Dan Bailey, Head of School, grew up in Brazil as a missionary kid and graduated from a boarding school there before returning to the United States for Bible school and later earning a degree in Secondary Education/Biology from Tennessee Technological University in 2000. He taught in the Putnam County public school system for six years before answering God's call to help start a Christian school, where he served as head administrator for seven years. After spending time in other career fields, he returned to education in 2018 to launch a STEM program for at-risk high school students at the local alternative school.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Bailey was given the opportunity to help establish two Christian schools simultaneously in Cookeville and Crossville, Tennessee. Throughout his career, he has been privileged to build several Christ-centered educational programs that continue to thrive today. His passion is partnering with Christian families to provide an academic environment grounded in God's Word, helping students grow in both knowledge and faith. Outside of school, he enjoys traveling, hiking, camping, hunting, rock climbing, and especially spending time with his wife, daughters, and grandchildren.

Director of Operations and Development

 Kristen Wilcox holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Education from San Francisco State University. She began her time at New Colossus Academy in the classroom as a teacher and has continued to grow alongside the school. After serving as High School Department Head, she now serves as Director of Operations & Development, where she helps support the school’s daily work and its long-term growth.Through each role, Kristen has developed a deep appreciation for the teachers, families, and students who make up the NCA community. She enjoys building relationships and helping share the story of what God is doing through the school. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her three children, browsing local thrift stores, and reading a good mystery novel.

Office Manager

Hannah Kistler was born and raised on a farm in Jackson County, Tennessee where she was homeschooled from 2nd grade onward. She graduated high school in 2006 and has worked in communications and administration in multiple businesses and non-profit ministries since that time.

Hannah married her husband, Dan, in 2010. Together they have three sons, Timothy, Josiah, and David. In 2022, the Lord led the Kistler family to join New Colossus Academy, and Hannah stepped into the role of Office Manager. When not in the office, Hannah enjoys leading worship at Oaks Church, reading good books while drinking good coffee, playing board games, and traveling to new places with her family.

Safety Officer

Tabatha Lewis is a dedicated public servant, veteran, and safety professional from Livingston, Tennessee. She served in the Army National Guard and Army Reserves from 2005 to 2013, including a deployment to Iraq as a Military Police Officer. Tabatha holds a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix and a master’s in Professional Studies with a concentration in Public Safety from Tennessee Technological University.

She has worked as a State Probation and Parole Officer, is certified as both an ALICE Training Instructor and a Red Cross Instructor, and for the past four years has served as the Safety Officer at New Colossus Academy. Tabatha is also a Judicial Commissioner for Jackson County. She’s been married for 13 years to Jeremiah Lewis, a police officer at Tennessee Tech University, and they have two sons, Silas and Logan.

Office Assistant

Hillary Murphy grew up in Allons, Tennessee just a few miles from Dale Hollow Lake. After graduating high school in 2011, she lived in Atlanta, GA, Nashville, TN and Cookeville, TN working in the restaurant industry. She now lives in Livingston, TN with her family. She married Phillip in 2014 and they have two children, Eva and Rowan. Both attend NCA and she became a teachers assistant in 2024. The Murphy family loves the lake, the ocean, traveling, cooking together, hiking, going for walks and watching funny movies together. 

High School Guidance Counselor

Amber Miskowiec is excited to start her 3rd year on the staff at New Colossus Academy in the role as High School Guidance counselor. She has a passion for helping students discover their interests and plan for their future. In the 2023-2024 school year, Amber served as president of the PTO for NCA. She has been involved with the homeschool community for over 10 years.  Amber, her husband Chris, and their four children moved to Cookeville 3 years ago to start a small homestead. They had their fifth baby in August of 2024. Amber enjoys spending time outside with her animals, gardening, and hiking.   She looks forward to helping students navigate High School and beyond.

