Formation Guides and Staff

Formation Guides

At Charis Academy, teachers and staff are more than instructors.

They are formation guides who help students grow academically, spiritually, relationally, and practically for the future.

Through Christ-centered mentorship, meaningful relationships, and real-world learning experiences, our team works to help students discover purpose, build character, develop wisdom, and become future-ready to serve their families, community, and calling.

We believe education is not simply about transferring information.

It is about helping shape lives.

Administration & Staff

Administration

Mike Jarrell

Executive Director

Kelly Knowlden

Director of Education

Crystal Mayernick

Director of Operations

Michael Screenock

Director of Development

Staff

Emely Caballero

Bilingual Enrollment &
Development Associate

Paula Edstrom

Custodian

Julie Knowlden

Librarian

Alexei Rivera

School Operations &
Data Coordinator

Jillian Ruiz

Office Assistant

Jane Wagner

Finance Manager

Faculty

Elementary School | Grades K–5

Seth Mansor

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd Lead Teacher

Carrie Wiley

K, 1st & 2nd Grade Aide

Kimberly Sullivan

3rd, 4th & 5th Lead Teacher

Amanda Bartosevich

3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Aide

Middle & High School | Grades 6–12

Chris Johnson

Academic Coach & Learning Space Manager; Grammar; Bible

Tiffany Joyner

Reading & Literature

Bryan McGrory

Science & Health

Kikuli Mwanukuzi

7–12 Math

Carrie Wiley

History; 6th Grade Math

Other Faculty

Julie Knowlden

Librarian

Sandy Tritt

K–12 P.E.

Learning Support

Stephanie Filbert

Literacy and Math Intervention Specialist

For All Who Want It

We believe education should be available to all who desire it. Our doors are open to any student who wants to learn in a Christ-centered environment, because we believe Jesus welcomed anyone who was willing to come to the table. Throughout His Life, Jesus included people from all backgrounds. Rich and poor, young and old, healthy and sick. We are committed to classrooms filled with students regardless of their background or situation. We want to serve every student we have the capacity to serve—academically, emotionally, and spiritually— because we believe each one carries dignity and purpose.

Charis is not just a school; it is a ministry. It is our hope and prayer that both students and their families would experience healing, find faith, and encounter the love of God through their time here.

Grace-Dependent

Our philosophy of education is rooted in grace. We want every student to know deep in their hearts that their worth is not tied to performance, perfection, or comparison; instead, worth is found in the unchanging love of the Father. Acceptance is not earned; it’s received. This is modeled by the staff at Charis Academy.

We teach students that salvation is not the result of shaping up or getting it all together. The Gospel tells us that while we were still dead in our sins, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Jesus picks up the tab for our brokenness, our failures, and our inability to measure up, and He offers us life, identity, and purpose as a gift. Our prayer is that students will trust this good news, rest in it, and live from the beauty and relief it brings. In this grace-dependent environment, students are free to grow, try, fail, and thrive—all while knowing they are deeply loved and never alone.

Interactive & Conversational

We believe that the best learning doesn’t happen through passive listening; it happens through active engagement. Research shows that students retain only about 5% of what they hear in a lecture-style monologue, but that number jumps to 50% when they engage in dialogue. When students take action on what they’ve learned, retention rises to 75%, and when they teach it to others, it soars to 90%. That’s why our approach is interactive and built around conversation, collaboration, and real-world application.

We want our students to be curious learners who ask great questions, explore ideas deeply, and take ownership of their learning. This is a teacher-guided, student-engaged journey where learning comes alive and students are inspired and activated to walk in their full God-given potential.

Parent-Engaged

We believe that parents are the primary educators and disciplers of their children. Our role is not to replace that God-given responsibility but to come alongside and support it. As Deuteronomy 6 reminds us, teaching our children about God happens “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” That means everyday moments—from car rides to walks with the dog to bedtime conversations—are sacred opportunities to shape a child's mind and heart.

We are committed to partnering with parents in this journey and walking together in unity and purpose. We believe that when parents are engaged, and home and school are working hand-in-hand, the impact of a child’s education—both academically and spiritually—will be deep, lasting, and transformational.

Parents are to bring up their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7; Ephesians 6:4)

Jesus-Centered

At Charis Academy, our philosophy of education is rooted in Jesus Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all things. We believe that Jesus perfectly reveals the heart of the Father; when we look at Him, we see what God is like. He is not only our Savior but also our teacher, model, and the lens through which we understand all of Scripture. Every subject, every story, and every pursuit of truth finds its center in Him. Jesus is the Truth, and in knowing Him, we come to understand the world, ourselves, and the God who made us.

At Charis Academy, our philosophy of education is rooted in Jesus Christ.

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION