Angie Wakeman: Director of Education

When Angie was in elementary school, she wrote a list of all the careers that interested her, the qualities needed for those careers, and which traits she had that matched those fields.  Teaching was on the list.  Twelve years later in 2004, Angie graduated from Moravian College with a double major in English and Spanish and a minor in secondary education. 

After teaching abroad for a year, she returned to her alma mater, Liberty High School, and taught English until 2013 when her second daughter was born. It has always been her desire to be at home to raise her kids, so she resigned from teaching. As she noticed her children's natural curiosity and love of learning, she longed for a method of education that considers the whole child in its approach and feeds that curiosity and love of learning. Charlotte Mason's philosophy was the answer to what she was looking for. She found many parents also wanted a developmentally appropriate education and were interested in homeschooling but needed support and community. Out of a desire to meet these needs, she co-founded PHA, a hybrid homeschool program that seeks to partner with parents in an encouraging, engaging, and caring educational environment.

Rebecca Foley: Admissions & Business Director

Originally hailing from rural Western New York, Rebecca moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2006 to pursue her Master's degree in Economics at Lehigh University. After very nearly moving back to the Rochester area in 2008, Rebecca was offered a second assistantship at Lehigh to pursue her Master's in Educational Leadership.

Shortly after graduating in Spring 2009, she married a Lehigh Valley native and had her first baby in October of 2010. While staying home with her girls, Rebecca has worked part-time as a tutor, academic coordinator, and adjunct professor. 

Starting a school has been a long-time dream of hers and she is excited to have brought another choice in Christian education to the Lehigh Valley.

Bethany Vitaro: Program Coordinator

Bethany Vitaro was one of those kids who loved school. She had the benefit of a wonderful private, Christian education and thrived in a more traditional academic environment. But when the time came for her oldest to enroll in school, she was reluctant to relinquish the relaxed days of early childhood for the rigors of formal academics. Thus the Vitaro family became accidental homeschoolers and nine years later are still homeschooling. They first joined PHA for the 2019-2020 school year and are especially excited to have all three children enrolled.

Bethany and her husband, Rob, have been married for 20 years and live with their children in Bethlehem Township. Rob and Bethany are both writers and published authors, and active in a local Christian writers’ group. They are also active in their local church. Bethany has been a MOPS leader, a dance ministry coordinator and choreographer, a small group leader, an adult class teacher, and a children’s and youth Sunday school teacher and aide.  She and Rob currently serve together in the church nursery.

Bethany has a degree in English Writing from Eastern University with additional concentrations in Psychology and Dance. She has a background in the educational non-profit sector and has also taught creative writing.

When she isn’t at PHA or homeschooling her kids, you can find her writing (or editing) one of her latest works in progress, reading, knitting, or dancing.

Stephanie Smith: Kindergarten

Stephanie lives in Schnecksville with her husband, Eric, and their two children Levi and Julia. She and her husband coordinate their church’s children’s ministry and have volunteered in numerous other ministries. Stephanie has a degree from Kutztown University in Elementary Education and Early Childhood.

Before starting her family, she was a Kindergarten teacher for several years in the Lehighton Area School District. Later she resigned to grow and raise her family. Wanting to participate in her children’s education she worked as a preschool teacher with her children in attendance. Later she moved to teaching online to be home with her children. Stephanie is excited to be a part of Providence Hybrid Academy!

Christina Young: First Grade

Christina is a wife and mother of three boys with a background in elementary education. She has taught in classroom settings and has homeschooled her boys for several years.

Their family moved to the Lehigh Valley in 2014 where they were able to build community through co-ops, community sports, and their home church. They continue to be an active part of their church and have had the opportunity to serve in various ways. 

It’s with a heart full of gratitude that she acknowledges the tremendous gift of the gospel, life-giving friendships, and the benefit of learning from experiences. She loves being part of PHA, learning and growing together!

Rebecca Kehley: Second Grade

Rebecca grew up in Florida, always knowing she wanted be a teacher.  She spent her youth babysitting, college years working in daycare, and graduated from Flagler College with a degree in Elementary Education.  After years of teaching in the public school system, she and her husband decided that homeschooling would be the best choice for their family.  The family relocated to the area in 2005.  All three of their children were homeschooled from preschool to graduation, the youngest just graduating in May 2019.  She is active in her church, serving in numerous capacities over the years.  She looks forward to using her experience to encourage the families of Providence Hybrid Academy in their educational journeys, helping them cultivate  a lifetime of learning!

Katrina Angeleri: Fifth Grade

With an awe of God’s sovereignty and a love of learning, it is with gratitude that Katrina Angeleri works with the students and families of Providence Hybrid Academy.  Children and the field of education have been the major theme of Katrina’s life starting at age 17, from providing after-school care to teaching in public and private schools, in addition to directing Sunday School and a homeschool co-op.

Through the last 24 years of marriage to a kind and devoted husband, God blessed her with 3 beautiful children for whom she considers it a joy and a privilege to raise in the fear and admonition of the Lord.  Homeschooling became a part of her family life 10 years ago and it has been an ever-changing dynamic of abundant blessings and challenges with the Lord in the lead.

