Our People

We are educators, philosophers, poets, and dreamers empowering students to be lifelong learners.

Upper School Latin

Abbie Adkerson

Abbie joins us as a recent graduate of New Saint Andrews College, where she earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture. She has served as a teacher and leader at AHG Camp Narroway, a Latin Tutor and Classroom Assistant at New Saint Andrews College, and former Bible Study Co-Leader for NSA and UofI Students. Abbie is passionate about education and is eager to share her love of learning with our students as our Upper School Latin Teacher.

2nd Grade

Hannah Aguirre

Guidance/Grammar School Aide

Normandy Barry

Mrs. Barry has been a JECA Parent since 2020 and will have all 3 of her children at JECA this year. She has a B.A. in Business Administration and Marketing, and an MBA in Global Management. Mrs. Barry worked in marketing operations management for 13 years where she developed her passion for career development and mentoring. She briefly lived on the mission field as a child which instilled a life-long love of Global Missions. Today she mentors missionaries and directs missionary care and coordinates teams for her church.

Grammar School Aide

Erika Bimson

The 2023-2024 school year will be Mrs. Bimson's second year as a Grammar School Aide. She is a proud mom of four JECA students.

Head of Grammar School

Josh Boyd

Mr. Boyd joined JECA in the summer of 2022. He was formerly at The Cambridge School (San Diego, CA). He received a B.S. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Liberty University. He finds great joy in playing his part to shape the hearts and minds of students to think well, love rightly, and live wisely. In his free time, he enjoys hikes, exploring Nashville, cycling, reading, theological discussions with friends, and a good cup of coffee. Josh and his wife Natalie live in Goodlettsville with their two children.

Upper School Math

Stefanie Burns

Stefanie comes to us from Aristoi Classical Academy where she spent the last three years as head of the mathematics department while teaching both junior high and high school math. She was introduced to classical education while teaching at Evangelical Christian Academy in Colorado Springs, but really grew to love the model while homeschooling. Stefanie and her husband, Michael, have three children, and she enjoys running, baking, reading, and explaining to her students why they, too, should love math.

Grammar School Aide

Roberta Carlson

Mrs. Carlson taught Second Grade at Evangelical Christian School in Memphis for many years. She graduated from the University of Memphis with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Roberta and her husband, Stephen have two adult sons, Benjamin Calvin and Timothy Spurgeon, who has coached volleyball clinics for JECA, and four grandchildren. Roberta and Stephen attend Redeemer Church in Hendersonville, where she teaches Sunday School and Stephen is an elder.

K-4 Art / Admin

Jenn Casterline

Mrs. Casterline has a B.F.A. in Graphic Design from APSU and a B.S. in Engineering from the University of TN. She is a native Middle Tennessean and loves to flower garden and attend to all things green and growing. She loves making up silly songs and devouring great books with her daughter Ellie, who is in 3rd grade at JECA. Jenn, her husband Phillip and Ellie worship with Redemption Baptist Church of Nashville and live in Coopertown.

Aftercare Coordinator / Theatre Arts

Lauren Cook

Mrs. Cook graduated from Columbia State with an AAS in Veterinary Nursing. Her and her husband John have been married since 2003, and have 4 children. This is their children's 7th year attending JECA, and Mrs. Cook's 3rd year on staff. She established a new Theater Arts program two years ago, and is eager to embark on another exciting season and production. She and her family attend West End Community Church in Nashville. She enjoys cooking, singing, occasionally writing songs, counseling/talking with high school students, but will take a cuddle on the couch with one of her kiddos anytime. She is grateful to the Lord for bringing them to JECA.

Physical Education

Cheryl Dahl

Headmaster

Joshua Drake

Dr. Drake grew up in Goodlettsville and holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Union University. He holds both a Master’s Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Glasgow in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Drake was a Professor of Music and Humanities at Grove City College from 2005-2019 where he was awarded Professor of the Year in 2019. Dr. Drake has also served as a Director of Strategy and Data Marketing for MTA Distributors and later became the Human Resources Director for MTA’s parent company, Thompson Distribution. Dr. Drake and his family attend Union Hill Baptist Church in Goodlettsville.

