Faculty

List of 14 items.

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  Ms. Nicole Swindle

  Kindergarten Teacher
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  Mrs. Violeta Ion

  1st Grade Teacher
  
  Mrs. Violeta Ion is a dedicated educator who holds a double major in English and Theology from the University of Bucharest. Mrs. Ion brings a unique and comprehensive perspective to teaching with extensive experience homeschooling her own children from elementary through high school. She has also served as a Teacher Assistant at Little Lambs Preschool, where she supported young children with daily learning and activities. Additionally, Violeta is a licensed English as a Second Language teacher and is fluent in English, Spanish, and Romanian. Her passion for education, coupled with her strong communication and organizational skills, makes her a wonderful addition to our school community.
  
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  Ms. Annie Huntington

  2nd Grade Homeroom Teacher

  
  

   
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  Ms. Jamie Cure

  3rd Grade Homeroom Teacher

   

  Oral Roberts University, Bachelor of Education, Elementary Education

  Concentration: Teaching English Language Learners

   

  Ms. Jamie Cure joins JHCA as our third-grade teacher. Originally from Glenwood Springs, Colorado, she taught for nine years in the public school system. She was first introduced to classical education through a friend over two years ago. As her friend described classical literature’s relevance for today, Ms. Cure felt like she was starting to come alive as a teacher again. This discussion brought a sense of meaning, purpose, and hope to Ms. Cure. She realized we don’t just have “grin and bear it” to get through life, but that God has provided good, true, and beautiful things in this world and through literature that we can explore as a way of drawing closer to Him. She is excited to be teaching in an environment that is good for the soul of the teacher and good for the soul of the student. 
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  Ms. Cure is originally from the plains of northeastern Colorado where her family farms and ranches. She grew up riding horses, going on cattle drives, bottle feeding bucket calves, and playing sports. She is thankful for her time growing up on the plains but is also excited to explore the mountains. She is looking forward to connecting with students and families through JHCA and with the community in Jackson.

   

  She enjoys biking, talking on the porch with friends, crocheting, and reading. She is eager to explore cross country skiing and to refine her downhill skiing skills on the mountain this winter.
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  Dr. Douglas Brown

  4th Grade Homeroom Teacher

  
  

  West Virginia University, D.M.A., Composition

  Houghton University, M.Mus., Composition

  Wayland Baptist University, B.A., Music Theory & Composition
  
  

  Dr. Douglas Brown holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Theory and Composition from Wayland Baptist University, a Master’s in Music from Houghton University, and a Doctorate in Composition from West Virginia University.  He has been cultivating his career in classical teaching since 2010, when he observed firsthand how American
  education is in vital need of renewal.

  
  In 2020, he brought his refined classical teaching style to primary and secondary schools in Texas. A well-rounded scholar, Dr. Brown is an active developer of curriculum, with a rich history of instruction and mentorship to hundreds of college music and engineering students and a wealth of experience teaching music at the university level. 
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  Some of his past mentors in education include his first band director who taught him responsibility, his high school speech teacher who believed in his ability to be humorous, and numerous others who modeled humility and excellence together.
  
  He discovered JHCA in 2024, recognizing that the school matches his educational philosophy of developing ideals about excellence in education. The best teachers, he says, not only build the classroom foundation for absorbing knowledge but also teach how to live
  well and take responsibility. They recognize what their students can do, find what students cannot see in themselves, and draw the best out of them.
  
  Dr. Brown is thrilled to be in Jackson, where he lived for a time 30 years ago. Of teaching at JHCA, he says, “I’m very grateful to God. It’s wonderful to be able to teach at a school where His truth endures. We can present a small offering of wisdom or knowledge to a classroom of scholars and just watch them discover it. That’s true education.”
  
  In his leisure time, he enjoys music composition, chess, cycling, hiking, singing with his wife, and unbundling Pokémon cards with his daughter.
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  Mrs. Kate Rudolph

  5th & 6th Grade Teacher, 8th Grade History, World Religions
  
  Oxford University, M.St., Study of Religion
  Providence College, B.A., Theology, Minor in Dance
  
  Mrs. Kate Rudolph grew up in Trumbull, Connecticut, and attended St Joseph's high school. Her liberal arts studies gave her an early taste for the value of classical education. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in Rhode Island, where she studied theology with a minor in dance. Upon graduation, she matriculated into Oxford University for a Master’s in Theology.
  
