Faculty and Staff

Mrs. Beth Atchison grew up in Sacramento, California. Her mother led a home kids' Bible study, inviting neighbor children to hear stories of Jesus. She often talked about how we need Jesus in our hearts and one day, after a flannel graph story of Jesus, Beth asked her mom to pray with her to let Jesus into her heart. She was only four years old! That early introduction to the Savior was the beginning of her walk with Him. Mrs. Atchison received an AA degree in General Studies at a local junior college and went on to Sacramento State University to finish up her BA in Liberal Studies. She followed this by taking the teacher credential courses required for her teaching credential in elementary, receiving her credential in 1983. She has been teaching elementary school since 1997. One of those years was in Kindergarten, the rest in Second Grade. She had five years experience in preschool while getting her teaching degree. She has taught second grade at LCA since 2001. Beth is married to jay, and their daughter, Sarah, graduated from LCA in 2008. Most of the rest of her family is in California. She loves being in a Christian work environment where we can pray for each other and support each other in the Lord. She loves working with children and second graders are her favorite.

No Bio Available.

Mrs. Paula Buck has been with LCA since 2007. She currently coaches the high school and competition cheerleading teams and oversees the middle school and elementary cheer programs. She brings with her many years of cheerleading, tumbling, dance, and choreography experience, and has coached cheerleading for the past six years, even coaching one of her teams to a National Championship. She is AACCA Safety Certified, NFHS Certified as well as NCA and UCA Certified. In addition, she is a former certified judge for 3pComps. Mrs. Buck has worked with youth in one aspect or another for over 19 years. She enjoys helping young people from all walks of life, with all types of abilities, realize their full potential, not just in sports but life in general. It brings her great joy to see children accomplish something they didn't think possible. Two of her favorite quotes are, "It's not about being THE best, it's about being YOUR best." and "Knock the 't' off the can't." In addition to cheerleading, Mrs. Buck teaches P.E. and American Sign Language. She worked for Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind for many years including two years as an Educational Interpreter. She spent several years  as a Certified Personal Trainer and is excited to use her expertise in this field to teach young people how to enjoy physical activity and make healthy lifestyle choices. Mrs. Buck and her husband are currently the Coordinators for the Residential Housing program. This will be their third year hosting International students and this year they will host seven students in one of LCA's Residential Homes. She has two children, both of whom attend LCA. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her husband and children.

Mrs. Kate Carter (3^rd Grade) was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She comes from a family full of teachers and always knew she wanted to teach! She taught at a day care until she graduated from Southern Utah University with a dual major in elementary education and special education. She was married in 1993 and has three children who attend LCA. She moved around a lot before settling here in Utah in 2007. She enjoys spending time with her family doing anything from four-wheeling and camping to attending a play or musical. She was blessed to have been raised in a Christian home and now teaches science to all third graders. She believes hands-on experiments are the key to getting students excited about science! She loves teaching and seeing how much the students learn and grow throughout the year!

Mrs. Adinia Chavez has been teaching Spanish at LCA since 2003. She was born in Guatemala City, Guatemala and her family moved to the United States when she was 18 years old. In high school she was on the drum line and basketball team. She has four children and three grandchildren; her grandchildren have attended LCA and her son Daniel graduated in 2007. Adinia has been teaching for over 20 years and has an associate's degree in office administration. She has also taken classes at Ogden Weber Technology College. 

Mrs. Chavez teaches high school and some elementary Spanish. She loves basketball, music, Italian food and traveling with her sisters. She currently resides in Roy and everyone who knows her sees her deep passion for teaching Spanish and for LCA!

Mrs. Robin Elmy received her B.S. in Education with an endorsement in Mathematics from Weber State University. She has taught in the public school systems and LCA, and is not only the principal of the Elementary and Middle School, but also teaches Math. She lives in Clinton with her husband and two sons. Both sons have attended LCA since they were in Kindergarten.

Rachel Filer attended NorthWest Missouri State University.  She worked as a substitute teacher in Missouri becoming a constant in their public schools.  After moving to Utah, she taught kindergarten at LCA for three years before taking time off to stay home with her new baby.  Since that time Rachel has worked in the after hours Extended Care program and is now very excited to be teaching the 4.5 preschool class.  Rachel and her husband Brandon have three elementary children who attend LCA.

