At Naperville Christian Academy, we know how important it is that our students sit under godly women and men, Christians who are equipped to model for children what it looks like to live a life following Christ. NCA is blessed to have such a qualified, intelligent, caring group of men and women teaching here and building lasting and impactful mentorships with their students.
Grammar School Faculty
Sumi Arun teaches Preschool as well as the afternoon session of the full day Kindergarten program. Ms. Sumi completed her Montessori training from the MECA Seton Montessori Insitute in 1992 and is AMS certified. She has over 20 years of teaching experience in Montessori schools working with children ages 2 to 6 years. Prior to joining NCA, Sumi began to integrate classical methods into her Montessori class as she prepared Kindergarten students for NCA. Ms. Sumi lives with her daughter and family in Naperville. She attends the Compass Church and is active in the Adult Bible Study Ministry.
Katie Gallagher is our Preschool aide and supervises Preschool aftercare. Mrs Gallagher and her husband have two children, both of whom attend NCA.
Jessie Ray is our Kindergarten teacher. She graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in elementary education and a focus in social sciences. Mrs. Ray has taught in Christian and public schools, both in the classroom and as a reading resource teacher. She and her husband Jon live in Wheaton with their baby girl, Anna, and attend All Souls Anglican Church where Jessie serves in the nursery.
Kristen Sheehan teaches the 1st grade class and joined the NCA faculty in 2018. She graduated from Elmhurst College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Sheehan and her husband, Kevin, have two daughters; the eldest attends NCA. She and her family attend Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton. Mrs. Sheehan enjoys creative projects and spending time outdoors with her family.
Lauren DeJong teaches the 2nd grade class and joined the NCA faculty in 2015. Mrs. DeJong graduated from Grove City College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Elementary Education. She became passionate about the classical education movement after a practicum at a classical school in her sophomore year. Lauren is also a certified tennis professional. She and her husband, Nick, attend Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wheaton.
Ashley Samuel is our second grade aide, who has always been passionate about children. Ashley home-schooled her eldest daughter for preschool and kindergarten, which led to her discovery of Classical Christian Education and months of prayer for NCA during her family’s move from California. Ashley and her family attend Village Bible Church in Sugar Grove, where they live. Ashley holds a degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Mrs. Samuel enjoys reading to her children, traveling, and baking.
Victoria Wondaal is a graduate of Hillsdale College where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in History. At Hillsdale, she greatly enjoyed her concentrations in French and Classical Education which inspired her to spend a semester student teaching at a classical, Christian school. Mrs. Wondall enjoys seeking out the deep connection between faith and learning, and is excited to teach at an institution that puts this mindset at the center of its curriculum and daily activities. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and spending time with friends and family.
Carrie Wentworth teaches 4th grade and joined the NCA faculty in 2016. Originally from New Hampshire, Miss Wentworth comes to us from Bandung, Indonesia where she taught English as a foreign language for the past ten years to elementary, middle school, and university students. She was also active in her church membership, helping with the worship team and discipleship of university students. Before going overseas, Miss Wentworth taught for seven years at a classical Christian school in Virginia.
Jake Roop teaches 5th grade and joined the NCA faculty in 2016. Mr. Roop is a graduate of Wheaton College where he majored in Elementary Education. He is passionate about playing and coaching sports and loves to be active outdoors. Mr. Roop and his wife have a baby girl and attend First Baptist Church in Wheaton.
Upper School Faculty
Xander Condie teaches Upper School Latin. He graduated from Wheaton College with a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies and a minor in music. Mr. Condie has a deep love of musical worship, teaching, and Latin. He is married to Abbie, and attends Church of the Resurrection.
Scott Hermann, Logic School Lead Teacher, teaches Upper School Humanities and Math classes and has been on the NCA faculty since 2008. Mr. Hermann has Bachelor’s Degrees in History and International Relations from Wheaton College and recently completed a Master of Arts in Teaching from Wheaton College. Mr. Hermann also oversees college counseling and coaches various clubs and extra-curricular activities.
