FACULTY AND STAFF | Heritageclassical

Jeremy Marsh

Head of School

Jeremy Marsh is an accomplished leader with over 20 years of educational and organizational leadership and teaching experience as well as experience as legal counsel in a variety of school and business settings.

Mr. Marsh is a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy where he later served as a senior faculty member and leader. He is also a Van Lunen Fellow, having completed the executive management training program for heads of schools through the Van Lunen Center for Executive Management in Christian Schools at Calvin University.

Since retiring from the Air Force in 2016, Mr. Marsh served as Head of School at Stillwater Christian School in Kalispell, Montana, and Head of Institutional Advancement at Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis. Mr. Marsh and his wife Mrs. Rebekah Marsh have four children and are grateful to be in St. Louis where they both grew up. They are active members of Covenant Presbyterian Church.

B.S. U.S. Air Force Academy, 1995, M.P.M. University of Maryland School of Public Policy, 1997, J.D. Saint Louis University School of Law, 2002.

jmarsh@heritageclassical.org

Larry Birchler

Mathematics

Larry Birchler started teaching at Heritage in 2016, but has been teaching since 1965. In that time he has taught in three different Christian schools and also taught college courses. Mr. Birchler earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in Bible from Covenant College and a master’s degree in education from Whitworth University. Mr. Birchler is also an accomplished cartoonist -- he earned a certificate in cartooning and has published two Christian comic books. When not in the classroom, he enjoys collecting memorabilia from old western, superhero, and science fiction television programs. Mr. Birchler has taught high school and adult Sunday school classes for over 50 years.

BA in Mathematics, Minor in Bible - Covenant College, 1965; Master of Education - Whitworth University, 1974

lbirchler@heritageclassical.org

Nancy Bollinger

Director of Finance

Nancy Bollinger has been a business owner since 1991. She comes to Heritage from Firm Foundations where she taught middle school art, keyboarding, block coding and coding in JavaScript. Before that she taught at Cornerstone Academy for 13 years, teaching many subjects including drama. Mrs. Bollinger likes to draw, paint, swim, and spend time with her adult daughters. At Heritage she serves as the director of finance.

BS in Computer Science, University of Missouri, Science and Technology 1988

accounts@heritageclassical.org

Kelly Crooks

Office Manager, Athletic Director

Kelly Crooks is new to our staff, but first came to Heritage as a parent in 2015. This year she adds office manager and athletic director to her list of roles. She has a degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and spent twenty years homeschooling her six daughters and one son. Most recently she worked as the business manager for a small paint and design company. Mrs.Crooks has enjoyed athletics throughout her life and coached both school and club volleyball for 13 years. In her spare time, Mrs. Crooks enjoys hiking, interior design, and cooking.

BS in Elementary Education - Iowa State University

office@heritageclassical.org

athletics@heritageclassical.org

Elaina Furlan

Science

Elaina Furlan is a pediatric nurse who is very passionate about science and Jesus. Mrs. Furlan was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in November 2013, she moved to St. Louis with her family due to Mr. Furlan’s job transfer. She has three children, two boys and a girl, all born in Brazil. She was a stay-at-home mom for ten years, but when she moved here, God put into her heart to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. She graduated from the Accelerated Nursing program at St. Louis University and is working on her master’s degree. Mrs. Furlan always loved science, she became a believer when she was in college back in Brazil and realized the Bible and science are entirely compatible, and she was fascinated by that. She loves to spend time with her family and travel to Brazil to visit her extended and church family they left there.

BS in Medical Modality (Biomedicine) - Federal University of Sao Paulo, 2000; BS in Nursing - Saint Louis University School of Nursing, 2018; MS in Nursing Education - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, in progress

efurlan@heritageclassical.org

Lauren Garber

Director of Education, Math, Science

Lauren Garber started teaching at Heritage in 2018. She brings 14 years of prior teaching experience. Mrs. Garber has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in environmental engineering, both from University of Missouri - Columbia. She is a licensed professional engineer and prior to teaching spent 5 years working as a consulting engineer for projects across the United States. With a deep love for higher level math and science, Mrs. Garber is committed to preparing students for AP exams, college entrance exams, and college level courses. Mrs. Garber also enjoys backpacking with her family, creating pottery, and playing the piano.

