GRAMMAR SCHOOL TEACHER

Mrs. Aristizabal or “Mrs. A” was born and raised in Colbert, Georgia and comes from a family of educators. She is thankful to come from a family that valued the Lord and raised her that way. Mrs. A graduated from Piedmont University with a Bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education. She started out teaching in the Madison County Public schools and realized after 5 years that public education was not what it used to be. She then moved to Malaysia to teach at an international school, but had to return to the U.S. during the Covid pandemic. After Covid19, Mrs. A knew she did not want to go back to teaching in the public school setting and the Lord provided a job at Westminster Christian Academy in Watkinsville. Mrs. A loved learning more about classical education and teaching from a biblical worldview. In the last three years, Mrs. A changed jobs, got married, and became a mother and wouldn’t change a thing. A few years ago her plan was to stay home and take care of their son, but the Lord had other plans and her family is very thankful for the opportunity to be a part of Sardis. Mrs. A and her family are members of North Avenue Church and her husband, Daniel, is also an educator and coach. She is excited about the new adventure at Sardis and to continue to grow in knowledge along with her students.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL TEACHER

Mrs. McClure loves watching children discover the world around them as they are introduced to the foundations of learning that will carry them throughout their lives. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and worked as a teacher in Clarke County schools for three years prior to having children of her own. Once becoming a mother, she and her husband, Matt, chose for her to stay at home to care for and educate their children, a decision she wouldn't change for the world. Their three children are students at Sardis and have grown tremendously from the support and accountability that they receive there. Rachel and her family regularly attend Living Hope Church, serving in the areas of the Children's Ministry and Worship. She loves to sing, work and play outside, swim, bake bread, crochet, drink hot tea, and spend time with family and friends.

GRAMMAR SCHOOL TEACHER

Mrs. Lawson developed a passion for Classical Education during her years in Louisville, Kentucky, while her husband attended seminary. During that time, she observed the classical approach of her pastor’s wife, who was educating her four sons. The boys’ evident virtue, wisdom, and love of learning left a lasting impression and sparked Amber’s interest in classical education, setting her on a path that continues to shape her family and professional life today. Amber is the mother of six children—three biological and three adopted—all of whom are enrolled at Sardis. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religion from Luther Rice University and completed some graduate work from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Professionally, she has served as a Director with Classical Conversations for three years and taught at the grammar school level at Providence Classical Christian School from 2020 to 2023. Amber and her husband, Daniel Lawson, have been married for 17 years. Daniel serves as a chaplain at St. Mary’s Health Hospital in Athens and as a pastor at Walton Community Church in Monroe. Together, they are committed to fostering a Christ-centered home and serving their local community. Amber is especially passionate about foster care and adoption, Classical Christian Education, and the ministry of hospitality. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, drinking coffee, walking her dog, and spending time with family and friends.

UPPER GRAMMAR SCHOOL & LATIN TEACHER

Mrs. Gasaway was born and raised in Connecticut and lived in Baja California Sur, Mexico during her teens.  She was a cryptologic linguist in the U.S. Navy for 20 years specializing in Spanish, Vietnamese, Thai, and Persian-Farsi.  While stationed in Hawaii in 2004, she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Chaminade University of Honolulu.  Mrs. Gasaway is a mother of three, all of whom are enrolled at Sardis.  After retiring in 2018, she homeschooled and tutored with a classical Christian co-op.  From 2021-2024, Mrs. Gasaway taught 5th grade and Latin at a Classical Christian School in Pensacola, Florida.  Academically, Mrs. Gasaway is passionate about U.S. History, Language Arts, and Latin.  She and her husband James, a retired Naval Officer, attend Remembrance Community Church and reside in Monroe, GA.

UPPER SCHOOL HUMANITIES TEACHER

Mrs. Webster was born and raised in Valdosta, Georgia and moved to the Athens area to attend the University of Georgia. She graduated in 2015 with her BSEd in English Education and taught high school English for three years before becoming a stay at home mom in 2018. She and her husband Ian married in 2017 and live in Danielsville with their three children. They attend North Avenue Church where Ian serves as worship leader and deacon. Mrs. Webster also enjoys serving on the worship team and in the church nursery. She loves baking for family and friends while listening to a podcast or audiobook. Mrs. Webster has treasured the past six years at home with her children but is excited for new adventures in the classroom at Sardis.

UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER

Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Dr. Alexander Heide earned a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and a B.A. in Chemistry from Bethel University. He went on to complete his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry at the University of Georgia, specializing in theoretical and computational chemistry under Dr. Henry F. Schaefer III. While at UGA, he met his wife, Alexandra Heide. They have been married, and getting confused for one another at UGA, for almost three years. Today, Dr. Heide serves as an elder at South Grove Church in Athens GA. True to his northern roots, he still loves the cold and the snow, and he enjoys spending his free time cycling, playing disc golf or downhill skiing when possible.

UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER

Mrs. Elizabeth 'Betsy' Aylsworth comes to Sardis Classical Christian Community with more than 25 years experience teaching mathematics, science, and Spanish in Christian Schools in Massachusetts, Maine, and Georgia, including three years teaching in a Classical Christian School on St. Simons Island. She received her bachelor's degree from Princeton University, completing a program in the History and Philosophy of Science. She also earned a Certificate in Bible from the Burlington Bible Institute and completed a Post Baccalaureate Program in Education from North Georgia College and State University. She has four adult children whom she homeschooled and she and her husband Allan live in Crawford, GA. Mrs. Aylsworth was immersed for 8 weeks in the culture of the Sardis Community when she had the privilege of filling in for Mrs. 'A' during her maternity leave last year. She loved the catechisms and recitations with their emphasis on showing the students truth, beauty and goodness. Mrs. Aylsworth is passionate about mathematics with its logic and beauty which fit naturally with the Classical model of education. As a Christian educator she believes that godly character formation and learning to trust and serve our great God and Savior Jesus Christ is the foundation for academics. Since leaving full-time teaching two years ago Mrs. Aylsworth has used her mathematics backround and desire to be a blessing to struggling math students by tutoring from her home and volunteering at Oglethorpe County High School. She is excited about working with students in the classroom at Sardis and helping them achieve their educational goals.  Mrs. Aylsworth enjoys walking, riding her bike, working in the garden and spending time with her seven grandchildren. 

ART TEACHER

Mrs. Stoudt grew up in Indiana, and has always had a passion for art. She graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a second emphasis on Painting. She is a skilled graphic designer, painter, photographer, and jewelry designer. She loves to try new crafts and art mediums! She has dabbled in ceramics, book binding, printmaking, and calligraphy. During her college years, God stirred in her a new passion for missions, travel, and experiencing other cultures. She has spent over 5 years living abroad, mainly in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, she and her family moved to Athens, GA. Mrs. Stoudt is also administratively gifted and has worked as a finance manager, travel coordinator, and project administrator. She loves mentoring young adults, is passionate about motherhood, and is trying her hand at growing a garden for the first time this year.

AGRARIAN TEACHER

Mrs. Naz has always been a naturalist but it wasn't until undergrad that she discovered a love for gardening. Earning her BA and BS in Geography from the University of Georgia taught her the scientific side of weather, climate, biospheres, plants, and much more. But working outside in her own garden taught her how deeply spiritual gardening can be. Nurturing creation and humbling ourselves to flow with the rhythms of the seasons is how humans are designed to live! Mrs. Naz joined Sardis in it's first year with very minimal teaching experience but plenty of confidence and gardening knowhow. She transformed the Sardis community garden from an empty courtyard and some donated supplies into the thriving and productive garden it is today! She was also trained by the incredible staff to be an engaging and hands-on instructor. Her Agrarian philosophy is focused on growing organic, heirloom produce without the use of commercial methods. She practices crop rotation, companion planting, organic composting, homemade soil amendments, and seed saving. Her students learn from working alongside her in the garden throughout the seasons. Mrs. Naz lives in Athens with her husband and two cats. When she's not gardening at Sardis or at home, you can find her teaching and practicing traditional skills, crafting, reading, foraging in the woods, or swimming in a lake.  

FACULTY NURSERY TEACHER

Mrs. Carver was born and raised in Southwest Idaho. She spent most of her summers camping and her winters enjoying the snow. Growing up in Idaho nature became an inspiration and a means of knowing God better. As the Bible states  “ The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalms 19:1. Nature has always been a spiritual refuge for her throughout her life. She attended Greenleaf Friends Academy in high school then moved to Chicago where she worked in ministries, helping to plant churches and mentoring teens and young adults while she made a living as a nanny. She came to the South, specifically Atlanta, after meeting her husband in 2010. Amanda married Sonny Carver in 2012 and they moved to Athens in 2021. Mrs.Carver started going to Gwinnett Tech in 2021 to pursue Early Childhood Education and took a break to enter training to become a  Forest School educator. Mrs. Carver took this training through the Forest School Teacher Institute and the Association for Nature-Based Education. On the weekends you will find Mrs. Carver at Beech Haven Baptist Church, and spending time with her husband and their two cats, Georgia and Dooley. She also loves to bake, enjoys reading or listening to a good book, caring for her houseplants, spending time in nature, knitting, and gardening on her apartment patio. Athens is truly where Mrs. Carver and her husband feel called, and it has been a dream to finally be in the Classic City.