Assistant STEM Coordinator

Pre-K 4

Mrs Lundholm is thrilled to be teaching Pre-K at NCA! She has been a homeschool mom and a substitute teacher for various schools and grade levels, early mornings she teaches international students English skills online. She previously taught pre-k several years ago and is so happy to be back teaching the grade she loves most. She and her husband Keith have 4 children and one sweet little grandbaby that brings joy to the whole family. They also have three outdoor cats that keep them entertained and busy. When not teaching, Mrs Lundholm enjoys being with her children and grandbaby, reading or listening to audiobooks, and attempting to garden. Flowers of all types are her favorites to try and grow.

Kindergarten

Mrs. Phillips received her bachelor's degree in accounting in 2009. She married in 2010 and they have 3 children. After graduation she worked at the Cookeville Regional hospital in the billing department for 6 years. She felt this wasn’t her real passion because she has always had a love for children. She decided to be a stay-at-home mom while helping in various areas working with children. She heard of an opportunity to help start a brand new Christian hybrid school in Cookeville and was subsequently hired in 2020 to teach Kindergarten. Her 2 children, Logan and Charlee also attend NCA. They love camping, water parks, and family get-togethers.

Kindergarten

Jenna Lee is excited to start her 2nd year at New Colossus Academy. She is a Kentucky native and moved to Cookeville with her husband, David, 8 years ago. They have 2 wonderful twin daughters who also attend NCA.

She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations and worked in graphic design and marketing before becoming a stay at home mom.

Jenna has always had a love for children and serving others. She loves to spend her time serving in the children’s ministry at her church. Her hobbies include baking, gardening, singing songs with her daughters, and drinking coffee with a friend.

1st Grade

Priscila is a family-oriented woman who lives with intention, purpose, and unwavering faith. She prioritizes a healthy lifestyle and cherishes spending creative, meaningful time with her loved ones. Actively involved in her local church, Priscila serves in several ministries, including the worship team. She finds joy in bike rides with her husband, cooking alongside her daughter, and hosting gatherings for family and friends. A lover of scenic beauty, she is happiest when traveling—whether abroad or nearby—with her family, often capturing moments through her natural eye for photography.

Driven by her love of languages, she spent six years teaching Spanish and English to speakers of other languages in public schools and has tutored children of different backgrounds in previous years. She now has the opportunity to serve younger students in a Christ-centered environment she already cherishes.

At the heart of it all, she believes teaching is a sacred calling—one that goes far beyond academics. She feels strongly that God has given individuals the gift of teaching to uplift and guide the next generation in truth. By weaving biblical principles into everyday learning, she sees her role here at NCA as a way to honor God with purpose: to uplift, protect, and spiritually equip children while honoring God through the gift of teaching, and reflects a deep commitment to being a good steward of her home, her family, and her community.

2nd Grade

Rebecca has served in the field of elementary education for 30+ years. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in Elementary Education, emphasizing Curriculum and Instruction. She has held teaching certificates in Oregon, Washington, and currently, in Tennessee. Her service has been in teaching various grades, Literacy Coach, Art Teacher, Principal, and Tutoring. Small group and private art lessons in her home studio are a beloved part of her teaching as well. Most of Rebecca’s work has been in lower grade classrooms, primarily at Christian schools. She is passionate about integrating Biblical truths in all teaching and discipleship, and leading children to love and value learning and a relationship with Christ. The potential and uniqueness of each child is respected and enjoyed.  Personal experiences that children love to have her share about include sheep ranching, traveling on a sailboat with her husband as a missionary, and writing, illustrating, and publishing a children’s picture book.

3rd Grade

We welcome Ellee Brooks as our 2025/2026 3rd grade teacher at New Colossus Academy. She is a native to Sparta, TN and a Cookeville High School graduate. While attending Cookeville Ellee excelled on the volleyball court. She earned a full-ride athletic scholarship to further her education at the University of Tennessee at Martin to study Fashion Merchandising. While attending UTM she was very active in FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), and this is where she ultimately began her walk with Christ.

