Meet the Veritas Prep Academy Staff and Faculty

ADMINISTRATOR

Mrs. Kira Wilson is a graduate of the University of Florida and holds a degree in Elementary Education. Having taught 7 years in traditional education, she then educated her children at home for 10 years. She developed and administered H.O.P.E. Academy, a program for homeschool students over a period of 7 years, worked 3 years for Jackie Winner Testing Service and served on the Pinellas County Portfolio Review Committee. With a passion for the Lord, she serves to exhort staff, parents and students alike that whatever we do we must seek to do all for the glory of God. She attends Gulf Coast Community Church in St. Petersburg with her husband Ron and two grown children.

ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Mrs. Karen Hopping has a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Virginia Tech. She has been the co-owner and manager of BayCoast Group Inc.(an Engineering Consulting and Software Development Company) for the past 10 years. She home educated her children from Kindergarten thru High School, maneuvering them successfully through the process of college preparation both academic and spiritual. Her son is a senior at the University of Central Florida majoring in Computer Engineering. Her daughter is a senior at the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg majoring in Elementary Education. Her passion and ability to help students prepare for God's purpose is a significant contribution to Veritas. Karen and her husband, Danny, are members of Gulf Coast Community Church.

OFFICE STAFF

Mrs. Jessica Luna grew up in Tampa, Florida. She serves as the school secretary working Mondays and Wednesdays during school hours. While she truly enjoys working at Veritas, she loves being at home with her young child on the other days. Her family attends The Footsteps of the Master church in Pinellas Park.

Miss Getzy Ramos has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications with a concentration on Spanish from Evangel University located in Springfield, Missouri. She is a fully bilingual Puerto Rican who along with her administrative duties teaches Spanish at the middle and high school level. Responding to a call from the Lord to work with youth, she has been the youth pastor at The Footsteps of the Master Church for the past 6 years.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

Mrs. Shelli Hobbs (Kindergarten) has a degree from Clearwater Christian College in Elementary Education and has taught in both public and Christian schools. She has also home schooled her 4 children who attend Veritas this year. Shelli and her husband Andrew, who is our soccer coach at Veritas, attend Pathways Community Church where Andrew is the full time pastor to students.

Mrs. Susan Estes (Third Grade) brings more than twenty years of teaching experience to Veritas. She holds a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters in Reading. In addition to teaching, she loves spending time with her two grandsons. She and her husband attend Northside Baptist Church in St. Petersburg.

Mrs. Shana Williams (Fourth Grade) has a degree from USF in Elementary Education, has home schooled for nineteen years and has taught at Veritas for two years. She attends Christ the King Presbyterian Church with her husband Bruce and son Luke. Their daughter Ashley graduated from Samford in December, their son Daniel works full time with the family business and Luke attends Veritas.

Mrs. Mary Miranda (Sixth grade) is a graduate of Slippery Rock University with a degree in Health and Physical Education. She spent 5.5 years living in Germany, working as a Young Life leader for military dependents. Before going to Germany she spent a year in Seminary. She met her husband (who's in the military) there and they have two children which she has homeschooled for the past 3 years. They are members of Pathways Community Church.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

Mrs. Paola Hernandez (Math) is from Venezuela, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Math and Physics. Not many people have a passion for math, but Mrs. Hernandez certainly does. In addition to enjoying math she has a desire to help students understand math and views it as a tool to succeed in everyday life and to be good stewards of God’s provision and talents.

Mrs. Laura Foti (English) is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University of New Jersey with a degree in English Literature and Business Communications. She substitute taught for three years in Pennsylvania at the K-12 levels, for one year at Indian Rocks Christian Elementary School, and at Veritas. Her oldest son Charlie will be in the ninth grade at Veritas this year. Mrs. Foti, her husband, and her two sons, Charlie and Andrew, attend Gulf Coast Community Church in St. Petersburg.

Mr. John Gordos, (Science) his wife Lori, and their daughters Natalie and Ashley, are members of Gulf Coast Community church. Mr. Gordos has a Bachelor's of Science from the Ohio State University and has worked in many fields over his career. He will be teaching science at Veritas and American History.

Mrs. Anna Rice(Math and Science) has her bachelor’s from UNF with majors in Computer Science and Mathematics, and her MBA in Finance from USF. She has fifteen years of banking and private consulting experience, followed by nine years of home educating her children. Along the way, she has taught many students privately and in co-ops. She has been involved in youth ministries, teaching Sunday school, organizing retreats, and coaching the Bible Bowl team. Anna and her family are in process of transferring their membership to Faith Covenant Church

Mr. Randall Hildreth holds a B.S. degree in Communications and History from Miami University in Oxford, OH, as well as a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the pastor of St. Petersburg Community Church, leading the preaching of the Word and worship of Christ, along with shepherding the church towards a deeper relationship with God. Randall's wife Elizabeth is also a teacher in the area. They have three children, Evan, Charissa, and Shannon.

Coach Luis Hernandez is from Venezuela, where he played soccer at a professional level. He attended college at Miami Dade Community College and Trinity International University working toward a degree in Pastoral Studies. He has been involved in sports ministry in Florida and internationally since 2000. He serves Veritas as the Athletic Director and PE teacher for K-6th grade.

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