  As a teacher, Mrs. Rudolph nurtures students' natural desire to learn. She says, "What I love most about teaching is to see students ask the right questions. My job is to encourage their curiosity and to guide their inquiry."
  
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  After finishing graduate school, Mrs. Rudolph worked for her parish in Connecticut, as well as taught high school theology and helped coach the drama club at her alma mater, St. Joseph's.

  
  

  Mrs. Rudolph enjoys using Socratic methods of inquiry, as well as honing her students' critical thinking skills. "I'm love working with 'logic stage' students. Their willingness to question everything is amazing!"

  
  

  Mrs. Rudolph is thrilled to be living in the Jackson Hole valley. She says, "I visited Yellowstone first as a child and then on a family vacation a few years ago. I fell in love with the landscape and the life!" As an avid hiker and aspiring fly fisher, she enjoys some of Jackson's most popular summer pastimes.

  
  

  When she has time to read, Mrs. Rudolph likes to dip into the essays of C.S. Lewis, G.K. Chesterton, or John Henry Newman. These authors are particular favorites because "as master teachers, they explain well and use analogies skillfully. Their focus is on educating the reader in a clever, entertaining, and winsome way."
  
  Why Does Mrs. Rudolph Love Teaching at JHCA?
  

  "I love teaching at JHCA because students are always curious. Every day is a new adventure. Our classical curriculum allows and encourages students to make connections across subjects and years of study, which truly leads to a love of learning."

  
  
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  Mrs. Lara Lee

  Lower School Latin & Chess Teacher, Librarian
  
  Grand Canyon University, M.Ed., Special Education
  Oral Roberts University, B.S., Graphic Design
  
  Lara Lee has worked in K-12 curriculum publication, taught in various contexts for 25 years, received training in ABA techniques, and worked with students who have special needs. She is also an award winning author of 5 young adult novels. Her whole career has focused on making great books accessible to everyone. Her passion for high-quality literature and for those who struggle to read them naturally led to classical education, Latin, and teaching.
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  Ms. Catherine Stypa

  Middle School Literature and Composition; High School Humane Letters
  
  Wyoming Catholic College, B.A., Liberal Arts
  
  Ms. Catherine Stypa joins JHCA after receiving her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Wyoming Catholic College—the perfect confluence, in her opinion, of a Great Books curriculum and an epic location. As WCC is set against the Wind River Mountains with sprawling backcountry access, Ms. Stypa was a Field Instructor with COR Expeditions during college. After graduating, she taught high school math and science at a private, Catholic school in California while attaining the prerequisite education to pursue a career in medicine. However, her profound love of teaching and passion for classical education, along with a strong desire to serve, led her to Jackson Hole Classical Academy.
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  Ms. Stypa articulates that classical education is timeless—not only enriching each student’s life, but also giving them the ability to enter the workforce as a strong and effective candidate. She says, “I believe in the mission of JHCA because of its curriculum, combined with its commitment to cultivating a rich community within the greater Jackson Hole community.” She is excited to help further that mission.

   

  A product of classical education herself, Ms. Stypa believes that “crafting logical arguments, playing chess, and studying poetry will allow a student to step beyond factual knowledge, and form a versatile mind, capable of synthesizing information or pivoting between fields of study.” Her own experience leads her to this conclusion, explaining, “I find that previous studies in literature or mathematical theory keep recurring in new light and with new meaning.”

   

  Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Ms. Stypa grew up trail riding, hunting, and camping with her large, active family. She is excited to get to know the community of JHCA, as well as the larger Jackson Hole local community. An avid skier and outdoor enthusiast, she says, “I am looking forward to some stellar skiing this winter!” Her hobbies also include reading science fiction by a fire in the winter or riding her mountain bike in the summer.
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  Dr. Catherine Bahn

  Middle & High School Music

  
  

