Faculty

List of 21 items.

• Mrs. Kathleen Patrick

  Kindergarten Homeroom Teacher
  
  University of Kentucky, M.A., Early Childhood Education

  Ashbury University, B.A., Elementary Education
  
  
  Kathleen Patrick holds a bachelor’s in elementary education from Ashbury University and a master’s in early childhood education from the University of Kentucky. Mrs. Patrick has been part of the JHCA community since 2017 as both a long-term substitute and full-time member of faculty. She has shepherded many classes of JHCA kindergarteners from their very first days of school to the threshold of the 1st grade. Prior to that, she homeschooled her own three children and worked in the public school system.
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  During her time teaching in these different environments, through years of work with children at all different ages and stages, she came to find that “every child has the capacity to learn, and it’s exciting whenever you figure out a student’s niche, how to open the door to learning for him.”

  Classical education, she says, is “so solid, foundational, pragmatic, and free of ‘fluff and twaddle,’ as Charlotte Mason would say. Our world and children need this kind of education to be able to think, and what kids are getting here, you can’t get elsewhere.” Her free time is filled with reading, hiking with her husband, and playing with her grandchildren. She loves the wildlife watching here in Jackson and is hoping to see a wolf sometime soon. In the meantime, it’s a joy for her to be at JHCA and see the school grow.

• Mrs. Kimberly Nichols

  1st Grade Homeroom Teacher
  Acadience Coordinator
  
  Regis University, M.Ed., Special Education
  Grand Valley State University, B.S., Film and Video Production
  State of WY Professional Teaching Certificate, Standard, Endorsements: Exceptional Generalist K–12

  
  

  Mrs. Kimie Nichols brings more than two decades of experience to JH Classical Academy; she has taught K–8 students in Colorado, Wyoming, and South Korea at public, private, and Christian schools. Her undergraduate years concentrated heavily in psychology with a degree in film and video production. She received her master’s degree in education from Regis University in Colorado, giving her insight into K–12 generalist and special education. 
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  Mrs. Nichols’ students find her energy and joy for learning contagious from the moment they enter her classroom. Her passion for helping students rise to their full potential is reflected in her involvement with Young Life, where she has served as a leader for multiple years.
  
  Mrs. Nichols has a passion for helping students grow both inside and outside the classroom. For the past six years, she has been a leader with Young Life, a non-denominational Christian organization that reaches out to children and teenagers by building meaningful mentoring relationships. Mrs. Nichols said that she has grown in understanding kids for who they are and helping them to experience their full potential.
  
  "What I love about JH Classical is that I can really teach, encourage, and inspire my students. The literature-rich curriculum enables me to go deeper and foster an environment of thoughtful inquiry and deep wonder."
  
  Mrs. Nichols’ many years in the classroom let her see the unique development of each child. The small class sizes at JH Classical Academy allow her to focus and adapt her expertise for every student. Mrs. Nichols said, “Because I’ve had so many experiences and worked with such a wide range of students, I can recognize where each student is at and what exactly they need at each step in the learning process.”
  
  Mrs. Nichols appreciates the impact classical education can have on the life of a school and the quality of learning. She was frustrated by the testing and common core requirements of the public school. Since moving to Jackson, she has said, “At this school, I’m now actually able to use my teaching abilities in the classroom to guide students.”
  
  Mrs. Nichols had already committed to living in Wyoming before coming to Jackson. She taught in Powell for four years and wanted to continue to live in a place with wide-open spaces and the mountains. She loves the outdoor life that Jackson offers, and especially the sense of community. Mrs. Nichols senses it present in Jackson in a way that she has been looking for and rarely found elsewhere. “This place is a blessing. I’ve been to many different schools, and this place is unique and wonderful."
  

• Mrs. Ashley Darby

  2nd Grade Homeroom Teacher

  
  

  Tarleton State University, B.Mus., Music Education
  
  A lifelong native of Texas, Ashley Darby holds a bachelor’s in music education from Tarleton State University. Prior to teaching at JHCA, she taught 2nd and 3rd grade at Billy Stevenson Elementary School in Rockwall, Texas. She also teaches private voice lessons to aspiring singers. Mrs. Darby’s philosophy of teaching revolves around “making education accessible for every child and teaching to all the learning styles and personalities present in the classroom—every child, every day.”
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  She emphasizes that in order to learn and love learning, all children need surroundings that they can thrive in: “Children learn best when they’re in a safe and secure environment where they can express themselves without fear, learn with hands-on experiences, and even make mistakes and fail.” She loves that in classical education, instructors teach to a developmentally appropriate skill level instead of a predetermined, standardized benchmark. “We teach foundational skills before moving on to higher-level thinking, with a lot of stepwise progression and attention to fundamentals.” Mrs. Darby also loves the small class sizes at JHCA and the ability to build genuine relationships that a low teacher-to-student ratio fosters.

  Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Darby loves spending time with her husband, Cameron, going on hikes, and visiting friends and family. Since Jackson is her first home outside of Texas, she is excited for “skiing and winter and snow!”

• Ms. Jamie Cure

  3rd Grade Homeroom Teacher

   

  Oral Roberts University, Bachelor of Education, Elementary Education

  Concentration: Teaching English Language Learners

   

  Ms. Jamie Cure joins JHCA as our third-grade teacher. Originally from Glenwood Springs, Colorado, she taught for nine years in the public school system. She was first introduced to classical education through a friend over two years ago. As her friend described classical literature’s relevance for today, Ms. Cure felt like she was starting to come alive as a teacher again. This discussion brought a sense of meaning, purpose, and hope to Ms. Cure. She realized we don’t just have “grin and bear it” to get through life, but that God has provided good, true, and beautiful things in this world and through literature that we can explore as a way of drawing closer to Him. She is excited to be teaching in an environment that is good for the soul of the teacher and good for the soul of the student. 
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  Ms. Cure is originally from the plains of northeastern Colorado where her family farms and ranches. She grew up riding horses, going on cattle drives, bottle feeding bucket calves, and playing sports. She is thankful for her time growing up on the plains but is also excited to explore the mountains. She is looking forward to connecting with students and families through JHCA and with the community in Jackson.

   

  She enjoys biking, talking on the porch with friends, crocheting, and reading. She is eager to explore cross country skiing and to refine her downhill skiing skills on the mountain this winter.

• Dr. Douglas Brown

  4th Grade Homeroom Teacher

  
  

  West Virginia University, D.M.A., Composition

  Houghton University, M.Mus., Composition

  Wayland Baptist University, B.A., Music Theory & Composition
  
  

  Dr. Douglas Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in music theory from Wayland Baptist University, a master’s in music from Houghton University, and a doctorate in composition from West Virginia University. Before coming to JHCA, he spent two years in the Great Hearts charter school system in Texas and helped open their new school in Arlington. He also actively develops music curriculum for the K–8th-grade level, has instructed and mentored hundreds of college engineering students, and taught music at the university level for several years.

  
  
  
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  His mentors in education are his old band director (“He taught me, ‘If you open it, you close it’ and other little lessons of responsibility”); his speech teacher, who drew things out of him that he hadn’t known were there; and Godfather Drosselmeyer in the Nutcracker ballet, who, like a good teacher, sets up the background for a thrilling story but stays out of the spotlight himself.

  Dr. Brown has been interested in classical education since before he knew it existed, properly speaking. He discovered JHCA after finishing his D.M.A. in 2019, encountered the philosophy, and found it matched his developing ideals about excellence in education. The best teachers, he says, “not only give knowledge but also teach how to live well and take responsibility. They recognize things their students can do, find things the students couldn’t even see in themselves, and draw the best out of them.” 

  Dr. Brown is thrilled to be back in Jackson, where he lived for a time 25 years ago. Of teaching at JHCA, he says, “I’m very grateful to God. It’s wonderful to be able to present something to a 4th grader and just watch him discover it, seeing what he needs to see. That’s true education.” In his leisure time, he enjoys composition, chess, cycling, hiking, and playing Pokémon with his daughter; building on his road-cycling skillset, he’s excited to try highway biking through the Tetons.

  
  
  

• Mr. Brian Post

  6th Grade Homeroom Teacher; 6th Grade History and Geography; High School Humane Letters and Civics and Government
  
  

  Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, M.A., History

  University of Colorado Boulder, B.A., International Relations

  
  Mr. Brian Post attended the University of Colorado Boulder for his bachelor’s degree in international relations and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary for his master’s in history, and subsequently was certified by ACSI to teach secondary history. He recently taught Latin and history at Liberty Common Classical School in Ft. Colins, Colorado; prior to that, he spent three years teaching at an international school in Germany.
  
