Berrien Springs Virtual Academy Partnership
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  • Program Basics
  • Registration
  • Classes
    • Virtual Classes >
      • Virtual Class Guidelines
      • The Animation Course:Animation I or II or Drawing I or II
      • Bonus Virtual Classes
      • Michigan Virtual
      • Middlebury World Languages
      • Login Sites
    • Animal Husbandry >
      • Bit By Bit Stables: For the Love of Horses
      • Cedar Lodge Stables
      • Caliridge Farm: Equine Care and Horsemanship
      • Red Bud Gypsies Ranch
      • Circle C Stables
      • Ground Zero: Exploring Equine Education
      • Ground Zero: Mounted Archery
      • Patsy Little: Horse Care and Management
      • Birchbank Farm: Hobby Farm Life
      • Spring Creek Equestrian Center
    • Art Classes >
      • Sketching Class: Greek Architecture
      • Buchanan Art Center
      • Ceramics/Pottery >
        • Ceramics with Jill Dodge
        • Niles STEAM Room: Ceramics
        • Wheel Fun Pottery!
      • Creative Design with Robert Ritzenthaler
      • Collage
      • Design Street in Plainwell
      • Drawing and Painting Classes: see tabs >
        • Art and Creativity
        • Niki McNeil: Art Journaling and Zentangle
        • Calligraphy: Lettering By Hand
        • Elementary Art with Jill Dodge
        • Elements of Design
        • Birchbank Farm: Drawing, Painting or Sculpture
        • JLN Studios: Acrylic, Watercolor and Pastels
        • Jimen Yoon and Harry Ahn: Drawing and Watercolors
      • Jewelry /Beadwork >
        • Beadwork: with Kim Bollman
        • Jewelry with Kim Bollman
      • FLC: Art and Culture Around the World
      • Ground Zero: Archery Art
      • GVNCP: Nature and Community Arts
      • Krasl Art Center
      • Photography and Videography >
        • Adventures in Photography with Katie
      • Glass >
        • Jill Dodge: Glass Fusing and Glassics Fusion
        • Stained Glass: Stevensville: Heidi Martin
      • Water Street Glassworks >
        • Water Street Glassworks
    • Business and Finance >
      • Spark. Ignite. Launch! Kidpreneur Program
      • Junior Achievement: Biz Town
      • Junior Achievement: Finance Park
    • Chess >
      • Chess: Niles
    • Dance: Fine Arts >
      • Ballroom Dance
      • Bangor and Coloma Dance Studios
      • Benton Harbor Dance Studios
      • Decatur Dance Studios
      • Dowagiac Dance Studios
      • Niles Dance Studios
      • Sawyer Dance Studios
      • South Haven Dance Studios
      • St. Joseph Dance Studios
      • Stevensville Dance Studios
    • CTE: Career and Technical Education
    • Drama >
      • CMW: Children's Music Workshop
    • Family Adventure Trips >
      • Sailing and Exploring the Manitou Passage
      • Straits of Mackinaw
    • Field Trips
    • Foreign Languages >
      • Lotus Chinese Classes
      • Conversational Spanish
      • Conversational Italian
    • Humanities >
      • Communication >
        • Ground Zero: Journalism
      • Historical Arts & Technology >
        • Joel Bennett: Frontier Skills
        • Janine Frizzo - Colonial Studies
        • Jill Dodge: Ancient Secrets of Quillling
      • Re-enactment Arts >
        • Ground Zero: Archery
        • Blacksmithing: Ted Guimond
        • Historic Dance
    • Life Skills >
      • Cooking >
        • Birchbank Farm: Cooking
        • Ground Zero: Spanish Cooking
        • Joel Bennett: Beginning Baking and Frontier Foods
      • Crochet: with Niki McNeil
      • Jill Dodge: Leather Tooling
      • Sewing and Textiles >
        • Sewing or Quilting: Doreen Cox
        • Robin English: Sewing and Quilting
        • Jackie Ransom: Sewing with Jackie Ransom
        • Birchbank Farm: Sewing
    • Music >
      • Music Lessons: Independent Music Study >
        • Voice
        • Piano
        • Violin
        • Cello
        • Guitar
        • Percussion
        • Other Instruments
      • Music Lessons: Group >
        • Be in a Band: Jon Whidden
        • Berrien Springs Public School - Band or Choir
        • Dave Carlock's FRS Program
        • Jazz & Creative Institure - Kalamazoo
        • Citadel : Kindermusik
        • Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra
        • The Music Academies - Niles
        • School of American Music
        • West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts
        • Shoreline Music Classes
    • Nature/Environment >
      • Birding and Beyond
      • Loonling Learning: Syrup to Cider: Maple Syrup, Gardening and Horticulture
      • Love Creek: Outdoor Explorers
      • GVNCP: Community & Landscape Workshop
      • GVNCP: Habitats And Wildlife
      • GVNCP: Phone Apps Nature
      • GVNCP: Wilderness and Culture 2
    • Physical Education >
      • Gymnastics >
        • Elite Sports Academy
        • Infinite Gymnastics at Andrews
        • Kids' Gym: Portage
        • Power In Motion
        • The Club for Gymnastics
        • YMCA gymnastics
      • Martial Arts
      • Physical Fitness & Sports >
        • Basketball >
          • Basketball: Andrews Jr. Cardinals
          • Basketball: Niles with Dan Oates
          • Basketball: YMCA
        • CrossFit Locations
        • Ground Zero: Fitness In Archery
        • Hockey: Youth League
        • Ice Skating: Learn to Skate: Garden Ice Arena
        • Physical Fitness Classes at the BH/SJ YMCA
        • Physical Fitness Classes at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA
        • Softball: Dugout Dolls
        • Tennis: Group Lessons
        • Volleyball >
          • Ground Zero Volleyball
          • Volleyball: Performance One
      • Swim and Gym Locations
      • Swim Lessons/Swim Teams >
        • Group Swim Lessons: various locations
        • Swim Clubs
    • Technology >
      • EEME: Electronics Kits
      • FLC Tech Classes
      • Hip Hop Studio and Electronic Music
      • Niles STEAM Room
      • Photography or Videography with Robert Ritzenthaler
      • Recording Studio
      • Robotics: FRC Robotics
      • Self-A-STEAM Robotics, Engineering, and Coding
    • Vocational Education >
      • Auto Mechanics
      • Blacksmithing: Ted Guimond
      • Birchbank Farm: Alterations and Tailoring
      • Birchbank Farm: Commercial Cooking
      • Ground Zero - Know Your Bow
      • Woodworking with Tom Hurst
      • L'earn a Bike
      • Lifeguarding Certification and Junior Lifeguarding
  • Dual Enrollment / CTE
    • What is Dual Enrollment?
    • Andrews University
    • Glen Oaks Community College
    • KVCC - Kalamazoo Valley Community College
    • Lake Michigan College
    • Southwest Michigan College
    • CTE
  • Meet your Mentor
    • Mentor Bios
    • Mentor Evaluation Tools
  • Contacts / Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Homeschool Links of Interest
    • Social Networking & Homeschool resources
    • Standardized Testing Opportunities
  • Calendar

