North Georgia Christian Academy

Faculty

K-3, Beth Cheatham

My name is Beth Cheatham and I teach K-3. I am looking forward to teaching your children a wonderful curriculum that is God-centered and fosters a love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.

I attended Appalachian Technical College where I obtained a certification as a Business Office Specialist. My experience teaching children includes working at 1st Baptist of Ellijay Preschool, Sunday School, Children’s Choir, and Vacation Bible School at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and coordinating Moppets for Mothers of Preschoolers.

My husband, Robbie and I have been married for 10 years. We have two sons, Logan (8) and Brody (5). Robbie and I are members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Ellijay.

I enjoy spending time with family, beading, crafts and cooking.

K-4, Preschool Supervisor, Pam Reed

Formerly the teacher for three year olds, I am now the new Preschool Supervisor. I grew up in the beautiful city of Blue Ridge and graduated from Fannin High School. After completing two years of business classes at Pickens Tech, I worked for eight years in banking.

I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior when I was nine years old. I have taught Sunday school for preschool and preteen children. I also teach Children's choir at our church.

My wonderful husband Michael and I have been married for fifteen years. We live in Ellijay with our three beautiful children that I call my angels on earth. God has richly blessed me, and I hope I can be a blessing to someone through working in this school.

Kindergarten (K-5), Courtney Morgan

This will be my 6th year teaching at North Georgia Christian Academy. I have taught 1st grade at NGCA for the previous 5 years, but I am looking forward to teaching Kindergarten this year. I know it is going to be fun and exciting!

My husband, Andy, and I have three children, Drew age 13, Kennedy age 9, and Luke age 6. Drew attends 8th grade at Gilmer Middle School, where he is actively involved in football and wrestling. This year he placed 2nd in State in wrestling. Kennedy and Luke both attend NGCA. Kennedy is in 4th grade. She plays basketball and softball. She also enjoys trying to keep her brothers in line! Luke is in 1st grade. He plays football and baseball. He has enjoyed learning to read but has especially taken to math.

We have attended Harvest Missionary Church for 13 years and Andy has been the youth pastor for the past 10 years. I am also actively involved with our church youth.

I love spending time with my family whether it's taking an outing somewhere or curled up on the couch watching a movie. I believe strongly in family values and I am looking forward to working with your child and your family.

"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

1st Grade, Molly Stanley

I am new to NGCA this year, but this will be my third year of teaching. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education from Bryan College. While in college, I was able to go on several short-term mission trips to Italy, Belize, and Mexico. My husband, Jason, is a teacher and coach at Fannin County High School. We are active members of Temple Baptist Church in Blue Ridge. I enjoy traveling, hiking, and playing board games.

2nd Grade, Angie Stolz

I absolutely love teaching at North Georgia Christian Academy. NGCA is truly a blessings God has granted me and there have been many. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Georgia. I spent several years as the Art Director/Editor for an Atlanta Advertising Agency. Soon thereafter, I started my own design firm, Stolz Design.

I have served many, many years as the youth director at our church. My husband, Ed, serves as a deacon. Currently, we both teach Bible Study classes at the church on Wednesday nights. My heart has always been with the church and helping children.

We are a large family of 9 children which includes 6 adopted from Russia, Louisiana and Ohio. As a result of our experiences in Russia I wrote a book entitled Small Miracles which was published in 2003. More recently I have been teaching middle school Language Arts, History, and Bible classes and spent a year traveling regularly to Mexico serving as an orphanage missionary.

With our unusually large family in 2008, the question we get most of the time is "How Do You Do It?" My favorite answer belongs to Nike. We "JUST DO IT!" With God, all things are possible and that's one fact I do know for certain; without God, our family wouldn't be possible.

3rd Grade, Daniele Deneka

I graduated from the School of Engineering at Trenton State College in New Jersey majoring in Technology Education. Following graduation I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida where I taught middle school for two years. I returned to New Jersey where I taught high school for seven years and received the honor of Teacher of the Year.

Three years ago my family and I moved to Talking Rock. I have been teaching at Children First Preschool at the Ellijay First United Methodist Church where my family attends church. I love teaching Sunday school class there for the 3 – 5 year olds, and I also enjoy being involved in the Children's Church program.

My husband Greg and I have a soon to be six year old son named Christian who is beginning Kindergarten this year at North Georgia Christian Academy. We are very happy to join the family at NGCA. I am looking forward to an educational and exciting school year.

