Instructor Bios

Sondra Bennion

Sondra Shumway Bennion was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Hyrum Smith Shumway and Sarah Bagley, the 3^rd of 8 children who were born within 10 years of each other (the original hastening of the work)!  When she was three years old her family moved to Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she was raised until she went to Brigham Young University.  At BYU she met her future husband while admiring his antics as Cosmo the Cougar, the school mascot.  They married in the Salt Lake Temple two days after her graduation with a bachelor’s degree in music education with an emphasis in flute performance.  President and Sister Bennion lived in Massachusetts and California before settling in Utah about 25 years ago, where they raised their 8 children.  They currently have 18 grandchildren, the oldest of whom is 12 years old.  Sister Bennion has served as ward Relief Society president, counselor, compassionate service chair, ward music/choir director, Young Women adviser, and more than 15 years as stake music/choir director.  Whenever not fully occupied by her children still at home, she served as a music volunteer in the elementary and junior high schools where her children were attending.  She can sing and play with just about anybody, but public speaking scares her half to death!

Niel and Dani Hayes

Niel is a Rocky Mountain native who grew up just outside of Denver in the city of Littleton. After graduating with his undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University Utah, Niel moved to the beautiful Northwest to pursue his Masters in Mechanical Engineering at WSU Vancouver. Niel and his wife Dani moved to Georgia 4 years ago, where Niel is pursuing his Engineering career. Niel loves all things tech.  He loves working with apps and programs to make his life more efficient and productive.  He is also a very talented photographer and specializes in Temple Photography.

Dani was raised in Vancouver Washington, just north of Portland Oregon.  Dani is currently pursuing her degree in Business Management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship.  Before Dani had her first “real job” she had already started her first small company.  Dani’s favorite things in her life are the Gospel, family, friends, business, sports, and serving others.  Together Niel and Dani love to travel and go on adventures. 

Winsome Bolt

My mother named me Winsome Fidelis.  Winsome was after my father Sam.  My mother had six miscarriages and wanted to name me after my dad.  Fidelis was to represent that my father would always be faithful.  Both of my parents died when I was very young and I was raised by my Aunt.  I have two children, a son and a daughter and they are both members of the church.  I studied plant pathology and cosmetology.  I enjoy painting on canvas and teaching piano.   I joined the church in
Jamaica.  25 years ago I moved to Florida where I resided until I moved to Georgia a few years ago.

Sandy Howe 

Sandy has been married for 17 years and is a mom to four wonderful children. She enjoys serving and helping people, singing, reading and playing. She spends her time raising her children, helping with PTA and working at Four Seasons Montessori School. She is currently serving as the Ward Welfare Specialist helping people create their own basic financial plans. She has a Bachelor's degree in Financial Services from San Diego State University. 

Flo Tefteller

Flo Tefteller is the third of five siblings.  She was born in Mexico city.  She has been a member of the church her whole life.  She moved to the United States to attend Brigham Young University where she received her undergraduate diploma in Spanish teaching and ESL.  

She served a mission in Califonia, Los Angeles and after her mission married her husband Mark Tefteller. She is the mother of three boys and a baby girl. Currently she stays at home to take care of the kids and supports her husband in his calling. She enjoys teaching, watching movies that make her laugh, travel, and being with her family.  

Flo tefteller es la tercera de seis hijos. Nació en la Ciudad de México donde vivió hasta los 16 años.  Ha sido miembro de la iglesia toda su vida.  Flo se mudo a los Estados Unidos para asistir a la universidad de Brigham Young donde se graduó con un título de maestra de la lengua española para extranjeros y ESL.

Flo sirvió una misión de tiempo completo en Los Angeles California después de concluir su misión conoció a su esposo y meses después se casaron. Hoy es madre de tres varones y una linda bebé.  Actualmente no trabaja y se queda en casa con sus hijos y apoya a su esposo en su llamamiento. Ella disfruta enseñar, ver películas que le hacen reir, viajar y pasar el tiempo con su familia.

Karem Samuels - written by one who knows her very well (Winston Samuels)

Class: "Por Medio de Cosas Pequeñas y Sencillas Se Realizan Grandes Cosas"

Karem was born in Ecuador and moved to Miami, Florida at a very young age.  With the rest of her family, Karem was introduced to the church by friends of her parents. She was baptized at the age of 15. She attended seminary and institute and it was there that she met her husband. They were married in the Orlando temple and are parents to 3 beautiful children, Julian, Leilani and Jayden. She is a nurse and works part time at St. Joseph’s Hospital.  She dances and performs with the Gwinnet School of Dance. She currently serves as the primary chorister in the Lawrenceville ward.

