New Faces For A New Year
The first day of school brought many new things this year — new books, new classrooms, for some, a new campus, and for many, brand-new teachers. We are pleased to have added a number of new faculty members to our teaching staff, and we hope you will join us in giving each of these individuals a warm CAC welcome!
Arlington, Texas native Haley French is teaching kindergarten at the North Little Rock campus. French received her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and master’s degree in reading from Harding University. While working on her undergraduate degree, French completed her student teaching at Judsonia Elementary and interned at the Fortress Youth Development Center in Fort Worth, Texas.
At the Pleasant Valley campus, Whitney Kittinger is teaching pre-K 4. Kittinger is from Madisonville, Kentucky and has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Transylvania University and a master’s degree in teacher leadership from Murray State University. She brings with her five years of elementary-level teaching experience.
Andy Stewart is teaching physical education at both elementary campuses and will coach CAC’s tennis and boys’ soccer teams. A native of England (the country, not the town), Stewart holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Milligan College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of West Florida. Stewart is an NAIA All-American soccer player. Prior to CAC, he taught PE at East Side Elementary in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
At the secondary campus, Chelsea Baber and James Wilhite have joined CAC’s fine arts department. Baber, who is also teaching art at the elementary campuses, graduated from Harding University with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts. She previously worked as a private art teacher and an administrative assistant at Levy Church of Christ. Wilhite, the new Mustang band director, graduated from Harding with a bachelor’s degree in instrumental music education. Before coming to CAC, Wilhite was the music teacher and band director at Des Arc and most recently at Augusta. In his spare time, Wilhite performs with the Little Rock Wind Symphony.
Christy Sherrill and Miranda Johnson are working with CAC’s middle school students. Sherrill, Mustang Mountain’s newest math teacher, joined us from Pulaski Tech, where she served as dean of the business school. Sherrill holds a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Science from Harding University. She has taught college-level courses at CAC in the past. Johnson, a native of Nashville, Arkansas, comes to us from Henderson State University where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English. She is also currently pursuing her master’s degree. Johnson was a member of the HSU cheerleading squad and is coaching CAC’s junior high and seventh grade cheerleaders.
Bradley Spencer is teaching computer science, coaching cross country and assisting Coach Quattlebuam with boys’ basketball. Bradley received his Bachelor of Business Administration in management information systems from Harding University, where he was also a standout guard for the Bisons. Spencer comes to us from Acxiom where he worked as a data analyst.
Sarah Chunn is teaching nutrition and assisting Mrs. Penrod in the counseling center. Chunn is a Registered Licensed Dietitian and holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in dietetics from the University of Central Arkansas. She previously worked as an outpatient dietitian at Saline Heart Group and a clinical dietitian at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton, Arkansas.
A few of our faculty have changed campuses this year. New to the North Little Rock campus, but not new to CAC entirely, are Amy Zini (pre-K 4) and Vanesa Wood (first grade). Both Zini and Wood came to NLR from the PV campus. Hannah Stidman and Kassandra Allison have moved from PV Elementary to Mustang Mountain to join returning faculty member Tamara Hodges in teaching sixth grade. Angie Diles also made the move to the secondary campus to teach seventh grade English.
We are excited about the new experience and expertise each of these individuals has brought to our school this year!