Discover Tristar Cottage School's Tutorial Teachers

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Robert Brady is a highly experienced Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic and Combat Medic, proudly serving since 1990. He has an AAS in Health Science, Summa Cum Laude. A graduate of the U.S. Army Instructor School (2004), he has trained Soldiers in life-saving skills, awarding the 68W Combat Medic Military Occupational Specialty. He is also a certified American Heart Association and American Red Cross Instructor, teaching Basic and Advanced Life Support since 2008. 

In addition to his medical background, Robert holds a General Class FCC License and provides instruction and certification for Amateur Radio Operators of all ages. His ability to teach complex material in an approachable way has made him a respected educator in both emergency services and communications. 

A father of three homeschooled children—now successful professionals—Robert has been married to his high school sweetheart since 1986. His lifelong commitment to service, education, and family defines both his career and character. 

Derek Cooke is a professionally licensed teacher in the state of Tennessee. He spent 10 years in the field of education, four as an Educational Assistant and six as a teacher, before stepping away due to medical reasons. During his time as a teacher, he taught at West Creek High School in the science and life skills department. He co-taught a variety of classes, including Physical Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Ecology, Transition to Adulthood, and Bridge Math. Derek is highly experienced in working with students who require learning accommodations. He is passionate about teaching science, history, and essential life skills that help students succeed.

Derek and his family moved to Clarksville in 2009 after his retirement from the Army. They raised their four children in the area. Three of their children are now married and living independently, while the youngest is currently attending Austin Peay State University.

Travis Easterday brings a hands-on, real-world approach to teaching technology. With a background in homeschooling his two sons for the past two years, Travis understands how to make learning both accessible and engaging for students of all ages.  

He has over seven years of experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and received functional Python training from Southern New Hampshire University, which he applies to Raspberry Pi programming and robotics builds for his children. His additional training includes CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, providing him with a strong foundation in computing and cybersecurity.  

Travis’ teaching style is college-minded and student-centered: “You get out of my class what you’re willing to put into it.” Grades are based on completion, and group projects are designed to mirror simplified real-world scenarios, encouraging collaboration, creativity, and practical problem-solving.  

Whether it’s mastering advanced Excel functions or writing your first lines of code, Travis’ goal is to make learning challenging, rewarding, and, above all, fun. 

Jesseca Martin has been homeschooling for six years and considers teaching her children the greatest joy of her life. She is deeply grateful to God for guiding her to this path. She holds a bachelor's degree in administration and finds great fulfillment in teaching children—a passion that extends into every area of her life.

In addition to homeschooling, she coaches softball, soccer, and Bible quizzing at her church. She believes that forming meaningful connections with each child is essential to understanding how they learn best. A lifelong learner herself, she enjoys growing alongside the students she teaches and values every moment of the journey. 

Operations Coordinator & Educator, TriStar Cottage School 

Carol Parker brings over eight years of experience as a home educator, offering a strong foundation in organization, communication, and a deep passion for empowering families to take charge of their children’s education. From mentoring teens to guiding preschoolers, she thrives on building meaningful relationships with learners across all ages and stages.

With a background in mechanical engineering, Carol has a strong love for teaching STEM and science, where she strives to inspire curiosity and confidence in every student. She currently serves as a Beta Club sponsor and engineering instructor, combining academic rigor with hands-on learning to help students explore real-world applications of science and technology.

Joy Perez is a homeschool mom of three. She earned her Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics from the University of North Carolina Pembroke in 2003. She has taught and tutored a wide range of students in mathematics, those struggling to ones gifted, in ages ranging from preschool to adult senior learners in skills ranging from counting to college calculus. She strives to make math relevant, engaging, and understandable. 

 Katie Sank is a passionate homeschool mom of three with over a decade of hands-on teaching experience. For the past 10 years, she has homeschooled her children while also teaching middle school science classes for 8 years in various co-op and classroom settings. 

Known affectionately as "Ms. Frizzle" by her younger students, Katie brings science to life through engaging, hands-on experiments that spark curiosity and excitement. For 7 years, she has led Magic School Bus-themed science classes, blending creativity, fun, and educational rigor to inspire a love of learning in every child she teaches 

Julie Siedel is an experienced English educator with a deep passion for writing and literature. With over eight years of teaching high school writing and literature, she brings both expertise and enthusiasm to the classroom. 

