Instructor & Teacher Biographies

Keith Batchelor

Keith Batchelor was born and raised in Logan County, KY and graduated from Logan County High School in 1984.  Four years later, he graduated from Austin Peay State University in May, 1988 with a BBA in Finance.

Having worked in finance and accounting since graduation from APSU, he became a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments in the Springfield community in May of 2004.  He opened the 2nd Edward Jones office in Springfield and today Jones is fortunate to have a total of three Edward Jones offices all located within Springfield city limits. His office is located off of Tom Austin Hwy in the Siler Center adjacent to the Springfield Wal-Mart Supercenter.

He specializes in working with the serious, long-term, individual investor who desires personalized one-on-one service customized to meet each individual’s pre-determined goals & objectives.

He lives on his family farm, enjoys raising beef cattle and spending time with the three ladies in his life, his wife, Shannon, and their daughters, Olivia & Jaclyn.

Dot Bridges

Dot Bridges studied home economics and textiles at Northeastern State University OK.  An interior designer and master seamstress, Mrs. Bridges is a frequent adjudicator of clothing projects for 4-H Clover Style Show and Fun with Fashions for the annual fairs of Robertson and surrounding counties.

Janie Calvert

Janie Calvert earned a BS Degree in Art Education K-12 and Certification in Early Childhood Education K-3 from Austin Peay State University.  She completed a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Trevecca University.  A teacher of 30 years, Mrs. Calvert most recently taught visual arts at Springfield High School for 14 years.

Amy Frederick

Amy Frederick received a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and is currently pursuing a Master of Music Education degree at Belmont University.  She is a member of Liberation, a band she has performed with for 15 years. She currently teaches private piano and is Choir Director/Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Springfield.

Michael Freeland

Michael Freeland is a veteran of World War II, where he served as a combat medic in the European Theater as a member of the 82nd Airborne.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Bethel College, Master’s in Education from Memphis State University, Master’s in Communications from Murray State University and Ph.D (ABD) from Southern Illinois University.  In 2007, Mike’s account of his experiences as a combat medic, BLOOD RIVER TO BERLIN:  THE JOURNAL OF AN ARMY MEDIC, was released.

Denise Haley

Denise Haley has been raising sheep and spinning fibers since 1992.  In addition to many skills being self-taught, she has taken classes and learned from other fiber artists sharing their skills.  These include caring for a small flock of sheep, spinning, weaving, processing wool, felting, knitting, natural and synthetic dying, papermaking, making soap, lip balm, and lotion, and creating rose petal beads for jewelry.

Amy Heidecker

Amy Heidecker has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Coastal Carolina University.  She worked as a school teacher in South Carolina and Kentucky, as well as owned her own Art Gallery and Pottery Studio in Kentucky.  She has three children, and has been homeschooling for the last five years.  She and her husband have lived in Springfield, TN for three years.  She is a member of the Artists on Main Society in Goodlettsville, TN.

Sarah Hord

Sarah Hord has been in banking since 1981.  She received a Banking Certificate from the American Institute of Banking after attending Belmont College.  She has a desire to make our community aware of the need to plan for our financial futures.

Courtney Lane

Courtney Lane graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2006, with a Bachelor’s degree in set design and a minor in painting.  She was selected to design the sets for two of the college’s theatre productions.  Her designs were featured in the 2006 SCAD catalog and website.  She has done prop and set work with the People’s Branch Theatre and Collards and Caviar Productions in Nashville.  In Chicago, she worked with 20% Theatre Company.  In 2004, she interned at the Frist Center for the Visual Arts with their summer art program for children.  Ms. Lane began teaching art for children at Willow Oak in 2008 and helps facilitate the center’s art program.

Vanessa Tanner Murphey

Vanessa Tanner Murphey received a Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and theatre with a concentration in communication studies from MTSU in 2005. Her minor was in dance.  She was a member of the MTSU “Lightning” Dance Team from 2003-04.  She was employed by Walt Disney World Entertainment 2005-06 performing in Mickey’s Jammin’ Jungle Parade in Animal Kingdom.  She has studied and performed dance since the age of 3.

Lisa Oldrock

Lisa Oldrock received her degree in History at MTSU.  Her studies included a special emphasis on Native American Studies with a minor in Cultural Anthropology. She has been active in the Native American community in Tennessee through such activities as traveling the Powwow circuit with the Eagle Nation Singers native drum group and past membership in the Alliance for Native American Indian Rights.  Her husband, George Oldrock, is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana and former member of the Eagle Nation Singers.  He will direct the drumming and music portion of the class.

