Welcome to Wildwood Christian Academy!

A North Georgia School of Academic Excellence in a Christian Environment

Specialty Teachers

	Elizabeth Cook, our fifth grade teacher, is the instructor for fourth and fifth grade math, as well as fifth grade language arts. As director of our drama programs and library skills instructor, she works with Wildwood’s kindergarten through eighth grade students. Elizabeth has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Music from Georgia State University and has worked in the music industry with Warner Brothers Records. She is currently pursuing additional courses in the educational field.
	Lisa Crowley is our computer technology teacher for the kindergarten, first and second grades. She also teaches the Discovery class to kindergarten, first, sixth, and seventh grades. She has ten years experience teaching at The Walker School in Marietta, Georgia where she helped map the science curriculum. Lisa has a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree from Berry College with a minor in Animal Science.
	Christie Eagleson is our Spanish teacher for all of the Academy students, kindergarten through eighth grades. She has twelve years of experience teaching Spanish at Mississippi State University, the University of South Alabama and UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile, Alabama. Christie has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in International Business and foreign Languages and a Master’s of Arts degree from Mississippi State University and has taken additional graduate level coursework from the School of Education at the University of South Alabama.
	Nancy Fernandez is our Spanish teacher for the Preschool 3s and 4s. She has been at Wildwood since 2008. She has a love for languages, starting French as a child and continuing it throughout college. She first learned Spanish at Georgetown University, and pursued using it throughout her career on Wall Street. Nancy has a B.A. in Russian Studies and French from the University of Virginia, and a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Economics from New York University. She is a mother of four children and enjoys singing, reading, and playing games in Spanish with the Wildwood Preschoolers.
	Leslie Head is an Upper School and fifth grade science teacher. Leslie teaches sixth and seventh grades math, as well as sixth grade Biblical Studies. She has eight years of experience as an instructor and administrator at Mount Pisgah Christian School in Alpharetta, Georgia, where she chaired the SACS Accreditation Committee. She has taught middle school science and technology, as well as high school algebra, chemistry, and environmental science. Leslie has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in chemistry from Converse College.
	Lamar Helms, our chaplain, serves as the Associate Chaplain and Music Director of the Big Canoe Chapel. Lamar has a Bachelor’s Degree and Master of Arts degree in English Literature from Wake Forest University and was ordained into the ministry. He also graduated from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and was conferred with a Master of Divinity degree. Lamar coordinates and directs our chapel programs and Biblical Studies program.
	Laura Hensley teaches social studies and English to our Upper School and ninth grade honors students. She also teaches computer technology to the third through eighth grades and an eighth grade writing lab. Laura serves as the Director of Curriculum for the academy. She taught for five years at Sherwood Christian Academy in Albany, Georgia, where she taught seventh and eighth grades language arts, high school web design and journalism and in addition coordinated summer writing workshop classes. Laura has a Bachelor’s of Education degree concentrating in Middle Grades Education from Valdosta State University and a Master’s Degree of Education from Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina.
	Dr. Lloyd Larsen is our Biblical Studies teacher for the seventh and eighth grades. Ordained in 1962, Dr. Larsen has been a youth director, associate pastor and senior pastor of churches in Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, New York and Florida for forty-nine years. He also served as the Director of United Campus Ministries at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Larsen has an Associate of Arts degree from North Park University, a Bachelor’s of Arts degree from Augustana College, a Master’s of Divinity degree from North Park Theological Seminary and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Eden Theological Seminary in Illinois.
	Lauren Melton, our kindergarten teacher, also teaches enrichment Skills to first grade and the Discovery class to second through fifth grades. She has sixteen years of experience as an instructor of children at Eastvalley Elementary School in Cobb County, where she headed the Science Task Force and was coordinator and coach for Odyssey of the Mind, and also at Hamilton Mill United Methodist Church Pre-School. In addition, Lauren has served as Interim Children’s Minister at Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta. Lauren has a Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education from Oglethorpe University.
	Judith Morris, our art teacher, has taught art in public schools in Wisconsin, at Wesleyan School in Atlanta, and at Carthage College in Wisconsin. She has had student art work represented during Youth Art Month in Wisconsin at the state capitol, the High Museum in Atlanta, and Sharptop Art Center in Jasper. Judith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Art and a Master’s Degree in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin. Judith also conducts an art camp in the summer at Wildwood.
	Danny Peterman is the music teacher for kindergarten through eighth grades. He has three years of experience teaching music at North Georgia Christian Academy in Ellijay. In addition, Danny was the minister of music at Atlanta Street Baptist Church in Roswell for eighteen years and also served as the organist, back-up music director, and children’s choir director at First Baptist Church in Woodstock for eight years. Danny has a Bachelor’s Degree from Valdosta State College.
	Kim Kinne-Ryan, our health and physical education teacher, has taught physical education, most recently in the Pickens County school system. A lifelong athlete, she has coached volleyball, basketball and tennis and has also been associated with Young Life in Jasper. Kim has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Physical Education from the University of South Carolina and is certified to teach in kindergarten through twelfth grades.