Mrs. Birgit Hering serves as kindergarten teacher. She has a B.S. (Honors) in Public Administration from the University of Applied Sciences for Public Administration and Management in Cologne, Germany. Mrs. Hering joined CCS in 2003 as a kindergarten assistant. She taught German in 2005 and has taught kindergarten since 2006. Mrs. Hering has achieved Professional ACCS Certification. She and her husband, Guenther, moved to the United States in 1994. Their son, Dennis graduated, from CCS in 2014 and is in college. They all enjoy traveling, and their son’s passion for golf gets them all out to play together, although Mrs. Hering focuses more on the beautiful surroundings of the course and the “birdies” in the trees.

Mrs. Brooke Peterson serves as kindergarten teacher. She has served at CCS since 2016. Brooke holds a B.S. degree in Crop Sciences from the University of Illinois. Brooke and her husband, Andy, have two children who are students at CCS. She enjoys reading and sewing in her spare time.

Mrs. Leigh Ann Smyrski serves as a kindergarten teacher. She has a B.A. in Psychology from North Carolina State University and earned a North Carolina teaching license from Meredith College. Mrs. Smyrski has achieved Professional ACCS Certification. She has been teaching at CCS since 2012. She and her husband, Brian, have three children at CCS: Maddie, Emma, and Andrew.

Mrs. Christie LeVake graduated from Bethel University with a B.S. in Nursing. Her hobbies include baking, reading, needle point, and home renovation projects.

Mrs. Russell grew up in Western New York, but has made North Carolina her home for 20 years. She and her husband, Jeff, have two children at CCS, in grades 4 and 8. Mrs. Russell is involved with the children’s ministry at their church in several capacities and enjoys reading in her spare time.

Mrs. Audrey Schleich graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor’s in Music String Performance. She is known in the Cary community as an experienced violin teacher and has been teaching Cary School of Music students for over five years. Mrs. Schleich loves working with students and has enthusiastically joined the CCS team assisting in Kindergarten.

Ms. Hollie Herrera comes to us from New York where she taught for several years in grades K-5 as a substitute teacher and also for three years as a preschool teacher. In 2014 she moved to Durham and taught for two years in a public school. She then worked as a nanny for two years to four adorable children. Miss Herrera holds a dual degree in Early Childhood Education and Bible from Clark’s Summit University in Pennsylvania. Miss Herrera enjoys spending time with her family and friends and loves game nights!

Mrs. Alaina Oliva serves as a first grade teacher. She holds an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Wake Technical Community College and her Infant/Toddler Montessori Teaching Credential through AMS. She has achieved Professional ACCS Certification. Mrs. Oliva has taught at Cary Christian School for nineteen years. She taught Kindergarten before moving to first grade in 2005. She and her husband, Jorge, have two children, both CCS graduates, Ashley (2007) and Tony (2011), and two beautiful grandchildren. She is an animal lover and enjoys horseback riding and training.

Mrs. Trish Self has taught first grade for thirteen years and served one year in the role as a Search and Teach Therapist and a NILD Licensed Educational Therapist. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton, with a B.A. in Sociology. Mrs. Self served seventeen years on staff with CRU, working with college students. She and her husband have four children, all of whom graduated from or currently attend CCS.

Mrs. Dawn Hochstein is a first grade teaching assistant at Cary Christian School.

Mrs. Julie Jones serves as a first grade teaching assistant. She joined the staff at Cary Christian School in 2020, after having served as a teaching assistant in Wake County Public Schools. She and her husband, Jonathan, have been married for fifteen years and have one daughter, Allison, who is a new second grader at CCS.

Mrs. Karen Knaus serves as a teaching assistant in first grade and in the kindergarten after-school program. She has been teaching for ten years, with the past three years at CCS. She and her husband, Steve, have been married for twenty-three years and have two children: Grace (CCS class of 2014) and Rebekah (CCS class of 2019).

Mrs. Jimmie Armstrong serves as second grade teacher. She studied Elementary Education at Liberty University. Mrs. Armstrong served as an assistant teacher for six years while she pursued her education and has been a lead teacher since 2013. She also holds ACCS Professional Certification and SEARCH and TEACH Therapy Certification. She and her husband, Steve, have two children.

