Faculty and Staff Directory

ADMINISTRATION

HEAD OF SCHOOL
Carrie Neller holds an undergraduate degree from Houghton College in New York and a master’s degree in Education from DePaul University. Mrs. Neller has been in the field of education for over 20 years. She was the Director of Supplemental Programs at Hawaii Baptist Academy, a K-12 college prep school of 1,000 students. She also served as High School Assistant Principal at ASSETS School, an independent K-12 school in Honolulu. In addition to administrative positions, Mrs. Neller has taught in private Christian schools. She has also held administrative positions in the corporate world. In her leisure, she enjoys traveling, walking, camping, reading, and doing jigsaw puzzles. She and her husband reside in Monroe and are members of First Baptist Church Indian Trail.

UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Dr. Mildred Similton is a native of Charlotte, NC. A graduate of Pfeiffer University and UNC-Charlotte, she earned her Ph.D. in Psychology from North Carolina State University. Prior to joining the Academy, Dr. Similton worked in higher education for fifteen years as an academic assessment officer, a professor and as director of a college preparatory program for high school students. She joined the Academy in 2003 to begin development of the high school program. Since that time she has served as interim administrator and academic dean. Her scholarly research has included evaluating the effectiveness of Freshman Seminar Programs and identifying indicators of healthy family functioning. Dr. Similton has served as president of the Greater Charlotte Association of Christian Schools and as an adjunct online faculty member for Lindsey Wilson College and Liberty University.  A member of Central Church of God, she resides in Lake Park with her husband and children.

UPPER SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Kathleen Tassy is from Grand Island, NY and graduated from Buffalo State College with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Education. She also earned New York State Certification in Family and Consumer Science, Health and School District Administration. Her professional experience includes 13 years as a high school teacher and 6 years as a middle school administrator. Prior to moving to Charlotte, she was involved with a mentorship program for students and internship experiences for high school students. She and her husband have two married sons, five grandchildren and attend Central Church of God.

ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR
Elrita Curry is originally from Lumberton, NC. She earned a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting at Barber-Scotia College in Concord. Mrs. Curry’s background is in banking and she has provided 25 years of service in that field. She brings a variety of knowledge and skills that contribute to the diverse needs of a growing Christian education environment. Mrs. Curry has always had a passion for the academic and spiritual needs of children and has volunteered in the Union County school system and teaches first grade Sunday School at Central Church of God. She resides in Waxhaw with her husband and children.

BUSINESS MANAGER
Leonard Politowicz is originally from Baltimore, MD and earned a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Oral Roberts University. His prior professional experience includes work as an accountant in various industries including steel fabrication, safety supplier distribution and manufacturing. He and his wife attend Central Church of God and reside in Indian Trail.

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Dale Similton is a native of Kannapolis, NC. He earned his undergraduate degree at Mars Hill College where he was an Honorable Mention All-American football player. He has nearly 20 years of experience in private education as a middle school history teacher, intramural coordinator and varsity coach. His coaching experiences include middle school football and middle and high school basketball and track. Mr. Similton is also founder and director of the ministry Similton Faith, Hope and Love Camps. A member of Central Church of God, he resides in Lake Park with his family.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
Shari Tuz is originally from Hershey, Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Business Administration from Grove City College and a Nonprofit Management Certificate from Duke University. She joined the Academy staff in 2004 and has 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, fundraising and marketing. She and her family live in the Charlotte area and are members of Forest Hill Church. She enjoys photography and traveling.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Ashley Benton earned her Computer Applications Specialist Diploma from King’s College in Charlotte and is currently working on her bachelor of science degree in Business through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. She has a background in human resources and administrative support. She is originally from the Wesley Chapel area and currently resides in Monroe with her husband. They attend Central Church of God and enjoy the Young & Married Sunday School class.

CUSTODIAN
Vasiliy Kotsyuba is originally from Ukraine. Before coming to Central Academy, he worked at a private elementary school in Albany, NY doing maintenance/custodial work. He now resides in Lake Park with his family. He also serves as associate pastor at Slavic Evangelical Church – Emmanuel.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS

KINDERGARTEN 
Bonnie Platzer graduated from State University of New York-College of Buffalo with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She has 10 years of experience in public and private schools.  Mrs. Platzer and her family reside in the Charlotte area and attend Central Church of God.

