Our Smart Place Family
Name: Homer Gary
Subject Area: Mathematics
Years Teaching Experience: 18 years
Favorite Book: TNT the Power Within You
Likes/Hobbies: Learning/Working Out
Quote: "If you don't believe in what you do, no one else will. Sell your vision."--- Homer Gary
Name: Lonni Bechen
Subject Area: English Language Arts, Writing, Reading, American Studies
Years Teaching Experience: 34 years
Favorite Book: The Prince of Tides
Likes/Hobbies: Dressage/Trail riding/Reading
Quote: Carpe Diem!
Name: Ahad Jiva
Subject Area: Mathematics and Science
Years Teaching Experience: Graduate of Vanguard International Baccalaureate Program with 4.8 GPA. Currently enrolled in the University of Florida.
Favorite Book: A Thousand Splendid Suns
Likes/Hobbies: Tennis/Basketball/New experiences/Traveling/Learning
Quote: "There's no substitute for hard work." --- Thomas Edison
Name: Chanthony Boyd
Subject Area: Mathematics and Science
Years Teaching Experience: 18 years
Favorite Book: Influencer: The Power to Change Anything
Likes/Hobbies: Learning new things/Outdoor activities/Exercising
Quote: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Name: Henri A. Forget
Subject Area: English language arts
Years Teaching Experience: 14 years
Favorite Book: The Purpose Driven Life
Likes/Hobbies: Reading/Playing bass guitar/ Riding Bicycles/Helping students and adults to become better writers.
Quote: "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."---Proverbs 4
Name: Lonell Pontoo
Subject Area: Mathematics
Years Teaching Experience: 29
Favorite Book: Black Like Me
Likes/Hobbies: Watching Sports/Listening to Music/Spending time with family.
Quote: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as he know that your labor in not in vain in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58
Name: Sally Layendecker
Subject Area: English, Reading
Years Teaching Experience: 23 years
Favorite Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything
Likes/Hobbies: Reading/Hiking/Working with young people.
Quote: "Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone's face? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I say words of healing? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come." Henri Nouwen
Mr. Mubanga Chisulo joined Our Smart Place as one of our Math tutors. He joins our team with a Bachelors degree in Biochemistry from Andrews University in Southwest Michigan. Mr. Chisulo has a plethora of experience teaching students from all backgrounds and began his teaching career as a tutor in 2007, working with College students, Upward Bound program as well as a local Boys and Girls club. Where ever Mr. Chisulo goes he has become known as a person that impacts lives for the better and create an atmosphere of learning.
Name: Robin Koper
Subject Area: English & Reading (ELA)
Years Teaching Experience: 20 years and a Marion County "Golden Apple" recipient (2014).
Favorite Book: A Wrinkle in Time
Likes/Hobbies: Reading/ Mountain Biking/ Working Out.
Quote: "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." --- Malcolm X
Name: Gwendolyn Treherne
Subject Area: English / Language Arts / Reading
Years Teaching Experience: 31 years
Favorite Book: Anna Karenina
Likes/Hobbies: Teaching/ Ministering/ Writing/ Walking/ Enjoying time spent with family/ Smiling/ Helping students achieve greatness.
Quote: "but my life now, my whole life, regardless of all that may happen to me, every minute of it, is not only not meaningless, as it was before, but has the unquestionable meaning of the good which is in my power to put into it!" --- Leo Tolstoy
Name: Dylan Czarnecki
Subject Area: Mathematics
Years Teaching Experience: 5 years
Favorite Book: A Man on the Moon
Likes/Hobbies: Mathematics/Learning various types of math/ Working Out/Reading/ Exploring parks and trails with my dog.
Quote: "Don't forget to look up at the stars and not down at your feet." --- Stephen Hawking