Shawn Moore 
Principal/Founder

Shawn Moore has been ministering to students for over 20 years in either a school setting, church setting, or by helping raise his 3 beautiful children with his wife Sarah.  Shawn has multiple degrees including a Master’s degree in Education from Liberty University.  He has over 15 years experience as a Principal in the private Christian setting in the Indianapolis area.  Shawn has also run numerous summer camps over the last decade in which hundreds of students have attended.  Shawn and his wife, Sarah, were high school sweethearts and have been together since they were 8 years old.  
Shawn's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "Mission Christian is a place where students and parents can feel that the highest level of education is being taught in an environment where God is put first.  We incorporate the in-person model 3 days a week with a mix of online teaching and instruction with the same teachers on the other two days of the week.  This allows for learning in a world that is ever changing and may need to be conducted fully online at times as unknowns arise, which we are ready for at any moment.  We also understand how important family time is and that some parents may not want the typical 5 day a week setting away from their children.  We value the fact that our students learn and grow in their faith at the same time. At M.C.A. we truly live our motto:  Christian Education...on mission! 

Jerry Ackerman 
​Director of Operations/Vice-Principal

Jerry Ackerman has taught students for his entire career either as a youth pastor, teacher, or motivational speaker.  Having a BA in Secondary Education/History from Milligan College in Tennessee, Jerry taught 7th grade in Hawaii in the mid 90s.  He transitioned to youth ministry for 8 years in Pennsylvania, and then traveled the country speaking to over 1 million students through assemblies, conferences, and educational events.  Jerry's passion for children/students is evident in his career resume and he looks forward to continuing to educate students at Mission Christian Academy.
Jerry's Philosophy of Teaching:  "The first word that comes to my mind is relational.  I've always believed that quality relationships allow learning to blossom.  Teaching is also more than content; yes, content is important, but just as important is delivery.  I have found that excellent content communicated poorly is worthless.  Conversely, mundane content delivered well can be engaging and relevant."

Sarah Poer 
Administration

Sarah is married to her husband of 31 years, Joe, and is a loving mother to her four children: Andrew (30); Alyssa (27), Ryan (25); and Katie (21). She has her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Wheaton College.  She homeschooled her four children through high school. With her final two children now in college, Sarah is continuing her 9+ years in the homeschool and education community by working at MCA. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, getting lost in an absorbing book, and camping at Dale Hollow Lake, which is a longstanding family tradition.

Cynthia Brown
Administrative Oversight and Social Affairs Coordinator

Cynthia has been married to Wade for 35 years, spending 25 of those years homeschooling their 9 children.  She actively mentors other families around the country to help make the transition to home education seamless and loving.  Cynthia coaches youth sports and participates in various community groups. She has 5 married children, 5 grandchildren, a college student and 2 students at MCA!  God has given her the gift of serving others and creating community wherever she goes, and she is excited to share this at MCA!

Shannon Harris
Guidance Counselor

Shannon Harris grew up in Carmel, IN and graduated from Hanover College in 2005 with a BA in Psychology. She went on to get her MS in School Counseling from Butler University. She lives in Fishers with her husband, Jon, and three children - Preston (14), Elliott (13) and Callie (4).  While her family has been her primary focus over the past 15 years, she has also worked professionally in both academic and business settings. Her professional roles have included project management, group management, school-based therapist, group leader/facilitator, and administration. Shannon has also spent time volunteering as a youth group leader. Shannon is looking forward to getting to know the students, families and colleagues at MCA this year. She is grateful for the opportunity to provide a comprehensive counseling program focused on the learning, personal/social and career/academic needs of all students with a Christ-centered approach.
Shannon's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe that success is driven by focusing on the whole person - physical, mental, spiritual and social. If we are able to nurture and support students in all areas, then they are better able to succeed. Mission Christian provides a unique academic environment that can provide students and families better balance in all of these areas. My hope is that I can offer additional support to students, families and teachers when life gets challenging. The reality is we all need a little extra support sometimes and prayer paired with wise counsel can make a huge impact!!"

Julie Buck
Kindergarten Teacher

Julie Buck is a graduate of Hamilton Southeastern High School and went on to study Elementary Education at Purdue University.  She also studied Early Childhood Development at IUPUI and graduated in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  While at Purdue, Julie was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and the Purdue student council.  While attending IUPUI, she was a Jaguars cheerleader and loved cheering at all the games with her husband supporting her from the stands.  Julie has been blessed with two amazing daughters who have both developed the same love for cheer. Her husband, Jay, is also hands down the best cheer dad.  Jay and Julie have been married for 20 years and look forward to many more wonderful years together.  Julie and her family enjoy swimming, family movie night, traveling to cheerleading competitions, MSC Church Camp, road trips to Florida, all things Disney, and just being together.  Julie has been a kindergarten teacher the last 7 years at Hamilton Southeastern Schools and absolutely LOVES her kindergarten cuties.    Julie is grateful for the outstanding experience she obtained during her time at HSE and looks forward to continuing to build relationships with her students, their families and colleagues at MCA.  Julie joins Mission Christian Academy with a thankful heart and enthusiasm knowing she can combine her love for the Lord and children into her classroom each day. 
Julie's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe that all children are a gift from God and offer something special from which we can learn.  I believe all students have strengths and my goal is to tap into those talents and grow upon their strengths to help each child succeed.  I believe it’s important to build self-confidence and focus on the whole child to ensure students are thriving socially, emotionally, physically and academically.  I believe ALL students are special, talented, amazing and should feel cherished with a sense of belonging, that way they will continue to grow in their love of learning and enjoy the journey.  I believe all students SHINE Bright and should never stop reaching for the stars because God has big plans for all His little blessings!"

