FACULTY, STAFF & EMPLOYMENT

jacob abbatacola

Mr. Abbatacola earned his bachelor's degree in Education from Arizona Christian University and his Master's in Education from Arizona State University. After teaching for eight years in public education, he decided to move into Classical Christian education. He and his wife, Allie, both originally from the Midwest, got married and started their family, which includes 4 children, in Arizona before making their way to Highland Rim Academy and the Cookeville area. As a family, they enjoy spending time outside, running around, seeing new places, and learning new things . Mr. Abbatacola's goal in education is to see young people come to know, love, and enjoy God through Jesus Christ, and he is excited to begin working towards that at Highland Rim.

HANNAH ALANIZ

Mrs. Alaniz holds a B.A. in International Relations and Spanish from Samford University and has years of experience as a Spanish teacher and tutor.  She has successfully completed a teacher training course with seminars specific to 3rd grade through Rockbridge Academy, a flagship classical Christian school in Maryland. Before joining the faculty at HRA, Mrs. Alaniz became familiar with our classrooms as a long-term substitute teacher. She and her husband have two children.

SARAYA ANDERSON

Mrs. Anderson graduated from Boyce College in Louisville, KY, with an Associates in Biblical and Theological Studies.  She and her husband, Kyle, have been serving in music ministry for over 10 years, and they have two children.  Mrs. Anderson enjoys reading, crafts, and music.  

Lexie Ayers

Mrs. Ayers holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with a Concentration in History from Ambrose University located in Alberta, Canada. As any true Canadian, she enjoys winter sports but is adjusting to the great outdoor activities Tennessee has to offer. Mrs. Ayers loves to read, hike, and eat great food with her husband. She has a deep love for Jesus and hopes to exude excellence and grace in daily life.

KIM BARNHART

A Cookeville native, Mrs. Barnhart holds a B.S. in Elementary Education (K-8) from TTU.  She taught in the public school system for 15 years before taking a few years off.  She joined the HRA faculty in the fall of 2017 as a first grade teacher.  Mrs. Barnhart has 3 girls, all of whom attend HRA.  Her husband, Ryan, is the Pastor of Post Oak Presbyterian Church.

Rebekah Beard

Mrs. Beard graduated from TTU in 2007 with a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Microbiology. She continued her education to earn a Master of Arts degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2009. Mrs. Beard taught in public schools in Shelbyville, TN prior to staying home to raise her two sons. Mrs. Beard and her husband, Matt, attend Stevens St Baptist Church with their sons who both attend HRA. She will be teaching science in grades 5 and 6.

MIKE CARMEN

Mr. Carmen has been an associate minister in the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ for twenty-one years with ministries in Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee. He graduated from the Cincinnati Christian University in 1995 with a B.S. degree in Biblical Studies (emphasis Psychology) and in 1999 with a M.A. degree in Biblical Studies (emphasis Old Testament). In 2012 he graduated from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary with an M.Div. in Professional Ministry. Over the years teaching opportunities in private schools and churches have afforded him the privilege of explaining, applying, and affirming the Bible’s teachings through a deeper understanding of theology, history, and apologetics. His wife, Sondra, is a Park Ranger for the Army Corps of Engineers. Together they enjoy traveling and sightseeing, exercise, their church, and just being together.

CHERYL CLICK

Mrs. Click holds an MA in Theatre Studies from Regent University and a BA in Theatre from UT Knoxville. After a brief period of time in the professional theatre she gave her life to Christ Jesus and focused on missions and theatre ministry. Mrs. Click directs the Theatre students at HRA. She and her family attend The River Community Church.

sarah cobb

Mrs. Cobb will be serving as our new secretary.  We are excited for all of you to meet her.  She was raised in Sparta. Her parents own the Warrior Skate Center, so this is she spent most of her weekends growing up. She and her husband, Charles, got married in May 2018 and just bought their first home in Overton County. They have an Australian Shepard, Blu, who is four years old. Mrs. Cobb graduated from Tennessee Tech University in May 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and a minor in psychology. She and her husband currently attend Poplar Grove, and she is excited for this school year!

