The Elijah School

About the staff

Richard Starr joined the administrative staff to help make the Elijah School vision happen after a successfull sixteen-year career in business. He earned a degree in History from the University of Delaware, but worked for the Fortune 500 before God impressed upon him the need to return to an early desire and pursue a career in education.

He has worked with several non-profit organizations, most notably as President of Freedom Hills Therapuetic Riding Program. Richard is passionate about helping young people acquire the skills and education needed to succeed in an often confusing and decaying culture; “Students today need life skills as much as math skills.”

He attends Grace Bible Chapel and lives nearby with his wife, two daughters, five dogs, and four horses. Richard teaches high school foreign language, critical thinking/worldview, and history.

Marilyn Groop has spent nineteen years as a home-school mother, teacher, and advocate. She is co-founder of Mt. Sophia Academy in Delaware, a home-school umbrella group which has now graduated ten classes. It was Marilyn’s desire to have a Christ-centered school for non-traditional learners (her own) that sparked the Elijah School to life.

Marilyn has a Bachelor’s from New York University and serves as Director of Development and as President of our Steering Committee.

Vicki Tillman graduated from Liberty University with a Master of Arts in Counseling in 1996 and has been a practicing therapist ever since at Pike Creek Psychological Center. Along with Marilyn Groop, she co-founded Mt. Sophia Academy and is passionate about helping young people discover their gifts. Vicki serves as our Guidance Counselor, helping students and training mentors along the way. She also serves as Curriculum Developer, searching out new and better resources to help non-traditional learners succeed. Vicki is also passionate about bird-watching.

Pam Eldreth earned a Bachelors degree in Social Work from James Madison University in 1984. She began homeschooling her 8 year old son out of necessity when he failed to read, write, or learn math by the third grade. Over the next 13 years, she home-taught her son and 3 daughters, all of whom have learning differences to varying degrees. Her passion is encouraging struggling readers, and preparing young men and women with the skills necessary to succeed in life. Her many interests include, but are not limited to, Civil War history, Revolutionary War-era music, animals, baking, playing the piano, walking, gardening, camping, and body-surfing. Pam and her husband, Jim, reside in Newark, Delaware, with their daughters and a menagerie of animals. She attends the Newark First Church of the Nazarene with her family. Pam teaches social skills, history, language arts, and reading.

Joanna Tillman is an active artist and musician in addition to teaching Fine Art and Literature at Elijah School. Several of her poems have been published in journals and her artwork has been shown in over 20 exhibitions. She is passionate about the intense desire young people have to express themselves, and sees art and music as essential outlets for that energy. Joanna’s songs have won a national songwriting contest and have appeared on multiple full-length albums and compilations.

Joanna earned her professional certificate in Digital Imaging from Cecil College in 2004 and her BA in Art and Photography from Carson-Newman College in 2006. She also teaches at Mt. Sophia Academy.