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  As a lifelong learner himself, Mr. Post aims to inspire students to be lifelong learners. Through education, he hopes for his students to gain life skills that are applicable in all fields: “Students should gain both academic content and character formation, not only in order to get a job but also to be good people and good citizens. Education applies to far more than the classroom.”

  Mr. Post was attracted to JHCA for its combination of classical and Christian education, and for the small student-to-teacher ratio. Classical education, he says, “seeks to teach the student not only content but also character. It also connects students to the western liberal arts tradition, which has had an incredibly positive effect on the rest of the world.”

  When not teaching, Mr. Post plays and teaches classical guitar and mandolin. He also enjoys personal fitness, mountain and road biking, cross-country skiing, reading Latin and Greek, and following the Denver Broncos.

• Ms. Britney Poland

  5th Grade Math and Life Science; Middle School Algebra I

   

  Clemson University, B.S., Animal and Veterinary Science

   

  Ms. Britney Poland grew up in rural South Carolina town, where her love for science blossomed on her family’s small cattle farm. She participated in all things equine, from 4H to showing horses nationally. Her love for horses led her to earn a Bachelor of Science in Animal and Veterinary Science from Clemson University, where she also competed on their Equestrian Team. Originally, Ms. Poland intended to become a large animal veterinarian, but God had other plans. He placed teaching in her heart instead and she has never looked back.
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  Ms. Poland has taught for the past seven years in private schools, beginning at her alma mater in South Carolina and most recently at a school in Dallas, Texas.

   

  As a huge sports fan—mainly basketball and football—Ms. Poland is looking forward to the many winter sports and activities that Jackson offers. Other than sports, her main hobbies include spending time with family and friends, riding horses, and playing around behind the camera.

   

  “I am excited to be a part of a school where nurturing wisdom and virtue into our students is a major part of our mission. I am also looking forward to helping JHCA grow their agricultural education initiative in the coming years!”

• Mr. Todd Harris

  5th and 6th Latin; Middle and High School Latin; Middle School Formal Logic; High School Philosophy

  
  

  Westminster Theological Seminary, M.Div. 

  Indiana University, B.A., Religious Studies
  
  

  Todd Harris holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Indiana University Bloomington, and a master’s in divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Before coming to JHCA, he was the K–8th-grade principal at Covenant Classical School in Naperville, Illinois, and was head of the lower school at Veritas School in Newberg, Oregon. He has also taught Bible and theology and has been on the pastoral staff at several churches.

   
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  Mr. Harris has been in classical education for over two decades. He believes the classical method is effective because it asks students to do difficult things, not for the sake of their difficulty, but because the best things in life are both difficult and valuable.

  “The challenging nature of classical education,” he says, “is what forms a student into a mature adult who is adept at facing the broader challenges of life.” Mr. Harris also makes discussion central to his teaching. He says, “The best students ask tons of questions and learn each skill thoroughly as they encounter it, never settling for less than mastery. If a Latin learner doesn’t master a basic skill, the next one will be harder, and the one after that will be impossible. Learning Latin involves about a million small steps that just have to be taken in the right order.” He was attracted to JHCA for the school’s philosophy and classical foundations, and because he loves living in the mountains. Outside of school, he enjoys hiking and kayaking.

• Mr. Steve Spence

  Middle School Pre-Algebra and Algebra II; Middle School Computer Skills; High School Pre-Calculus and Computer Science

   

  Notre Dame De Namur University, M.A. in Education

  Chico State University, B.S. in Computer Science

   

  JHCA welcomes Mr. Steve Spence, joining us this year as an Upper School Math, Computer Skills, and Computer Science teacher Most recently, Mr. Spence taught at the Mountain Academy in Jackson.

   

  Mr. Spence is originally from the Bay Area of California, near San Jose. During his undergraduate studies at Chico State University in California, he majored in Computer Science and minored in Math. He then earned an M.A. in education from Notre Dame De Namur University, also in California. Mr. Spence began college hoping to become a math teacher, but after taking a few computer science classes, he realized that "computers were about to explode in popularity.” Consequently, he changed his plans and worked in the tech industry for many years. His love for teaching persisted, however, as he homeschooled his children while working. He eventually retired from the tech industry to teach full-time.
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  Mr. Spence’s teaching philosophy is formed by his observation that “somewhere along the line in middle or high school, a lot of students just decide that they’re not good at math.” His goal is “to turn the tide on that mentality, to teach them and instill in them the confidence that they can in fact do math, that they can apply math concepts and techniques to solve problems, and that they can do it well.” By building students’ confidence in math, it builds their confidence in every area of school and life—if they can do math, they can do anything.