Angela Fernandez
Communications Coordinator

Angela brings to MCA unique life experiences. Angela was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska.  Following high school graduation, her family relocated to Indiana where she attended Anderson University.  Angela began teaching and coaching volleyball at Hamilton Southeastern Schools in 1997 until 2005.  After that teaching stint, she lived internationally in Japan and the Dominican Republic.  In the Dominican Republic, she had a unique opportunity to work with and teach at Nueva Esperanza (New Hope Girls).  In 2018, she rejoined HSE Schools in the English as a New Language department.  In 2020, she moved two of her boys to MCA.  They had such an amazing experience that she also wanted to be a part of MCA.  Angela taught first grade for the last two years before transitioning to the administrative team in her new role.  She lives in Fishers with her three awesome boys. She spends a lot of time at the baseball fields and advocating for her youngest son who has Down Syndrome.  
Angela's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe the most important attribute that a teacher needs to possess is love and care for each student that walks into their classroom.  I find that this ensures that each student is met where they are so they may be enabled to find success.  As a teacher, I know that each student has a story that makes them unique and influences their learning style and behavior.  I want my students to enjoy being at school and develop a love for learning.  I want to continue to help lay the foundation for their future success both inside and outside the classroom."

Angela Vorbau
Second Grade Teacher

Angela Vorbau has been married for the past 14 years, to Josh, and they have three children ages 3, 8 and 11. She has been homeschooling her children for the past 7 years. She has also been teaching online ESL (English as a Second Language) for the past three years. Before Angela was married she was a Youth Director at a church running a youth group and a four day a week after school program. She received her Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education from Kaplan University in 2017. While Angela taught online for MCA last year, her family has moved from Pennsylvania to begin teaching students at MCA.
Angela's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe that education and everything that a child learns should revolve around Jesus. If a child is learning Math, English, Science and History it should be to better understand who the Creator of the universe is. Education should encourage children in their strengths and strengthen their weaknesses. When a child is being educated they should not only be educated in knowledge but learn and grow in the knowledge that God has created them with gifts and a purpose to use those gifts."

Mitzi Ackerman
Middle School English Teacher

Mitzi Ackerman has a degree in special education from Milligan College and has taught in both the traditional and special education classroom settings. She also has 16 years of experience in homeschooling, having graduated three of her five children who are successfully pursuing college education.  She is married to a wonderful guy, Jerry Ackerman.
Mitzi's Philosophy of Teaching​​:  "My style of teaching is content-rich.  I love taking students deep into subject matter and attempting to spark a love of learning within them.  My goal is to create thinkers, but also to get students to understand how each part of English - whether learning parts of speech to construct a good sentence or interacting with a piece of literature - relates to their life and future.  I may not be able to get every student to love English and that's alright.  Everyone is passionate about different things.  I do hope to help every student understand English and see its benefit in their everyday lives."

Debbie Hiler
Fifth Grade Teacher

Debbie has been married to her husband, Eric, for 27 years and has spent the majority of the last 24 years raising and homeschooling her five children- Nicole, Renee, Jason, Brady, and Corinne.  She is also now a proud Gigi to her new grandson, Hudson Wrobel. She graduated from I.U. South Bend with a degree in Elementary Education.  Debbie has loved getting to share her God-given passion for education with her own children and is excited to share it with her students in a classroom setting. In her spare time, Debbie enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and watching sports with her family.
Debbie's Philosophy of Teaching
​"Each child is uniquely created by God with individual interests, strengths, and weaknesses.  One of the greatest joys of homeschooling has been to allow each individual child to be taught and challenged according to his or her needs. I believe it is critically important to build relationships with students and learn how to best help each one succeed as a life-long learner.   
I am grateful to be teaching Bible and Science in 5th grade. Those subjects go together so beautifully as God is the creator of all we learn about in Science. I love helping students see how learning about God's design helps them be good stewards of His creation and also to use the knowledge we gain to bring glory to God and to love and serve others. I sincerely enjoy my time with the students and can't wait to explore the world God has created with a new group each year.”

