Meet Our Teachers

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.
 
ALICE DIGHTON: This is Alice’s eighth year at New Hope Academy and her twentieth year in teaching. She has a B.S. and M.S. in Education from Baylor University.  She has been married to Craig Dighton for twenty years.
 
CAROLYN EZELL: Carolyn is new to teaching and to the second grade at New Hope Academy this year. She recently graduated from Union University with a degree in Elementary Education. Carolyn and her husband, Isaac, both grew up in Franklin and tied the knot in November.
 
BRIAN GOODWIN: Brian and his family have lived in Tennessee for nine years, but he will always be a loyal son of Lord Baltimore. He has spent seven of his twelve teaching years at New Hope Academy teaching fourth grade. He is married to Jacilyn, also a teacher at New Hope, and they have two beautiful daughters.
 
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: Sofia, an NHA alum; and  Maris, a current student. She has taught for eleven years, six of those at New Hope Academy. She currently teaches sixth grade math and science but has also enjoyed teaching first and second grades in years past.