Wes Swing
Latin, Greek, and Literature Teacher
Wes has a degree in Latin and Classical Studies from the College of William and Mary. Since 2005, he has taught Latin, History, and Literature in independent school classrooms, private and small groups with San Francisco homeschool students, and online with students throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Wes developed a love for the classics in high school, when he had the opportunity to spend a summer studying Latin in Rome. His current interests include: the poetry of Ovid and Catullus, mythology, and epic poetry. Wes also performs and composes for cello.
Elizabeth Farshtey
Latin teacher
Elizabeth has a degree in Latin from Barnard College/Columbia University. She has been teaching Latin for over 30 years in both public and independent schools, and she holds teaching certifications in both New Jersey and Virginia. She has taught all levels of Latin, from middle school through Advanced Placement, as well as mythology, ancient philosophy, etymology and study skills. She was a reader for the Advanced Placement Latin exam, and wrote an article on ways to incorporate grammar into Advanced Placement classes for the College Board’s Special Focus publication. She has also presented at an NJAIS conference on the importance of using authentic Latin at all levels. Elizabeth particularly loves reading with her students, as they always bring something new to the interpretation that keeps the material fresh and exciting.
Dan Bellum
Latin, Greek, and Literature Teacher
Dan began his college career studying Classics & Medieval History at the University of New Mexico in his hometown, Albuquerque. After graduating, he continued to pursue his lifelong love of learning by earning a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature & Cultural Studies, with a strong concentration on Latin & Greek Language, Literature, and History. He moved to California to continue his education, earning a Master’s degree in Classics from a graduate program shared jointly by the University of California: Riverside, Irvine, and San Diego campuses.
Dan’s extensive time as a student of the Classics allowed him to do many of the things he loves best: read interesting works in Greek and Latin, engage in edifying conversations with strong thinkers, study the ancient world, and teach others about the same subjects. Over the course of his teaching career, he has enjoyed teaching university-level Latin, Greek History, and Roman History courses to undergraduates, as well as Latin to independent school students.
Erika Howsare
Literature and mythology Teacher
Erika Howsare is a poet and writer whose first nonfiction book, The Age of Deer, came out in 2024 from Catapult Books. Previously she published two books of poetry, and has worked in local journalism since 2002. Her essays, reviews and interviews are found at places like The Atlantic, LongReads, Orion, and the Los Angeles Review of Books. She has taught in university settings, community writing centers, and homeschool co-ops, and she also offers classes and mentoring sessions privately. She holds an MFA in writing from Brown University and lives in central Virginia with her husband and two homeschooled daughters.
Joshua MacKay
greek and Latin teacher
Josh received his master’s degree in Comparative Studies at Brigham Young University before attending the University of Virginia for a master’s degree and, soon, doctorate in Ancient History. He has taught history, classics, Greek, and Latin at the university level, and tutored on a wide variety of subjects. He co-authored A Student’s Guide to the Iliad in Greek: an Aid to Students Encountering Homer in the Original Greek, a work that showcases his passion for making theancient world accessible, and for teaching in fun and creative ways. When not working within the classical world, Josh enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two children and being a game master for tabletop role-playing games.
Andrew Alwood
philosophy teacher
Andrew has a doctorate and master’s degree in philosophy from Cornell University. He studied philosophy and classics at the University of Florida, where he learned Latin and Greek and read Ovid, Livy, Virgil, Petronius, Homer, and Plato. He has continued to read Greek and Roman philosophers in their original languages ever since. He finds that Greek history is best enjoyed while traveling in Greece.
Since 2009, Andrew has taught courses in ancient philosophy, and in ethics and moral philosophy. He enjoys bringing new life to old ideas.
Joseph Amsbary
Latin Teacher
Joseph recently graduated from William & Mary with degrees in Classical Studies and Psychology. He is now at the University of Massachusetts, pursuing an MAT with plans to teach high school Latin. This year, he will be teaching an intensive introductory Latin class and serving as a teaching assistant for a course on Greek mythology. Despite winning the 2024 CAMWS translation contest, Joseph's true passions lie in education rather than philology and is eager return to K-12 education, where his journey with the classics began. Outside of the classics, Joseph enjoys playing board games and ultimate frisbee.
Jordan Gaborik
Ancient Archaeology TeachER
Jordan has a degree in Archaeology and History from the University of Virginia and graduated from William & Mary with a Certificate in Classical Languages. He has spent two summers participating in the American School of Athens excavations at the Athenian Agora, as well as having completed an archaeological field school at Colonial Williamsburg. Jordan recently taught a course on Archaeology and Pompeii and will be teaching an expanded version of this class this fall while he works at a private cultural resource management firm in Richmond, VA. When he's not digging in the dirt, he enjoys playing guitar and traveling.