Bob Walters
World History, US History, Government, Economics

A career sports journalist and media relations executive, Mr. Walters brings a life’s wealth of communications experience and general knowledge to the MCA family.
Mr. Walters was late to the faith, baptized in his 40s and has spent the past two decades coordinating and teaching Bible studies at East 91st Street Chrisian Church. He wrote a weekly Christian column for the Current newspapers (2006-2015, Carmel, Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers), and still blogs weekly about Christian encouragement, faith, and theology at CommonChristianity.blogspot.com.  Mr. Walters has published two books, Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary (2011), and CC/UC Volume 2 (2017).
His wife Pamela (aka “Mrs. Walters” to her MCA high school English students) convinced Mr. Walters to become a full-time high school substitute teacher prior to her retirement from Lawrence Central’s English faculty.  Mr. Walters spent four and a half years in that role at LC and McKenzie Career Center.  When Pam retired from LC, a buddy at church convinced Mr. Walters to drive a school bus for Hamilton Southeastern Schools Transportation.  That’s where “Mr. Bob” has been the past few years, winning the HSE Transportation “Honor and Excellence Award” in 2015.  
Prior to all that, Mr. Walters’ notable career stops included sports reporter and desk editor at the Indianapolis Star (motorsports features writer), Assistant Sports Information Director at Purdue University, Public relations director for the Indianapolis Colts and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Valvoline Motorsports Account Executive at Fleishman Hillard Public Relations St. Louis (Indy Car and Nascar), and Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Galles Kraco Racing, Albuquerque (Indy Cars, drivers Al Unser Jr. and Bobby Rahal). 
Mr. Walters has a BA in Journalism from Franklin College of Indiana, hails from Kokomo, Ind., like Pam loves northern Michigan, and they live with their dog Kramer in Fishers.  Mr. Walters fusses a lot with his yard.
Bob's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "At the Last Supper, John 14:13-14, Jesus tells the Disciples, “I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it.”  I remind students, “For what did Solomon ask?”
Solomon asked for wisdom, and was blessed.  We are blessed to pursue wisdom in an environment full of the Spirit, embracing the reality of God and the authority of the Bible.  We are our Creator’s favorite creation, created in His image, to be creative and in so doing to glorify Him and join Him in the love and joy of His Kingdom.  That is the path of a creative, inquisitive, well-developed, and Godly mind … and why we are at MCA."

Jen Bott
Middle and High School Math Teacher

Jennifer Bott comes to Mission Christian Academy with a love of mathematics and children. Jennifer started babysitting at 10 years old, was an assistant director for a middle school aged camp, a nanny in New Jersey for two years after college, a stay-at-home mom to her three girls for many years, and worked at Geist Christian for eight years where her girls attended preschool. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Science in Education for 5-12th grade mathematics. When two of her daughters started at MCA, she ended up following them and was hired as the math teacher!  Jennifer and her husband have been married for 21 years and they have a strong love for the Lord and Disney World! Jennifer has had a relationship with the Lord since she was a little girl and was brought up in the church by her parents, who are still two of her best friends and live down the street.
Jen's Philosophy of Teaching:  "Jennifer’s philosophy of teaching starts with building a strong foundation. Just as her life is grounded in Christ and has a strong foundation, so is her way with her students. If their math foundation is not strong from the beginning, they will crumble eventually. Jennifer is “old fashioned” – all students are expected to practice math facts, show their work, use paper and pencil and HAVE FUN!!  Jennifer’s main goal is to have a relationship with the student and discover how they learn best to transfer her knowledge of mathematics to them in a way that makes sense." 

Andy Waite
Middle and High School Bible Teacher

Hi, my name is Andy Waite. I’m married to an amazing lady named Jaime. My oldest son, Josiah, just graduated high school in May of 2021. My second son, Jed, is going to be a 6th grader at MCA. I serve as the Lead Pastor at White Rock Fellowship in Noblesville, IN. I grew up in a pastor/church planter family, and learned to serve the Lord at an early age helping in all kinds of ministry roles. Our family started churches and served in Iowa, Illinois, Colorado, California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Indiana. I love the Lord and being on mission for Him.
Andy's Philosophy of Teaching:  "Jesus was a teacher. He was and is infinitely more than just a teacher, but Jesus was definitely a teacher. I love teaching. I believe learning is a journey, a process of discovery, not just a transfer of information. Teaching is about walking with people as the light bulb comes on and the truth takes shape and gains footing in their lives. I believe that it’s imperative that the truth of who God is, and who we are in light of that reality, becomes the foundational cornerstone that we build our lives upon. I believe every student has the capacity to learn and grow in knowledge and wisdom. I’m excited for the adventure ahead and all that God will do in the lives of our students here at MCA!"

Megan Emrich
M.S. Math/Art

Megan is married to her husband, Brian, of over 20 years and is a mother to two teen agers, Hayden and Bella, both of whom are continuing their journey at MCA this year. Megan’s greatest calling was to be a stay-at-home mom until her children were both in school all day. That is when she began her own adventure into education, both in the public and private realm, eventually earning her Bachelor of Arts in Education Studies in Elementary Education (K-8). She is an avid reader and loves traveling with her family. She firmly believes that all things happen in God’s timing and she could not be more excited to share her love of learning with the families of MCA!
Megan's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe that every child has a gift and a path. My desire is to help guide students along the journey God has in store for them. I believe instilling a love for learning is a vital role of any teacher. In this ever-changing world, I love that this truly is a Mission field here at MCA, which helps foster God’s purpose and love for all who enter! "

