PRE-KINDERGARTEN

Rhonda Howeth serves as HCA’s Pre-K and resource teacher.  She holds a BSE from Ouachita Baptist University and has continued on with upper-level master’s classes.  Rhonda is certified with ACSI and licensed by the State of Colorado.  Rhonda has taught a range of grades, including Pre-K, first, second, third and fourth grades.  She has spent six years serving as HCA’s resource teacher and three as the Pre-K teacher.  Rhonda is active in church planting, and likes to spend time walking, jogging and reading outside of school activities.

KINDERGARTEN

Dr. Stacy Loyd is Heritage’s Elementary Academic Dean and teaches morning kindergarten.  Stacy’s academic accomplishments include a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Rocky Mountain Baptist College, a Master of Arts in Curriculum & Instruction from Colorado Christian University, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Studies: Reading from the University of Northern Colorado.  Stacy’s eighteen years of teaching span all grade levels, and she has taught at HCA, Choice City Christian Academy, the University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado Christian University.  Outside of teaching, Stacy enjoys researching children’s literature and mentoring teaching candidates.

KINDERGARTEN ENRICHMENT

Rachael Auch presently is the pre-k assistant and teaches afternoon kindergarten enrichment.  Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in youth ministry from the Frontier School of the Bible, and is currently enrolled at Front Range, studying Early Childhood Education.  Rachael has years of experience working with children, having spent four years working in a preschool/childcare setting, two years assisting her husband in his youth pastor position, and many more years working at camps and with children’s programs at church.  Rachael enjoys volunteering in the outreach programs at her church, as well as spending time with her family.

FIRST GRADE

Teri Beaver is Heritage’s first grade teacher.  She has been a part of the Heritage staff for seven years.  Teri holds an Elementary Education degree from the University of Northern Colorado and a Masters of Arts in Whole Reading from Regis University.  Teri’s experience prior to HCA includes four years in the Thompson Valley School District and ten years with UNC’s laboratory school.  Teri also has served in her church’s educational and children’s ministries for over a decade, and has taught Sunday School for 27 years.  Outside of school, Teri enjoys hiking, sailing, biking, reading, traveling and spending time with her family.  She wouldn’t want to teacher or have her child attend school anywhere else.

SECOND GRADE

Doyleen Miller has taught second grade at Heritage for ten years.  Doyleen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Mid-America Nazarene University.  Prior to teaching at Heritage, Doyleen taught for six years in the Leoti, Kansas public schools, and for ten years at Choice City Christian School.  Over the summer, Doyleen volunteered as the secretary at her church.  Outside of school, Doyleen enjoys family activities, gardening and hiking.

THIRD GRADE

Lori Merkley is HCA’s third grade teacher, and has been for the past eight years.  Lori earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Education (double major) from the University of Northern Colorado.  Before teaching at Heritage, Lori taught fifth grade for one year in Texas and worked as an aide at Moore Elementary in Fort Collins for four years.  Lori experience also includes serving as a missionary to Mongolia for one year, during which time she also taught grades one through four at a homeschool co-op.  Lori is involved in numerous activities outside of HCA, including mission trips with the youth group she works with, acting as a discussion leader at BSF, mentoring a junior/senior high girls Bible study, and participating in her church’s worship team. 

FOURTH GRADE

Denise Pogue is in her thirteenth year of teaching at HCA.  She taught sixth grade for two years and has taught fourth grade for eleven.  Denise earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Development at Colorado State University, and her Teaching Certification from the University of Northern Colorado.  Prior to teaching at Heritage, Denise also spent three years teaching third grade and substitute teaching in the Poudre School District, and also worked as the assistant director of a Montessori preschool.  Denise is involved in Bible Study Fellowship and Run for the Wall (Veteran Support Group).  Her hobbies include reading history, biography, and classics; and motorcycling cross-country.

FIFTH GRADE

Nancy Chambers is in her twelfth year of teaching fifth grade at HCA.  Nancy holds a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master Education from the University of Illinois.  Before teaching at Heritage, Nancy spent nine years teaching grades five and six in Illinois, and five years teaching fifth grade at Skyview Elementary in Windsor.  Nancy feels she has always been teaching, whether in Sunday School, tutoring, Bible Study Fellowship, swimming lessons or teaching workshops.  Nancy’s outside hobbies include hiking, reading, and scrapbooking.

SIXTH GRADE 

Russ Bruxvoort is Heritage’s sixth grade teacher.  Russ has a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Colorado Christian University, a Masters in Biblical Studies from Denver Seminary, and a Masters in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University.  Russ has spent seven years teaching in the Fort Collins area.  He taught high school social studies and eighth grade Bible for three years at HCA, one year jr high/high school social studies and English at Loveland Christian High School, and has been the sixth grade teacher at HCA for three years.  Prior to his teaching career, Russ spent four and a half years as a youth pastor in Chico, California.  He teaches preschool Sunday school at his church and frequently goes on mission trips.  Russ’s hobbies include reading, flag football, softball, weight lifting, running and family vacations.

MUSIC

Myra Emslie has been teaching at Heritage for twenty-five years.  She currently teaches elementary music to grades pre-K through grade 5 (including Sunrise Singers).  Myra holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bates College, Teaching Credential from Seattle Pacific, and a Masters in Theology from Beacon University.  Before teaching at Heritage, she taught for five years in the public school system.  At Heritage, she taught kindergarten for one year, second grade for eight years, and has spent thirteen years teaching music.  Myra has also been the organist and choir director at the Craigville Inn & Conference Center.  Outside of HCA, Myra spends time learning and teaching Hebrew, which has aided her in her six missionary support trips to Israel.  She also enjoys reading, hiking, cooking and playing the piano.

ART

Christine Hansen is currently in her tenth year as HCA’s pre-K through senior high art teacher.  Christine has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Individual Development from Kansas State University, and a BFA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Graphics from Colorado State University.  Prior to teaching at Heritage, Christine spent three years teaching at Spring Creek Country Day School and eight years teaching at Children’s Workshop.  She has also been a Camp Director through the Boulder YMCA and a children’s church director.  Christine is involved in the community as a Poudre Wilderness Volunteer and is connected to an orphanage in Uganda, Africa where she teaches at a vocational pottery school.  In her free time, Christine spends time training her therapy dog, Tavish; reading; Plaine Aire painting; and both teaching and taking summer art workshops.

LIBRARY

Monica Sheppard serves as HCA’s librarian, oversees our lunch program, and manages before and after care.  She attended Colorado State University and trained under a pastry chef.  Before becoming part of the Heritage staff, Monica spent over thirty years in food service, with jobs ranging from prep cook to European cake baker.  Her experience with children is equally extensive, having taught Sunday school since she was fifteen and serving as a lead teacher in a preschool daycare.  Monica is involved in her church’s small group leadership and children’s department.  She loves to read and camp, and you might see her at the concessions stand at a CSU sports event.