Instructors
Mrs. Christel Allen
Mrs. Allen has always enjoyed science which led to her completing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Secondary Education with a minor in Chemistry. Her degree was heavy in lab classes and included a senior honors research project and presentation on the socialization patterns of bottlenose dolphins at a nearby aquarium. Upon completing her degree, she worked as a science teacher in a public, medical magnet high school. During that time, she piloted the school’s AP Chemistry program, created and taught a course in microbiology and genetics, and taught freshmen biology.
After that experience, she went on to obtain her master’s degree in marine biology. These classes included marine mammal studies, marine mammal stranding training, necropsies of marine mammals, research methods, and oceanography. Her degree culminated in a thesis on the reproductive genetics of the North Atlantic Right Whale population.
Her next season of life was to begin a family. During that season, she and her husband decided to homeschool their children. Mrs. Allen spent 17 years on that process, covering classes from pre-K through high school. This homeschool journey was rich in science and included experiments, nature explorations, baking soda/vinegar rockets and volcanoes, bug collections, dissections, and many other options to encourage exploring the surrounding environment. Mrs. Allen also taught lab classes for one of her children and two other homeschool students in Biology and Chemistry.
Her experience in both public and homeschool teaching make her a perfect blend for teaching at Highland Academy. Mrs. Allen understands that high school should be a place where students are challenged enough to prepare them for college as a possible option. It is also a place for students to learn and explore different sciences before facing the rigors of college work. Providing this experience in a way that challenges students to grow both in their objective analysis skills and their pure love for science is Mrs. Allen’s teaching desire.
Mrs. Angela Clark
Theatre has always been my passion! I’ve performed in plays and musicals, worked behind the scenes in every role, and even directed and stage-managed productions. This is my second year co-teaching theatre with Christina Garris, and together we make a dynamic team. What I love most is watching students grow in confidence and discover their joy on stage. As I always say, in theatre we don’t just create performances—we become family.
Although my passion has always been in theatre, I have spent the past 23 years as the Office Manager at Spectrum Adhesives, where I’ve relied heavily on Microsoft programs to manage daily operations. More recently, I’ve been exploring Google Suite as a powerful, free alternative — and it’s quickly becoming the go-to toolset for students and professionals alike.
My journey with typing began at CVCC, where I took college courses inspired by my mother, a medical transcriptionist for many years. I grew up watching her type with incredible speed and accuracy... first on manual typewriters, then on computers...as she transcribed doctors’ recordings from handheld tape recorders. While I may never reach her lightning-fast pace, her dedication inspired me to pursue excellence in typing and technology.
In addition to typing courses, I also completed computer tech skill courses through Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and throughout my career I’ve taken numerous job-based courses in different computer applications to stay current with evolving technology.
In this class, I look forward to sharing both practical skills and personal inspiration. Students will learn typing, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive...tools that will support their homework projects and build confidence in digital literacy. While we’ll use video tutorials during lessons, I believe this is essential: students can revisit the videos anytime to reinforce skills they find challenging.
I teach on a Windows computer and strongly encourage students to use a computer rather than a tablet. While tablets can have keyboards, they don’t provide the same experience or efficiency for learning these skills.
Above all, my goal is to help students feel empowered by technology...to type with confidence, organize their work, and present ideas creatively.
Mrs. Rachel Clay
Hello! My name is Rachael Clay, and I’m the instructor for Intro to Herbalism, a new elective this semester! I’m so excited to introduce students to the world of plant medicine.
A little bit about me… I am a second generation homeschooling mom of two children that God blessed us with through adoption. For the past ten years I have been a homesteader, raising goats, ducks, pigs, and various other animals while also growing a large vegetable garden and too many herbs to count. I have my certificate in Introductory Herbal Studies from The Herbal Academy of New England, and am currently working on earning my Advanced Herbal Studies certificate. Herbs, teas, tinctures, and salves have been part of my life for years!
In my spare time, I love to play piano, lead worship, go for hikes, and play video games with my kids.
Mr. Ken Clough
I attended Western Carolina University and received a BS in science education. I taught middle science for 10 years and then taught at East Burke High School for 20 years teaching physical science, biology, and applied biology and chemistry. After retirement I taught part-time at Morganton Day School teaching middle grades science. I enjoy watching students taking challenging classes and making it understandable for them and encouraging them to continue their science education.
Mrs. Rosalie Ellis
Rose is a veteran homeschool mom and current high school teacher specializing in learning differences, college prep, executive function, and gifted education. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology from Liberty University and a Master's in Education from Regent University. She is licensed to practice educational therapy through the National Institute for Learning Development (NILD), which has enriched her teaching practice and provides a solid framework for helping students become confident and independent learners.