Heather Merriman
Third Grade Teacher

Heather has been married to her husband, Doug, for 17 years, and they have one son Koen (11).  They have been living in Noblesville since 2015.  Heather has a Bachelor of Science in Music Business.  She began her career in the events department at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.  After working in the hospitality industry for several years, she decided to spend more time at home with her son.  During this point in her journey, she became passionate about early childhood education.  She started teaching ESL classes, obtained her elementary teaching certification, and continued teaching preschool/prep-k.  In 2021 her and Doug decided to go all in and homeschooled Koen for 3rd grade.  That fall, their son was diagnosed with mild Dyslexia. This motivated Heather to learn more about neurodivergent students and specialized teaching techniques. Heather has a deep love for Jesus, a passion for all things DIY, and loves spending time with her family (preferably outside).
Philosophy of Teaching:  I believe each child is a unique gift from God.  They have their own passions, desires, gifts, and abilities.  My prayer is they can discover and nurture those throughout their life.  Two core pillars of my teaching philosophy are a solid foundation built on Jesus and a passion for learning.  I have a creative approach to learning where I use music, fun games, and hands-on learning techniques throughout the class day. My favorite verse is Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up”.  I believe every problem has an answer and everything can be figured out through Jesus.  True joy comes when you work through a problem and come out on the other side.  My desire is to teach kids to “not give up” and good things will come if we “do not give up”.

Jessi Downey
M.S. History/Geography/Athletic Director

Jessi is married to her sweet hubby of 19 years, Scott, and they have three children: Cooper (17); Nora (14), and Zeke (11).  They have made Fishers their home for the past 12 years and have been with MCA since the beginning.  She has her Bachelor of Education, 7-12th grade with a concentration in History and Geography from The University of Toledo.  She enjoys spending quality time with her family, her dogs, a good movie, unrivaled homemade pizza (over 9 years in the making), and loves cheering on Purdue basketball and football! She has loved watching her kids play sports through the years as one of their biggest fans, along with Scott, and wanted to bring her love for sports to MCA. Jessi, along with Tricia Daugherty and Casey Creakbaum, launched the Athletics program at MCA during year 2 and is loving watching it continue to grow! She is excited to be here in the classroom and continue to be pouring into the hearts and minds of the students here. 
Philosophy of Teaching
​"These kiddos are such a gift from God.  It's a joy for me to be able to enter into this formative season of life and help shape their hearts and their minds.  A lot of growth can happen in a classroom where a safe and grace-based environment has been created.  I love seeing students able to grasp the content and understand it all while seeing God's plan and faithfulness weaved throughout history.  Through discussions, projects, and experience-based learning, my prayer is that the foundations of their faith will deepen as we dive into learning.”

Dennie Brooks
Fifth Grade Teacher/M.S. English

Dennie is blessed to have been raised in a Christ-centered, Christian home. If the church doors were open, they were there! His parents and faith-based Sunday School teachers not only led him to the Lord at an early age but also into the field of education. A native Hoosier, he graduated from Southport High School, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Olivet, a Masters’ degree from Indiana University, and an Elementary Administrative License from Butler University. Dennie served as an elementary school teacher and elementary school principal in two Lawrence Township schools on the northeast side of Indianapolis before retiring after 42 years. While his educational career continues right here with Mission Christian, on the home front, he is a busy dad with two adult children and six grandchildren, three girls and three boys! Sundays will find him at Legacy Bible Church where he is an active charter member. ​
Dennie's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "The opportunities to develop and implement age appropriate curriculum for elementary age children is an asset that comes with the educational experiences I have been involved with. My exposure and practice with current trends in the classroom such as cooperative learning, alternative assessments, technology and learning styles each have given me a foundation on which to piece together a learning plan for each child.I played with LEGOS as a child. The object of LEGOS is that you attach plastic bricks to other plastic bricks and keep adding more bricks to the previously laid bricks until you build a wonderful masterpiece. Learning is a process of building that I find best described in Philippians 1:6. ‘He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’"

Kata Bawel
M.S. Science and Physical Education

Hi! I am Kata Bawel or Miss B. I went to Traders Point Christian Academy and then Covenant Christian High School. I have a BA in Exercise Science/Nutrition (Anderson University) and a MS in Public Health (Indiana State University). After being a graduate assistant at ISU, I realized that I loved teaching more than I enjoyed Public Health so I earned my teachers license in Secondary Education (American College of Education). I enjoy running, biking, reading, vacationing in Florida with family, and playing volleyball with friends. I have taught in a variety of settings, both public, private, and Christian. Before coming to Mission Christian Academy, I taught at Coram Deo Academy, Carmel High School, and Franklin Central High School. Science shows us how much God loves us and gives us many reasons to give him praise. Psalm 111:2
Philosophy of Teaching:
​ Each year is different and each student has their own interests and talents that the Lord has given them. Not every student will love Science :) but I ask that they give their best and ask lots of questions! Building relationships through triumph and struggle becomes of utmost importance in and out of the classroom.They may not remember the information, but we will remember how we treat each other. I strive to teach the truth, be guided by scripture, and be shaped to further His kingdom. I am thankful for the privilege to teach young people about Christ’s creation and His love for them. I am grateful to be entrusted to teach them.

