Administration
Administration
Head of School | hharris@franklinchristianacademy.org
Hugh Harris
In 2004, Mr. and Mrs. Harris began Franklin Christian Academy. He serves as the Headmaster of the school and President of the Board of Trustees. He is the former President of the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference. Mr. Harris received a Masters of Education Administration and Supervision degree from Tennessee State University and he graduated from Baylor University with a degree in accounting in 1978. After spending 20 years in business both as employee and owner, God called Mr. Harris to the world of education. He is committed to seeing students grow in the grace of Christ through knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.
Business Administrator and Human Resources | lharris@franklinchristianacademy.org
Lisa Harris
Lisa Harris has a passion for teenagers to know Jesus and walk with Him personally. Mrs. Harris has a passion for discipling students from a God-centered worldview. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in 1976 from Baylor University's School of Dentistry and worked in that capacity for 10 years. God called her into academic education as a second career and began teaching in 1986. She has taught all grades from kindergarten to 12th grade. She also recruits and trains teachers to serve at the School of the Medes in northern Iraq, a biblically based school in an Islamic environment. She also received her Masters of Education Administration and Supervision degree from Tennessee State University.
Head of Upper School and Football Coach | tjohnson@franklinchristianacademy.org
Tim Johnson
Coach Johnson earned B.S. in Secondary Education from Vanderbilt and a M.Ed. in Administration from Lincoln Memorial University. While at Vanderbilt, Tim was a four-year letterman as a defensive back for the Commodore football team. During his thirty years as an educator, he has taught multiple subjects in the social sciences. At a variety of public and independent schools, he has also enjoyed serving as an assistant football coach, strength and conditioning coach, head football coach, and in multiple administrative positions. Two of his stops included serving as head coach at nearby Franklin High and BGA, highlighted by his 2004 Franklin team reaching the state championship game. Tim and his wife, Julia, enjoy spending time with family, hiking, playing tennis, biking, serving the community and walking "Vito" their Gold Retriever. I am so excited to work with the FCA faculty as we mentor our future great servant-leaders.
Head of Lower School and Coding Teacher | pellsworth@franklinchristianacademy.org
Paul Ellsworth
Mr. Ellsworth (better known as "Profe") is passionate for all things Spanish. After leaving the missions field in Mexico, Profe earned a Bachelors of Science in Education from Liberty University and has been teaching since 2011. Profe is dedicated to helping students not only appreciate other languages and cultures, but also discover their God given strengths and callings. Profe enjoys spending time with his three boys and his wife, Muryel, outdoors and doing exercise.
Dean of Students and Upper School Math | wshipman@franklinchristianacademy.org
William Shipman
Will is the son of a minister and grew up in Wartburg, TN He is married to Jenni and they have two children Georgia and Victoria. After high school, he attended Tennessee Tech University earning a B.A. in Business Administration. He moved to Aiken, SC in 2001 where he worked as the youth minister for the Aiken Church of Christ while returning to school to earn his teaching certificate in 6-12 math education. After teaching one year in South Carolina, Will returned to Tennessee and taught at Grassland Middle School for 7 years and Ezell-Harding Christian School for 5 years. He currently serves the Antioch Church of Christ in Nashville as a deacon overseeing a summer camp for families and worship leader.
Academic Dean and Director of Admissions | sradbill@franklinchristianacademy.org
Stephanie Radbill
Stephanie Radbill has been at FCA since 2011. She was born into a military family and spent her early years traveling the world. She spent her Jr High and High School years in St. Louis, MO. She attended Covenant College and studied Elementary Education and minored in Spanish. She taught elementary school in St. Louis for 3 years. In 2004, Stephanie moved to Bulgaria to work as a missionary with Mission to the World. While there, she taught Middle School to missionary kids and did administrative work as well. She had wonderful opportunities to see much of Europe and travel. While in Bulgaria, she met her husband, and they have 4 children. She loves reading, baking, gardening, traveling, and missions.
