Teacher Biographies

Teaches: Physical Science,  Faith and Science

Math Appreciation for highschool, Physics with Lab (not offered in 2025-2026)

Laura Burke has been teaching for NCHS since its inception

in 2014. She earned her doctorate in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research at

University of California, Berkeley, and was Associate Professor of Industrial Engineering

at Lehigh University. She retired from academia to homeschool her children, and has

enjoyed teaching Physics, Physical Science, Math Appreciation, and Faith and Science to middle and high school students as a community homeschool instructor since 2010. In

2021, the youngest of her three children graduated from homeschooling. Laura is a

parishioner at St. Catherine of Siena Church.

Teaches: Drawing the World, Art Appreciation

Mixed Media Art, Communicating through Art (not offered in 2025-2026)

Anna Sophia Cline has a BA in Biology with a concentration in Illustration from George Mason University Honors College and is currently pursuing her Masters degree at Mason. She has been involved in art since she could hold a pencil and is experienced in many genres of art.  Her project mediums include charcoal, scherenschnitte, pencil drawing, pen and ink, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, and oil. Having spent her high school years at NCHS, she is excited to be returning as an instructor.

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 33 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 11 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. A majority of her former students have successfully pursued STEM careers. She tutors at the high school and college level in science and mathematics. Mrs. Faley has a wonderful husband who enjoys relaxing at the beach or hiking in our national parks, two grown children, a grandbaby, and four wonderful granddogs.

Teaches:  Foundations of Writing, Western Civilization I

U.S. History, U.S. Government and Politics, History Through Literature (not offered in 2025-2026)

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 earned 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 four children, but she has returned to the classroom to teach courses in government, history, and literature to local high school students. 

Teaches: 

Introduction to Computer Science,  Advanced Computer Science

(not offered in 2025-2026)

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: Spanish 2

Spanish 1 (not offered in 2025-2026)

Señora Juárez is a bilingual English & Spanish speaker with a BS in Industrial Engineering from Monterrey Institute of Technology (ITESM) in Mexico and a Foreign Language Teaching certificate from the University of Virginia. She taught Spanish at St. Joseph School (1st-8th grade) in Herndon for ten years and at Bishop O’Connell (Spanish 1- AP Spanish Language and Culture) for 6 before retiring. Currently she runs a private tutoring company at her home. She moderated several students’ clubs as The Hispanic Heritage Club and the Interact Club at DJO. She volunteered at LINK and Tin Cup Fun and Dibujando Sonrisas, an NPO in Monterrey, Mexico. Despite being afraid of heights, she ziplined next to the Arenal volcano in Costa Rica. 

Teaches:  

Personal Finance (not offered in 2025-2026)

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:  Music Appreciation

Colleen McAtee graduated from the Eastman School of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in music education.  Her primary instruments are piano and violin.  Before her children were born, she spent seven years as a high school orchestra director and elementary school strings teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools.  During her time at Eastman, she taught the Music Makers class of 3-year-olds for the Eastman Community Music School. For over 30 years, she has maintained a music studio of piano and strings students and is currently homeschooling her children.   

Teaches: Intro to Psychology, World Literature

Elizabeth Nikzad is a dedicated educator and child development advocate. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech and brings three years of experience teaching at St. Veronica Catholic School. During her time there, she developed and implemented novel units, provided mentorship to students in reading, math, and writing, and effectively integrated technology into the classroom, particularly during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past three years, Elizabeth has served the Virginia Department of Education, observing and evaluating early childhood education settings. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University, driven by her aspiration to one day serve children and adolescents and support their mental health needs through a Catholic perspective. Elizabeth has 3 young daughters and is a parishioner at St. Veronica Catholic Church. 

Teaches: 

Biology, Environmental Science with Lab/Field Study (not offered in 2025-2026)

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 finished in May 2023 as her youngest started college.  The homeschool 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 led 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:  Public Speaking

Marilyn Wilkinson is passionate about education, particularly teaching students to think, write and communicate well. With an undergraduate degree in French and Linguistics, she taught both French, and English as a Second Language, then moved to the world of finance, becoming a CPA, and controller for British and US companies. She returned to education 22 years ago, homeschooling her children, teaching everything from Algebra to Zoology. Four of her six children have already graduated from homeschooling. As a homeschool mom and teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson has taught writing, literature, and public speaking, as well as mentoring many students who need help with writing, test preparation, college applications and career guidance. She is deeply passionate about her Catholic faith, volunteering in many capacities at her parish church, Our Lady of Hope. She also loves to write and speak, especially about theology, family life, keeping home, education, organization, and habits.