Meet the Teachers

Parents are eligible to teach a class for our co-op after having been a full member for one session.

Elizabeth Kelemen

Ms. Elizabeth holds a degree in elementary education and is a former teacher and former children’s librarian who is currently homeschooling her five children. A passionate educator, she loves cooking and exploring different cultures. She has previously taught World Geography and Cultures as well as Introduction to Cooking for our co-op, and is a member of the Board of Trustees. She will be teaching Introduction to Music in Spring 2024.

Teresa Murphy

Ms. Teresa holds a degree in communication arts and her career has been in journalism, with bioethics and individual humans her two favorite topics to write about. For our co-op, she has previously taught Storybook S.T.E.M., Storytime and Crafts, My Amazing Body, and Around the World with Jan Brett. Her hobbies are biology, hiking, reading, and cake decorating. She currently works in a women’s home and is a mother of four and a member of our Board of Trustees. She will be teaching All About Dinosaurs in Spring 2024.

Samantha Peterson

Ms. Samantha is a certified children’s yoga instructor with years of experience teaching yoga, mindfulness, and working in early childhood education. She is a homeschooling mother of two and serves on the Board of Trustees for Bright Explorers. An enthusiastic language-learner, she has taught both Mindfulness and Yoga as well as Introductory Spanish for our co-op previously, and will be teaching both Nature Projects and Poems and Yoga and Mindfulness in Spring 2024.

Kathleen O’Connell Roehm

Ms. Kathleen is a homeschooling mom of two. Prior to homeschooling, she studied literature and history at Albertus Magnus College and was a site director for an elementary after-school enrichment program. Her hobbies include learning heirloom crafts and studying material culture. She has previously taught Looking at Art Through Math as well as Creative Writing and Astronomy for our co-op. She serves on the Board of Trustees for Bright Explorers and is the current Director of the cooperative. She will be teaching Art of Mythology in Spring 2024.

Ms. Laura Salazar

Ms. Laura homeschools her two children.  She has a B.A. and a J.D. and practiced law for nearly ten years.  In addition to teaching in our co-op, she now works as a professional photographer.  In her free time, she enjoys doing personal photography projects, hiking, reading, doing jigsaw puzzles, and being outdoors as much as possible.  She takes a child-led approach to teaching art by suggesting projects while allowing the children to follow their own ideas. She will be teaching Mythical Creatures Art in Spring 2024.

Ms. Sara Ramos

Ms. Sara homeschools her three children. She has previously taught Art in Nature as well as Animal Detectives for our co-op. She holds a degree in biology and education. She taught in a public school system before following her true passion and working in environmental education at various non-profit organizations and park systems. In addition to learning alongside her children, her hobbies include reading, gardening, knitting and exploring the outdoors. She will be teaching Pollution Mystery in Spring 2024.

Ms. Emily Curran

Ms. Emily is excited to be teaching Movement Songs and Games with Bright Explorers. She is a homeschooling mom of two who loves to be outside and give her kids plenty of time for free exploration and play. She holds a Ph.D. in History and currently works as an adjunct professor, K-12 reading and writing tutor, and babysitter, in addition to homeschooling. She also enjoys yoga, reading, baking, crocheting, and sewing.

Mr. Axuve Salazar

Mr. Axuve homeschools his two children alongside our art teacher, his wife Laura Salazar. He has worked in the TV industry as a computer graphics artist and editor, for decades. He holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Colombia University, which he is excited to put to good use teaching Exploring Engineering in Spring 2024! His hobbies include watching movies, writing, and drawing.

Sensei L.

Sensei L. has taught Principles of Karate for Bright Explorers since our inception in Fall 2021! With decades of experience and training to instruct children in martial arts, Sensei L. uses her patience, enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge to encourage our children in the art of self-defense and to build confidence, strength, and agility.