Our Faculty

Lead Classroom Teachers

Explorers One, Music
Charlotte Chong

This is Ms.Chong's fourth year at TWS. Whether leading an experienced chorus, organizing a game at recess, or explaining a math lesson, Charlotte enjoys sharing her gifts with her students and seeing each one of them learn and grow.  Outside TWS, Charlotte has taught private piano lessons, led junior high choir and general music classes, served as an arts camp counselor, and taught music play to preschoolers.  A resident of Kingston, NJ, she is a graduate of the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a BS in Music Education.  In addition to piano, Charlotte also plays the flute, and her major at college was vocal performance.  Charlotte is active in her church, and, as a hobby, she enjoys visiting different restaurants and trying new foods. She enjoys the "Phonogram Bus" and other Explorer essentials. This summer, as part of her church's mission outreach, Charlotte taught in China, using some of the same games and activities she enjoys at TWS.

Explorers Two, Explorers Bridge
Caitlin Browning

Caitlin Browning, a New Jersey native, graduated this May from Grove City College, earning her BS in elementary education, along with her Pennsylvania teacher’s certification.  Her student teaching included both first and fourth grades, where she particularly enjoyed meeting the needs of individual students and creating hands-on science activities. Caitlin has also worked as a substitute teacher, as head YMCA Camp Counselor for Kindergarten and First Grade Students (for a total of five summers), as both a Sunday school, and AWANA leader.  Caitlyn appreciates the distinctives of a Charlotte Mason education, and she is looking forward both to leading studies classes and to reading aloud “living books.”  She also is excited to be joining TWS, which she perceives as a thoughtful and committed learning community.

Explorers Two Aide
Jee Park

Returning to TWS for her second year, Mrs. Jee Park is a honors graduate of Rutgers University, with BAs in Communication and Religion. Jee worked in human resources for two years  (Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank).  When her human resources skills were turned to her home (as a wife and mother of five children), she demonstrated her love of children as an active volunteer in the schools, as a children’s church teacher, and (for two years) as a homeschool teacher.  Jee enjoys being a soccer mom, and she even plays in a league herself. She enjoys working with TWS students of all ages, and she especially enjoys sharing discovery learning (including cooking experiences!) with students.

Class One
Barbara Seidle

Barbara Seidle is a graduate of the College of New Jersey (BA and MA) who has homeschooled her own children and led cooperative homeschool classes in both history and science.  Barbara is the mother of four (three school aged children and one out of school).  Barb has completed all the academic requirements for certification in elementary education and middle school social studies. Barb has also worked as the head of a junior high youth group for over ten years, as a volunteer counselor for Choice One for over 15 years, and is presently the leader of her church’s compassion ministry.

Class Two, Optional Afternoons (for C1-2)
Hyme Choi

Ms. Choi is now in her fourth year of teaching Class Two.  She loves the way her students combine drive and community, relishing the challenges which come with more complex reading and mathematics.  Before joining TWS, Hyme lived in Charlotte, NC where she taught for three years.  Hyme has also actively served in her church's children's ministries, both in North Carolina and now in New Jersey.  Hyme’s father has been a pastor and church planter for many years, and Hyme is assisting him in planting a church in the Edison area.  Hyme attended middle school in Russia and knows not only Russian but a number of other languages as well.  A graduate of the University of North Carolina, Hyme earned a BS in elementary education, with a minor in Social Studies.  In addition to her classroom experience, Hyme has also tutored both K-12 and ESL students, and participated in various mission trips.

Class Three
Julia Wallace

Mrs. Julia Wallace grew up in Tennessee, but she has lived in New Jersey for the last four years.  She returns to TWS for a second year of teaching Class Three.  Julia graduated from the University of Tennessee where she earned both a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Elementary Education. Julia is an experienced teacher who taught elementary school for six years before she came to TWS. She has also worked with elementary after-school programs (including our own), and finds that she enjoys teaching all subject areas.  Mrs. Wallace is an avid reader, and she especially enjoys sharing books with Class Three. Julia's husband is a PhD student at Princeton Theological Seminary, and they enjoy traveling together (especially day trips!).

Class Four, Logic
Brittany Moss

Ms. Brittany Moss grew up in Georgia, and graduated from Furman University (SC) with an education degree.  This May, Brittany completed her Masters in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary.  Brittany assists part-time at The Lawrenceville School in the Community Service Department, and she volunteers with the FOCUS ministry.   A lover of the outdoors, Brittany worked for three summers as counselor and administrator at the Kanakuk Kamps (Branson, MO). Brittany also loves sports; she played Division 1 Soccer in college and was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.  She especially enjoys teaching logic to Middle Schoolers and a literature and Bible with the Class Four students.

Class Five
Shannon Ross

Shannon is a 1997 graduate of Seattle Pacific University, where she earned degrees in elementary education and social science.  Shannon is an experienced teacher.  She has taught elementary school for ten years, with three years teaching fifth grade. In two of the schools where she has taught, Shannon used a Christian curriculum that combined both Classical and Charlotte Mason elements.  Shannon Ross is a life-long learner.  She is an avid reader who is continually seeking to improve her practice.  A great lover of narration, Shannon also enjoys sharing living books with students.  She has many interests, including dance, history, and the arts. Working alongside her husband, Shannon has helped in a various youth ministries.  She also spent three summers working at Duke Youth Academy.  Shannon is excited about joining the TWS staff and about watching her son experience discovery learning as a TWS Explorer.