Katrina is confident that the Lord has brought her to PHA.  Teaching and learning in the Charlotte Mason approach is an excellent method of education and Katrina finds it a honor to become a part of it.  Her prayer is that the Lord may bless all the families of PHA as their Sovereign Ruler, Provider and Guide as they grow in knowledge and grace together at Providence Hybrid Academy.

John Elias: Middle School Math & Science

John and his wife Karen will be married 48 years this October. They have four children and seven grandchildren. They live in Bethlehem having returned from eight years in London.

As a grandfather and former Pastor, Missionary, College teacher, machinist, grave digger, and more, John brings a wealth of experiences to the sixth and seventh/eighth-grade math and science classes he will teach this year. His favorite pastime is looking for new ways to solve problems and if he can encourage others to think creatively then he feels doubly happy. He also likes travel, fixing things, and doing the manual labor of his wife’s lovely gardens.

Since 2020 John has survived two cancers. The blog telling of things God has taught him is  https://thenextbigchange2020.blogspot.com.

Amy Wheeler: Middle School History and Geography

Amy Wheeler lives in Green Lane with Jim, her husband of 25 years.  She was blessed to be able to stay home with her three children (Kacie, 21, James, 19, and Megan, 17) and to homeschool them through graduation.  Amy has always been passionate about education and early on in homeschooling discovered Charlotte Mason's philosophy.  She feels that Charlotte's understanding of children shows a deep respect for the individual and the way God has made him or her, while at the same time urging us as parents to help them form good habits and always require their best efforts.  Amy values "spreading the feast" as we cannot know what might excite our children and awaken their minds to new ideas.  Always choosing from a wide variety of books and activities, Amy works to spark the interest of young learners.  

While homeschooling, Amy found many opportunities to teach classes about literature, writing, rhetoric, and debate.  Her dining room table was frequently filled with local homeschoolers discussing books and poetry or reading essays and asking for feedback.  She has been a part of the Veritas Homeschool Community as well as a small nature study group.  Amy has also served the homeschool community for the past 18 years by doing evaluations each spring.  She is so excited to now add teaching humanities at PHA to the list of her experiences.  

In her free time Amy enjoys cooking, reading, and hiking with her husband (especially in Acadia National Park).  She is continuing her own formal education in a graduate program and is looking forward to where God leads her with her studies.

Bob Rentler: High School Math & Bible

Bob Rentler is coming to PHA for the launching of his third career, teaching. Bob has been married to his wife Lisa for 45 years. They have raised two daughters and have seven grandchildren. (Six of them currently attend PHA.)

Bob completed his bachelor’s and master’s degree at Lehigh University in Chemical Engineering and finished his 25-year career in Engineering to become a Pastor. He then completed his MDiv and has been pastoring for over 20 years. The Rentlers live in Bethlehem.

Bob’s distractions include riding bike, running, playing various musical instruments (which accompany his love for bluegrass, Celtic and worship music.) Bob will be sharing his love for mathematics in the high school math courses.

Laura Mercon: High School Science, History, and Geography

My name is Laura Mercon. It is with great delight and a sincere sense of privilege that I embark on teaching high school at Providence Hybrid Academy this year. I will be teaching biology, history, literature, and geography for the ninth grade class. I am married to a high school teacher and varsity baseball coach. We have three children - two boys and a girl. I have home educated my children from the start using the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education. I graduated my oldest three years ago and currently have an incoming senior and fourth grader.

I'm embarking on my 18th year of home education! Prior to that, I was a fourth grade teacher for the Boyertown Area School District for eight years. Before that, I was a registered nurse. I enjoy studying the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education, reading, singing, DIY projects, thrifting, being outdoors, vacationing, and spending time with my husband. I'm excited about the coming year of learning together and am trusting in God's faithfulness and relying on the Holy Spirit.

Jessica Evans: Third

Jessica grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as a child who loved learning and always dreamed of being a teacher. Playing school was her favorite game with her four siblings, while also enjoying exploring the outdoors and collecting bugs and creatures along the way, playing sports, reading, handicrafts, baking, and art.

After graduation from DeSales University with a degree in Elementary Education, Jessica continued to teach as a Pre-K teacher, substitute teacher for grades K-6, and later as a Therapeutic Support Staff for children with special needs through a non-profit organization.

She and her husband have been married since 2009 and after her first son was born in 2011, they decided she would stay home to raise their children. They now live in the Lehigh Valley where they have three active, fun-loving, curiosity-driven boys that have been homeschooling with her since 2020.

During their first year of homeschooling, she and her friends created a neighborhood pod with local families and discovered the joy of homeschooling and co-ops. Since then, they have joined a co-op where she teaches ages 5-8 through hands-on, project-based learning. Some of their favorite parts of homeschooling are nature study, hiking, reading and learning together through living books, playing sports, handicrafts, and serving others through their church, and in their community with donation drives and community service. Jessica and her family are very excited to be part of the PHA community to learn and grow together!

