FCA Faculty

Faculty Biographies

Rona Branson - Academic Dean, Biology

Rona Branson grew up in Lubbock and Midlothian, Texas with her older sister and older brother. She went to Corpus Christi State University and Western College in Oregon. Rona taught at a Christian school in Texas for six years and at Franklin Classical School for a year after moving to Tennessee. When Hugh and Lisa Harris started FCA, she believed in their vision for the school and their compassion for students, and came to teach here.   She has since become the Academic Dean in addition to teaching classes. Rona has an amazing passion for students and says that in a learning environment, relationships are vital: “I don’t think real learning can happen in the absence of relationship.” She loves and believes in the community aspect of the school, and also loves “the way the students accept and love one another.” She and her husband Keith have three children: Joanna (21), Emily (19), and Mitchell (15). Outside of school, Rona enjoys reading, baking, watching movies, gardening, and learning. Some of her favorite movies include Les Miserables, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Some of her favorite bands are Guster, Caedmon’s Call, and Nickel Creek.
rbranson@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Taylor Clement - History, World Geography, Chapel Production

Taylor Clement teaches American History, Western Civilization, Civics and Tennessee History at FCA. He grew up in Cleveland, Tennessee and graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama where he majored in History. After Samford, he received a Master's degree from Lipscomb University in Learning and Teaching. His areas of historical interest are Russian History and the Cold War. Taylor chose to work at FCA because of his love for the philosophy of education and his desire to work in a Christian environment. “[Working at FCA] has shown me the importance of a teacher’s responsibility to maintain freedoms for mentoring relationship and for non-traditional tools for educational discovery. [FCA] has proven its uniqueness within the private school world, while still being a challenging institution.” Taylor enjoys following his favorite sports teams (St. Louis Cardinals, Arkansas Razorbacks, and Tennessee Titans) and spending time with his wife Katy. His favorite movies are Rocky and Master and Commander. His favorite bands are Chris Rice, Arcade Fire, Coldplay, and Andrew Peterson.
tclement@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Katie Gordon - English, Yearbook

Katie Gordon teaches English I, III, IV, Journalism/Yearbook, and Learning Lab. Katie grew up in Dickson, Tennessee with her two younger sisters. She graduated from Samford University with an English major, and from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Arts degree in American Literature. Katie has taught at The Country Garden School in Shunde, China, Vanderbilt University, San Agustin Language Institute in Trujillo, Peru, and the Carraway Center for Teaching and Learning in Nashville. Katie has chosen to teach at FCA because “I wanted a Christian environment with strong academics in a small, relational setting.” Katie says, “Teaching here has deepened my view that education is about affection: loving and believing in what I teach, striving to impart that love to my students, and loving the individual kids who walk into my classroom.” She adds, “I love observing my students in and out of class, trying to understand who they are, where they’re coming from, how they think… It’s about talking with them throughout the day, reading their writing, and hearing what they think that have really deepened these relationships.” Katie enjoys reading, being outside with friends, and making things. Her favorite movies are Casablanca and The Royal Tenenbaums. Her favorite bands are Wilco, The Flaming Lips, and Bob Dylan.
kgordon@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Hugh Harris - Headmaster

Mr. Harris grew up in Waco, Texas and Gainesville, Florida, graduating from Baylor University with an Accounting degree in 1978. Mr. Harris worked as an accountant in the insurance industry as a Treasurer and Vice President of Finance and began his own consulting firm, Harris Systems Design, in 1985. For the next eight years, Mr. Harris advised and consulted insurance companies in the area of accounting and computer systems. He later moved his family to work in an inner city Christian ministry to the poor with two college friends, starting a school, church, and youth ministries. Mission exposure trips to Mexico, Haiti, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan radically changed his worldview perspective.

In 1990, a friend from Waco who had moved to Nashville called to offer him a position in his new company, The Idea Agency, to help develop life-affirming film, video, and music projects. In 1991, the Harrises made a difficult but confident decision to move to Tennessee to help with the new company. After nine years and a fulfilling venture in the film and marketing industry, Mr. Harris, took a position as the principal of a small, local Christian school in Franklin. Based on years of youth volunteer and business administration experience, Mr. Harris sensed the compilation of many skill sets to move into the education field.

In 2004, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, along with twenty families, began Franklin Christian Academy, where he currently serves as Headmaster of the school and President of the Board of Trustees. He also acts as the President of the Middle Tennessee Athletic Conference and sits on the Board of the National Christian Sports Conference.   Mr. Harris received a Masters in Education Administration degree this past spring and is committed to seeing students grow in the grace of Christ through knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

The Harrises’ family includes two adopted children: a son of mixed racial descent, and a daughter from India. Caleb, 26, and Rachel, 21, are working and in college, respectively.
hharris@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

 

Lisa Harris - Guidance Counselor, World Cultures/Apologetics

Lisa Harris graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science and received her Masters in Education Administration in May of 2008. She currently serves as the school’s guidance counselor and teaches a senior level Perspectives on World Missions course. She is also responsible for the mission aspect of FCA, and loves to see students encounter the needs of the world and realize how they can be a part of God’s purposes. Her desire for each student when they graduate from FCA is that they know their life is not their own, and the best adventure is following Jesus. She also works for Servant Group International, training, recruiting and monitoring teams of Christians to go and serve in northern Iraq. Her travels have taken her to India, Haiti, Indonesia, Mexico, Turkey and parts of Europe. Mrs. Harris believes that seeing other cultures is one of the best ways students can get a big picture of God and a clearer understanding of their calling. Mrs. Harris also loves to read and go to the beach, and is the proud mother of Rachel and Caleb.
lharris@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Dawn Hoesel - Spanish, Math