Kim Gibb

 

Class: To Post or Not To Post

 

Kim Gibbs is currently serving as her ward's seminary teacher. She is married to her college sweetheart Nate Gibbs. They have 4 children...3 boys and 1 girl. Her oldest is presently serving a mission in Nicaragua and has about 5 months left and she is counting down the days. She loves serving in her family, her church and her community.

 

Cheryl Collins
 

Class: "Hold On, the Light Will Come"

 

Cheryl has been married for 35 years and has 4 children. 2 boys and 2 girls ALL of whom are married and live in Georgia. She has 9 grandkids and she feels very fortunate that she is able to see all of them on a regular basis. She was born in Tampa, Florida but has resided in Georgia for 17 years. She taught seminary for 9 years and is an excellent teacher. We know that you will love her class. Currently, she and her husband are serving as a regional YSA committee chairs. She loves reading, quilting and cruising.

Susan Spurlock

Class: "Be Happy"

Susan is presently the RS secretary. She is married to Will Spurlock and they have been married for 25 years. They have 5 children and 2 grandchildren. Her family is her life. She is a convert to the church and could not imagine her life without the gospel. She loves to laugh and to have a good time.

Delia Zuniga

Class: "Pequeños Esfuerzos"
Hola, mi nombre es Delia Zuñiga, nací en Mexico, estudié y me gradué en Guadalajara Mexico. Soy estilista profesional,  mi pasatiempo favorito es el basketball. Conocí la iglesia por mi esposo y me bautizé. Nos sellamos en el Templo de Atlanta en el año 2011. Actualmente sirvo como Presidenta de la Sociedad de Socorro en la rama de Stone Mountain. Tengo un hijo de 15 años, una niña de 11 años y Dios me ha dado la oportunidad de poder ser madre una vez mas, tengo 4 meses de embarazo.

 

Kara Opp
 

I am a rare, born and raised Atlanta native. My husband, Andrew, is also a rare, born and raised Atlanta boy, and we have been happily married for over 13 years! After several miscarriages, we were blessed with our perfect Madeleine through adoption. We love to take cruises, go on hikes, camp, relax at the beach, spend time with our ginormous extended families, and live life to the fullest.  After several years as a stay-at-home CEO; now is my time to finally do what I wanted to do "when I grow up". I teach first grade and now have a classroom full of kids I get to love on each day. I love to play the piano, read a good book, binge watch on Netflix, craft, shop for crafting supplies or fabric, take pictures, or sew - in my spare time (ha, ha!).

Heidi Simpson

I grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. My only claim to fame is perfect attendance in seminary during my high school years. I went to Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in home economics, which really still is a thing. My emphasis was in history of clothing and merchandising. I married Thomas Simpson in the Bountiful, Utah temple in 2002. We have 4 loud and messy children and the stretch marks to prove it. At one time in my life I enjoyed a few hobbies, such as running, reading and thrifting at goodwill, but in full disclosure, I spend most of my time cleaning up.

Mandi Dale

Mandi has been married for nearly 20 years, most of that happily!  ;) She and her husband have 4 daughters ranging in age from 18-9 who keep them very busy.  After 14 years of staying home  with her daughters, Mandi went back to school to finish her degree in education, and now teaches 1st  grade at Grayson Elementary.  When not working, she is busy keeping up with all of her daughters’  various activities, and trying to be the best wife she can be.  She enjoys boating with her family in the  summer, scuba diving with her husband, and squeezing in a good book whenever she can find the time.   Mandi organizes a large scale service project at Christmas each year involving the homeless of Atlanta,  and currently works in the Nursery and coordinating missionary meals at church.

Deanne Beaton

Deanne Beaton is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia and is the founder and director of Inspire Hope Counseling, LLC.  She specializes in providing a safe place for individuals and couples seeking to address issues such as relationship dysfunction, depression, anxiety, addiction, and trauma, especially where these issues negatively impact an individual's ability to maintain a sense of reverence for self or connection and intimacy with others.  Deanne is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and is certifying as a Registered Play Therapist and an Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist.  Deanne works in depth with each client to discover their strengths and ways to utilize these strengths in counseling to facilitate growth and healing.  She combines a knowledge of psychotherapeutic strategies for healing with spiritual principles to weave a pathway for growth and healing for each precious soul.