Administration
dr. Justin zahraee - head of school, 9th grade humanities
Justin Zahraee strives to be a faithful and effective leader in Christian education. After coming to know the Lord in high school, Justin double majored in religious studies and economics at Rice University. A desire for further theological training led him to pursue a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, followed by a Ph.D in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College. His dissertation explored the intersection between Augustinian theology and modern economics. Prior to arriving at Valley Classical School, Justin served as the Pastor of Discipleship at Crossroads Community Church in Aurora, IL. When he’s not spending time with his wife and best friend Jolene, Justin enjoys swimming, reading nonfiction, and cheering on his beloved Chicago sports teams.
Martin beers - Rhetoric school director, Upper Latin, Rhetoric school mathematics & science
Martin Beers grew up in Blacksburg as a Catholic Christian homeschooler. He received his BA from Thomas Aquinas College in California, where students seek the truth together via the great books and Socratic discussions. He completed his MA in philosophy at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, focusing on Thomas Aquinas and the philosophy of science. He also spent eighteen months in formation in a Benedictine monastery in Norcia, Italy, where he came to know the Father’s merciful love in a profound way. Martin has taught Latin and Greek, calculus and pre-calculus, biology, physics, and astronomy in classical schools. He finds his greatest joy in sharing the beautiful things of God with young people. When he is not teaching, he can be found singing Gregorian chant, reading, baking, or hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
samuel Kimzey - Logic School director, 4th form latin, 8th Humanities, rhetoric school Historical Theology, lower school Choir
Hailing from Blacksburg, Virginia, Sam is a homeschool graduate and the second-oldest of eight kids. He graduated with honors in May 2020 from Bluefield College with a B.A. in History and Christian Studies and a minor in music. He is passionate about classical education, particularly teaching and studying the liberal arts, history, philosophy, theology, and literature. He is committed to enjoying and practicing the art of music, particularly through piano, guitar, and choir. He is currently pursuing his M.A. in Humanities with a concentration in Classical Education from the University of Dallas. Outside of school, he enjoys reading, spending time with family and friends, drinking tea or coffee, watching movies, caring for his chickens, and playing frisbee.
Kristina McClung - lower school director, 4th Grade, 1st form latin, technology coordinator
Native to Blacksburg and the Roanoke Valley, Kristina attended Virginia Tech where she earned a B.S. in Psychology, a minor in African American studies, and met her husband, Nathan. She is currently pursuing her M.A. in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology for Teaching and Learning from Ball State University. She has worked with children on a vocational and volunteer basis for several years and is passionate about teaching. She believes that academic education can play a beautiful role in learning how to, “Glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
Darien Kardos - Director of campus life
Born in Maryland, but raised across the United States as part of a military family, Darien began to establish roots in Georgia as a sophomore in high school. There she married her high school sweetheart, Josh, graduated from the University of Georgia, and pursued a career in education. Darien taught middle school science and health and coached Cross Country and Track at a Christian school before she and Josh started their family. Once their youngest was school-aged (then living in North Carolina), Darien returned to education as a third grade teacher at a Classical Christian school. Her love of the Classical tradition grew during her tenure, however her longing for more family time did as well. After two years of working outside the home, Darien decided to homeschool. Darien is thrilled to join the VCS family and looks forward to the years ahead in educational partnership.
Lower School
Nancy Anderson - Pre-k, Admissions Coordinator
Nancy Anderson graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Civil Engineering. Following a few years in the consulting industry, she and her husband Eric returned to Blacksburg and began their family. She has been homeschooling her four children for the past ten years. Nancy is extremely excited to return to VCS for another year. First exposed to classical education through Classical Conversations, Nancy has watched her children pass through the grammar, dialectic, and rhetoric stages, and she can attest to its effectiveness. Nancy tutored Foundations for three years as a part of the Blacksburg Classical Conversations community where she worked with 1st and 2nd graders as well as 5th and 6th graders. As a swim coach, Nancy has been working with kids of all ages for nearly ten years. When she is not homeschooling or coaching, Nancy enjoys reading, running, and spending time with her friends and family.
