Staff

	Neil Black, Principal Mr. Black graduated from Cedarville University with a B.S. in Physical Education and a Minor in Bible. He has served in various capacities of Christian Education for over twenty years, all but four of which have been in some form of administration. Mr. Black answered the call to MCA in the fall of 2004. He and his family feel honored and privileged to be able to serve God in this ministry. Email: n.black@monclovabaptist.org
	Amy Tawney, Administrative Assistant Mrs. Tawney and her family began attending Monclova Road Baptist Church in February of 2005. She has been very active in the Women’s Ministries of MRBC and enjoys loving little ones in the nursery. Mrs. Tawney joined the MCA staff in August of 2010. She currently holds the position of administrative assistant to the principal, and also handles enrollment, state compliance information, and various school office duties. The Tawneys are proud to be a part of the MCA family and the opportunities it provides. Email: a.tawney@monclovabaptist.org
	Pamela Klump, School Office Receptionist Mrs. Klump is the receptionist at Monclova Christian Academy, and also helps monitor the lunchroom. She and her family have attended Monclova Road Baptist Church since 1997. She enjoys serving in different ministries such as the nursery, being a teen leader, and other areas of service. Mrs. Klump and her husband, Ben, enjoy spending time with their four children. Her favorite verse is Jeremiah 29:11, ‘”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for a hope and a future.” Email: p.klump@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Colleen Hester, Kindergarten Mrs. Hester spent her childhood years in Chicago, Illinois. After graduating from Bob Jones University with a bachelor’s degree in teaching, she taught kindergarten for seven years and then became a home school mom for nine years. In 2000, the Lord provided the opportunity for her to teach at Monclova Christian Academy, where she has taught in both lower and upper elementary. Presently, she is the kindergarten teacher. Her greatest thrill is to see students develop academically, socially, physically, and spiritually during each school year. Email: c.hester@monclovabaptist.org Click here for my class website!
	Ms. Emily Van Vlerah, First Grade Miss Van Vlerah is a life-long resident of the Northwest Ohio area. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Teaching children is her passion, and she is blessed to be doing what God has called her to do each and every day. Watching students grow in the way that God has created them causes her daily delight and joy. Emily is thrilled to be a part of the MCA family. Email: e.vanvlerah@monclovabaptist.org
	Miss Heidi Ross, Second Grade Miss Ross has been a member of Monclova Road Baptist Church since her childhood and is fulfilling a long-time desire to teach at MCA. She graduated from Tennessee Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and now teaches second grade at MCA. Heidi says that she recognized God’s call on her life to teach when she was just in first grade and clings to God’s promise in Proverbs 22:6 that a child trained “in the way he should go” will not depart from the truth when he is old. She loves encouraging children to walk with the Lord, and seeing the light of understanding in their eyes as they learn. Email: h.ross@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Jennifer Nagle, Third Grade Mrs. Nagle earned her high school diploma from Bethany Baptist School in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and her bachelor’s degree in special education and elementary education at Bob Jones University. She taught for seven and a half years at Fairfax Baptist Temple Academy in Fairfax, Virginia, where she also met and married her husband Mike. They have three children, all of whom attend MCA. When the opportunity arose to return to this area, she was offered a position teaching third grade and has continued serving in that position since she joined the MCA staff. Email: j.nagle@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Connie Sidener, Fourth Grade/Arrows Coordinator Mrs. Sidener graduated from Wichita State University with a double major in Elementary Education and Speech Pathology. She has been involved with Chirsitan schools for over 25 years in the areas of teaching and administration. She is especially excited to that the Lord has brought her to MCA where she will be teaching 4th grade this year. Email: c.sidener@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Tara Batey, Fifth Grade Mrs. Batey graduated from Eastern Michigan University with her degree in Secondary Education. She currently resides in Lambertville, Michigan, with her husband and two children. Tara considers it a privilege and an honor to work with the 5^th grade students here at Monclova Christian Academy. Mrs. Batey coached girl’s softball at Bedford Public Schools for several years and hopes to start a girl’s softball team here at Monclova. Her life verse is II Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Email: t.batey@monclovabaptist.org Click here for my class website!