Office Manager and Umbrella Program Administrator | rharris@franklinchristianacademy.org
Rachel Harris
Rachel Harris is the Administrator of the Umbrella Program for homeschool families. She is also the office manager at FCA. Ms. Rachel received her B.A. in Global Studies from Azusa Pacific University. She was also a member of the first class to receive a Graduate Certificate from Lipscomb University’s Institute for Sustainable Practice. She enjoys fostering a diverse community at FCA. When not at school, she enjoys swimming, being outside, collecting postage stamps, and spending time with friends and family.
Director of Security and Middle School Teacher | drichey@franklinchristianacademy.org
Dan Richey
Dan Richey was born and raised in Southern California, to a family with deep roots in ministry and education. He met his wife of 21 years in high school. They have three children in middle and high school. He attended California State University, where he earned his BA in Political Science and Public Administration, minoring in Criminal Justice and German Language. While still attending college, he combined his heart of service with a passion for teaching, and began a 25 year career in Law Enforcement, where spent a majority of his career teaching and certifying officers in advanced training. Dan has always had a passion Christ and mentoring youth, so early in his career he identified and acted upon the difficult circumstances many middle school aged children face. He earned the distinction of fifth grade DARE teacher and also began to coach youth sports, partner in homeless and at-risk youth outreach, camps, and Sunday School. When he is not working, Dan enjoys spending time with his family camping, hiking, and skiing. He is passionate about partnering with families and reaching he next generation for Jesus, pointing them to Him for their identity, as they navigate their teen years.

Athletic Director and Athletic Social Media Coordinator | kjorgensen@franklinchristianacademy.org
KC Jorgensen
KC Jorgensen is a Franklin, TN native and FCA alumni (2015) where he played football and basketball. He continued playing football in college at both Taylor University and Kentucky State University, before ultimately graduating from Lipscomb in 2020 with a B.S. in Business Leadership. In 2020, Coach KC began coaching football at FCA part-time serving as the high school offensive coordinator, while working at MAPCO Corporate in the Human Resources department. In 2021 he was hired on full-time at FCA serving as the Assistant Athletic Director, High School Offensive Coordinator, Middle School Boys Basketball Head Coach, while also maintaining FCA's athletic social media pages. Coach KC, is extremely passionate about the nurturing and growth of FCA students. In his free time Coach enjoys living an active lifestyle with his wife Olivia!
Marketing/Social Media Coordinator and College and Career Counseling | lgarrison@franklinchristianacademy.org
Lanie Garrison
Lanie Garrison grew up in New Orleans, LA and received her B.S. and MBA from Loyola University New Orleans, where she worked as the marketing director of a small startup company. After graduation, she moved to Littleton, CO to raise her three girls with her husband, Bishop. During her 16 years in Colorado, she taught both high school computer and business college courses, while freelancing in marketing. The Lord brought her family back South to Franklin in 2018 and she began teaching for FCA in 2019. She continues teaching business courses for Colorado Christian University and loves being able to combine her love of teaching and the Lord. She is grateful to be a part of the FCA family.
Director of Community Engagement and Basketball Operations | wsmith@franklinchristianacademy.org
Wayne Smith
Wayne Smith is native of Nashville, Tennessee. Wayne began his basketball career at Hillsboro Comprehensive High School and continued his basketball career at Nashville’s Aquinas Junior College. Wayne also played at Belmont College, playing for the legendary Rick Byrd in his first season as Head Coach. As a post player, Coach Smith quickly established himself as a good defender and presence near the basket and was an 87% free throw shooter, with many career games. After playing a year professionally in Portugal, Coach Smith earned his degree in education from Tennessee State University. Having taught in the private, public and charter school settings and institutions for the past 18 years, he brings a wealth of knowledge in Health and Physical Education while coaching various sports such as softball, volleyball, and football. Coach Smith has over 25 years of basketball coaching experience. Currently, he is serving FCA as the Athletic Director and Head of all Basketball Operations. Coach Smith also serves as a Head Coach for the Upward Stars Travel Basketball Program, Camp instructor for Nike Elite Basketball Camps and Belmont Basketball Camps. Coach Smith and his wife Lucretia have a blended family of 6 kids.
