Upper Division Faculty
Sakari Alvarez
History / Government / Economics
Sakari Alvarez received her Bachelor degree from University of North Florida. She has taught in the Duval County Public School system since 2018. Sakari is married and has two children. She enjoys shopping, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Hope Belk
Spanish II / Spanish III
Bachelor's degree from Trinity Baptist College
FACCS certified
Hope Belk has taught at Trinity since 2010. She taught Elementary Spanish and PE and started teaching Spanish II and III in the high school in 2018. She likes to read and be outdoors. Her husband works for the Jacksonville sheriff’s office and she has two sons who she adores.
Kristina Boudreau
HOPE/Habitudes
Bachelor’s degree from UNF in Health Science, Community Health minor in Exercise Science
FACCS certified
Kristi Boudreau taught Elementary PE for 10 years before joining TCA in 2016 in the Upper Division. She enjoys spending time with her family, shopping and finding great deals. She has been married to her amazing husband Brian since 1997. They have 2 wonderful children, Jared and Riley. They also have 2 other members of the family, Miracle and Spirit, husky malamute dogs. She loves being at Trinity to hopefully make a positive impact in her student lives. She wants each student to know what Christ did for them and how we should all follow His lead.
Christine Brown
English / Yearbook
Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Pensacola Christian College
FACCS certified
Christine Brown is originally from Virginia and is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education for both English and History. She began teaching in 1996 at Trinity Christian Academy and has remained here ever since. In 2002, she married her husband and the couple have two children, Kaylee and Kasey. As an English teacher, she enjoys helping her students become better writers, readers, and speakers. She also has an incredible passion for the school yearbook, which she produces every year with the help of her wonderful editors and staff. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with her family and her cats.
Raymond Bureau
Physical Science / Sports Journalism
Bachelor’s degree in English Education from the University of North Florida, 1993
Master of Education and Distance Learning from the University of Phoenix, 2005
FACCS Certified
Columbia School of Broadcasting, 1990
Raymond Bureau began teaching in 1993. He taught many subjects at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Green Cove Springs Middle School, Clay High School, and Orange Park Christian Academy before coming to Trinity in 2004. He also taught at Trinity Baptist College from 2008-2010. He also has 4 years of professional radio experience. Raymond serves as the sports information director of Trinity Baptist College and the radio/live-stream announcer for both TCA and TBC. In his spare time, he enjoys watching sports and writing for various sports Websites. Raymond’s wife Beth teaches biology and anatomy at Stanton College Preparatory School. They married in 1995, and their son Dean graduated from Trinity Christian Academy in 2018 as an honor student.
Tim Burgess
Bible
BA in Marketing Management
Masters in Theology
Tim Burgess has been in the ministry as a pastor for 26 years. His first year in the academic classroom was in 2018. He enjoys traveling the world, fishing, and spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife, Carmen, for 27 years and they have three children, Jacob, Micailah, and Stephen. Tim feels privileged to share the Good News every day with all of his students.
Kristen Buttrey
Biology
Kristen Buttrey earned a bachelors degree in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida in 2018. As she coached volleyball she realized her passion for instructing and guiding young people which led her to begin teaching in 2018. She is passionate about science and helping students cultivate the same excitement for the sciences as well as the entire process of learning. Kristen has played volleyball from the 4th grade on and is excited to be a part of the volleyball coaching staff at TCA.
Lauren Carr
UD Girls PE
Bachelor's degree in Child Psychology
FACCS certified
Lauren Carr enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter. She loves coffee, going to the beach, and staying active. She has been teaching since 2019. What Lauren loves most about teaching is the opportunity to inspire and empower students to reach their full potential.
Nancy-Viera Cintron
Spanish I
BBA in Marketing from the University of Puerto Rico
MBA in Marketing from the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico
My husband Juan and I moved to Jacksonville in 1996 from our beloved island Puerto Rico. We have been married for 29 years and have three children, two adult daughters Alexandra and Andrea and a son Juan Alejandro who attends TCA. We also have two dogs, a German Shepard named Rosco and a Boston Terrier named Chico. I started teaching at another Christian school here in town in 1998. This is my first year at Trinity. I love to cook, going to the beach and travelling. I’m thankful to the Lord for my salvation and for my family.
