Faculty and Staff | providenceclassical

Faculty

Pattie Steward, Principal

Mrs. Steward was one of the founders of Providence Classical School in 1996. She began serving as the administrator of PCS in 2004. She holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration as well as a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Mrs. Steward also holds a Professional Lifetime, All Levels Principal, Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International. She was named “2014 Administrator of the Year” from a field of 1,000 Christian schools by the Nehemiah Institute, a biblical worldview ministry.

Jon Swanner, Assistant Principal

Mr. Swanner holds a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Covenant College as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from the University of Mobile. He has been teaching at PCS since 2007 and now serves as an administrator. Mr. Swanner holds a Professional Lifetime, All Levels Principal, Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Melissa Skinner, Kindergarten

Mrs. Skinner graduated from the University of Tennessee-Martin with a Bachelor of Education in Special Education K-12. She holds additional degrees in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. She has a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Lipscomb University. Mrs. Skinner began teaching at PCS in 2020.

Leslie Watts, Kindergarten

Mrs. Watts holds a Master of Education in Special Education from Alabama State University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from Faulkner University. She is in her twentieth year in Christian Education.

Kelly Hough, First Grade

Mrs. Hough holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Athens State University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in English from the University of Tennessee. She has taught at PCS since 2010, and has previous experience teaching kindergarten at a classical school. Mrs. Hough holds a Standard Elementary Teacher Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Annie Padgett, First Grade

Mrs. Padgett received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Purdue University. She is in her 20th year of teaching. Mrs. Padgett holds a Standard Elementary Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Kendall Branscomb, Second Grade

Mrs. Branscomb holds a Master of Education degree from Auburn University Montgomery as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of North Alabama. She has 10 years of teaching experience and currently teaches third grade at PCS. She also serves as assistant coach for the PCS Lady Knights basketball team.

Anne Swanner, Second Grade

Mrs. Swanner graduated from the University of Mobile with dual Bachelors of Arts degrees in Religion and Sociology. She has been teaching at PCS since 2008. Mrs. Swanner holds an Elementary Teacher Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Missy Nettles, Third Grade

Mrs. Nettles received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Mississippi College. She taught for nine years in both public and private schools before returning to PCS full-time in 2015. Mrs. Nettles holds a Standard Elementary Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Laura Shirley, Third Grade

Mrs. Shirley graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She has ten years of teaching experience and began teaching at PCS in 2017. Mrs. Shirley holds an Elementary Teacher Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Amy Drown, Fourth Grade

Mrs. Drown graduated from Calvin College with a degree in Elementary Education. She holds an M.Ed from the College of William and Mary in Reading, Language, and Literacy. After teaching for several years in the classroom including at a classical school, she spent the next twenty years+ educating her five daughters at home. She also taught and tutored countless other children in co-ops as her family criss-crossed the country with the United States Air Force.

Lynn Underwood, Fourth Grade

Mrs. Underwood graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor’s of Science in education (Secondary Social Studies). She has a Master’s of Education from Western Washington University. Mrs. Underwood is returning to the PCS classroom after many years and has taught a variety of grades and subjects.

Eryn Sanders, Fifth Grade

Miss Sanders graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Exercise. This is her second year teaching 5th grade in Christian Education. She has also tutored students 4th-6th grade over the past 5 years.

Kristin Claxton, Fifth Grade

Mrs. Claxton holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Education in Reading Education K-12 from the University of Florida. She has 10 years of classroom experience teaching pre-K, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, and as Reading Coach for K-8 school.

Kelli Johnson, Fifth Grade

Mrs. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, Secondary Education, from the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught on the fourth grade team at PCS in 2018-2019 and is a fifth grade team teacher this year.

Daralyn Elkins, Sixth Grade

Mrs. Elkins graduated from Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a specialty in Rehabilitation and Vocational Services. She began teaching at PCS in 2002. In addition to teaching, she also coaches the cross country team and track team. Mrs. Elkins holds a Standard Elementary Teacher Educator Certification and a Special Education Specialist Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International.

Daniela Basurovic, Sixth Grade

Mrs. Basurovic is a seasoned educator with over a decade of experience spanning elementary, high school, and college-level instruction. She holds a Masters in Professional Studies from The University of Auckland - NZ, dual Bachelor's degrees in English and Business Management, and is a graduate of St. Mary Elementary Education Teachers College.

Kristen Ewards, Sixth Grade

Mrs. Edwards is a graduate of Auburn University where she received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. This is her first year teaching. She is team teaching sixth grade with Mrs. Basurovic.

Allison Kirkland, Third-Sixth Grade Curriculum Lead

Mrs. Kirkland holds a Masters degree in Secondary English from Auburn University. She taught in Auburn City Schools for seven years before coming to PCS in 2016. She is currently the Curriculum Director Lead for third through sixth grades.

Paula Bates, Secondary

Mrs. Bates is a graduate of Auburn University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Engineering and a minor in Spanish. Mrs. Bates teaches secondary Latin, Math, and Chemistry at PCS.

Megan Brown, Secondary

Mrs. Brown earned her Master of Arts degree in Spanish Language and Literature from the University of Central Florida, and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She currently teaches Secondary Latin and Logic courses.

Jason Cherry, Secondary

Mr. Cherry holds a Master of Arts degree in Religion from Reformed Theological Seminary as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Athens State University. He began teaching at PCS in 2014 and teaches history, economics, and Omnibus to secondary students. Mr. Cherry holds a Lifetime Secondary Teacher Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International. His writings have appeared in Salvo Magazine, Evangelicals Now, Biblical Perspective Magazine, Theopolis Institute, Circe Institute, and the Classical Difference.

Gage Crowder, Secondary

Mr. Crowder holds degrees in English and biblical studies as well as professional credentials through ongoing work as a member of the Academy of Philosophy and Letters and a fellow at the Theopolis Institute. He teaches Philosophy.

Christine Darulla, Secondary

Mrs. Darulla has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Bob Jones University. She has more than 23 years of critical care nursing experience and has taught in classical schools for six years. She teaches General Science, Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology.

Mason Muur, Secondary

Mr. Muur holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and Secondary Education from Central College. He also earned a Professional Certification in classical Christian education from the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS). Mr. Muur has served in classical Christian education for six years through teaching and administration. He teaches Omnibus I, Omnibus II, Survey of Old Testament, and Survey of New Testament.

Janelle Smith, Secondary

Mrs. Smith holds a Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Liberty University as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Mathematics from Trinity Baptist College. She began teaching at PCS in 2011 and teaches Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. Mrs. Smith holds a Lifetime Professional Secondary Mathematics Educator Certification from the Association of Christian Schools International. She is also the Yearbook sponsor.

Cathy Rosema, Secondary

Miss Rosema holds a Master of Education with a specialization in English degree from Grand Valley State University. She has twelve years of prior teaching experience in grades 5-12. Miss Rosema teaches 7th grade English, 7th grade history, 8th grade English, 8th grade history and 9th grade Omnibus.

Jeremy Raper, Secondary

Jeremy "JT" Raper graduated from the University of Louisville with a Bachelor of Science in Physics with a minor in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Physics with a concentration in Astrophysics and Optics. He is a certified secondary educator with the State of Alabama for Physical Science and has an Instructional Leadership Master of Science from Concordia University. He received the National Milken Teacher Award and was honored as the Air Force Association Teacher of the Year. He currently teaches Honors Physics to the junior class.