DARRIN CROCKETT

Mr. Crockett holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing from Tennessee Tech University and has over two decades of administrative and educational experience from his time serving as a pastor in multiple local church bodies. Before committing to full-time ministry, he worked in sales and marketing for a number of years and also served as an HRA board member during the school’s early years. He has 3 daughters and his wife, Jenny, is also a teacher and Director of Admissions for the school.

JENNY CROCKETT

Mrs. Crockett graduated from TTU with a Master’s in Business Administration. She also has a B.S. in Environmental Science from TTU. Following the completion of her college education, she began work in the marketing department at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. During her career at CRMC, she served in multiple positions from Marketing Coordinator to Community Wellness Manager to Physician Marketing. She left CRMC to stay at home with her three daughters.  When God opened the door for her to be a part of Highland Rim Academy, she gladly walked through it. In addition to serving as the school’s Admissions Director, she teaches Upper School PE, Earth Science and Economics.  Mrs. Crockett is married to Darrin Crockett, Associate Pastor of VineBranch Community Church and our Upper School Department Head.

Joe davis

Mr. Davis teaches Latin and Omnibus in our Upper School.  Born and raised in New Jersey, Mr. Davis moved to Tennessee eight years ago. Being both a home-schooled child and a pastor's kid, he had what one might call a unique upbringing. He has always had a passion for reading, especially Tolkien, and so naturally he went to school to be a high school English teacher. He graduated cum laude from Cookeville's own Tennessee Tech University and spent three years teaching in the public school system before coming to HRA. He and his wife Madison have two children.

Ashonda Deason

Mrs. Deason has a degree in Business Management from TTU. Her professional background is mainly in the banking industry. She and her husband Daniel have two children. Mrs. Deason left the business world for a time to stay home with her children, and she has cherished that time. When an opportunity came to serve on the HRA staff, she was glad to join the team!

John Michael Donnell

Mr. Donnell has a Bachelor's Degree from Tennessee Tech in Business Management and a Minor in social science, and he is currently working on a Master's of Divinity at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Preaching and Pastoral Care. Mr. Donnell has served as a youth pastor for the last 2 years, and he and his wife, Hannah, have a son. Mr. Donnell is passionate about sports, learning and family. He is excited to be a part of the HRA faculty!

NICK DUNCAN

Mr. Duncan holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Tennessee Tech University and a Master’s degree in Classical Christian Studies from New Saint Andrews College. He has been at HRA for over a decade, first as a teacher and now as head of school. Mr. Duncan has taught Great Books, Logic, American Studies, and more. He is thankful to be a part of a school where the Lordship of Christ is proclaimed, and the liberal arts cultivate wisdom and virtue in students. He and his wife Stacey have three sons, and they are members of Grace Presbyterian Church in Cookeville.

ELIZABETH FIKES

Mrs. Fikes holds a Bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, a law degree from the UT College of Law, and a Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She practiced law in Murfreesboro for a few years before moving to Cookeville. During her time in seminary, Mrs. Fikes focused her elective study on biblical counseling, and she has completed 30 hours of training courses with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC). She and her family attend Poplar Grove Baptist Church, where she helps with the Grove Women's Ministry. She enjoys reading, studying theology and literature, and discipling younger women in the faith. She and her husband Ben have four children, all of whom are students at HRA. Mrs. Fikes teaches upper school humanities courses.

DR. BARBARA GANNOD

Dr. Gannod completed her undergraduate education at Calvin College, earning B.S. degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science as well as Secondary Education certification. She also earned her M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Computer Science from Michigan State University. After working as a university professor at Arizona State University for nearly a decade, God called her to stay home with her children and focus on their development and education. Her family moved to Ohio in 2006, and she began homeschooling her three, and eventually five children. While in Ohio she was an active part of a homeschool co-op, where she taught a variety of ages and subjects and served on the administrative team for the co-op. In 2016, Dr. Gannod’s family relocated to Cookeville, and they became a part of the HRA family. Dr. Gannod enjoys sharing her passion for the study of mathematics with students. When she’s not pondering infinity or wondering what God’s favorite number is (3, 7, 12, 40, (1 + √5)/2 -- the possibilities are endless!), she enjoys doing Taekwondo. Currently, she is a 3rd degree black belt.