Tony Hembrock was born in 1966 in St. Paul, Missouri, a small farming community located approximately 40 miles Northwest of St. Louis. He grew up working in the fields, feeding the livestock and enjoying the great outdoors. In 1986 he joined the US Air Force where, for nine years, he worked as a weather observer and forecaster, and taught observing and forecasting to others in the field. His assignments included stations in Arkansas, Illinois, Texas, England, Panama, and Utah.

In September of 1992 Tony married Gwendolyn Mae Jackson. They have three children, Emily, Danielle and Tommy, all of which attend Layton Christian Academy. Tony served as youth pastor for a Korean/American Church in Layton, Utah from 1992-1993, as a deacon for HOROKO Assembly of God on Fort Kobe, Panama from 1994-1995, and he is currently a licensed minister through the Anchor Bay Evangelistic Association.

For the past fifteen years Tony has taught junior high life, earth and physical science as well as high school biology, chemistry, physics, meteorology, zoology and math. He has also enjoyed serving as a student government and yearbook adviser.  He has served and continues to serve as an adjunct faculty member for Weber State University, Utah Valley University and the University of Utah – Department of Teaching and Learning where he has taught the Elementary Science Methods Course to pre-service teachers.

Tony has also worked with the National Energy Foundation where his duties included: coordinating, facilitating and instructing educational programs, as well as, researching, writing and revising curriculum projects. He began serving as the High School Principal for Layton Christian Academy in 2005. He currently holds a level two Professional Educator’s License from the State of Utah in Administration/Supervision and in Secondary Education with endorsements in biological sciences, integrated sciences, and English as a Second Language.

Tony has also earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in Weather Technology from the Community College of the Air Force, a bachelors degree in Natural Sciences and Mathematics from Thomas Edison State College, a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Weber State University, an Administrative/Supervisory Certificate in Education from Utah State University and he has so far completed 12 semester credit hours of a Doctorate of Education program from Utah State University.

Tony has also had the pleasure to collaborate with a former chemistry professor to help rewrite a textbook; has co-authored and published an article in the National Science Teacher’s Association (NSTA) Science Scope Journal about mine safety; and has been a speaker and workshop instructor at the NSTA regional conference, the Utah Society for Environmental Education (USEE) annual conference, the Utah Science Teacher Association (USTA) annual conference and the Utah Education Association (UEA) annual convention.

 

Mrs. Laura Howard was raised in Houston, Texas.  She graduated from Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas,  with a BS in elementary education, minoring in English as a Second Language.  Two weeks after graduating college, she married her high school sweetheart, Justin, who is a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force.  They were stationed in England for three years before being stationed at Hill AFB.  While in England, Laura earned her Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction through the University of Phoenix.  She also wrote an in depth graduate thesis on the academic benefits of parental involvement in education.   Laura taught third grade at a public elementary in Utah before coming to LCA.  She believes that education should be a hands-on experience that engages students.  In her spare time, Laura loves to spend time with her husband and daughter, Emily.

Ms. Anna Long (Middle School Language Arts) has been a teacher in the field of Christian education since 1996 and has served in many roles including Head Teacher, Music Program Director, Summer Program Director, Curriculum Coordinator, Technology Coordinator, and Assistant Director. She has lead training seminars for her former school as well the Association of Christian Schools International. She earned a BA in Organizational Management and holds a California Associate Teaching Certificate and an Association of Christian Schools International Teaching Certificate. Ms. Long loves working with children and is passionate about teaching students of all ages. Her goal is to help students grow closer to their full potential academically, spiritually, and socially by providing a comfortable environment that maximizes learning and engaging lessons and with a hands-on approach. She is excited about sharing her skills as a published textbook author with her Language Arts students. She is also looking forward to guiding students as they deepen their relationship with God in Bible class. One of her favorite scriptures is Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”.

Mr. Greg Miller, LCA Administrator, is a long-time Christian educator. He attended Huntington College, graduating with a degree in secondary education. A former youth pastor, school teacher, and coach, he served as administrator for Heritage Christian School, Hammond, Indian, in the early 1990's. Greg and his wife, Karen, have served as founding administrators for Layton christian Academy, Layton, Utah, since 1994. Miller has been instrumental in leading the school from a student body of 100 in preschool through 6th grade, to a student body of over 600 in preschool through 12th grade.

