Faculty Bios

Administration

Shawn Wheatley, Principal of Highlands Latin School, has a B.A. in Biology from Transylvania University, an M.A. in Education from the University of Kentucky, and an M.S. in School Administration from Bellarmine. Shawn has taught algebra, chemistry, biology, physics, and earth science to middle and high school students since 1998. Often developing his own materials, he was nominated by his peers for the Aneon Award for Outstanding Science Teacher in Jefferson County. In addition to his administrative duties, Shawn teaches astronomy to 3rd graders. Shawn and his wife, Georganna, have three sons and a daughter.

Leigh Lowe, author of Memoria Press' beginning Latin program, Prima Latina, is a writer and curriculum developer for Memoria Press and was one of the founding instructors of Highlands Latin School. Leigh holds a B.A. in Business with a minor in Computer Science from Transylvania University and an M.B.A. from the University of Louisville. She received the Newkirk-Moore Award for Female Entrepreneurs in 2000 and the Landrum Rotary Fellows Award for Leadership in 2001. Leigh was recently included in the "Forty under 40" issue of Business First magazine, featuring young business leaders in the Louisville area. Leigh started her own business, the highly successful Campus Quilt Co., which has been featured on NBC's The Today Show, the Rachael Ray Show, the ESPN Espy Awards and in Real Simple, Washington Post and Courier-Journal. 

Brian Lowe, son of Highlands Latin founder Cheryl Lowe, is a graduate of St. Xavier High School, a National Merit Finalist, with a B.A. in Physics and Mathematics from Transylvania University and a J.D., summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt Law School in 2002. He managed a rare achievement for a law student when his research project on predicting the outcome of the Supreme Court was cited by a MIT Mathematics professor and a UCLA Law professor in the Minnesota Law Review. Brian was classically educated by Cheryl Lowe as she developed many of the courses that are carried on by Memoria Press today. Brian is the business manager for Highlands Latin School, Memoria Press, and Vittitow Refrigeration.  He also manages the family's property development firm, which owns approximately 220,000 sq ft of industrial and commerical property.  Brian and his wife, Leigh, have two preschoolers.

Mary Lynn Ross is Director of Admissions and the Lower School. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Lander University. Mrs. Ross is from Charleston, South Carolina, where she taught for six years before moving to Louisville. She has a wide knowledge of children's literature and has written our literature guides for 1st and 2nd Grade. She and her husband, Gregory, have a daughter who is a graduate of HLS, and a son who is an HLS 12th grader.

Upper School Faculty

Joel Amunrud teaches Latin, Logic, and Geometry. at HLS. He graduated summa cum laude from the Master's College in California with a B.A. in Biblical Languages and is working on a graduate degree at Southern Seminary. Joel has studied abroad in Israel, learning Biblical history, geography, and archaeology. In addition to his teaching duties, Joel tutors students in Latin and helps prepare them for the PSAT and SAT.

Cooper Boldrick has earned a B.S., and an M.A. Chemistry from Western Kentucky University. Mr. Boldrick teaches Chemistry at HLS.

Carrie Christensen, a graduate of Centre College, has completed her research for a Ph.D. in Biology at the University of Louisville. While working on her M.S. at Tennessee Tech. she taught human anatomy and physiology, conducted research in animal behavior, and in her spare time, milked cows on her family’s dairy farm!  Carrie teaches biology at HLS and coordinates science activities for the lower school. She also teaches anatomy and physiology to nursing students at the local community college.

Michelle Church initially learned Latin from Mrs. Cheryl Lowe as a cottage school student before the inception of HLS. She continued to study Classics in college and received a B.A. in Latin from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. In college she was also on the swim team and the softball team. As an undergraduate she studied abroad in Athens, Greece, and her enthusiasm for integrating archaeology into the study of history is largely the result of that experience. She taught Latin in public schools in Roanoke, Virginia, for two years and then returned to Louisville, working several years in a publishing house. She is very excited to be returning to teaching, especially at HLS. She is also enthusiastic about painting, running, eating locally, and singing in the choir at church.

Martin Cothran is a writer and teacher who lives in Danville, Kentucky with his wife and four children. He is the author of Memoria Press' Traditional Logic, Material Logic, and Classical Rhetoric programs. Mr. Cothran also developed and manages Memoria Press' online academy. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from the Simon Greenleaf School. He still serves, on a consulting basis, as senior policy analyst with The Family Foundation of Kentucky. He practices the art of rhetoric in frequent articles on public policy issues that have appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer, Louisville Courier-Journal, The Lexington Herald-Leader, and various other newspapers around the state. He has served on several state commissions dealing with state education policy and has been a frequent guest on KET's "Kentucky Tonight" program.