Dawn Hoesel grew up with her missionary parents and her two siblings in Venezuela, where she learned to speak Spanish fluently. She attended Taylor University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Secondary Education with a specialty in Spanish and Math. She has taught as a tutor for many students, operated a day care in her home, and taught and served on the Curriculum Committee at Lighthouse Christian Academy. “FCA has changed my view of Christian education. I have seen many Christian schools try to mold and conform students to their beliefs and values. FCA strives to assist the parent in providing an environment where students can serve, grow spiritually, and be challenged academically. FCA has shown me how much more real Christianity can be integrated into the classroom. Traditional Christian schools tend to allow only a certain ‘type’ of student—one who believes in God. FCA truly embraces students from all walks of life and strives to disciple these students spiritually while also challenging them academically. Dawn teaches High School Math and Spanish. Outside of school, Dawn enjoys her life at home with her husband Don and their two children, Alyssa, 10, and Aidan, 8.”. She enjoys playing the piano, hiking, and listening to music. Her favorite movie is The Princess Bride and some of her favorite bands are: Jars of Clay, Third Day, Trevor Morgan, Barlow Girl, Caedmon’s Call, Switchfoot, and Relient K.
dhoesel@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Jennifer Lain - 5th/6th grade teacher

Jennifer Lain grew up in Texas along with her brother and sister. She met her husband Dan, at Jacksonville College in East Texas, and ended up marrying before she finished her degree. God blessed them with two children and they made a commitment for Jennifer to be a stay at home mother.  During her children’s education, Jennifer taught music at several private Christian schools, enabling her to be near her children.   Over fifteen years of marriage and raising her two children, Joel and Rebekah, Jennifer went back to college to finish her degree.  She completed her degree in Interdisciplinary Studies this past May graduating Suma Cum Laud with a 3.93 GPA, and now holds teaching certifications in Texas and Tennessee.

Jennifer has enjoyed working at FCA this year integrating a Christian worldview into a loving and accepting Christian school environment. Jennifer’s teaching philosophy is based upon making her students successful encouraging them to learn they way they have been created to learn by employing all teaching styles and multiple modes of teaching.

In her free time, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, playing the piano, writing, cooking and gardening.
jlain@franklinchristianacademy.org

Kristi Marsh -  Girl's Basketball coach, P.E., Bible, 7th Grade History

Colleen Perry - Music

 

Susan Reese - English, Math, Accreditation Coordinator

Susan Reese grew up in Nashville. She attended Peabody College and Vanderbilt University graduating Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and elementary education. She became certified in Tennessee and taught at University School in Nashville and also in Germany as part of the Armed Forces program. She and her husband, Andy, were founding members of FCA; he was on the board for several years. They are the parents of four children: Amelia (24), Austin (22), Evan (20) and Nicholas (18) who attends FCA. Susan teaches junior high English and mathematics. She is also certified to teach English as a Second Language and has worked with the Iraqi immigrant community in helping to establish a school to teach Iraqi women English. She has traveled in Europe, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan and Syria come back with a desire to help give students the kind of experiences of other cultures that open their hearts and broaden their understanding. At home, she enjoys gardening and art and reading.

“I love the depth of commitment to expanding the kingdom of God that is foundational at FCA. Whether helping schools in Iraq and Uganda or working with students here as they grow through academic or personal challenges, desire to see all aspects of life flourish in the love of God is at the core of what we do.”
sreese@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

Reem Shamma - Pre-Algebra, Geometry

 

 

Melanie Sutton - Bible, English, Spanish, Theater

Melanie grew up in Milwaukee, WI and moved to Texas in high school, but her family's roots are all in Tennessee. She attended Abilene Christian University and graduated with a bachelors' degree in Ministry to Children and Families (a combination Theology and Education degree). After college, Melanie followed much of her family who were "migrating" back to Nashville.

She served for 5 years as the Children's Minister for Harpeth Community Church in Franklin, where she spent alot of time in curriculum development and teaching chidlren, youth, and parents alike. Melanie feels called to ministry to the next generation, but always had a desire to teach daily in the classroom. "Working for a school like FCA allows to me to teach school while still truly fulfilling my calling to ministry. The dedication FCA has to a biblical worldview and to the discipleship of its students makes it the perfect environment for me. I feel so blessed to teach here!" Melanie loves having fun with her students, but when she's not at school, Melanie loves spending time with her husband Ryan, a producer and musician. They enjoy going to concerts, listening to music, hosting dinner parties for friends and family, and watching "House", "Frasier", HGTV (when he lets me) or the Science Channel (when I let him). Melanie is also a big Duke Basketball fan and intends to beat all of her co-workers and students in the annual Bracketology contest.
msutton@franklinchristianacademy.org

 

 

Jim Tannahill - Middle School Science, Physics, Algebra II, Oceanography

Kristi Marsh -  Girl's Basketball coach, P.E., Bible, 7th Grade History

Colleen Perry - Music

Lori Boyd - Office Manager