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Meet Our Teachers

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PRE-KINDERGARTEN

ROBBIN DAVIS: Robbin has been teaching Pre-Kindergarten at New Hope Academy since 1997. She attended UT Martin studying Early Childhood Education. She is mother to two sons and two daughters-in-law, and RaRa to two absolutely precious grandsons, Tucker and Brantley.

 

KRISTEN BUTLER:  Kristen has been teaching since 2005, and she is thrilled to join the New Hope family this year. She was raised in Tampa, Florida, and moved to Tennessee in 2005. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Elementary Education. Kristen has also had the opportunity to teach English to students in parts of Europe and Southeast Asia.

 

KINDERGARTEN

TARA BLUE: Tara has taught at New Hope for eight years.  She was born and raised in Danville, Illinois and attended undergrad at Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississppi, where she met her college sweetheart, Kenneth. They have two children,  Kenneth, Jr. (KJ) and Kara.  Tara also has received her Masters of Arts in Education/Curriculum Instruction. 

 

KATIE SCHRODT:  Katie was raised in Dallas, Texas, and moved to Tennessee in July 2009.  She graduated in 2006 from the University of North Texas, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Elementary Education.  Katie has been teaching since 2006, and has been at New Hope Academy since 2009.  In 2005 she married her high school sweetheart, Jacob. 

 

1^st GRADE

LEAHANNE ANDERSON: This is Leahanne’s third year to teach at New Hope Academy. She grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania and attended King's College. After teaching for three years in her hometown, she then taught in Tampa, FL, where she also earned a master's degree in gifted education from the University of South Florida. She and her husband, Matt, have two children, both of whom are students at New Hope.

 

KATIE WALSH: Katie Walsh grew up in Holland, Michigan. She graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English/Elementary Education in 2007. She married her high school sweetheart Tim the week after graduation, and then moved to Tennessee. She is grateful to now have one of her three sisters and parents here in Tennessee with her. She has been working at New Hope Academy since 2008.

 

2^nd GRADE

PATTI KELLY: Patti, a former NHA extended learning teacher, is now on the second grade teaching team! Born in Virginia, Patti studied Elementary Education and Special Education at East Tennessee State University. She has taught gifted education, regular classroom, and special education students in Tennessee since 1988.

 

PAULA MORRISON: Paula grew up a Midwest girl, living in Kansas City, MO and Springfield, IL before her family settled in Chicago, IL. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Judson College in Elgin, IL, a Master’s of Church Music from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and a Master’s in Teaching from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN.  She has also studied vocal performance at The American Conservatory of Music, in Chicago, IL and The University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Canada. Paula has taught 5^th and 3^rd grades since 2005.  She and her wonderful husband, Hamp, have been married 18 years and have two sons who are both New Hope alumni.

 

3^rd GRADE

KATHY PEABODY: Kathy grew up in Nashville and Memphis. She attended the University of Martin and graduated from the University of Memphis in Elementary and Special Education. She has been teaching third grade at New Hope Academy since 1996. She and her husband, Rick, have been married for over 35 years, and she has three children and four grandchildren.

 

EMILY RING: Emily grew up in Alabama. After completing her undergraduate degree at Union University, she stayed in Jackson, Tennessee for a year to teach fourth grade. This is her third year teaching third grade at New Hope Academy.

 

4^th GRADE

GABRIELLE DARNELL: Gabrielle has been teaching fourth grade at New Hope Academy since 2005.  Originally from Virginia, Gabrielle went to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and then to Baltimore to be a part of the Teach for America program.  She taught sixth grade in Baltimore for five years before moving to Nashville.

 

BRIAN GOODWIN: Brian and his family have lived in Tennessee since 1999, and is originally from Maryland. He has been teaching fourth grade at New Hope Academy since 2002. He is married to Jacilyn, also a teacher at New Hope, and they have two beautiful daughters.

 

5^th GRADE

LONNIE COCHRAN: Lonnie has taught fifth grade at New Hope since 2001, and this year she’s teaching both science and humanities. She holds a bachelor’s degree in science and a master’s degree in education from David Lipscomb University in Nashville. She is married to Tim, and they have four children: Samantha, Joshua, Serena, and Skyler.

 

JUSTIN GALLOWAY:  This is Justin’s first year at New Hope where he will be teaching Language Arts and Math. Justin has been teaching since 2007. He studied English Literature and Education at The University of the South, and he will graduate from Lipscomb University with a Master’s of Art in Learning and Teaching in May 2012. Justin has been married to his lovely wife, Megan, since 2007.

 

6^th GRADE

ALICE DIGHTON: Alice was born and raised in Houston, TX.  She has been teaching since 1988, and began her teaching career at New Hope Academy in 2000. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Education from Baylor University and has been married to Craig since 1988.

 

JACILYN GOODWIN: Jacilyn was born and reared in New York City. She attended college in Florida, where she met her husband, Brian.  They have two daughters, who are both alumni of New Hope Academy. She has been teaching since 1995, and has taught at New Hope Academy since 2003. She currently teaches sixth grade math and science but has also enjoyed teaching first and second grades in years past.