Mrs. Dyer graduated from Texas State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Administration. Since graduating, She directed several camps and after school programs and also spent several years working in a children’s ministry at a local church and was a teacher in various classroom settings. She is grateful she can share her love of fitness with the students and loves when students discovery a new sport that they enjoy. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, being outside, working out, and helping the children’s ministry at their church. She has 3 children, Ellie, Andie and Hank who also attend the school (well, Hank will eventually). She is married to Blake Dyer, who also works at the school. They feel very thankful that God has led them to CCA and that they get to do ministry together.

Jacqueline is excited to begin her second year at CCA. Her experience includes public school special education, general education- grades 4,5 and 6 as well as school counseling. Many years ago, she attended the University of North Texas where she earned her BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education. Shortly thereafter, she worked toward earning her Master’s Degree and graduated from Texas A&M Commerce with a MS in School Counseling. She has recently worked in the preschool world 9 years, allowing her to work part time and tend to her family. She will be married 25 years this summer to her wonderful husband and together they have four beautiful children, ages 9-21. Life is busy for them. They enjoy occasional vacations, visiting extended family and spend many hours engaged in activities with their church family. She enjoys the outdoors, playing the piano, swimming, and reading when she can grab a few minutes to unwind. She looks forward to the journey ahead as we kick off the new school year in August.

As of 2023, Christy has been teaching Spanish for 12 years. She began at the pre-school level and worked her way up to teaching Spanish 2. For the past 3 years, she has taught Spanish 1 at CCA to 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. During the summer of 2022, her youngest daughter, Priscilla, and her traveled with the CCA Immersion Program throughout Costa Rica for 3 weeks, which was an incredible opportunity to practice their Spanish. Her parents are both South American. Her mom is from Colombia, and her dad is from Venezuela. Until she was 3 years old, Spanish was my first language. Unfortunately, she did not continue to speak Spanish while she was growing up. which caused her to lose much of what she had once known. During her college years at Texas A&M, where she graduated with a bachelor of science degree in Engineering Technology, she studied abroad for a semester in Spain. At the University of Salamanca (located northwest of Madrid), she learned to speak Spanish once again. For anyone truly wanting to learn a language, she highly recommends immersion! Also, from her experience, it is important to continue practicing a language or it can be easily forgotten. She has enjoyed teaching Spanish and sharing her love for the language and culture with her students! As they say in Costa Rica, ¡Pura Vida!

Katie has been teaching at CCA since January 2022. She has a BA in History and a Masters in Education. She has been in education in some form for over 22 years. This has included public school, homeschool, co-op teaching and CCA. Teaching History has always been her passion, starting in elementary school when she was a docent at a local historical home in her hometown in Washington. Katie and her husband, Lance, have 4 kids and a dog. They love road trips and traveling in general. In her free time, she listens to history podcasts and reads historical fiction.

Ashley obtained a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics from the University of Oklahoma and a Master’s degree in education from the University of North Texas.  She started teaching at CCA in 2016.  She coached volleyball at CCA for 5 years.  She enjoys traveling with her husband during the summer.

Brenda graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She specialized in reading and also focused on history while in school. She has been married to James Headley for 35 years. Together, they have three boys, who all graduated from CCA. She’s been at CCA since the 2009 school year. First, she was the third grade classroom teacher. Then, she worked hard for her certificate from the Dyslexia Therapy Institute to become a dyslexia therapist. She has also taught sixth grade world history. She loves the Lord and her prayer is to help disciple His children while they are in her classroom.

God has given Angela a love for math and for teenagers. Hence, she teaches high school and college math classes. She has been teaching for 25+ years. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University and her master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University.  She is blessed with a loving husband and amazing children. She cherishes spending time with family and friends.  She enjoys her puppies, picnics, shade trees, flowers, springtime, cruising back roads with the windows down, dancing, playing games, puzzles, and kayaking. She also finds joy in sunsets, hugs, a cool breeze, and spending quiet time with God.

Philip Ledbetter has been involved in UMS since he attended Grace Prep in Arlington, TX in high school. He came to CCA after graduating from Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, OK with a degree in history in 2008, and has been here ever since. His fascination with history has been lifelong and he loves sharing stories of the first recorded coin flip, and of lions trapped in Mesopotamian attics. In addition to teaching history, he also coaches Fencing and Archery, and is the director of the Historical Simulation Conference.

Shannon Mathis has a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Science degree in clinical physiology. Prior to entering the education field, Shannon worked in medical research and patient care in the fields of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Feeling like the Lord was guiding her to educate future scientists, Shannon began teaching at Collin College in 2004 and CCA in 2016. Shannon seeks to educate students where faith and science meet so they can defend their faith in the culture today. Shannon’s oldest child graduated from CCA in 2023 and her youngest will graduate in 2026. She loves animals, travel, nature, and spending time with family.

Stefan McAnally graduated from Texas Woman’s University where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and Education. She holds her Texas teaching certification as well as ESL certification. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Special Education and Diagnostician certification. Before coming to CCA, she taught for ten years in local public and private schools. Stefan believes teaching is a calling and is passionate about helping students recognize their full potential and become confident in their unique and God-given abilities. She feels blessed to be a part of the CCA family, as CCA is such a huge part of her personal family’s life. Her husband, Matthew, also teaches at the school, and their two children are current students.

Monica received her degree in K-12 Art Education from UNT and taught various ages and grades in public school as well as private studio settings before staying home after their first child was born. She and her husband, Andrew, have three children who all attend CCA. Monica served with middle and high school youth for 7 years and is excited to teach art at CCA where students can grow in their creativity, skills and most importantly their Biblical faith.

