Middle and High School Teachers

Hannah Acton graduated from ACA in 2012 and continued her education and athletic career at Stillman College. She played both volleyball and softball throughout her time at Stillman, met her Husband, and graduated in 2016. Hannah and her husband Connor spent their first years married serving students in Orlando, Florida and have moved back to Tuscaloosa in 2020. Both Hannah and her husband are passionate about serving this generation of students and those coming up. They also have a daughter, Tatum, who attends ACA preschool.

Josh was born and raised in the Heart of Dixie. Raised by two missionaries, Josh was forced to eat butter-beans and play "Non-American" sports. He became a Christian at the ripe age of 21 while attending Jacksonville State University. He soon swept his future wife off her feet with his smooth moves and dashing good looks. He and Jamie traveled the world for a couple of years; riding bulls, feeding crocodiles, surfing waves, singing karaoke before they moved to Louisville, KY (the greatest city in the world) for Josh to attend Seminary. Josh's fancy piece of paper that he earned in seminary that says he is super-smart has taken them to Atlanta, Ga, St. Louis, MO and finally Tuscaloosa, AL. Josh and Jamie have two children, Oswyn (4) and Luella (1), both are currently training for the circus. 

Brittnay Bigham graduated from ACA in 2011, and continued her education and athletic career at Faulkner University. She has been teaching and coaching at ACA since 2018. She married her husband, Luke Bigham, in 2021, and they just welcomed their first child, Hosanna, at the beginning of 2023. 

I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa.  I graduated from the University of Alabama in 1985 with a degree in Physical Education, K12. I taught PE for 3 years and then went back to school to get my elementary certification.  I have been teaching for a total of 24 years in Tuscaloosa City,Tuscaloosa County, Briarwood Christian, in Mississippi and ACA.  I am married to Mark, who teaches in the Music department at Shelton State. I have a daughter, Meredith, and a son, John Mark. I am very thankful for my family.

I was blessed to be born into a Christian home. At age 9, I trusted Jesus as my Savior and continue to be thankful for all that Christ did for me on the cross. It is because of my love for Him and out of appreciation for all He has done for me that I want to share my faith and what it means to live that out with my students here at ACA. I am thankful for ACA and the ministry it has to my family and look forward to seeing God work in the lives of our students.

Tim Brown received his B.S. in Mathematics Education from University of Alabama in May 1988. He taught math and coached football at Northport Junior High 1988-1993. Tim married to Dr. Denise Brown March 1992, his two children are Timothy Nelson and Rebekah Joy. He has been teaching at ACA since the fall of 1993.

After growing up in West Virginia and Louisiana, I moved to Alabama to study English and play volleyball at Samford University. In 2006, I earned a Masters in Theological Studies at Duke Divinity School and then studied Renaissance literature at Florida State University. As a writing composition instructor at FSU, I fell in love with teaching! I became passionate about engaging students and preparing them for college-level work. I married my husband Eddie in 2008, and we moved to Nashville, TN where I taught sophomore and senior English classes at Ravenwood High School for six years. We moved to Tuscaloosa in 2014, and I taught the UAEC 200 College Readiness course at UA Early College for eight years. In 2017, I also became an adjunct English instructor for California Baptist University, hoping to fully “land” at a faith-based institution one day.

In 2023, I became the Associate Director of Academic Development and Engagement at Culverhouse. I enjoyed equipping business students with the career-readiness skills needed for long-term success. During the various twists and turns in my journey, I continue writing and publishing poetry. After seventeen years of serving in public institutions, I am thrilled to teach English at a Christian
school: where faith and reason are not mutually exclusive, and where God’s truths can be both explored and celebrated. I am also grateful to have my four children—Anna Clare, Eliza, Louise, and Edward—at ACA with me. Go Patriots!

Eliz received her bachelor's from the University of Iowa and Masters from Grace Theological Seminary.  She has taught and/or administered over 30 years in Christian school education, most outside of the USA. Emmanuel Baptist remains her church home since marrying into the Carden family and making Alabama her residence.  Her love for science has moved her through teaching many of the middle school and high school sciences offered at ACA. Currently she heads the science department, teaches all juniors chemistry and guides the AP computer science students.

