WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS
MEET OUR TEACHERS
Debbie Orta
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CLASSES:
Spanish 2
Hebrew 101
Torah Club
Creative Worship 1+2
Debbie Orta is a former homeschooling mother of three and recent “grand-Mimi” of one. She and her family have been part of the Bezalel family since fall of 2008. In 2009 Debbie began teaching Creative Worship. She has taught Vocal Coaching, "God's Girls", and Biblical Feasts classes. Debbie has over 22 years of experience in ministry including nursery, children’s ministry, youth group, praise dance team, ladies’ prayer team, expectant mothers’ prayer group, outreach ministry, theater ministry, clown ministry, choir, praise & worship leader and director of music ministry. Being a big supporter of Israel, Debbie thoroughly enjoys being a part of Bezalel and hopes to continue "passing the torch" on to the next generation.
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Abby Dill
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CLASSES:
Israeli Folk Dance - Junior Praisers, Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced classes; Pre-ballet, Ballet 1 & 2, Ballet 3 & 4
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Abby joined Bezalel in 2014 and has been teaching dance since 2019. She has known she wanted to teach kids to worship through dance since she was 8 years old. Abby has trained in Israeli Folk Dance, Ballet, Pointe, and several other dance forms. Her heart is to teach kids how to use dance to worship and glorify our Father, also creating a safe space for them to try something new. She hopes each class will become a close knit family and dance in unity.
Shaynie Palisano
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CLASS:
ASL (American Sign Language)
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Originally from Niagara Falls, NY, Shaynie moved to Knoxville from Florida in 2009 to attend Maryville College. She received her bachelor's degree in ASL/English Interpreting and Deaf Studies in 2013. Although Shaynie graduated with a degree in interpreting, her life-long love for teaching led her to teach American Sign Language at different co-ops in the community. She has been teaching locally since 2018. The thing she loves to do most is learn, talk, and teach about the Bible. She also likes to play piano, sing, read, and drink iced London Fog lattes with lavender syrup. Shaynie homeschools her son and enjoys watching their chickens roam around the backyard.
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Julia Dockery
CLASSES:
Sewing
Julia Dockery has been sewing and designing since she was 8 years old when her mother was her first teacher. She got a degree in Clothing and Textiles Management with an emphasis in design. She hopes to pass along her passion for sewing to the next generation.
Sarah Watkins
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CLASS:
HaYesod - Bible Study
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Sarah Watkins is a homeschooling mother of two. She has been a part of Bezalel since 2019. She has loved deepening her faith and understanding of scripture by studying the Jewishness and culture of her Messiah, Yeshua. She loves learning alongside fellow disciples of Christ.
Katherine (Kat) Dockery
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CLASSES:
Drama 1 & 2
Little Praisers
Adult Israeli Folk Dance
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Kat has been acting since she was four years old. She has taken dance, film, and drama at Bezalel for many years and is a filmmaker. She has also been involved in drama camps and over 30 small and large scale productions. Some of her favorite roles were stage manager (Logos Theater), Robin Hood (Missoula Theater), the leper in "Salvation Awaits". Last summer, she was highly involved with The Chronicles of Narnia: The Horse and His Boy at Logos Theater. Her joyful spirit is contagious. She puts students at ease with her smiles and laughter - she makes acting fun!
Jillian Myers
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CLASS:
Tales of the Kingdom
Biblical Crafts
God's Creation Craft Club
Painting
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Jillian loves to worship God, paint, help others, and make hats. Every year in the fall she donates hats to cancer patients at a local hospital. Her work has been displayed in several art shows, one of which she won first place.
Christina Schlussler
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CLASS:
Creative Worship Toddler
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Christina is a Maryville Tennessee native of 16yrs and she is a Homeschool mom of a preschool toddler. She has 18+ years experience with various performing arts, such as Theater, Flags, Vocal Technique, and Lyrical Dance; she is also a Bezalel School Alumni for Israeli Dance. She is Blessed to be able to be a part of teaching at Bezalel School.
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Jean Mabry
School Founder
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Jean has been making trips to Israel and studying Hebrew for over 30 years. She loves the hidden gems found in Biblical Hebrew and the incites the language gives into understanding God's Word. It is a picturesque and precise language that reveals truths about God Himself and His ways and love for us. She would love to share her knowledge with you!
Staci Proctor
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CLASS:
Torah Club Kids
Torah Clubhouse
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Staci Proctor enjoyed homeschooling all four of her children for 22 years, and is now helping to homeschool her grandsons. She was a Registered Nurse and Nurse Educator in the field of Obstetrics and Newborn Care for 19 years. She has spent the last three years in intensive study and training in Creation Gospel ministry and is a Certified Creation Gospel Trainer. She has enjoyed teaching children, teens, and adults for many years in homeschool co-ops and various church ministries, but her favorite subject to teach is sharing the Gospel through the Biblical Feast Days!
Nora Hassell
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CLASS:
The ABC's of Me
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Nora is a disciple of Jesus, wife, mother, and friend. She has been a part of the Bezalel community for two years and is passionate about people of all ages stepping into their true identities and living out their freedom in Christ! Nora also enjoys hiking, soccer, and farming.
Laura Parker
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CLASS:
Wild Edibles
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Laura is a modern homesteader and homeschool mom; in love with learning and sharing knowledge about the plants, trees & herbs God has gifted us with for our health, healing & happiness.
TEACHER APPRECIATION
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We encourage all students to say "thank you" to each teacher before leaving the classroom each week. We are constantly reminded of the extra work our teachers put into preparing lessons at home, as well as teaching on Tuesdays.
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Throughout the year, make a habit of giving back to them in small ways - a note, a flower, chocolate, coffee, a drawing, a candle, a smile. Little things that say "I appreciate you" can be a blessing to both the giver and the receiver.
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"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." Colossians 3:16