+ VSL Educators & Staff

Sara Babcock, Early Elementary

Sara, originally from California, has been a Kentucky resident for the past 14 years. She attended Victor Valley Community College for early childhood education and has several years of classroom experience teaching POD schools and as a long term substitute. Besides her years in corporate management, Sara is a professional photographer and has a flair for arts and crafts.

When she is not wearing the many hats required at VSL, you can find Sara with her daughter Harmony on yet another adventure.

Courtney Macklin, Elementary Lead Teacher

Courtney has over a decade of teaching experience with ages Preschool to 4th grade. In addition to many advanced courses, she holds a Master of Art in Elementary Education as well as a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child and Family Studies from Western Kentucky University.

“I developed a love for learning early on, and I want to share my joy for learning with students.”

Fei Yuan, Middle Elementary & Mandarin

Fei Yuan graduated from University of Texas with a master’s degree in Education and spent over 10 years teaching at different unique education settings, including Montessori school, IB international school, and public school. Fei has teaching experience with children from preschool through middle school and believes the best thing a teacher can teach students is being a lifelong learner. She hopes to inspire and motivate students with a love of learning.

Summer Brown, Middle Elementary

Summer came to VSL as a homeschool parent in search of an inclusive culture. Upon finding VSL, she and Zander decided to embark upon the daily commute from the family farm in Meade County, and they truly found their village! The following year, inspired by the vision for VSL & Finnish model, Summer found her passion reignited, and officially joined the ranks!

Summer graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education as a young mother. She has experience and continued education across various grade levels, districts, and specialties to include pre-school, literacy, gifted education, and ASL to name a few. She is also a licensed Cosmetologist.

Outside of VSL, you might find her at a coffee shop, at meditation, on a movie date with her three children (two grown) and trying out local venues; otherwise, at home cozied up with her poodle among her plants or singing and dancing in the kitchen while her husband of 25 years does the cooking!

Lance Hereford, Middle Elementary

Lance Hereford is a graduate of Western Kentucky University where he met his wife, Kelly. He has teaching experience in areas of special education, elementary, and technology education. Lance is also an avid outdoorsman, having done an internship with the Tennessee Valley Authority at Land Between the Lakes. Camping, backpacking, and hiking are some of his favorite pastimes and he promotes a love and respect of nature in the classroom. He also enjoys traveling and especially trying new foods.

Lance believes in being a lifelong learner and, as with his outdoor activities, goes by the motto “Adventure is Out There!”

Whitney Mattingly, Older Elementary

With a varied background in marketing, art and education, Whitney spent three years as a full-time artist before transitioning to teaching. At VSL, they've taught Art and Cultural Experience classes with Music Teacher Lance O and led diverse clubs, including sewing, visual art and gardening. They've also taught at the Louisville Zoo and engaged in academic research on children's media, advertising and gamification in education. Their approach emphasizes creativity, critical thinking, and hands-on experiences.

Beyond teaching, Whitney enjoys historical and costuming sewing, mixed-media art, and gardening. They're an avid reader, usually clocking over 40 books a year. Family life includes a spouse, twins, a dog, and two cats. They are easy to spot in a crowd with their brightly colored hair and tattoos.

Kim Stephenson, Older Elemntary

Kim recently moved to Kentucky after teaching for twenty-two years in American schools overseas in Korea, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Turkey. She received her Bachelor’s in Education from James Madison University and a Master’s in Education from Old Dominion University, both in Virginia. Her teaching experience includes teaching all subject areas in grades 1-8, K-12 Reading Specialist, 5/6 gifted, Multilingual Learners, multi-age, MS STEM, and HS Environmental Science.

One of Kim’s goals is to instill a love of reading by sharing her favorite read-alouds with scholars of all ages; she believes one is never too young or too old to listen to a good story. She has a passion for nature and the outdoors and encourages all to be stewards of the environment. In her travels, she has volunteered with scientists to protect cheetahs in Namibia, turtles in Costa Rica and Okinawa, gorillas in Rwanda, slugs and monarchs in the PNW, and elephants in India. A master scuba diver, she also has a love for the underwater world. Kim has spent time living with the Masai in Kenya and the Mudmen of Papau New Guinea to learn more about other cultures. She enjoys sharing her experiences to inspire life-long learners!

Kim now hopes to explore more of America by visiting National Parks. Her family resides in Lexington, KY and Virginia.

Terry Clark, Junior High & High School

Terry Clark brings to VSL not only a background in teaching but also a deep background in writing and professional experience in pastoral care and counseling. Terry has taught at the middle school, high school and college level and has expertise in both English and History as well as experience in interdisciplinary course work creation. With both a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Teaching and a passion for theater, Terry creates an engaging and exciting classroom for students and works with other faculty to create and evaluate deeply enriching interdisciplinary projects for VSL students. Terry is also working to develop a thriving theater department and creative writing program at VSL.

