Parish Proistamenos/Senior Priest

Fr. Panayiotis was born in Cyprus. He received his secondary education at the English School, Nicosia. After his military service he left for the U.S. where he studied Chemical Engineering in New York City at the City College. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering cum laude. He then continued his studies on a Graduate Research Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame where he completed his Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering. He joined Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston in August 1984 in order to pursue theological studies, from where he graduated three years later with the degree Master of Divinity with High Distinction. Following that, he enrolled in the Early Christian Studies Program of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Ph.D. degree in May of 1995 with a specialization in the history and theology of the Early Christian Church. The title of his dissertation was “A Theological Analysis of Selected Themes in the Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans.” Fr. Panayiotis was ordained a deacon in Astoria, New York, on April 24, 1988 and a presbyter (priest) a month later (May 22, 1988) in Orange, New Jersey. He served as a priest on a part-time basis in different Orthodox parishes in the Metropolitan Washington area while completing his doctoral dissertation. From April 1989 to December 1993 he served a mission parish (which he helped establish) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He moved to Cyprus in December 1993 where he served the parish of Ayia Napa until July 2001 when he returned to the U.S. and took up the Parish of St. George in New Port Richey, Florida (as of August 1, 2001). In August of 2006 he and his family moved to Marietta, GA where he is currently serving as the presiding presbyter of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church of Marietta. He is married to Presvytera Catherine. They have two children, a son (Stratis) and a daughter (Olympia), ages 29 and 26.

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Acting Head of School / History Teacher

Fr. Christopher Zaferes is excited to serve as the Acting Head of School at Transfiguration Orthodox Academy. He grew up in a family deeply rooted in the Orthodox Christian faith, and that upbringing shaped both his love for Christ and his desire to help young people grow in their faith. He studied at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Boston, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Religious Studies and History along with a Master of Divinity. Part of his studies also took him to Greece, where he was able to connect more deeply with the roots of his faith, and see history come to life.

In 2017, Fr. Christopher married, and the following year he was ordained to the holy priesthood. He brings a love of teaching and a passion for history to the classroom, always encouraging students to explore the “why” of history and integrate this knowledge into their own life.  Outside of school and parish life, Fr. Christopher enjoys hiking and camping, where he finds refreshment and inspiration. He loves exploring the integration of church, home, and school in nurturing the whole child. He takes joy in fostering our community-crafted Trinitarian education, where church, home, and school come together to nurture the whole child. goes here

Faith, Theology, and Music Teacher/Spiritual Advisor

Fr. Michael hails from Boston, MA and is a proud alumnus ofSt. Herman of Alaska Christian School, a private Orthodox K-8 school that his father, Fr. Patrick Tishel, founded. Drawing on his father’s love for both the Faith and Orthodox education, Fr. Michael is also passionate about exploring the integration of the two - seeing all of Creation in and through the illuminating Light of Christ. Fr. Michael began his undergrad studies at Gordon College as a Literature major, but soon felt called to change his major to Comparative Historical Theology and his life focus to the ministry. At Gordon, he participated in a year-long intensive Great Books seminar called the Jerusalem and Athens forum, which deepened his love and appreciation for the classical approach to education. He also holds a Master of Theology degree from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he lived for 3 years and studied ancient and modern Greek. Upon returning from Greece, he directed an academic summer institute for high schoolers at Hellenic College Holy Cross for 7 years, while also serving as a college ministry coordinator and lecturer at Hellenic College for 3 years. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2018 and moved to Georgia in 2019 to serve as the second priest at Holy Transfiguration GOC. He obtained his doctoral degree in dogmatics from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in May 2022. When he is not at the parish or school, Fr Michael loves spending time outdoors “doing nothing” with his wife Pres. Catherine and 4 children, woodworking, and playing and writing songs.

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TOA Educational Advisor

Angie Nasrallah is a writer, teacher, urban farmer, wife, and mother to five children. A veteran homeschool mom, Angie, and her husband home-educated all five kids for a total of 22 years. Angie is a graduate of Florida State University, and also earned her M.Ed in Secondary English Education from The University of Georgia. She began her teaching career at UGA as a graduate assistant in the Challenge Program for gifted and talented students. Since that time, she has taught writing and literature in a variety of contexts including public and private school, technical school, hybrid school,and homeschool. With everyone “almost” out of the house, now she finds herself in the role of cook, coach, wedding planner, and encourager. When she’s not with her family or out tending the chicken coop, you will find her with a camera, writing, or walking on Kennesaw Mountain. She and her husband, subdeacon Matthew, live in Marietta, Georgia, and are actively involved in St. Basil the Great Orthodox Mission.

School Office Manager

Joanna's professional background over the last decade has been in Operations, Facilities Management, and in Talent Acquisition/HR where she has worked within different industries mainly the technology/IT industries, as well as manufacturing where she has picked up many varied skills.