TERRY GANT III

Mr. Gant is a graduate of Tennessee Tech (2012) and the University of Tennessee (2008). He has been a police officer, small business owner, HRA board member, and teacher. He is married to Ali and has three children. He is a member of Midway Baptist Church and teaches adult Sunday school. Mr. Gant does double duty at HRA as the program administrator for Daniel 1 Academy and serves on the upper school faculty. He is an editor for American Reformer, an online Christian journal and has written professionally for the ministry End Abortion Now. Mr. Gant is fond of weight lifting and coaching and volunteers as the strength coach at HRA.

callie herman

Mrs. Herman received a B.M. in Performance and Pedagogy from Tennessee Technological University in 2008 where she performed with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra on oboe and English horn. She went on to receive her M.M. in Performance and Pedagogy from University of Tennessee Knoxville in 2010 where she performed with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra on oboe and premiered as a soloist with the Maryville Orchestra. In 2005 she was the first violin instructor for the opening of Stevens Street Baptist Church School of Performing Arts and is currently still teaching there today. Nowadays you will find Mrs. Herman performing throughout Tennessee in various churches, special events, and schools on oboe, violin, and cello. She is elated to join the HRA faculty and very much looking forward to praising the Lord through music. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, reading, and needle arts.

Christy Huff

Mrs. Huff, a Cookeville native, holds a Bachelors of Science from Tennessee Tech University in Education Multidisciplinary Studies (1-8). After graduating, she moved with her husband Donnie to Memphis. During that time she taught for 8 years in both inner city and county schools. She had always planned to stay home full time once her first child was born and has been able to pursue that chosen profession for 13 years. Mrs. Huff has loved the many opportunities being a homemaker has allowed her to have from raising her family on their farm in Rickman to a variety of volunteer work. She has especially enjoyed her time at HRA as a volunteer since her two children started attending HRA in Kindergarten. Mrs. Huff looks forward to the many ways in which she will continue to serve as a member of the staff.

haven james

Mrs. James, HRA Class of 2016, teaches various subjects for grades 5-6.  We are very excited to see a former student back in the classroom....this time as a teacher!  Mrs. James completed her education at Tennessee Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in May of 2020.  She has worked in childcare for the Putnam County School System for the last 3 years with grades Pre-K through 8th, and she did her residency at Burks Elementary School.  Mrs. James has a love for classical Christian education and for HRA because of the impact they have had on her life.  She and her husband Eric reside here in Cookeville and have two children.

KATHY LANGENBERG

Dr. Langenberg received her undergraduate degree in Genetics and Cell Biology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She then completed her Doctor of Medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, followed by a residency specializing in Pediatrics at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital and St. Jude. She worked as a pediatrician in Memphis and the Upper Cumberlands before God called out of medicine to care for her five children. As an Upper School science teacher, Dr. Langenberg strives for students to marvel at God and His amazing creation, from the vastness of the universe to the smallness of an electron. She makes her home in Overton County with her husband, Mark, five daughters, and an assortment of animals.

TIFFANY LESKO

Mrs. Lesko graduated from Tennessee Tech in May 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree with an emphasis in Elementary Education K-6. She currently teaches 4th grade.  Mrs. Lesko and her family attend Life Church, where she is a connect group leader for 7th grade girls on Wednesday nights and 8th grade girls on Sunday mornings. Her husband also serves as a connect group leader. She loves to spend time with her family. She has two sons, both graduates of HRA.

MEGAN MARSH

Mrs. Marsh graduated from Truett-Mcconnell College in 2011 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She previously taught fourth grade in Fort Worth, Texas. She and her husband Jared have three children.  They enjoy outdoor sports, travel, and books.

