About Us
Administration
Dr. William Rutherford
Head of School
Dr. William Rutherford served as Executive Director for Great Hearts Texas, where he led the Academic Services Team to support student academic achievement and growth across the network of K-12 classical charter schools in Great Hearts Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Rutherford has worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, has taught theology and religious studies at St. Edward’s University, Houston Baptist University, and Fuller Seminary, and has served as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas.
He has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications on Christianity and Judaism in the Roman empire, including contributions in Harvard Theological Review and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Dr. Rutherford loves to take hikes and trips with his wife Heather and daughter Charlotte, rollerblading, riding his bike, and reading great books that widen the human vision to see what is true, good, and beautiful.
Dr. William Rutherford served as Executive Director for Great Hearts Texas, where he led the Academic Services Team to support student academic achievement and growth across the network of K-12 classical charter schools in Great Hearts Texas.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from The University of Edinburgh. Dr. Rutherford has worked as an engineer in the oil and gas industry, has taught theology and religious studies at St. Edward’s University, Houston Baptist University, and Fuller Seminary, and has served as a Visiting Scholar in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Texas.
He has authored a number of peer-reviewed publications on Christianity and Judaism in the Roman empire, including contributions in Harvard Theological Review and The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome. Dr. Rutherford loves to take hikes and trips with his wife Heather and daughter Charlotte, rollerblading, riding his bike, and reading great books that widen the human vision to see what is true, good, and beautiful.
Mr. Ian Landis
Director of Admissions; Dean of Faculty
5th Grade Homeroom and Language Arts; 6th Grade Math
Pennsylvania State University, B.S., Elementary Education
Mr. Ian Landis, a founding teacher at JHCA, has enjoyed teaching science and mathematics at multiple grade levels at JHCA for ten years. Drawn to Wyoming to be near extended family, Mr. Landis has previously taught in Arizona as well as South Dakota. Mr. Landis’s logical approach to his teaching disciplines makes him a model of excellence in the classroom for his students. Mr. Landis enjoys riding his motorcycle, studying his Bible, and exploring the beauty of Wyoming with his wife and two children.
“I love seeing students mature in their learning, whether it be coming to love mathematics or science, or just deepening their understanding of the world around them. To love to learn is one of our highest aims, and to be able to guide students to this love through proper training and habit formation has been a blessing. I love coming to work every day, connecting with families in our community, and pointing students to what is true, good, and beautiful.”
Mr. Landis sees wonderful results from this course. He says, “The students appreciate being able to apply the math they are learning to practical, everyday life. They realize that what they’re learning will benefit them both immediately and in the future.”
The thing Mr. Landis loves most about teaching is how it reveals the interest and understanding of the students. “I love to see students excited about math and science,” he says. “There is nothing like seeing them have the ‘aha’ moment.” The shared experience and excitement Mr. Landis has with his classes is evident; he is a cheerful presence at school and clearly loves being in the classroom. “I always enjoyed being in school, even as a kid.” He says he will never forget his pre-calculus teacher who inspired him in high school. Math was Mr. Landis’ favorite subject. What he liked then is still what interests him now: “I’m fascinated by the patterns of math. Students can get the same solution in different ways.”
After earning his bachelor's degree in education at Pennsylvania State University, Mr. Landis immediately began teaching mathematics. He taught at Mifflinburg Elementary in central Pennsylvania, at the Pierre Indian Learning Center in South Dakota, and at Superstition Mountain Middle School in Arizona.
Mr. Landis says teaching on the reservation was an excellent learning experience. “The school had really tough kids from broken homes, but it was wonderful to be an influence for good in their lives,” he says. Likewise, the school in Arizona was an impoverished Title 1 school in a challenging environment. Mr. Landis says that these teaching experiences taught him how to relate to students from all backgrounds and ability levels. He brings this range of experiences to bear when evaluating, tutoring, and creating placement tests.
As a child, Mr. Landis loved the outdoors, exploring the woods of his native PA. He played tennis in high school, as well as soccer and basketball. Moving to Jackson provided him the opportunity to experience the grandeur of nature in an amazing way. He incorporates local nature into his science classes as much as possible.
It had been Mr. Landis’ dream to move to Jackson for years, since the majority of his extended family moved to Jackson in the 70’s. The scenery has not disappointed. “I love being able to see God’s handiwork when seeing the Tetons and all the wildlife,” he says. “There’s never an ugly day in Jackson.”