In addition to his work at the local level, Miller has been active in a variety of state and national positions. Currently he sits on the Executive Committee for the Utah State Activities Association, which oversees state high school extra-curricular activities. He also serves as secretary for the National Executive Board of Christian Teachers and Schools and is president-elect for that same organization. Greg and Karen currently reside in Layton, Utah, with their three children who all graduated from LCA.

Mrs. Karen Miller, long-time Christian educator, graduated from Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana. Since 1986 she has been active in a variety of positions in Christian schools and churches.

During her stint at Heritage Christian School in the late 1980's and early 1990's she served as a preschool director, cheerleading coach, and assistant to the administrator. In 1994 she came to Utah with her husband, Greg, to start Layton Christian Academy. In her role as office manager, Miller has been instrumental in helping guide the school from a student body of 100 in preschool through 6th grade, to a student body of over 600 in preschool through 12th grade. At LCA she has also served as summer camp director and cheerleading coach. She resides in Layton, Utah, with her husband and three children, Jordan (2004 LCA graduate), Jared (LCA Class of 2007), and Alyssa (LCA Class of 2008), all of who attended Layton Christian Academy since 1994.

Mr. Bobby Porter is Director of Student Affairs and High School Basketball Coach at LCA. Coach Porter attended Tennessee Tech University on a basketball scholarship and went on to play professionally in Venezuela. He was a member of the USA team that toured Europe in 1980. He has been coaching high school basketball since then, and enjoyed winning five state championships in Ohio! He is currently serving on the governor-appointed Black Advisory Council in Utah and is president of the Utah High school Basketball Coaches' Association. He is a reverend at Second Baptist Church, and had two children and two nephews that attended LCA - BJ graduated in 2007, Jasmine in 2010, and Edward Guy and Steven George graduated in 2008. He is the head boys basketball coach at LCA and always looking forward to a very exciting season of EAGLE BASKETBALL this year!

Mr. Rey Roa strongly agrees with J.S. Bach when he said that, “The purpose and ultimate reason for all music is to glorify the Lord and to refresh one’s spirit.” His first piano teacher was his mother, Floripinas Roa, organist of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and later on pursued his piano studies at the CIC School of Music with Prof. Mila Nadala & then at the University of the Philippines with Prof. Mauricia Borromeo, Dean of the UP College of Music. Aside from his musical training, Rey also holds an Education Administration degree and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Masters Degree in Music then in 2009 completed his Doctoral Degree in Music History and Theory, of which the bulk of his dissertation was centered on New York’s multi-cultural music & diverse ethno-musicology. He was formerly the Music Director of the University of Southern Philippines Glee Club – 1992 to 1995; Music Director of Southwestern University College of Nursing Choir -1992 to 1996; Head Teacher of Yamaha School of Music Philippines -1989 to 1996; founder and Choirmaster of the University of the Philippines Concert Choir -1992 to 1994; Music Director of Bradford United Church of Christ – 1992 to 1996; and then from 1996 to 2003 he served as Music Director and Chairman of the Music Department at St. Anthony School in Guam. In 2003, he went on a US Concert-Tour with long time student, soprano Anna Concepcion. This concert-tour included concerts in California, Indiana, Michigan, and culminated in a very commanding performance at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center. Aside from the United States, Rey also performed numerous concerts as piano soloist, assisting artist and as choirmaster in Singapore, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and Europe. His European tour in 2000, which included Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland, has enormously helped in broadening his students’ piano and vocal repertoire. After his 2003 US Concert-Tour, Roa decided to make Salt Lake City his home. He then opened the Roa Music Studio (which offers Voice, Piano, Organ, Music Theory & Literature & Choral Studies) in August of 2003 and in then 2005 he took the post as Music Director of Layton ChristianAcademy.   Roa still travels expansively conducting lectures, workshops and master classes. In the summer of 2006 he spent eight weeks in the Philippines doing voice and choral master classes in different institutions – among them was at the University of Cebu, Cebu Normal University and Mandaue City School for the Arts. Last summer 2008 he did a Philippine Concert-Tour with his daughter soprano & violinist June Ong Roa as part of the series of recitals under the auspices of Cardinal Vidal, Archbishop of the Philippines. Last summer 2009, he did recitals, lectures and master classes at Seoul National University, Korea and at the Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand.  Last summer of 2010, he was the coach and music consultant of the St. Benedict Children’s Choir which represented the Philippines at the 6th World Choir Games held in Shaoxing, China winning two Silvers and one Gold Medal. He also did several voice and choral master classes for various music institutions and universities in Manila and in Cebu City and was featured in a Recital at the PhilAm Life Auditorium (Manila, Philippines) last June 16, 2010 with his daughter, soprano & violinist June Ong Roa. Last April 15-17, 2011, Roa coordinated & organized the concerts of the Philippine Madrigal Singers in Salt Lake City which culminated in a joint performance with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the Sunday live broadcast of “Music & the Spoken Word”. Roa is the choirmaster of BelCanto Chamber Choir and directs LCA’s Christmas & Spring Musicales as well as the LCA Neo-Classical Band.