Leanne Dix
Algebra II / Probability and Statistics
Leanne Dix is a graduate of Trinity Christian Academy. She has a BA in Math Education from the University of North Florida. Leanne enjoys traveling, learning about other cultures, and singing.
Hannah Donelson
7th Grade Math
Bachelors in Education
ACSI Certified
Hannah married her high school sweetheart and has a young growing family. She yells "War Eagle" on Saturdays and loves spending time with her family. Chick fil A is her biggest weakness. Hannah loves making connections with students to help them find a love and passion for math. She is very passionate about teaching finance to high schoolers to ensure their success after graduation.
Danny English
Admin Maker Space / Digital Design / Digital Photography / Digital Video
Danny English has been a baseball coach at Trinity since 2011. It while coaching he discovered his passion for leading and instructing. He graduated from Trinity Baptist College in 2016 with a degree in Secondary Education. Upon graduating, he took over the computer program at TCA and has been involved in numerous projects to grow and integrate technology throughout Trinity's campus. He is responsible for the upkeep of the Makerspace and Technology room, which aim to provide extra resources for teachers and students. One hobby he enjoys is 3D printing, which you can see displayed on the shelves if you ever visit his room. His favorite memory at Trinity is winning the first ever State Championship for baseball in 2015.
Jeremiah Espersen
Habitudes
Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education- English and Physical Education
FACCS certified
Jeremiah Espersen is a retired U.S. Army veteran of 21 years. He is blessed with a beautiful wife and three amazing children. Jeremiah enjoys spending time with the Lord, having fun with family, going to the gym, the range, and trying new foods/restaurants. Jeremiah believes teaching students a Christ centered curriculum is critical to the foundation of their character, equips students with academic skills infused with biblical principles to conquer future challenges, and prepares students for God's calling in their lives.
Amber Fisher
7th Life Science
B.S. in Psychology from NGU
ACSI Certified
Mrs. Fisher teaches 7th Grade Life Science at TCA. She began teaching in 2019 and moved to Jacksonville in 2022 when she joined the TCA family. As a teacher she strives to make genuine connections with students, point them to Christ, and remind them that learning is essential and enjoyable. You can find Mrs. Fisher playing tennis, reading a good book, or strolling down the river walk with her husband, daughter, and dog. She is thankful for the opportunity to work in a place where she can share the gospel each day.
Seth Fisher
Bible
B.A. in Christian Studies from North Greenville University
Mr. Fisher is a passionate high school Bible teacher with a love for spiritual formation. He moved to Jacksonville in 2022. He is committed to nurturing young minds. He creates an inclusive and engaging classroom environment where students can explore the profound teachings of the Bible. Beyond academics, Mr. Fisher loves reading books and spending time with his wife, two daughters, and dog. Mr. Fisher has traveled the world on various mission trips, creating a deep sense of urgency to take the Gospel to all nations. He is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Trinity family.
Jessica Gibson
ASL / VLL
University of N. Florida; Master of Arts in Education- Deaf Education
University of N. Florida; Bachelor of Arts in Education- Special Education
Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate
FACCS Certificate
Jessica Gibson was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and graduated from Jones High School. She came to Jacksonville, Florida in 2006 to attend the University of North Florida where she was heavily involved with student organizations. Jessica has taught in Duval County Public Schools as a special needs and general education teacher and joined Trinity in 2018. She is married to her husband, Dwayne, and they have been gifted with a beautiful daughter. Together they serve in the youth, and marriage ministries at their church. Jessica enjoys traveling, trying new foods, and crocheting.
Lance Griffin
6th History
BS in History and Government from Bowie State University
MS in Education (Sports Management) from Wayne State College
Lance Griffin was born and raised in Omaha, NE and began teaching at Trinity Christian Academy in 2023. Griffin started his career at TCA as a substitute teacher in the 2022-2023 school year. Griffin served the Omaha, NE community for well over a decade, working in various fields as a public/private school teacher, social worker, and football/track coach. Griffin has a passion to educate and coach youth through Christian values.
Alex Guzzo
UD Boys PE
Bachelor's degree in Education
FACCS certified
Alex Guzzo enjoys playing sports and spending time with his family. He has been coaching football and teaching since 2019.
