SailAway Learning Staff
SailAway currently serves over 1,000 unique students in East Tennessee and fills an unparalleled educational niche in the region. SailAway staff bring over 100 years of combined educational experience from a variety of backgrounds.
Brenda K. Murphy, Ph.D.
Founder and President
Brenda Murphy earned a PhD in Education, Educational Psychology focus, from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; an MBA from Lamar University; and BA from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in speech and theater. Dr. Murphy’s dissertation research examined the application of design thinking to teaching a struggling reader successfully.
Dr. Murphy founded SailAway in 1994 with her husband Russ, a broadcast journalist. The company grew out of her work homeschooling their five sons. Her interest in reading skills acquisition led her to develop the SailAway literacy curriculum, upon which SailAway Academy’s philosophical foundation rests.
Dr. Murphy lives out her mission to Serve All In Love through her commitment to support all teachers—whether in public, private, and home schools—by sharing her deep knowledge of the art and science of teaching through professional development, personal consultation, and mentorship. She encourages teachers, parents, and students to experience new possibilities through her belief that they each possess undiscovered gifts and talents.
When not researching or writing, Dr. Brenda loves teaching her grandchildren SailAway, especially cursive writing, and reading with them. She enjoys big family get-togethers with her sons, daughters (in-law), and nine (and counting!) grandchildren, and cooking favorite family dishes for them.
Mary Beth Pennington
Records Administrator for SailAway Learning & Academy.
Mary Beth has been married for over 30 years and is the proud mother of six, grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of one.
Mary Beth has a long history with SailAway, having taught at the academy for nine years (literally teaching the SailAway Language Arts Learning System!). Since then, she has expanded her professional experience in office management, customer service, record keeping, technical writing, billing and collections, bookkeeping, and logistics. These skills allow her to bring both experience and organization to her role in serving SailAway’s homeschool families.
Outside of SailAway, Mary Beth enjoys cooking, catering, and is actively involved in her church. She loves serving others, building relationships, and using her skills and experience to support families and the SailAway community.
Shane Goad, Ed.S.
Licensed School Psychologist
Shane Goad is a licensed school psychologist, counselor, and teacher. Shane provides psychoeducational evaluations for SailAway using nationally recognized assessment instruments.
After completing his Bachelor’s degree in mathematics education at Cumberland College, Williamsburg, KY, he vigorously pursued his Master’s and Educational Specialist degrees at Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN. He has sixteen years experience in the Tennessee public and private school system, as an elementary and middle school teacher, school counselor, and school psychologist.