ABOUT

Faculty and Staff

School Administration & Support Staff

Leanne Messer 
Head of School
lmesser@houstonchristian.org
Texas Wesleyan - B.S.
University of New Mexico - M.A.
Georgia State University - J.D.
Michele Gonzales 
Executive Assistant to the Head of School
mgonzales@houstonchristian.org
Tarleton State University - B.S.
Darren Price 
Principal
dprice@houstonchristian.org
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill - B.A.
Michigan State University - M.A.
Lehigh University - Ed.D.
Lisa Longwell 
Assistant to the Principal
llongwell@houstonchristian.org
University of Texas - B.B.A.
Zshanelle Jones 
Receptionist, Attendance; Varsity Volleyball Head Coach
zjones@houstonchristian.org
Todd Prince
Dean of Students
tprince@houstonchristian.org
Schreiner University - B.S.
Prairie View A&M - M.Mid.
Rochelle Moore 
Dean of Faculty; Girls Soccer Head Coach
rmoore@houstonchristian.org
Texas A&M University - B.S.
Texas A&M University - M.Ed.

Admissions Staff

Melanie Wallace
Director of Admission
mwallace@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.
University of Houston, Clear Lake - M.S.
Heather Rosandich 
Associate Director of Admission; Cheer Assistant Coach
hrosandich@houstonchristian.org
Taunya Rawls 
Admission Assistant; Summer Camps Coordinator
trawls@houstonchristian.org
Prairie View A&M University, B.B.A.

Athletic Staff

Terry Pirtle 
Athletics Director; Baseball Head Coach
tpirtle@houstonchristian.org
Sam Houston State University - B.A.T.
Sam Houston State University - M.A.T.
Ron Crandall 
Athletic Associate Director; College Athletic Placement Coordinator; Boys Basketball Head Coach
rcandall@houstonchristian.org
Baylor University - B.S.
Adrienne Gonzalez 
Athletics Administrative Assistant; Girls Soccer Assistant Coach
agonzalez@houstonchristian.org
John Brown University - B.S.
John Brown University - M.S.
A.J. Eisenman 
Head Football Coach
aeisenman@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.

Bible Department

Jeff Faircloth 
Bible Instructor; Leadership Instructor; JV Baseball Head Coach; Football Assistant Coach
jfaircloth@houstonchristian.org
Sam Houston State University - B.S.
Sam Houston State University - M.A.
Misti Gil 
Bible Instructor
mgil@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.
Brad Pembleton 
Bible Instructor
bpembleton@houstonchristian.org
Dallas Christian College - B.A.
Fuller Theological Seminary - M.A.T.
Portland Seminary of George Fox University - D.M.
Samantha Sapaugh 
Bible Instructor
ssapaugh@houstonchristian.org
Dallas Theological Seminary - M.A.
Sam Houston State University - B.S.
Adam Schwing 
Bible Instructor
aschwing@houstonchristian.org
The University of Oklahoma - B.S.
The Bible Seminary - M.Div.
The Bible Seminary - M.A.T.

Bush Center Leadership & Faculty

Mindy Dickerson
Director of The Bush Center for Scholars and Leaders
mdickerson@houstonchristian.org
Texas A&M University - B.S.
University of Houston - M.Ed.
Scott Cubbler
Passport to Lead Program Director; Leadership Studies Instructor
scubbler@houstonchristian.org
Trinity University - B.S.
Naval Postgraduate School - Homeland Defense
Jenna LaFlamme 
Distinguished Scholars Program Associate Director; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor; English Instructor
jlaflamme@houstonchristian.org
Eastern Connecticut State University - B.A.
Sacred Heart University - M.A.T.
Lisa Hawkins 
Innovation Programs Associate Director; Innovation Studies Instructor; Science Instructor
lhawkins@houstonchristian.org
University of North Carolina-Greensboro - B.A.
Montana State University - M.S.
Justice Harvey Brown
Adjunct Faculty
The University of Texas - B.S.

