QUOTABLE:

The CiRCE Team

Andrew Kern, is president and founder of the CiRCE Institute. He graduated from Concordia University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was mentored by Dr. Gene Edward Veith and was graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts. Shortly afterward, Dr. Veith and Andrew co-authored the best-selling Classical Education, The Movement Sweeping America, now in its second edition.

Andrew has been directly involved in the establishment of three classical Christian schools, has trained teachers in over 50 since 1996, has consulted with still more on institutional development and start-up, and has been directing the CiRCE Institute full time since the summer of 2000.

Andrew Kern is married to Karen. They are the parents of three boys and two girls: David, Matthew, Katerina, Larissa, and Andrew. You can email Andrew at akern@circeinstitute.org. To view Andrew's schedule, click here.

Nancy Aubitz, Business Manager. Nancy joined the CiRCE staff in 2008 after 4 years with Jack Henry & Associates in an Operations transition role.  In the 11 years prior, she managed all office operations for Optinfo, Inc, a Charlotte, NC based software consulting company which was purchased by Jack Henry & Associates in 2004. Nancy received her Bachelor of Business Administration from North Carolina Wesleyan College and served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Nancy and Bill live in the University area of Charlotte; her adult daughter Carolyn resides in Hickory, North Carolina. You can email Nancy at naubitz@circeinstitute.org. 

Brian Phillips, Marketing Director.  Brian is in his fourth year of teaching at Covenant Classical School in Concord where he also serves as the Dean of Classical Studies.  Beginning as the Upper School Latin teacher, he now teaches humanities, logic, and Greek.  After earning his B.A. in Theology, Brian went on to finish a M.A. in Theological Studies.  He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Humanities. 

Brian is the managing editor of the CiRCE Papers and works in marketing and communications.

He and his wife Shannon have a baby daughter, Temperance, and live in Kannapolis, North Carolina.  You can email Brian at bphillips@circeinstitute.org.  

Alexandra Houck, Research Director. Upon graduating from Duke University with a bachelors degree in philosophy, Alexandra worked at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute in the Collegiate Network and later as Managing Editor of ISI Books, editing and writing for Choosing the Right College, an essay-style college guide on the nation’s top colleges and universities. Alexandra then returned to school, and was awarded the Masters degree in Theological Studies from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. Alexandra is married to Jason Houck, and they now live in Boston, Massachusetts. You can email Alexandra at ahouck@circeinstitute.org

CiRCE Consultants

Andrew Kern is president and founder of the CiRCE Institute. He graduated from Concordia University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was mentored by Dr. Gene Edward Veith and was graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts. Shortly afterward, Dr. Veith and Andrew co-authored the best-selling Classical Education, The Movement Sweeping America, now in its second edition.

Andrew is available year round for start-up consulting, leadership development, teacher development, writing workshops, and public presentations (e.g. commence addresses, banquet speeches, etc.)

Deborah Harris graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Studies (with a California K-8 certification) and has worked for eight years as a classroom educator, primarily in the elementary grades. She has taught at Foundations Academy in Boise, Idaho and Hope Academy in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She lives in Oakdale, Minnesota with her husband and two sons.

Since 2002, Debbie has focused on mentoring teachers in classroom management strategies and classical techniques.

She is available for teacher in-services and individual time with the teachers in their classrooms throughout the year.

James Taylor has served as assistant Professor of Education, University of Tulsa and Chairman of the Teacher Education Program at Hillsdale College, Michigan. He has taught at several private schools on both the secondary (high school) and college levels. He is a student of the renowned Integrated Humanities Program (in the liberal arts) at Kansas University and is the author of the book Poetic Knowledge: The Recovery of Education. Jim also works with the high school great books students in the Great Books Program (www.greatbooksprogram.org).

James is available to help your teachers understand and implement Poetic Knowledge in your learning situation.