Joanna has been a member of Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church for 11 years and enjoys being involved in the parish community. She currently assists with Hellenic Studies, Hope and Joy, and is a snack team member for Catechism classes.

During her free time, Joanna likes to spend time with her husband Spiro and her two children Panagiota and Sotirios, doing outdoor activities when weather permits, traveling anywhere for changes of scenery, and trying new things.

Art, and 2nd Grade History & Literature Teacher

Angela F. Brown, our current Art Teacher and Second Grade History & Literature Teacher, holds an M.A. in Art History and a B.F.A. in Art Education and Painting. She has eight years of teaching experience in K-8 classrooms in both classical and public settings. While her classes in the past have been a fusion of art appreciation, art history, and art creation, she looks forward to incorporating her faith, in seeking our Lord's presence in the art before us, the world around us, and our own inspiration. Outside of the classroom, Angela is married and expecting her first child, a daughter, this April. She enjoys finding peace in nature, traveling, and reading.

Math Teacher

Jessica Heddings joins us as our Math teacher. She holds a degree in Accounting as well as a Master’s degree in Business Administration. However, she views her highest accomplishment to be her journey home educating her son Caleb for twelve years through graduation. Caleb just completed his freshman year at Georgia State University. Along the way she had many opportunities to adapt curricula to his needs and unique learning style. The program TOA is creating is exactly the type of program she looked for but could not find and therefore attempted to create for her son, and she looks forward to being a part of it.

Assistant Teacher -2nd-3rd Grade & Math

Jesse Harper is delighted to join Transfiguration Orthodox Academy as an Assistant Teacher! As a 2023 graduate of the Classical Conversations program, Jesse greatly values education that focuses on truth, goodness and beauty, and with being a relatively recent convert to Orthodoxy she is thrilled to join TOA with its classical education centered around the Orthodox Faith.

As the oldest of 8 homeschooled children, Jesse appreciates family life and strives to encourage her siblings to develop their interests, deepen their relationship with God, and serve one another and those they encounter. Aside from serving on her parish’s YAL leadership team, she spends her spare time reading, dancing, working on starting a hand lettering business, and also enjoys gathering with close friends, long walks, and finding rest in creation.

2nd-3rd Grade Teacher

Born and raised in Marietta, Georgia, Christina carries with her a strong sense of Southern warmth and hospitality. She attended Kennesaw State University, and has always had a passion for learning and nurturing the potential in others. She is a dedicated homeschool mom who finds great joy in educating her two children—Johnny (12), an inquisitive and thoughtful learner, and Lyla (8), a bright and imaginative spirit. Alongside her husband Andrew, she has embraced homeschooling as a meaningful way to grow as a family and to provide a rich, personalized education grounded in faith, wonder, and care. Her deep love for reading, baking, hiking, photography, and animals reflects her appreciation for both creativity and the natural world. Whether capturing a quiet moment through her camera lens, caring for animals, or exploring the beauty of the outdoors with her children, she approaches life with intention and gratitude. Her Orthodox Christian faith is central to her family’s life. She teaches Church School at St. Basil Orthodox Mission, where she is deeply committed to helping young children grow in their love for Christ and the life of the Church.With a heart for educating the whole child—mind, body, and soul—she brings great care, patience, and purpose to her teaching. 

Literature Teacher Grades 4th-8th

Pres. Sophia is a lifelong writer and reader, as well as a published journal and book editor. She seeks to nurture in her students a natural love of reading and writing, trusting that this lets flow the living waters of creativity, which in turn soak the roots of intellect and awaken the desire for knowledge. Believing that the imagination flourishes best in enriched freedom, she curates spaces where unforced creation and exploration can thrive. Beyond the classroom, Pres. Sophia is an herbalist and medicinal mushroom enthusiast who delights in writing on her many typewriters.

Melissa Mackelprang graduated from the University of Georgia in 2023 and since then has spent time in laboratories and nontraditional classroom settings. She hopes to encourage a love of nature in every class.

Grace, while a new addition to the teaching staff at TOA, is quite comfortable as an Orthodox Christian who loves working with kids.

She has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Psychology from Georgia State University, specializing in Developmental Psychology and Counseling.

As an active member of her parish, grace is a Sunday school teacher, a member of the choir, and also the coordinator for her parish’s young adult league.

Her full-time job is running her graphic web design business. In her free time, Grace practices fine arts, and under the blessing of her spiritual father, practices and attends iconography workshops.

She hopes to bring creativity, faithfulness, and dedication to the TOA community.

K-1st Grade Teacher

Carolina Riggs, our K-1st grade teacher is a Cherokee County native. She and her husband have been married for two years, and are expecting a baby this December. Carolina and her husband serve at Sts. Raphael, Nicholas and Irene Greek Orthodox Church in Cumming.

Carolina has worked in education since she was 18 and loves spending time with little ones. Carolina holds a bachelor’s degree in music, and therefore is a firm believer in incorporating music into the classroom!