Lower School (PS-6)

Mrs. Kelsie Favero

Preschool 3-4 Class

Kelsie has lived in Sarasota most of her life. She is an LPN and still practicing nursing currently, all while taking on Pre-school teaching! She is happily married to her husband Matt. He is the youth director at Faith Baptist Church, and together they serve grades 6-12! He also helps to coach the flag football team at TCA. They have a daughter named Matelyn who attends TCA! They are a Disney loving family who loves spending all of their free time together out and around Sarasota!

Miss Stephanie Yoder

Pre-Kindergarten 4-5 Class

I graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 with a BA in Elementary Education. I had lived in the north most of my life, until I moved here from Plainfield, IL. in 2006. I love living in Florida, although I do miss a few things: my sisters who still live up north with their families, Chicago, and the beautiful season of Fall. I started working at TCA in 2014 and have been teaching PreK since 2015. I love working with this age group because there is so much learning, exploring and growing that happens everyday! One of my favorite things about TCA is that we not only teach your child academically, but we also know how important it is to reach to the heart of each child through teaching and modeling the habits of virtue. In the classroom, I love reading children’s books, being creative with crafts, and conducting fun science experiments. Currently, I am also the nursery director at Faith Baptist Church.

Mrs. Chanda O’Brien

Pre-Kindergarten 4-5 Class

Chanda is a native Floridian from the east coast of Florida. She is blessed with a loving husband and two incredible daughters that both attend school here at TCA. She is a graduate of Rollins College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Mathematics. After pounding the keyboard as a web application developer and computer programmer for over a decade, she is now getting to follow a passion of hers of working with children in a classical setting, and just have FUN! She has completed and obtained the Florida Department of Children and Families Child Care Facility and Early Education Certificate, worked as a Preschool Assistant Teacher at a Christian preschool, and worked in church nursery, and is now in love with the program here at TCA and could not feel more honored to be with all of the special little preschoolers this year. When Chanda is not working she enjoys spending quality time with her family, reading, baking, Sudoku, and doing yoga.

Ms. Heather Newman

Preschool Aide

Heather grew up in Sarasota and then attended the University of North Carolina Asheville, where she enjoyed living in the mountains and spending lots of time hiking and being outdoors in the beautiful, four season climate. Having moved back to Sarasotaabout 12 years ago, she is now raising her three children in her hometown and is very blessed to have been a parent of a TCA child since the schools’ founding year. Heather caught the Classical Education ‘bug’ right from the start, and has truly enjoyed watchingher child’s Classical education take root and grow strong in its’ development of her daughter’s heart and mind. Heather is honored to be assisting in the preschool this year as well as teaching Elementary Spanish from K-4th grade. Two out of her three childrenattend TCA and the third will be old enough soon to attend the preschool and join the class of 2035.

Mrs. Harmony Longenecker

Kindergarten

Harmony graduated from Manhattan Christian College with a BS in Family Studies in 2001. She was introduced to classical education in 2007 when her oldest daughter began attending a classical academy. Harmony spent three years classically home schooling her children while working together with her husband in the founding of TCA. She has worked closely with Hillsdale College, as well as other classical schools, in philosophy and curriculum development and staff training. She loves spending her day teaching Kindergarten and enjoys working alongside the teachers to implement the classical model. Harmony and her husband Josh have been married for 20 years and have 7 amazing children.

Mrs. Sarah McDuffie

Kindergarten

Sarah graduated from the University of Florida in 2016 with a degree in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. She has worked with children who are going through hard times in life at grief camps for children and in the child welfare setting. She is very excited to be able to continue working with children as a Kindergarten teacher at TCA! Sarah has been married to her husband Ty for four years and as a couple they love spending time at the beach and trying new restaurants in town. Sarah also loves painting, crafting, running, and spending time with family.

Mrs. Jessica Carter

Kindergarten

Jessica Carter grew up in Tallahassee and is a graduate of Florida State University. She moved to Sarasota with her husband who joined the Manatee County Fire Department. Jessica loves working with children and is thrilled to be teaching first grade at TCA! When she’s not at school she enjoys spending time on the beach and enjoying the outdoors with her three rescue dogs.

Ms. Angie Ropp

1st Grade

Angie is a native Texan who graduated with a BA in Mass Communications with an emphasis in Video Production/Marketing from Incarnate Word University in San Antonio. Prior to moving to Sarasota to 2010, she lived in a variety of places nation and worldwide; which allowed her the opportunity to serve and teach English as a second language. Angie has 4 beautiful children, all who attend TCA and she truly enjoys teaching first grade. She has a passion for people’s hearts and enjoys her close friendships within the community.

Mrs. Michele Kelley

1st Grade

Michele graduated with a BS in Behavioral and Social Science with a minor in Psychology from Indiana University and a Master’s in Education from Abilene Christian University. She lived in Indiana before moving to Sarasota in August of 2018. She has been married to her husband, Jesse, a real estate broker, for 29 years. She has two grown children, Micah and Morgan, and two grandchildren, Rivyr and Jane. She has taught multiple grade levels over the years; however, her primary focus was being a wife and mother and is very excited about this new season of life. She is passionate about people, her family and is looking forward to pouring into the lives of students on a daily basis. Michele enjoys her family, the beach, music, lots of laughter and good relationships.