Martin Cothran is the author of Traditional Logic, Books I and II, as well as Aristotle’s Rhetoric: A Traditional Course in Speaking and Writing, both published by Memoria Press. He is also logic and rhetoric instructor at Highlands Latin School in Louisville, Kentucky and is Master Teacher at Mars Hill, Lexington. In addition to being editor-in-chief of Classical Teacher magazine, he serves as senior policy analyst for The Family Foundation of Kentucky, where he directs legislative and media relations. He holds a B.A. in economics and philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.A. degree in Christian Apologetics from the Simon Greenleaf School (Now a part of Trinity University). He lives with his wife and four children in Danville, Kentucky.

Martin is available for teacher development during the summer.

CiRCE Board

Greg Roe lives with his wife Julann in Tampa, where they home school their three children, Sydney, Luke, and Rebecca; and where they attend St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. Greg grew up in Tampa, graduated from the University of South Florida with Accounting and Finance degrees, and has worked in the insurance industry for the past twenty-seven years. He currently serves as board chair where he provides oversight and direction for the CiRCE Institute. Greg believes that the public and private education system in our country are broken and that we need to return to our theological roots, remembering that God is the creator of all things and that through the study of the historical (classical) writers we can come to know God and how best to serve Him.

Martin Cothran, is the author of Traditional Logic, Books I and II, as well as Aristotle’s Rhetoric: A Traditional Course in Speaking and Writing, both published by Memoria Press. He is also logic and rhetoric instructor at Highlands Latin School in Louisville, Kentucky and is Master Teacher at Mars Hill, Lexington. In addition to being editor-in-chief of Classical Teacher magazine, he serves as senior policy analyst for The Family Foundation of Kentucky, where he directs legislative and media relations. He holds a B.A. in economics and philosophy from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an M.A. degree in Christian Apologetics from the Simon Greenleaf School (Now a part of Trinity University). He lives with his wife and four children in Danville, Kentucky.

Silvano Ferazzo lives in Weddington, North Carolina (a Charlotte suburb), and is Business Development Manager for Green Turtle Americas, Ltd., a company focused on providing engineered wastewater solutions for commercial and industrial clients. As a CiRCE board member, Silvano advises the organization on marketing, promotion, and communication issues, and assists in business planning. He says he serves on the CiRCE board because, “As a parent committed to homeschooling our three children, I recognize the need for a clear approach to classical education based on conservative Christian principles. The CiRCE Institute has the vision to provide the philosophy and the tools to regain what has been lost in education, and to regain excellence.” Further, he says, he “would like to help CiRCE to equip our next generations to strive for that excellence, to love learning, and to not settle for the lukewarm education that prevails today.”

Andrew Kern is president and founder of the CiRCE Institute. He graduated from Concordia University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was mentored by Dr. Gene Edward Veith and was graduated with a BA in Liberal Arts. Shortly afterward, Dr. Veith and Andrew co-authored the best-selling Classical Education, The Movement Sweeping America, now in its second edition.

Dr. Peter VandeBrake received his B.A. in Philosophy from Calvin College where he also was an All-American Decathlete from 1985-1988. In 1992 he earned his Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. While attending Union Theological Seminary, Dr. Vande Brake was a research assistant to John. H. Leith. In September of 1996 he began his career at North Hills Classical Academy. At that time he taught Latin, Worldview and Church History at the secondary level. In 1998 he became Headmaster of the school. In the year 2000, Peter finished his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary. During his time of study at Calvin Seminary, he also served as a graduate assistant to Calvin Van Reken. Dr. Vande Brake became an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in June of 2001. 

With the years of experience and vast knowledge of the classical movement, Dr. Vande Brake is nationally respected as one of the leading administrators in classical-Christian Education. His eloquence and knowledge is in demand on the speaking circut throughout the classical-Christian movement. Dr. Vande Brake serves on the board of directors for the Society for Classical Learning (SCL) and in 2005 began serving on the board of the Circe Institute. He is also a member of the Society of Christian Philosophers. Dr. Peter Vande Brake currently serves as Headmaster of North Hills Classical Academy and teaches Logic, Rhetoric,, and Worldview/media at the secondary school. Along with his teaching career he also coaches the track and cross-country teams. Peter is married to Susan Vande Brake and has two children.