KINDERGARTEN
Patty Cole is thrilled to be a part of the faculty and feels that God has placed a unique opportunity before her at Central Academy. She has a bachelor of arts degree in Elementary Education from Harding Christian University and has over 20 years of teaching experience in the classroom (fifteen of those years in a small private Christian school much like Central Academy). She and her husband are involved in Queen City Church of Christ and have four grown sons.

FIRST GRADE
Kim Hucks graduated from the University of South Carolina with a bachelor of arts degree in Early Childhood and has more than 15 years of teaching experience. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing piano, singing, reading, vacationing at the beach and hiking. She and her husband reside in Monroe and have three children.

SECOND GRADE
Heather Stoneham grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Appalachian State with a degree in Elementary Education. She previously taught at the Academy for five years (three of those in 2nd grade) and returns this year after teaching preschool for the past six years. She and her husband have been married 10 years and have a daughter and a cat named Toby Macaroni. The family attends Hickory Grove Baptist Church where Mrs. Stoneham has served in the nursery and as a sunday school teacher. She enjoys reading, painting, being outside and spending time with family and friends.

THIRD GRADE
Lauren Lawrence earned her undergraduate degree in Education from Lee University.  Her experience includes five years teaching in Christian schools and 15 years in the homeschooling community.  Mrs. Lawrence, her husband and two children live in Charlotte and have been members of Central Church of God for more than 25 years.  She enjoys singing in her church choir, reading and gardening.

FOURTH GRADE
Rita Nichols graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She has taught for more than 25 years in both public and private schools. She has two children and one grandson. Mrs. Nichols and her husband reside in Matthews. Her interests include sewing, gardening, shelling and genealogy.

FIFTH GRADE
Pam Ketchie has over 15 years of teaching experience in public and private schools.  She was one of the first teachers hired at the Academy the first year the school began.  She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Valdosta State University in Early Childhood Education. She and her husband reside in Charlotte and have one daughter who is a student at Central Academy. Mrs. Ketchie’s hobbies include eating chocolate, gardening, boating, reading and hiking.

ELEMENTARY P.E. / TEACHER ASSISTANT / M.S. VOLLEYBALL
Melissa DeLuca is originally from Bahama, NC and earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Elementary Education from Wingate University. Prior to joining the Academy she served as a graduate assistant for volleyball at Wingate. She attends Church of the Redeemer in Indian Trail where she is a youth group leader. She enjoys being outside, hiking, running, volleyball, reading, being around children and spending time with family and friends.

TEACHER ASSISTANT
Meredith Swaim is originally from Toledo, OH and graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a degree in Elementary Education. Her experience includes teaching first grade in Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and she serves as a volunteer with the Joni and Friends ministry. She lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband and three children. They attend Central Church of God and are active in the children’s ministry.

MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY

Micah Karaman teaches middle school health, a careers class for seniors, and assists with middle and high school basketball. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Lee University with a major in telecommunications and a minor in Bible. In 2007 he received his license to become an ordained minister. Mr. Karaman has been teaching in private schools for the past eight years, and lives in the Matthews area with his wife. They are currently attending Real Life Church in Concord.

Willa McGhee teaches middle school language arts, history and Bible as well as high school English and speech. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UNC-Charlotte and has taught in Christian schools for more than 15 years. Her favorite pastimes include reading, hiking, horseback riding, and spending time with her two sons.

Mike Mason teaches Bible in both the middle and high school programs.  He graduated from Ohio University with a degree in education, specializing in Language Arts.  He is currently pursuing a graduate degree at Southern Evangelical Seminary.  He and his wife live in Mooresville.

Christopher Rosenbury teaches middle and high school math and science.  He was born in Japan and earned degrees in Physics (with a concentration in Optical Science) and Mathematics. He and his wife live in Charlotte and attend Harvest Community Church. In his spare time he enjoys disk golf, martial arts and video games.