Ginger Harrison
Bible
Bachelor's in Education
ACSI and FACCS Certified
Ginger Harrison has been at TCA since 1988 and is the mother of 3 children. During the summer months, she likes traveling to visit family and friends. She enjoys the beauty of nature and appreciates times to relax by taking walks, doing puzzles, camping and hiking. She teaches 9th-12th grade girls’ Bible and is thankful to have the opportunity to have an impact in the lives of her students.
Amanda Hayes
Algebra 1
Master's degree in Education
ACSI certified
FL Educator
Amanda moved to the Jacksonville area in 2023. Amanda has 1 daughter and together they enjoy reading, going to the beach, baking brownies, spending time with family, having dance parties, and playing tourist in their current city (recommendations appreciated!). Amanda attends and serves the church of Eleven 22 with her family. Amanda is passionate about loving and serving families. If you see Amanda out and about, make sure to say "Hi", teachers exist outside of the classroom too! Amanda is excited to incorporate spiritual development and academic excellence into her classroom as a part of the TCA family. She is thankful for the opportunity to witness and cultivate the growth of young minds in their pursuit of Christ and learning. As a teacher, Amanda desires to come alongside students and families to support current and future success.
Lauren Houseman
English
Bachelor's degree in Education
Google Level 1 & 2 certified
ACSI certified
FACCS certified
Lauren has worked with children of all ages since 2001 as a gymnastics instructor, preschool teacher’s aide, nanny, and substitute teacher. She joined the TCA family in 2021. She loves spending time with family, reading, baking, knitting, and going to theme parks. She and her husband have three children that all attend the academy. Lauren has a passion for teaching literature, critical thinking, and grammar. She prays that she is able to create visible and real change in the lives of all students in her classroom, be it cognitive, social, or personal, and to help grow their relationship with God.
Alaina Ivey
Home Economics
Alaina started teaching Family Home and Consumer Technology (Home Ec) at TCA in August of 2020, however she is no stranger to the ministry. Her husband Marc is the Worship pastor at Trinity Baptist and they have been part of the Trinity family since 2012. She has 4 boys and they have all been enrolled since moving to FL in 2012. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in FACS from Liberty University in 2001. She has a love for her students and wants them to first know and love Jesus as well as teach them life skills that they can use for the rest of their life. Her hobbies consist of everything that she teaches. She loves to cook, sew and love on people. She also enjoys participating in the worship ministry at Trinity. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family and make memories. She hopes that each student leaves her class with great memories.
Bailey Jarman
Earth/Environmental Science
Bachelor's degree in Science Education
Bailey Jarman graduated in 2023 with a bachelor's degree in Science Education. She has always loved science and dreamed of being a science teacher. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, crocheting, and spending time with her husband and cat. Mrs. Jarman's love for teaching began at a young age. She finds science fascinating as it speaks to God's creativity and wants to share this with the students.
Erika Judd
History
Bachelors in Education
FACCS Certified
Mrs. Judd is an alumnus of TCA; she started teaching at Trinity in 2010 and has previously taught college courses in Office Administration. She is married to Gary and has three boys, who graduated from TCA. Mrs. Judd loves building relationships with students and seeing them grow spiritually, personally, and educationally. She loves being involved in student life, such as student government and extracurricular activities.
Haley Joiner
Geometry
Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies in Mathematics from Western Governors University
Haley Joiner has been teaching since 2018. She has taught 6th-12th grade level math and health science. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Dustin, and her fur babies. She also loves camping, being outdoors, reading, and coffee. She, most of all, wants her students to know how much Jesus loves and cares for them.
Jessica Keck
English
Jessica Keck has lived in many places, but considers Minnesota home. She graduated from Bob Jones University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in English Education, a Spanish minor, and a Math minor equivalent. She began her teaching career that same year. Her immediate family is scattered across the United States and beyond, but they love visiting each other as often as possible. Besides sharing her love of learning with her students, some of her passions are reading, singing, spending time with her family and friends, and eating Chick-fil-a.
Cynthia Lentz
US History / Honors World History Teacher / Holocaust
Cynthia Lentz has a bachelor’s degree in secondary education within the fields of history and English and has been teaching since 2002. She loves to read, travel the world and spend time outside doing anything adventurous. She has been married to Adam Lentz since 2000 and has two children, Alexa and Christopher, and a furry child named Riley (she’s the favorite). Cynthia’s favorite thing about Trinity is the people and the relationships she’s formed while working here.
