Faculty & Staff | Independent School Nashville, TN

Kristen Adair

Faculty Fellow

B.A., Education & Bible and Family Ministry, Harding University

Sean Adams

Assistant Coach

Heart to Heart Teaching Assistant

B.S., Sports Management, Arkansas State University
M.S., Sports Administration, Arkansas State University

Varsity Football, 5th/6th Track & Field, Varsity Track & Field

Brandon Albright

Director of Spiritual Life, Seventh & Eighth Grade Bible

B.S., Business Administration, University of Tennessee
M.A., Biblical and Theological Studies, Denver Seminary

Shawn Allen

Head Coach

Upper School Humanities

B.A., History, Florida State University
M.A., U.S. History, Florida State University

Varsity Track & Field

Stacey Anderson

Lower School Nurse

A.D.N., Nursing, Aquinas College
B.A., Psychology, University of Massachusetts Amherst
M.A., Child Life Therapy, Wheelock College

Chelsea Anstead

Head Coach - 5th/6th Cheerleading

Sixth Grade Math, Middle School Math Coordinator

B.S.E., Elementary Education, University of Alabama

Assistant Coach - MS Basketball Cheerleading

Jennifer Archie

Head Coach

Upper School Spanish I & II

B.A., Spanish, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A., Education, Cumberland University

Middle School Girls Basketball

Betsey Bachert

Assistant Head of Upper School, Director of College Counseling

B.A., Writing, Rhetoric, and Communication, Transylvania University
M.S., Education Policy and Evaluation, University of Kentucky
M.Ed., Independent School Leadership, Vanderbilt University

Stacey Banks-Houston

Director of Entrepreneurial Leadership

B.S., Fashion Merchandising, Ursuline College
M.B.A., Cleveland State
Ed.D., Instructional Design, Northcentral University

Michael Bartha

Assistant Coach

US Calculus, Stats (AP), Pre-Calculus (H) Teacher, Math Department Chair

B.A., Math, Bowdoin College
M.A., Educational Leadership, Christian Brothers University

Varsity Hockey

Cassie Bates

Upper School History

B.A., History, Lee University
M.A., Secondary Education, Lee University

Lexy Biller

Head Coach

Assistant Athletic Director for Athletics Information

B.A., Psychology, Lindenwood University
M.A., Leadership, Lindenwood University

Girls Lacrosse

Ross Bolen

Director of Theatre, Upper & Middle School Drama and Theatre Production

B.A., History & Philosophy, Murray State University
M.F.A., Acting & Directing, California Institute of the Arts

Ashlyn Bufton

Head Coach

Third Grade Teacher

B.S., Elementary Education, Baylor University
M.Ed., Teacher Leadership, Lamar University

5th/6th Girls Soccer

Sarah Cady

Assistant Coach

First Grade Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood Education, Auburn University

Lower School Cross Country

Betsy Campbell

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Family & Human Development, Mississippi University for Women

Jack Canady

Grounds Manager

B.S., Agriculture, Plant and Soil Science, University of Tennessee at Martin

Thomas Carlton

Head Coach - JV Baseball

ASPIRE Math Lab Coordinator

B.A., Elementary Education, Aquinas College
M.Ed., Education, Aquinas College

Assistant Coach - Varsity Baseball

Savannah Carpenter

Sixth Grade Science, Sixth Grade Chair

B.A., Mathematics, Belmont University
M.A.T., Teaching, Belmont University

Sean Casey

Head of School

B.S., Hobart and William Smith Colleges
M.B.A., Rutgers University
M.Ed., Temple University

Casey Catignani

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Psychology, Trevecca Nazarene University

AnneMarie Chambers

Assistant Coach

Seventh & Eighth Grade Spanish

B.A., Spanish Language & Literature, Maryville College

Middle School Cross Country

Bob Chandler

Band Director, MS and US Instrumental Music

B.M., Music, Middle Tennessee State University

Channing Clark

Head of Middle School

B.M., Music with a Spanish Minor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
M.A., Teaching, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Blake Clifton

Assistant Coach

Digital Communications Strategist and Website Manager

B.A., Communications, North Carolina State University

Middle School Boys Lacrosse

Kris Climer

Assistant Coach

US French I, II, III, III (H), IV/V (AP), World Language Department Chair

B.S., French, Vanderbilt University
M.A., Applied Linguistics, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Varsity Softball

Kalee Coburn

Assistant Coach

First Grade Teacher

B.S., Textiles, Merchandising, and Design, Middle Tennessee State University
M.A., Teaching, Trevecca Nazarene University

