Teacher Biographies

Teaches: Math Appreciation for High School , Faith and Science, Physics with Lab (not offered in 2023-2024)

Laura Burke is a former Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering at Lehigh University. She earned her doctorate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at University of California, Berkeley.  She retired from academia to homeschool her children. For thirteen years she was a catechist at her parish, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. For the past twelve years, she has enjoyed teaching Physics, Physical Science, and Math to middle and high school students as a community homeschool instructor. 

Teaches: Spanish 2 ,  Spanish 1, 3 & 4 (not offered in 2023-2024)

Sandra is a homeschooling mother of 2 girls and 4 stepchildren. In addition to being a native speaker from Argentina and Peru, she has over 15+ years of experience teaching Spanish to all ages both in a private school, homeschool, and virtual setting. She is also the Director of Leadership Excursions, a non-profit organization that coordinates missions trips to various countries. She received her M.A. in Public Administration/International Management from George Mason University and her B.A. in Communications/Spanish from Palm Beach Atlantic University. She worked for the Pan American Health Organization in Washington, D.C. as a Bilingual Project Consultant before transitioning into the Education field and currently has a Spanish YouTube channel where she interviews Hispanic women on their identity and purpose.

Teaches: 

(not offered in 2023-2024)

Introduction to Writing in High School,  U.S. Geography, 

World History (with Honors option), American Literature (with Honors option)

 Jeannie DeLisi brings teaching experience from many “worlds”: both corporate and academic, in both Catholic and public schools in the secondary and collegiate level. Mrs.   DeLisi is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a B.A. in Music/Voice Performance and an M.A. in English (“with distinction”), specializing in literature before 1660. After teaching College Composition at Virginia Tech for two years, she moved back “north” to begin her career as a corporate trainer while still teaching College Composition at NOVA. She eventually started a successful business as an Educational Consultant in order to be a work-at-home mom. Once her son was school-aged, she obtained her Virginia state teaching certification in Secondary English. An original parishioner of Our Lady of Hope, Mrs. DeLisi was also one of the original faculty members of OLOH School and taught there for ten years. She pioneered a middle school Humanities program that combined English, Geography, and History. Known for her fun and engaging teaching style, she combines an “old school” approach to grammar with the best practices of 21st century pedagogy, always solidly Catholic. She has been married for over 30 years to Rick and has one son Chris, who was in the first graduating class of OLOH. In her spare time, she cantors the 5:00 and 12:15 Masses and performs with local community theatre groups, most recently as “Mrs. Potts” in Beauty and the Beast. 

Teaches: Chemistry with Lab (with Honors option) 

Cheri Faley graduated Summa Cum Laude from George Mason University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. She also holds an AAS in Nursing and a Masters of Education. Before teaching high school for 31 years, Mrs. Faley worked in Washington D.C as a registered nurse in the ICU and ER and as a shock trauma helicopter nurse. Certified in AYA Science as a National Board Teacher, she has had the privilege of teaching an online pre-engineering college course for the past seven years through the Virginia Space Grant and NASA, along with being a Master Teacher at the elite Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholars Summer Academy at Langley Air Force Base. She tutors at the high school and college level in the sciences, mathematics, and SAT prep.

Teaches:    U.S. History, Literature and Composition, U.S. Government (with AP otion) (not offered in 2023-2024)

Diane Harvey is a former Assistant Professor of Government at George Mason University.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science in 1993 and her doctorate in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland in 1998, specializing in American Government and Political Behavior.  While completing her doctorate, she taught numerous undergraduate classes for the university and was a recipient of their Excellence in Teaching Award.  Upon completion of her doctorate, she served as assistant professor and internship director in the political science department at George Mason University.  She took an "early retirement" from academia to homeschool her children, but she has returned to the classroom in recent years to teach courses in literature, history, and government to local high school students.  She has been an active member of the Catholic homeschooling community in Loudoun County for the past 20 years and lives in Potomac Falls with her husband, four children, and one incredibly naughty dog.

Teaches: Introduction to Computer Science, Advanced Computer Science

*All course sections taught live online for 2023-2024 

Jeremy Hurley earned his B.S. in both Finance and Accounting from Virginia Tech University and his M.S.  in Information Systems from George Mason University. He works as a Senior Business Analysis & Intelligence Manager at Fannie Mae.  He has coached multiple sports teams over the last several years . He looks forward to bringing his knowledge and passion of business and information systems to the classroom and having fun with the students developing the skills needed to start their journey in computer programming.   Jeremy and his wife Ann are raising their seven children in Potomac Falls and attend Our Lady of Hope.

Teaches:  Personal Finance

Bridget Manley graduated from Gonzaga University with a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting. Upon passing the CPA exam, she worked for KPMG LLP as a CPA performing financial statement audits for large public clients as well as mid-size private companies.  She continued her career after public accounting as the Assistant Chief Accountant for Getty Images, Inc. managing the consolidation of all international subsidiaries and the SEC financial reporting requirements for the company.  Bridget left her career in accounting to focus on raising her four children, two of whom she homeschooled through 6th grade. Over the years, she has enjoyed teaching a variety of classes to homeschoolers and being a catechist at her parish. She is a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. 