Hannah Crawford was born and raised in Arkansas. Woo pig! She graduated from Ouachita Baptist University with degrees in Spanish and Christian Studies. During her attendance there, she served as a missionary for 5 months in Spain where her passions were solidified for life in ministry. She then worked in student ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas while working on her Masters of Theological Studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. There she met her husband Matt Crawford. They moved to Tuscaloosa in 2016 and she has called ACA home ever since! She now has 2 sons that attend ACA daycare, Easton and Jonah. She teaches 9th Grade Bible and loves fulfilling the calling God has placed on her life!

I graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelors in Advertising. After working with the national and regional levels of automotive advertising in Detroit and Atlanta, I moved back to marry my college sweetheart, Dan.  :)

I've always been involved with children from babysitting in my earliest days, to Sunday School teacher, children's church leader, preschool teacher, substitute teacher, and 6th grade art teacher. I am also currently serving as the Children's Director at Forest Lake United Methodist. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, cooking and spending time with my family.

I love pointing out the day-to-day reminders of the original artist, God, to our 3 kiddos and anyone else around! (Have you ever named all the colors of a sunset or investigated a caterpillar?! -crazy!) Come check out the elementary and high school halls any time to see our discoveries of color, line, balance and more! 

Jenae Wyrtzen Edwards is from a little town near Dallas, Texas. She graduated with a degree in English and Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin and got her Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. During her undergrad, she studied abroad in Argentina and spent a summer in New York City. These trips embedded her love for the Spanish language and culture in her heart. She has a passion to give students a picture of the world outside of their own and hopes that her class will help them see the creativity of God as they learn to see through the eyes of people from a different culture. She loves that she gets to teach a class that enables students to think beyond their little worlds and into the greatness of a God who loves people from all nations. She met her husband, Harvey Edwards, while getting her Masters Degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and their sons now serve alongside him as he pastors Anchor Church, a church plant that meets together at ACA each Sunday.

My name is Cindy Garner and I have been in education for 30+ years. I view ACA as my mission field and look forward to working with you and your child as we seek ways to glorify God and excel in academia. I have been married since 1986 and have four children. I enjoy camping, going to the beach, helping with church activities, and family time. Of course, being a grandma since 2016 has been the best thing ever! 

Luke has lived in Tuscaloosa his whole life. He graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2014. He has been married to his high school sweetheart, Hannah, since 2018. They have two children, John Luke and Annie Bea. He has worked as an RN and Team Leader in the DCH operating room for 6 years, but is excited about starting a new adventure in education at ACA. He will be teaching Anatomy and Biology, as well as coaching varsity football and middle school baseball. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, hunting, and watching sports. He is excited about being a part of the Patriot family.

Elizabeth Gordon was born in Memphis and raised here in Tuscaloosa. Elizabeth went to Ole Miss and graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s in French and a minor in business. During college, she studied abroad in Paris and Nice, France. Elizabeth attended law school at the University of Alabama. She received her J.D. in 1999 and became an attorney at Burroughs & Guin, LLP.

Elizabeth continued to practice law part-time while pursuing her master’s in French at UA, which she received in 2003. During graduate school, she participated in several study and work abroad programs in Paris and Tours, France. Elizabeth taught French at UA as a graduate assistant, and later as an adjunct instructor. She also taught French at The Capitol School. In 2006, Elizabeth returned to the full-time practice of law, joining the firm of Rosen Harwood, P.A., where she focused on real estate, county/municipal, and juvenile law for the next nine years.  

In 2015, with great excitement to follow her true passion for teaching French, Elizabeth joined the ACA faculty. She and her husband, Grant, have three boys: Rooksby, David and Patrick. They are active members of Church of the Highlands. Elizabeth and her family love celebrating God’s creation with outdoor adventure and travel. Grant is from South Africa, so they enjoy spending time there with family and friends as often as possible.   

David Green was born and raised here in Tuscaloosa. He graduated from West End Christian High School and then received his B.S. in education and Masters degree in History from the University of Alabama. David taught 25 years in the Tuscaloosa County school system and then moved to Charleston , South Carolina where he taught and coached for six years before returning to Tuscaloosa. He married Dr. Kelley Green in 1992. They  have two grown children,Karlee and Gage. His granddaughter Linley keeps him busy with little league softball and other outdoor activities. David will be teaching World History and Economics/Government classes this year. He will be the Head football coach for the Middle school football team and help coach defensive backs on the Varsity  football team. He is thrilled to get the opportunity to work at ACA.