Mentor Bios



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Jill Dodge ~ jdodge@homeoftheshamrocks.org ​

Salutations Students and Parents!

 I have had the joy of teaching since 1997, filling elementary positions such as multi-grade, pre-kindergarten , art, and principal.  In 2013 I started teaching two classes for the Berrien Springs and Niles Partnerships and have enjoyed adding to my art curriculum each year. Most recently I added a Family Adventure Trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

​The things I enjoy are my husband Terry, our four children, Autumm, Winter, Trey and Holden, table games, dark chocolate, ceramics, photography, and being in nature, visiting U.S. National Parks, hiking and much more!

I look forward to communicating weekly with your family throughout this school year!

Blessings,                                                                                                                                                                  
Mrs. Jill Dodge



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Phil Giddings ~ pgiddings@homeoftheshamrocks.org 
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My name is Philip Giddings and I am a teacher who has enjoyed working with students and my colleagues over the past years.  I have worked with middle school, junior high, high school, and college students in various capacities.  I have also enjoyed administrative duties as I was the principal of a pre- kindergarten through 12th grade school in Chicago, Illinois. I also performed joint duties as I had the privilege of working in smaller school settings where I functioned as Teacher/Principal.
My joys are seeing student success and student development as they make positive choices that will enhance their future.  I am an American but I have lived in and traveled to many different countries not limited to but including Africa, France, and the Caribbean.
I realize that the success of today’s youth is in reality a strong indicator of our accomplishments. This paved road makes smooth the passage for the next generation.  We invest now and anticipate a lucrative return on our investment which will be withdrawn during the next generation and beyond.  I am willing to take part in the crafting and the shaping of this emerging generation.
I look forward to being a part of your accomplishments, inspiration, and your ultimate triumph.