School Counselor | llee@franklinchristianacademy.org
Latasha Lee
Latasha Lee is a native Nashvillian. She worked in several Metro Nashville Public Schools in a
variety of roles for the past 10 years, 7 of which she was a licensed professional school
counselor. She received her bachelor’s degree and school counseling certification from
Tennessee State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Trevecca Nazarene
University. She also has 30 hours beyond the master’s degree. Her passion is to serve the
Lord and others with her whole heart. She strives to live by I Corinthians 15:58- “Therefore,
my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” She loves traveling, playing
board-games, spending time with her family, friends, and serving on various ministries in her
church. She is married to her husband, Spencer, and they are blessed with four beautiful
children as well as a shih tzu named Sammy. She is truly excited and grateful to join the FCA
family.
Student Resource Officer | rlemons@franklinchristianacademy.org
Roger Lemons
Roger worked in the Tennessee Highway patrol and worked at another Christian school for 6 years as their Student Resource Officer. He has been serving the Nashville area community since 2007. He has been with FCA since April of 2019. Roger is married to his wife Tiana and has two furbabies Linus and Lucy. He greets the students daily at the front door and helps bring security to our community.
History Department Head | barmstrong@franklinchristianacademy.org
Brett Armstrong
Brett is a long-time teacher, coach, and administrator. He earned a B.A. in Business
Administration from Presbyterian College, an M.A. in European History from Georgia State
University, and a Ph.D. in Modern European History from Vanderbilt. After 15 years as a
professor of History at Trevecca Nazarene University and after coaching their women’s soccer
team for six years, he and his wife Leslie moved to Intermountain Christian School in Salt Lake
City where Brett was the High School Principal and Leslie was the Director of Admissions. Brett
has also taught and coached at both Christ Presbyterian Academy and Grace Christian Academy
in Franklin. Brett and Leslie have three children and when he’s not in the classroom, he’s
happiest hiking, camping, and flyfishing somewhere in the West.
Lower School Math | harnold@franklinchristianacademy.org
Hunter Arnold
Hunter grew up in Franklin, Tn and is married to his lovely and incredible wife Amanda. They have a beautiful girl Alora Abigail, and are welcoming a baby boy anytime now! He attended The University of Mississippi from 2004-2008 where he obtained a bachelors degree in Psychology and also has a Masters of Arts in Teaching Elementary and Middle School Education from Western Governors University. He found his passion for teaching, leading, and counseling on staff of a youth ministry team at The Vine Community Church in Cumming, GA ministering to middle schoolers and high schoolers in the area. From there, Jesus Christ led him into the field of education where he has been teaching students in public schools and private schools for 8+ years. He believes this is a pivotal time in our country for Jesus Christ Centered private school education to demonstrate the Love He has for our students and for all of us. Hunter has a passion for The Lord God Almighty’s Kingdom growing and being displayed on earth through the ministry of teaching, leading and counseling.
Lower School Teacher | sbarnes@franklinchristianacademy.org
Samantha Barnes
Samantha Barnes was raised in sunny Southern California and attended Chapman University (Go Panthers!) graduating with B.A. in Integrated Educational Studies and minors in Disability Studies and Leadership
Practices. In 2017, Ms. Barnes was accepted into Teach For America program where she learned to advocate for a whole-child learning approach and where she fell in love with Universal Design for Learning.
In 2020, God brought her back to her roots in San Diego, CA where she got her first taste teaching 5th grade and fell head over heels with it. Through additional coaching opportunities she began to lead middle and high school age groups and began to develop and nurture a heart for them as well. You can find her in her classroom differentiating instruction, leading creative lessons, reading a cliff hanger in her read-a-
loud, or making a mess for the sake of a memorable and meaningful lesson.
Upper School Speech | abooth@franklinchristianacademy.org
Angela Booth
Angela recently moved here from from California with my husband Jeremiah and her three children, two that are attending FCA. She has her B.S. in Family Studies & Human Development and has a background in youth and children’s ministry in England. Over th years, she has also taught Middle School Bible, Science, and History. She is so excited to be teaching high school students and believes in empowering them to have a voice and gain confidence in sharing their own story. She loves DIY, art, and writing children’s literature, as well as her family fur babies; our golden retriever-“ Ollie” and cat “Cookie.”.