  McGill University, D.M.A., Early Music

  Royal Conservatoire of The Hague, M.Mus., Viola da Gamba Performance

  Indiana University, M.Mus., Cello Performance

  San Francisco Conservatory of Music, B.Mus., Cello Performance
  
  Catherine Bahn holds a bachelor’s degree in cello performance from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a master’s in cello performance from Indiana University, a master’s in viola da gamba performance from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague in the Netherlands, and a doctorate in early music from McGill University. Most recently, she taught improvisation at MentiParti Summer Academy Basel; previously, she taught undergraduate courses at The New School in New York City. Dr. Bahn’s teaching philosophy centers on the idea that students learn music best through performance.
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  In the classroom, Dr. Bahn emphasizes the importance of students honing their technical skills so that they can better express themselves, and fosters practice and comfort with improvisation. “Contrary to common perceptions of Classical-period music, improvisation was an integral part of both learning and performing,” she says. “I believe that fostering improvisation not only encourages creativity but also enhances students’ understanding of the repertoire.” As a lifelong learner, Dr. Bahn believes classical education is important because it immerses students in interdisciplinary arts, encourages their appreciation for cultural heritage, and challenges them to explore moral and ethical dilemmas: “This approach helps them build character and values while also getting them ready to engage thoughtfully with the world around them.” An interdisciplinary approach is even part of Dr. Bahn’s own learning, as she enjoys exploring literature, artwork, and architecture from the same time periods as the music she performs, in order to deepen her understanding of those eras and find connections to today.

  As a classical musician with nearly 20 years of experience living and working abroad, Dr. Bahn has spent a lot of time on the road. “I enjoy traveling and discovering the musical history of different places. Additionally, as a researcher and writer, I often find myself in libraries uncovering forgotten musical manuscripts from the Renaissance [through] the Classical period.” Having moved to Jackson from New York City, Dr. Bahn is looking forward to skiing, watching wildlife, and learning to fly fish.

  
  
  
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  Mr. Dwayne Harty

  K-12th Grade Art
  
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  Mr. Jozef Benko

  Life Science; Algebra I; Biology; Physics
  
  University of the Slovak Republic at Nitra, M.S., Environmental Ecology
  University of the Slovak Republic at Nitra, B.S. Environmental Science
  
  

  Mr. Jozef Benko hails from Czechoslovakia, where he studied environmental science and environmental ecology. 

   
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  One of Mr. Benko's hobbies is studying advanced mathematics and physics. He explains, "Chess complemented my love of mathematical theory and helped my critical thinking skills in calculations. Chess is not just a game, it's a subject of study." He adds, "There's an art to chess as well—the game allows you to develop and innovate strategy."
  
  One of the beauties of chess, according to Mr. Benko, is that it is a dynamic game. No two games are alike, and constant practice yields steady improvement.

   

  Since he was in college, Mr. Benko has wanted to teach. He is happy to be at Classical Academy and looks forward to sharing his knowledge of chess with students.

   

  Mr. Benko will be assisting Coach Jay Stallings with the the chess program. Mr. Benko says that "Coach Stallings is both a great chess teacher and player and has helped the transition happen smoothly from this year to next."

   

  Mr. Benko is pleased to see where JHCA students are in their chess games and sees exciting opportunities for improvement. He says, "Every grade has some surprisingly strong players. Now that students will be practicing in person again, I look forward to seeing the classes make even bigger gains."

   

  One way Mr. Benko hopes to further strengthen the chess program is by starting a Chess club so that students will have the opportunity to become more involved and delve deeper into chess tactics.

   

  Mr. Benko, his wife, and three daughters live in Victor, Idaho, which has been home for his family the past thirteen years.
  
  Why Does Mr. Benko Love Teaching at JHCA?
  "I enjoy teaching at JHCA for several reasons. I believe that classical education is a superior form of education which JHCA is all about. I also like the people that I work with because we all share the same beliefs. JHCA is not ashamed to speak the name of Jesus and makes sure that Christ is the center of our education. Lastly, I just love to teach chess to our students!"
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  Mr. Elliott Best

  Geometry; Spanish I/II; Calculus; Senior Thesis

   

  California Baptist University, B.S., Mathematics

  University of California, Riverside, M.S., Mathematics
  Dallas Theological Seminary, M.A., Christian Studies

   

  Mr. Elliott Best grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and studied in California. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from California Baptist University, a Master’s (also in Mathematics) from UC Riverside, and a Master's in Christian Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Before starting at JHCA in 2023, he taught at Ridgeview Classical Schools in Ft. Collins, Colorado. What drew him here was the idea of connecting the classical and Christian traditions of education.
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  Mr. Best approaches mathematics as a conversation, one in which the student progresses through stages from receptivity and inquiry to mastery and authorship of the subject. “I’m trying to connect students with a rich, authentic experience of patterns so that they’re empowered to explore and create,” he says. To do that, his teaching method follows four steps. “At first, we simply watch and actively listen. We make observations, consider and appreciate how others are doing mathematics, and recognize and remember what has been shared with us in the past.” This is followed by responding to what one has heard: “As we contribute, we become familiar with the essence of the matter at hand, develop our own preferences for participating, and grow in appreciation of the community standards.” The class then takes the lead by organizing, synthesizing, and interpreting their mathematical experiences, and finally creates: “We propose and appraise axioms, create operations and use them to construct and deconstruct patterns, and develop methods and techniques for interacting with patterns.”
  
