Lauren
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Lauren Leggett is a licensed teacher, who received her Bachelor of Education Degree from Mississippi State University in 2011. Her degree concentration was middle level education, with an emphasis in both Language Arts and Social Sciences. Her first teaching position was a unique opportunity, where she served as Supervising teacher at Jackson Elementary, a rural school in the Big Hole Valley of Montana. The school’s population of 10 students was divided into two classes, grades k-3, and 4-8. Lauren taught the “Big Room,” grades 4-8, all subjects. During her time at Jackson, she was responsible for planning the rural school basketball season and spelling bee for all the small schools in the county, as well as wearing the hats of student council sponsor and editor of the student newspaper, The Jackson Monthly. It was during her time at Jackson Elementary that she developed an appreciation for small group learning with multi-age classrooms. Lauren is a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa teachers’ sorority and Purvis Woman’s Club. She and her husband, Jed, live with their 8-year-old son, Wylie, on a 40 acre Grassfed Beef farm, which now includes The Country Schoolhouse. Enrichment education with hands-on activities has been Lauren’s passion throughout her teaching career. Two years ago, when she began homeschooling her son, she looked for homeschooling support and resources in the area, and realized a need for this in the community. From this need, and the experience at the rural school in Montana, Lauren and Jed developed the concept of The Country Schoolhouse. They both look forward to the opportunities this facility can bring to the families of the surrounding area.
Kristen
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Kristen Taylor was artistic at a young age, with a big imagination. She caught the acting bug in 5th grade while playing Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker for the school play. That's all it took. Winning all-star cast awards throughout high school eventually led to graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre at William Carey University. At WCU, she continued to explore the arts in all aspects, including acting, set design, costume design, stage combat, makeup, sculpture, watercolor and more. After college, Kristen taught Art at Purvis Upper Elementary for 4 years, while also painting commissioned works for churches, nurseries, businesses, and homes in our local community and surrounding area. Today, her most important and cherished duty is being a stay-at-home-mom. She and her husband, Charley, have two amazing children, ages 3 years and 18 months. Kristen says, “They teach me unconditional love every day. Watching them explore the natural world in all its beauty and being responsible for these little beings is the greatest job I'll ever have. I can't wait to share my love and knowledge for the arts with your children.”
Parker McMullanClasses: Littles Drama k-4th grade, Middle and High School Drama (5th-12th), Public Speaking
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Parker McMullan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and a Masters of Education, with an emphasis in gifted education, from William Carey University. She is certified by the state of Mississippi to teach drama, speech, special education, and gifted classes. Parker has taught middle school gifted, reading, and drama classes, as well as high school drama, speech, and oral interpretation classes. During her time as a drama/speech teacher, Parker received the Star Teacher Award and was selected by the American High School Theatre Association to direct a show for their annual festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Among Parker’s other accolades, she is a member of Alpha Psi Omega Honorary Theatre Fraternity, International Thespian Society, and the National Forensics League. She has received All-Star Cast awards for acting, on both high school and community theatre levels, from the Mississippi Theatre Association. Parker has served on the boards of Just Over the Rainbow Community Theatre and the Mississippi Theatre Association.
Most recently, Parker has devoted the past three years to homeschooling her son, Evan. She plans to continue homeschooling for the remainder of Evan’s school career.
Most recently, Parker has devoted the past three years to homeschooling her son, Evan. She plans to continue homeschooling for the remainder of Evan’s school career.
Maggie
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Maggie West, grew up in the New Orleans area as the youngest of six children…… learning early there is
always a story to be told. She moved to the Hattiesburg area to attend Southern Miss, where she
graduated with a B.A in Psychology and a B.S in Counseling. She went on to become a certified
Elementary Education teacher through William Carey University while working in the world of non-
profits. Her work experience includes counseling runaway and homeless youth and families, drug and
alcohol prevention for students, crime victim advocacy, and over 2o years of grant writing, for many
non-profits and health care, team building, and program management.
Maggie West is currently the Ministry Coordinator at Purvis United Methodist Church and is involved in
the community through Purvis Show Choirs, the Lamar County Education Foundation, United Way Funds
Distribution, and PTO. She has been married to David West for over 20 years and is the mother of two
children, Jordan , 14 and Jacey, 8.
always a story to be told. She moved to the Hattiesburg area to attend Southern Miss, where she
graduated with a B.A in Psychology and a B.S in Counseling. She went on to become a certified
Elementary Education teacher through William Carey University while working in the world of non-
profits. Her work experience includes counseling runaway and homeless youth and families, drug and
alcohol prevention for students, crime victim advocacy, and over 2o years of grant writing, for many
non-profits and health care, team building, and program management.
Maggie West is currently the Ministry Coordinator at Purvis United Methodist Church and is involved in
the community through Purvis Show Choirs, the Lamar County Education Foundation, United Way Funds
Distribution, and PTO. She has been married to David West for over 20 years and is the mother of two
children, Jordan , 14 and Jacey, 8.
Jed
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Jed Leggett is a lifelong learner and teacher and spent most of his life on the farm where The Country Schoolhouse is located. He received undergraduate degrees in Physics, Philosophy, and Mathematics, as well as a Masters degree in Physics, from Mississippi State University. Jed currently works as a Research Scientist for Innovative Imaging and Research at Stennis Space Center and is a Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Physics at MSU. Jed taught Physics at The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science from 2013-2016, where he was named a Mississippi STAR teacher in 2015. While at MSMS, he coached or sponsored many academic teams and clubs including: Rocketry Team, Robotics Team, Physics Club, Engineering Club, Cryptocurrency Club, Science Olympiad team, and Science Bowl team. Jed also served as the ACT Test coordinator for MSMS for 2 years. When he’s not busy working on his Ph.D. or taking care of cows, Jed serves as a Den Leader for Cub Scout Pack 101 in Purvis. Jed and his wife started The Country Schoolhouse to bring outside-the-box educational experiences to families and kids in their area.
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Susan Hartfield Class: PK4-3rd S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) |
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Susan Hartfield received her Bachelor of Education degree from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2005 and her Master of Education degree from William Carey University in 2008. Her endorsements include Mathematics, Career Discovery, and Computer Discovery. Susan taught elementary and middle school grades at McLain Attendance Center. After teaching 6.5 years, she came home from her teaching position to be a stay-at-home mom. Susan and her husband, Brandon, have two children. They are currently homeschooling and are are looking forward to the wonderful opportunities at The Country Schoolhouse.