Bookkeeper

Kimberly Gambill

Mrs. Gambill graduated from Indiana University and hold a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration along with an Associates Degree in Computer Science. She is happily married to Stephen and has two children along with two precious grandchildren. She has been with JECA since 2009.

Upper School Modern Language

Debbie Hutchison

Debbie Hutchison and her husband Jake live in Whites Creek with their five children. They have been friends and fans of JECA and its mission since its beginning. After growing up a barefoot and carefree missionary kid in the jungles of Bolivia and Peru, Debbie earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts from Bryan College. She has delighted in educating her children (and herself) at home for the past 8 years, and began teaching Spanish at JECA in 2021. She is an enthusiastic traveler and adventurer, optimistic gardener, a foodie and reader, and grateful servant of Christ.

Upper School Math and Science Teacher

Wendy Ingram

Mrs. Ingram has a Bachelors in Chemistry with a minor in Biology from MTSU. She worked in an environmental laboratory for 15 years after college. In 2006, she began teaching at Pioneer Christian Academy, teaching science and Spanish until PCA closed in 2009. She taught science at Pleasant View Christian School for 13 years and taught classes in computer science, domestic arts, coding and math. She and her husband, Mark, chaperoned three student trips to Europe. Her love of travel started with the student exchange program in high school, hosting a girl from Peru and then spending her summer with the Peruvian family. The Ingrams have two adult children and three grandchildren.

School Librarian

Caroline Jantz

Mrs. Jantz joined JECA in 2018. She completed a B.A. in political science and Latin from Furman University and a Master of Library and Information Science from Trevecca Nazarene University. She lives in Nashville with her husband John and their three young children. The Jantzes are members of Midtown Fellowship.

School Custodian

Christal Johnson

Originally from North Carolina, Christal has lived in TN since 2011. She is a homeschool mom of three sons and attends Redemption Baptist Church of Nashville with her husband of 20-plus years. Some of her favorite things are baking, studying health and nutrition, and reading a good mystery.

Upper School Bible / Volleyball Coach

David King

Mr. King began at JECA in 2011. After earning BA and MA in Bible from BJU, he taught and administrated in several different Christian schools before settling with his family in Tennessee. He is married to Jill and delights in spending time with her and their three children. He enjoys cooking, barbequing, reading, gardening, and is a devoted fan of the Cleveland Browns.

Kindergarten / Volleyball AD

Jill King

Mrs. King holds a degree in Elementary Education and has been behind the podium for 20 years, with 14 of those years in Kindergarten. The Kings have been with JECA since our inaugural year (2009), and Jill has been serving as the lead Kindergarten teacher at JECA since 2010. Mrs. King enjoys thrift/bargain shopping, reading, Golly G's ice cream, and all things related to baseball in St. Louis.

Grammar and Logic School Math and Science

Debby Layman

Mrs. Layman graduated from Bob Jones University with a B.S. in Education. She and her husband Carl live in Old Hickory and have three children. She began teaching part-time at JECA in 2010 and went full-time in 2019.

K-12 Music

Evy Litchford

Evy comes to JECA as a former graduate of Pioneer Christian Academy. She later worked as a Graduate Assistant at Tennessee State University, earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Bob Jones University, and achieved a Master of Science in Music Education from Tennessee State University. She enjoys playing and teaching piano, hiking to beautiful views of God's creation, and exploring new areas of study. Her family of three loves spending time at home playing games and snuggling with their two dogs.

Upper School Humanities

Clint Lum

Mr. Lum earned his B.A. and M.S. degrees from Texas A&M University, a certificate in biblical and theological studies from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a M.Hum. (Classical Education) from the University of Dallas. He also studied for a PhD at the University of Illinois. He has taught 5th grade, undergraduate courses, and everything in between. He, his wife Kyla, and their three children live in Greenbrier and attend Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship in Goodlettsville.