Class Five Aide, Explorers Art
Abby Helms

After having substituted at TWS last school year, Abby Helms is happy to join our faculty this school year.  A Tennessee native, Abby is a graduate of Union University with a BA in Art and a Minor in K-12 Education.  Abby has a great love for art, graphic design, and photography.  She has taught art to students of all ages—from high schoolers all the way down to toddlers. Abby loves children and young people. She was a Young Life leader for four years, and has led children’s crafts for Bible clubs; currently she teaches K-3 Sunday School at her church. Abby appreciates both the spontaneity and joy that Explorers exude, and the reasoning and insights which spring from TWS’ older students.  She looks forward to joining all of our students in forays into truth, beauty, and goodness. For Abby, 2011 has meant new experiences—not only her new job in our new building but also her new (as of August) marriage.

Class Six/Seven Homeroom, Middle School Humanities
Joshua Young

Mr.Young returns to TWS for a second year of teaching Middle School humanities.  A New Jersey native, Joshua graduated from Rowan University with a BA in History, then continued his studies at Biblical Seminary (MDiv) and Princeton Theological Seminary (Masters in Church History).  Before coming to TWS, Mr.Young taught Junior High world history for three years, and taught ninth grade world history and economics for one year.  Joshua loves foreign languages, especially Greek. He enjoys serving in his local church, where he leads the youth group.  Joshua also likes to preach and teach, whether his audience is adults or children.  Joshua loves to read, and he wants to help students grow in their faith while they are expanding their knowledge base.  Joshua is married, and he and his wife have a young son and daughter.

Class Eight Homeroom, Middle School Math/Science
Leo Yoon

Now in his fourth year at TWS, Mr. Yoon enjoys discussing literature and Christian worldview with his TWS students, challenging them to live up to their highest God-given potential.  Leo brings a wealth of experience to his classroom gleaned from years as an instructor of mathematics, an instructor of standardized test preparation, and as his church’s youth director. In all his teaching activities, Leo is known for his ability to combine fun with real learning, and faith with real-life experiences.  Leo is a graduate of State University of New York (Binghamton) with a degree in electrical engineering.  He also has an M. Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary and an MA in math education from Columbia University's Teacher's College.  Leo is also an avid golfer and an accomplished martial artist. He is married, his wife is a Princeton University graduate student, and they have a young daughter.

Special Subject Teachers

Lower and Middle School Mathematics, Class Eight Science Teacher
Irving Yang

Irving Yang is a graduate of Rutgers (bachelors and masters levels.) He has three years experience teaching ninth grade general science.  In 2010-2011, Irving Yang managed a daily afterschool program for seventy-five middle schoolers, leading not only the students but also a group of ten staff members. In addition, for over ten years, Irving has worked both as youth volunteer and for two years as his church’s Youth Pastor.  Irving loves to encourage student participation and enjoyment in the context of discipline and self-control.  Irving also loves sports, and he has coached both basketball and tennis.  He is looking forward to learning with TWS students both inside and outside of the classroom.  Irving is married (his wife is a high school math teacher), and their family is kept lively with young twin boys.

Latin
Ben Schellack

Now beginning his second year at TWS, Mr. Ben Schellack came to New Jersey after graduating from Vanderbilt University, where he earned his BA in Classical Studies, along with minors in English and Communications.  Since completing his undergraduate education, Ben has pursued graduate studies in Latin  (including a year of Latin studies at the Pontifical University in Rome), Jewish history, and Ancient Greek, and he loves modern as well as ancient languages.  Ben has taught courses in ESL (at Phillips Andover Academy), Public Speaking, and test preparation, and now he balances his love of learning with his nurturing of a growing coffee business (OQ Coffee).   Ben enjoys sharing his love of words and culture with the Wilberforce community. An LA native, Ben is newly married and is happy that New Jersey not only brought him a great church, but also a wonderful wife!

Lower and Middle School Art
Ester Smith

In her seventh year at TWS, Ester Smith teaches Spanish and Art with a unique approach that springs from the convergence of her experiences in business, education, and missions. Ester began her professional career as a Promotions Manager for one of central Illinois' largest newspapers, where she designed and executed marketing campaigns. Moving on to New York City, she free-lanced, worked for the world-wide advertising agency BBD&O and then went on to manage a Wall Street firm's art department as their Creative Director. Ester has taught Spanish, Art, and Reading/Writing Skills for the last dozen years in the Princeton area at several private schools.  Ester invests her spare time, whenever possible, in translating for speakers at missions events and trips (this past summer, in Kenya). She loves to teach young people how to see and how to translate those impressions onto paper and canvas. Ester is a graduate from Illinois State University, with a dual Bachelor's in Design and Spanish.  Ester is married and has four grown daughters.

Physical Education
Pam Beatty

A New Jersey native, Mrs. Pamela Beatty is an experienced Physical Education (10 years full time, and 3 years part time) teacher who demonstrated her skill in working with TWS students when she led our 2011 Field Day. She was a PE major at The Kings College (formerly located in Briarcliff Manor, NY) and also earned a M.Ed in PE Administration from The College of New Jersey.  Pamela’s experience teaching Physical Education spans years and sports: from gymnastics to swimming, from soccer to health classes.  She has also organized field days, athletic fundraisers, and other special events, both as a teacher and as a PTA leader.  In addition to her excellent work as a public school PE teacher, Pamela has also served her church, working at various church summer camps, and, for over ten years, leading the VBS recreation area that included over seven hundred children.  Pam is looking forward to helping our students enjoy their new playing fields, while expanding their skills and teamwork abilities.  Pamela Beatty is married, and has two children—a daughter who is in high school and a son who attends The Wilberforce School.