   

  Having used classical curricula to homeschool his own children, Mr. Spence values classical education’s focus on maximizing students’ abilities at each stage: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. In his view, you pass through these three stages each time you learn about new topic. You first learn the grammatical building blocks of the topic, you then learn the logic of how the blocks are put together, and finally, you can create something new using your obtained knowledge. He observes, “by passing through grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages, you can learn anything from math to aerospace engineering. Classical education lets anyone teach themselves.” Mr. Spence notes that “while job skills go out of date quickly and often don’t match more than one particular company, teaching students how to learn, how to be human, and how to recognize goodness, truth, and beauty will enable them to quickly obtain technical skills in any job."

   

  In his free time, Mr. Spence enjoys doing everything one can do in the Tetons: fishing, biking, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, climbing, and reading (especially the Great Books). We are happy to have Mr. Spence aboard!

• Mr. Andrew Vitale

  Middle School P.E. 
  Athletics and Community Relations Coordinator
  
  Concordia University Irvine, M.A., Coaching and Athletics Administration
  Eastern Connecticut State University, B.S., Mathematics
  
  Mr. Andrew Vitale was born and raised in Connecticut, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Eastern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in Coaching and Athletics Administration from Concordia University Irvine. He spent the last sixteen years at Marianapolis Preparatory School in teaching and advisory roles, and as the director of athletics.
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  Mr. Vitale says, “Looking at the school from a parent’s perspective, it has helped me to see that not only is it a great place for my children, but also a community I want to support.” He has coached seasons of boys lacrosse, boys soccer, baseball, softball and girls tennis, and was an Eastern Connecticut soccer referee for twenty-one years.

   

  Mr. Vitale says “I am really excited to be working with the faculty and community in developing an athletic program that allows students to progress in their athletic endeavors.” His specialty is in coaching boys basketball and is a two-time recipient of NEPSAC’s (New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference) basketball coach of the year. He has been coaching for 22 years.

   

  Mr. Vitale enjoys coaching, watching, and playing all kinds of sports, and spending time outside with his family. His wife, Mrs. Monica Vitale, is our Dean of Academics and College Advisor. Together they have two daughters who both attend JHCA.

• Dr. Catherine Bahn

  Elementary and Middle School Music

  
  

  McGill University, D.M.A., Early Music

  Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, M.Mus., Viola da Gamba Performance

  Indiana University, M.Mus., Cello Performance

  San Francisco Conservatory of Music, B.Mus., Cello Performance
  
  Catherine Bahn holds a bachelor’s degree in cello performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a master’s in cello performance from Indiana University, a master’s in viola da gamba performance from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands, and a doctorate in early music from McGill University. Most recently, she taught improvisation at MentiParti Summer Academy Basel; previously, she taught undergraduate courses at The New School in New York City. Dr. Bahn’s teaching philosophy centers on the idea that students learn music best through performance.
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  In the classroom, Dr. Bahn emphasizes the importance of students honing their technical skills so that they can better express themselves, and fosters practice and comfort with improvisation. “Contrary to common perceptions of Classical-period music, improvisation was an integral part of both learning and performing,” she says. “I believe that fostering improvisation not only encourages creativity but also enhances students’ understanding of the repertoire.” As a lifelong learner, Dr. Bahn believes classical education is important because it immerses students in interdisciplinary arts, encourages their appreciation for cultural heritage, and challenges them to explore moral and ethical dilemmas: “This approach helps them build character and values while also getting them ready to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.” An interdisciplinary approach is even part of Dr. Bahn’s own learning, as she enjoys exploring literature, artwork, and architecture from the same time periods as the music she performs, in order to deepen her understanding of those eras and find connections to today.

  As a classical musician with nearly 20 years of experience living and working abroad, Dr. Bahn has spent a lot of time on the road. “I enjoy traveling and discovering the musical history of different places. Additionally, as a researcher and writer, I often find myself in libraries uncovering forgotten musical manuscripts from the Renaissance [through] the Classical period.” Having moved to Jackson from New York City, Dr. Bahn is looking forward to skiing, watching wildlife, and learning to fly fish.

