WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS
MEET OUR TEACHERS
Debbie Orta
CLASSES:
Spanish
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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Jessie Jordan
(Fundraising Coordinator)
CLASSES:
Bezalel Newspaper
Tales of the Kingdom
Jessie is a wife and mother of 5, two of those being homeschool graudates. She enjoys hobby farming, crafting, and hiking in the Smoky Mountains. Jessie loves to "plant seeds" for Jesus by working alongside children and helping them to see where their mission is.
Abby Dill
CLASSES:
Hebrew & International Dance - Jr. Praiser's, Beginner, & Intermediate, & Ballet 1 & 2
Abby joined Bezalel in 2014 and had been teaching dance since 2019. She knew she wanted to teach kids to worship through dance since she was 8 years old. Abby has trained in Israeli Folk Dance, Ballet, Pointe, etc. 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 Gray
CLASS:
ASL (American Sign Language)
Shaynie attended Maryville College and received her Bachelor’s Degree in ASL/English Interpreting and Deaf Studies in 2013. She moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 2009 from Florida, and is originally from Niagara Falls, New York. She has a seven-year-old son, Noah, whom she homeschools. They have a pet gecko named Echo and two fish, Jittle and Big Red. Shaynie loves to play the piano, sing, and read. This is her first year at Bezalel. She is looking forward to being a part of the Bezalel family!
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
CLASS:
HaYesod - Bible Study
Bezalel Arts
Torah Club
Sarah Watkins is a homeschool mom of two. Since joining Bezalel, she has wanted to start learning Biblical Hebrew. What better way than to learn together with friends !
Katherine Dockery
CLASSES:
Drama
Hebrew Dance
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
CLASS:
Art
Scrapbooking
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.
Ken Schaeffner
CLASS:
Woodworking
Ken is an Army Veteran who has been working with wood since the age of 8. In 1984, Ken began working as a carpenter. This has been a hobby as well as a paying job. At the age of 23, Ken rededicated his life to the Lord. He has served as a preacher, teacher, greeter, usher, and security guard at various churches. Ken's hobbies are woodworking, reading, and coin collecting. He has 2 adult children & 10 grandchildren. Ken loves children & enjoys sharing his woodworking knowledge with them.
Jean Mabry
School Founder
CLASS:
Hebrew
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
CLASS:
Creation Gospel
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!
Pam Stott
School Administrator
CLASS:
Little Praisers
Pam has been teaching dance from Bezalel school's beginning in 2005. Her gentle nature and enthusiasm engages young children in learning how to worship God with their whole being. She always begins each class with prayer and makes sure each child feels comfortable praising God as a group.
TEACHER APPRECIATION
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.
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.
"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