Director
Lydia Knopf
Director, Biola Youth Academics
Lydia Knopf is a PhD student in Organizational Leadership at Regent University and is a graduate of Biola University with a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. She served as the Director of Undergraduate Recruitment for nine years prior to founding and directing the department of Biola Youth at Biola University for the last 15 years. Most recently, Lydia accepted the charge to expand Biola Youth Academics’ (BYA) K-12 services worldwide. As of July 2011, BYA is merged within the School of Education in the Provost’s Division. As Director of Biola Youth Academics, Lydia oversees such programs as Star Academics’ biblically centered college-prep level courses for grades 6-12, Torrey Academy’s classically informed humanities courses for grades 9-12, enrichment courses for grades 1-6, athletics for grades 1-12 and services and events. Academic courses are available on-location throughout Southern California and online.In addition to directing BYA, Lydia especially enjoys being a wife and mom, and coaching, mentoring and consulting on her life passion topics of personal calling and organizational mission, vision, and values. Lydia and her husband Greg home educate their four precious sons, Geoff (now a Sophomore at Biola University), and Joshua, Jacob, and Jeremiah, Biola Youth Academics junior high and high school students.
Leadership Team
Mary Diaz
Star Academics Senior Academic Administrator
Mrs. Diaz has a B.S. in Health Science from CSUN. She is married and the mother of three, two of whom she home schooled. She has a passion for science and health and is eager to help students learn more about the world they live in. She has successfully taught Science 7 (97-98) and Science 8 (98-99), Physical Science (99-00), Algebra 1 (00-05), and Biology (00-11) for Star Academics. Mrs. Diaz was also an advisory board member of the STAR program. Currently, she is the Senior Academic Administrator for Star Academics.
Kathy Halberstadt
Manager, Department Operations and Community Relations
Debbi Hall
Family Relations and Senior Campus and Site Administrator
Janice Lee
Distance Learning Administrator
Teresa Maraldo
Manager of Communications, Technology and Records
Jill McKinsey
Torrey Academy Senior Academic Administrator
Jill McKinsey graduated from Biola with a degree in European History, and from the Torrey Honors Institute, in 2000. From her experience in the Torrey Honors Institute, and from her semester studying at Oxford University, Jill developed a passion for teaching using the Classical Education model, and for studying and teaching Great Books. This will be Jill's sixth year with Torrey Academy. During her first three years, she lived in the Central Valley and taught Inklings and Foundations at Fresno, Bakersfield and Visalia, and also taught online Foundations. Her fourth year, she taught full-time in Southern California as a Master Tutor, and was the Emmaus Forum Coordinator for Summer 2006. She was promoted to Senior Academic Administrator in July of 2006.
Wanda Sabia
Coordinator, Athletics, Enrichment, and Services
Mrs. Sabia's favorite subjects in high school were Math, Science and Spanish. Mrs. Sabia taught Spanish for Star Academics from 2004 - 2011.
Robin Slagle
Coordinator, Campus, Athletics, Enrichment, and Services
Besides being a Campus Coordinator, Mrs. Slagle is an Athletics, Events, and Services Coordinator. A mother of four, she is an experienced home educator, and has a B.A. in Education from Stephen F. Austin University in Texas. The Slagles moved to California from Texas in 1990, and have been involved in Biola Youth Academics since 1998. Mrs. Slagle loves homeschooling and is grateful for the opportunities her children had while participating in Biola Youth Academics.Campus, Site and Office Staff
Tammy Appleford
Extension Site Administrator
Anna Barber
Academic Coordinator, Torrey Academy
Anna Barber is a recent graduate of the Torrey Honors Institute and Biola University, where she studied Psychology and English. Her experience of the classical education model began as a Torrey Academy student, and continued through her undergraduate education at Torrey Honors and her semester at Oxford University. She is passionate about learning, the life of the mind, literature, writing poetry and fiction, and helping others live more authentic lives.
Sheida Catalan
Campus Coordinator, Garden Grove
Sheida Catalan is passionate about teaching, reading, and writing. She is a writer at heart and has had a few articles published. There is nothing she enjoys more than a good book, an overstuffed chair, and a rainy day in front of the fireplace!
Liz Chavez
Registration Office Coordinator
Stephanie Christin
Web and Technical Specialist
Sharon Crowley
Campus Coordinator, Yorba Linda
Sandy Hinds
Campus Administrator, La Mirada and South Bay
Carol Kelley
Campus Coordinator, La Mirada
Michaele Kruckenberg
Administrative Assistant
Anne Lowe
Registration Office Assistant
Ginna Mac Donald
Campus Administrator, Temecula Valley
Matt McKirland
Communications Production Coordinator
Karen McMillen
Administrative Specialist
Vicki Milczewsky
Academic Coordinator, Science
Vicki Milczewsky began teaching for Biola Youth Academics in 2002. She appreciates the opportunities for learning that Biola Youth has provided her 4 children, and eagerly anticipates another exciting year instructing General Literature, Physical Science, and SAT and Career Prep students. In addition to being a master instructor, she is also Academic Coordinator for Science.
Cookie Plotz
Campus Coordinator, Garden Grove
As a former Children's Missions Director, Mrs. Plotz has spent the last several years sharing her passion for what God is doing around the world with young people. Mrs. Plotz home-schooled for 18 years.