  
  
  

• Mrs. Anna-Claire Barnes

  Elementary and Middle School Visual Arts
  Events Planner

  
  

  Moorhead State University, M.A., Teacher Leadership

  Moorhead State University, B.A., K–12 Elementary Education

  Moorhead State University, B.A., K–12 Art Education
  
  Anna-Claire Barnes is from the Cincinnati area and studied at MSU Moorhead. She holds one bachelor’s degree in K–12 art education and another in K–6 elementary education, as well as a master’s degree in teacher leadership. Before joining us at JHCA, she taught AP Studio Art to 9th–12th graders, Art 1–4, and photography at various high schools in Arkansas. She also worked in the KIPP network and is a Teach for America alum, having served in the Mississippi Delta area.
  
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  In the classroom, Mrs. Barnes places a high premium on individuality and choice. “Because I’ve been an art teacher for a long time, I’ve learned it’s super important to teach to the individual student. In my classroom, each student has choices because creativity and mediums require choices. Not everyone can come in the same classroom and grab the yellow crayon!”

  Art demands this flexibility and individuality, she says; allowing each student to draw from his or her own experiences is how you end up with the next great artist or engineer, because having creative freedom allows students to discover their other talents and opportunities.

  She enjoys the curricular focus on classical artists that classical education fosters, as well as the low-tech environment and the connection to history. Without electronic devices in the classroom, she says, “Students are much more apt to pick up pencils and write or draw, much more engaged, much more likely to ask new questions. You can see the difference. In a classical environment, we’re not drawing Mickey Mouse four different ways; we’re drawing the Mona Lisa. It’s very exciting!”

  Mrs. Barnes was drawn to JHCA to gain experience in a private school setting and learn firsthand the difference classical education makes. “I’ve read what classical education can do for a child, and now I can see it.” She and her family are outdoors enthusiasts, enjoying mountain biking and whitewater rafting. She also grew up doing some snowboarding but hasn’t lived near snow since she was 16, so she is looking forward to white winters again!

• Mr. Jozef Benko

  Elementary and Middle School Chess; High School Linear Algebra; High School Conceptual Physics; High School Chemistry
  
  University of the Slovak Republic at Nitra, M.S., Environmental Ecology
  University of the Slovak Republic at Nitra, B.S. Environmental Science
  
  

  Mr. Jozef Benko hails from Czechoslovakia, where he studied environmental science and environmental ecology. He is our K–8th grade chess instructor and assists with grounds and facilities maintenance. Mr. Benko has always been interested in the game of chess and has been playing seriously for nine years.

   
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  One of Mr. Benko's hobbies is studying advanced mathematics and physics. He explains, "Chess complemented my love of mathematical theory and helped my critical thinking skills in calculations. Chess is not just a game, it's a subject of study." He adds, "There's an art to chess as well—the game allows you to develop and innovate strategy."
  
  One of the beauties of chess, according to Mr. Benko, is that it is a dynamic game. No two games are alike, and constant practice yields steady improvement.

   

  Since he was in college, Mr. Benko has wanted to teach. He is happy to be at Classical Academy and looks forward to sharing his knowledge of chess with students.

   

  Mr. Benko will be assisting Coach Jay Stallings with the the chess program. Mr. Benko says that "Coach Stallings is both a great chess teacher and player and has helped the transition happen smoothly from this year to next."

   

  Mr. Benko is pleased to see where JHCA students are in their chess games and sees exciting opportunities for improvement. He says, "Every grade has some surprisingly strong players. Now that students will be practicing in person again, I look forward to seeing the classes make even bigger gains."

   

  One way Mr. Benko hopes to further strengthen the chess program is by starting a Chess club so that students will have the opportunity to become more involved and delve deeper into chess tactics.

   

  Mr. Benko, his wife, and three daughters live in Victor, Idaho, which has been home for his family the past thirteen years.
  
  Why Does Mr. Benko Love Teaching at JHCA?
  "I enjoy teaching at JHCA for several reasons. I believe that classical education is a superior form of education which JHCA is all about. I also like the people that I work with because we all share the same beliefs. JHCA is not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus and makes sure that Christ is the center of our education. Lastly, I just love to teach chess to our students!"