Josh Jacobs, Rhetoric School Lead Teacher, teaches Upper School Science and Math. He graduated from Wheaton College with a B.S. in Biology. He came to Naperville Christian Academy in 2010 after working in the field of biology for 2 years at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the Morton Arboretum. He has a deep love for the beauty of the creation and a passion for worship, evangelism, and prayer. He has worked in camps and done evangelism and training with Young Life and Youth With a Mission. Mr. Jacobs lives in Wheaton and attends Church of the Resurrection. He and his wife Katie have three sons, two of whom attend NCA.
Adam Mearse is serving as Interim Upper School Princial in addition to being our Chaplain and Rhetoric School Bible teacher. Adam holds a B.S. in Family Studies and Bible from Oklahoma Christian University. He earned an M.A. in Family Ministry from Oklahoma Christian and an M.A. in Counseling Ministries from Wheaton College. He also holds a Ph.D. in Education from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Dr. Mearse served as Co-Pastor at the Naperville Church of Christ from 2006-2018. He is married to Christina Mearse, NCA’s Office Manager and Accountant. They have three children; two are current NCA students and one is an NCA graduate.
Stevie Melter teaches Rhetoric School Humanities. He is the first NCA graduate to return to teach at high school alma mater. Mr. Melter has a BS from Taylor University in Social Studies Education with concentrations in History, Political Science, Economics, and Psychology, and with a minor in Political Science. He is currently completing his MED in Curriculum and Instruction with a Christian Education concentration at Regent University.
Jacob Vahle teaches Upper School Humanities and joined the NCA faculty in 2017. Mr. Vahle is a graduate of Wheaton College where he majored in History and Secondary Education. He is an avid reader, long-distance runner, and adventurous camper. Mr. Vahle and his wife live in Wheaton and attend Church of the Resurrection.
Dorie Ytterberg teaches Upper School Math. Mrs. Ytterberg joined NCA’s faculty in 2010, having already been a regular substitute with us. She earned her B.A. in Math from DePauw University and her M.A. in Math Education from DePaul University in Chicago. Mrs. Ytterberg and her husband have 4 children and live in Naperville. Mrs. Ytterberg has been active at their church, Naperville Presbyterian, where she has run children’s bible studies, hosted small group, and worked with the youth choir.
Additional Faculty
Melissa Anderson, our music director, began teaching at NCA in 2013 with over 30 years of music training in harp, voice, piano and theater. She studied at the Tanglewood Institute in Lenox, MA and received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University. She has performed with numerous orchestras including the Harvard Radcliffe Orchestra, Boston Civic Symphony, Virginia Symphony and Chicago Classical Symphony. She has been a guest soloist at the Crystal Cathedral in California, the Fringe festival in Edinburgh, Scotland and numerous other venues. She was the harpist at the Drake Hotel in Chicago for 6 years and has spent the last 15 years freelancing and teaching in the Chicago area while raising her 3 children, two of whom attend NCA and one who graduated in 2018.
Anne Murray teaches art for all grades as well as preschool music. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and has been an artist and entrepreneur for 35 years. She and her husband have 4 children and 4 grandchildren, live in North Aurora, and attend St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. She loves to draw, paint, design, create fiber art, sing, play the piano, and share the love of art with others!
Lori Ogulei is our student support teacher. She holds a Masters Degree in Teaching and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Youth Ministry/Sociology, and formerly worked as a Resource Room Teacher in a private Christian School. Mrs. Ogulei also worked as an Elementary Coordinator at The Compass Church, where her family attends, and has written Children’s Ministry curriculum for two local churches. She is passionate about providing individualized and small group instruction to help students grow toward all that God has created them to be. The Oguleis have three children, who attend NCA.
Stephanie Veague is our PE teacher. Mrs. Veague has a Bachelor’s Degree from Northern Michigan University and worked for twelve years as a school Administrative Assistant. Outside of NCA she teaches ice skating and competes in an adult hockey league. She and her husband Mike have four children, two of whom graduated from NCA.