3rd Grade

Beth Morrow

Mrs. Morrow earned an elementary education degree from Murray State University, where she met her husband, Ben. She has loved teaching first grade since the moment she joined JECA in 2017. Her husband is the Senior Pastor of Miracle Baptist Church in LaVergne, and they have three children who attend JECA. Beth’s favorite activities are collecting books and reading, sipping coffee with too much creamer, singing loudly in her van (much to the chagrin of her kiddos), eating Mexican food, and helping children develop a love for reading good stories.

School Gardener

Anna Ostrander

Mrs. Ostrander moved to Nashville with her family in 2006 from Kansas. She graduated from Kansas State with a Bachelor of Science. Anna attends Immanuel Nashville Church and has three boys in the Grammar school. She joined our staff in 2021, and you may see her and their dog Harper working in the flower beds after school.

Upper School Grammar/Comp and Senior Thesis

Kelsey Peterson

Kelsey Peterson joined JECA in the fall of 2022. She formerly taught at the collegiate level, most recently at Pennsylvania State University. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Rochester and an M.F.A. in Writing from Washington University in St. Louis. When she's not goofing around with her two girls, cooking elaborate French meals with her husband, or trying to (re)write a novel, she's falling asleep on the couch while reading a book or watching tennis.

Student Support Director

Brandy Rouhotas

Mrs. Rouhotas has been teaching for over 20 years after graduating from the Master’s University in Southern California with a degree in Liberal Studies: Elementary Education. After living in California during her childhood, Brandy and Steve moved to Tennessee shortly after getting married and joined JECA in 2019. They live in Greenbrier and have been blessed with a daughter, Libby, and a son, Tad. Their family currently attends Grace Community Church in Brentwood. Mrs. Rouhotas enjoys spending time with friends over a cup of coffee, reading books, and discovering new and interesting restaurants around Nashville.

5-12 Art

Jami Shumate

Mrs. Shumate began teaching visual art at JECA in 2012. After earning a BFA degree in studio art, she worked as a professional artist for 15 years before transitioning to a teaching career. Jami is married to Johnny and they have one son. She enjoys a perfectly brewed pot of afternoon tea, dark chocolate, English roundhand, good books, and fostering creativity in children by sharing her love of all things art with them.

Receptionist / School Nurse

Jessica Smith

Mrs. Smith is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Belmont University. She has an array of experience including adult critical care, pediatric critical care, and adult oncology infusion. She is married to her husband, Doug, and they have one son, Tucker, who has attended JECA since Kindergarten. Mrs. Smith enjoys all things outdoorsy, drinking too much coffee, and trying to complete one of the various books she is reading.

Upper School Math and Grammar

Caleb Starkey

3rd Grade

Adriel Stewart

1st Grade

Lisa Ward

Mrs. Ward has a degree in early childhood education and is a long-time homeschool mom. She joined JECA in 2017. She and her husband Ben attend Reformed Baptist Church of Nashville. They have four children and recently moved to Goodlettsville from Lebanon.

4th Grade

Shauna Williams

Mrs. Williams holds a B.S. in P-5 Elementary Education from Campbellsville University and an M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning from Union University. After 11 years of teaching at a traditional Christian school, Mrs. Williams stepped full-time into her most significant teaching role as a mother to Theo, Madeline, and Josephine. She returned to the classroom in the Fall of 2020 as a substitute at JECA, then transitioned to full-time in 2021. She and her husband Ted live in Gallatin and attend Immanuel Nashville.

6th Grade

Hannah Wilson

Originally from eastern North Carolina, Ms. Wilson moved to Nashville to join the JECA faculty as a 6th grade teacher in 2022. She earned her B.A. in English from Liberty University in 2021, taking a special interest in children’s and young adult literature. When not spending time reading and writing, she can be found drinking iced coffee, playing games with friends, and driving around with the windows down, listening to country music.

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Adams