Once she graduated, she moved to Nashville to begin her career with Brooks Brothers as the lead Visual Merchandiser. She was also the assistant volleyball coach at Franklin Road Academy for 3 seasons before relocating. Over the last 8 years Ellee has been a dedicated stay at home parent before joining us at NCA.

 She decided to step back into the workforce after her son, Samson, begged her for two continuous years to work at NCA. Ellee has been married for 9 years, and has two children Samsom and Delia Kay. The Brooks household has been a part of the NCA family for four years. She is so excited to embark on a completely new journey and hopes to make a lifelong impact on her students. Ellee’s hobbies include: spending time with family, word searches, traveling, baking, writing/painting, coaching/playing volleyball, and being outside with her children exploring.

4th Grade

Mike Carmen was an associate minister in the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ for twenty-one years with ministries in Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee. He has also served as a classical, Christian school teacher for twelve years and is a certified teacher with the Association of Classical Christian Schools.

He graduated from the Cincinnati Christian University in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Biblical Studies and in 1999 with a M.A. degree in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in Old Testament. In 2012 he graduated from Liberty Theological Seminary with an M.Div. in Professional Ministry. He has also completed course work towards a PhD at the Kearley School of Theology at Faulkner University.  

His wife, Sondra, is a Park Ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers. Together they enjoy traveling and sightseeing, exercising, their church, and just being together.

Teacher’s Assistant/Yearbook Editor

Brittney Bennett is in her second year as a teacher’s assistant at NCA where she enjoys helping others in any way she can. She is married to Derek and has a son in the second grade. Brittney also holds a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and works part-time as a nurse, with both of her jobs fulfilling her servant heart. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her family, watching her son play baseball, camping, and appreciating the little things in life.

5th-6th Grade Science

Alicia Sheumaker is a Cookeville native and graduated from Cookeville High School in 1992. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Science and Math Education in 1997 and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 1998, both from the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Alicia began teaching 5th grade math and  science in the Putnam County School System, and continued in that position for 5 years. In 2002, Alicia married Jonathan Sheumaker. The delight of her life is raising her own children in the same town she grew up in with childhood favorites, like Ralph’s Donuts, TTU sports, and nearby family. The Sheumaker children were homeschooled until NCA opened in the fall of 2020. Two of her children have graduated NCA and are now attending university. Annabel (12th), Lucy (9th), and Micah (6th). The Sheumaker family attends Oaks Church in Cookeville. They enjoy playing and watching sports, traipsing through the woods, backyard fires, road trips, good books, friends & family,  and are usually up for a feisty game of driveway pickleball. 

7th-8th Bible & H.S. Apologetics

Bryan Vaughn is entering his first year as a middle school teacher in Bible and History at NCA. Bryan graduated from Tennessee Tech with a B.S. in Multidisciplinary Studies in the College of Education, and has done graduate work at Southern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries. He has served in churches and ministry for 30+ years, including five years with his family living out their faith in Central Asia. Bryan Vaughn is entering his fourth year as a teacher at NCA. Mr. Vaughn has served in churches and ministry for 30+ years, including five years with his family living out their faith in Central Asia. In addition to teaching at NCA, along with his family and several close friends, Mr. Vaughn has started a new church family in Cookeville, called Oaks Church, where he serves as the lead Pastor. When he isn’t teaching or working, Mr. Vaughn enjoys spending time laughing and doing life with his wife of 29 years, Meredith (STI Director and nurse at the Cookeville Pregnancy Clinic), and their five kids and three daughters-in-law, and first grandchild, Lucy.  As a family, they love sharing meals around the table, biking, camping, hiking, and backpacking.

5th-8th History

Tracy Roper was born in Columbia, TN.  She now resides in Baxter with her husband Randy, who is a minister, and their two dogs.  She has two sons and five grandchildren. She just retired from the public school system after thirty years of service.  She has been a follower of Christ since 1979.  She enjoys gardening, shopping, and working in her church. She is looking forward to a great year at NCA.