	Mrs. Crystal Bunts, Junior & Senior High English Mrs. Bunts graduated with her bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies from Lee University and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Education program at Cedarville University. She brings with her a lifetime of experience in Christian school education, including attending Christian schools throughout her preparatory, college, and graduate career, as well as teaching at the high school level in a Christian school for four years. God placed a desire in Mrs. Bunts’s heart to teach at MCA a few years ago, and being a part of the staff is an answer to her prayers. Mrs. Bunts is passionate about God’s call on her life, and she focuses on teaching her classes with loving and skilled interactions that allow her students to experience academic excellence with a Biblical worldview that will support what is being taught in the home. In addition to serving at MCA, Mrs. Bunts loves being a wife and mom. Email: c.bunts@monclovabaptist.org
	Mr. Andrew Ervin, Social Studies Mr. Ervin teaches junior and senior high history at MCA. He grew up in Swartz Creek, Michigan, and attended Eastern Michigan University, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. He has also obtained another masters of education in curriculum and instruction from The University of Toledo. He particularly enjoys reading about early American history and has special interest in the social history of the Antebellum years (1820-1860). He says he praises God every day for allowing him to work at Monclova Christian Academy. Email: a.ervin@monclovabaptist.org
	Mr. Josh Filler, Science Mr. Filler graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute in Schroon Lak, New York, and from Cedarville University with a B.A. in Accounting and a Minor in Bible. He and his wife, Cortney, were married in 2010 and have been attending Monclova Baptist Church since moving to Toledo. Josh has lived in both Indiana and New York, and he thanks God every day for the opportunity to be able to teach at Monclova Christian Academy. He and Cortney both have a passion for ministering to youth and have worked at Word of Life camps for a combined nine summers. They are both are very excited to be a part of MCA Email: j.filler@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Donna Fish, Math Mrs. Fish received her bachelor’s degree in education from Bowling Green State University and has taught all but one of her twenty-five plus years in Christian schools. She joined the staff of Monclova Christian Academy in 2000, teaching first a combined fifth and sixth grade class and then moving to the junior/senior high where she primarily teaches math. It is Mrs. Fish’s desire to model both a love for math and a love for the Lord for the students at MCA. She and her husband, along with their three adult children and their families, attend Monclova Road Baptist Church. Email: d.fish@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Kimberly Fish, Junior/ Senior High Bible Mrs. Kimberly Fish graduated from Cedarville University with a major in Elementary Education K-8 and a minor in Bible. She currently teaches Bible at Monclova Christian Academy. She trusted Jesus Christ as her savior when she was a child. Her love for Him grows as she continues to see His love and faithfulness through each stage of her life. She began her teaching career eleven years ago when she accepted a teaching position at Monclova Christian Academy. Three years later, she left teaching to raise her three children. Now, many years later she is returning to teaching Bible for the junior/senior high school. She loves teaching Bible. Her desire is for the students to see God’s love and faithfulness in their own lives. Her prayer is for the students to surrender their lives to God, and live for Him. Email: k.fish@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Amanda Fry, Teacher’s Assistant Amanda Fry is a graduate of Monclova Christian Academy where she feels she received a wonderful Christian education. She currently serves as a teacher’s assistant monitoring the Learning Lab at MCA. Working at MCA has been an answer to prayer for her and she enjoys working in a godly environment where she can pray and pour out God’s love to the students. She loves working in the youth group and helping her husband Steve teach the 4^th and 5^th grade junior church at Monclova Road Baptist Church, where she has attended since she was seven years old. She also enjoys being a godly wife and mother to her 3 children. Email: a.fry@monclovabaptist.org
	Mr. Caleb Harper, Bible Mr. Harper is the 6^th grade Bible teacher for MCA. He completed his Bachelor’s degree in History at Bob Jones University and is currently working on a Master’s degree from Liberty University in Biblical Theology. Caleb grew up as a missionary child in Brisbane, Australia, and was able to experience the ministry firsthand. In addition, he serves the college and career ministry in Monclova Road Baptist Church. Mr. Harper favorite verse is Romans 4:23. His goals for his students are to see his students draw closer to their Creator, while encouraging a gospel-centered life. Email: c.harper@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Michelle Keaster, Music Mrs. Keaster received her bachelor’s degrees in both music education and music/flute performance from Central Missouri State University (now U of Central Missouri). She also earned a master’s degree in flute performance from Wichita State University. She and her husband, Aaron, moved to the Toledo area after he won a position with the Toledo Symphony. Mrs. Keaster served as director of music ministries at First Baptist Church in Perrysburg for eleven years. She brings eleven years of experience in teaching to MCA, Mrs. Keaster is responsible for the music program at all grade levels and also teaches sixth grade English and junior high girls’ Bible. The Keasters and their daughter, Kaelee, reside in Perrysburg. Email: m.keaster@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Elise Metzger, Art Mrs. Metzger received her bachelor’s degree in art education from Bowling Green State University and began her teaching career in Toledo Public Schools. While in the classroom, she completed her master’s degree at the University of Toledo. In the fall of 2006, the Lord led her to MCA where she has considered it a privilege to serve Christ through teaching the visual arts to students at elementary through secondary grade levels. Mrs. Metzger and her family live in Maumee and their son Luke attends MCA. Email: e.metzger@monclovabaptist.org
	Mrs. Laurie Mitchell, Education Coordinator As Education Coordinator for MCA, Mrs. Mitchell handles guidance counseling, as well as curriculum review, and testing coordination. Mrs. Mitchell is an honors graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in science. She has practiced as an occupational therapist in both mental health and physical rehabilitation settings and has served as a faculty member in the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Lourdes College. She has more than twenty years of teaching experience and has taught at elementary, secondary, and college levels. Her husband Brian is an analytical chemist and a deacon at Monclova Road Baptist Church where their family attends. Both of the Mitchell children attend MCA. Email: l.mitchell@monclovabaptist.org
	Mr. Chad Walters, Athletic Director/PE Mr. Walters has lived in the Toledo area all his life. He graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Human Resources and worked with UPS and FedEx for 15 years. Since 2009, he has worked with WLMB TV40 Christian Television. In 2010, he and his family started attending Monclova Road Baptist Church and Monclova Christian Academy. God opened the door for him to coach the JV boys basketball team and eventually the boys varsity basketball team. He loves being a part of the MCA family and is thankful that God has brought him here to serve the families and students of MCA. Mr. Walters is the Athletic Director and the head of all P/E classes. He and his family reside in Maumee Ohio. His favorite Bible verse is Psalm 25:5. Email: c.walters@monclovabaptist.org