What is Paideia?
Our annual parent Co-Teacher Training Conference is called Paideia after an important New Testament Greek word found in Ephesians 6:4: “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” The word discipline is an attempt to translate paideia, a word that is much broader and engaging for both parent and child than simply discipline, it conveys the concept of a child’s total education: intellectual, spiritual, artistic, social. It is essentially the part of upbringing and education that forms the soul of a human being — and it is key to the formation of a culture. More complete definition of Paideia…
Paideia is often seen in its fruit, what is being developed in the person as he/she moves from child to adult. The paideia of Athens was very different from the paideia of Sparta. Thinkers and warriors are developed in two drastically different paideias.
This training conference is designed to help you raise up your children in the paideia and training of the Lord. These few days are the beginning of a great work that we are all engaged in together. It is the highlight of a network of support at Veritas that can help you and your spouse become all that God has designed you to be as the primary discipler and educator of your children. We are excited to labor alongside you. The Paideia Team
Christopher Barnes
Family Ministry Director
Veritas Academy TucsonWho should attend?
Paideia is intended for all parents, both new and returning! Students should stay at home unless participating in the Paideia Day Camp (more info below). Please take note of the blue bolded events as these are mandatory. Your child’s grade level specific training session is also mandatory.
Our book club selection for Paideia 2025 is Consider the Lilies, by Johny Ardavanis. Many of us and our children deal with worry, anxiety, and fear daily. Come discuss with us how the Bible guides us through these emotions. Even if you don’t struggle with these issues, you probably know a friend or family member who does. This book will direct you to scripture and what it declares about the amazing character of the God we worship, to help you and others walk through life in a Godly, Biblical way. In his own words, the author describes his book: “In my first book, Consider the Lilies, I invite you to find freedom from anxiety by focusing on the character of our heavenly Father. As a pastor, I’ve seen how God consistently responds to our fears and worries by revealing His own nature. I’ll guide you through biblical insights that illuminate the root causes of anxiety and how our physical and spiritual lives intertwine. This book is for anyone longing to break free from fear and truly know the God we’re called to trust. If you’re desperate for hope and peace, join me in considering the character of our Father, who welcomes all of us who struggle with anxiety to find rest in Him.” Sometime this summer, we will send questions to foster thought and guide our book club discussion.
Christopher Barnes
In addition to nine years working at Veritas, Christopher served for 35 years as an Evangelical Free Church pastor in two very different churches – 26 years in the Chicago suburbs and 9 years in rural Western Missouri. While in Illinois, he co-founded and led a small K-8, five-day school for 12 years. Together with his wife, they were a homeschooling family for 8 years. He has been committed to training and discipling youth and families since 1972. At Veritas, Christopher has served five years as our Head of School and four years as Family Ministries Director and Grammar and Composition 700 teacher. This last role he has relinquished to focus in on the growing needs in Family Ministries and to spend more time with his family. He and Linda celebrated 50 years of marriage in March of 2024! His daughters’ families are here in Tucson, including his six grandchildren.
Sharon Buus
Sharon has been a Veritas mom since the school’s inception 15 years ago. She and her husband Nathanael have three kids, two of whom are Veritas graduates, and one who is a School of Rhetoric student. She is thankful for the time that Veritas has afforded their family to learn and grow together over the past 15 years, and greatly values her relationships with her teen and adult kids. Sharon has been involved at Veritas in many capacities over the years, but most recently serves in the role of Academic/College Advisor and Theater Director (which she loves)! She is passionate about helping teens discover how their unique gifts can be used to serve others and glorify God.
Christi Christie
Christi is in her tenth-year co-teaching at Veritas and has four kiddos enrolled. She holds degrees in Child Development, Spanish, and Biblical Counseling. You can always find her with a cup of coffee in her hand and books spilling all over her car seats. She is a slow runner and dreadful at keeping fish alive. But she can give a wicked awesome high-five!
Meghan Collins
Meghan, mother of 3 Veritas students, all close in age, is not the most organized of moms. The first year all three of her children were in the school of grammar, organization was no longer optional (despite the desire to resist it). She spent the first year homeschooling her three children and adapting systems to help organize her chaos. She enjoys spending time with her family camping and visiting National Parks and coaching the Middle School Girls and High School Co-ed Veritas soccer teams.
Nick Dunlap
Mr. Dunlap is entering his 21st year in classical Christian education. He has been with Veritas from the very beginning, helping to design the classical curriculum. He teaches 4th grade, Western Civ I Literature and Latin. Nick enjoys reading the classics, gardening, and listening to music with his family. His wife Betsy is also on staff at Veritas, and all three of his children are attending Veritas.
Christian Felix
Christian along with his wife Britt serve on the Veritas board and have been a part of the school since 2018. They have been married for 19 years, and have 4 children that attend Veritas; Shea (16), Paige (14), Lauren (11), and Grant (9). Christian works as a Solution Engineer for Salesforce and is a member of Catalina Foothills church. In his spare time he enjoys coaching baseball, going fishing and being outdoors.