Tricia Daugherty
Athletic Director/Liberty University Academic Liaison

Tricia Daugherty is married to her loving husband of 18 years, Eric. They have two sons Nolan, and Colin. Both Attend Mission Christian academy. Nolan is entering 11th, Colin 8th grade. Tricia spent a 20 year career in the pharmaceutical industry as rep, trainer, speaker, and Liaison. She has joyfully dedicated the last 6 years homeschooling the boys.
In her spare time she loves to spend time on the golf course with Eric and boys, enjoys her time in Bible studies, reads medical research for fun, and  most of all quality time at home with her family and fur babies. She loves golf, both boys have been involved in pga jr league for 5 years. She has been certified as a pga assistant coach.
Tricia along side Jessi Downey, and Casey Creakbaum launched the athletic program. They had the goal of bringing Christ centered sporting opportunities to Mission Christian! The athletes wear "live third" on their backs! She is very excited to see the sports grow as the school grows and to put Christ first in sports!
Go Wolverines!!

Gary Stump
6th Grade Bible

Gary Stump, Bible Teacher—Gary is Pastor of Onward Church in Fishers, Indiana, and haspastored in Indiana since 1990. He is Senior Chaplain of Fishers Police and Fire Departments (a volunteer position he has served for almost 20 years.) Pastor Gary previously taught Bible (grades 4-12) for 8 years at a local Christian school. He is married to Kathy as they have five children and eighteen grandchildren. Gary studied at Indiana University, Crossroads Bible College (BS in Leadership & Ministry), Southern Seminary, The King’s University (Master of Theology—Messianic Jewish Studies). He is currently pursuing his doctorate in Messianic Jewish Studies at the King’s University.
Gary's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe the Bible is by far the most incredible book ever written. That is why a boring Bible class should not be allowed. As a pastor, and grandfather of 18, have a deep love for students, and a deep love for the Lord. I want students to know and love the Lord as they dig into God’s word. I have found that the Bible comes alive when taught, not so that they know the Bible, but so that they know its Author. It is also true that the Bible does not need to be taught simplistically for students to be able to grasp the deeper truths of the faith. I’ve been amazed at their ability to comprehend profound spiritual concepts. I want Bible class to be the student’s favorite class because I firmly believe it is their most important class."

Cassie Cline
Home Economics

Cassie was born and raised in Yorktown, IN. She is a 2009 graduate of Ball State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic arts management and business administration. She’s been married to her high school sweetheart, Jon, for 15 years. Together they have 2 children, Nathan (12) and Valerie (8). Cassie works in various roles at MCA and loves that each one allows her to use her God given gifts and talents in different ways. As the librarian, she enjoys weekly visits with the elementary students and seeing their love of reading grow throughout the year. As a teacher, she enjoys the ‘ah-ha’ moments students have learning new skills and concepts. And as an aid, she will come alongside the teachers and provide support in the classroom in a variety of ways. In her free time, Cassie enjoys spending time with her family, thrift shopping, and entertaining in their home.
Cassie's Philosophy of Teaching​:
​My favorite part of teaching is building relationships with my students. I enjoy learning about who they are as people and what makes them tick. When I know what motivates them and gets them excited, I can modify my approach to teaching. I love spending time each class period praying with my students. Like I mentioned above, I love the ‘ah-ha’ moments in teaching when a concept becomes clear. I enjoy making learning hands-on through projects, games, and by incorporating real-world scenarios to problem solve. My prayer is that each student leaves my classroom more confident than when they entered. I strive to make my classroom a safe, fun, and engaging place for everyone.

Lynn Rodenbeck
Third Grade Teacher

Lynn has a business degree from Purdue University.  After directing VBS at her church for 6 years she realized her God-given gift of teaching and guiding children to God.  At age 38, she went back to school and got her teaching license in K – 6.  She taught Kindergarten for 6 years at Geist Christian Church.  She stepped away from teaching for a few years and is thrilled to be back in the classroom the 2nd year teaching 3rd grade at MCA!  The Christian environment is where Lynn thrives!  She has been married to her husband, Dan for 16 years.  She has 3 children, Michael (and Kristen), 32, Jonathon, 28 and Hannah, 23.  She has 2 stepchildren, Josh (and Mandi), 35 and Jessica (and Matt), 33.  Together they have 9 grandchildren with the youngest due in December.  Lynn loves camping, gardening, canning, reading, playing in the kitchen, and spending quality time with their children and grandchildren.
Lynn's Philosophy of Teaching​: “I believe children are a blessing from God and each child has unique gifts and talents.  I want to meet each child where they are and move them as far as I can to the next level of learning.  I want to be a partner with parents and God to build relationships that create lifelong learners!  I think children learn best by hands on experience so I will try to bring or create those in the classroom throughout the year.  I take very seriously that parents entrust me with their children and I will put everything I have into loving them and getting them to the next level of learning!”

