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 Naperville Christian Academy, 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.

Linda Dukes is our Preschool Aide.  She joined the staff of Naperville Christian Academy in 2015.  She has worked with children and youth in school and church settings for the past 20 years as well as raising her own family of 7 children.  Ms. Linda attends the Wheaton Christian Center where she has worked with the youth ministry and the Singles Preparing for Marriage ministry.

Jill Duvall is our Kindergarten teacher.  Mrs. Duvall earned her BS from Wheaton College and her MAT from National Louis University. Mrs. Duvall Joined the staff of NCA in 2013.  Previously, she was the area coordinator and an active volunteer at Christian Youth Theatre (now Spotlight) and worked with the youth at Wheaton Bible Church and Harvest Bible Chapel.  Mrs. Duvall is the mother of 2 daughters, a one of whom also teaches at a classical school, and is a proud new grandmother.

Danielle Walker teaches the 1st grade class and joined the NCA faculty in 2012.  Ms. Walker earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from Moody Bible Institute and her M.A. in Teaching from Trinity International University.  She researched the effects of nutrition on student behavior for her Capstone Project.  Ms. Walker is a member of Church of the Resurrection in Wheaton, where she sings in the choir.

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.

Lisa Wiersema teaches our 3rd grade class.  Mrs. Wiersema has a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature and Christian Education from Wheaton College.  She classically home schooled her three sons for eight years prior to joining the NCA faculty in 2009.  Lisa and her family attend Redeemer Community Church in Oswego.

Carrie Wentworth teaches 4th grade and is new to NCA this fall.  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 is new to NCA this fall.  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 attend First Baptist Church in Wheaton.

Adam Bloom teaches Upper School Humanities, Bible, Latin and Logic classes.  Mr. Bloom has a Bachelor’s Degree in Christian Thought from Grove City College and a Master’s Degree in Historical and Systematic Theology from Wheaton College.  Mr. Bloom served as an Editorial Assistant with Crossway Books prior to joining Naperville Christian Academy in 2008.

Margie Damon is our new Latin and Greek teacher.  She graduated from Wheaton College with a double major in Ancient Languages and Business/Economics.  She has experience teaching and tutoring in classical Latin.  Miss Damon attends Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows.

Scott Hermann teaches Upper School Humanities and Math classes.  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 joined Naperville Christian Academy in 2008.

Josh Jacobs 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 and researching 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.

Adam Stevenson is our upper school principal and AP Coordinator.  He also teaches upper school Humanities, Bible, Latin, and Greek.  Adam is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, where he earned a B.A. in Biblical Languages, and Wheaton College, where he earned M.A.s in Historical & Systematic Theology and Biblical Exegesis.  He has also done additional graduate work at Marquette University.  Mr. Stevenson is married to Tamara, and they spend most of their time with their three kids Della, Macrina, and Benedict.  His hobbies include reading, hiking, reading, roasting coffee, reading, and soccer.

 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.

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, all of whom attend NCA.

Janice Wood is our Art teacher.  Mrs. Wood has a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising Design and Illustration from the Art Center College of Design.  With over 25 years of experience as an illustrator, designer, and fine artist, she has illustrated numerous children’s books, magazines, and educational products, and has taught art at the College of DuPage.  Mrs. Wood joined Naperville Christian Academy in 2009. Click here to view her artwork on her personal website.