Performing Arts Teacher | kchance@franklinchristianacademy.org
Katie Chance
Katie Chance is a graduate from Lipscomb University with a BFA on Musical Theatre and an alum of FCA , graduating from there in 2016. She is currently working towards her M.Ed in Child Studies at Vanderbilt. Along with performing, Katie has enjoyed teaching dance at Lipscomb Academy, working with preschoolers at Tippi Toes, and volunteering her time at the SENSE Theatre at the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center. She is so excited to be teaching drama and dance and feels blessed to be back to support her FCA family.
Upper School Math | ldean@franklinchristianacademy.org
Lesley Dean
Lesley has an excitement and passion to help all of her students learn and even enjoy math! Watching students as they grow in confidence and problem solving ability is a daily reminder of why she is called to teach. God has allowed her to use these gifts the last twelve years as a private math tutor in the Nashville area, teaching students from fourth grade up to college level math. Before beginning her tutoring business, Lesley taught at a private Christian school in Princeton, NJ and three years at Brentwood Middle School. She received her Masters degree from Lindenwood University in Middle Grades Mathematics in 2007, and her Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University in 2003…Go Bears!! Lesley is married to Shaun, and they have three children: Callan, Logan and Nelly. Lesley loves being with friends and family, exercising, interior design, all things football, and traveling. She is so excited to be a Falcon!
Academic Advisor | adonnelly@franklinchristianacademy.org
Ashley Donnelly
Ashley was born in Alabama attended Auburn University. She received her undergraduate and Masters Degree in Elementary Education. WAR EAGLE!! She met her husband, Sam, while in graduate school at Auburn they married in 2000. For the next 19 years the Army has stationed them all over the United States. After Sam retired from the Army, they were excited to finally be able to choose where to live. Prayerfully they were led to Franklin and thrilled to find FCA! They are blessed to have their children attend the school. Outside of school, Ashley loves to read, go shopping, watch college football, and delights in spending time with her family!
Lower School Math | cdorcean@franklinchristianacademy.org
Chaka Dorcean
Chaka has a passion to train, transition and transform the lives of all she comes into contact with through her God given gift of teaching. She grew up in the DC/Maryland/Virgini area and holds her Bachelor of Science in Biology & Masters of Education in Administration & Supervision. Chaka comes to us with 23 years of successful teaching experience from classroom teacher to administration in both public & private sectors. She thoroughly enjoys teaching Math, Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship and making it fun! Chaka has been married to her husband Ricardo for 14 years and they have 2 gifted and beautiful children Cooper Marie & River Francois. When Chaka is not teaching at FCA, she is a full time Christian Life Coach who focuses on Soul Wellness that helps Christians experience a deep level of Healing & Freedom in all areas of their life. Chaka LOVES the Lord as clearly understands her purpose in the earth to help others reach the destiny God has designed for them while experiencing the joy, peace and freedom God so graciously has given us! Her favorite scripture is 3 John 1:2 "You shall prosper and be in good health, even as your SOUL prospers."
PE Teacher | eekstrand@franklinchristianacademy.org
Edie Ekstrand
Edie grew up in Sunnyvale, California, where she lived for 48 years before moving to Franklin,
Tennessee. She has been married for 25 years and has two children. Her undergraduate degree is in
Bible and Theology and Christian Education. In 2012 she received a Master’s Degree in Kinesiology. She
has a lifetime teaching certificate for ACSI. She is deeply passionate about God and her subject area.
She feels blessed to do what she does every day, educating young people how to move their bodies and
take care of their bodies. She has been teaching and coaching many sports for over 20 years, including
tennis, basketball, field hockey, and cross country, although her first love is basketball. She played
basketball in high school and two years in community college. Edie loves to learn and is always taking
classes and learning new skills in her field.
Upper School English| sframe@franklinchristianacademy.org
Summer Frame
Summer grew up in Austin, Texas. She married the love of her life, her high school sweetheart, Matt, in 2001. They have three children and a new bonus daughter-in-love. Summer is a Liberty University graduate with a B.S. in Education and Psychology. Moving around the South for Matt’s career gave Summer the perfect opportunity to homeschool their children. What started as a one-year endeavor became a beautiful 12-year journey; she even taught high school English at their homeschool co-op for three years. Summer will say that educating her children was the sweetest blessing the Lord gave her as a mother. As her beloved children are growing up and flying the nest, she feels blessed to join the FCA family to continue to share her love for education with its students! With much joy and great anticipation, she looks forward to an incredible year teaching 9th and 10th-grade English! All the places they’ll go to discover beauty and truth in the many great literary masterpieces will be inspiring! Summer loves serving in youth ministry at her church, traveling with her family, swimming, hiking, listening to live music, and reading.
