Meet Our Enrichment Teachers

American Sign Language
Laura Murphy
Laura is a Colorado native, born in a hospital just down the street from her high school, junior high, and the church she was married in 35 years ago. At only 16, she met the love of her life Ken Murphy in high school and God graciously led them both to a saving knowledge of Him. She attended Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA where she studied Musical Theater and also received her teaching credential. A year after they were married, they moved to California for Ken to attend seminary. She “retired” and they began their family in 1993, having 5 children in seven years. In 2006, Laura was diagnosed with Meniere's disease and began suffering hearing loss. She attended Pike’s Peak Community College in Colorado Springs to learn ASL. It became a passion and God placed it upon her heart to use it for ministry. She is excited to share this beautiful language with the children of Southside Classical Academy. She mostly enjoys being “Gigi” to her young grandchildren. She and Ken are charter members of Southside Bible Church since its inception in 1998.
"While beginning this new endeavor with SCA, I think of 1 Peter 4:10-11 “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.” We are saved to serve and use our talents to love others and in the process bring glory to our great God!"
Laura cannot wait to teach and encourage the children of Southside Classical Academy so they may shine brightly for Christ in a dark world!

Music
Emma Drake
Emma Drake is a Colorado native who resides in the Denver metropolitan area with her family. Thanks to her mother’s encouragement and investment in lessons, Emma has had the privilege of playing piano for over sixteen years. She began her instruction with the Pace Method and developed a strong foundation for musical theory. As her training continued, she developed a working knowledge of music history, piano performance, and improvisational playing. The latter skill came in quite handy when she began serving on the worship team at Southside Bible Church in her early college years!
Emma enjoys serving on the worship team at her church, being a part of SCA, and sharing her love of music through teaching. As she continues teaching, it is her foremost desire to help children come to know, love, and serve the LORD. Coming to know Christ by His grace at an early age, it is Emma’s desire to continue to grow in Christ and to, as Psalm 103:1-2 says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits[.]”

Science Lab
Doug Shirley
Doug was born and raised in Aurora, CO. He was blessed to grow up in a Lutheran home, church, and school. In high school, a mutual friend introduced him to Savannah. They would continue to attend Metro State University together where Doug studied Industrial Design. Doug then went on to trade school in Tempe, AZ for Audio Engineering. Once he graduated from school, he and Savannah got married and moved out to Nashville, TN together. There they spent their early years of marriage enjoying God's love in the music city. After a couple of years, they moved back to Colorado to be with family and start one of their own. They started attending Southside Bible Church and over the next 12 years, they were blessed with 5 kids (2 boys and 3 girls). They both are passionate about helping kids and bringing them up in Christ to further His Kingdom.
One of Doug's favorite passages is from Romans 3:23-24 " For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." It reminds us of our need for a savior and that by grace we are saved through Jesus.

Studio Art (and Cofounder)
Haley Murphy
Haley grew up in Beulah, CO, a small mountain town in southern Colorado (think dirt roads and a great view of the Milky Way at night!). She met her husband Taylor while earning her art degree at the University of Denver and they now reside in Parker with their two daughters ages 1 and 3. Haley focused in ceramics in college but is familiar with all traditional mediums - her favorite studies being a semester-long drawing course in Rome, a 2-week pottery workshop at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, CO, and most recently, an exploratory course in the mysterious properties of Play-Doh’s ability to homogeneously distribute itself within 2,000 sq. feet. Haley and Taylor are members of Southside Bible Church where she serves in the nursery, women's ministry, and SCA. She was raised attending church but believes the gospel message really "clicked" during a Romans bible study she attended while in college.
“A verse that is resonating strongly with me these days is Galatians 6:9-10 - 'Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.' The Lord has placed me in a beautiful season of fullness and I marvel at how my time seems to multiply when spent unto the benefit of my family and the body of Christ."
​
Haley's most recent art project was painting the downtown Parker chair, but she is excited to share her love for the Lord and love for creating with the children at SCA.

Physical Education (and Cofounder)
Taylor Murphy
Taylor's biography is coming soon - in the meantime, know that he holds the record at the University of Denver for the most intramural championships by an undergraduate student.
Meet Our Enrichment Teachers
Meet Our Unit Study Teachers
Each Unit Study lasts 4-6 weeks, apart from Dance, which is 10 weeks.

Animal Habitats (and Nursery Coordinator)
Savannah Shirley
​Savannah was born and raised in Aurora, Colorado in a family of believers. Even from a very young age she had a passion for children, always knowing she wanted to be a teacher and a mom. She started babysitting at 12 and all throughout middle school and high school her faith deepened. She attended youth groups, mission trips, and daily works on her walk with God. When she graduated HS, Savannah started working at a daycare to pay for her College. She attended Metropolitan State University of Denver where she graduated with her K-6 teaching license and a bachelor’s in Human Development. After a year of teaching at Coyote Hills Elementary, Savannah married Douglas and they moved to Nashville for his career. Savannah continued working in schools until May of 2014 when Douglas and her welcomed their first son Lucas. It was also at this time that they first attended Southside Bible Church. Savannah then became a stay at home mom, welcoming four more children over the next 7 years. With her teaching background, homeschooling their children always felt like the next logical step. When Haley began this journey of a Church School in Southside, Savannah and Douglas knew they wanted to be a part of it. They are excited to see how God uses Southside Classical Academy and are honored to join alongside. A Bible verse that Savannah is focusing on this year is Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Handicraft
Clare Dawson
Clare's bio is coming soon - in the meantime, know that many sing of her talents in embroidery, crocheting, and beyond!

Homemade Goods
Camy Murphy
Camy grew up in Castle Rock, CO. She was brought to salvation as a young teen, then developed a deeper and truer understanding of the gospel when she joined Southside Bible Church in 2015. There she met her husband Joe and they now have two sons, ages 2 and 1. Camy is a certified Medical Assistant but quickly left that career when she became engaged to Joe, and realized her true desires in life were to be a wife and mother and faithful servant to the body of Christ. She then found a nanny position that she has been working for 8 years, and brings her boys along with her. Her hobbies are homemaking, natural remedies and holistic wellness.
Her favorite verses in this season of life:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Dinosaurs
Kayla Olson
Kayla Olson grew up in Castle Rock, Colorado, and has been part of the Southside community since she was just 10 months old. She met her husband, Noah, while they were both studying at The Master's University. They have two little boys and have been married for five years. Kayla pursued a degree in elementary education and took several paleontology courses as electives, cultivating a unique passion for dinosaurs. She had hoped one day her love for elementary education and in depth research on the Quetzalcoatlus would come in handy!
One of Kayla's favorite Bible verses is Psalm 121:1-2, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."
"God is the maker of all things and I can’t wait to teach about His unique creation!"

Intro to Dance
Tiffany Matthews
Tiffany's bio is coming soon - in the meantime, know that Tiffany is a homeschool mom of 8 children. Tiffany has a rich background in dance and is looking forward to sharing her joy of dance with the children at SCA!