Ken Dennis taught 6th grade Social Studies and Reading at Jefferson Country Traditional School for 16 years and middle school science at St. Leonard School for 3 years. With 21 additional years of teaching and private tutoring, Mr. Dennis brings a wealth of experience to Highlands Latin. Mr. Dennis was twice named Outstanding Teacher of History in Kentucky (1986 and 1989), as well as being honored as the Outstanding Teacher of Social Studies in 1986. His numerous other awards include the Campbellsville University Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002. Mr. Dennis is collector of both facinating anecdotes and historic memorabilia, both of which he uses to enrich his high school classes in American and Modern European history. His other hobbies include traveling, hiking, fishing, and writing film history.

Jennifer Heinze teaches 7th and 8th grade English at HLS. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Oklahoma. Mrs. Heinze first studied education abroad at Westminster College in Oxford, England, being further trained to teach at the University of Texas in Arlington. After thoroughly enjoying teaching junior high and homeschooling, she is thrilled to be back in the classroom to share her love of great literature. Mrs. Heinze and her husband, Edward, have a son and daughter, both of whom are currently enrolled at HLS.

Robert Hublar has a B.A. in Physics from Bellarmine College and a M.A. in Education with a major in math and physics from Indiana University. He joined Highlands Latin after retiring from Louisville's Trinity High School, where he taught physics for 39 years. Mr. Hublar is a master teacher who was taught by master teachers himself, the Xaverian brothers at the old St. Xavier High School on Broadway. He is always available to give extra help to students, and he makes physics a challenging but enjoyable experience for students.

Cody King has a B.A. in Christian Studies from Union University in Jackson, TN. Originally from Las Vegas, NV, he was raised in a military family and has lived all over the states. In high school he was interested in both sports and drama, and managed to combine the two when he auditioned for Romeo and Juliet in his football gear!  Mr. King has a great sense of humor, is a serious scholar, and is looking forward to his first year at HLS.

John Meade received a B.A. in Biblical Languages/Bible from Columbia International University, an MDiv. from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and is currently working on his dissertation for the PhD in Old Testament at Southern. He teaches Lower and Upper School Latin and Upper School Greek I and II.

Meghan Melton teaches AP English Literature and Composition. Having instructed and taught in a variety of educational settings and capacities - internationally and at the university and community college levels - Mrs. Melton describes teaching as both her passion and her calling. Prior to coming to HLS, Mrs. Melton taught composition and rhetoric for Jefforson Community College's prison program and before that at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. A native of Virginia, Mrs. Melton moved with her family to Louisville three years ago. Both of her children attend HLS. Mrs. Melton earned a B.A. in Russian Studies and M.A. in Teaching from the University of Virginia, as well as an M.A. in English from Old Dominion University.

Glen Moore holds a B.S. in Secondary Science Education from the University of Oklahoma, and an MDiv from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He teaches Latin in the Upper and Lower schools, as well as pre-algebra and 8th grade science. Before coming to HLS, Mr. Moore taught science, math, and Latin in public and private schools in both Maryland and South Carolina.  Mr. Moore assists the administration in the daily operation of the school and is an ever-present source of energy and enthusiasm. Glen, his wife, Bethany, and two children, Graydon and Ian, enjoy being outside and escaping to Cherokee Park as much as possible.

Dr. Leigh Moore taught in the Nashville area for several years after graduating from Vanderbilt University. She moved to Louisville in 1993 to pursue a doctoral degree in dental medicine. Following her residency, she practiced denistry at Central State Hospital while serving the larger community through organizations such as the Cabbage Patch Settlement House. Dr. Moore, a freelance writer, welcomes the opportunity to return to the classroom as her husband, Robert, begins graduate studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. The Moores are blessed to have three children, two of whom will enter HLS this fall.

Laura Musick graduated from Hillsdale College with a B.A. in German and the Classics. Mrs. Musick is originally from Canada, is well-traveled, and loves languages.  Her hobbies include swimming, camping, kayaking, hiking, reading, piano and guitar. Mrs. Musick is looking forward to her second year teaching at HLS and studying great literature with her students.

Stephen Musick received a B.A. in Religious Studies and History from the University of Virginia, and studied Egyptology and Islamic Studies at the American University in Cairo. Mr. Musick has lived for extended periods in Egypt and Greece, learning some colloquial Arabic and modern Greek and visiting many of the places which he references in his courses. He has also visited several great museums and monuments in France, Germany, and Turkey. In addition to teaching in the Upper School, Mr. Musick is the College Advisor and AP Coordinator at HLS.

Kirby Ownby holds a B.A. in Relgion and Latin from Samford University, and is currently pursuing his M.Div. at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He teaches Latin in both the Lower and Upper Schools. When he is not teaching or studying, he prefers to spend his time with his wife, Libby, and their three dogs. An avid lover of all things outdoors, he loves to go on canoe trips, hikes in the Smoky Mountains, and fishing.

