit (12). They also have several pets, including a cocker spaniel, 2 cats, and a horse. 


Chrissy home-schooled her oldest 2 children for several years when they were younger, and she is excited to be back in the homeschooling community with her younger 2 children who will be joining Learn Upstate this year as well. 


In her spare time, she loves to read, go to the beach, watch old movies, and shop for antiques. 

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

 

Renee is a retired Special Education teacher with 29 years of classroom experience. 


She graduated from the University of Georgia with a  bachelor's degree in Special Education. She later earned her master's degree in Divergent Learning from Columbia College.

 

Renee  is married to Brad, and they have one son, Eli. They also have a crazy  Boston terrier, Blueberry, and a sweet cat, Kitty. Renee loves to read, to the point that Brad and Eli get a little nervous when they see that  she's nearing the end of her current book. She also loves spending time outdoors, enjoying God's awesome creation. She especially enjoys her  backyard birds.


Renee feels blessed to be part of the Learn Upstate team, and looks forward to seeing how many ways she can help! 

Dawn Vereb - Elementary School Aide

Renee Poore - Middle & High School Aide

Dawn Vereb - Elementary School Aide


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