4th Grade, Vicki Christensen

This is my 2nd year here at NGCA, and my 4th year of teaching. Prior to this I spent two years in the public school system. I have a B.S. in Elementary Education from Kennesaw State University.

My husband, Mike and I have lived here in Ellijay for almost 16 years. We have 3 children: Nicholas 16, Timothy 15, and Elizabeth who is 11 and will be attending the 6th grade at NGCA. We are members of the congregation of Hope Lutheran Church here in Ellijay. I have taught Sunday school, I am a member of our church's youth ministry, director of our VBS program, and have served on the Congregational Council for 3 years and as President for the last two.

Before moving here to Georgia, I lived in Oregon, Louisiana, and California. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do. I have visited 38 states and my goal is to finish the rest before I am too old to travel. I love to read (traveling through books), and I hope to share my love for Jesus and reading with your child.

5th Grade, Jason Hyde

I am honored to be the 5th grade teacher at NGCA this year. My experience includes secondary education, sales management, and teaching Sunday school. I feel that becoming a full time educator rather than continuing in the sales workforce was a God given desire. It is a blessing to teach students academic fundamentals while incorporating a Christian worldview through proclaiming God's glory in each class and recognizing the ultimate authority of Holy Scripture.

I am a graduate of the University of Georgia having completed a BSA degree through studies in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and the College of Education. My beautiful wife Sheree and I have been married for eight years and we have a wonderful little miracle, Jaciana Grace, age two.

I enjoy reading, playing piano, nature, family and friends and the Georgia Bulldogs.

Grades 6-8 Math and Science, Ashley Sebastiani

My name is Ashley Sebastiani. I grew up in the Silicon Valley in California. I received my Bachelor of Science in Wildlife, Fisheries and Conservation Biology from the University of California-Davis. It was during my years at UC-Davis that I gave Jesus my heart and He gave me a passion for teenagers. I've volunteered with youth for seven years now in various Bible studies, Sunday School classes and mentor programs. The last five years, I've worked at the Christian preschools my children attended. I am very excited to join NGCA in the Math and Science Departments. I feel blessed to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of these young people and this community.

My husband, James, and I have been married for 8 years. We moved to Georgia in the summer of 2004 for a more God and family friendly community. We have two children together, Emma age 6, and Aaron age 3, who attend NGCA as well. We are members of First Baptist Church of Canton where we've attended since moving to Georgia. My husband also has two adult children, Jillian and James, who still reside in California.

As a family, we love to explore the beautiful outdoors and learn about the local history of North Georgia and Tennessee. I love to read and have been known to stay up into the wee hours of the morning just to finish an interesting book. Some of my favorite authors include Jane Austen, Beverly Lewis, Rick Bass and Janette Oke. I also enjoy photography and sewing, though I am a novice at both.

Grades 6-8, Charlie Fouche

The Lord saved me when I was in college. I was playing football for the University of Florida, and one month shy of my twentieth birthday. Since then, I have graduated from Florida with a Bachelor of Science in journalism. I graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with a Master of Divinity degree. I received a Doctor of Theology degree from the School of Biblical and Theological Studies in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The Lord has allowed me to teach in Christian schools for nine years, and in the public schools for two years. I currently hold a T-6 teaching certificate from the state of Georgia. I have also taught in Bible college and seminary, and am a vice-president of our school in Louisiana. I am also the Minister of Education at Heritage Baptist Church in Calhoun, Georgia, where I write all the Sunday school curriculum for all ages. I have also been a pastor for 15 years.

The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful, saved family. I met my wife, Sharon, in seminary. She has taught special education for the past four years at Dalton High School. She is also a youth leader at our church. Our son, Gator, graduated from Dalton High last spring, and will start Young Harris College this fall, where he will be attending on a golf and academic scholarship. We have three girls. Stacey will be in 10th grade at Dalton High. Stacey took first place in last year's art competition in the state of Tennessee. Angel will be in ninth grade at Dalton High, and has just made the volleyball team, and is gifted academically as well. Olga is entering the seventh grade, and is also gifted in art and academics.

I am looking forward to working with your children. Please pray that the Lord will use me at NGCA this year. If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. God bless you all.

8th Grade/Upper Class, Danny Peterman

I am Danny Peterman from Ball Ground, GA. This is my third year teaching at NGCA. I have the opportunity to teach music again and to expand my teaching skills into science.

I am a graduate of Valdosta State University, where I received a BA in Speech and a minor in music.

