Q&A With CAC’s 6th Grade Teachers

CAC Spotlight on Kassandra Allison, Tamara Hodges & Hannah Stidman

This August, CAC’s secondary campus will welcome back one familiar face and two new faculty members from the Pleasant Valley campus to teach CAC’s three sixth grade sections. Kassandra Allison (math & science) Tamara Hodges (Bible & social studies) and Hannah Stidman (English & language arts) sat down with the E-Mustang staff to share some quick facts about themselves.    

Tell us about yourself.

KA: I was raised in the small Midwestern town of Yorktown, Indiana. I have one younger sister, but I come from a very large extended family. I attended Ball State University where I studied elementary education and received my bachelor’s degree in education with an extra license in middle school mathematics.

TH: I grew up in Harrison, Arkansas and attended Harding University. I’m certified in elementary education and middle school English. I’m married to Mark, a CAC alum, and we have two children. Ashton will be graduating in December from Harding University, and Harrison is a senior at CAC. I’ve taught for 17 years with 13 of them at CAC.

HS: I’m from Jonesboro, Arkansas. I went to Harding for my undergrad in early childhood and middle-level education. I loved it so much that I stayed an extra year to get my master’s degree in reading education.

When you’re not teaching, how do you spend your time?

KA: I love reading fantasy novels, drawing and creating little portraits that I hang around my apartment. I also knit, mostly to create scarves and Christmas gifts, and consider myself quite the movie buff. I love going to the theater fairly often.

TH: I love to read stacks of books and try new recipes.

HS: Visiting my family in Jonesboro, reading by the pool, hiking at Pinnacle or Petit Jean, working on my latest craft/sewing project, or working with my church family.

Best part of teaching at CAC?

KA: I love the look on my students’ faces when they make a discovery, or when you see that something finally “clicks” for them. I love getting to know my students and learning about their lives: their families, hobbies, likes, dislikes. Most importantly I love that I don’t have to be shy about sharing my faith and love of God with my students, coworkers and CAC families.

TH: My favorite part of my job is two-fold. My first part is that I’m honored to be a part of kids’ everyday lives. I love forming relationships with them and trying to help them be better, while letting them know how much they are loved. The second part would have to be my coworkers. They’re so much fun! We truly are a family and I value them more than words can express.

HS: Being a part of the CAC family for the last two years has been such a blessing. I have loved working with some of the best kiddos. It’s great to be able to connect with them on a deeper level through a shared relationship in Jesus Christ. Watching a kid go from struggling to understanding and achieving is so rewarding.

Something the CAC family probably doesn’t know about you?

KA: I have secretly always wanted to star in a Broadway musical.

TH: My family had a farm when I was growing up. We had horses and cows, and I helped “pull” calves when needed!

HS: I took piano lessons for seven years!