• Mr. Elliott Best

  Geometry; Spanish II; Calculus; Proofs & Modern Mathematics

   

  California Baptist University, B.S., Mathematics

  University of California, Riverside, M.S., Mathematics

   

  Mr. Elliott Best grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and studied in California. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from California Baptist University and a master’s (also in mathematics) from UC Riverside. Before starting at JHCA in 2023, he taught at Ridgeview Classical Schools in Ft. Collins, Colorado. What drew him here was the idea of connecting the classical and Christian traditions of education.
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  Mr. Best approaches mathematics as a conversation, one in which the student progresses through stages from receptivity and inquiry to mastery and authorship of the subject. “I’m trying to connect students with a rich, authentic experience of patterns so that they’re empowered to explore and create,” he says. To do that, his teaching method follows four steps. “At first, we simply watch and actively listen. We make observations, consider and appreciate how others are doing mathematics, and recognize and remember what has been shared with us in the past.” This is followed by responding to what one has heard: “As we contribute, we become familiar with the essence of the matter at hand, develop our own preferences for participating, and grow in appreciation of the community standards.” The class then takes the lead by organizing, synthesizing, and interpreting their mathematical experiences, and finally creates: “We propose and appraise axioms, create operations and use them to construct and deconstruct patterns, and develop methods and techniques for interacting with patterns.”

  Mr. Best hopes that, when taught in the classical model, mathematics can bring a fullness of meaning to the formation of a well-rounded human being, instead of “just being for ‘math people.’” When not teaching, Mr. Best enjoys rock climbing and playing violin. He will graduate from seminary at the end of 2024, and hopes to summit the Grand next summer.

• Mr. Benjamin Corcoran

  5th Grade Science and Chess; 6th Grade Science
  

   

  Wyoming Catholic College, B.A. Liberal Arts

  Olympic College, A.S., Biology

   

  Mr. Benjamin Corcoran holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Wyoming Catholic College and an Associate of Science in Biology from Olympic College in Washington. His career spans teaching, administration, launching an intramural athletics program, and serving as a dean of students in a classical charter school network across San Antonio and Austin, Texas. His teaching experience includes 4th grade, 9th grade Literature and History, Euclidean Geometry, and Physical Education.
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  Mr. Corcoran believes in the value of Classical Christian Education because it honors the wisdom of inherited traditions without following them blindly. He sees education as "soul crafting", as ushering persons toward being fully alive, directed toward the pursuit of the Good Life. He is excited to be part of the JHCA community, drawn by its mission, focus on organizational health, dedication to classical education, and commitment to Christian ministry.

  In his free time, Mr. Corcoran enjoys reading philosophy, history, literature, and poetry—particularly the works of Richard Wilbur and John Donne, but he has a special love for the fantasy genre. He also enjoys listening to long-form podcasts, biking, computer science, cooking, visiting art museums, and playing games with his brother and best friend. Among his favorite artists and creators are the Coen Brothers, Arvo Pärt, Vivian Maier, Owen Barfield, George MacDonald, Cardinal Ratzinger, Atonin-Gilbert Sertillanges, Chaucer, Hayao Miyazaki, and Flannery O'Connor.

  Mr. Corcoran loves his time with his wife and two sons and enjoys being close to his parents and in-laws. “I look forward to my kids knowing their extended family," he says. "The opportunity to connect with the school community and the broader Jackson area brings me joy. Knowing my wife and children will have support and friendships here fills me with gratitude.”

• Mr. Jeff Eckart

  Elementary and Middle School P.E. 
  Clubs, Programs, and Camps Manager
  
  Concordia University, M.A., Teaching, Health and Physical Education Emphasis

  Portland State University, B.S., School of Community Health
  

   

  Born and raised in small-town Oregon, Mr. Jeff Eckart earned a Bachelor of Science in the School of Community Health at Portland State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in health and physical education from Concordia University. He joins JHCA as the K–6 physical education teacher, having previously taught and coached in both Oregon and Arizona. He also manages our athletic clubs, programs, and camps.
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  Pursuing a classical education for his two sons originally brought Mr. Eckart to JHCA and the opportunity to teach at his children’s school was a dream come true. Mr. Eckart believes that “the classical approach nurtures a child’s natural desire to learn” and is “excited to enter a program that values a student's need for daily physical activity, who sees the character that can be built through group sports, and is intent on providing a foundation for lifetime healthy practices.”