Mrs. Mandy Freeland
Mandy Freeland started out as a self-taught baker while attending Florida State University and acquiring
her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Music Therapy. She was always finding herself in the
kitchen crafting something, making her friends and co-workers the taste-testers to all her recipes. The
science of baking has led to never-ending experiments over the years. In 2018 Mandy was in her 12 th
year as a social worker and found more relief in baking than ever before. After co-workers and friends
encouraged her to sell her creations, she started exploring the idea of opening a small bakery in Conover.
The dream came to reality in Fall 2019 after acquiring her LLC, becoming ServSafe certified, and
attending training that would further her skills in the kitchen. While continuing her employment in social
work, HomeSliced Conover opened in a small space by the library in February 2020, just 6 weeks before
COVID hit. The building Mandy was in was immediately shut down to the public. Without any real
customer base Mandy took to online orders of custom desserts and treats of all kinds. Mandy’s ability to
work with nearly any allergy and craft something uniquely designed has kept the business steady and
booked ever since and counter-service was never reestablished. In 2021 Mandy left her employment in
social work to run the bakery full-time. Although Mandy utilizes the help of a few hired friends for classes,
everything produced by HomeSliced is Mandy’s own work. After a few friends’ suggestions, Mandy
started offering homeschool classes, adult classes, private lessons, birthday parties, evening child-
friendly classes, and summer camps which have all been wildly successful at helping students feel at
ease and equipped in the kitchen. To expand the business, HomeSliced moved to a larger facility with
better equipment and a larger classroom space in Fall 2023. The folks at New Life Authentic Christian
Community have been the perfect hosts to the business in their commercially equipped kitchen space
and large fellowship hall. Examples of Mandy’s work and classes can be found by following HomeSliced
Conover on Facebook or Instagram.
Mandy has been happily married to her best friend for 17 years and has 2 young sons. She loves her
local community and church family and can often be found volunteering, reading, running, gardening,
swimming, making music, and (of course) baking/cooking with her family.
Mrs. Christina Garris
Christina Garris is a mother of 3. She has an almost 19 yr old son and 13 & 10 yr old daughters. She has been homeschooling her two daughters since January of 2023 but, also, homeschooled her son during his 3rd and 4th grade years. She has been involved in the theater world for around 2 yrs by helping backstage and participating in several productions with The Green Room in Newton, NC. However, her love for theater and, especially, musical theater spans back as far as she can remember! She is excited to join Highland Academy and help your student explore, learn, and grow their knowledge and love for the theatrical arts!
Mrs. Stephanie Gill
Hi there! I’m Mrs. Stephanie Gill!
I am super excited to be part of the launch of Highland Academy! With 20 years of teaching experience under my belt, I've had the joy of working with students from pre-K and kindergarten, but in the past four years I have ventured in to teaching grades 6-12 at a local Christian school.
On a personal note, I've been happily married for 17.5 years to Bill and we have two amazing kids, Addie (16) and Eli (13). Our home is a lively place filled with the love and chaos of 4 dogs, 2 cats, 2 horses, and 2 goats!
This year, I’m excited to bring my passion for education to Highland Academy, where I’ll be teaching personal finance. I can't wait to dive into this subject with you, making it practical, engaging, and fun as we explore how to manage money wisely and prepare for the future.
In addition to teaching, I also manage Still Waters Farm. As the educator on staff, I have the pleasure of offering riding lessons and providing equine-assisted therapy through our non-profit organization, Walk with Me Healing Steps. It's incredibly rewarding to see the positive impact our horses have on people's lives.
When I’m not in the classroom or at the farm, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, exploring the outdoors, and finding new ways to make learning an exciting journey for my students. I’m looking forward to a fantastic year ahead, filled with discovery and growth!
Mrs. Emma Gregory
Mrs. Gregory is wife, mother and owner of Free Wheelin Pottery in Taylorsville, NC
Mr. Josh Kappes
Josh is a former associate pastor and an entreprenuer owning several businesses. He is also a fellow Highland Academy parent.
Miss Abigail Kilcoyne
Hi! I’m Abigail Kilcoyne, and I’m so excited to be teaching pottery. I’ve been working with clay for over ten years—ever since I first started learning from my mom, who is a potter and sparked my love for creating with my hands.
I went on to study ceramics at Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC), where I earned my Associate of Fine Arts and Associate of Visual Arts degrees. Since then, I’ve continued exploring pottery from all angles, and now I teach weekly at CREATIVE, our Paint-Your-Own Pottery and Clay Studio. This studio is ran by my mother and I!