Math Department Head | dhoesel@franklinchristianacademy.org
Dawn Hoesel
Dawn has a passion for students and guiding them to a greater understanding of God's universe through Math. Dawn has a gift for explaining complicated concepts in a way anyone can understand. As our Math Department Head she oversees all facets of our Math curriculum and instruction. Dawn Hoesel has been teaching at FCA since 2006. She is married to Don and has two children. Dawn received her degree from Taylor University in Spanish and Math education.
Lower School Math and Science | shultgren@franklinchristianacademy.org
Stephen Hultgren
Stephen received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baptist Health Sciences University in Memphis. He spent 18 years in Various roles in Nursing, including ICU and CVICU and spent several years in the educational field training RNs and LPNs working in correctional healthcare. Stephen has a passion for process improvement, earning a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt from Villanova University in 2011. This is his second year teaching in the Middle School environment, and loves coaching football and basketball. He has two grown children and lives in Spring Hill with his wife and youngest son.
Lower School Teacher | rhunter@franklinchristianacademy.org
Rhonda Hunter
Born and raised in Paradise Valley, Arizona, Rhonda attended a small Christian high school, very similar to FCA. After a year at Grand Canyon College, she transferred to Baylor University, where she earned her degree in Telecommunications and Broadcasting. Rhonda married Joe Hunter in 1992 and after several moves, landed in Franklin in 2009. They are the proud parents of Zac (married to Gabrielle), Sydney, and Westley. All three kids graduated from FCA, including Zac who was part of FCA’s umbrella program. Rhonda came to work at FCA in 2019. Her passion is being Jesus to those around her and pointing others back to Him and His truths. She loves spending time with her husband and kids as much as possible, as well as her Tennessee Family, hiking, reading, traveling, and playing pickleball.
PE Teacher | eimeokparia@franklinchristianacademy.org
Ehidiamen Imeokparia
Coach E grew up locally and graduated from Ravenwood High School. He went on to receive his B.A. in Sports Pedagogy from Middle Tennessee State University. He has been coaching football at FCA for 3 seasons and is now joining FCA as both a PE teacher and the new Assistant Athletic Director. He is excited to inspire students to learn to have fun and work hard while staying active. His favorite verse is 1 Corinthians 15:10 “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace that was bestowed upon me was not in vain”
Art Teacher | tmcdonald@franklinchristianacademy.org
Tammy McDonald
Tammy graduated from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC with a degree in art and K-12 education. She later studied music at Campbell University in Buies Creek, NC. She has a lifetime of experience in the United Methodist Church as a pianist and children/youth choir director. After graduating from college, she began working in advertising with Maxway. She also started her own studio for private piano and art lessons. In 2000, she joined the staff at Cape Fear Christian Academy in Erwin, NC as an art and music teacher, and eventually served as Fine Arts Director until spring of 2011. Since moving to Nashville, she is excited to be part of the FCA family and is very passionate about the arts. Her goal is to help students see the beauty of God’s creation through the exploration of various mediums, styles, self-expression, and problem-solving skills.
Upper School Science | hmcgee@franklinchristianacademy.org
Heather McGee
Heather is a graduate of University of Tennessee Knoxville with a Bachelors of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences and Secondary Education. She grew up up as a “corporate brat”, but is a native Minnesotan and has lived in CA, TX, Wash DC, ND, GA and CO. She has been married to Chad McGee for 20 years and has a wonderful son Gavin, who also attends FCA. Heather taught high school in Atlanta and Dickson County for 9 years before staying home to raise Gavin in 2006, and has tutored the past 10+ years. She enjoys hiking, skiing, travel and aviation and has a heart and passion for working with teens. Her goal is to help students see the beauty of God’s creation through the exploration of various mediums, styles, self-expression, and problem-solving skills.