I graduated from Hillcrest High School in 2016 and I have been an assistant softball coach at ACA since 2017. I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2021 and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree online at Liberty University. I am the oldest of three kids. My sister, Hanna, graduated from ACA in 2019 and my brother, Austin, will graduate from ACA in 2025. A few of my favorite things are taking my dog, Ellie, to the park, spending time with my friends, and all things sports!

Heather Henson has been the instrumental and choral director at American Christian Academy since 2008 where she conducts the Symphonic Band, Patriot Marching Band, Patriot Choir, Royal Bluezz Jazz Band, High School Chapel Worship Band, Intermediate Band, Beginning Band, and the Jubilare! elementary chorus. She also teaches a Music Theory class and is the advisor for the Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter.

Ms. Henson graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree in 1995. During her time at Samford she was a member of the A Cappella Choir, Wind Ensemble, Color Guard, Delta Omicron Music Fraternity, and served as the drum major for the Marching Bulldogs for two years. She began her teaching career in the Jefferson County School System as the Assistant Director of Bands and Choral Director at Oak Grove High School and Alliance Elementary School, and then as Director of Bands at Pittman Middle School in Hueytown, Alabama. She was the visual coordinator, drill writer, color guard director, and winter guard director for the Brookwood High School band program for twelve years and frequently still enjoys adjudicating drum majors and color guards around the Southeast.

Ms. Henson is a clarinet player and was a charter member of the Alabama Winds, an instrumental ensemble that seeks to promote high quality wind band music through performances.  Ms. Henson is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Alabama Vocal Association, Women Band Directors International, and the International Clarinet Association.  Ms. Henson is a member of Riverwood Presbyterian Church in Tuscaloosa.  She has three children, Caleigh, Chanley, and Gabriel, a.k.a. French horn, oboe, and trumpet.

I was raised in Trussville, Alabama, with two loving parents and one younger sister. After High School, I attended a gap year program in Costa Rica to study Theology and Spanish. It was there, at the age of 18, I became a Christian. I then pursued a Seminary degree at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and changed courses to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Humanities from Boyce College in 2022. After college, I traveled around the United States working seasonal jobs in New Jersey, Wyoming, and Utah. I enjoy reading, listening to a good album, any outdoor adventure, and conversing with friends. I am currently a member of Anchor Church in Tuscaloosa.

Robyn Hudson joined the staff of American Christian Academy in the fall of 2001 as the Computer teacher. For the three years prior, Robyn had been serving as a discipleship group leader for the 10th grade girls and a substitute teacher while being a stay-at-home mom to her two children, April and Drew. She was asked to join the staff at the beginning of September in 2001, days before 9/11 terrorist attacks. When the school found out about the attacks, the administration gathered everyone in the gym for prayer. Robyn knew then and there that ACA was the place where she and her children were supposed to be.

Robyn was born and raised in Tuscaloosa. She graduated from Central High School in 1992 and from the University of Alabama in 1996. She earned her degree in Management Information Systems with a minor in Computer Science.

At the age of seven, Robyn accepted Christ as her Savior. She rededicated her life at the age of thirteen and then started developing a true, real relationship with her Lord. She and her family attend First Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa.

My name is Jesie Ingram, and I am so excited about this school year! I started teaching in 2014 where I spent 6 years teaching 6th grade English for the Tuscaloosa County School System before coming to ACA. I am so blessed to be teaching in Christ-centered school, and I have grown to love my ACA family. I graduated from The University of Alabama in 2013 with a degree in Elementary Education. In my last semester, I interned at a middle school, and I fell in love with teaching that age. I live here in Tuscaloosa with my husband and our daughter and son. In my free time, I enjoy reading, going to the beach with my family, fishing, and just being outdoors in general. 

As a teacher of middle-schoolers, my hope is to instill a love for God and a love for learning through this pivotal time of growth and change in their lives. 

Elizabeth Kelly is a native of Tuscaloosa and resides in Cottondale with her husband, John, who is a traditional artist, and three of the five children. Sarah, Mary and Cole have graduated from ACA and Karis attends currently. Caleb was born with Down's Syndrome and participates in Eagle's Wings program. Elizabeth earned a BA in Family and Child Development in the school of Human Sciences at Auburn University. After many years of being home with her family, in 2012 she joined the teaching staff at ACA. With a love for the study and memorization of scripture, teaching seventh grade Bible is a joy. . She also has a passion for cooking  fresh , unprocessed food and can pass that knowledge and practice onto the Home Ec. students. She believes these skills and practices will serve students their entire life.