Julie Pache
Upper Level Math Teacher

Julie went to Cathedral High School in Indianapolis, and graduated magna cum laude from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College with a double major in Mathematics and Computer Information Systems. She worked as an IT consultant for Andersen Consulting, Arthur Andersen, Deloitte & Touche, and BDO Seidman.  She gave up the exciting world of consulting to be a wife to Tony and a mom to their four kids. The youngest is a member of the first graduating class at MCA!   While spending 16 years homeschooling her own children, she also tutored students in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Traditional Logic, and SAT Prep.  In addition, she taught various math and science subjects at a local homeschool co-op.  Julie’s passion, however, is teaching high school math! She has taught all levels of high school math from Algebra 1 through Precalculus!  She is excited to share her love for all things mathematical! ​
Julie's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "Sometimes math problems start with chaos and through a process of following rules and working hard order prevails.  In that order is where I see God.  I love to share my enthusiasm for finding the order with my students.  We will all work hard, make mistakes, and learn together.  By the end of the year hopefully my students will share in my enthusiasm for all things mathematical and also find God in the order."

Kim James
Fourth Grade Teacher

Born and raised in Indiana, Kim received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Ball State University in 1991. After living and working in Chicago for several years, Kim realized education was her true calling and went on to complete a teaching certification program through Northeastern Illinois University in 2000.  Kim has taught at several Christian schools and brings over 20 years of teaching experience to MCA. Before moving to Indianapolis in 2012, Kim taught 5th/6th grades for 12 years at a Christian school on the Northside of Chicago. Once in Indy, she taught 4th grade at Holy Cross Lutheran School and served as a resource aid for several years.  In her most recent position, Kim taught 4-6 grade science, 6th grade Language Arts, Biztown, STEM and various other classes over a span of six years at Northpoint Homeschool Classes. With the belief that it is a blessing and a privilege to teach children, Kim looks forward to continuing to serve God as a Christian educator at MCA. Currently she lives in the Geist/Fishers area with her husband, Danny, and their three teenagers. ​
Kim's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe children learn best when they are engaged, excited, and invested in their own learning. Because of this, I am constantly searching and incorporating new and fun ideas that will appeal to middle school students.  Using humor, excellent YA literature, group assignments/experiments and hands-on activities, my goal is to form a learning community where all students feel safe and seen as individuals.  I believe that during the middle school years, it is crucial for students to remember that while they each are created in God’s image, they are also wonderfully unique and important members of God’s family."

Amy Canaday
Spanish 

Amy earned her BA in Spanish with a double minor in Secondary Education and International Studies from Butler University. Amy’s teaching experience over the past 30 years includes time spent as an adjunct professor at IUPUI, teaching high school, private tutoring, and homeschooling. Amy accepted salvation at Vacation Bible School as a young 6th grader. Rededicating her life to the Lord after college, she was baptized at 25. She and her husband Shawn have enjoyed an enduring marriage because of their dedication to Christ. They are experiencing a new phase of life with grown daughters, a new granddaughter, and navigating teen life with son, Charlie. When Amy is not writing curriculum, she is re-learning what it is to have hobbies. She also loves the beach!!!
Amy's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "Not all students will love Spanish like I do, but all students can be equipped with the tools to be successful students. I love helping students gain more tools, experience success, and learn to broaden their perspectives through the study of Spanish. It is important to me to be upbeat, loving, respectful, and encouraging to all my students, showing the light of Christ in all I do. Two of my favorite life verses I choose to live by and promote in my students are from Colossians 3, verses 17 & 23:  “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. …. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

Natale Edwards
Anatomy & Physiology, Biology, Forensics, and 6th Grade Science

Natale Edwards is a 2004 graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Natale’s nursing focus has been in pediatrics with experience in Infant/Toddler units, Newborn Intensive Care, and outpatient facilities including family care, general pediatrics and pediatric neurology. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 15 years. Together they have two daughters (6th and 2nd graders) who also attend MCA. Family is extremely important to Natale. The Edwards family values regular church attendance, spending quality time with family members, participating in the girls’ activities, and vacationing together. They recently rescued a Shih-Tzu puppy, lovingly named Frankie Bean Edwards.
Natale’s Philosophy of Teaching: “My nursing experience has taught me patients must be treated in their entirety. Patients need assessments of their physical bodies, minds and spiritual well-being. I have witnessed God’s beautiful birthing of life and nurtured people through incredible loss. I learned humility, perseverance, and empathy. While new to the traditional classroom style of teaching, I have educated patients on medical self-care, empowered caregivers and trained new graduate nurses. I look forward to tying my career expertise and life experience into the classroom. I believe students should be taught with a whole approach by utilizing variable teaching methods, assessing their knowledge, offering support and encouragement. I am excited to teach students about God’s creation, sharing His love for them, and ignite a spirit of wonder!"