Mrs. Kelly Callahan serves as a second grade teacher. She holds a B.S. in Middle Grades Education from North Carolina State University. Upon graduating from college, she taught seventh grade language arts for five years. After spending some sweet years at home with her young children, she joined Cary Christian’s staff in 2013 teaching on the Phonics hallway. She holds ACCS Professional Certification. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Travis, and has two boys who currently attend CCS.

Mrs. Teshia McGinnis serves as a second grade teacher in the Phonics School. She received her A.S. Degree in Merchandising from the University of Maine at Orono. She holds ACCS Professional Certification. Mrs. McGinnis began serving at CCS in 2003, teaching since 2005. In addition, she has experience in both private and group tutoring in multiple subjects. She and her husband Brad of twenty-seven years, are parents of two CCS graduates, Quinn (2013) and Lydia (2015). Both of her children were blessed to begin attending CCS in Kindergarten. Mrs. McGinnis enjoys bargain shopping, fashion, and relaxing in the mountains when she is not at school, loving on her second graders!

Mrs. Stephanie Brett-Williams began at CCS in 2018, serving as teaching assistant. She and her husband, Tyson, have one child, Preston, who is a Logic School student.

Mrs. Tammy Throckmorton serves as a second grade teaching assistant. She holds a B.S. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and has more than twenty years of teaching experience between teaching her own children at home and teaching in the elementary classroom. She and her husband, Ken, have three children and have enjoyed thirty years of marriage.

Ms. Gwen Ottun serves as Mrs. Callahan’s 2nd grade Teaching Assistant. She joined Cary Christian School staff in 2020. She feels blessed to be working at CCS and with Mrs. Callahan. It is also a blessing that Ms. Ottun’s only child and daughter has been attending CCS since Kindergarten. Her daughter is now in 4th grade. Ms. Ottun loves working with children and is passionate about people. She enjoys spending time with her loved ones, walks, and reading in her spare time.

Mrs. Terri Covil serves as a third grade teacher. She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has also attained the Master’s Certification from ACCS. Mrs. Covil began working at CCS in 2013. She has been married to her husband, Patrick, since 2003. They have two children, Chloe and Elijah, who attend CCS.

Mrs. Leah Royall graduated from NC State with a Bachelor’s in English: Language, Writing and Rhetoric, and then obtained her MBA from Louisiana State University. She previously taught fifth grade but looks forward to teaching third grade at CCS. She attended a Christian school in Wilmington, NC, that is in the same NCISAA conference as CCS. She looks forward to attending sporting events so she can cheer on the Knights while watching her high school play, too! In Mrs. Royall’s free time, she is often running her side business planning weddings or walking her dogs.

Mr. Zak Boilen serves a third grade teaching assistant. He received his B.A. in Theology and Apologetics from Liberty University in 2019. Zak lives with his parents and brothers in Cary and enjoys fishing and reading in his free time.

Mrs. Katy Johnson serves as third grade teacher assistant this year. Her family recently moved to Cary from Seattle with a church plant team to help start Hosea Church in Raleigh. She has enjoyed serving as Kids Director Assistant at her church for several years, and she also subbed as a paraeducator in the public schools. Mrs. Johnson has a B.S. in Organizational Management from Northwest University. She has an incoming second grader joining CCS this year, and she is also a proud mother of two adult children. Her daughter is studying Montessori education and her son is serving at Fort Bragg. Katy loves to call North Carolina her new home and enjoys finding new trails with friends and working in her garden.

Mrs. Jen Lederer was raised in Connecticut and Wisconsin, and recently moved here with her extended family from upstate New York. She has had fifteen years of teaching experience, beginning her career as a teacher in the Dominican Republic. Jen earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from Wheaton College and a M.A in Intercultural Studies from Moody Graduate School. Her husband, David, is a Rhetoric Bible teacher at CCS. Their three children, two nieces, and two nephews attend CCS as well.