I believe education is so important to our society.  My classroom is a place where young people will be able to make useful connections and gain a better understanding of the universe we are a part of and the useful laws and patterns that are found therein.  I will focus not on useless facts but in teaching my students to be able to find answers for themselves and be more intellectually self-sufficient.  I studied physics and mathematics at Weber State University where I also played hockey.  I have always had a desire to serve God and his children.  As such, I lived in Piura and Chiclayo, Perú doing missionary work where I learned to speak Spanish fluently. When I am not teaching I enjoy skiing, rock climbing, skateboarding, mountain biking, sailing, and fishing with my family and friends.

Mrs. Cheryl Sligar (Early Childhood Education Director and Elementary Student Council Advisor) was born and raised in Madera, CA. She accepted Christ as her personal Savior when she was nine years old, and has served Him ever since. She received her Associates of Science degree from Fresno City College and was certified in Accelerated Christian Education (ACE Program) in California in 1982. After moving to Utah she has taken continuing classes at Weber State and the University of Utah. She taught preschool through high school in the private Christian sector for 18 years and taught third grade here at LCA for eleven years before taking on the position of preschool director in 2010. She loves children and has a passion for teaching. She has been married to David Sligar for over thirty years and they have three grown children, all who graduated from private Christian schools, and two from LCA.  Cheryl and her husband reside in Layton, Utah. Her motto for life is:  God’s will:  nothing more, nothing less, nothing else.

2011 is Michael Strope’s first year teaching at LCA but he comes with a great deal of experience! He received his teaching credientials from Chapman University in Santa Maria, CA and has been teaching and training since 2000. The beginning of his career was spent counseling at-risk youth at Family Care Network in San Luis Obispo CA, then got his first teaching job in alternative education where he taught social studies, English, and math.  Fom 2004 to 2011, he taught geography, US and world history at Bakersfield Christian High School.  He also coached boys soccer and was the advisor to the Paintball Club.  He received his BA in International Relations from UNC Pembroke, NC and an initial MAed in Instruction and Curriculum from Chapman University, CA.  He is completing a second MAed in Instruction and Curriculum with an emphasis in Technology. His wife, LaVonna, is a Kindergarten teacher at LCA.  They have 3 boys aged 8, 5, and 2.  As stated his first 3-4 years teaching was spent teaching Social Studies and English but his real passion lays in History.  Growing up in the military, Mr. Strope is a GI brat and also spent 3 years in the Army as a 2^nd Lieutenant as 43B, a personnel officer.  During his stint as both a dependent and reserve duty, he has lived overseas and has had the opportunity to see the world and see history first hand.  This provided Mr. Strope the unique opportunity to experience history making him a better teacher for the subject he truly absolutely has a passion for which is conveyed to the students.   Mr. Strope uses any strategy to make history come alive making the teacher of history easier therefore he is always looking for some way to create a technological, advanced classroom to engage all students.  He has implemented the use of iPads in the past and intends to do the same across the curriculum. Currently, he administers a website that you are welcome to peruse.  The website is http://www.classjump.com/strope_wh .

Mrs. Volk spent her youth as a military dependent and has lived and traveled all over the United States and overseas. Moving with the military throughout her life is how her love of history and geography developed. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with a Social Science Composite Major (emphasis History) from Weber State University. After receiving her degree she was offered a job with the government and has spent the last 27 years managing major weapon systems programs for the US Air Force. In addition, she retired from the Air Force Reserves as a CMSgt with a total of 31 years active and reserve service. Mrs. Volk has raised five children and has seven grandchildren.  One of her granddaughters attends LCA. She is excited to be teaching at LCA as her second career!