Coach Samuel Lunz
Dean of Students
High School Biology, Chemistry, and Personal Fitness
Texas State University, M.Ed., Exercise Science
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, B.S., Exercise Science and Biology
Coach Samuel Lunz is originally from San Marcos, Texas, where his father has been a headmaster of a private school for over 40 years. His twenty years of teaching experience have given him a deep love for the art of teaching. In particular, Coach Lunz is eager to see his students embody the same virtues on the field or court that are incorporated into every aspect of the classroom at JHCA. Prior to taking on a leadership position at JHCA, he served as the head basketball coach of Jackson Hole High School for five years. Coach Lunz and his wife have embraced life in Jackson Hole and are enjoying raising their family in this community.
“I love teaching at Jackson Hole Classical Academy because of the high character and quality of the faculty, staff, leadership, and families. It is by far the best place I have taught because of the focus on in-depth curriculum and teaching, the pursuit of truth, and the development of each student as a whole person created in the image of God.”
Coach Lunz says, “My dad is my biggest influence as far as teaching goes. I watched many of his former students come back and tell him how much of an influence he had on them. I got to see firsthand the long-term rewards of teaching.” The family dedication to teaching shines through in Coach Lunz’s enthusiasm with his students at JH Classical Academy.
Coach Lunz moved to Jackson Hole from Buda, Texas, where he coached 6A high school basketball—the highest level in the state. He’s been enthusiastically welcomed by both JH Classical Academy Coach as physical education teacher, and Jackson Hole High School, as the new high school basketball coach.
Despite a successful coaching career in Texas, Coach Lunz and his family longed for the mountains and a small, welcoming community. “I love everything outdoors,” Lunz says, “and all our holidays were spent in the mountains. We really wanted to live in the mountains someday.” Lunz is an avid fly-fisherman and hunter. Jackson Hole has everything he and his family was looking for. Now he and his wife Becky are focusing on doing activities with their young daughter and son. “It’s a wonderful place to raise our children in the kind of healthy lifestyle that we want for them.”
When Coach Lunz heard about the positions open at Jackson Hole High School and JH Classical Academy, he and his wife made a decisive choice. “Moving from Texas was a real leap of faith,” he says, “but we definitely decided to move.” Not only was the location perfect, but his two roles as coach and teacher provide outlets for his many talents.
Coach Lunz has expressed enthusiasm to further discover JH Classical Academy, saying, “The philosophy of classical education just makes sense. It’s wonderful to work at a school where tried-and-true methods that work are still being used.” He is excited to continue in his position as physical education instructor, teaching students the fundamentals of health and fitness, while making exercise engaging at all levels.
Dr. Joseph Rudolph
Dean of Faculty, Upper School
8th Grade Homeroom
10th and 11th Grade Humane Letters; Middle School History and Latin.
Fordham University, Ph.D., English
Fordham University, M.A., Medieval Studies
Thomas More College, B.A., Literature
Dr. Joseph Rudolph grew up in the rural town of Conesus in New York state. He majored in literature at Thomas More College and then taught at New England Classical Academy in New Hampshire. Teaching made Dr. Rudolph realize how much he loved language, especially ancient language. He decided to continue his education and received an MA in Medieval Studies and a PhD in English from Fordham University. Dr. Rudolph's dissertation centers on the literature of eleventh-century Europe.
"The wonderful part of teaching is to witness a student grasp something—when it 'clicks'—for the first time. It is a privilege to help someone come to knowledge and wisdom."
8th Grade Homeroom
10th and 11th Grade Humane Letters; Middle School History and Latin.
Fordham University, Ph.D., English
Fordham University, M.A., Medieval Studies
Thomas More College, B.A., Literature
Dr. Joseph Rudolph grew up in the rural town of Conesus in New York state. He majored in literature at Thomas More College and then taught at New England Classical Academy in New Hampshire. Teaching made Dr. Rudolph realize how much he loved language, especially ancient language. He decided to continue his education and received an MA in Medieval Studies and a PhD in English from Fordham University. Dr. Rudolph's dissertation centers on the literature of eleventh-century Europe.
"The wonderful part of teaching is to witness a student grasp something—when it 'clicks'—for the first time. It is a privilege to help someone come to knowledge and wisdom."
Dr. Joseph Rudolph grew up in the rural town of Conesus in New York state. He majored in literature at Thomas More College and then taught at New England Classical Academy in New Hampshire. Teaching made Dr. Rudolph realize how much he loved language, especially ancient language. He decided to continue his education and received an MA in Medieval Studies and a PhD in English from Fordham University. Dr. Rudolph's dissertation centers on the literature of eleventh-century Europe.
Dr. Rudolph describes his journey to classical education as gradual. For one, his innate love of language was inspired by an encounter with Latin in college. Looking back on the journey, Dr. Rudolph says, "The amount of care required to recognize intricate inflections made me see the intrinsic value of studying ancient language, not only for the amazing texts they enable us to read, but also for the mental discipline they require."