Mrs. Becky Myers grew up at the New Jersey shore and graduated from Lynchburg College in Virginia with a B.A. in Communications/Public Relations. She and her husband, Scott, moved to the Triangle in 2005 and have four children enrolled at CCS: Landon, Brooke, Brielle, and Karis. Prior to joining our staff, while at home with her children through the preschool years, Mrs. Myers started and operated two companies on her own, selling care packages and consigning furniture.

Mrs. Rhonda Pettit has been teaching fourth grade at Cary Christian School since 2001. She was raised and educated in rural Fort Wayne, Indiana. She graduated from International Business College of Fort Wayne. She and her husband, John, have two daughters and a son, all of whom are CCS graduates: Ali (2006), Aaron (2009), and Abigail (2011). Mrs. Pettit enjoys supporting CCS activities by cheering for the sports teams and encouraging the performing arts.

Ms. Kristin Bradsher serves as a fourth grade teacher assistant. Ms. Bradsher graduated from Meredith College and earned a B.A. in English and her NC teaching license for grades 6-9. She successfully passed the necessary requirements to become a Google Certified Educator during the time of remote learning in NC. Ms. Bradsher is currently enrolled in graduate school and is pursuing a master’s degree in education, specifically focusing on literacy with a Curriculum Instructional Specialist concentration. She is a graduate of Cary Christian School, where she had  attended since kindergarten.

Ms. Megan Outten is the Associate Choir Director and teaches the Middle and High School Music Appreciation and Fundamentals of Music electives. She is also a fourth grade Teaching Assistant and serves as the faculty advisor of the CCS a cappella group, “The Acapostle’s.” Ms. Outten attended Meredith College, where she obtained a degree in K-12 Music Education and concentrated in voice. She is a Cary native and the Assistant Director of the Cary Youth Voices! This is Ms. Outten’s second year teaching at Cary Christian, and she is so grateful to teach music in the town where she fell in love with it!

Ms. Jenna Bronson teaches fifth grade. She recently moved to North Carolina from Seattle, Washington, where she taught fourth grade for the past seven years. She is a part of a team of 55 adults from Seattle who are planting a new church in Raleigh, and is so excited to be here! Miss Bronson has her B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Central Washington University and her M.A. in Teacher Leadership from Seattle Pacific University.

Mrs. Sherry Dickinson serves as a fifth grade teacher. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Economics (minors in Math and French) and an M.B.A. from Meredith College. She worked in the computer industry with Data General for nine years, serving as a Materials Planner, Floor Supervisor, and Inventory Control Coordinator. Mrs. Dickinson, a formally licensed Kindermusik Instructor, also worked with KinderVillage of Cary for eight years. She and her husband, Alan, have two sons who graduated from CCS: Luke (2011) and Lee (2014).

Mrs. Cindy Mathews graduated from the University of Florida and has also completed a master’s degree in Elementary Education from Liberty University. Her background is in sales and management, and she spent five years as a stay-at-home mom before discovering her passion for teaching. She was trained in a Classical Christian school in Minneapolis, MN, and started full-time at CCS in 2018. She and her husband love reading good books, going to the beach, watching football and spending time with their two favorite Knights, Luke and Lindsey.

Mrs. Julie DeFalco serves as a teaching assistant for fifth grade. She has been teaching for five years. This is her first year with CCS.  She graduated from Campbell University with a B.S. in Psychology.

Mrs. Kelly Zadow serves as a fifth grade teaching assistant and a middle school elective teacher. She holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Rhode Island and a M.A. degree in Counseling and Development from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She has over fifteen years of teaching experience between teaching in public schools and homeschooling her children. Mrs. Zadow and her husband, Doug, have two children and have lived around the US and in Germany while serving in the Army.

Mr. James Barber (B.A. North Carolina State University) teaches 4th and 5th grade Latin. He previously worked at the YMC and ran its youth program, and also assisted the director at Camp Oak Hill. Mr. Barber is the head coach for the Middle School cross country team. He loves running, cooking, and reading.

Mrs. Susan Boyd has served as a teaching assistant in the Lower School and has been at CCS since 2010. She graduated from ECU with a B.S. in Business Administration and a minor in Computer Information Systems. Susan studied Business and Computer Information Systems at East Carolina University. She and her husband, Steve, have three daughters, two of whom are CCS graduates. Mrs. Boyd enjoys being outside, reading, and cooking..