   

  When asked about his professional accomplishments, Mr. Eckart points to his role as a coach, stating, “I have enjoyed playing an integral role in the life of student-athletes. It brings me great joy to see many of these young individuals continue to participate in athletics after high school, including the D1 collegiate and even professional level.”

   

  Moving to Wyoming was a long-standing goal for Mr. Eckart, his wife Kayla, and their two boys, as vacations in the Jackson area never felt enough. In addition to watching just about any sport, Mr. Eckart loves coaching and playing basketball, baseball, and most recently, golf.

• Dr. Kayla Eckart

  High School Health Teacher

   

  National University of Natural Medicine, Ph.D., Naturopathic Medicine 

  Phoenix Institute of Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture, M.A., Acupuncture

  Portland State University, B.S, in Community Health and Health Sciences 

   

  Dr. Kayla Eckart received her Doctorate from the National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon. To further her studies, she then received her Master of Arts in Acupuncture while teaching anatomy/physiology and medical terminology to graduate students. She established a medical practice in Scottsdale, Arizona, which she continues to maintain part-time and is happy to now call Wyoming home. 
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  Born in Wyoming, Dr. Eckart has always loved the Jackson area and spent a lot of time in the Valley throughout her childhood and adult life. She and her family relocated from Arizona to Wyoming last year and have immense gratitude for this beautiful place, the opportunity to be close to family, and the JHCA school community. 

   

  Dr. Eckart is eager for the opportunity to teach high school students at JHCA. She believes that by teaching students to understand and care for their health, she is practicing true preventative medicine. Young adulthood is the optimal time to encourage healthy living and habit formation. Her goal is to inspire students to understand how to care for their physical, mental, and spiritual health, thereby preventing disease and modifiable risk factors. She is motivated by the potential individual impact and ripple effect through families and communities. 

• Ms. Evyn McGraw

  High School Great Books, Art History, History of Christianity, and Studio Art
  
  University of St. Andrews, M.Litt, Theology and the Arts
  John Brown University, B.A., English
  
  Ms. Evyn McGraw is from Greenville, Texas, outside of Dallas. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from John Brown University in Arkansas, with a double minor in Religion & Philosophy and Art & Illustration. “I took on all of these disciplines,” she says, “because I wanted to learn 'all the things'—my parents homeschooled me with a classical curriculum where there’s no hard distinction between disciplines, and I appreciate this approach to education as a valuable means of understanding the world and ultimately as a means of worship.” She also holds a master’s degree in Theology and the Arts from the University of St Andrews in Scotland.
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  Previously, Ms. McGraw taught for two years at St. Isidore Academy, a classical school started on a farm. When asked what makes classical education particularly valuable, she says, "Fundamentally, I think education ought to lead us to God. I'm drawn to classical education from the conviction that all things good, true, and beautiful come from God; when we pursue this goodness, truth, and beauty in our studies, we are better able to know and love God and his creation, and are therefore better able to worship.” Coming to JHCA, Ms. McGraw found the school's philosophy of education very attractive: “It is devoted to truth as few other places are, and I also wanted to be part of the beautiful community the school has.”

   

  Other than teaching, she looks forward to being outdoors, being close to Yellowstone and the Tetons (two of her favorite places in world from childhood memories of visits here), working on her nature journal and sketchbook, and becoming part of the local church community. In her free time, Ms. McGraw is an amateur artist and fantasy novelist (describing her current work as “Flannery O’Connor for nerds”), and is currently working on some video game programming. JHCA is very excited to have such a multi-talented member of faculty joining us!

• Mrs. Kate Rudolph

  5th Grade History and Geography; 6th Grade Informal Logic; Middle School Ancient History
  
  Oxford University, M.St., Study of Religion
  Providence College, B.A., Theology, Minor in Dance
  
  Mrs. Kate Rudolph grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, and attended St Joseph's high school. Her liberal arts studies gave her an early taste for the value of classical education. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Providence College in Rhode Island, where she studied theology with a minor in dance. Upon graduation, she matriculated into Oxford University for a master’s in theology.
  
  As a teacher, Mrs. Rudolph nurtures students' natural desire to learn. She says, "What I love most about teaching is to see students ask the right questions. My job is to encourage their curiosity and to guide their inquiry."
  
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  After finishing graduate school, Mrs. Rudolph worked for her parish in Connecticut, as well as taught high school theology and helped coach the drama club at her alma mater, St. Joseph's.