Benjamin Payne received a B.A. in Economics from The University of Virginia and a Master of Architecture degree from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Ben grew up in Louisville and moved back in the spring of 2009 with his wife, Amanda. He currently owns a design firm, Blackbird-502, specializing in architectural design and web application development. He is also the Chairman of the Board of the Green Convene of Louisville. Ben and Amanda enjoy living just off Frankfort Avenue and can often be seen walking their dog, Keegan. Ben teaches 7th Grade Math and Algebra I.

K-6 Faculty (by grade)

Krista Lange graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, with a B.S. in Elementary Education and taught Kindergarten and first grade for several years. In recent years, Krista has been raising her three children, all of whom now attend HLS. She also has taught Sunday school and early childhood music classes. She is very excited to return to the Kindergarten classroom and looks forward to working with the families at HLS.

Teresa Brittain is excited to join the HLS faculty as a Kindergarten teacher. She holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Louisville. She has eight years of classroom experience teaching in Kindergarten and first grade Christian school classrooms. Her young students benefit from her daily use of children's literature, her commitment to effective phonics instruction, and her ability to create and maintain a nurturing classroom environment. Teresa also teaches first grade Sunday School. She enjoys reading, gardening, and lake vacations with her family.

Jennifer Price joins our faculty to teach first grade. Jennifer received her bachelor's degree in Marketing from the University of Louisville and her M.A. in Elementary Education from Bellarmine University. She has taught third grade in Oldham County and also brings experience from substituting for two years in Jefferson County Public Schools. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two young daughters.

Karen Oakley has a B.A. and an M.A. in Education from Murray State University and recently completed two courses in gifted education. She has six years of prior teaching experience in the elementary grades and will teach first grade this year. Mrs. Oakley is married to Jason, and they moved to Louisville in 2006, along with their children, Erica and Jonathan, who are students at HLS. Mrs. Oakley's hobbies include reading, music, photography, and scrapbooking. She is excited to watch her students grow both academically and socially their first year of school.

Joyce Aspatore brings 29 years of teaching experience to our Primary Program as the 2nd grade teacher. Joyce received her B.S. in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University, after which she began her long tenure with Jefferson County Schools, from which she retired several years ago. Offering both expertise and enthusiasm, routine reading and arithmetic lessons are turned into memorable events in her classrooms, where a love of books and learning is carefully nurtured. Joyce and her husband have two grown daughters.

Brenda Janke graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin, Eu Claire and teaches 3rd grade. Before coming to HLS, she gained wide teaching experience at several schools where she taught Latin and 4th-6th grades. Brenda’s organizational skills, gentle nature and experience in the classroom are appreciated by students and parents alike. She is married, has two grown children, and has a special affection for children's literature.

Ashley Gratto received at B.S. in Mathematics from Milligan College and joins our faculty as a 5th grade teacher. In addition to teaching, she enjoys reading, biking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She and her husband, Dominic, are enjoying their first year of marriage. Mrs. Gratto is looking forward to her first year at HLS and is excited to get to know her students.

Caleb Kinlaw received a B.A. in Philosophy, form Gordon College, and an M.Sc. in Philosophy from the University of Edinburgh. He teaches 5th grade at HLS.

Sean Brooks received a B.A. in Religion from Missouri Baptist University. He teaches 6th grade at HLS.

Andrea Cavanaugh teaches 6th grade at HLS. She holds a B.A. and M.A. in English and has six years of teaching experience, four of which were in a classical school in Virginia where she taught a variety of upper school literature and writing courses. She and her husband moved to Louisville in 2007 and have enjoyed getting to know the city. She enjoys taking walks, being involved in her church, cooking, and reading. She also oversees the organization of a small book club that meets monthly for discussion. She is excited to be part of the HLS faculty this year.

Janice Murdoch joins our faculty this year to teach Art and Physical Education in the Primary and Lower School. She earned a B.A. in Dance and Exercise Training from California State University, Sacramento and a M.A. in Dance/Movement Therapy from Antioch New England Graduate School in New Hampshire. Her passion for exercise and dance has opened many doors, including the opportunity to teach adult fitness classes in various forums (currently at Baptist/East Milestone Wellness Center) and to teach worship dance to K-12 children for nine years in Fairfax, Virginia. Her lifelong enjoyment of art blossomed when she taught art as part of a home school cooperative. She is pleased to have the bonus of teaching at HLS where her two children now attend.

Jim Ashby received a B.S. from Murray State in Health and Physical Education. He teaches 3rd through 6th grade PE, manages the club sports competitions for the Upper School House system, and serves as the Athletic Director for the school. He is also the head coach of all the boy's basketball teams at HLS. He is currently attending Southern Seminary as a candidate for the M. Div. in Christian Ministry. He has a wife of two years and an infant son at home.