I am married to my college sweetheart Tollyan for 37 years. We are the proud parents to two grown daughters Natalie and Cynthia, who both are in the educational field. And I am the proudest Grandfather of John Edward (6), James (3), and Olivia (19 months).

I am a bi-vocational minister of music serving Atlanta Street Baptist church for the past sixteen years. I teach couples Sunday school class, head the church beautification and flower committee, chair the Homecoming committee, and am a senior adult sponsor.

I love to share and teach topics I enjoy. I have the philosophy learning should be fun, educational, exciting, challenging, and fun! The Bible states to serve the Lord with gladness—teaching here at NGCA has allowed me to meet a personal commitment to my Lord and Savior and teach others as well.

Quest Class, Lynn Martin

This is my first year teaching at NGCA. I am honored to help implement and to teach the Quest class. I have an Associate of Arts from Reinhardt College. I attended Kennesaw State University. I hold a lifetime teaching certificate from the state of Texas. I have a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies, a minor in Fine Art, and a specialization in Reading from the University of North Texas. I have worked in many areas of education over the last 20+ years. I spent several years in Special Education in Cherokee County at Tippens Elementary School before completing my B.S. In Texas, I worked in Special Education, as well as 2nd grade, 5th grade and implemented a remedial reading and spelling program for grades 1-5. Since returning to GA, I worked in private, supplemental education as an instructor for the Huntington Learning Center in Woodstock for 2 years. Mostly recently, I left my position as Assistant Director of Education for the Huntington Learning Center in Cumming in an effort to spend more time with my family and less time on the road commuting. I have also been a homeschool mom/teacher/instructor for both of my sons for their entire academic careers.

My husband and I built a home in Gilmer County 3 years ago. We both lived most of our lives in the Cherokee County area. We feel blessed to have the opportunity to raise our 3 children in an area that is more like the one where we grew up. We appreciate the sense of community found in a smaller town like Ellijay. We are members of First Baptist Church in Canton but continue to look for a new church family closer to our home. I love to read, garden, cook and spend time with my family.

As this will be my first time to teach in a Christian environment, I am excited about all opportunities to share the magnificent wonders of our Lord with the students. It is my prayer that He will guide and direct me to accomplish all that He needs me to do in this setting. It is also my prayer that your child will be wonderfully blessed as a participant of this class.

After Care/Substitute Teacher, Wendy Nealey

My name is Wendy Nealey. I have worked for North Georgia Christian Academy Since January 2008. I am the After Care Teacher and I also Substitute as needed. This summer I had the opportunity to supervise the first summer camp program at NGCA. I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart when I was fifteen years old. I attended harvest Missionary Church in Ellijay. In my spare time I like to read and spend time with my family.

School Assistant, Janna Peacock

My name is Janna Peacock, and this is my first year at NGCA. I am excited to work at NGCA. I grew up in Marietta, Georgia. My family moved up to Morganton ten years ago. I was saved at the age of 11 and I rededicated my life at age 22. I attended Kennesaw State College where I received my associate degree in accounting. The Lord has richly blessed me with my husband, Richard Peacock, Jr. and my two boys. Richard and I have been married 16 years. We attend Tilley Baptist church where my husband pastors. We have two great boys; Devan (13) an 8th grader at NGCA and Derrick (4) pre-K 4 at NGCA.

As a family, we enjoy baseball and camping. I enjoy watching my boys play baseball and walking.

School Assistant, Robbie Watkins

My work in education began when my daughter started Kindergarten in 1992. I was a substitute teacher in the public school system for five years. My work in Christian education began in 1996. I can't envision myself ever going back to the public school system. It is wonderful to be able to talk to the children about the Lord.

My family and I have lived in Gilmer County for 20 years. I have one wonderful daughter, Katie, and two beautiful granddaughters, Sarah and Tori. My girls live here in Gilmer County. I am so blessed to have them near. My mother Sarah Frances, stepfather David, sister Larissa, and niece Grace also live in Gilmer County. My sister, Wanda lives in Clermont, Georgia. She and I try to spend a lot of time together. I have 2 more sisters. Janet lives here in Gilmer county and Pat lives in South Carolina. Family is very important to me. God has blessed me so much with my family and my school family.

I love spending time reading a good book, cooking on holidays and special occasions, making bread, watching old movies, good clean comedies, and Disney movies. I enjoy playing cards and board games with family and friends. Playing with Sarah and Tori is my favorite part of my day! I love learning new things. When you work and play with children you are sure to learn something new every day.