  
  

  Mrs. Rudolph enjoys using Socratic methods of inquiry, as well as honing her students' critical thinking skills. "I'm love working with 'logic stage' students. Their willingness to question everything is amazing!"

  
  

  Mrs. Rudolph is thrilled to be living in the Jackson Hole valley. She says, "I visited Yellowstone first as a child and then on a family vacation a few years ago. I fell in love with the landscape and the life!" As an avid hiker and aspiring fly fisher, she enjoys some of Jackson's most popular summer pastimes.

  
  

  When she has time to read, Mrs. Rudolph likes to dip into the essays of C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, or John Henry Newman. These authors are particular favorites because "as master teachers, they explain well and use analogies skillfully. Their focus is on educating the reader in a clever, entertaining, and winsome way."
  
  Why Does Mrs. Rudolph Love Teaching at JHCA?
  

  "I love teaching at JHCA because students are always curious. Every day is a new adventure. Our classical curriculum allows and encourages students to make connections across subjects and years of study, which truly leads to a love of learning."

  
  

• Ms. Catherine Stypa

  6th Grade Literature and Composition; Middle School Earth Science and Literature and Composition; High School Rhetoric and Senior Thesis
  
  Wyoming Catholic College, B.A., Liberal Arts
  
  Ms. Catherine Stypa joins JHCA after receiving her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Wyoming Catholic College—the perfect confluence, in her opinion, of a Great Books curriculum and an epic location. As WCC is set against the Wind River Mountains with sprawling backcountry access, Ms. Stypa was a Field Instructor with COR Expeditions during college. After graduating, she taught high school math and science at a private, Catholic school in California while attaining the prerequisite education to pursue a career in medicine. However, her profound love of teaching and passion for classical education, along with a strong desire to serve, led her to Jackson Hole Classical Academy.
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  Ms. Stypa articulates that classical education is timeless—not only enriching each student’s life, but also giving them the ability to enter the workforce as a strong and effective candidate. She says, “I believe in the mission of JHCA because of its curriculum, combined with its commitment to cultivating a rich community within the greater Jackson Hole community.” She is excited to help further that mission.

   

  A product of classical education herself, Ms. Stypa believes that “crafting logical arguments, playing chess, and studying poetry will allow a student to step beyond factual knowledge, and form a versatile mind, capable of synthesizing information or pivoting between fields of study.” Her own experience leads her to this conclusion, explaining, “I find that previous studies in literature or mathematical theory keep recurring in new light and with new meaning.”

   

  Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Ms. Stypa grew up trail riding, hunting, and camping with her large, active family. She is excited to get to know the community of JHCA, as well as the larger Jackson Hole local community. An avid skier and outdoor enthusiast, she says, “I am looking forward to some stellar skiing this winter!” Her hobbies also include reading science fiction by a fire in the winter or riding her mountain bike in the summer.

• Ms. Alexandra Tilén

  High School Spanish
  Parent Volunteer Coordinator

  
  

  University of Michigan Ann Arbor, B.A., Economics and Francophone Studies
  
  Ms. Alexandra Tilén earned her bachelor’s degree in economics and francophone studies from U-M Ann Arbor, and also holds Alpine Level I and Children’s Specialist Level I certifications in ski instruction from the Professional Ski Instructors of America. She’s been teaching French and Spanish at JHCA since 2022, and is celebrating her 10th year on the mountain staff at JHMR.
  
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  Ms. Tilén is inspired by the brain’s neuroplasticity and applies that to her teaching. “It’s all about the brain knowing what to do, getting neural pathways made, and creating the neuroplasticity needed to learn a language. I emphasize grammar but emulate how children learn a language: through listening and reading, even if you don’t understand every word at first. You don’t have to know everything now—that will come.”

  Ms. Tilén was inspired to adopt this approach by her first French course in college, which included an oral examination that initially had her quite nervous. “I had never taken an oral exam, but once I overcame my initial fear, I learned a lot from the process. I learned by doing: once you get the ball rolling, your brain starts to figure things out, and once students overcome their initial fear of failure, they get it done. I see the same thing with my skiing students!”

  Ms. Tilén grew up in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and has now lived in Jackson for over a decade. She enjoys skiing, hiking, and visiting new restaurants, and is looking forward to trying out cold plunging in Jackson’s lakes and creeks.