SAMANTHA NEAL

Samantha Neal graduated Tennessee Tech in 2001 with a B.S. degree in Animal Science.  Her husband, Ronnie, owns AllState Drywall and is an ordained pastor. They have three children all of whom have attended Highland Rim Academy since Kindergarten. Mrs. Neal is a tremendous help to all of our teachers here at HRA, and she makes it possible for so many classrooms to run more efficiently. Her position has since expanded to curriculum manager.

CASEY OVERSTREET

Mrs. Overstreet has been an HRA parent since 2013, when the oldest of her four children began Kindergarten here.  She is a Cookeville native with a BS in Business Administration from TTU.  She has a passion to see the vision of the school thrive in the community she loves and calls home. Her husband TJ serves as the Executive Pastor of The River Community Church in Cookeville.  

Casey's fundraising experience includes serving as chairperson for a number of committees and events: Cooking on the Square, Heart of the City Playground Public Relations, and CCM's Gangster Gala and Invention Convention. She has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Upper Cumberland Habitat for Humanity and the Hope Center. In addition to her community service, she is also self-employed as a Fitness & Nutrition Accountability Coach.

PAULA PARDUE

Paula Pardue teaches visual arts for Primary through Upper school. She attended Watkins Fine Arts College and graduated with a certificate in metals from TTU Appalachian Center for Crafts. She is thankful for the opportunity to share her love of art with the students at HRA. She and her husband Bill have three adult children. They are active members of Christ's Community Church where she has been teaching Sunday school for many years.

LAURIE PUTMAN

Mrs. Putman graduated from Lipscomb University with a BA in English, and she holds a teaching certificate from TSU.  She come to HRA with a great deal of teaching experience.  Prior to moving to Sparta, TN, she taught in the Preschool Department and in the 5th grade at Goodpasture Christian in Nashville, TN.  Mrs. Putman also served as the Preschool Director and Pre-K teacher at First Steps Preschool in Sparta for 15 years.  She also taught the 2-year-old class at the Jefferson Avenue Mother's Day Out program for 7 years.  Mrs. Putman and her husband, Tony, have twin daughters who live and work in Nashville.

Catherine sharpe

Mrs. Sharpe moved to Cookeville in 2019 with her husband Andrew and their five children, three of whom attend HRA. Mrs. Sharpe holds degrees in history and philosophy, and she previously worked as an upper school humanities teacher at a classical homeschool tutorial in Memphis. She enjoys running, reading books aloud with her children, and singing old hymns. The Sharpe family are members of Grace Presbyterian Church. 

Sara Smith

Born and raised in Tennessee, Mrs. Smith attended Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee before moving to the Upper Cumberland area and attending public school in Putnam County. She attended Trevecca Nazarene University where she majored in Biology and received her Bachelor’s of Science degree. She then went on to receive her Doctorate of Pharmacy at Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy. After over a decade of working in the pharmacy industry, she has decided to hang up her white coat and join students in the classroom. She currently resides in Overton County with her husband and four children, two of whom currently attend HRA. She is an active member of Harris Chapel Freewill Baptist Church.

JAMIE SULLIVAN

Mrs. Sullivan is a licensed teacher who is highly qualified to teach grades K-8.  She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from TTU in 2002.  She taught 3rd grade for 6 years in the White County Public Schools before joining the HRA faculty.  Mrs. Sullivan is married to John since 2001 and they have one son who has attended HRA since Kindergarten.  

alyssa tedford

Mrs. Tedford graduated summa cum laude with a BA in Biology from Taylor University and attended medical school at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. She met her husband, Mark, in medical school, and they eventually realized that prioritizing their marriage and family life with both of them working as physicians would be incredibly difficult. As her husband had already graduated when they reached that conclusion, Mrs. Tedford decided to withdraw from medical school during her third year. She worked briefly as a substitute teacher and tutor before becoming a mother, and has spent most of the last decade at home with her three children. Mrs. Tedford has been a substitute teacher at HRA for the past year and is excited to join the faculty to teach upper school science. A former collegiate cross country and track and field athlete, she is still an avid runner and also enjoys gardening and homesteading.