Teaches:  Economics (not taught in 2023-2024)

Christine McCurdy earned her undergraduate degree in mathematics on a four-year Air Force ROTC scholarship to Bryn Mawr College. She served as a captain in the US Air Force before leaving the service to marry her husband, Craig. After earning her PhD in economics with a minor in statistics from North Carolina State University, Christine taught economics at Eastern New Mexico State University and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and then accepted a senior research position in Washington DC. When she and Craig were finally blessed with children, she devoted herself to full time motherhood and eventually homeschooling. She has experience teaching algebra, geometry, AP microeconomics, AP macroeconomics, AP literature and composition, and several history classes in a classroom setting in a small high school co-op. Christine and Craig have five children: four boys and a daughter, who Christine continues to homeschool. She has two sons in high school and two sons currently enrolled at Cornell University.  

Teaches:  Biology with Lab 

Tracy Niess graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management and a minor in Marketing.  After a number of great years in the corporate world serving in a number of Sales/Marketing roles including her favorite as Director of Corporate Events and Communications for more than 10 years, through the Lord’s prompting and provision, Tracy chose to become a teacher.  Starting as a preschool teacher at her church, the love of teaching was ignited and she became certified preparing her for the full-time homeschool journey that began for her son who will graduate in May 2023.  This journey included teaching everything from unit studies, writing, drama, and history at various co-ops to even creating her own science co-op.  Mrs. Niess found she loves teaching kids of all ages most any material, but through her love of God’s creation in the outdoors and her son’s career interests in the sciences, she has found science and the outdoor field studies as some of her favorites.   More recently, Tracy taught high school Biology, Principles of Zoology and Ecology and is now leading a high school team in the nation’s largest natural resource competition, Envirothon.  Other environmental involvement includes becoming a certified Stream Monitor through Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy and serving along with her son in their amphibian, herpetology, and salt watch programs.  Tracy and her husband have always participated/coached in all sports their children participated in and she currently provides coaching assistance to her son’s homeschool track/cross country team.  Mrs. Niess is an active member and Elder at Ashburn Presbyterian Church where she participates on the Worship Team and Choir, leads VBS and children’s choir, provides direction for and assists with Youth Group and other church wide events and serves as the Wedding Coordinator.  When she has extra time, you will find Mrs. Niess in her vegetable or flower gardens, loving and caring for her sheep and chickens on their farm, creating/designing anything from nature for display or gifts, playing board games with her family, reading a book or exercising/running on the trail behind their home.  She lives in Leesburg with her witty, hardworking husband, Bill, and her athletic, outdoor son, Cooper, and their sweet but lazy rescued dog, Louie. 

Teaches:  Introduction to Theatre Arts

Ms. Pollini has taught theatre across the world for almost twenty years  She earned a Bachelor's of Arts in Theatre Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and her teaching certification and Master's of Education from Point Park University.  Experiences include work as a theatre teaching artist and arts administrator for The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Saltworks Theatre Company, Hartford Stage, Metropolitan School of the Arts, Mount Vernon Children's Theatre, ACLE Associazione Culturale Linguistica Educational, and more. Ms. Pollini has worked with hundreds of students, communities, and professionals in dozens of environments on 50+ theatre productions. She's developed and implemented theatre arts curriculums focused on contemporary works, classical theatre and student-devised performances. Certified to teach theatre and English in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Virginia, Ms. Pollini moved to the NOVA area to teach in both Prince William and Faifax County Public Schools before becoming a full-time mother. A member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, she happily volunteers with the Little Messengers Story Hour at the parish school and substitute lectors at the 9am Mass. When she isn’t helping theatre students develop their skills, Ms. Pollini is raising her creative children (who are quite the little characters!).

Teaches: Fine Arts Class

Paige began organizing an art school for children as a high school senior. She continued her interest in art graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art education from the Univerity of Maryland, College Park, and further obtained graduate level studies in bronze sculpture at Long Beach, CA. She started a PTA funded ‘Art Masters’ program in the elementary schools in Palos Verdes, CA, and has taught students in various recreation/school based programs for many years.  As a professional oil painter, she teaches groups privately.  Serving Christ, Paige has taught the Bible in prison ministry for 11 years before Covid shut the program down.  She is the wife of Ed Robie, mother of 7 grown children, and lives in Cascades.

Teaches: Personal Finance (not taught in 2023-2024)

Mrs. Sutton has developed a love for teaching in the last 20 years through homeschooling, leading scouts, and tutoring. Before and during her original 15-year career in mapping and intelligence with the Department of Defense, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Geophysics from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from Johns Hopkins University. After 15 years in government service, Mrs. Sutton decided to stay home and educate her children. During her daughters’ younger years, Mrs. Sutton organized and ran playgroups and a field trip group, then moved on to homeschooling. Both Sutton girls attended the NCHS co-op throughout high school, where their mother occasionally served as a substitute teacher. Mrs. Sutton served with enthusiasm for four years as unit leader for the Pioneer and Patriot levels of American Heritage Girls troop VA1975. Since 2020, Mrs. Sutton has privately tutored more than a dozen students in language arts and math, at levels from kindergarten through high school. She has extensive experience in public speaking in many forums and is eager to help students improve their skills through the Public Speaking course. Mrs. Sutton has been an avid follower of Dave Ramsey’s financial advice for 3 ½ years and is very excited to share these principles with the next generation through the Personal Finance course. Mrs. Sutton attends McLean Presbyterian Church. She lives in Vienna, VA, with her husband Harold, their energetic Dalmatian Zesta, and a beat-boxing parakeet named Lucky.