TFCA Welcomes New Bible Teacher

Dr. Ollie E. Gibbs will be joining us as our Middle School Bible teacher this fall. Dr. Gibbs has served as the headmaster of Lexington Christian Academy since 1996. He has served ACSI as a VP of Academic Affairs and the Southeast Regional Director for ten years. Prior to that he was on staff at Western Bible College and Salem Academy in Oregon. He has served as an Adjunct Professor for Columbia International University, Liberty University, and Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, PA. 

 

Dr. Gibbs is a graduate of Bob Jones University, received his M. Div at Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, M.A. In Christian School Administration from Grace Theological Seminary and his Ed.D. In Curriculum and Supervision from The University of Georgia. 

 

Dr. Gibbs and his wife are members of Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, KY. 

We are so thrilled to welcome Dr. Gibbs to our faculty at TFCA!

Exciting New Faces in our TFCA Family!

Mrs. Karen Bourne will be assuming the role of our new Elementary Art Teacher.  She will also be teaching k-3rd grade computer classes.  (k-2nd computer classes is NEW this year!)  Mrs. Bourne has a degree from Georgetown College in Elementary Education.  She previously taught at Capital Day School.. After teaching school, she began working for the Legislative Research Commission in the Public Information Office.  While there,  she has worked with teachers throughout the state in planning their educational visits to the Capitol and other historic Frankfort sites.  She has three children, Clark, Garrett and Allie, who all attend TFCA.  Mrs. Bourne and her husband, Brian, are members of Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church, where she is a member of the praise and worship team and leads the preschool choir.   She says," I am looking forward to becoming the Elementary Art teacher at TFCA next year and  I can’t wait to have fun and create new and exciting stuff with your kids everyday!!"          

Mrs. Donna Short will be our new Middle School Science teacher this fall.  She has taught for 15 years in the private and public school systems. She earned her bachelor's degree from McKendree University in Elementary Education, has a Master's degree in Elementary Science, and is currently working on her Educational Doctorate. She has been married to her husband, Dr. Philip Short, for 32 years. They have two adult children-a 29 year old daughter-Carly and a 26 year old son-Logan.  Their daughter and her husband live in Tennessee with their two children-Luke (4) and Maggie (2).  Their son continues to live in the St. Louis area.  Her husband's job brought them to the area a year ago in July.  She worked this past year part-time as adjunct for Midway College and substitute taught at TFCA.  She and her husband have been attending First United Methodist Church in Georgetown.  Mrs. Short says, " I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude for this opportunity to work with Frankfort Christian Academy."