M.S. Language Arts

Amy Norris teaches middle school Language Arts and Literature at New Colossus Academy. She is a graduate of Tennessee Technological University, where she met her husband, Edward. Over the past 20 years, Amy homeschooled her own four children and taught hundreds of students across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and China. When not teaching at NCA, Amy is a curriculum developer, an Executive Function Skills Coach, and online Latin teacher. She attends Covenant Church in Cookeville.

Amy’s favorite hobby is teaching, and she believes passionately in the power of language for creation, communication, and cognitive development. She is honored to work at NCA alongside a truly remarkable team of educators and friends.

STEM Instructor

 As a Cookeville native, I graduated from TTU in 2004 with a BS in Child and Family Studies - Child Development Family Relations. My past employment has primarily focused on working with disadvantaged youth, mental health case management, children’s ministry, and teaching. This is my second year teaching middle school at NCA. My favorite pastimes are reading, creative writing, and spending time with family and friends. I homeschooled my 3 children for 10 years before joining the NCA family last year. My husband, Matt, and I have been married for 20 years, and we have 3 children (Noble age 8, Fisher age 14, and Addison age 16). I firmly believe that writing is simply talking on paper, and if you do not like reading, it is only because you have not found the right book yet. A personal goal of mine is to help unlock and cultivate the inner resident writer and reader within each student. I am looking forward to working with you and your student in the year to come.

3rd-5th Grade ELA and High School Health

Jennifer was born and raised in Cookeville, Tennessee and continues to make her home here with her husband Marti and 4 children (McKenzie, Greyson, Nora Kate and Emmie Jane). Marti and Jennifer enjoy supporting their children in all their activities which include dance and baseball, and the entire family loves traveling to Disney World as much as they possibly can! They worship with the Collegeside Church of Christ family and are very involved with their church family.

Jennifer attended Tennessee Tech University where she completed prerequisite work for pharmacy school. She and Marti then moved to Memphis where Jennifer attended and graduated from The University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Pharmacy with her Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After graduating, she completed a Post Graduate Year 1 Residency at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis; while there, she received a teaching certificate (and later taught at Tennessee Tech University in the Sociology Department).  After residency, Marti and Jennifer moved back to Cookeville.

Jennifer worked in pharmacy for 15 years and continues to work part time at CRMC. During her time as a pharmacist, God continuously placed on her heart to be at home with her children. Slowly over time, she began pulling away from pharmacy and spending more time with her family. The Neills finally joined the NCA Family in 2024 and have been so blessed by this community! Jennifer began teaching Language Arts and Literature in 2025 in both the elementary and middle school departments, and she has loved every minute of it! One of her favorite parts of working at NCA is starting each school day with her colleagues praying over our students and our school.

Middle School Math

Zoe Forsythe was born and raised in Sparta, Tennessee, and she continues to make her home there with her husband and two children. She and her family enjoy the outdoors and caring for their small farm, and sharing outdoor activities with her children.

Zoe earned a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Middle Grades Mathematics (grades 5–8) from Tennessee Tech University. She went on to complete a Master’s degree in Leadership and Curriculum from Liberty University. Her classroom experience includes teaching grades 5 through 8, with the majority of her career focused in fifth- and sixth-grade classrooms. Over the years she has strived to build students' strong math foundations using hands-on learning and real-world problem solving.

Teaching is both Zoe’s profession and she fully believes it to be her calling; she values the chance to guide young learners in knowledge and in faith. Because she also values her role as a mother, she was especially grateful when an opportunity arose to teach at a Christian school that her children could attend. She credits her faith with guiding her work and providing deep personal and professional fulfillment.

7th-8th Science & Biology

Ashley Peterman is excited to be joining NCA this year after a hiatus away from public education. She received a bachelor's degree in Biology and her teaching license from MTSU. Ashley became a teacher with the hope of sharing that science and faith can be woven together to help us know our Creator. In the classroom she values curiosity, mistakes, and a dash of fun to foster understanding and growth in her students.