Dr. Carol Palmer

Dr. Carol Palmer is President of BioStar Consulting Inc., a locally owned company that provides consulting services to the biomedical, medical device, biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.  She earned her Doctorate in Microbiology and Master of Science in Public Health at the University of Hawaii and has spent most of her career as a University Professor and Research Scientist focusing on Infectious Diseases.

Terry Price

Terry Price is a Springfield, Tennessee based writer and photographer, with an MFA in writing from Spalding University in Louisville and is Program Director and a mentor in The Writer’s Loft creative writing program at Middle Tennessee State University.  His work has appeared in CCM magazine, Writer’s Notes magazine, Bloodlotus, The Trunk, The Tennessee Writer and a piece on jazz saxophonist, Rahsaan Barber, appeared in the online magazine NewSourtherner.com and in their print anthology, Best of New Southerner.  The short story Eminent Domain appeared in the Timber Creek Review and was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Joe Reid

Joe Reid has been a jewelry craftsman for six years.  Self-taught, he began jewelry making to create gifts for Christmas.  He has sold pieces locally and his work has gone as far as France.

Jan Schendel

Jan Schendel is a retired teacher of high school mathematics.  She holds an MS in math education, has a great interest in music, and has been a long-time knitter.  Before moving to Springfield, she lived and taught mathematics and knitting in Madison, WI.

Anna Schott

Anna Schott is a Personal Trainer, Yoga Teacher and Wellness Coach. She currently serves as the Secretary to the local Board for the American Cancer Society and was Chairman of the County Reach to Recovery Program for 7 years.  She also served as a Licensed EMT for 20 years.  Anna is widely recognized in her community as a professional that helps bridge the historical divide between conventional and “alternative approaches to health and wellness.

Terry Seay

Terry Seay, a Robertson County native, is a graduate of Springfield High School and attended Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin where he studied art education.  Terry receivedhis occupational certification in graphic communications with the State of Tennessee in 2006.  He was employed as a graphic artist with Nasco, Inc. and other corporations for a combined total of over 16 years.  He has also taught art in the Robertson County school system.  Terry works with many types of media including acrylic, pen and ink, charcoal, watercolor, laytex, colored pencil, marker, and pastel.  However, the simple #2 pencil is his medium of choice.

Bailey Shearon

Bailey Shearon has studied tap, ballet, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical dance for 11 years and has competed for 5 years.  Her most recent awards are High Gold, 1st Place in 14-16 Age Division, and Judges’ Choice Award at Nexstar Competition in Murfreesboro, TN.  A student at Greenbrier High School, she aspires to study musical theater in college. Bailey Shearon has performed in school and church productions.  She is an actress in Acting for Life, an improv troupe made up of high school students who perform skits for middle schools in Robertson County.

Muzetta Swann

Muzetta Swann received a Master of Music Degree in Voice Performance from Belmont University in December 2006. She earned a Bachelor of Music Degree in Voice Performance with a minor in piano from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ in 1982. She performed as a member of the world-renown Westminster Choir 1981-82.  As recitalist, she has performed in New York, New Jersey, Kentucky and Tennessee.  As an arts administrator, she was employed by the New York City Opera under General Manager Beverly Sills, and most recently with the Nashville Symphony.  From 1989-1999, she studied, taught, and served on the Board of Directors at Sound Health Alternativesä, Nashville, a school for the awareness and healing of the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual parts of ourselves.

Ms. Swann has maintained a full-time voice and piano studio in Springfield since 1989. In addition to classical music instruction, she offers classes in the expressive arts in which the arts are used as tools for self-awareness, growth and expression.

Ms. Swann is an Adjunct Professor of Music at Volunteer State Community College where she teaches voice and music appreciation. In June 2007, Ms. Swann founded Willow Oak Center for Arts & Learning at Robertson County, where she is president and acting Executive Director.

Wendy White

Wendy White has been a fitness instructor for since 2008 specializing in Pilates and yoga.  She draws on the inspiration of her first Pilates/yoga instructor and her current training with Yogafit in designing and presenting her classes.  She is currently working on her 200 hour RYT (registered yoga teacher) certification.

Martha Wilks

Martha Wilks, organist, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Certificate from the American Guild of Organists for her service in sacred music for over 50 years.  A resident of Springfield, TN, she teaches piano, organ, and art.

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