The University of Texas - J.D.
Michael Bredeweg 
Science Instructor; Innovation Studies Instructor; Tennis Assistant Coach
mbredeweg@houstonchristian.org
Grand Valley State University - B.S.
Grand Valley State University - M.Ed.
Matthew Copeland 
Math Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Advisor
mcopeland@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana State University - B.S.
Jeff Faircloth 
Bible Instructor; Leadership Instructor; JV Baseball Head Coach; Football Assistant Coach
jfaircloth@houstonchristian.org
Sam Houston State University - B.S.
Sam Houston State University - M.A.
Kelly Oliver 
English Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
koliver@houstonchristian.org
University of Kansas - B.A.
University of Houston - M.A.
Brooke McLane-Higginson 
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
bmclane@houstonchristian.org
The Evergreen State College - B.A.
Carnegie Mellon University - M.A.
University of Pennsylvania - P.B.A.C.C.
St. John's College - M.A.
University of Pittsburgh - Ph.D.
Lukas Rieke 
Education Technology Specialist; Department Chair, Science; Science Instructor; Robotics Instructor
lrieke@houstonchristian.org
Northwest Nazarene University - B.S.
Columbia International University - M.Ed.
Jeffery Rollins 
Leadership Studies Instructor
jrollins@houstonchristian.org
Wheaton College - B.A.
National University - M.A.
Mike Skinner 
Chaplain; Distinguished Scholars Program Advisor
mskinner@houstonchristian.org
Houston Baptist University - B.A.
Houston Baptist University - M.A.
Tim Woods 
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Leadership Instructor
twoods@houstonchristian.org
University of Missouri-Columbia - B.A.
Covenant Theological Seminary - M.A.

Business Staff

Kelly Biar 
Director of Business Affairs
kbiar@houstonchristian.org
University of Texas, Austin - B.B.A.
Erin Burns 
Campus Security Coordinator
eburns@houstonchristian.org
James Denton
Travel Logistics Manager
jdenton@houstonchristian.org
Sharon Fritsche 
Business Associate: Accounts Payable, Payroll, Purchasing
sfritsche@houstonchristian.org
Ellen Lozano 
Controller: Cash Receipts, Indexed Tuition
elozano@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.
Linda Peterson 
Human Resources Manager
hr@houstonchristian.org
Will Sumner 
Security Director
wsumner@houstonchristian.org
University of Texas - B.A.
Texas State University - M.S.
Kris Bergmann, RN
School Nurse
clinic@houstonchristian.org
University of Iowa - B.S.N.


Becky-Lou Ruiz, RN
School Nurse
clinic@houstonchristian.org
Houston Baptist University - B.S.N.

Chaplains

Loren Hopf
Chaplain
chaplains@houstonchristian.org
Moody Bible Institute - B.A.
Mike Skinner
Chaplain
chaplains@houstonchristian.org
Houston Baptist University - B.A.
Houston Baptist University - M.A.

Communications & Marketing Staff

Katie Gassett 
Director of Communications & Marketing
kgassett@houstonchristian.org
University of Alabama - B.S.
Kirk Hawkins 
Communications & Marketing Associate; Swim Assistant Coach
khawkins@houstonchristian.org
East Carolina University - B.A.
North Carolina State University - B.S.

Counseling & College Guidance Staff

Carol Bartels 
Counseling Director
cbartels@houstonchristian.org
Concordia University - B.S.
Liberty University - M.A.
University of Houston - M.A.
Dedra Arthur 
Counselor
darthur@houstonchristian.org
Prairie View A&M - B.A. 
Texas Southern University - M.S.
Capella University - M.S.
Sara Horelica 
Counselor
shorelica@houstonchristian.org
University of Texas - B.A.
University of Houston - M.Ed.
Loretta Ramirez 
Registrar
lramirez@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - Victoria - B.B.A.
Amanda Redd 
Counseling Assistant
aredd@houstonchristian.org
Texas Tech University - B.S.

