INSTRUCTORS for 2023-2024

All of our instructors have agreed to the Statement of Faith and are active in a local church body. We are so thankful to have the following people serving you:

Dannette Cox was raised in an Air Force family, which along with taking several overseas mission trips while in college, has allowed her the opportunity to live in many different places and experience various cultures. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN ’94) from Liberty University and is a Registered Nurse. Dannette has worked at Burlington Pediatrics, taught Infant Care Classes and was formerly the Director of Alamance Pregnancy Services of Burlington. She has a passion and desire to help young women and offers Biblical (nouthetic) Counseling on an individual basis. She is the wife of Dr. Wade Cox (Pastor of Nall Memorial in Graham) and the mom of Michaela (24) and Courtney (22), who have both graduated with ACCHE, and are graduates of Liberty University. In addition to homeschooling her daughters, Dannette has tutored several students in High School Math and Science. Dannette’s hobbies include music, reading and writing. This will be her tenth year of teaching at Veritas, her seventh year as the Veritas administrator, and she absolutely loves it!

Dr. Wade Cox is an Alamance County native and has been the pastor of the Nall Memorial Baptist Church in Graham since 1994. He and his wife Dannette have two daughters, Michaela (24) and Courtney (22). He holds an A.A.S. degree (‘86) from Alamance Community College; B.S. degree (’90) from Liberty University; M.A.R. (’92), M.Div. (’94) and D.Min. (’08) degrees from Liberty Theological Seminary. Wade also teaches ‘Introduction to Christian Thought’, as well as ‘Theological Issues in the Life of the Church’’ as an Assistant Professor of Religion with Liberty University Online, School of Divinity. This will be his tenth year teaching at Veritas.

Kelly Hayes and her husband, Trent, have been homeschooling their four children since 2012. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Kelly attended Elon University and loved North Carolina so much that she now calls it home. She graduated from Elon in 2006 with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Sports Science. Aside from homeschooling her children, she also works part-time at Alamance Regional Medical Center as a Clinical Exercise Physiologist in Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehab. While she has always been a math/science person, her favorite part about working and teaching is that she loves interacting with all kinds of people and being able to invest in their lives.

Sandi Green has been fortunate to homeschool her two girls for the past 8 years. During that journey, she has also maintained a business as a Kinesiologist where she helped individuals from ages 6-86 to move better, feel better, and perform better. In previous years, Sandi Volunteered as the organizer of running club for youth where she was teaching them about the importance of good movement and avoiding injury. Finally, as a business owner, Sandi has discovered the importance for youth to learn to speak well publicly both in interview experiences and on the job.

Carrie Russell and her husband, Scott, have two children, Jenna (14) and Seth (12). They have been homeschooling their children the past 7 years. Carrie has a Bachelor of Science from Wingate University in Elementary Education and a Masters in Library and Information Studies from UNCG. Carrie taught second grade and was a media specialist in the Alamance-Burlington School System before becoming a full-time mom. She currently teaches part-time for the Academic and Career Readiness program at Alamance Community College as a High School Equivalency Online instructor. Carrie loves learning and sharing that passion with young people. Carrie and her family are members of New Covenant Fellowship Church in Graham and enjoy serving in a variety of areas. In her free time Carrie enjoys reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family.

The 2021-22 school year will be Carrie’s sixth year at Veritas! She has fallen in love with working with middle school and high school students!

Scott Russell is a graduate of Western Carolina University with a Masters degree in physical therapy and graduate of Wingate University with a BS in Biology. He has been a therapist with Stewart Physical Therapy for 18 years and is currently clinic lead at the Vaughn Road location. The most rewarding part of his job as a physical therapist is helping people return to the activities they are missing due to their injury including sports, work, hobbies, etc.

Scott and his wife Carrie have two children, Jenna (14) and Seth (12). They have been homeschooling for 7 years. Scott is an avid outdoorsman (hunting, fishing, hiking), with bowhunting being one of his favorite activities. He also enjoys playing the guitar and is part of the worship team at New Covenant Fellowship Church. Scott is excited about sharing his experience as a therapist and knowledge of the human anatomy with students.

Orietta Vásquez is natively from Costa Rica, born inside of a Catholic family; she was raised as an active member of the Catholic Church. At the age of 33, she moved with her husband and daughter to the US. She is a wife and a homeschooling mother of two, ages seven and nine. Her husband, who lived in Costa Rica for almost 15 years, is from Mississippi.

Orietta is a former Law Student with over 10 years of experience in customer service.
During her college years at Law School in Costa Rica, Orietta worked as a mathematics tutor for high school level students. She has also tutored social studies and Spanish.
She is a certified Manager with more than 7 years of experience in business with companies focused on customer service, technical support and sales. She is a self-starter and a quick and enthusiastic learner, with a versatile skill set and extensive experience in mentoring and coaching techniques, and in leading successful team projects directed to achieve motivational and production standards.

After relocating with her family to the United States seven years ago, she has been fully engaged with parenting and educating her two children in a bilingual environment built on Christian and spiritual beliefs, standards and values.
Five years ago, her family moved to Burlington where she has been a member of Lambs Chapel Church, as well as an active member in her community.

Her love and passion for teaching as well as positively impacting the minds of the children and youth generations, have giving her the opportunity to use her God’s given talents. Sharing with others her knowledge of Spanish language while understanding the positive impact of a bilingual mind, fills her heart with tremendous amount of joy.

Nicole Walker has lived in North Carolina since 1996.  She has a degree in English Education from Elon University.  She taught both middle school and high school language arts before having children and homeschooling full time.  She has homeschooled her own children since 2006 and has served as both a teacher and as a director at several homeschool cooperatives.  Nicole and her family attend Antioch Community Church in Burlington.

Kimberly Wood grew up near Thomasville, NC.  After graduating from Appalachian State University and Scarritt College for Christian Workers, she was Director of Christian Education at a church in Roxboro for several years.  She and her husband of 33 years, Michael, homeschooled their son and daughter all the way through to graduation in 2009 and 2011.  They both taught at Veritas:  Kimberly guided students through Geometry for a year.  They were on the Board of Alamance County Christian Home Educators for 11 years, handling membership and communications, and were very involved with Alamance Eagles basketball.  Kimberly has coordinated many events and field trips, and she still takes groups to Mrs. Hanes Moravian Cookie Factory and to the annual March for Life in Washington, DC.  Currently, she and Michael teach Kindergarteners and first graders at their church and are involved with Relay for Life.  At Veritas, she hopes to convey traditional concepts in more engaging and practical ways, and from a Christian perspective.

Kaylan Newsome Hello! My name is Kaylan Newsome. I am new to Veritas, and I am so excited and grateful to start this journey as the Geometry and Physical Science instructor. I have been praying for months for an opportunity to be home more with my kids, and the Lord has truly answered my prayers with this opportunity. I have an amazing husband, a 1 year old daughter, and a son coming in July 2023. My background is in teaching public school, and I really love teaching and working with kids, so I am happy to have the balance of teaching and being a mom. Thank you for welcoming me to Veritas, and I am looking forward to meeting your amazing kiddos and helping them learn!

Brandon Black has been married to his wife Katie (the main educator of the family) for 25 years. They have graduated two children and currently homeschool three (ages 16, 7, and 5). He is a Bible teacher and pastor of a local home church. He holds a Master of Arts in Theological Studies as well as a Bachelor’s in Biblical and Theological Studies from Liberty University. He is currently a PhD student. He has a passion for the biblical languages and believes all followers of Christ can learn enough of the languages to greatly enhance their study of the Bible.