Chris Harris is a graduate of Mid-Continent College with a BS in Biblical Studies and a minor in Christian Education, 1998. Chris earned a Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY in 2004. Chris is currently pursuing a doctorate in Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chris has served as a pastor for the past 16 years and is currently serving as pastor of Greater Things Church. In addition to this, Chris has served as a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserves since 2008. Chris and his wife Gretchen have been married for 16 years and have three children, Caleb 10, Nathan 6, and Micaiah 8 months.
Mrs. Barbara Cheney graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Secondary Education (English) in 1971. She and her husband, Terry, have been married for 37 years and together they homeschooled their two sons, Christopher (21) and Bryan (19). They have served on the board of the Middle Tennessee Homeschool Association for three years and she is the editor of the MTHEA newsletter, Jonathan’s Arrow.
She has taught in a variety of subject areas and venues, including teaching with her husband at regional and national parenting conferences. She has taught private swimming lessons during the summer for many years. As a computer trainer for the City of Mesa, Arizona, she wrote curriculum and taught a variety of computer courses for 5 years. Her teaching background also includes teaching high school Biology, Latin, Logic, and English, in her own home and also at a homeschool tutorial. Mrs. Cheney holds a private pilot license and enjoys airplanes, swimming, saber fencing, and reading.
Her favorite Bible verses are from Colossians 1:17 and 18: “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He might have the preeminence.”
Mrs. Julianne Feenstra is a graduate of LeTourneau University where she majored in History Education. She married her college sweetheart in 2008 and they moved to Tennessee the following year. Her husband, Todd, is a pilot, and they have a dog, named Baron.
Mrs. Feenstra has a heart for missions and service, and loves playing sports, especially volleyball, which she played in college. She is passionate about encouraging young people as they develop into strong Christians.
“I am excited to see how the Lord has already had His hand in the forming of Dickson Academy,” says Mrs. Feenstra. “I feel blessed to be part of a school that is dedicated to teaching and growing every aspect of the student. I can’t wait to see what the Lord will do as we honor Him and strive to be excellent in all we do.”
Mr. Ben Goolsby is a graduate of Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History/Economics and Education.
He is currently a 7th grade Social Studies teacher at Dickson Middle School and he coaches Cross Country at his alma mater, Dickson County High School. In his free time, he likes to run, play tennis, and do yard work. He married Megan King in October, 2008.
He enjoys a daily run with his Golden Retriever, Banjo.
Mr.
Brooks Duke has lived in Dickson County his entire life. After
graduating from William James High School in 1971, he earned a degree
in Math Education with a minor in Chemistry Education from David
Lipscomb University. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Educational
Administration from Austin Peay State University.
Mr. Duke taught math and science in Dickson County Schools for 26 years
at the Junior High and High School levels, and was the Supervisor for
Secondary Education for 6 years. He retired from Dickson County
Schools in 2007 after 32 years of service, but has since returned to
the District to serve as the part-time Supervisor of Assessment.
Regarding his recent appointment to teach at Dickson Academy, Mr. Duke
said "When I left the classroom in 2001 to become an administrator, I
hoped that I would one day be able to return to the classroom because
that is where my heart really is. The opportunity to be at Dickson
Academy seems like a chance to go home to do what I love
most--teaching!"
Leslie graduated from Belmont University in 2000 with a BA in Piano Pedagogy. Since that time, she has been teaching private piano lessons to students from age 5 to 75.
In the background, however, God has been developing in her heart a love and passion for His Word. In her spare time, she has been writing curriculum for LifeWay Christian Resources, leading Women's Bible Study, teaching 12th Grade Sunday School, and speaking to groups of teenagers and women. Most recently, she has been named a Lifeway Ministry Multiplier for Girls Ministry, traveling the country to teach groups of women how to begin, maintain, and expand their church's ministry to girls.
Leslie loves studying the Bible and would rather delve into scripture with a good cup of coffee than just about anything else. She enjoys combining the geographical, historical, linguistic, and Biblical resources in order to truly grasp what God's message is in each chapter of His Word.
Leslie lives in White Bluff with her husband David and son Daniel. She enjoys running, writing, and listening to Christy Nockels music.
Tracey is our most recent addition to Dickson Academy and we are very pleased to have her on staff.
Mrs. Patricia Vaca was born in Mexico City, Mexico. She is the third youngest of nine siblings, and her family immigrated to Southern California in 1962. It was here that she received most of her education, attending Orange Coast College, California State University Long Beach and Otis Parsons Art School in Los Angeles.
Although much of her passion and energy is directed towards art, a field where she has garnered multiple awards and gallery showings at the Costa Mesa Art Gallery and Long Beach Art Association, Inc., her heart sincerely resides in the classroom.
Mrs. Vaca taught first grade for four years and spent five years in the public school system. She quickly found that teachers, as a whole, are the key ingredient to effective, productive, love-filled Christian schools.
Mrs. Vaca has three children and lives in Dickson with her husband of thirty-six years.
Mrs. Lori Shepard graduated from Carson-Newman College with a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy and a Masters of Arts degree in Teaching degree. She has been teaching/tutoring, writing, and developing music curriculum for K-4 through high school for 28 years. She has led numerous music workshops and directed various dramatic performances. Most recently, she was a guest conductor for "A Celtic Christmas" at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and is slated for the December 2011 performance. Mrs. Shepard has a passion for teaching and loves seeing excitement in her students when they grow musically.
Mrs. Shepard has been married to Steve Shepard for 27 years. She has two daughters attending Union University studying music and one daughter attending Dickson Academy. She loves decorating her home, studying and teaching God's word, camping, and sewing. She loves Colossians 3:23 and tries to live this verse in everything she does.