Pam Walters
High School English Teacher

Pam is a northern Michigan girl whose mom was a farmer and dad was a minister in the Nazarene denomination. She spent Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings, and Wednesday evenings in church, playing the piano, singing in the choir, teaching Sunday School, cleaning the church, and mowing the lawn.  It’s what preachers’  kids do.  After graduating from Lowell High School, she attended Olivet University in Kankakee, Illinois, obtaining her B.A. in English education with a minor in speech communications.  She later obtained her Master’s degree in English with a specialization in speech at Indiana University.  She began her teaching career at Craig Middle School in Lawrence township; after 17 years at CMS, she transferred to Lawrence Central High School where she taught mainly seniors for another 17 years.  Pam retired …. or so she thought … from teaching in 2012.  During those 34 years teaching, she served as department head, girls’ basketball and softball coach, and as the advisor for National Honor Society. Pam has two children who live locally and two step-sons out of state.  Her eight grandchildren keep her very busy.  Husband Bob is a retired journalist who drives bus for HSE.  Together they attend East 91st Street Christian Church where Bob teaches a class for senior adults and Pam serves as a worship leader.  In her spare time, she cooks, bakes, sews, and does scrapbooking.  
Pam's Philosophy of Teaching​:  “I have always believed that teaching is my calling and students are my mission field.  God took my love of language and my love for teenagers and melded them together in service to Him.  As a teacher, I believe my job, first and foremost, is to love my students.  Because I care about them and their futures, my priority in the English classroom is to make them more effective communicators.  I focus primarily on language usage and writing skills while exposing them to quality literature.  I am especially excited about being able to freely talk about the literature from a Christian perspective, using it to help students grow and learn intellectually and spiritually.”

Sharon Stohler
First Grade Teacher

Sharon received an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware and a Master's degree in Elementary Education from West Chester University. After graduation, she taught 1st grade in a public school in rural Pennsylvania. When her family moved to Indiana, Sharon was a stay-at-home mom and later home schooled her two children through 8th grade. Returning to the classroom through various home school groups, Sharon developed a passion for primary students, teaching 3rd grade for 12 years before joining the MCA team. She is also a published author of a children's picture book titled, Affectionately Yours: The Devoted Life of Abigail Adams.
Sharon and her husband, Ron, raised two children, Madeline (29), and Grant (27), and later adopted Samson (26), from Liberia. Sharon and Ron are active members of Antioch Indy Church in Castleton and enjoy traveling, biking, and visiting their kids in Nashville.
Sharon's Philosophy of Teaching​:  "I believe every child is uniquely designed by God, with different learning styles, character, and personality. Yet, each one has the capacity for success. While each individual student needs a strong core curriculum of rich literature, grammar, writing and math, learning can still be fun. Implementing a wide variety of hands-on approaches provides a broad spectrum for creatively motivating young minds. I'm looking forward to inspiring some great kids and coming alongside the families and staff of MCA."

Kim Candler
Elementary Resource

Kim Candler has been serving the Lord in Christian education in Illinois and Indiana for 40+ years.  She and her husband Brad (now with the Lord) raised 3 children and have 4 much-loved grandsons.  She enjoys cooking, gardening, and encouraging others in the body of Christ.  She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and says it is a joy to use the gift of teaching God gave her.  She is experienced in assessing the needs of struggling students and creating and implementing a plan for their educational success.
Kim's Philosophy of Teaching:
“If you love them, they will learn!”
While there is more to educating a child than love alone, love is the foundation for every successful relationship, including those in the classroom.  A child who feels safe, respected, liked and loved will learn much more quickly and easily than one who does not.  We were created for relationship with God as well as with others, and the teacher/student relationship gives opportunity for the love of Christ to shine in the classroom.  A great curriculum and excellent methods produce results that last a lifetime; teaching truth with love produces results for eternity.

Heather Barnes
M.S./H.S. Resource and ASL Teacher

Heather Barnes grew up on a farm in Centreville, Michigan and graduated from Ball State University in 2011 with a BA in Science, majoring in Special Education and Deaf Education. She began her teaching career at New Castle School Corporation as an Elementary Resource Teacher. The summer of 2013, she taught with Upward Bound as an instructor of American Sign Language. In 2014, she moved to Hamilton County where she joined the Emotional Disabilities - FOCUS Program for Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Heather later withdrew from professional teaching to homeschool their daughter. In 2021, her family moved to the country in Atlanta, Indiana where they are “living their best life.” She is now joining us at Mission Christian Academy to teach upper-level Resource and American Sign Language. 
Heather's Philosophy of Teaching:
​ I believe that learning comes naturally to all of God's creation and when interest and curiosity are partnered with freedom to explore, along with trustworthy guidance, the outcome is compounded. I believe that all learners have special needs as well as areas of brilliance, depending on the giftings God has instilled in them. I strive to encourage students to discover what those giftings are and identify methods to incorporate them as they grow into adults. 

