Meet Our Teachers
Our teachers are more than educators; they are fellow learners, mentors, and disciples of Christ who are passionate about cultivating truth, goodness, and beauty in the lives of their students. United by a love for the Lord and a shared commitment to Charlotte Mason's philosophy of education, they are honored to partner with families in nurturing children as whole persons made in the image of God.
Susie Bacon
1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
Susan is a wife, homeschool mother, educator, and one of the founders of Living Oaks Cottage School. As a mother of five, she has spent years investing in the education and discipleship of her children, including successfully graduating one child who is now pursuing his vocational goals. Her passion for education grew out of years of homeschooling and serving alongside other families seeking a rich, Christ-centered learning environment.
In addition to her homeschooling experience, Susan spent many years working in social services with children and families. She also completed graduate studies in child therapy, finishing all but one class of her master’s degree. Her background has given her a deep appreciation for nurturing the academic, emotional, and spiritual growth of every child.
We are grateful for Susan’s heart for children, her commitment to Christ-centered education, and her desire to cultivate a classroom filled with wonder, wisdom, and growth.
Tara Truex
3rd and 4th Grade Teacher
Tara holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Clemson University and served as an officer in the United States Air Force before pursuing a career in engineering and project management. After becoming a mother, she discovered homeschooling and quickly fell in love with Charlotte Mason’s vision of children as born persons. She has spent many years studying and implementing Charlotte Mason principles through resources such as Ambleside Online, Delectable Education, and Mason Jar podcasts.
A homeschooling mother of five, Tara is passionate about cultivating wonder, beauty, and a love of learning. She is also a Master Gardener volunteer who enjoys homesteading, foraging, and sharing the richness of God’s creation with others. We are grateful for the wisdom, experience, and enthusiasm she brings to our community and look forward to the impact she will have on our students this year!
Lisa Cumings
5th and 6th Grade Teacher
Lisa is a devoted wife, mother of three, and foster mother to three additional children. She has been part of the Living Oaks community since its earliest days, joining when her oldest daughter—now 11 years old—was just a baby. Since then, she has faithfully walked alongside other homeschooling families while cultivating a rich home education grounded in the Charlotte Mason philosophy.
With a deep love for children and a heart for serving families, Lisa previously worked in management at a local youth shelter, where she gained valuable experience supporting and mentoring young people. Her greatest passion, however, is her relationship with the Lord. She loves studying God’s Word and is committed to growing in both faith and understanding. As part of that pursuit, she has completed the Charlotte Mason Institute’s CMI I course and continues to enjoy digging deeper into Charlotte Mason’s philosophy and educational principles.
Mariah McGinnis
7th and 8th Grade Teacher
Mariah McGinnis is a homeschool mother of four and has been educating her children at home for 11 years. A longtime member of the Living Oaks community, she has been deeply involved in the co-op and is honored to help lead its transition into Living Oaks Cottage School.
Married for 19 years and a nurse for nearly 16 years, Mariah brings both structure and compassion to the classroom. An avid reader with a heart for discipleship, she believes education flourishes best in small, Christ-centered communities where faith, character, and a love of learning are intentionally cultivated.
As our Form 3 teacher, Mariah is excited to walk alongside students in grades 7–8, guiding them as they grow in knowledge, wisdom, and their love for the Lord through a rich Charlotte Mason education.
Katrin Peterson
High School Teacher
Katrin holds a degree in French Education from North Dakota State University and has been immersed in Charlotte Mason education for nearly a decade. Through years of homeschooling, book studies, and participation in a thriving Charlotte Mason community, she has developed a deep appreciation for the power of living books, rich ideas, and meaningful discussion.
As a homeschool mother of five, grandmother, and part-time dyslexia tutor, Katrin brings both experience and wisdom to the high school classroom. She is passionate about helping students think deeply, and make connections across subjects that shape both mind and character. Katrin is excited to walk alongside Living Oaks students as they pursue truth, goodness, and beauty through a Charlotte Mason education.
Diana Bauman
School Director, 7th-12th Spanish Teacher, and 5th-12th Art Teacher
Diana Bauman is a founding member of Living Oaks and has served the community for over eleven years, from its beginnings as a small homeschooling co-op to Living Oaks Cottage School today.
She teaches art to students in grades 5–12, bringing a love for beauty and creativity shaped by her background in graphic design and fine art. Diana also teaches Spanish to Forms 3 and 4 using the ULAT (Universal Language Acquisition Tool) approach, which emphasizes listening, speaking, and natural language acquisition in a way that mirrors how children learn their first language. A fluent Spanish speaker with a heart that lives in Spain, she loves helping students experience language as a living means of communication and connection.
A mother of five who has graduated her two oldest children, Diana considers it a privilege to serve families at Living Oaks and partner with parents in Christ-centered education.
Katherine Dietrich
High School Literature and Composition Teacher
Katherine was raised in a homeschooling family where wonder, curiosity, and spiritual formation were woven into daily life. Those early experiences cultivated a deep love for stories, ideas, and lifelong learning that she now brings into her own teaching.
She earned her B.A. in English Literature from Grand View University, where she served as a writing tutor throughout her college years. Following graduation, Katherine worked as a writer and creative content producer for a local cinematography company, contributing to projects that earned two regional Emmy Awards.
As a homeschooling mother of three, Katherine understands the beauty and responsibility of cultivating a rich education rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty. For the past seven years, she has taught Shakespeare at Living Oaks Co-op, helping students discover that great literature is far more than words on a page—it is an invitation to wrestle with timeless questions and encounter the deeper realities of life.
Katherine’s passion is helping literary masterpieces come alive as students learn to see every story through the lens of the One True Story that gives meaning to them all.
Charity Klein
Junior High and High School Science Teacher
Charity has always been fascinated by the sciences and the countless ways they reveal the wisdom, order, and creativity of our Creator. Her passion for understanding God’s world has led her to pursue both scientific study and teaching, and she is excited to share that enthusiasm with her students.
She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Simpson College and has taught science courses within the homeschool community. Charity believes that science is not merely a collection of facts to memorize, but an exciting journey of discovery that invites students to observe, question, investigate, and wonder.
One of her greatest joys as a teacher is building relationships with students, encouraging them as they grow in confidence, and celebrating their successes along the way. She loves creating opportunities for students to experience the delight of discovery and to recognize God’s handiwork throughout the natural world.
At Living Oaks, Charity looks forward to learning and growing alongside her students as they explore the beauty, complexity, and wonder of creation together.
Andrea Meader
Form 1 Aide Teacher
Andrea Meader is a devoted wife, mother of three, and experienced homeschool educator. Having been homeschooled herself, she always knew she wanted to give her own children the same gift. This coming year marks her family’s 16th year of homeschooling.
Before becoming a mother, Andrea worked in early childhood development, where she discovered a love for helping young children learn, grow, and delight in new discoveries. She has a special gift for creating engaging learning experiences and encouraging children as they build confidence and understanding.
A cherished member of the Living Oaks community for several years, Andrea will serve as our Form 1 aide teacher and will teach history and geography to our first-grade students. She is excited to partner with families in nurturing a love of learning and helping children grow in both knowledge and faith.