Homeschool Connections

Aquinas Writing Advantage

Geralyn Rea

By

Ryan Starrett, MA, ThM, MTS

AQUINAS WRITING ADVANTAGE

LIVE and Recorded Course Grader

Ryan Starrett, MA, ThM, MTS

Mr. Ryan Starrett earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in History from the University of Dallas with a Medieval and Renaissance Studies Concentration, a Master’s of Theology from the University of Dallas, a Master’s of History from Adams State University, and a Master’s of Theological Studies from Spring Hill College.

After teaching seven years at a Catholic School in north Texas, he returned home to Mississippi where he has taught at his Catholic alma mater for the past ten years. When he’s not teaching, Mr. Starrett enjoys reading, writing, playing sports, and adventuring with his family.

Ryan Starrett is the author of a dozen history books and one novel. He is currently working with his friend and co-author, Josh Foreman, on another work of history celebrating America’s 250th anniversary. Ryan and Josh’s work can be perused at foremanstarrett.com.

Mr. Starrett grades the Middle School 7/8-Series writing courses with Aquinas Writing Advantage.

Meet Mr. Starrett

By

Reilly Starrett, BA

AQUINAS WRITING ADVANTAGE

LIVE and Recorded Course Instructor

Reilly Starrett, BA

Mr. Reilly Starrett is a proud graduate of a Catholic K-12 education and holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Philosophy and a minor in Anthropology from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi. He has extensive experience working with ESL learners in Chinandega, Nicaragua (2008, 2009); Kathmandu, Nepal (2012); and Denver, Colorado (2015). Since 2019, Mr. Starrett has lived in Yokohama and Tokyo, Japan, as an English Conversation and Essay Writing teacher for students of all ages, from preschool through adult. He also helps English as a Second Language (ESL) students improve their proficiency in writing, reading, listening, and speaking. Additionally, Mr. Starrett guides students in preparing for English proficiency tests such as the TOEIC, Eiken, and IELTS. He has also been a teacher with Aquinas Writing Advantage in 2022-2024 and 2026. When not teaching, Mr. Starrett loves reading and spending time with his family. Mr. Starrett teaches as both an Instructor Access and LIVE course instructor for the 10 Series courses.

Learn with Mr. Starrett

Check the current LIVE course catalog to see Mr. Starrett’s course offerings and sign up for his courses.

By

Rebekah Sotillo, BS

AQUINAS WRITING ADVANTAGE

Recorded Course Instructor

Rebekah Sotillo, BS

Rebekah Sotillo earned her Bachelor of Science in Astrophysics from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy. While in the military, she drove the aircraft carrier, USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN (CVN-72), across the Pacific Ocean to port in locations such as Guam, Manila, and Japan. After driving aircraft carriers, she studied to become a meteorologist for the Navy.

With over nine years of leadership experience as a Naval Officer, she works as a Leadership and Interpersonal Communication Instructor for AWA. One of her favorite pastimes is mastering the art of sourdough bread baking. A native of Southern California, she loves the outdoors and spends most of her weekends hiking. Mrs. Sotillo is the Instructor Access one-on-one mentor/grader for Leadership and Interpersonal Communication.

Meet Mrs. Sotillo

Learn with Mrs. Sotillo

Check the current Recorded Course catalog to see Mrs. Sotillo’s course offerings and sign up for her courses.

By

Natalie Meyer Schira, BA

AQUINAS WRITING ADVANTAGE

LIVE Course Instructor
Middle School Writing Specialist

Natalie Meyer Schira, BA

Miss Natalie Meyer Schira, BA, proudly serves as a teacher of middle school English and writing. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College Notre Dame in 2012 with a major in English Literature and a minor in secondary education.

Since then, Miss Schira has dedicated herself to Catholic education, joyfully serving nine years teaching English in a Catholic high school in Iowa. Miss Schira has also been featured in publications and with awards and recognition for teaching and inspiration.

With a love of language and teaching, she is committed to cultivating students’ academic and emotional development and using her teaching credentials to collaborate with and support families and students. Miss Schira’s greatest loves include Christ, commas, communication, caffeine, and her beloved Chicago Cubs while living a life grounded in faith, joy, and opportunity.

To quote one of her favorite pieces of wisdom from her mother, “When life gives you hold music, dance.” Here at Aquinas Writing Advantage, Miss Schira is beginning her sixth year as a LIVE course teacher for the 6/7 and 7/8 Series middle school writing courses. She is also the Middle School Writing Support Specialist.

Meet Miss Schira

Learn with Miss Schira

Check the current LIVE catalog to see Miss Schira’s LIVE course offerings and sign up for her courses.

By

Maureen Ryan, BA

AQUINAS WRITING ADVANTAGE

Recorded Course Instructor

Maureen Ryan, BA

Maureen Ryan, BA, is a professional writer with more than twenty-five years of experience writing articles and creating content for a wide variety of news outlets, magazines, websites, and book publishers. She has taught writing across grade levels in classrooms and online for more than twelve years. Mrs. Ryan has a Bachelor of Arts in English and studied interactive learning at Teachers College, Columbia University.

As the executive editor for Scholastic.com, she helped refine the educational publisher’s interactive teaching tools and web-based lesson plans for grades PreK-12 and relaunched the site’s online writing tutorials hosted by award-winning authors. In addition to writing and mentoring, Mrs. Ryan has homeschooled her three children for more than 12 years. Having graduated her oldest, she continues to teach her younger two.

“I feel extremely blessed,” says Mrs. Ryan, “to be able to combine my love for teaching and writing with an opportunity to serve homeschool families.”

Mrs. Ryan is the Instructor Access one-on-one mentor/grader for the 6/7 Series Foundational courses (6/7-1, 6/7-2, 6/73, and 6/7-4); the 12-1 and 12-2 Advanced Rhetoric and Writing; the 11-9 course, Business Writing 1: Professional Writing Essentials; and the COLL-1 Essay Test Mastery course.

Meet Mrs. Ryan

Learn with Mrs. Ryan

Check the current Recorded course catalog to see Mrs. Ryan’s course offerings and sign up for her courses.