Carolyn is from Miami, Florida where she attended a small private Christian school from 6th-12th grade. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 2012 with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and in 2022 with a MA in Communication Studies. She has lived in Tuscaloosa since 2008, married her husband Rand in 2012 and has three children (Finn, Betty-Sue, and Winnie Lew) who all love ACA.

Rand Nelson grew up the fourth of nine kids in Birmingham, Alabama. In high school, he wrestled and threw javelin at Vestavia Hills. While at The University of Alabama he met his wife, Carolyn, when they served together as RA partners in Mary Burke Hall. Since getting married, they stuck around Tuscaloosa where they are raising their two kids—Finley and Betty-Sue—and they have another little girl on the way in September.

Rand graduated in 2012 with an English Degree from Alabama and completed his master’s in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2019. He and his family attend Anchor Church.

My name is Paige Parish and I teach middle school here at ACA. I did not arrive in education by traditional means as I have multiple degrees in social sciences, but I have been teaching in some capacity—pre-school to college, special education to equipping and developing the skills of professionals in the classroom and community—for as long as I can remember. 

Currently, my husband and I working to complete our doctorates in education while managing a house full of biological and bonus children. We get to lead a busy, bright and vibrant life, and are thankful that ACA contributes to that! Some of my favorite things to do are paint, read, run, build Legos, and get to know your students.

Rebekah Pedram teaches mathematics. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a Master's degree from the University of West Alabama. She is a Tuscaloosa native. Her and Phillip have two boys, Andrew and Will. She attends First Assembly of God Church. Rebekah became a Christian at a young age but rededicated her life to Christ in her teens. She enjoys teaching preschool Sunday school classes, spending time with her family, and playing board games.

Rachael Reilly was born and raised in Nassau, Bahamas and came to the United States for college in 2009. After completing her undergraduate work at Gordon College in Massachusetts, she came to the University of Alabama and completed graduate degrees in Chemistry and Spanish Literature. Rachael lives in Northport with her husband, son Gabriel and their dog Hank. She and her family are excited to welcome a baby girl in December!

My name is Angel Schramm and I am excited to be moving from elementary and joining the middle school team at ACA.  I grew up in Tuscaloosa and I graduated from the University of Alabama in Early Childhood/Elementary Education.   I worked in several different positions in the education field while in Tuscaloosa.  I moved to Georgia in 2000 and taught  5th grade for 7 years and 2nd grade for 8 years.  I moved back home to Tuscaloosa in February of 2015 to be closer to family.  My husband Dennis and I have a young daughter named Mary Hope.  Teaching is one of my passions.  There is nothing better than watching children learn.  I am proud that I am part of ACA and in an atmosphere where we are unashamed of God and His Word. 

I graduated from The University of Alabama with a bachelor's degree in Secondary Language Arts and later completed my master's in Library and Information Sciences. Over the course of time, my love for God, children, teaching, and reading led me into Christian education at ACA and my church. It is truly a blessing to teach students about literature and writing while also developing their biblical worldview and character in a Christian community.

My husband, Chris, is an attorney and JAG officer in the Army, and we have been happily married since 1992. We have four grown sons, three daughters-in-law, and four beautiful grandchildren. When we are not working, we spend most of our time visiting our family or playing with our two boxer dogs.

I am looking forward to this year at ACA. Please stop by my classroom and introduce yourself any time. I know God has amazing things in store this year!

I was born and raised in Elba, Alabama, where my family and I were actively involved in our church, Wise Mill Assembly of God. I moved to Tuscaloosa in 2002 to attend The University of Alabama where I earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education Language Arts and a master’s degree in Secondary Education Language Arts Curriculum and Instruction. I met my husband, Mark, in 2008, we married in 2012, and God blessed us with our son, David, in 2014. We are members at Valley View Baptist Church where we love attending worship services, Bible studies, and children’s activities. I became a member of the ACA family first as a parent in 2019 when David enrolled as a kindergartener; then, I joined the faculty in 2022. I taught for sixteen years in the English department at Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa. I have taught AP Literature since 2012. I also worked as an adjunct instructor at The University of Alabama for three years, teaching first-year writing courses and modern American literature surveys. I have a passion for Jesus and the Bible, teaching young minds, and fostering in students a love of reading and writing. I am blessed to teach at ACA where my passions can be combined.