Mrs. Swingle, the new language arts teacher for sixth grade, loves literature and has taught sixth grade before. She came to TPA from teaching at ASU. “I missed being with and teaching sixth graders,” says Mrs. Swingle. She is mesmerized by the beauty and power of words.
Mrs. Swingle has always known about Tempe Prep. She sent her own children here and has always been committed to the school. “I just love the Socratic dialogue here at TPA,” Mrs. Swingle eagerly explains. It is obvious how much she enjoys hearing her students’ thoughts and questions about the text. She is delighted to be part of Tempe Prep and to bring the world of literature into her students’ minds.
—Clara Moffitt
Mrs. Vorst, the new sixth grade Social Studies teacher, has been on Tempe Prep grounds since before it was a campus! She went to church in what is now our Zelman Center. When Mrs. Vorst was 5, she moved to Okinawa, Japan. Years later, she came back to Arizona to earn her bachelor’s degree in journalism at ASU. She taught first, second, and third grade English in Japan for three years. She also taught ninth and tenth grade religious studies.
We should thank Mr. Lambros and Mrs. Tripoli for introducing Mrs. Vorst to TPA. She fell in love with the emphasis on the Great Books in class discussion. She is captivated by history and has loved it all her life. She feels it is important for children to know history to understand the world around them. Welcome to Tempe Prep, Mrs. Vorst!
—Clara Moffitt
One of the many amazing new teachers this year is Mr. Halter. He drives a motorcycle to work. You can’t top that, now can you? Mr. Halter teaches one section of eighth grade Earth Science, and all sections of Science for sixth grade. He hopes to accomplish much this year. “I have always liked studying the natural world; the stars, the weather, and rocks. I hope to give my students this same love of learning,” he said. Mr. Halter also commented that one of the reasons he came to teach here is that Tempe Prep is one of the best schools in the state. (He couldn’t be more correct. We are brilliant, yes?)
—Emily Gregg
Another amazing teacher for junior high is Mr. Kelly. Although he does not drive a motorcycle to work, he is very smart, and almost has his Ph.D. in the Hebrew Bible (whoa). Mr. Kelly teaches two sections of eighth grade American History, and will be teaching tenth grade Humane Letters later in the year. “Education is important for creating an informed and productive society,” he says. “I plan to provide my students with an exceptional education, unlike one of my teachers from my childhood.” When asked why he likes Tempe Prep, Mr. Kelly said, “I like that people don’t have to be rich to experience a challenge. And it is within walking distance of my home.” Such great reasons! Welcome to Tempe Prep!
—Emily Gregg
Mr. Bernreuter is one of the newest additions to the TPA faculty, and has replaced Mr. McCluskey in teaching Physics I and II classes. He has an infectious enthusiasm for the subject, and this shows through his resume; he has taken part in many projects regarding physics and the environment.
Mr. Bernreuter’s interest in physics developed at the undergraduate level: “When I was 18 years old, after my stint as a rest area attendant, I packed up my car and drove to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona. At first I was not sure what to major in, but after my first semester Physics class I decided on that.” Afterwards, he received his master’s degree in “Earth Resource Engineering, which is a cross between Mining Engineering and Environmental Engineering, from Columbia University’s Henry Krumb School of Mines.”
Emphasizing the ancient Greek ideal that men should hold at least one experience working for the state, Mr. Bernreuter takes pride in his previous job of working for the state of Arizona as an environmental program manager for the Water Infrastructure Finance Authority. There, he “verified progress on the construction of drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities.”
“I am enjoying the good natured spirit of students, faculty and staff,” Mr. Bernreuter details of his experience so far, “We all must keep seeking that Truth, Beauty and Goodness.” Welcome, Mr. Bernreuter!
—Rachel Neglia
Mr. Thorpe graduated from TPA in 2006. When asked why he wanted to come back to TPA and teach, he said, “I love teaching teenagers, and working here seemed like a great opportunity to keep doing that.” He teaches Latin and ninth grade Humane Letters, and is enjoying his experience so far. He is skilled in languages, having studied Russian and Latin, and he “loves reading a lot of the literary foundations in the original language.” Mr. Thorpe taught at Veritas before coming to TPA, and he said, “I really like the TPA campus. It feels natural. I like the open air. It has character, rather than a big, soulless building.”
Over the summer, Mr. Thorpe went on a 5,000-mile road trip with his fiancé and he loves the outdoors. He plays the piano and rock climbs in his spare time. He is an excellent addition to TPA’s faculty.
—Sarah Faulkner
Miss White graduated from TPA in 2006. This is her first year teaching. “I knew that TPA was an environment that I was familiar with, a curriculum that I would know the proper tone of, and a campus I would be comfortable at.” She said, “Teaching is the hardest thing of my entire life, but it’s rewarding. I went into teaching because I wanted to keep doing art. I thought that being an art teacher I would be able to keep doing art and with people every day.” In school, Miss White’s favorite subject was Latin, but she studied French, and also liked Humane Letters. She enjoyed getting into schisms in class over the books. She likes to do table top gaming, specifically Dungeons and Dragons, and she enjoys calligraphy. She is a thrilling addition to TPA’s staff.
—Sarah Faulkner
Mrs. Horn is a new sixth grade Math and Homeroom teacher. She was born in Orange, California. She moved to Arizona in 1993 and went to ASU for college because she thought that it was a great institution, and wanted a change from California. After college she married Mike Horn. They had two children named Casey, who is now 11, and Allison, who is now 7. She taught in Vista Grande, New Mexico, for two years and at Ward Traditional Academy for five years. She has a miniature Schnauzer, named Charley, as a pet. She wants to travel to Europe someday. She likes to watch baseball and play tennis. This summer she went to Colorado and California.
She likes to teach kids because she likes their eagerness and energy. She is a really amazing teacher!
—Waley Lin