BS in Civil Engineering - University of Missouri-Columbia, 1994; MS in Environmental Engineering - University of Missouri-Columbia, 1995

lgarber@heritageclassical.org

Matt Heckel

Humanities, Latin, Bible

Matthew Heckel has been teaching at Heritage since 2001. Dr. Heckel enjoys the opportunity to equip students’ minds and hearts with the knowledge of God and His word. He enjoys the classical approach to education because it encourages deep reading of texts that open God’s word to us. In fact, his greatest satisfaction comes from seeing his own children and students serve the Lord. In addition to teaching at Heritage for two decades, Dr. Heckel has been teaching at Missouri Baptist University since 2006. Dr. Heckel earned his bachelor's degree in christian ministries from Southwest Baptist University, master’s of divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. in historical theology from Concordia Seminary. When not teaching, you might find him reading, fishing, golfing, shooting hoops, or listening to Christian rock music. In his younger days, Dr. Heckel was a radio DJ for a Saturday night Christian rock show.

BA in Christian Ministries - Southwest Baptist University; Master of Divinity - Covenant Theological Seminary, 1998; PhD in Historical Theology - Concordia Seminary, 2005

mheckel@heritageclassical.org

Pam Harlow

Psychology

Pam Harlow is passionate about Jesus, students, education, and families. She has been teacher for more than three decades. Before joining the Heritage team, she taught at Hazelwood West High School for 32 years. She was a head coach for Hazelwood West cheer team for 18 years and Parkway West for 10 years. She loves building into the lives of students and is energized by them.

BS in Psychology, Sociology, Education - Southwest Baptist University, 1985; MA Counseling Psychology - University of Missouri, 1993; MDiv Equivalency - Covenant Seminary, 2008; Currently working on Doctorate in Counseling - Covenant Seminary

pharlow@heritageclassical.org

Liz Hobbs

Music History, Classical Studies, Humanities, Bible

Liz Hobbs has been at Heritage since 2000. She enjoys the classical approach to education because it acknowledges critical stages in a student’s life that make learning more effective. Mrs. Hobbs sees a love of learning as essential to effective teaching and enjoys the challenge of developing curriculum: figuring out fresh and creative ways to teach a concept. In fact, as a Heritage teacher, she feels she is doing what she was created for. Mrs. Hobbs earned a bachelor's degree in speech pathology and audiology and a master’s degree in audiology both from Ball State University and a master’s degree in vocal music pedagogy from Lindenwood University. She finds her strength in the Word of God, and enjoys spending time studying the scriptures in her sunroom. Her other interests include biking, traveling, and spending time with her grandchildren.

BA in Speech Pathology and Audiology; MA in Audiology - Ball State University, 1979; MA in Sacred Music Pedagogy - Lindenwood University, 2000

lhobbs@heritageclassical.org

Bethany Hockenbury

Literature

Bethany Hockenbury first started teaching at Heritage in 2004. On any given day, Mrs. Hockenbury can be found teaching literature, writing, and history classes or setting up some fantastical theater adventure for the school to enjoy during our annual Shakespeare In A Week. Mrs. Hockenbury directs and produces this school-wide theater project where students build all the sets, produce the costumes, apply the make-up, and learn all the lines necessary to do William Shakespeare justice on stage -- in one week! She is fascinated by “The Great Conversation,” which is the process of listening and learning from our predecessors and then joining them in adding truth and beauty to the world around us. At Heritage, the Great Conversation is a daily pursuit, as we study our way from creation to the present. Mrs. Hockenbury holds a Masters in English Literature from the University of Missouri. She also taught English and writing classes for Missouri Baptist University. While she adores spending time talking about great books with her students, there are also days that Mrs. Hockenbury dreams of being a hot air balloon pilot in Australia.

