Staff  Biographies
2010 - 2011

Giselle Ates, English Department—

Mrs. Ates is an author, writing coach, and editor for Tesa Publications; she is also the founder of CHATA, a homeschool service organization, and the founder and sponsor of the Epsilon chapter of Eta Sigma Alpha National Homeschool Honor Society.  In addition to writing, she has taught poetry, literature, and drama classes to students from first through twelfth grade via homeschooling classes and private tutoring as well as at Mission NE’s summer program.  Her goal is to involve students in reading, writing, and serving Christ by serving others!

Kathy Carman, English and Heritage Studies Department—

Mrs. Carman attended Moody Bible Institute to study Christian Education, Music, and vocal performance, and she received her B.S. in Education from Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts. While Kathy enjoyed teaching in the public setting in Tampa, Florida, after resigning when her children were born, Kathy taught homeschooled middle and high school students for years. She loves to design curriculum. Kathy's passions are her faith, her husband, and her vivacious sons. One of her goals is to be an author of children's books some day!

Amy Cline, Science Department Chair—

Mrs. Cline has worked with students at Home Run Ministries since 1997, teaching Biology and Life Science.  She received her Bachelor of Science and teaching degree from TexasA & MUniversity and her Master of Education degree from LamarUniversity.  She has taught Physiology and Anatomy, Biology, Life Science and Physical Science during her years of teaching in both public and private schools.  She moved with her husband to the Humble area in 1985, where they continue to reside with their two children.

Laura Edge, English Department—

Laura Edge joined Home Run Ministries in 2010 as an English 1 teacher. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education from the University of Texas at Austin and has studied with the American Institute of Foreign Study in London, Paris, Rome, and Athens. She is certified in Illinois and Texas and has taught elementary school, middle school, and reading and writing at Lone Star College. Mrs. Edge is a children’s book author of biographies and American histories for middle grade and young adult readers. She enjoys exploring literature with students of all ages and helping them discover new worlds through books.

Sunny Hopper, English and History Departments—

Terri  L. Pyle, RN, BSN, Science Department--

Mrs. Pyle earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in nursing from Lamar University.  She worked as a staff nurse in intensive care for many years and then worked with the nursing education department to educate staff taking and interpreting electrocardiograms.  Teaching the staff transitioned to teaching patients with heart attacks what to expect and what do to keep their hearts healthy.  Her work entailed counseling diabetics, designing diets and workouts, and monitoring muscle and heart response during exercise to facilitate recovery.  She worked in the department of Cardiac Rehabilitation for six years until the birth of her fourth child.  Since then she has homeschooled all five of her children.  Her passion is science.   She joined Home Run Ministries faculty in the fall of 2008.

Suzanne Sellner, Academic Dean, English Department Chair—

Mrs. Sellner has taught at Home Run Ministries since 2000 with the exception of two years, when she taught full time elsewhere.  She holds a BA degree in English and French from the University of Richmond (VA) and an MEd degree in Education from the University of Virginia; she possesses a valid Texas teaching certificate in English, French, and Elementary Education. Having taught every grade from first through twelfth, Mrs. Sellner has taught in public, private Christian, and homeschooling settings.  Mrs. Sellner also administers the English placement tests for new English students and teaches the Institute for Excellence in Writing workshop for new English students.

Ike Spiker, Heritage Studies Department—

Mr. Spiker has a BA in English with a minor in Philosophy from Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi.  He formerly worked 16 years in the commercial construction industry as a project manager and estimator.  He is currently enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary pursuing a Masters of Theology degree with emphasis in Bible Exposition.  He attends Parkway Fellowship in Houston where he interns as an associate pastor.

Debbie Teel, Math Department Chair—

Mrs. Teel has taught at Home Run Ministries since 2004.  She has a BS degree in Math and English Education from Louisiana Tech.  She possesses a valid Texas teaching certificate in both fields for grades 8-12.  Her teaching experience includes public and private schools as well as homeschooling.  Mrs. Teel administers the math interviews and placement tests for new math students.

Kimberly Thorsen, Math Department—
Mrs. Thorsen joined Home Run Ministries in August of 2010. She has a BA degree in General Business from Sam Houston State University at which she played basketball. She acquired a Texas teaching certificate in 2005, and an additional Special Education certificate in 2006. Mrs. Thorsen has taught various grade levels in public, private Christian school, and home-school settings. In addition to teaching Algebra, Health, and Physical Education, she has coached basketball and track. Her goal is that every student enjoys her class while learning the fundamentals. 

Kathryn Tierney, History Department—

Mrs. Tierney, a transplant from Santa Cruz County, California, where she taught history, science, and English classes to homeschooled students for many years, joined the Home Run staff in August of 2010.  In 2003, she co-founded TORCH of Monterey Bay, a homeschool support group, where she served as a board member until her relocation to Texas.  She holds an A.A. in Business Administration from Saddleback College and a B.A in Intercultural Studies from Biola University.  Currently, she is pursuing a master’s degree in Humanities-History from California State University, Dominguez Hills.  Her passions are faith, teaching, history, and the great outdoors.

Anne Stanley Trapani, Executive Director, History Department—

Mrs. Trapani has worked with Home Run since 1998, serving on its board for seven years as well as founding the Super Friday program and serving as its director until 2005.  She has a BA degree in Psychology from Muhlenberg College and is certified in Elementary Education in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Trapani taught elementary school in Wyckoff, New Jersey and in New Caney ISD.  In 1991, she was the founding director of Believer's Chapel Christian School in Cicero, New York.  Mrs. Trapani has homeschooled her four children since 1993 and enjoys the study of history and literature, especially as it applies to our faith in Christ.

Laura Trautner, Foreign Language Department—

Laura Trautner joined Homerun Ministries in the fall of 2010. She has a B.S. in Agricultural Economics from TexasA&MUniversity. She learned Spanish in Spain, where she and her husband served as missionaries from 2001-2005. Loving the Spanish people and language, she became certified in 2006 to teach Spanish at the secondary level and taught for 2 years at Hargrave High School in the Huffman I.S.D. Since 2008, she has stayed home with her children and tutored and taught homeschool classes.

Liz von Dohlen, English and Science Departments—

Mrs. von Dohlen joined the Home Run Ministries faculty in the fall of 2007.  She has a BA degree in Biology from the University of St. Thomas and has taken extensive graduate courses including training in teaching Advanced Placement courses.  She is certified as a teacher through the Association of Christian Schools International.  Her extensive teaching experience includes Northeast Christian Academy, Bethel Christian School, Pantego Christian Academy, Pasadena Christian School, and Dallas ISD.

Sheila Watts, Math and Science Departments—

Mrs. Watts taught public school for nine years before homeschooling her two sons through high school.  She received her Bachelor of Science and teaching degree from StephenF.AustinStateUniversity and her Master of Education degree from University of Houston.  She has enjoyed teaching math enrichment classes at Super Friday for several years.  Recently, she taught Biology at a homeschool coop and privately tutored students for high school math classes.  She has a passion for the Lord, teaching, and her family.