Karen Bonham is a wife and mother of five. Karen began homeschooling twelve years ago when her oldest child was in kindergarten. After homeschooling solely at home and then with the support of a homeschool tutorial, Karen enrolled her children at STAT in 2021 and has been delighted with the warm and welcoming community and the quality, faith-filled academics. Karen also works part time as a speech-language pathologist and volunteers as a catechist in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atrium.
Tara Pessia has a Master of Social Work from Widener University and previously served as the Clinical Director for a youth residential treatment and foster care facility in the Baltimore area. Tara became a stay-at-home mom for her three sons and daughter beginning in 2005. She was introduced to STAT in 2016 when she began homeschooling her oldest son. Tara’s faith and dedication to family drive her to devote her time to volunteering with her parish (Our Lady of the Fields) and community organizations. She and her husband, John, have been married since 2001 and have lived in Crofton since 2008.
Jessica Peterson has been part of the STAT community since 2017 and is honored to now serve as Director. She earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, College Park and a M.A. in Special Education from Towson University. Jessica previously taught elementary school for 8 years and has tutored science and Latin at STAT. She is an active parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in Severna Park, where she has previously served as a coordinator of Vacation Bible School and Walking With Purpose. She and her husband, Matt, are passionate about classical education and homeschooling.
Marie Richardson is a homeschool veteran of 20 years. She and her husband David have been married 28 years and have three young adult daughters. A native of California, she accompanied David in his duties in the U.S. Navy around the country and overseas before settling 17 years ago in Maryland. She is currently living in Arnold and an active member of St John the Evangelist church. Marie has been with STAT as a board member and/or tutor since 2017 and since 2012 as a parent.
Brian Wilson is a retired US Navy “mustang” officer who served over 25 years first as a SH-60B helicopter crewman/rescue swimmer then as a Telemetry and Critical Care Nurse in the Navy Nurse Corps. He has his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Florida and a Master of Science in Health Informatics Administration from University of Maryland Global Campus. He is currently a Federal Program/Project Senior Manager supporting the Department of Defense. Brian and his wife, Julie, are active parishioners at St. John the Evangelist Church in Severna Park with Brian very active in That Man Is You and Exodus 90. Brian, and Julie, a STAT teacher’s assistant, have 4 beautiful children and have homeschooled three of them. Rounding out the family is their loveable Bernedoodle, Flynn.