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Meet the Blue Willow Tutorial Team 

Priscilla Bell - Founder 
 

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Priscilla Bell is the founder and Board President for Blue Willow Tutorial. She and her husband, Nathan Bell, have been married for fifteen years and they have three children, Rory (12), Maddie (11), and Caylor (3). She has a Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (K-8) and has experience teaching children in local public schools and private schools in various grade levels. In her years of teaching in those capacities, she became hungry for an education model that would truly meet children where they are and help them soar to new heights.  Raised on the methods of Charlotte Mason, she began to dive deeper into this relational philosophy of learning and teaching and in so doing, discovered a beautiful and complete model of education that serves the whole child as God designed him – spirit, soul, and body. Priscilla and her family attend Hillcrest Church in Etowah, TN.

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Lisa Ector is the Director of Education at Blue Willow Tutorial. Lisa has a long history with the Charlotte Mason philosophy of education, beginning with homeschooling her own 7 children with these methods almost 30 years ago. Since then, she has immersed herself in the study of relational learning and served for three years as the Director of Education at Ingleside Tutorial in the Chattanooga area. She currently serves on the board of the Charlotte Mason Institute, a worldwide organization committed to research and development on this learning approach. In recent years, Lisa has also traveled throughout the country facilitating teacher training and helping with CM school and hybrid start-ups. At Blue Willow, she handles the day-to-day operations for grades 1-8 along with tutor training, scheduling, and curriculum implementation.

Lisa Ector - Director of Education
 

Tutors

Courtney Church - Kindergarten Tutor
 

Courtney Church serves as the Kindergarten Tutor at Blue Willow. She has been married to her husband, Micah, for 13 years, and they have two children: Olivia (11) and Jack (7).

Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Childhood Development from Lee University. Before moving to Athens from Knoxville, she helped lead the 2nd–6th grade youth ministry at her former church, Old North Abbey. Her family now attends Hillcrest Church in Etowah.

Together, they enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible, exploring nature and making lasting memories. Courtney is passionate about walking alongside young learners in their educational journey and helping each child see God’s love and purpose for their lives.

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Rachel Rucker - 1st Grade Tutor

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Rachel Rucker is passionate about nurturing young hearts and minds, both at home and in the classroom. She has been married to her husband, Kelly, for 17 years, and together they have three daughters: Abby (16), Belle (12), and Lila (10).

Her love for working with children began in high school when she started teaching Sunday School, a role she has continued for over 18 years. She began homeschooling her own children seven years ago and has since been seeking the right educational community for her family.

Rachel is grateful to serve at Blue Willow as the 1st Grade Tutor and looks forward to helping each child grow, learn, and embrace the truth that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Amanda Strickland - 2nd/3rd Grade Tutor
 

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Amanda Strickland lives in Ten Mile, TN, and has been joyfully married for 22 years to her husband, Mason Strickland, who pastors Open Door Baptist Church in Sweetwater. Amanda plays piano at the church and is an active support to both her husband and their church community in many ways.

She and Mason have two sons—Lane, 20, who is married to Haley, and Clay, 19. The Stricklands homeschooled their boys for seven years, and along the way discovered the Charlotte Mason philosophy, a method they now deeply appreciate and wish they'd known from the start.

Amanda has spent many years working with children, both in church ministries and educational settings. Her experience includes substituting in schools, working as a library assistant, and teaching in homeschool co-ops. As her own children have grown, so has her passion for teaching and inspiring young learners. She finds great joy in watching students' eyes light up with discovery—and considers it an even greater joy to learn from them in return.

In her free time, Amanda enjoys crafting, decorating, playing piano, cooking, and staying active through exercise.

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Donna Lane serves as the 4th/5th Grade Tutor at Blue Willow Tutorial. She lives in Riceville with her husband, Larry, and her two daughters, Rebekah (16) and Charis (14). Donna is also the proud mother of four grown sons (ages 19–27) and “Mimi” to four beloved grandchildren.

With over 15 years of homeschooling experience, Donna brings both wisdom and warmth to the classroom. She has been active in church ministry throughout the years, teaching Sunday School and serving as Children's Church Director. Currently, she is the Nursery Director and Ladies' Ministry Leader at Mountainside Community Bible Church in Etowah, where her family attends.

Donna was inspired by the Charlotte Mason method early in her homeschool journey—a philosophy she says helped her fall in love with homeschooling. She is passionate about living books, joyful learning, and helping children develop a lifelong love for knowledge.

Donna Lane - 4th/5th Grade Tutor
 

Anna Deem - 6th Grade Tutor
 

Anna Deem serves as the 6th grade tutor for Blue Willow. She has five children, ages 7-22, all homeschooled from the start. Matthew, her youngest, absolutely loves attending Blue Willow! Anna is passionate about children’s ministry and has served over the years in a variety ways as a Christian school

teacher, a Sunday School teacher, and as Children’s Ministry co-Director with her late husband while residing in Arizona for 20 years. She currently teaches Sunday school at Walker Valley Community Church, and alongside her church, loves getting to host an outdoor day-camp for fatherless and foster children each summer. Her greatest desire is to serve the Lord wherever He chooses and to walk in surrender to His will. She enjoys writing and loves spending quality time with her family. She believes that relational learning of God, humankind, and the world God created is key to becoming who God desires us to be. She is thrilled to grow alongside the precious 6th grade class as part of a community that encourages children to develop a loving relationship with learning.

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Shay Hutchinson - 7th/8th Grade Tutor
 

Shay brings curiosity, creativity, and a love of learning to her role as the 7th and 8th Grade Tutor. Originally from Canada, Shay began her professional journey as a metal fabricator and welder in Chattanooga before transitioning to homeschooling and education.

A deep appreciation for the outdoors shapes Shay’s approach to both life and learning. Whether backpacking with her daughter, hiking, playing frisbee, or enjoying time with family and friends, Shay finds joy in exploration and connection.

Some of Shay’s most formative experiences came from childhood adventures—building forts, collecting insects, and tunneling through snow around a frozen pond—sparking a lifelong passion for hands-on discovery and imaginative play.

Shay is excited to be part of this educational community, supporting students as they grow academically and personally, while also walking alongside her own daughter on her learning journey.

Shanan Holcomb - High School Tutor

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Shanan Coe-Holcomb serves as the High School Tutor at Blue Willow and is thrilled for the opportunity to grow and learn alongside her students. She has a deep passion for education and believes that every student brings something valuable to the classroom.

Shanan has been married to her husband, Patrick, for 11 years, and together they have two daughters, Isabella (10) and Maddie (7). Their family attends Community Fellowship and loves spending time outdoors—especially camping and hiking in Tennessee’s state parks, where they enjoy unplugging and connecting with nature.

In addition to her educational work, Shanan is a certified Herbalist through the Herbal Academy. Her hobbies include knitting, gardening, canning, reading, hiking, biking, and studying herbal medicine. She brings creativity, curiosity, and a love of lifelong learning into all that she does—and firmly believes that some of the greatest lessons come from her students themselves.

Blue Willow Tutorial operates as a Tennessee non-profit and 501c3 with a Board of Directors. 

Interested in joining the Blue Willow Tutorial Team? Please contact us directly at info@bluewillowtutorial.com

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LOCATION:

Blue Willow Tutorial meets at Double Springs Baptist Church. The church features large classrooms, a gymnasium with a stage for student use and family events, and a beautiful outdoor space with a creek and various trails for nature study. Each of our classrooms is thoughtfully designed with tables and chairs for collaborative work, along with a cozy "living room" area that fosters meaningful discussions and relaxed reading, reflecting our commitment to relational learning.  

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