In addition to her classroom experience, Julie homeschooled her own children for 14 years, giving her a unique and flexible approach to individualized instruction. She has also taught writing and literature tutorials at TriStar homeschool tutorials for the past five years, including a novel-writing class that sparked creativity and storytelling skills in her students.

Julie is dedicated to helping students find their voice, develop strong writing skills, and discover the joy of literature.

Anneliese has been part of Tristar from the very beginning, graduating through the program and now returning as a teacher. Currently a junior at Berklee College of Music, she is pursuing her Bachelor's degree in Music Production and Songwriting. During high school, Anneliese served as a student teacher, and she’s excited to come back and inspire younger students to develop the same love for music that she has. 

She has been playing piano since she was old enough to reach the keys and has since added several other instruments to her repertoire. Music is her true passion, and nothing brings her more joy than sharing it with others. 

Heather is a High School student teacher who has been a co-teacher in our family ASL program for the past two years. She’s been learning ASL on and off since kindergarten. In the beginning of Junior High she started taking lessons with a Deaf instructor to become fluent and for her foreign language credit. 

She is currently part of our student interpreting program since it started, 3 years ago, and has been co-teaching Family ASL for the past 2 years. She’s been a homeschool kid her whole life and deeply enjoys teaching other people the importance of Deaf culture and the ASL basics and beyond. 

Executive Director & Educator, TriStar Cottage School 

Jill Trapp is an educator with over 17 years of experience and serves as TriStar Cottage School's Executive Director. She teaches History & Geography, Government, Economics, Communication, and Leadership. She believes these courses are essential for developing informed, capable, confident citizens with great communication skills. 

Jill's teaching philosophy centers on understanding our past and how our systems work, which is key to responsible citizenship. At the same time, strong communication and leadership skills empower students to thrive in every area of life.  Students learn best when they can engage in their learning personally. Her interactive and student-driven classes allow learners to choose from various topics and project formats that match their interests and abilities. She holds a bachelor's in education and a master’s in organizational leadership and is completing her Doctorate in Education. 

 As a second-generation homeschooler and a homeschooling parent for over 11 years, Christina Walkenhorst brings both experience and passion to the learning environment. She has had the privilege of leading classes for students ranging from preschool through high school, always approaching teaching with a heart for creativity, curiosity, and connection.

With over 20 years of experience in American Sign Language, she is fluent in ASL and enjoys sharing both the language and its rich culture with learners of all ages.

She loves thinking outside the box and finding fun, meaningful ways to engage students—whether through hands-on projects, storytelling, or using the world around us as a tool for learning. She believes the best education often begins with the familiar and is always looking for ways to transform everyday moments into meaningful opportunities for growth and discovery.

Marisa Williams is a dedicated homeschooling mother of three children, with over 11 years of experience guiding their education at home. She has utilized the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) curriculum for eight years, demonstrating a strong commitment to fostering her children's writing and communication skills. 

With a background in middle school education, Marisa brings professional expertise and passion to her homeschooling journey. She has lived in Clarksville for the past five years, where she continues to support her family’s educational growth and development. 

Olivia Wilson is in her fifth year of homeschooling and her fourth year teaching co-op classes. Before becoming a parent, she taught pre-kindergarten and holds degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Development.

Olivia is known for her interactive, hands-on teaching style, always striving to make her lessons as engaging as possible. As a mother and an educator, she understands that students learn best when both their minds and bodies are actively involved in the learning process.

Ben Wolf is a seasoned airbrush artist with over 35 years of experience. He has created custom airbrushed t-shirts and a wide variety of items at popular beach destinations including Myrtle Beach, Virginia Beach, Daytona Beach, and South Padre Island. His work has been featured in rap videos and television shows over the years, showcasing his distinctive style and artistic talent.

Throughout his career, Ben has taught airbrush classes at art stores and has served as a guest speaker at numerous schools and colleges. He has also owned and operated airbrush businesses, bringing both artistic and entrepreneurial expertise to his work. As a hands-on instructor, Ben is passionate about sharing his craft and helping others explore their creativity through airbrushing.