She moved to Sparta in 2021 with her husband David to continue homesteading on a larger scale than the postage stamp of a yard they started on in Murfreesboro. In their free time they enjoy hiking, board games, DnD, traveling, and trying new recipes. Her and her husband serve together on the tech team at The Forge in Sparta. Ashley also serves as the state director for Science Olympiad and is a dance cardio instructor for REFIT.

H.S. History

Bryan Knowles graduated magna cum laude from Bryan College in 2020 with a B.A. in history and a concentration in politics and government. Mr. Knowles was homeschooled from K-12 and graduated from Daniel 1 Academy, where he met his wife through the high school basketball program. They were married in 2021 and live in Sparta with their son. They are expecting a girl in January. This is Mr. Knowles’ fifth year with NCA. He enjoys coffee, outdoor activities, traveling with his wife and son, and reading books.

H.S. Spanish

Lidia Whitted is a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala who grew up in NY. She has always been fascinated by the power of language and its ability to connect with people. This fascination led her to pursue a master’s degree in Communication Disorders, becoming a board-certified Speech Language Pathologist. It will be an honor for her to be teaching such a beautiful language in the most natural and nurturing approach through immersion and interactive activities. 

M.S. Science/H.S. Physical Science & Chemistry/H.S. Dept. Head

Kim Thorpe brings 17 years of teaching experience to New Colossus Academy, where she is in her second year teaching middle school science and high school physical science and chemistry. Her career includes 11 years in public school classrooms, 6 years teaching in a homeschool co-op, and now investing her talents in NCA’s hybrid model. She holds a degree in Secondary Education—Chemistry from Tennessee Tech University and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.

Kim has a deep passion for science and for helping students see it as man’s explanation of God’s creation. She loves guiding them to discover the beauty of the world through the lens of God’s glory, with each lesson pointing back to the Creator’s handiwork.

Outside the classroom, Kim is a wife to Jimmy and mom to Ruthie (8th grade) and Joah (4th grade). Her family has been part of NCA for four years, enjoying the flexibility and balance the hybrid approach provides. She also serves part-time as an administrator at Oaks Church, enjoys coffee and pizza, and can often be found relaxing with a good TV series to binge-watch.

High School Literature

Heather Anderson is excited to join the New Colossus Academy high school staff this year, teaching high school literature. She believes words are important—after all, God spoke the world into existence and chose to reveal Himself through the written Word. Because of this, she is passionate about helping students engage with literature thoughtfully and purposefully. Her classes center on rich discussion, critical reading, and writing that challenges students to think deeply about different times, cultures, and ideas while applying a biblical worldview.

Heather is a 2007 graduate of The University of Tennessee. She has been married for nearly twenty years and is raising three kids. She loves travel planning, trying new restaurants, reading for fun, and catching up with friends over coffee—preferably paired with chocolate.

High School Math

Lucas Brown is entering into his first year as NCA’s high school math teacher. He hails from his hometown of Gainesboro, Tennessee, where he lives on a farm with his wife, Katie, and their two daughters. Lucas was homeschooled K-12. After graduating high school, he attended Tennessee Tech University (Cookeville, TN) and graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from the College of Business in 2012. He has worked in both governmental and corporate tax accounting ever since, and currently works for the State of Tennessee. 

Outside of taxes and math (everyone’s favorite subjects), Lucas is also the primary preaching/teaching Pastor of Gainesboro Community Church (Gainesboro, TN). He is working toward completion of his Certificate in Scripture from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL) this summer, and anticipates graduating in August 2026. 

Lucas also works on the aforementioned farm raising pigs and chickens with his family, the meat from which they sell in various local grocery stores and at the farmers market on weekends. In his spare time, Lucas enjoys playing music, reading, writing, board games, camping, and watching movies - preferably all with his family.