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.
Because education is a deeply formational human endeavor, Naperville Christian Academy believes students should learn from people rather than technology. NCA hires and develops only the best teachers who love and shepherd their students, demonstrate a gift for teaching and mastery of the subjects they teach, exude a passion for learning, and embrace classical educational philosophy. Above all else, NCA teachers must actively pursue their personal relationship with the Lord and be Christ-like models for their students. Lessons flourish through guided discovery and discussion as students are led to participate in the Great Conversation, pondering and exploring the essential questions of life under the tutelage of teachers who are, themselves, life-long learners.
Grammar School Faculty
Sumi Arun teaches Preschool. Ms. Sumi completed her Montessori training from the MECA Seton Montessori Institute 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.
Kumi Rannin is our Preschool aide. She has a Japanese Kindergarten license and worked as a social worker in Japan for 10 years. She also worked as the personal secretary for the Chancellor of Ibaraki Christian University. Mrs. Rannin is a hula dancing instructor. Her and her husband have two children attending NCA and they attend the Naperville Church of Christ.
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 who attend 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 earned her Masters in Education with an emphasis on Curriculum and Instruction from Covenant College in 2021. Lauren is also a certified tennis professional. She and her husband, Nick, along with their son, Luke, attend Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wheaton.
Alicia Garavaglia teaches third grade and joined NCA in 2021. She has a master’s degree in education, taught bilingual education in a Chicago Public School and taught at an international school in Bolivia. She has returned to teaching after serving as a missionary in Bolivia and the Netherlands. She loves to spend time with her family and experience the diversity of God’s wonderful creation through travel. Her family recently moved back from the Netherlands and her two children attend NCA.
Heather MacIntyre teaches the 4th grade class. She recently graduated from Vanderbilt University with degrees in elementary education, child studies, and special education. Miss MacIntyre is a proud NCA alumna and is thrilled to be back teaching at the school that formed her as a student. Outside of school, she enjoys dancing, reading, and creative projects.
Tracey Shannon is the 4th grade aide. She and her husband, Luke, have four children at NCA, and Tracey also serves on the Board of Directors as Secretary. They are members of Bethel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Wheaton.
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 daughter that attends NCA and a baby boy. Their family attends Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton.
Ryan Warner Is the Grammar School Aide. Mr. Warner is a graduate of Indiana University with a B.S. in Business and Taylor University, where he earned his MBA. He joined NCA in 2021, after being a stay at home Dad for the previous 6 years. He and His wife, Leda, have 2 children who attend NCA. The Warner family is blessed to attend the Compass Church, where God has allowed them to grow spiritually, serve, and build community.
Upper School Faculty
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 four sons, two of whom attend NCA.
Adam Mearse is our 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.
Rebecca Caithamer-Wietecha teaches Upper School Latin and joined the NCA faculty in 2021. Mrs. C-W recently graduated from Loyola University Chicago with degrees in Ancient Greek and Classical Civilizations and minors in Anthropology, Latin, and Philosophy. She is currently completing her MA in Philosophy at Loyola. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, playing board games, and going on walks with her husband.
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. The Andersons have two NCA graduates – Class of 2018 and Class of 2021.
Jamie Casey teaches art to all grades and assists with NCA’s graphic design and web development. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design and a Masters Degree in K-12 Visual Art Instruction from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Wheaton and enjoy hiking and traveling. Jamie is passionate about the sport of basketball, she has coached multiple levels and played four years in college. She also loves to experiment with all forms of art, photography, and grew up performing in musicals and singing in choirs.
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.
Jennifer Pablo Mrs. Pablo, student support teacher, brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and an endorsement in English as a Second Language. What she loves most about the classical Christian model is the integration of all subjects to bring glory to God. In accepting God’s call to shepherd the students at NCA, it is her passion to make this formative education available to all students, regardless of their learning needs. Mrs. Pablo and her husband, Eric, have two children who attend NCA. They attend the Compass Church.
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.
Katie Gallagher is our Librarian. Mrs Gallagher and her husband have two children, both of whom attend NCA. Their family attends Church of Christ.
Michael Melter IS OUR TOWERS PROGRAM TEACHER. AN alumni of NCA, MR. MELTER STUDIED AT WHEATON COLLEGE WHERE HE RECEIVED A DOUBLE MAJOR IN PSYCHOLOGY AND BIBLICAL/THEOLOGICAL STUDIES. HE PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS MINISTER OF YOUTH AT CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH. OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL, MR. MELTER ENJOYS CHESS, ANCIENT LITERATURE, AND CARD/BOARD GAMES.