Mrs. Heather Whitehouse

2nd Grade

Mrs. Whitehouse is Canadian! She graduated with her Bachelor of Music Education from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She taught kindergarten for the Carleton County Board of Education in New Brunswick before moving to Ontario with her husband, Derek. There, she home schooled her children and substitute taught from k5-grade12 for the Waterloo Board of Education. The Whitehouse’s moved to the U.S. in 2004. They have home schooled their four children using the classical model for 10 years. She has directed many children’s choirs including assisting with the Sarasota Young Voices until her employment here at TCA.

Mr. Dominic Stevens

2nd Grade

Dominic Stevens was born in London, England and, after a brief spell of living in Belgium as a child, has lived there all of his life. He recently moved to Florida with his wife and they could not be more excited about it. He graduated from Goldsmith’s, University of London with a BA Honors Degree in History, and later received a Post-Graduate Certificate of Education (with Qualified Teacher Status) from the University of Chichester. Dominic was a high school History teacher in London and previously worked as a teaching assistant in an elementary school. He is also a qualified soccer coach and plays the drums. Dominic is passionate about working with young people and is delighted to be joining TCA as a 2nd grade teacher.

Mrs. Caroline Chapman

3rd Grade

Caroline Chapman came to TCA after many years of working in the administrative field for various companies in Atlanta, GA, Jacksonville, FL, and Sarasota, FL. With her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Mercer University’s College of Liberal Arts, she understands and values the rich studies of a liberal arts education and is always excited to pass on her love of learning to her students. Caroline is married to Matthew, a fellow teacher, and they have an awesome dog named Oscar.

Mrs. Kelsey Bolkema

3rd Grade

Kelsey graduated from Dordt University with a double major in Psychology and Social Work. She began her career working at various jobs in the Child Welfare System. Through her experiences in child welfare, Kelsey cultivated a love for children and a desire to see them grow and flourish. She began her teaching career in 2018 at TCA and fell in love with helping children thrive in a different way. Kelsey and her husband, Jordan, have just celebrated 3 years of marriage. As a couple, they love to play with their puppy, go to the movies, spend time with family and friends, and explore different areas and restaurants in Florida. Kelsey enjoys crafts, going to the beach, running, and cooking.

Mrs. Maria Dent

4th Grade

Maria first attended college at the University of Central Florida where she cheered for two years. Afterleaving UCF, she continued her education and received her degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Florida. She has over 12 years of teaching experience. Maria is a Sarasota native. She has four children, Riley-14 Lacey-11, Brayden-3and Noah-2.

Mrs. Jana Espy

4th Grade

Jana grew up in Alabama and graduated from Auburn University.  She moved to Florida from Texas in 2000 and quickly fell in love with Sarasota and all it has to offer.  Teaching kids and watching them learn and grow is her passion, and she has been doing this for more than 13 years.  In her free time, Jana enjoys exercising, traveling, boating, and spending time at the beach.  She and her husband, Bill, have one son attending the University of Florida.

Mrs. Megan Herlihy

5th Grade

Megan has called Sarasota home since 2000. She graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a minor in Christian Leadership. She is excited to be fulfilling her lifelong dream of being a teacher. Megan lives in Venice with her husband, Jason, and her five children who attend TCA. In her spare time she enjoys watching movies, playing the piano, exercising, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Brooke Cole

5th Grade

Brooke Cole has spent most of her life in Sarasota and, although she prefers cool mountain weather, has come to consider the Florida heat her home. She attended Liberty University in Virginia and graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2004. Since then, she has worked in church ministry and as a freelance writer. She has aspired to become an elementary teacher for many years and is thrilled to be a part of the TCA staff. She and her husband of 12 years enjoy making memories with friends and family and their little dog, Bailey.

Miss Debbie Hegeman

6th Grade

Miss Debbie Hegeman was born in Jackson, Michigan and moved to Florida when she was in second grade. She has lived in the Bradenton/Sarasota area since fourth grade. She attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, where she graduated in 1987 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Miss Hegeman has taught every elementary grade level from 1st through 5th grade and two years of 6th grade English. She has taught for the past 4 years at TCA, 2 years in first grade and 2 years in sixth grade. Miss Hegeman enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, and playing with household pets.

Mr. Micah Kelley

6th Grade

Micah graduated from Liberty University with a BA in Biblical Studies and a minor in Koine Greek. He is married to his lovely wife, Casey, who is an ASL interpreter for Manatee County schools. Micah has a major passion for the teaching, coaching, and mentoring of young men and women in order for them to reach their greatest potential both in the classroom and life. Micah is an avid sports fan and musician with a great appreciation for the arts. He and his wife enjoy time with friends and family, concerts, coffee shops, board games, books, and specialty food/beverages!