Lower School Cross Country

Steven Compton

Director of Information Services, Computer Science Instructor

B.S., Business Education, Western Kentucky University
M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, Tennessee State University

Hayden Copeland

Head Coach

Upper School Religion, Convocation Coordinator

B.S., Business Management, Clemson University
M.A., Biblical and Theological Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Varsity & Middle School Golf

Sharon Crabtree

Junior Kindergarten Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood Education, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
B.S., Early Childhood Education, Trevecca Nazarene University

Amy Crace

Fifth Grade History, Middle School Service Learning

B.A., History, Georgetown College

Frances Crenshaw

Lower School Teacher Assistant

B.A., Elementary Education, University of Mississippi
M.Ed., Elementary Education, Vanderbilt University

Arthur D'Angelo

Head Coach

Middle School Math

B.A., Economics, University of Pennsylvania
M.A., Teaching, Liberty University

Middle School Football

Bethany Darsinos

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., Middle Tennessee State University
M.A., Trevecca Nazarene University

David Daugherty

Technology Help Desk

B.S., Arizona State University

Laura Davis

Associate Director of College Counseling

B.A., Psychology, Dartmouth University

David Dawson

Director of Student Activities, Upper School Grade Chair - 9th Grade Boys

B.A., Business Administration, Carson Newman University
M.Ed., Special Education, Grand Canyon University

Anna De

Lower School Aspire Coordinator

B.S., Middle Childhood Education, University of Dayton
M.S., Literacy, University of St. Francis

Madelyn DeAscentis

First Grade Teacher

B.A., Education Studies, DePauw University
M.Ed, Elementary Education, Vanderbilt University

Debbie DeJean

Admission and New Family Coordinator

B.S., Business Administration, Tennessee Technological University

Stephanie DeSantis

Assistant Coach

Lower School Heart to Heart

B.S., Exercise Physiology, Bridgewater State University
M.A., Special Education, Endicott College

5th/6th Girls Basketball, Middle School Track & Field

Maddi Devey

Assistant Coach

Admission Officer

B.A., English, Gettysburg College

MS Girls Soccer, Varsity Girls Soccer, Varsity Basketball Cheerleading

Jenna Dunham

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Dietetics, Lipscomb University

Loribeth Dunn

Fifth Grade World Language Foundations, Middle School French & Spanish

B.A., World Languages, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Melanie Ellis

Director of Human Resources

BBA, Business Administration, Georgia State University

Susan Emrhein

Lower School Counselor, Assistant Service Learning Coordinator

B.A., Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.S., School Counseling, University of Memphis

Julia Eterno

Faculty Fellow

B.A., Music, University of Miami

Stephanie Feyes

Assistant Coach

US Biology I, Biology I (H)

B.S., Secondary Education, University of South Carolina Upstate
M.Ed., Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning, Middle Tennessee State University

Varsity Girls Basketball

Julia Fleming

Assistant Coach

Fifth Grade English

B.S., Elementary Education, Vanderbilt University

Middle School Dance Team

Addrian Frederick

Director of Strength and Conditioning, Mental Performance Coach

B.A., Psychology, Wabash College
M.S., Exercise Physiology, University of Louisville
M.S., Applied Sports Psychology, Adams State University

B.S., Secondary Education and Mathematics, Auburn University at Montgomery
MLA, Mathematics for Teaching, Harvard University Extension School
Ed.S., Educational Leadership, Georgia College & State University

Varsity Boys Basketball

Jacqui Gardner

Upper School Mathematics

B.S., Applied Mathematics, University of Virginia

Justin Geisinger

Head Coach

B.S., Human & Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University
M.S., Organizational Leadership, Vanderbilt University

Varsity Football

Amanda Gibbs

Administrative Assistant

B.S., Education, University of Tennessee

Courtney Gilreath

Assistant Coach

Upper School Spanish

B.A., Spanish & Secondary Education, Belmont University

Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Track & Field

Thomas Gilroy

Assistant Coach

Upper School U.S. History

B.A., History, King's College
M.A., History, University of Delaware

Varsity Boys Basketball

Georgeanna Goldthorpe

Campus Nurse, Health Services Administrator

B.A., Nursing and Spanish, Vanderbilt University
M.S., Nursing, Vanderbilt University