I love helping students discover how fun and relaxing clay can be, whether they’re trying something totally new or building on skills they already have. My goal is for everyone to enjoy the process, learn something new, and leave proud of what they’ve made.
Abigail Kilcoyne
Director
CREATIVE | Maker's Market and Studio
Art and Clay, The Creative Way
Mrs. Laura Lara
Laura Lara (name so nice needed it twice!) is mother to a 4 year old boy and an almost 2 year old girl. Her husband, Angel, was born and raised in Mexico and they are a bilingual family. Laura is a Hickory, NC native and studied Elementary and Special Education at Lenoir-Rhyne University. She has taught 3rd grade, 5th grade, various grade levels in Mexico, where she spent 5+ years as a missionary. She has also worked in Catawba County Schools, where she has done a stent in 1st grade, subbed for various grade levels, as well as tutored in 3rd-6th grade.
Besides her degree in Elementary Education, Laura is also certified in English Language Arts 6th-12th grade. She has traveled to 7 countries, and has always loved history and different cultures.
Laura goes by Mrs. L for her students and loves reading, hanging with her family, taking walks, watching movies, and making learning fun!
She loved being at Highland Academy in its first year, and is so excited to be back this school year!
Mrs. Jessica McLain
Hi! My name is Jessica McLain. I am married to Brett, and we have two wonderful kids, Mason
and Annaleah, along with two fur-babies, Millie and Clara. I have many favorite Bible verses,
but I especially love Philippians 4:8 and Romans 12:2. My family enjoys going on adventures
together. You can often find us hiking, exploring, or kayaking. My friends say I am “solar
powered,” and it’s true! If it’s sunny, I’m usually outdoors.
I am excited to join Highland Academy! I hold a BA in Education and worked as a certified 6-12
grades ELA and history teacher for 13 years. I recently earned my MS in Counseling
Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy from Montreat College and completed a year-long
clinical internship, gaining valuable experience working with children, teens, adults, and
families. I am genuinely passionate about both education and therapy and am grateful for the
opportunity to do both.
I strive to create learning environments where students feel supported, curious, and confident. I
believe that when students see someone who truly enjoys learning, that enthusiasm becomes
contagious. I hope that my love of learning and teaching will inspire the same excitement and
confidence in my students throughout the semester.
Mrs. Stephanie McQuinn
I’m Stephanie McQuinn, a first-generation homeschooling mom of two with a passion for making math more accessible and understandable. I know what it's like to struggle with upper-level math, as I faced many of the same challenges during my own education journey. Over time, I developed a unique way to “speak” math, and now I’m able to help others connect with it in a way that clicks. I use this approach to guide my kids through their own learning journey and also tutor others who are facing similar difficulties. On top of homeschooling and tutoring, I work part-time in a field where I use algebraic formulas daily, so I’m able to bring real-world experience into my teaching
Mrs. Challen McRee
My name is Challen McRee. I am happily married with 4 sons. I was a stay-at-home mom for 14 years. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Art Education from UNC-Charlotte. I completed my student teaching at East Lincoln High School & graduated with a 3.5 GPA as well as being a Dean’s List student. I have taught at Maiden High School for 2 years, East Burke Middle School for 1 year & Jenkins Elementary School for a semester. I have always had a passion for art and teaching!
I incorporate art history into each lesson by teaching my students about a featured artist. I will adapt lesson plans according to each individual child's need and/or talent level.
"Art should be something that liberates the soul, provokes the imagination, and encourages people to go further." - Keith Haring
Mrs. Joy Miller
Joy Miller has a passion for teaching! She has classroom experience at both
the Middle and High School level via the substitute program in Catawba County,
NC. She has tutored children and adults over the years as well. Joy developed
and taught a curriculum for the Super Saturday program for gifted students in
Burke County, NC. In addition to formal education programs, she has used her
instructing gift to teach classes in painting, crafts, horseback riding, cosmetics
and fitness. Joy graduated from Catawba Valley Community College with High
Honors in Sociology and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa honor society.
Joy stays busy supporting the local Marine Corps League and is active in her
church. She has lived with her husband in Catawba County for over 28 years
and enjoys spending time with her daughter, son-in-law and two young
grandchildren. Joy is thrilled to be a partner with Highland Academy to help
advance our local students in their studies.
Mrs. Jennifer O'Toole
My name is Jennifer O’Toole. I am married with 2 children. My husband teaches high
school math, Spanish, and coaches football in Burke County. My daughter is homeschooled and
will be attending Highland Academy this fall. My son has just turned 18, and he will be leaving
for Coast Guard boot camp this summer. I currently work for an oil spill response company as
their prevention specialist. I write oil spill response plans for numerous oil facilities as well as
making sure they are compliant with state and federal regulations as per their response plans. I
have also been a substitute teacher in Burke County for the past 5 years.