Maylynn Leporacci
Jr. High Chorus / VIP
Bachelor’s degree in Music from West Coast Baptist College, Master’s Degree in Church Music from Pensacola Theological Seminary
FACCS certified
Maylynn Leporacci has been teaching music and singing at TCA since 2009. She is also involved in the Florida Vocal Association and The North Florida Chapter for the National Association for Teachers of Singing in which her students are involved in to compete and be evaluated vocally. She serves in the music ministry with her husband, Jacob Leporacci, and also teach as an adjunct music professor at Trinity Baptist College. Through music, Maylynn has been given the opportunity to enrich lives and encourage others in 48 states and 5 countries. She is also the mother of two beautiful boys: Landon and Lincoln.
Jonathan Norman
Bible
Bachelor’s in Education from Trinity Baptist College, Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University, Master of Education from American College of Education
FACCS Certified
Jonathan Norman has been at TCA since 2009. He has taught several different grades and classes during his time at Trinity, and he has experience teaching English at the high school and college level. In his free time, he takes an active interest in rooting for his favorite sports’ teams. He also loves spending time with his wife, Mary, and their two sons, Aaron and Ethan.
Katie Sarge
7th-8th Grade Pre-Algebra
Bachelor's degree in Education
FACCS certified
Mrs. Sarge married her husband, Joshua, in 2016. In 2020, they moved to Jacksonville from Columbus, Ohio. Since moving to Jacksonville Katie and her husband have welcomed two boys, Joshua and Leo, into the world. You can catch Mrs. Sarge taking her boys for walks, playing disc golf with her husband, singing, or doing some recreational photography. Mrs. Sarge has a passion for teaching children of all ages but has been drawn to middle school above all. Mrs. Sarge joined the Trinity team in August of 2022 and is looking forward to teaching your child to love both Jesus and Math!
Deborah Scales
Visual Art
Bachelor's degree in Education
Deborah Scales is an international art educator and professional artist. She and her son have traveled extensively in the South Pacific region, Peru, and the Caribbean. Deborah enjoys swimming, snorkeling and the beach. Deborah's passion for Arts Integration in Christian Education inspires her to teach her students how to utilize their creativity to enhance learning. She loves teaching her students to express Biblical concept and principles in the designing and process of their artmaking.
Ryan Scott
8th Grade English
Bachelor's degree in Education
FACCS certified
Ryan Scott graduated from Trinity Baptist College in 2021 with a degree in English/Social Studies in Secondary Education. He has taught high school English at Trinity since 2021. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing guitar and bass for at church, repairing instruments for local musicians, reading British literature, and spending time with his wife Capri and dog Gryffin. His specific calling from God is to impact the next generation with the Gospel. He believes a Christ-centered foundation in education leads to a lifetime of growth and understanding of who God is. Ryan believes English and History are major foundations of Christian education, as the Bible is God-breathed literature and histories that instruct humanity of His plan for our lives.
Lauren Sherwood
English
Bachelors of Science in Business Management from Nova Southeastern University
Masters in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University (course work)
FACCS certification in Elementary Education
Florida Department of Education Business Education (6-12) and Middle Grades Integrated Certifications
Mrs. Sherwood has been working for TCA since 2016. She began teaching 4th grade in the Academy in 2018 and previously worked in the Nursery. Mrs. Sherwood taught in Duval County for 4 years. She has taught 6-8 grade Language Arts and 9-12 Career Technical Education classes. She is married and has 4 children. Mrs. Sherwood’s four children attend TCA and have done so since the nursery or Pre-K4. In her spare time, Mrs. Sherwood enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading and gardening.
Elizabeth Shipton
6th Grade
Beth Shipton is a graduate of Trinity Baptist college with a BS degree in Elementary Education. She has taught for 22 years in various Christian schools, including Trinity Christian Academy. Recently Beth relocated to Jacksonville, after living in Virginia for the past 14 years where she taught 6th grade History and Science. Beth is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother to 6 grandchildren. She enjoys reading, refinishing furniture, and playing with her grandchildren.
Shari Smith
6th Grade
Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Tennessee Temple University
FACCS certified
Shari Smith is a native Floridian. She completed her Bachelors in Elementary Education from Tennessee Temple University, and has been teaching at Trinity Christian Academy since 2000. Her four children are all graduates of TCA. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family and friends.