Sydney Goncalves

Middle School Heart to Heart

B.S., M.Ed, Special Education, University of Georgia

Julia Goodin

Assistant Coach

Second Grade Teacher

B.A., Elementary Education, Indiana University

Middle School Volleyball

Keith Gray

Assistant Coach

Upper School Biology & Chemistry

B.S., Biology, Claflin University
M.S., Kinesiology, Alabama A&M University

Middle School Basketball

Phillip Griswold

Middle & Upper School Visual Arts

B.A., Studio Art, Oral Roberts University
M.F.A., Studio Art, Claremont University

Allison Hammat

Upper School Counselor, Director of ASPIRE

B.A., Psychology, Murray State University
M.A., School Psychology, Middle Tennessee State University

Lisa Hanley

Middle School ASPIRE Assistant, Convocation Coordinator

B.S., Secondary Education & History, Vanderbilt University

Matt Hanson

Director of Football Operations, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coordinator

B.A., English, Birmingham-Southern College

John Harris

Upper School History

B.A., History and Classics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Ryan Harris

Assistant Head of School for External Affairs

B.S., Elementary Education and Teaching, Trevecca Nazarene University
M.Ed., Educational Administration and Supervision, Trevecca Nazarene University

Chris Hart

Head Coach

Assistant Head of Middle School for Student Life, Academic Coordinator

B.S., Secondary Education, University of Tennessee-Martin
M.Ed., Administration and Supervision, Trevecca Nazarene University

Varsity Girls Basketball

Jamaal Haywood

Assistant Coach

Fifth Grade Math

B.S., Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
M.A., Elementary Education, Trevecca Nazarene University

5th/6th Boys Basketball

Sonia Higdon

Head Coach

Physics 1, Physics 1 Honors, AP Statistics

B.S., Engineering Science, Trinity University
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Vanderbilt University

Middle School Track & Field

Alana Hilkin

Assistant Coach - Varsity Football Cheerleading

Heart to Heart Director

B.S., Criminal Justice, Psychology & Sociology, Tennessee State University
M.Ed., Special Education and Applied Behavior Analysis, Lipscomb University

Head Coach - Varsity Softball

Joy Hinson

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Early Childhood Education, Western Kentucky University

Amanda Hinthorne

Assistant Coach

Seventh Grade Science

B.S., Psychology, Eureka College
M.A., Counseling, Webster University

Middle School Cross Country

Joseph Holzmer Jr.

Assistant Coach

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.A., General Studies, University of Mississippi
M.S., Coaching, Fitness & Leadership, University of the Cumberlands

Varsity Football

Kristen Huffman

Lower School Teaching Assistant

B.S., Elementary Education, College of Charleston
M.Ed, Early Childhood Special Education, Vanderbilt University

Bethany Humphrey

Head Coach

Third Grade Teacher

B.S., University of Memphis

Varsity Basketball Cheerleading

Garrett Huyck

Faculty Fellow

B.A., History, College of William & Mary

Eric Johnson

Assistant Head of School for Academic and Student Affairs

B.A. & M.B.A., History & Religious Studies, Management, Trevecca Nazarene University
M.Ed & Ed.D, Secondary Education, Educational Leadership, Vanderbilt University

Grace Johnson

Seventh Grade English

B.S., Secondary Education, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Amy Beth Jones

Lower School Performing Arts Teacher

B.A., Music Education, Tarleton State University

Lanie Jones

Fifth Grade History

B.A., International Studies, Pepperdine University

Rod Jones

Director of Alumni Engagement

B.S., English & History, University of North Alabama
M.A., History, University of Tennessee
M.Ed., Organizational Leadership, Vanderbilt University

Gigi Jordan

THRIVE Program

B.S., Therapeutic Studies, Boston University
M.S., OTD, Occupational Therapy, Boston University

Clifton Kaiser

Head Coach

English III (AP), English IV, AP Seminar (Capstone), AP Research (Capstone),, Newspaper Sponsor, English Department Chair

B.A., English & Literature, University of Evansville
M.A., English & Literature, Purdue University

5th/6th Boys Soccer

Allison Kaufman

Kindergarten Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Samford University
M.Ed., Vanderbilt University

Bridget Keener

STEM Teacher, Literacy Coach

B.A., Elementary Education, University of Florida
M.Ed., Elementary Education, University of Florida

Amanda Kellum

US Administrative Assistant

Josephine Kelso

English II, AP English IV - Literature Teacher

B.S., English & Secondary Education, Vanderbilt University
M.Ed., Higher Education Administration, Vanderbilt University
Ph.D., Language, Literacy and Education, University of California, Berkeley