Tom Ward teaches middle and high school science and social studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Drew University (Madison, NJ) and a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Education from Florida Bible College. Also, he studied secondary education at Pensacola Christian College. He has over 25 years teaching and/or administrative experience in Christian Schools in North Carolina and New Jersey. His hobbies include cartooning, writing, 1/43 scale slot racing and playing bluegrass harmonica. Mr. Ward and his wife reside in Monroe and attend Lee Park Baptist Church.

Sherry Watts teaches middle school math and yearbook. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Education from UNC-Charlotte and has taught in both public and private schools.  She and her husband reside in Weddington and have two children. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, dancing, reading, scrapbooking, and hiking.

Jacqui Williams teaches middle and high school Spanish and yearbook. She is from Atlanta and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia and a Master of Education from the University of Phoenix. This is her fifth year of teaching at the Academy and her experience also includes four years of teaching at a Christian school in Atlanta. She enjoys knitting, travel and cooking.

Olga Zhushma teaches high school math and science. Her educational background includes undergraduate degrees in Mathematics (The College of Saint Rose, NY) and Mechanical Engineering (Union College, NY) as well as a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute). Originally from the Ukraine, she now resides in Lake Park with her husband and their four children.

SUPPORT FACULTY & STAFF

MEDIA SPECIALIST
Robin Bowlin graduated from UNC-Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in English. She has been an Academy parent for eight years and served as Parents’ Association president for several years. Mrs. Bowlin was a founding member of Faith United Methodist Church in Lake Park and enjoys reading, walking, baseball and shopping in her spare time. She lives in Lake Park with her husband and two children.

RESOURCE SPECIALIST
Alice Mockovciak is from Catskill, NY and graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and SUNY College at New Paltz with a master’s degree in Special Education from The College of Saint Rose. Her experience includes serving as a Special Education teacher, Supervisor of Educational Services and Director of Special Education in New York schools. She was also the student chapter president for the New York State Council for Exceptional Children and has been an active volunteer at her schools and church. Mrs. Mockovciak and her husband have three grown children and attend Fire Church in Concord. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and hiking.

ELEMENTARY SPANISH TEACHER
Mercy Star teaches elementary Spanish. She graduated from Santo Tomas University in Bogota, Colombia with a degree in Psychology. She worked in Human Resources for about ten years in Colombia then as a professor in computers and organizational psychology at her alma mater. Upon living in the United States, she has taken care of young children and taught Spanish for four years at Providence Christian School in Charlotte. She and her husband attend Providence Road Church of Christ and have two grown children.

MUSIC TEACHER
Jerry Kemper is a worship leader and Christian recording artist with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. His desire is to develop students not only musically, but also spiritually. Mr. Kemper teaches elementary music, leads the Praise Band, and provides private music lessons.  He and his family reside in Matthews.

ART TEACHER
Mila Antonyuk earned her master’s degree in Art Education and has more than 20 years of teaching experience. Originally from Europe, she was an art instructor at School of Art in Ukraine, Technical College in Estonia and a Christian school in Seattle, WA. She is a member of Central Church and resides with her family in Matthews. She enjoys making pottery, painting and gardening.

VAN DRIVER
Michael Cox is originally from Winston-Salem, NC and graduated from East Coast Bible College with a major in Bible and a minor in Music. He also earned a Master Diploma in Professional Photography from the New York Institute of Photography. He worked as a credit manager for 29 years and is a Church of God licensed Minister of Music. He and his wife live in Mint Hill and have two daughters and one granddaughter. Mr. Cox attends Central Church of God where he is active in the Sanctuary Choir, Prison Ministry, Motor Racing Outreach, and short-term missions. He is an award-winning photographer and also enjoys NASCAR racing.

VAN DRIVER
Katherine Stilwell grew up in Monroe, NC and earned an associates degree in Secretarial Science from Central Piedmont Community College. She is a member of Sardis Baptist Church in Indian Trail where she serves as an assistant to the lay director of the Children’s Department. She also serves as an Awana T&T Girls Director. She and her husband have been married for 28 years and have two grown children. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, scrapbooking, gardening and canning.