Looking further back, he also credits his inspiring teachers in high school. He recalls, "I had an art teacher taught me how to be exact and pay attention. The patience and precision needed to complete an accurate pencil-drawing carried over to how I began to look at my other academic studies: truth, whether in the form of a visual image or a philosophical proposition, demands careful, total, and often exhausting attention.”
Along with realizing the discipline of learning, Dr. Rudolph came to understand the beauty that there is in knowledge. Reading poetry in college opened Dr. Rudolph to the textures and rhythms of language and how truth can be communicated through exquisite turns of phrase. His favorite poets? "Robert Frost and John Keats come first. Emily Dickinson and Gerard Manley Hopkins are in close competition."
As a teacher, Dr. Rudolph finds reward in observing in students the same kinds of revelations he has experienced. He says, "The wonderful part of teaching is to witness a student grasp something—when it 'clicks'—for the first time. It is a privilege to help someone come to knowledge and wisdom."
Dr. Rudolph loves to spend time with good friends, most especially his wife, Kate (also a teacher at JHCA). He also enjoys fishing and hunting and running on trails. Speaking of fly fishing, Dr. Rudolph sometimes exchanges the medieval Latin texts for fishing literature, such as the essays of Roderick Haig Brown and Norman Maclean's A River Runs Through It.
Why Does Dr. Rudolph Love Teaching at JHCA?
Why Does Dr. Rudolph Love Teaching at JHCA?
"I love getting to be a part of an amazing community of educators committed to our model of education. Every single teacher at JHCA is passionate about learning and cares deeply about the souls of our students. This shared vision and shared purpose fosters an atmosphere of joy—even in the face of challenges and hardships."
Mrs. Monica Vitale
Dean of Academics; Accreditation & College Counseling Coordinator
11th & 12th Grade Homeroom
Drexel University, M.S., Global and International Education
Colgate University, B.A., Philosophy and Religion
Mrs. Monica Vitale is originally from Durban, South Africa, and has spent the last fifteen years working in various academic, advisory, and admissions positions at Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, Connecticut.
11th & 12th Grade Homeroom
Drexel University, M.S., Global and International Education
Colgate University, B.A., Philosophy and Religion
Mrs. Monica Vitale is originally from Durban, South Africa, and has spent the last fifteen years working in various academic, advisory, and admissions positions at Marianapolis Preparatory School in Thompson, Connecticut.
Mrs. Vitale earned a bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Religion from Colgate University and a master’s degree in Global and International Education from Drexel University. Her capstone thesis on Holocaust Education in Germany was published in the Forum for International Research in Education. After college, she spent two years living and working in Europe as an ESL teacher.
Mrs. Vitale says “I see classical education as education in its truest, purest form. Classical education recognizes the innate strengths and talents of each individual student and provides them with the skills to bring their unique perspective into the world.”
Mrs. Vitale says her family was drawn to both this region and the school, and are very excited to join the JHCA community. She says, “We first came through this region during a family cross country trip and immediately felt at peace. There is something about this area that seems to both calm and feed the soul. When we returned to visit campus, we felt the same sense of being called to the community. The genuine warmth of the people we met, the palpable love of learning inherent in the faculty, and the enthusiasm of the students encouraged us to take this leap of faith.”
Mrs. Vitale enjoys cooking and baking, running with her husband, and going on family hikes with their Newfoundland dog, Oliver. Her husband, Mr. Andrew Vitale, is the Athletics and Community Relations Coordinator, aka "Director of Fun". Together they have two daughters, Siena and Sophie, who both attend JHCA.
Why Does Mrs. Vitale Love Working at JHCA?
Why Does Mrs. Vitale Love Working at JHCA?
"I love being a part of the JHCA community because I believe wholeheartedly in our school's mission and vision. We teach students how to think, not what to think, and do so by sharing with them works that are true, good, and beautiful. I see the love of learning growing in our youngest students and am in awe of the depth of knowledge found in our older students. It is evident to me daily that this education is cultivating an impressive generation of future leaders."
Come visit us!
Physical Address:
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
2500 S. Park Loop Rd.
Jackson, WY 83001
Contact Us
Enrollment Inquiries:
Lisa Landis, Admissions
(307) 201-5040
All Other Inquiries:
School Office
(307) 201-5040
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 7466
Jackson, WY 83002
Follow us on Facebook
LANGUAGE
© 2025 Jackson Hole Classical Academy. All Rights Reserved.
Nondiscrimination Policy: Jackson Hole Classical Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Jackson Hole Classical Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.