Lower School Teacher | jmckennon@franklinchristianacademy.org
Jackie McKennon
Jackie was born and raised in New Jersey. She moved to TN about 10 years ago with her family. She has a masters degree in marriage and family therapy from Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA.(now Drexel University), and worked as a family therapist before having children of her own. Since then she has been homeschooling her four children, as well as other homeschoolers, both privately and within a classroom environment for over 20 years. Nearing the end of her homeschooling season, she feels blessed to join the FCA family along with her youngest daughter to continue to help students learn and grow.
Lower School and Upper School Teacher | rmclain@franklinchristianacademy.org
Rod McLain
Rod grew up in Atlanta, Ga. After high school, he attended Presbyterian College earning a B.A. in Business Administration. He moved to Franklin in 1990 and began work as a youth pastor for Christ Community Church. In 2000, he moved to Vancouver, B.C. with his wife, Shana, to attend Regent College. While there, they had four children, earned a Masters of Divinity, helped plant two church congregations, and developed a recovery program for sexually exploited women of Vancouver.
Lower School Teacher/Performing Arts | smclain@franklinchristianacademy.org
Shana McLain
Shana McLain grew up in Brentwood, TN and graduated from Brentwood High School and Samford University with a B.A. in Speech Communications and Theater. Shortly after college, she and her husband, Rod, were married and moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where their 4 children were born, eh! Shana and her family moved back to Franklin where she served as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator at St. John’s Anglican Church before coming to FCA in 2014. She loves teaching history and the arts and connecting with students in a meaningful, Christ-focused way; she considers it an honor to live and work each day amongst the FCA teachers, students, and families. Shana loves all things outdoors, live music and theater, and dining on patios!
Lower School Teacher | lmyers@franklinchristianacademy.org
Lana Myers
Lana is a native of Williamson County and attended Taylor University in Indiana with a B.S. in Education. After teaching a few years at Lighthouse Christian School, she attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, then returned back to Nashville where she married her husband, Bryan, and taught for the next several years at Christ Presbyterian Academy. She enjoyed staying home with her two daughters as well as homeschooling them for four years. Lana is excited to be teaching her favorite subject at FCA: Bible! She’s teaching all the seventh graders, as well as the eighth grade girls. She desires to help students know who they are in Christ, and to grow in deeper walks with Jesus and with one another.
Lower School Performing Arts | fnoe@franklinchristianacademy.org
Francesca Noe
Francesca is from California where she studied the umbrella major of Theatre Arts with an emphasis on Musical Theatre and Vocal Performance. She an active member within the local theatre scene, and can be seen in many of the local productions. Francesca is looking forward to the opportunity to further integrate herself into the performance world from an educational standpoint by creating quality and meaningful art with her incoming student performers!
Upper School History/Lower School Geography | jnoe@franklinchristianacademy.org
Jessica Noe
Dr. Noe grew up in California, where she spent her summers on the beach. Now that the Lord has brought her and her family to Franklin, she spends the summer heat enjoying the cicadas and looking forward to chilly autumn mornings and apple cider doughnuts! Dr. Noe earned her B.A. in Communication Studies and Political Science from the University of San Diego. Feeling called to continue her education, she pursued her M.A. and Ph.D. in Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she taught at the college level for six years and researched the intricate connections between food, family, and memory. Passionate about folklore, history, and the world’s cultures, Jessica dedicates her classroom time to creating an environment full of curiosity about the stories we tell - whether rooted in myth, historical events, or daily life - and what they say about us as people. She’s thrilled to join the FCA team as a teacher of ancient history (9th grade) and geography (7th grade). When she isn’t teaching, Jessica enjoys hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, hanging out with her family, baking pastries, and watching live theater.
Upper School English | asmith@franklinchristianacademy.org
Angie Smith
Angie Smith moved to Nashville more than 20 years ago to attend Vanderbilt University where she received her Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology. She has always loved teaching and saw herself in a classroom before God set her in a couple hundred “classrooms” during 15 years of traveling and teaching the Bible. She has written several books and Bible studies (and will continue to!) but she is very excited about teaching 8th grade English this year. She is currently working on her PhD in Developmental Psychology and has a crew of girls who are part of the FCA family. One is a 7th grader, one is a senior, and two have already graduated from FCA and are juniors at Samford University.