Mrs. Pam Butler serves as the K-2 Art teacher. She has an A.A.S. in Office Administration and also majored in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Butler began her service at CCS in 2001 and has completed her ACCS Professional Certification. Before her career with CCS, she owned and operated a successful early childhood development center. Mrs. Butler also co-owned and operated another successful retail business while she was beginning her career with CCS. God has blessed her with a wonderful husband and a beautiful daughter, who is a 2014 graduate of CCS.

Mrs. Aimee Cuthrell (B.S. in Business, Meredith College) teaches Art to grades 3-5. She and her husband, Huntley, have two children who graduated from CCS (Shannon, 2012, and Brad, 2014). Mrs. Cuthrell previously taught K-2 Art and a Master of the Arts elective at CCS. During her interim break from teaching at CCS, she taught private art classes and worked as a fine artist providing artwork for clients.

Mrs. Michelle Edwards serves as the Physical Education Teacher for the Lower School. This is her ninth year teaching at CCS. She, her husband, and children are native Californians who have fully embraced and love living here in North Carolina. Mrs. Edwards graduated from Westmont College with a B.A. in Kinesiology. She then earned her teaching credential the following year at Saint Mary’s College and has been teaching in some capacity of Physical Education throughout the last twenty years. Both of her children are CCS graduates.

Mrs. Christine Oentung has been teaching music (K-2) at CCS since 2012. She graduated with M.A. in Clinical Counseling from Liberty University External Degree program in 1999. She is receiving her professional certification as educational therapist from NILD (National Institute for Learning Development) and has been working with students with specific learning needs since 2017. Her two children are 2017 and 2020 CCS graduates.

Mrs. Ashley Williams teaches 4th and 5th grade choir. She comes to us from New Jersey with her husband, Justin, and 1-year-old son, Nathan, where she taught K-5 music classes at a charter school for five years. She holds a degree in Music Education with a concentration in voice from Montclair State University and has had more than ten years of experience performing in various productions and choirs. This is her first year teaching at CCS, and she feels very blessed to be here.

Mrs. Kristen Clarkson teaches Classical Literature (ninth grade) and American Literature (twelfth grade). She attended North Carolina State University, where she obtained a B.A. in English Language, Writing Composition, and Rhetoric and a minor in Classical Greek Studies. She holds ACCS certification. Mrs. Clarkson is a graduate of Cary Christian School.

Mrs. Chrissie Ficken graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Secondary Mathematics Education. Mrs. Ficken began teaching in 1998 and has served since 2012 at CCS, where she currently teaches Algebra 2, College Algebra, Trigonometry, and AP Statistics. She holds ACCS Master’s Certification. She and her husband, Wes, have two children, Holly (a 2020 CCS graduate) and Matthew (a current CCS sophomore).

Ms. Kate Fredrikson teaches Rhetoric I and Medieval Literature. She graduated summa cum laude from Wheaton College with a B.A. in English Literature and German. After college, she received a Fulbright grant to teach English at a high school in Munich, Germany. This is her second year teaching at Cary Christian School. In her free time, Ms. Fredrikson enjoys reading, traveling, tea, and offering hospitality.

Mr. Seth Greer teaches sixth grade science. He graduated from Wofford College in Spartanburg, SC, with a B.S. in Chemistry and a medical degree intent. He has previously served as a missionary to Uganda and Peru, working at ministries such as the Amazima School and Good Shepherd’s Fold Orphanage.

Mrs. Swarna Hamsa holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Chemical Engineering. She began teaching in 2006 and taught for three years. She and her husband, Devadanam, have two children, Nathan and Aaron, who attend CCS. Mrs. Hamsa earned North Carolina teaching license through NC State University and taught at a Wake county public school for two years. She currently teaches Geometry at CCS.

Mrs. Brenda Kellam teaches Spanish. She holds degrees from Bethel University in Cultural Studies and Spanish. She has held various roles, including discipling women in rescue mission ministry, providing migrant farmworker job training, and supporting refugees in resettlement. Prior to coming to CCS, she taught her three children at home while living overseas.