Linnea Smith : Sixth Grade

Hi! I’m Linnea Smith and I’m thrilled to be part of the PHA family! I have always loved teaching and it is an honor to be back in the classroom. Before PHA, I taught in a special education classroom in a public school and taught fourth and fifth grade in a Christian school. My passion is truly to guide others to God and equip them to see who God created them to be. When I’m not at school, I am a wife to Luke and mom to three little girls Sonya, Hannah, and Emma. I’m a coffee lover and a podcast junkie. You'll usually catch me listening to an audiobook or one of my favorite podcasts.

Vonna DeArmond:Third Grade

Vonna DeArmond is a mother of five with eleven years of homeschooling experience. She has a degree in Chemistry and left the biopharma industry to pursue Christian homeschooling and teaching. Having realized that she has always loved teaching and had always been teaching in some capacity, she obtained her level one PA teaching certification. While homeschooling, she discovered a passion for teaching children of all ages and gained experience teaching homeschooled children ages 4 through 16. She also has classroom experience with special needs and a heart for kids who learn differently. Her other interests include healthy holistic living. She is also Certified Fitness and Integrative Nutrition Coach and teaches adults, kids, and special needs/abilities of all levels at local fitness and wellness centers. Vonna is very excited to join Providence Hybrid Academy where she can share her love of Jesus and of learning with your children.

Wendi LeBourgeois: Fourth grade

Wendi grew up in Bucks County as the only child of two teachers.  She always knew God was going to use her as a teacher.  After she received her Elementary Education degree from Kutztown University, she taught both third and fifth grades for Southern Lehigh School District.  Her husband of 26 years, David LeBourgeois, is still teaching at Liberty Bell Elementary, but she resigned to start a family.

As a “stay at home” mom, she has taught VBS and Good News Club. She’s also been a camp counselor, youth leader, a Director of Children’s Ministries, a tutor, substitute teacher, a homeschool mom, and most recently she became a homeschool evaluator.

Wendi lives in Quakertown where her son Caleb is in high school, her daughter Heather is in college, and her Bichon Jack is enjoying his walks.  One of her passions is traveling with her family.  In the last 4 years, the pop-up camper has been to the Bay of Fundy, Yellowstone, the Pacific, Yosemite, and the Gulf of Mexico.  

Her favorite verse is Psalm 139:13-14 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Wendi loves working with the fourth graders at PHA.

Cheryl Smith: Nature Study

Cheryl comes to PHA with over twelve years of caring for and teaching children in an in-home child care.  She has a BS degree in Horticulture from Penn State University.  She has had the privilege of working in greenhouses and of being a florist for over 20 years. She loves teaching children, using puppets and exploring the outdoors.

A very special man came into her life and they were married in 1979.  He went to seminary after they had 4 children.  He has now been a Pastor for 25 years.  They have raised 4 children and now they have 5 grandchildren. Cheryl has been involved with some wonderful Women’s groups and Christian Ed in the church.  At the age of 12, she became a Christian when a Substitute Sunday School teacher taught her class about Salvation.

Cheryl is both excited and humbled to be a part of this very unique and Christ-centered school.

Grace Gulbis: Middle School and High School Literature, Composition & Creative Writing

Grace Manidis lives in a historic farmhouse next to an abandoned tin mine in Elverson, PA. She thrived as an unconventional homeschooler from K-12, seizing the opportunity her Junior year to  herself homeschool a family of four siblings in Cambridge, England. 

At DeSales University, she continued her love of learning as an enthusiastic English major, with minors in Creative Writing and Theology. Her passion for writing led her to earn a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and Publishing (MFA) at her alma mater in December, 2022.

While a graduate student, Grace worked as an Assistant College Campus Minister for a year; then as a Middle and High School Learning Support Aide and Pole Vault Coach at Twin Valley.  She is currently completing her PA 7-12 English Teaching Certification, and pursuing publication of her thesis manuscript (a collection of linked historical fiction short stories). 

Grace can be caught hiking at French Creek State Park, playing her vintage accordion, and teaching Italian to her niece and nephew. She also runs a literary society and magazine, swing dances, and works at a family-run orchard. 

Grace is ecstatic to join PHA this year, and is looking forward to sharing her belief that "Learning is its Own Reward."

Eva Wong: Art

Eva always had a passion for the arts. It started as a child with a box of 64 crayons, then mixed media and finally to designing. She studied at Tyler School of Art and has a BFA in Graphic Design. Eva worked as a graphic designer for 12 years and later taught Parent/Toddler & Preschool Art Studio classes, Mixed Arts, Advanced Elements of Art classes and Canvas Painting workshops for children & adults.

Eva lives in Quakertown with her husband, Alston and children, Helena & Nathan. Outside of art she enjoys watching movies, shopping, solving puzzles & spending time on the beach with her family.

God has blessed her with this wonderful opportunity with two of her favorites: Art and teaching children. Eva enjoys working with children and encouraging their individual creativity. She believes everyone is an artist and has their own unique style. She is looking forward to another year at PHA exploring different mediums, taking a peek into art history and finding creative ways to mimic the masters!