Faculty & Staff
Dr. Drexel
Executive Director
Dr. Jessica Drexel is the Executive Director and future Head of School for Bonner Classical Academy. She and her husband Andrew have lived in the Sandpoint area since June of 2022, and they attend a local Protestant church.
Dr. Drexel was formerly the Literature and Composition Department Head and director of the Senior Thesis Program at Live Oak Classical School in Waco, TX. In 2020, she co-founded The Cairn Group, an initiative that provides logistical support to boards starting classical Christian schools. Prior to her work in K-12 classical Christian education, Dr. Drexel taught at Baylor University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in English and Comparative Literature from UNC Chapel Hill, where she wrote her dissertation on poetic epiphanies in the work of William Carlos Williams, T. S. Eliot, Denise Levertov, and Donald Revell. Dr. Drexel earned her Master of Arts in Linguistics from UNC Chapel Hill, and her Bachelor of Arts in German and Latin from Hillsdale College. She is passionate about classical Christian education because it cultivates the whole person and places Christ, family, virtue, and wonder at the center of a child’s life. Her favorite books are Lord of the Rings, T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets, Virgil’s Aeneid, and Winnie the Pooh. In her leisure time, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and hospitality.
Faculty
Charlene Ealy
Grammar Teacher
What did you do before teaching?
13 years as a Registered Nurse
Favorite Bible verse:
Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Favorite books:
The Count of Monte Cristo, Pride and Prejudice, Surprised by Oxford
Favorite activity:
I love outdoor exercise such as skiing, hiking and camping. Most days though in my spare time, I’ll clean while listening to a podcast, cook and experiment with sourdough
Hannah Herndon
Grammar Teacher
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
Seeing kids get excited when learning something new about our wonderful world! I love telling them stories about great people in history!
Favorite Bible verse:
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Favorite books:
The Bible and the Chronicles of Narnia
Favorite activity:
Reading!
Jacob Kenyon
Choir Director
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
Sharing the joy of music and musical discovery with my students.
Favorite books:
Psalms, Ephesians, and Revelation are some of my favorites.
Favorite activity:
Besides listening to and playing music, I enjoy playing strategy RPGs.
Marcie Wingate
Grammar Teacher
What did you do before teaching?
Financial Advisor at Northwest Mutual
What is your favorite thing about teaching?
My favorite part of teaching is impacting children with the virtues of Christ.
Favorite Bible verse:
2Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by Faith not by sight.”
Favorite book:
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Favorite activity:
Be outside in nature hiking or skiing with my family.
Staff
Mara Brandner
Administrative Assistant
What is your favorite thing about being the Admin Assistant?
I love the vision of this classical Christian school and being a part of helping to make it a success and each student thrive here in any way I can.
Favorite Bible verse:
John 14:23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
Favorite books:
Mitford series by Jan Karon
Favorite activity:
Enjoy the beautiful Idaho scenery whether by hiking in it or just curled up with a warm drink at home by my window, watching my children playing in nature.