Sincerely, 
Philip3
Philip E. Giddings III


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Becky Halcombe ~ rhalcombe@homeoftheshamrocks.org

​Warm Greetings.
Prior to homeschooling my 4 children for 20 years ... I was an elementary school teacher.  For the past 10 years I have worked with the BS Partnership as the Field Trip Coordinator ... As well, for the past 5 years it has been my pleasure to be a Mentor Teacher to many of your children.  It is nothing short of delightful to get to know your children .... and to encourage them in their accomplishments and personal growth. They always manage to amaze me .... and make me smile. It is a privilege to journey with them.

Here's to a wonderful year filled with discovery, learning, and growth.




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Juliette Horton ~ jhorton1@homeoftheshamrocks.org
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​Hello students and parents!!  I’ve had the awesome privilege of being an elementary school teacher!  It has been a joy for me to teach children in the states of Alabama and Michigan for the last 18 years. I am married and my husband and I have been blessed with 2 lovely girls.  We enjoy spending lots of time together as a family.  We love reading together, visiting zoos and museums, playing games and helping others.
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It is very important to me to see my students be successful in their education, so I work hard in helping them accomplish the goals that have been set for them or they’ve set for themselves. I’ve often times thought, “Is there another profession that I’d enjoy as much as teaching?”  Well, it’s been almost 18 years and I’ve not found another yet.  I LOVE being a teacher!! My students call me Mrs. Horton and I am happy to be a Berrien Springs Parent Partnership mentor.  I look forward to working with you!


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Mandy Jankoviak ~ @homeoftheshamrocks.org

My name is Mandy Jankoviak. I was a public school teacher for 13 years before deciding to homeschool.  We have been homeschooling for 4 years.  My children are 13, 11, 10, 6, 4, and 1. (Yes, that's 6!) Needless to say, I love kids and am excited to work with yours!

We enjoy the beach, swimming, Pinterest projects, decorating, and the arts.

​I'm thankful for the opportunity to work with the partnership and happy to help in any way I can.


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Ani Kuhn ~ akuhn@homeoftheshamrocks.org


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Iveth Ortiz ~ iortiz@homeoftheshamrocks.org

​Hello Partnership Families! I am privileged to join the team of mentors this year and look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growing along with your families. My name is Iveth Ortiz and I have resided in the Berrien Springs area for 6 years now after moving from Florida. I am married and have two wonderful boys, aged 10 and 7 who are also students in the Berrien Springs Partnership. I currently serve as a Title 1 Reading Intervention Teacher in the 3 elementary private schools in Berrien Springs. I enjoy traveling to new places and spending time with my immediate family and extended family. I was born and raised in Colombia, South America and love latin American food, music and culture. I hope you will find the partnership program enriching and enjoyable as much as me and my family have. 


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Mark Ring ~ mring@homeoftheshamrocks.org


Luis Sanchez ~ lsanchez@homeoftheshamrocks.org
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Hola, my name is Luis and I am originally from the Dominican Republic.  I've been teaching for over 12 years now and really love the connection I have with my students. I enjoy playing volleyball, traveling and spending time with family.  I look forward to getting to know my students and finding out how they are doing in all of their classes.

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​Amy Scott ~

​My name is Amy Scott, and as a homeschool parent, I am excited to mentor students in the Berrien Springs homeschool partnership!  I have 16 years classroom teaching experience before leaving several years ago to begin homeschooling my two children.  

Our children, ages 13 and 14, are both homeschooled and participate in many activities.  My husband of 20 years is a 4th grade teacher.  We enjoy spending time together as a family and participating in church activities.  

It is a privilege to work with your family.  We will have a fantastic school year and journey together! 


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Sarah Smith ~

My name is Sarah Smith and as a K-12 homeschool graduate, I’m excited for the opportunity to meet and work with students and their families through Berrien Springs homeschool partnership program!

For the past eight years, I worked as a classroom teacher for Berrien RESA’s autism program and just left that to start a new adventure as full-time mama to McKenzie Noelle. I’m blessed to be wife to Brian Smith and together we enjoy being involved in our church, kayaking, camping and spending time with family and friends.


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Lynne Wieferich ~ lwieferich@homeoftheshamrocks.org

​My name is Lynne Wieferich. I was a public school teacher for ten years before becoming a stay at home mom and homeschooling my two sons. I enjoy being a mentor teacher and hearing about all of the great classes that are offered through the partnership program.