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Nehemiah Ministries Inc.

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Christian Home School Academy

we believe that we can change the world together

The Kingdom Academy is not just a Christ-centered environment, but one that intentionally facilitates encounters with the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom Education classroom. Students will experience the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit, hear the voice of God, and manifest the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom Academy is based upon the Kingdom Education model that incorporates a coaching approach to learning that develops critical thinking skills while introducing the supernatural power of God’s Kingdom into the K-12 classroom.

While we believe that academics are essential in the temporal world, our first priority is teaching children to love the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul (Mat. 22:37), to know who they are in Christ (Galatians 2:20), and to discover their divine destiny in God’s Kingdom (Jeremiah 29:11).

Meet Our Staff

Cathrine Mireles - Director

English Literature & Composition B.A. in English & M.E in Teaching Ed. S in Christian Educational Leadership / English Tutor
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Manuela Toscano - Asst. Director/ Chapel Director

A.A.S. Interior Design, International Communication Studies / 3rd - 5th Tutor
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Sarah Vaughan - Asst. Director

Human Resources / Counselor
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Donna Worley

Assistant Tutor

Faith Piechowiak

Masters of Science in Nursing / K4-1st Tutor
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Sarah Pappadia

Volunteer / Outreach Coordinator
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LaShona Tyree

Bachelor of Arts / Art Tutor
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Cathrine Mireles

Cathrine Mireles graduated from Mississippi College with a major in English and a minor in mass communications. She holds a master’s in education, Post-Master’s certificate in PK-12 administration and supervision, and an Educational Specialist degree in Christian Educational Leadership; she is currently working on her Ph.D. at Regent University. She taught the last four years at a local Christian school, and before that, she taught 20 years in the public school system. She has taught all levels of English from 6th grade through all high school classes (Elements of Literature, American Literature, British Literature, AP Language and Composition, and AP Literature and Composition.  She has also taught Drama/Theater at the middle school level, Spanish I, II, & III and French I, II, & II. She is an active member of a local church and serves in many capacities, including the leadership team and teaching connect group classes. She enjoys getting to know her students, helping them develop a love for literature and writing, and integrating faith into the English classroom.

Manuela Toscano

Manuela graduated with honor from Northern Virginia Community College with a major in Interior Design and has completed 3 years of University courses in International Communication Studies and Foreign Languages in Italy. She has taught Italian at a homeschool co-op in Northern Virginia for two years. She has over 5 years of experience in people management, leadership, training, and development. She is the owner of small personal organizing business. She is an active member of a local church and serves in many capacities, including the worship team, and the connect group ministry. She enjoys sharing her love of learning, and values creating deep connections with her students. All of her classes are faith integrated and her main goal is helping kids to create a strong relationship with Jesus.

Sarah Vaughan

Sarah Vaughan has three children and two grandchildren and understands the dedication needed in “raising them up” in this challenging world.  For the last four years, she has served in Kid’s Ministry at Hope Point Church. under the leadership of the children’s pastors.  She has developed and adapted curriculum for the Courageous Kids classroom, which is a ministry for kids with varying needs.

The main focus in the kindergarten classroom is spiritual, knowing how much God loves us, learning God’s Word, growing in relationship with Him, and knowing God has a plan and purpose for each of us. Academically, she will focus on the skills in the MasterBook curriculum and getting the students ready for first grade.

Faith Piechowiak

Faith Piechowiak graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University first with a Bachelors’s Degree in Nursing and later with a Master’s Degree in Nursing. She sat for the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board and became a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in 2000. She worked in the Pediatric Intensive Care at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for a total of 28 years (11 years as an RN and 17 years as a PNP) caring for critically ill or injured children. She is now retired. She is an active member at a local church and serves in multiple capacities including the EMS team and the Kids Ministry team. She has served with the Kids Ministry team for 5 years with the majority of time spent with preschoolers.

Sarah Pappadia

Mrs. Pappadia has a certificate in early childhood and home daycare management and has a combined 18+ years working in childcare. Ms. Sarah homeschools her two children, 6 and 2 years old. She brings both personal and professional experience and knowledge to everything she does. Sarah is fun, energetic, kind, and creative, which has allowed her to flourish in education. Sarah lives a Christ-centered life and is very involved in all aspects of her church, including volunteering for connect groups and assisting in community events.

LaShona Tyree

Ms. Tyree began drawing at a young age. Her first drawing was a war scene, and she has not stopped drawing since. As she matured and entered high school, her artistic skills developed and evolved into something that provided a hint to her future. She has worked with children her entire life. She is a wife and mother of 4 children and, although her schedule is tight, she has been featured in various art shows in the U.S. such as RAW Tulsa in Oklahoma, April 2012, Roxbury Open Studios in Massachusetts, October 7, 2013, and RAW Richmond in Virginia, September 2014. In her art classes, she incorporates Christian values within her lessons and enjoys reminding her students that they can do anything they set their minds to do. She also reminds them that nothing is too hard for them and there are no mistakes in art. Mistakes actually become a part of the piece itself.