Steve Thomas

Steven Crawford Thomas is a Nashville-based entertainer: a singer, songwriter, arranger, and producer. Steve is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, proficient on fiddle, guitar, and mandolin, as well as bass and banjo. Steve started his professional career in 1982 playing the fiddle for Del McCoury; over the next three decades, he worked with a “who’s who” of Nashville’s greats. Here’s the short list: The Osborne Brothers, Jim and Jesse, The Whites, Aaron Tippin, Barbara Mandrell, Kenny Chesney, Brooks and Dunn, John Michael Montgomery, Montgomery Gentry, Lee Ann Womack, and Lorrie Morgan. In 1985, as a member of The Whites, – along with bandmates Jerry Douglas and Neil Worf – Steve received nominations for Vocal and Instrumental Group of the Year by the Country Music Association. Along with his band the Time Machine, Steve is now producing his own new blend of traditional bluegrass, country, and blues – a fresh offering built on forty years of experience.

ALEXIS TOUSSAINT

Mrs. Toussaint graduated from TTU with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in history. She has been teaching at Highland Rim since 2012. Alexis brings a lifelong love for history, art, and literature to her Great Books classes. She and her husband, Joseph, have three children and live in Cookeville.

CHRISSY WERRIES 

Mrs. Werries has her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education with minors in History Education and Bible. After teaching in Florida for three years, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she furthered her passion for education by working for a Congressman on education issues. This led to her next position, which returned her to the teaching field, instructing Congressional staff at the House Learning Center. After taking time off to stay home after the birth of her children, she has returned to the classroom teaching Mathematics, American History, Computer, and Latin.

Michelle Whiteaker

Michelle earned her BS in business administration from Tennessee Tech University and began her career in the financial services industry in 1995. She is not only the HRA bookkeeper, but is also a financial advisor at MapleCross Wealth Management. Outside of work she sings in the choir at her church, participates in Habitat for Humanity’s Cooking on the Square, and volunteers her time for various local missions. Michelle is a graduate of Leadership Putnam, Cookeville Citizens Police Academy, and Cookeville Citizens Fire Academy, and she has served on the Friends of Genesis House board. In her spare time, Michelle is an avid bookworm, and she loves to travel. Some of her favorite destinations are Jordan, Scotland, and Spain. She and her husband, Tony, have a daughter.

ANGELA WILLIS

Mrs. Willis graduated from Berry College in 1997 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She went on to get her Master’s Degree from Lincoln Memorial University. She is married to Chris Willis and has three children. She enjoys reading and a variety of sports and games.

shelly wills

A graduate of Gordonsville High School, Mrs. Wills went on to earn a Bachelor of Science of Agriculture with a specialization in Nursery and Landscape Management and a minor in Business from Tennessee Tech.  From there, she joined her husband, Charlie, in the day to day operation of Wills Performance Horses as a horse trainer and business owner. They spent time living in Oklahoma and West Virginia before settling back in Tennessee, where Mrs. Wills worked as general manager of a garden center in Franklin until the birth of her first child.  She home-schooled her two children until the family decided to come to HRA.  Shelly and her family reside in Baxter. 

CHRISTIE WRIGHT

Mrs. Wright serves as the Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean for grades K-12.  She also teaches various classes in literature, history, theology, rhetoric, and Senior thesis.  She holds a BA in English Literature from UT Knoxville with a minor in Elementary Education and an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from TTU.  Mrs. Wright has enjoyed serving families and faculty at HRA since the founding in 2007.  She makes her home with her husband Jeff and their six children in the scenic outskirts of White Co.

Marissa young

Mrs. Young received her BA in Education from Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN. She has been an educator since 2007. She took a few years off to raise her growing family and has been in public education for the majority of her career. Mrs. Young lives in beautiful Smith Co with her husband, Chris, and their three young children. Her husband is the bi-vocational pastor at Whorton Springs Baptist Church.  She loves spending time on the Caney Fork River near her home, finding new recipes and then promptly failing at them , iced coffee in any season, and being together with her family.