“My prayer and hope is that over the next decade we see a movement of strong Christians creating excellent art in a world that is desperate for Truth.” -Monica

Jenny Merwin was born in Mexico but has been in the United States for 29 years. She’s been married to Emmett Merwin for 25 years and together, they have two amazing kids, Erland 21 and Grace 19. She speaks 5 languages and loves to travel and meet people from around the world. She is a very social person, and loves having fun with her students and coworkers.  She has a very “Bubbly” personality, but when she means business, she becomes very engage.  Jenny has a BS degree in Science in Chemistry and Biology with specialization on Microbiology. Her masters degree is in Public Health. She is a former space camp alumni where her team “Destiny” graduated with honors from the US space and rocket center 07/2022.  She has experience in the medical field as well as clinical laboratory training and teaching.  She started teaching Microbiology in 2001 at a University level and fell in love with the idea of sharing science with others. From 2004-2010, she worked in clinical labs and enjoyed it very much, but missed the interaction with students.  From 2010-2015, she stayed home and volunteered at her kids’ schools, where she was asked to start substituting.  She enjoyed teaching younger generations.  In 2015, God called me to work in a Christian school as a Spanish teacher. It was a beautiful experience, she was teaching wonderful young brothers and sisters in Christ, but it wasn’t science. In 2021, God called her to work in what has been the best job of her life.  CCA has been a blessing for her and she prays that God allows her to continue growing and sharing her knowledge with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  She loves her students and she wants to help them develop a love for science, so they can see the love of God within it.

Cynthia began her story in Africa, a continent as diverse in culture and traditions as the United States. Like many of her students, she has lived many years in places other than Texas. Extended periods of time have been in Kenya, South Africa, England, and California and most recently in Texas. Traveling to many other places in Asia, Europe, and Africa has broadened her understanding of the needs existing in the world.
She spent her childhood and young adulthood in Africa as her parents were missionaries and after completing university, she later returned to marry her childhood sweetheart.  In Africa, she attended both public schools and a missionary boarding school in Kenya (Rift Valley Academy) from which she graduated. She attended both public and Christian universities in Minnesota and California and earned degrees in English and counseling.  She has taught for more than 35 years which includes posts in California, South Africa, and most recently in Texas where I decided to leave public education (Plano West H.S.) to teach at CCA.  Her concentration during these years has included 9th – 12th grades.  In the classroom, she values order which allows students the freedom to read, discuss, and write. Lecturing is secondary in her teaching method and used for introducing material. Discussion is an important method used to prompt thinking and to develop confidence when expressing ideas.  Her academic focus is directed by a Biblical perspective. Within this frame, one quote by Francis Bacon, a 16th Century writer sums up her teaching objective. Bacon said:“Reading maketh a full man, discourse a ready man, and writing a precise man.”  She attempts to engage students by demonstrating how any written argument without knowledge from reading and discussion will lack credibility. So, reading leads students to recognize and develop a Biblical world view. Discourse that is founded on knowledge from reading helps them develop effective written and oral communication skills.  She and her husband, who have been married for 35 years, have two married children and five grandchildren (all under 9 years old), all residing in Texas.  As much as possible we travel to see them.  They are active in their church through worship, Bible Studies, and commitment to living life with their small group which they host in their home. This is one of their favorite moments in their week.  Anything that includes mystery and travel will engage her in reading or watching television programs.  She enjoys “antiquing” with friends just for fun.  She thrives on taking breaks to enjoy cups of English Breakfast tea steeped the British way and served with milk. As she spent many years in British influenced cultures, this tradition is part of her. No Dr. Pepper for her!

Sarah is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. Some of her past work experience includes working for Florida Power & Light in their environmental lab. She was hands on with testing different environmental samples for many different reasons. It was a lot of fun!! She has about 4 years of substitute teaching (K-12) where she felt called to pursue a career in teaching. She loves seeing what kids can do and is excited to hopefully pass on her love for science to them. Also, she loves corny science jokes!! Science Rocks!

Denise Saltz has been a part of the CCA community since 2005 and has been employed as the graphic arts teacher since 2014. Her classes include yearbook, Photoshop, junior high Bible, and assorted duties. She has a BA from McMurry University in English, Communication, and Public Relations. Denise enjoys reading, swimming, and taking long nature walks when not in school.

Katie has over 8 years teaching experience in a wide variety of schools and grade levels. She is apart of a military family that has allowed her travel and teach in many places, most recently Japan. Katie has her Masters of Arts in teaching from University of North Carolina Wilmington. Katie focuses on engaging all learning styles. You will frequently see students up and out of their seats in her classroom! She is joined at CCA with her son and mom, who is a teacher at CCA also.

Aaron Stiefer has been a part of the CCA community for the last four years and has used his twelve years of coaching, his passion for sports, and his love for the Lord in every position he has served in. He currently serves as the Jr High Athletic Coordinator,
Jr High/Elementary PE teacher and coaches Jr High Boys Football, Basketball, Track, and Jr High Girls Softball.

He’s a proud Texas native who cheers for Oklahoma Sooners and loves eating Tex-Mex & Whataburger, and Dr. Pepper is his drink of choice. When Stiefer is not coaching at CCA, you can find him coaching and volunteering his time at PSA or First McKinney.

After graduating with Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Cyndi held several graphic design positions for various ad agencies before having children and staying home with them for awhile. Honestly, it was never in her plan to teach. Once she learned of the secondary art teacher opening through a friend at her church, she couldn’t stop thinking about it. So, she dusted off her portfolio, updated her resumé and went to the interview. She remembers leaving that interview energized at the opportunity to build a curriculum and expand the department. That was in 2009. Since then, she has personally developed 5 different secondary art classes and assisted her 5 team members in developing theirs. She can’t imagine her life without this community of people and she looks forward to what God has planned for the Art Department and CCA in the years to come.