Naperville Christian Academy

Faculty

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

2022-2023 Grammar School Faculty  
Rachel Culver  is our Preschool Teacher. She studied Elementary Education at Pensacola Christian College and Early Childhood Development at College of DuPage. Mrs. Culver, her husband and two children live in Warrenville and attend Wheaton Bible Church. She enjoys serving in children’s ministry, spending time with family, bike riding, playing board games and relaxing at the pool or beach.
Gloria Goon TEACHES KINDERGARTEN. SHE GRADUATED FROM WHEATON COLLEGE WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. GLORIA EARNED HER MASTER’S IN EDUCATION WITH AN EMPHASIS ON CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION FROM CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY. SHE PREVIOUSLY TAUGHT FOR 20 YEARS AND THEN DIRECTED CHILDREN’S MINISTRY FOR ALMOST 15 YEARS. GLORIA AND HER HUSBAND NATE HAVE TWO CHILDREN IN COLLEGE AND THEY ATTEND COMPASS CHURCH IN NAPERVILLE. SHE ENJOYS SINGING, SCRAPBOOKING, AND KNITTING.
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.
Kyra Wolfe teaches the 2nd grade class. She recently graduated from Olivet Nazarene University with degrees in Early Childhood Education and English. Mrs. Wolfe and her husband, Joshua, attend Soul City Church in the West Loop of Chicago. Outside of teaching, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops, music, reading, writing, and creative projects.
Ruthie Planamenta teaches the 3rd grade class. She graduated from Wheaton College with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She has previously taught English as a Second Language in the public school system. Ruthie and her husband Max attend Hope Fellowship Church in Lombard. Ruthie loves to read, complete jigsaw puzzles, visit family and friends, and run half marathons. .
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 Grammar School 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 Covenant Church in Orland Park.
Honey Lee is our 5th Grade teacher. She graduated from University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with an Elementary Education degree. After teaching in Wisconsin for 4 years, Mrs. Lee and her family moved to Aurora. She enjoys art, playing board games, fishing and spending time with family.

Upper School Faculty

2022-2023 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 is the Rhetoric School Lead Teacher, Mr. Jacob’s is also our Interim Student Dean and 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.
Ron Haydon is our Upper School Bible Teacher and Chaplain. Ron earned a BA in Bible and Theology from Shasta Bible College, as well as an MA in Biblical Exegesis and an MA in Historical and Systematic Theology from Wheaton College Graduate School. He also holds a PhD in Old Testament and Semitic Languages from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.  From 2013–2022, he taught biblical studies and Hebrew at Wheaton College. He enjoys playing board games with his wife Julie and son Graham, who attends NCA, and is a student at B1 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy in Naperville.
Stevie Melter teaches Rhetoric School Humanities.  He is the first NCA graduate to return to teach at his 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  Head of Humanities, 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 graduated from Loyola University Chicago with degrees in Ancient Greek and Classical Civilizations and minors in Anthropology, Latin, and Philosophy. She recently completed 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.
Alicia Garavaglia teaches Upper School Math and Latin and joined NCA in 2021. She has a master’s degree in education and taught bilingual education in a Chicago Public School and taught at an international school in Bolivia. She left teaching to serve as a missionary in Bolivia and later in the Netherlands. She loves to spend time with her family and loves experiencing the diversity of God’s wonderful creation through travel. Her family recently moved back from the Netherlands and her two children attend NCA..

Additional Faculty

Melissa Anderson, our music teacher, 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 holds a M.A. in K-12 Visual Art Instruction and a B.A. in Graphic Design from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Jamie enjoys guiding students to delight in God’s creation through their study of the visual arts. 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 is a parishioner of St. Daniel the Prophet Catholic Church, where she serves on the Parish Council and sings in the choir. 
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, 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.  
Jacqui Michel Is our Assistant Student Support Teacher. Miss Michel graduated from Moody Bible Institute with her BA in Children’s Ministry and is a part of Mission Church Montgomery. She was thrilled to join the NCA community in 2022 as she loves to walk alongside students in becoming life-long learners and followers of Jesus. Miss Michel enjoys spending time with God and friends, dancing, playing guitar, and teaching with Christian Youth Theater. 
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.
Lauren DeJong trains and mentors other faculty and aids in our curriculum development. She 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.