I will be teaching Forensic Science, Coding and Computer Science, and Later History
this year. I spent 20 years in the Coast Guard as a Marine Science Technician. I was a specialist
in maritime law enforcement, safety, security, and environmental protection. Some of my
responsibilities included boarding foreign vessels for safety and security purposes, responding to
oil spills and hazardous material releases as a pollution investigation and a cleanup supervisor,
and inspecting various ports and containers that are both imported and exported via container
ships. The largest oil spill response I was involved in was the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in
2010. I was in the offshore cleanup group where I was on fishing boats teaching fisherman how
to use skimmers to clean up oil floating on top of the water. I was also flying in helicopters over
the spill to get a better view of the oil so I could communicate with the fisherman where the
recoverable oil was located.
Forensic science was used often in my job while responding to oil spills without a
responsible party. I would take samples of oil in the water and compare them to samples of oil on
vessels by sending it to the Coast Guard lab to have it analyzed. I would get results similar to
fingerprint and DNA analysis. This would tell me exactly which vessel the oil came from. I
would also take pictures, collect witness statements, map the scene, create a chain of custody,
and document everything as evidence to charge the responsible party and prepare for court.
Forensic science was also used during any Coast Guard cocaine drug interdiction. I was involved
in two large cocaine busts with both vessels each carrying approximately 4,400 pounds of
cocaine. To determine if the white substance was in fact cocaine, the Coast Guard followed the
Scott test procedure which is specifically designed for testing cocaine. This reagent turns blue
when in contact with cocaine and pink upon dilution. There were also times after maritime
incidents that I would administer a breathalyzer test to a ship captain or crew as well as a
urinalysis test to determine if drugs or alcohol were present in the body.
After I retired from the Coast Guard, I started homeschooling my daughter. She is very
interested in computers and coding, so I have jumped on board with learning it myself. This fall,
students will learn basics about computer science as well as how to use the beginner coding
program called Scratch. This is a perfect introduction before getting into more complicated
programming like Python or JavaScript. Scratch is a visual programming language where users
create programs by dragging and connecting graphical blocks, rather than typing code. It's
designed to be accessible and engaging, especially for beginners.
History has always been my favorite subject, and I enjoy teaching it. I love history
because it can teach us so much about our past and about society. We can analyze history to
understand why things are the way they are. Through studying history, we can see how societies
became the way they are and get lost in the layers of culture throughout centuries. We can see
what’s going on in the present so much better through the lens of history.
Mr. John Sorensen
Education
Springfield College, Springfield, Massachusetts
Bachelor of Science in Movement and Sport Studies, May 2001
Program Certification in Physical Education, K–12
Professional Experience
Schenectady City School District (2001–2006)
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Physical Education Teacher
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Junior Varsity Lacrosse Coach (4 seasons)
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Middle School Basketball Coach (2 seasons)
Additional Coaching Experience
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Grades 3–5 Basketball, Our Saviour’s Christian School (2017–2018)
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Grades 1–2 Rec Lacrosse, Shenendehowa (2019)
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Middle School Lacrosse Coach, Lincoln Charter School (2022–Present)
Teaching Philosophy
I believe a positive experience with physical education plays a vital role in developing a young person’s confidence, character, and lifelong fitness. Exposure to a variety of sports allows students to discover new interests, learn the value of teamwork, and have the opportunity to develop leadership skills. It can also increase the likelihood that they will engage in athletic activities throughout their lives.
Mrs. Emily Stewart
Emily Stewart is a long time Catawba county native. She homeschooled her children for 13 years. She acquired her Bachelor's degree from NC State University in Mathematics Education and her Master's degree from Appalachian State University in Mathematics Education as well. She lives with her family in Conover.
Mrs. Hillary Trivette
Hello Highland Families!
I’m a homeschool mom and a woodworker’s wife. I’ve been an professional freelance editor for 20 years, starting with running a weekly magazine
for teenage girls in 2005 which resulted in a published book and progressing to working with sports figures on memoirs, pastors on self-help and
devotionals, and other books ranging from fantasies about dragons to business books about dental offices. I worked on financial reports with a Forbes
recognized business analyzing franchises. Taking Informatics and Journalism in college prepared me not for coding as originally planned but for all of
this. I have taught sign language in Classical Conversations Essentials classrooms, online, and in libraries and tea shops. My favorite things include
dachshunds, parakeets, being an Awana leader, and making sourdough English muffins.
Mrs. Sarah Weidman
Director/Founder of Highland Academy