Joe Payette, Junior High & High School

Joe Payette comes to VSL with an engineering background and over 10 years teaching experience in both math and engineering at both public and private schools in the Louisville area. His passion for science and deep understanding for math make him a wonderful asset to VSL’s interdisciplinary project-based learning environment. Joe has an interest in 3D printing and his enthusiasm is contagious. Students love to stop by his room to see what is printing, work on printer maintenance and repair, and even participate in building printers. Joe values the community and culture at VSL and loves to enrich VSL student learning with the resources of Louisville.

Tanya Insanally, Lead Teacher Junior High & High School

Tanya Insanally teaches History and Social Studies to the Junior High and High School students. She started out the school year as a parent of two VSL students and was very happy to be asked to join the faculty in October 2023 after moving from Washinton D.C. to Louisville in July 2023.

Tanya attended George Washington University where she obtained a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs and a Master of Arts degree in Secondary Education. She also earned an undergraduate degree in History from the University of Florida. She has more than 10 years of experience teaching World History, AP World History (including the interdisciplinary course with ELA), and AP Human Geography at Oakton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia.

She was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised there and in Miami, Florida. Since her family is multiracial, diverse and resides in different parts of the world, she has been exposed to many different perspectives and cultures.

Linda Hinds, French Teacher

Linda has been a student of the French language since childhood and continues to study even today. Through the years, she's helped many people gain an ability to converse in French - from young children to Phd candidates! Not being a native French speaker, Linda knows the trials of learning this beautiful language and looks forward to introducing VSL students to French language and culture. À bientôt!

Spanish Teacher

Lance Oliphant, Music Teacher

Lance has a Bachelors of Music with emphasis in jazz guitar studies and music technology from Bellarmine University. While attending, he studied jazz and classical guitar with Craig Wagner and Chris Roseland respectively along with instrumental pedagogy, jazz harmony, jazz piano, drums and Voice. While approaching two decades of performing experience, Lance has played in rock, hip hop, funk, jazz, and classical settings. His teaching methods are grounded in creating a fun environment while honing technique, learning by ear, reading notation, and analyzing theory. Utilizing the students interests, this approach results in a versatile student musician capable of navigating any musical landscape.

Traci Slayton, Art Teacher

Traci recently retired from teaching art in Shelby County, Kentucky after 31 years. Teaching visual art is her passion, but she also enjoys gardening, playing guitar, and singing. Traci writes songs for what she teaches and brings her guitar into the classroom. Traci believes that art is a perfect vehicle for integrating social studies, science, math, music, nature and much more. She also has a degree in teaching students with hearing impairments.

Erin Enriquez, Assistant Executive Director, COO

Erin is a multifaceted professional who enjoys and excels in acquiring new skills and capabilities to provide high level support. Over the years she has pursued formal education in the fields of sociology/psychology, health and nutrition, physical therapy, and technology. She holds an associate degree and Microsoft Office Specialist certification from Ivy Tech Community College. She is also a Notary Public. Prior to her employment with VSL Erin served on the Board of Directors as a parent representative and Board Chairperson.

In her free time Erin enjoys relaxing at home and writing D&D campaigns with her partner or playing with her daughter Abby and bonus daughter Cora. Erin is always up for an adventure and loves to travel to faraway places.

Heather Harrell, Executive Director, CEO

Heather earned her undergraduate degree at Columbia University, her Doctor of Medicine degree at Baylor, and her Juris Doctorate from Northwestern. Heather's extensive academic career includes serving as adjunct faculty at The University of Louisville's Brandeis School of Law and Bellarmine University. Her legal background includes experience at several Louisville law firms, including volunteer work for the ACLU. Heather has served on the Children’s Committee of Highland Presbyterian Church as well as on the Board of its Nursery and Weekday School. A mother of three, Heather conceptualized The Village School of Louisville while trying to juggle career, family, friends, community commitments, and self care. This village is a dream come true.

+ Board of Directors

Terry Fontenot, Board Chair

Terry is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist. He is the founder of the Kentucky Association for Play Therapy and is active in his church as a Sunday School Teacher. He has served as both treasurer and secretary for VSL. Knowing the power of play to bring learning and transformation in children's lives, he is excited to have play and joy as a priority in VSL.

Jim Crowley, Board Treasurer

Emilie Dyer, Parent Representative

Scott O'Neal, Parent Representative

Courtney Macklin, Teacher/Staff Representative

+ Advisory Council

Inspired by the proven Finnish educational model, VSL brings together a broad range of experts to serve on the VSL Advisory Council. This Advisory Council reviews school policies, procedures and outcomes to assure that the school is aligned with research-backed practices and with its mission. In addition, the Advisory Council is available to answer questions posed by leadership of the school as they arise. While we are still building the team, our current members include:

Randy C. Whetstone Jr., Ed.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Organizational Leadership & Learning, Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development, University of Louisville

Christia Spears Brown, Ph.D., Lester and Helen Milich Professor of Children at Risk, Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky

Dr. Kenneth R. Pearson, M.D., Pediatrician, Norton Children’s Medical Group