Mr. David Lederer teaches ninth and eleventh grade theology. Mr. Lederer relocated from upstate New York where he served as the Student Ministries Director at his local church, and, prior to that, as the Director of Community Outreach at the City Mission of Schenectady. Mr. Lederer brings more than twenty years of experience teaching, discipling, and coaching students. He desires to empower and help students to discover God’s call on their lives and to continue to develop community. Mr. Lederer holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration from Concordia University and is credentialed in Family Development from Cornell University. He pursued his Master of Divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary. Mr. Lederer’s wife, Jen, also works at CCS as a 4th grade teaching assistant. They have three children at CCS.

Mrs. Leah McGrath teaches European Literature and Seminar. Mrs. McGrath graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as an English major with minors in Education and Social and Economic Justice. She also completed a Master of Arts in Teaching at UNC Chapel Hill. This is her third year teaching at Cary Christian School. Mrs. McGrath is the JV Girls’ Head Basketball Coach, and she also serves as the faculty adviser for FCA and the 11:11 club. Mrs. McGrath lives with her husband, Chris, and their rescue dog, Smokey, in Chapel Hill.

Mr. Tom McMahon teaches Latin IV (sixth grade) and Latin V (seventh grade). He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas Classics Department and is now pursuing his Masters in Classical Christian Studies from New Saint Andrews College. In his spare time, Mr. McMahon likes to hunt, read, and play bluegrass with his wife, Andrea.

Mr. Brian Mitchell teaches sixth grade Literature & Composition. He previously served as a fifth grade teachers assistant. For several years he worked as a YMCA manager of youth programs, as well as being the After School Director at Cardinal Charter School. Mr. Mitchell is a CCS alumni who is thankful for the classical Christian education he received! He is finishing his Psychology degree at Liberty University while working full time. Mr. Mitchell is also the Middle School baseball coach, and he teaches several electives.

Ms. Megan Outten is the Associate Choir Director and teaches the Middle and High School Music Appreciation and Fundamentals of Music electives. She is also a fourth grade Teaching Assistant and serves as the faculty advisor of the CCS a cappella group, “The Acapostle’s.” Ms. Outten attended Meredith College, where she obtained a degree in K-12 Music Education and concentrated in voice. She is a Cary native and the Assistant Director of the Cary Youth Voices! This is Ms. Outten’s second year teaching at Cary Christian, and she is so grateful to teach music in the town where she fell in love with it!

Mrs. Angela Somer is the middle and high school Art teacher at Cary Christian School. She studied Liberal Arts at Saint Mary College and concentrated in Art at Colorado State University. In 1989, she began a wonderful twenty-four year career with American Airlines. Mrs. Somer has been a dedicated volunteer at our school since 2008. She has four children, three of whom are currently enrolled at CCS. She also creates personal artwork for clients.

Mrs. Lesley White teaches Biology and AP Biology (10th grade) and Human Physiology (9th grade). She holds a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in math and science from Texas A&M University. She has served on the faculty of Cary Christian School since 2013 and has three children who graduated from CCS, as well as one who is a current student. In addition to teaching, Mrs. White coaches the varsity volleyball team. She enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking in her spare time.

Mrs. Kelly Zadow serves as a fifth grade teaching assistant and a middle school elective teacher. She holds a B.A. in Biology from the University of Rhode Island and a M.A. degree in Counseling and Development from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She has over fifteen years of teaching experience between teaching in public schools and homeschooling her children. Mrs. Zadow and her husband, Doug, have two children and have lived around the US and in Germany while serving in the Army.

Mr. Calvin Zbinden teaches Logic (eighth grade) and European History (eleventh grade). He holds a B.S. from Liberty University in the Social Sciences with a Teacher Licensure. He also has received licensure to teach Middle School Math from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He and his wife, Hannah, met at Liberty and are enjoying married life in Cary. In his spare time, Mr. Zbinden enjoys reading, drinking dark roast coffee, watching and playing sports such as basketball, football, and tennis.