Mrs. Ashley Newcomb has been part of our preschool staff this past year.  She will be moving to the 4th/5th grade Math teacher position this fall taking the position that opened up when Mrs. Smith moved with her family to Murray.   She graduated from Asbury College in 2005, with a Bachelor's degree in Media Communications, and from Georgetown College in 2010, with a Master's degree in Special Education P-12.  She taught in the Owen County School District for four years before staying home with her daughters full-time.  She and her husband, Ryan Newcomb, have two daughters who started at TFCA in PK3.  Next year, Elle will be going to Kindergarten and Claudia will be going to PK4 at TFCA.  She says, "We just love it here, and I am so excited to be the new 4th/5th TFCA Math Teacher!  Our family is also a member of Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church.  We feel so blessed to have found such a wonderful church and school in which to raise our children in!"
Mrs. Pandora Morrow will be moving into the 3rd grade teacher spot left vacant by Ms. Shepherd this spring (she has chosen a different career path!).  Mrs. Morrow taught 2nd grade for us this past year.  Her youngest daughter, Hope, is a  rising Junior at TFCA.  She and her family attend Buck Run Baptist Church.  She will be co-teaching with Mrs. Margaret Bevins.  Mrs. Morrow will lead teach Math and Science for all third graders.  She will teach reading, Bible and spelling for her homeroom.  Mrs. Bevins will lead writing and social studies for all third grade and teach reading, Bible and spelling for her homeroom.
Mrs. Katie Bratton will be taking Mrs. Morrow's 2nd grade teaching position.  Mrs. Bratton has taught in our preschool since November 2013.  She and her husband, Bruce, have two sons, Kolston and Kaden, who are both students at TFCA.  They attend Forks of Elkhorn Baptist church.  Mrs. Bratton has a degree in Elementary Education.  She will teach social studies for all second grade students.  Mrs. Faithe Wheatley will continue to teach the other second grade class and science for all second graders.
Mrs. Joyce Cole has been at TFCA for five years and taught fifth grade before taking on the role of Art/Computer teacher for k-12.  This year, she will be our Technology Lead teacher.  She will teach 4/5th-high school computer and middle school/high school Art.  She will also be in charge of spearheading technology integration in the classroom and technology education for teachers.  Her two youngest sons, Aaron and Noah, are both graduates of TFCA and will both be attending the University of Kentucky this fall.  Her husband, Jeff, serves on our Technology team for the school and they are members of the Church of the Nazarene in Georgetown.
Mr. Drew Brammell taught part-time in 2014-15 in high school math.  He will be moving into a full-time position this fall, teaching high school math courses, Lego Robotics and helping with our Praise Band.  Drew and his wife, Vannah, have a three year old daughter and are expecting their second child this fall.  He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University.
Ms. Emily Pinkston has been our part-time Spanish teacher for the past year and a half.  She taught a few high school courses and Elementary Spanish classes.  She will move into a full-time position this fall as well, teaching more courses in Spanish, as well as a Public Speaking course.  Emily is a 2010 TFCA graduate and a graduate of the University of Kentucky.  She is currently teaching English in China for the summer as she finishes her Masters degree for Teaching English as a Second Language at UK.  She is recently engaged!
Join us in welcoming these faculty and celebrating their new positions!
Stay tuned for more exciting information on other staffing changes.

Meet Our New Staff, Part 1

There are a lot of new faces around the school, and it'll take us a few posts to introduce them all. Starting off our introductions series, we have three new additions to our faculty and staff team!

Katie Ammon, Administrative Assistant

The 2013-2014 school year marks Katie's first year at TFCA, although Katie has served families and students in the Franklin County Public Schools system for 8 years.  The past 5 years, Katie enjoyed being a stay at home mom to her two children, Taylor Grace and Riley. She is very excited to be serve and be a part of the TFCA family.

Q:  What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to play with my two children, Taylor Grace and Riley, read, walk, bask in the sun, and fellowship with others.

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse?

I have several that have really inspired me. They are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Jeremiah 29:11, Ephesians 3:20

Q:  What is the most rewarding thing about being a teacher/working at TFCA?

The most rewarding thing about working at TFCA is serving others.

Thomas Smith, MS/HS Science Teacher

The 2013-14 school year is Mr. Thomas Smith's first at TFCA. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Physics from Mississippi State University, which was followed by some time in the US Army and 4 years of optics research and development at the Air Force Research Laboratories in Dayton. He instructed labs in Physics 1 and 2 at the college level while at MSU and looks forward to teaching at TFCA in a manner that is engaging, thought provoking, and in line with scripture. He and his wife, Leah, and daughter come to us from Church of the Messiah in Xenia, OH and will be looking for a congregation to call home in Frankfort.

Q:  What do you like to do in your free time?
A:   I enjoy organic gardening, Frisbee, carpentry, and various other things.  Hopefully I can get back to gardening before too long, since I need fresh air and sunlight lest I wilt.

Q:  What are you looking forward to most in the 2013-2014 school year?
A:  A new place, a new task, and lots of new people.  This should be quite the adventure!  I look forward to awakening minds to the majesty of God's creation through the fullness of His Word.

Q:  What is your favorite Bible verse?
A:  I find that taking snippets of scripture (often out of context) can be a treacherous.  So, let me give a chapter: Psalm 119.