Development Staff

Jenny Rice Cotton 
Director of Development
jricecotton@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana Tech University - B.S.
Katy Lea Cannon 
Associate Director of Development
kcannon@houstonchristian.org
Mary Baldwin University - B.A.
Christie Crummel 
Development Associate, Alumni Relations
ccrummel@houstonchristian.org
Texas Tech University - B.A.
Amberton University - M.A.

English Department

Matt Moore 
Department Chair, English; English Instructor
mmoore@houstonchristian.org
Dallas Christian College - B.A.
Dallas Baptist University - M.A.
James Alidor 
English Instructor
jalidor@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana State University - B.A.
Relay Graduate School of Education - M.A.
Karen Diven 
English Instructor
kdiven@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.
Houston Baptist University - M.S.
Hillary Houle
English Instructor
hhoule@houstonchristian.org
American University - B.A.
Johns Hopkins University - M.A.
 
Jenna LaFlamme 
Distinguished Scholars Program Associate Director; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor; English Instructor
jlaflamme@houstonchristian.org
Eastern Connecticut State University - B.A.
Sacred Heart University - M.A.T.
Kelly Oliver 
English Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
koliver@houstonchristian.org
University of Kansas - B.A.
University of Houston - M.A.
Jill Read 
English Instructor; Cross Country Assistant Coach
jread@houstonchristian.org
Malone University - B.A.
University of New Orleans - M.A.

Facilities Staff

Rick Ellis 
Facilities Manager
rellis@houstonchristian.org
Deyci Castillo 
Custodian
facilities@houstonchristian.org
Universidad La Gran Colombia - B.A.
Johnny Castillo 
Maintenance
facilities@houstonchristian.org
Carlos De Leon 
Facilities Maintenance Technician
facilities@houstonchristian.org
Anthony Perez 
Maintenance
facilities@houstonchristian.org

Fine Arts Department

Bobby Linhart 
Fine Arts Director
blinhart@houstonchristian.org
Southwestern University - B.A.
University of Houston - M.A.
Bradley University - Ed.D.
Nady Benyamine 
Orchestra Director
nbenyamine@houstonchristian.org
Wayne State University - B.M.E.
VanderCook College of Music - M.M.E.
Brian Brown 
Band Director
bbrown@houstonchristian.org
Murray State University - B.M.E.
Western Kentucky University - M.A.
Tina Fox 
Visual Arts Instructor
tfox@houstonchristian.org
Texas Tech University - B.F.A.
Heidi McCurdy 
Department Chair, Computer Science; Visual Arts Instructor
hmccurdy@houstonchristian.org
Northeastern State University - B.S.
Lori Reese 
Visual Arts Instructor
lreese@houstonchristian.org
Sam Houston State University - B.A.
Charlotte Stuart 
Visual Arts Instructor
cstuart@houstonchristian.org
Southwest Texas State University - B.S.
Melissa Tyler 
Dance Director
mtyler@houstonchristian.org
Point Park University - B.A.
California University of Pennsylvania - M.S.
Michelle Willey
Choir Director
mwilley@houstonchristian.org
Southwestern University - B.M.E.

Math Department

Julie Bermel 
Department Chair, Math; Math Instructor
jbermel@houstonchristian.org
Iowa State University - B.S.
Erin Cestero 
Math Instructor
ecestero@houstonchristian.org
Rice University - B.S.
Matthew Copeland 
Math Instructor; Distinguished Scholars Program Advisor
mcopeland@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana State University - B.S.
Michael Forth
Math Instructor
mforth@houstonchristian.org
Vanderbilt University - B.A.
Reformed Theological Seminary - M.A.
Vanderbilt Divinity School - M.T.S.
University of Aberdeen - Ph.D.
Carlos Fuentes 
Math Instructor
cfuentes@houstonchristian.org
University of the Ozarks - B.S.
Rhonda Skyles 
Math Instructor
rskyles@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S.