  

  Mr. Best hopes that, when taught in the classical model, mathematics can bring a fullness of meaning to the formation of a well-rounded human being, instead of “just being for ‘math people.’” When not teaching, Mr. Best enjoys rock climbing and playing violin. 
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  Mr. Steve Spence

  Middle School Pre-Algebra and Algebra II; High School Pre-Calculus

   

  Notre Dame De Namur University, M.A. in Education

  Chico State University, B.S. in Computer Science

   

  JHCA welcomes Mr. Steve Spence, joining us this year as an Upper School Math, Computer Skills, and Computer Science teacher Most recently, Mr. Spence taught at the Mountain Academy in Jackson.

   

  Mr. Spence is originally from the Bay Area of California, near San Jose. During his undergraduate studies at Chico State University in California, he majored in Computer Science and minored in Math. He then earned an M.A. in education from Notre Dame De Namur University, also in California. Mr. Spence began college hoping to become a math teacher, but after taking a few computer science classes, he realized that "computers were about to explode in popularity.” Consequently, he changed his plans and worked in the tech industry for many years. His love for teaching persisted, however, as he homeschooled his children while working. He eventually retired from the tech industry to teach full-time.
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  Mr. Spence’s teaching philosophy is formed by his observation that “somewhere along the line in middle or high school, a lot of students just decide that they’re not good at math.” His goal is “to turn the tide on that mentality, to teach them and instill in them the confidence that they can in fact do math, that they can apply math concepts and techniques to solve problems, and that they can do it well.” By building students’ confidence in math, it builds their confidence in every area of school and life—if they can do math, they can do anything.

   

  Having used classical curricula to homeschool his own children, Mr. Spence values classical education’s focus on maximizing students’ abilities at each stage: grammar, logic, and rhetoric. In his view, you pass through these three stages each time you learn about new topic. You first learn the grammatical building blocks of the topic, you then learn the logic of how the blocks are put together, and finally, you can create something new using your obtained knowledge. He observes, “by passing through grammar, logic, and rhetoric stages, you can learn anything from math to aerospace engineering. Classical education lets anyone teach themselves.” Mr. Spence notes that “while job skills go out of date quickly and often don’t match more than one particular company, teaching students how to learn, how to be human, and how to recognize goodness, truth, and beauty will enable them to quickly obtain technical skills in any job."

   

  In his free time, Mr. Spence enjoys doing everything one can do in the Tetons: fishing, biking, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, climbing, and reading (especially the Great Books). We are happy to have Mr. Spence aboard!
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  Mr. Jeff Eckart

  Elementary and Middle School P.E. 
  
  Concordia University, M.A., Teaching, Health and Physical Education Emphasis

  Portland State University, B.S., School of Community Health
  

   

  Born and raised in small-town Oregon, Mr. Jeff Eckart earned a Bachelor of Science in the School of Community Health at Portland State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in health and physical education from Concordia University. He joins JHCA as the K–6 physical education teacher, having previously taught and coached in both Oregon and Arizona. He also manages our athletic clubs, programs, and camps.
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  Pursuing a classical education for his two sons originally brought Mr. Eckart to JHCA and the opportunity to teach at his children’s school was a dream come true. Mr. Eckart believes that “the classical approach nurtures a child’s natural desire to learn” and is “excited to enter a program that values a student's need for daily physical activity, who sees the character that can be built through group sports, and is intent on providing a foundation for lifetime healthy practices.”

   

  When asked about his professional accomplishments, Mr. Eckart points to his role as a coach, stating, “I have enjoyed playing an integral role in the life of student-athletes. It brings me great joy to see many of these young individuals continue to participate in athletics after high school, including the D1 collegiate and even professional level.”

   

  Moving to Wyoming was a long-standing goal for Mr. Eckart, his wife Kayla, and their two boys, as vacations in the Jackson area never felt enough. In addition to watching just about any sport, Mr. Eckart loves coaching and playing basketball, baseball, and most recently, golf.