mary roach - Kinder
An Oregonian at heart, Mary Roach moved to Christiansburg in January of 2021 after graduating from Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington with a BA in History and a Minor in Spanish. She has worked with children of all ages in various capacities and is excited to use her skills and passion to work with Kinder students at VCS. When she is not working, Mary loves to read, knit, and go hiking.
alison seright - 1st Grade
Jillian Sullivan - 2nd Grade
Jillian, though originally from Blacksburg, spent most of her childhood overseas, before returning to Blacksburg to finish high school. She graduated from Virginia Tech, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and received her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford University. Jillian worked for Montgomery County Public Schools, teaching 2nd grade for 7 years, before coming to VCS. When she's not teaching, she's spending time with her family, and caring for her two sons, Micah (3) and Eli (3 months). Jillian is excited to return for another year at VCS and looks forward to learning alongside another group of 2nd graders!
Misti gardner - 3rd Grade
Having spent her whole life in nearby Floyd County, Misti Gardner has a strong connection with this region of Virginia. As a graduate of Radford University, where she earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in English, she developed a strong love for Appalachian Literature. She is driven by her love for God in her life and after having taught second grade in a public school system in the past, she is excited to combine her love for Christ and teaching children together in the VCS family. She loves being a mom and creating memories, especially by traveling and exploring new places with her husband and children.
Brittany Smith - Lower School Physical Education
Brittany grew up in a small coal town in southern WV. She earned a Bachelor’s in Literature and Composition from Concord University, an MAT in secondary education from Liberty University, and taught middle and high school English for 6 years. She knew she had a passion for teaching even as a young kid and often played “school” with my cousins and friends. She and her husband have three daughters, a labradoodle, and a cat—business that keeps their home full of critters and love.
Upper School
sharon brockman - 2nd & 3rd Form latin
Sharon Brockman, born and raised in the opposite end of Montgomery County, received her B.A. in History from Roanoke College. She and her husband, David, returned to the New River Valley following his service in the Navy. There they have raised their 3 sons. It was while homeschooling the boys Sharon first was introduced to classical education, which she quickly realized is what she had been wanting for her own education. She has been tutoring, teaching, and working with children since college. Additionally, she has spent lots of time on the sides of soccer, football, and lacrosse fields.
Andrea Buehrer - Logic School Mathematics
Andrea Buehrer grew up in Michigan and Ohio and attended the University of Toledo. After graduating with a degree in Nursing, she married Mike and moved to Blacksburg. Here they have raised and homeschooled their six kids. She has a passion for homeschooling and is so excited to be part of VCS where she can learn more about classical education and continue to homeschool at the same time. Her hobbies include family hikes and camping trips, gardening, and spending time outdoors.
Laura Kimzey - 6th/7th Humanities, Logic & Rhetoric School Fine Arts
Laura Kimzey grew up in Blacksburg, VA, as the third child in a large homeschooling family. In May 2022, she graduated with honors from Bluefield University with a major in English Literature, minors in History and Graphic Communications, and a semester spent studying literature at the University of Oxford. Both in her personal studies and in two years of academic tutoring at BU, she has grown to love pursuing truth and sharing it with others, whether in the classroom or in other real-life relationships. When she's not busy with school, Laura likes to make memories with friends and family, read (especially C.S. Lewis and the classics), and play ultimate frisbee.
Vince oliveri - upper school Bible
Originally from Chicago, Vince is glad to call Blacksburg home, where he lives with his sweet wife Kara and their three kiddos, Zoe, Theo, and Bo. Vince is the Pastor of Teaching & Vision at The Vine Church, a new gospel-centered, multiethnic, and missional church plant in Blacksburg. Vince holds a BS in Human Development from Virginia Tech, an MDiv from Southeastern Seminary, and is in the process of completing his PhD with the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, UK. He intends to submit and defend his thesis on Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s pastoral theology of the Word of God in the fall of 2023. Vince is passionate about teaching the Bible in order to help equip young people to know God, treasure the gospel, and pursue Christ’s kingdom with their whole lives. In addition to teaching theology and serving the church, Vince loves writing, going on adventures with his family, and slowly working on home renovation projects.
