Academy of Excellence

Soar On Wings As Eagles

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Our Faculty
 

One of the most valuable assets of the Academy of Excellence is its dedicated teachers.  Many of them have been on staff for a number of years and some were a part of the school in its formation.  Their commitment to providing the students with the best possible education is evident in their performance as teachers.  They are genuinely interested in their students’ academic success.  Their commitment is expressed in the time, energy, and sacrifices they make each year. 

 
 

 
 
 

Ann Reed - 3rd and 4th Grade Teacher
 Ms. Ann, a native of central Texas, received her degree in Elementary Education from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.  After teaching public school in Texas, Ms. Ann began teaching at the Academy almost from its inception.  She has now been here for 15 years and has taught several different grade levels.  She currently teaches 3rd and 4th grades.  Ms. Ann loves to read and cook in her spare time.  Her husband Doug is the Minister at Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, and they have 3 children, one at college at JBU, and twin boys in high school.   Her favorite Bible verse is 1 Corinthians 13:13, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. “

 


Gloria Taff - Middle School Teacher
 Ms. Gloria grew up in Odessa, Texas and received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Texas A & M University.  She taught for 4 years at Harvest Time Christian School in Ft. Smith, and spent one year as the Preschool Director at Children’s Cornerstone in Berryville before lending her talent to help start the Academy in 1993.  Ms. Gloria has taught in children’s ministry in the church for many years, teaching from preschool age children up through junior high youth.  She currently teaches middle school Bible, Spelling, Science, Penmanship, and Grammar.  She has been married to her husband Jay for nearly 25 years, and together they like to hike, canoe, travel, and garden.  Ms. Gloria has 3 children, one in high school and two in college.  Her favorite words to live by:  The will of God will never take you where the grace of God can not keep you.  Wherever you go, go with your whole heart.
 
 

Patty Sanders - Middle School Teacher
Ms. Patty grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from Fayetteville High School before going on to obtain her Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Arkansas.  She taught 8th grade American History and 9th grade English at Huntsville Middle School for 5 years, then 10th grade English as well as other English classes at Berryville for 5 years before coming to the Academy of Excellence in 1998.  At the Academy Ms. Patty currently teaches middle school math and literature.  She has also taught reading, speech, music, and history.  Ms. Patty and her husband James have been members of the Faith Christian Family Church since 1981, and have worked in the children’s ministry for much of that time.  They have been married for 35 years.

Sharon Gould - Preschool Director & Kindergarten Teacher

Kindergarten teacher Ms. Sharon Gould is a native of Eureka Springs.  She holds her CDA from Northwest Arkansas Community College, and has taught Kindergarten for several years after holding the position of Preschool Director for a number of years.  Ms. Sharon has been with the school a total of 14 years.  In addition to teaching, she likes to hunt, fish, bowl, and read.  She has two wonderful daughters, Leah and Amber, and two cats, Baby and Rikku.  Ms. Sharon is an active volunteer EMT for the Eureka Springs Fire Department.  Because of this, she often gets the privilege of acting as school nurse at the Academy when bumps and bruises occur.  Her favorite words to live by: “They won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

 

Sharon Young - 1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
Ms. Sharon Young grew up in both Central Kansas and Kansas City.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, and later her Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  Ms. Sharon taught in Washburn, Missouri for 3 years before moving to Green Forest where she taught for almost 20 years at the 4th and 5th grade level.  Currently, Ms. Sharon teaches 1st and 2nd grades at the Academy, a position she has held since 2000.  In her spare time she enjoys camping, going to the Branson shows, and helping her husband Carl Wayne take care of the baby animals on their farm.  Her husband has 3 grown sons, and she is a grandmother to 5 precious grandchildren.  Her favorite words to live by are the Golden Rule and Colossians 3:23.  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”  She keeps this posted in her classroom because they are very important words to live by every day. 
Shawna Rascon - Middle School Teacher
 Ms. Shawna grew up in Eureka Springs, but has lived the last twenty years in Tulsa until returning a few years ago.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Oral Roberts University.  She has taught middle school history for two years.  She is a voracious reader and a lifelong history student.  Ms. Shawna also oversees our Spanish language program.  She has a 5 year old son, Garrett, who is a student at the Academy.  Her favorite quote, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”
 
 
 
 
 
Leah Hamilton - Pre-3 Teacher
Leah Hamilton is beginning her 2nd year teaching our 3 year old class.  She grew up here in Eureka Springs and has been a member of the Family Church for many years.  Leah is currently pursuing a degree in Elementary Education.  Leah possesses a natural talent with children that most people would only dream of having, and she is using her talents to glorify God in her work with these young children.   Leah is also a newlywed and is starting a new life with her husband Derrick this summer.
 
 
 
Wynn Wennekamp - Computer Teacher
Wynn grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He studied Computer Science, Computer Programming and Mathematics at the University of New Mexico.  This will be his second year teaching computer to our Middle School Students.  He and his wife, Jennifer moved here from Northeast Oklahoma where they had been working with kids for the past 18 years.  He graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in Tulsa, OK during that time.  His two children, Nathan and Elizabeth attend the Academy as well.  He is also the Children's Pastor at Faith Christian Family Church.