Josh Hale
Weights

I'm Josh Hale. I've been married for 10 years to my beautiful wife Audrey and we have 2 awesome kiddos. Ainslee is my 10 year old daughter and Eli is my 5 year old son. I found Jesus about 6 years ago thanks to my wife dragging me to church and the prayers and conversations with Paster Andy and our church family at White Rock Fellowship. After high school, I worked in construction for a few years while taking some college classes and trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life. I joined the Army and left for basic training in 2013 shortly after Audrey and I got married. After 4 years of that, I decided that wasn't the life I wanted, so I didn't re-enlist. I came home to Westfield and went to Purdue to pursue a career as a Strength and Conditioning Coach. I started at Force Barbell about 4 years ago as an intern and knew I had found my calling. I've been part owner of Force for the last 3 years, running the day to day and coaching full time. Our mission is to promote strength sports and support people who want to perform at a higher level, regardless of current skills or ability. As a coach, I help people learn how to lift and pursue their goals, whether that goal is to compete at Nationals in their chosen strength sport or climb a flight of stairs.

Angie Vaughters
Chemistry

Angie has a background in computer programming and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Anderson University. Her experience includes software development, website development, running online businesses, and teaching online classes. She loves all things science- and health-related, and her passion is learning about and helping people discover God’s creation and how it works. Angie has put together dozens of online science- and health-related training courses. She is married to her high school sweetheart and they have 2 children attending MCA and actively involved in multiple school activities. She is passionate about fostering a love of God’s creation, including how we can see God’s handiwork all around us. She has led a weekly small group through church, volunteers at a local crisis pregnancy center, and loves reading good books.
Angie's Philosophy of Teaching:
Coming Soon!

Carly Thomas
Support Staff

Carly Thomas has been married to Christopher for 18 years. They met at Ball State University where she graduated with a B.S. in Nuclear Medicine. They live in Noblesville with their three boys. Chase is 16, Cooper is 14, and Cayden is 13. Carly enjoys organizing, planning social events for MCA along with helping out wherever she is needed. She is looking forward to be another face at the front desk for students and families to help them feel part of the MCA family.
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Shannon Foster
8th Grade PE, 8th Grade Science, Personal Finance

​Shannon has taught kindergarten through third grade for nearly 30 years. She was blessed to be able to have had the opportunity to launch a Christian school teaching the original kindergarten class, and over the past 24 years, helped the school grow into a kindergarten through high school. Shannon is married to Kerry (her husband), and they both enjoy traveling, especially out of the country. Shannon has 2 sons - Blake (28) who is married to Abigale, and Spencer (24). She also has a 5-year-old granddaughter, Sophia. Shannon is a stepmother to Jake (35) and Jessie (32). Four cats - Remi, Roxi, Romeo, Rue, and a Hamster named Humphrena, round out the Foster family. God has given Shannon the gift of serving others and compassion, especially for little ones. Shannon enjoys going on mission trips around the world. Kenya and Mexico are among the trips she has taken. Shannon and Kerry hope to be able to go on a mission trip again soon. Shannon is excited to begin teaching and getting to know her Missions Christian Academy family.
Shannon's Philosophy of Teaching:
"I believe that children need to know that God loves them and so do I. All students can learn to trust and express themselves more when they know they are loved and are in an environment where it is safe to make mistakes. I enjoy instilling this philosophy in children when they are young so that they can apply it while continuing their education. With my help, children will find and embrace their God-given gifts and talents. I know that we are all unique and special in God's eyes, and that together with all our gifts, we make a whole classroom. I want children to love learning and strive to become life-long learners while joying their time in our classroom."

Amy Mathis
​Art

Amy grew up in West Lafayette, IN and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Art Education.  She has been married to her wonderful husband, Andrew, for 17 years and they share two children, Aaron (14) and Annabelle (11). They have enjoyed being a part of the MCA family for two years and look forward to many more! Amy has enjoyed working with children in various environments over the years through Young Life, nannying, teaching pre-school, children’s ministry, teaching a homeschool art class and most recently teaching elementary art at Heritage Christian School.  By far her most important and favorite role has been raising her two children at home for the past 14 years.  Amy loves supporting her kids in their activities, being in nature, sitting on her screened porch with the new family dog, learning about her family history, working with clay and ceramics, shopping at Hobby Lobby, spending time with dear friends and worshiping the Lord through music and art.
Amy's Philosophy of Teaching:
I am passionate about each student seeing themselves through the eyes of their creator and emphasizing that he made no mistakes when He created them. I love encouraging them that He has a good plan and purpose for their lives, the main one, being in relationship with the Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit.  I think art created by children is so beautiful and joyful and a chance to communicate to the world who God is. Art can help them enjoy creation and learn this as a form of worship to God. For some kids that find other academic subjects to not come easily, art can be a chance to use a different part of their brain and thrive. For kids that don’t typically enjoy art, it’s a chance for them to learn they can try new things and have fun.  I also love when children, even very young ones, can discuss artwork by famous artists and learn to use all the elements of art in their own art. It’s amazing what they can do!

Nicki Mitchell
​Robotics

My name is Nicki Mitchell and I live in Fishers with my husband, Jeff, and our three children.  I'm a graduate of Ball State University and have a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education.  I worked at Hoosier Road Elementary with HSES for 13 years and have been teaching for over 20 years.  I also have my real estate license and work as a Realtor with Wise Choice Real Estate.  When I'm not busy working, I enjoy CrossFit, kayaking, Bible studies with friends, and hanging out with family. I'm excited to work with students in an environment where I'm able to foster a love of learning and a passion for Jesus.  ​