Julia Hardeman
Originally from the state of Iowa, Julia moved with her family to live and work on the Navajo Nation in 2005, and then to Tucson in 2008. She has been married for 27 years to Thad; they have 5 children (ages 7-20). The Hardeman’s have been with Veritas since 2012. For many years she served as a family physician, and is now blessed to be a homemaker, co-teaching parent, and biology teacher in the School of Rhetoric at Veritas Academy. She completed the Colson Fellows Program in 2022, a program focused on Christian worldview formation. She enjoys thinking, writing and talking with parents and students about how they can approach the issues of our day through the lens of Biblical truth, seeking to bring glory to God as we do so.
Thad Hardeman
Mr. Hardeman is the Veritas Interim Head of School for the third year. The 25-26 school year is Mr. Hardeman’s thirteenth year at Veritas. He loves teaching many different math and science courses and recently served as the school’s Director of the School of Rhetoric. Mr. Hardeman enjoys hiking, camping and cycling.
Becca Kopas
Becca and her husband Brice have been married for 25 years. They have two sons at Veritas and two daughters in college (both graduates of Veritas). This is their family’s 16th year at Veritas. Both Brice and Becca serve on the Veritas Board of Trustees. Becca also serves on the Family Ministries Team. She loves to play games, read, cook, and travel with her family. One of her favorite things to do is fellowship with friends and family over a good meal.
Brice Kopas
Brice and his wife Becca have been married for 25 years. They have two sons at Veritas and two daughters in college (both Veritas alumni). They have been at Veritas from the very beginning. Both Brice and Becca now serve on the Veritas Board of Trustees. Brice also co-teaches the Christian Leadership course to the Veritas high schoolers. Brice enjoys spending time with his family, discussing Jesus with other men over coffee, and working as a pediatrician at Skyline Pediatrics.
Ashley Odom
Ashley is entering her 12th year as an enthusiastic Veritas co-teacher and her 7th year a SOL/SOR mathematics teacher on campus. She has an M.Ed. in Teaching and Teacher Education and taught math for eight years at Flowing Wells Junior High School prior to jumping into homeschooling. She and her husband, Scott, are parents to three current Veritas scholars. Ashley loves hiking, reading, and biking new trails all over the southwest with her family.
Matt Poling
Matt Poling has been married to his wife, Allison, for 22 years. They have 2 kids, Madelyn and Nathan. Madelyn graduated from Veritas in ’22, and Nathan graduated in ’25 from Pusch Ridge Christian Academy. He was a Director of Information Systems for almost 20 years, and is co-owner of Jigsaw Software Systems, an IT and Software Engineering firm. He was the Worship Director and Pastor at Hope Community Church for almost 10 years. His family has been with Veritas since 2015.
Dawn Parker
Dawn Parker is starting her 8th year teaching 2nd grade at Veritas. When not planning and teaching, she loves spending time with family and friends, especially encouraging exploring the wonder of God for her nine grandchildren.
Lisa Sathre
Lisa is a mother of three, two of whom have graduated from Veritas. She works part time as a pediatrician at Skyline Pediatrics as well. Having navigated a classical curriculum with a child who struggled with reading has given her a desire to help others recognize reading issues early in order to get the support they and their children need to avoid the pitfalls of trying to just muscle through it.
Stephanie Sheaffer
Tim & Stephanie Sheaffer are heading into their 13th year at Veritas and are the parents of 4 children – an alumni (2024), an 11th grader, an 8th grader, and a 3rd grader. Stephanie has her B.A. in English and her Master’s in Counseling. She has moderated the Moms Panel since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to learn from other moms.
Shelby Wellman
Shelby Wellman is in her 4th year at Veritas as a co-teacher, Western Civ teacher, and 3rd year as Director of Academics. When not reading a book from the Veritas reading list, she loves to listen to Albert Mohler on The Briefing each morning, spending time with her husband Cory, three kids, Blaire (11), Tatum (7) and Cub (6) and their dog Valor, drinking a cup of hot coffee is Shelby’s favorite weekend activity.
Keynote Speakers – Nathanael Buus & Dave Collins
Paideia Day Camp
- A great day is being planned for all K-6 students while parents are engaged in training!
- The day camp will meet at Veritas, centering their activities in the gym and nearby classrooms.
- The days will be full of interactive team building games, House competitions, crafts, songs, and much more.
- This will be a fundraiser for our School of Rhetoric students (juniors and seniors) for their senior trip.
- The cost will be $33 each for the first two children, with a 25% discount for child three and 50% for child four, etc. in order to support the respective senior trips.
- Children will need to bring their own lunch. Further details will be provided upon registration.
Please RSVP your students for the Paideia Day Camp.
Meals
Please let us know what meals you plan to attend and make sure to designate if you want gluten free meals. Thanks!
Resource Documents