Program for College Readiness Staff

Karen Arnold 
Program for College Readiness Director
karnold@houstonchristian.org
Edgewood College - B.A.
University of St. Thomas - M.Ed.
University of Houston - Ed.D.
United States Naval Academy
Raymond Bean 
Program for College Readiness Test Center Coordinator; Cross Country Head Coach; Track Assistant Coach
rbean@houstonchristian.org
Texas Southern University - B.B.A.
Phoenix University - M.B.A.
Jill Hogue 
Program for College Readiness Instructor; Cheer Assistant Coach
jhogue@houstonchristian.org
Tarleton State University - B.A.
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - M.A.

Science Department

Lukas Rieke 
Education Technology Specialist; Department Chair, Science; Science Instructor; Robotics Instructor
lrieke@houstonchristian.org
Northwest Nazarene University - B.S.
Columbia International University - M.Ed.
Jon Bergmann 
Science Instructor
jbergmann@houstonchristian.org
Oregon State University - B.S.
University of Colorado - M.A.
Michael Bredeweg 
Science Instructor; Innovation Studies Instructor; Tennis Assistant Coach
mbredeweg@houstonchristian.org
Grand Valley State University - B.S.
Grand Valley State University - M.Ed.
Greg Dmitrowicz 
Science Instructor
gdmitrowicz@houstonchristian.org
Vanguard University - B.A.

National University - M.Ed.
Lisa Hawkins 
Innovation Programs Associate Director; Innovation Studies Instructor; Science Instructor
lhawkins@houstonchristian.org
University of North Carolina-Greensboro - B.A.
Montana State University - M.S.
Sarah McKeon
Science Instructor
smckeon@houstonchristian.org
Texas A&M University - B.S.
Andrea Moon 
Science Instructor
amoon@houstonchristian.org
Calvin University - B.S.

Social Science Department

Pamela McClendon 
Department Chair, Social Sciences; Social Sciences Instructor
pmcclendon@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.A.
Michael Jones 
Social Sciences Instructor
mjones@houstonchristian.org
University of Alabama - B.S.
Texas A&M University - M.Ed.
Jay Harmon 
Social Sciences Instructor
jharmon@houstonchristian.org
Louisiana State University - B.S.
Louisiana State University - M.Ed.
Clayton Webb 
Social Sciences Instructor; Football Assistant Coach
cwebb@houstonchristian.org
Belhaven University - B.S.
Trisha Young 
Social Sciences Instructor; Varsity Cheer Coach
tyoung@houstonchristian.org
Baylor University - B.A.
Tom Nugent
Social Sciences Instructor
tnugent@houstonchristian.org
University of Houston - B.S. 
Houston Baptist University - M.Ed.

Technology Staff

Don Emery 
Technology Director
demery@houstonchristian.org
Technology Certifications - MCSE, CCNA, CSPFA, CNE, CAN, CCDA
Brian Minson 
Technology Assistant
bminson@houstonchristian.org
Calvin Venus 
Audio and Media Specialist
cvenus@houstonchristian.org
West London University - B.A.

World Language Department

Michele Webb 
Department Chair, World Languages; World Languages Instructor: Spanish
mwebb@houstonchristian.org
Baylor University - B.A.
Texas A&M Commerce - M.S.
Sofia Abbassi 
World Languages Instructor: Spanish
sabbassi@houstonchristian.org
Houston Baptist University - B.S.
Grace Chang 
World Languages Instructor: Mandarin
gchang@houstonchristian.org
Fu-Jen Catholic University - B.A.
University of Texas - M.S.
Brooke McLane-Higginson 
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Distinguished Scholars Program Instructor
bmclane@houstonchristian.org
The Evergreen State College - B.A.
Carnegie Mellon University - M.A.
University of Pennsylvania - P.B.A.C.C.
St. John's College - M.A.
University of Pittsburgh - Ph.D.
Grace Munford '14
World Languages Instructor: Spanish; Girls Lacrosse Head Coach; Field Hockey Assistant Coach
gmunford@houstonchristian.org 
Messiah College - B.A.
Tim Woods 
World Languages Instructor: Latin; Leadership Instructor
twoods@houstonchristian.org
University of Missouri-Columbia - B.A.
Covenant Theological Seminary - M.A.