Lower School Teacher | jsmith@franklinchristianacademy.org
Jessica Smith
Jessica Smith grew up in the cornfields of Indiana, but has been in Tennessee for over 20 years. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Lipscomb University and started her first teaching job at Ezell Harding Christian School in Antioch, TN before graduation. She taught 6th grade English for 5 years, but left to stay at home with her daughter in 2010. After being a stay at home mom for 12 years, she decided to go back into the classroom. Luckily, she landed at FCA! She currently teaches English (5th/6th) and Social Studies (5th) and hopes to spark a love for grammar and reading. In her free time, she enjoys traveling around with her family (her husband, daughter, and son), exploring National Parks, hiking, watching and going to basketball games, and exploring new coffee shops wherever she goes.
Upper School English | dstengele@franklinchristianacademy.org
David Stengele
David grew up in India with his missionary parents, and then returned to the States for higher education. He has a B.A. in Literature and Writing (double major) and an M.A. in English. He has worked in a graphics company for New York publishers; taught Freshman English at the community college and university level; trained English teachers in Sichuan Province as part of the first Peace Corps team into China; taught ESL in Japan, where he met his wife, Akiko; taught I.B. English for six years at Kodaikanal International School in India, where he himself went to school; and, for seven years, taught High School English at Dalat International School in Penang, Malaysia. David has been with FCA since 2012.
Upper School Science | bvanfleteren@franklinchristianacademy.org
Bob VanFleteren
Bob VanFleteren was born and raised in Michigan. He met his wife of 38 years at Michigan State University, where Bob got his academic degrees in Engineering and in Communications. They have three adult sons and three grandchildren. His career has spanned over 35 years in automotive engineering, chemistry, metallurgy, packaged goods, and the diesel fueling industry. Bob has a heart of service and a passion for teaching. He has tutored and coached hundreds of students and athletes, and has led hundreds of students on short-term mission trips to Mexico, Haiti, and Russia. He and his wife are founders of a Christian school in Haiti, where they spend a lot of their time and effort ministering together. When he is not in the classroom, Bob enjoys spoiling his grandkids, playing fast-pitch baseball, competing in Masters track meets, advancing ministry work in Haiti, and mentoring younger professionals. He is passionate about reaching young people and helping them fall in love with Jesus.
Upper and Lower School Science | hwandrey@franklinchristianacademy.org
Heidi Wandrey
Heidi grew up in Orange County California, moving to TN just over a year ago. She earned her B.S. in Biology and her teaching credential at Cal State Fullerton. She has taught 7th grade Life Science and has homeschooled her four children for 10+ years. She also coached H.S. basketball for six years. She is married to Michael and three of her children will attend FCA this year, Susannah, Everett, and Kate, while her youngest Dolly is still in elementary school. She has a passion for the outdoors and helping students connect with nature. Her favorite places to be are reading books on her porch, on a trail admiring wildflowers or taking photos, thrifting, or cooking a meal from scratch.
Lower School Teacher | lwarbington@franklinchristianacademy.org
Lyndsey Warbington
Lyndsey has a love for history, young adults, and teaching God’s truth. She is very excited that these three loves have come together at FCA. She was born and raised in Nashville and has just recently moved back to the area. She received a bachelors in education from Eastern Kentucky University and completed a Masters from Liberty University. She has spent the last 15 years supporting struggling learners in middle school and high school. Her desire is for the Lord to use her to impart in her students a love for learning about the Author of history but more importantly a desire to walk with the personal and loving God of all history! She believes a proper understanding of history can strengthen our trust in the reliability and trustworthiness of God's Word. He has left His fingerprints all over "His-story" and His creation for us to discover! “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:27
Upper School Spanish | wwilson@franklinchristianacademy.org
Wendy Wilson
Wendy Wilson grew up in Michigan and has been in Tennessee for more than 20 years. She has lived in the Nashville area since 2007. She has a bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in Indiana and a master's degree in intercultural studies from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Before becoming a teacher, Wendy worked as a newspaper reporter. As a teacher, she has experience teaching ESL as well as Spanish. She is grateful to be teaching at a Christian school where she can help students grow in their faith. Wendy enjoys knitting, hiking, ballroom dancing, playing board games and cards, and being involved at her church.