Tyler Sowers
12th English, ESOL English, Debate, & Dual Enrollment
Bachelor's degree in English (Minor: History)
Master's degree in English
FL Educator
Tyler spends most of his time with his wife and three children. He loves books, music, movies, and whatever his kids are doing. Tyler believes that education is the most important part of society. He loves discussing and discovering significant books and ideas with students, helping them understand our world better.
Casey Stephens
Student Support Services
Casey graduated from the University of North Florida in 2005 with her degree in education, specializing in Special Education, with an endorsement in English for speakers of other languages. Since then, she has taught in every grade, K-12 in some capacity, as well as homeschooled her own children for 4 years. She has had the privilege of teaching in a variety of settings as she followed her husband in the ministry to Georgia, Kentucky and now back to Florida. Casey and her husband, David have four children; Callie, Reagan, Candler and Cadence. She loves music, reading, and spending time with family.
Jessica Swinson
6th Grade
Bachelors in Education
ACSI and FACCS Certified
Jessica Swinson was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She attended Trinity Christian Academy from K4 through graduation from high school. She earned her Associates Degree in nursing from FCCJ and her Bachelors in Elementary Education from Trinity Baptist College. Jessica met her husband, Tom, while attending Trinity Baptist College and they were married in 2001. They have two children, Molly and Luke. Family is an important part of Jessica’s life and that is how she spends much of her time. She also loves sweets and a good book.
David Wenberg
7th Civics/Bible
Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education from Trinity Baptist College
FACCS and ACSI certified
David Wenberg is originally from California and has been a member of the United States Air Force for over 30 years. He spent three years teaching science at University Christian School of Jacksonville and is currently teaching Civics and Bible here at Trinity. David has been married for fifteen years to his wife, Jessica, and they have two children Lydia and Aiden. He is a certified scuba diver, enjoys sports, and travelling the world experiencing different cultures and seeing historical sights.
Getachew Wendim
AP Calculus
Bachelor’s degree in statistics/mathematics from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia; Master’s degree in economics from the Institute for Advanced Studies, Vienna Austria; Master’s degree in transformational leadership and change from Greenwich University, London, UK; Master’s degree in math from Jacksonville University.
Getachew Wendim has been at TCA since 2013 teaching math at all levels - Intermediate Algebra, College Algebra, Probability & Statistics, and Calculus. He also teaches at Jacksonville University and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Before coming to the United States, he worked in a government office in Ethiopia starting from an expert level to a higher official level, and as well taught quantitative courses as a part-time lecturer for four years in Addis Ababa University.
Cliff Willis
8th PE/Bible
Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies - Major in Physical Education and Minor in Bible
FACCS Certified
Cliff Willis has been part of the Trinity team since 2010. Prior to starting at TCA, he spent 21 years as a manager in the automotive industry. He has been married to his wife, Jill since 1982. They have been blessed with 3 wonderful daughters, Rachel, April, and Ariel. April and Ariel both graduated from Trinity. They also have 3 grandchildren, Emma, Abbie, and Parker. Cliff is the Boys JV head basketball coach and the assistant head coach for the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team. He is also the designated chaperone for all senior trips. Originally from Chicago, he is a huge Bulls, Bears, Cubs, and Blackhawks fan. His hobbies include fishing and lots of it.
Rebekah Wilson
Drama
Bachelors in Education
ACSI Certified
Rebekah Wilson was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida where she attended Trinity Christian Academy. After graduating high school, Rebekah attended Word of Life Bible Institute’s one-year Bible program before making her way to the University of Central Florida. During her time at UCF, Rebekah started taking film acting classes at a local acting studio and decided to transfer to Trinity Baptist College to pursue a degree in fine arts where she eventually graduated with a B.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies with components in Speech, Theatre, and Music. During these college years, Rebekah found a love for working with students, becoming a substitute teacher at the Academy as well as a soccer, track, and drama coach. At the end of 2019, Rebekah moved to Los Angeles to pursue her acting career. It was during that time In Los Angeles she got the opportunity to work at a number of big production studios before the Covid shutdown in 2020 brought her back to Jacksonville. She has since worked as a Youth Director at a local church and become heavily involved in the local film community. Rebekah believes theatre, media, music, and film are great tools that can be used to minister and inspire today’s youth, and she greatly enjoys getting to teach and create art that helps do that.