BFA in English and Religion - University of the Cumberlands; MA in English Literature - University of Missouri Saint Louis

bhockenbury@heritageclassical.org

Sue Jenkins

Spanish

Sue Jenkins began teaching Spanish at Heritage in 2021. She achieved an advanced level of Spanish (oral and written) while serving as a missionary in San José, Costa Rica, and studying at the Instituto de Lengua Española. Working with children and youth has been an integral part of her work and ministry for more than two decades. Sue served as a substitute teacher (long- and short-term) in Spanish and other disciplines for the Webster Groves School District. Additionally, she served as the Global Outreach Coordinator for First Free Church, overseeing missionary care and finances as well as international short-term mission teams. Sue has lived in and/or traveled internationally to Costa Rica, The Dominican Republic, Mexico, and Ecuador. She brings an understanding of cross-cultural relationships and the significance of The Great Commission to the classroom.

BA in Mass Communication - Anderson University, 1996; Certificate of Completion (Spanish language study) - Instituto de Lengua Española, 2010

sjenkins@heritageclassical.org

Lauren Kaniarz

Bible

Lauren Kaniarz is one of our new teachers at Heritage this year. She is teaching freshman and sophomore Bible classes. She grew up in Minnesota and loves winter, snow, and the northwoods. She earned a bachelor's degree in music from Moody Bible Institute and earned an MA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Covenant Seminary. She taught general music in the past. Mrs. Kaniarz enjoys coffee, going for walks, and learning to cook delicious meals. In addition to teaching, she is a wife, a mom to two sweet young kids, and dog mom to a lazy and fluffy golden retriever named Moxie.

BA in Music, Moody Bible Institute, 2015; MA in Biblical and Theological Studies, Covenant Seminary, 2021.

lkaniarz@heritageclassical.org

Carmen Kramer

Math

Carmen Kramer has been teaching at Heritage since 2015. She has plenty of teaching experience – she taught in Children’s ministry for 14 years and she homeschooled her own children for eight years while also teaching in a homeschool co-op. She loves interacting with the students and introducing them to new ideas and skills. Mrs. Kramer earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology. In fact, she and Mrs. Bollinger were sorority sisters there. Mrs. Kramer is an eighth generation Missourian, her family settled in Missouri in the early 1820's!

BA, Mechanical Engineering,1986

ckramer@heritageclassical.org

Brian Lehmann

College Algebra

Brian Lehmann has taught math at Heritage since 2023. He has worked as a software engineer for over 20 years, and tutored hundreds of math students over those years. He has tutored all levels of high school through Calculus III and Statistics. He truly believes all students can enjoy and succeed at math. In his spare time, he plays in his church worship band, mentors high schoolers, and watches every Cardinals game he can.

BS in Mathematics, Lincoln University, 2000

blehmann@heritageclassical.org

Laura Wagener

Bible, History, Civics

Laura Wagener was new to our staff in 2022. She was formerly an attorney, working in the attorney general’s office. She has spent many years involved at Twin Oaks Christian School as a parent, a substitute teacher, and a board member. She grew to appreciate the process of education with her youngest daughter who has special learning challenges. These challenges forced her to see the education process in more detail. Through subbing, Mrs. Wagener found that she loves teaching middle schoolers because they are at that stage where they are not quite teenagers, but not still children. She finds they are more open to discussion and learning. Through years of teaching the Word to women and youth, she has come to love teaching the Bible. In her spare time she enjoys walks with her husband, dining out at new restaurants, and reading a good book.

B.S in Interior Design - Southeast Missouri State, 1998; J.D.- St. Louis University, 2001

laurawagener@heritageclassical.org