JULIE O’SHEA

Julie is a co-founder of HCCA and its Head of School. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Texas and graduated at the top of her class from Teacher’s College, Columbia University, with a master’s degree in Nutrition Education. Julie is a co-founder and Board Member of Alder Tree Giving - a nonprofit that provides financing and resources to educational programs. She is also a published writer, former professional technical editor, and devoted mother of children in HCCA’s elementary and middle schools. The O’Shea family attends Lighthouse Church.

NATALIE GRESH

Natalie is a co-founder of HCCA. She is also HCCA’s Academic Director. Natalie received her degree in Elementary Education from the College of Charleston and has been teaching children of the Lowcountry for over two decades at well-known Christian academies, including Palmetto Christian Academy. Natalie has also been the Children's Ministry Director at Lighthouse Church and Academic Director of, and Kindergarten teacher for, a Christian academy in North Charleston. Natalie and her husband Jon live locally and have a son in high school and daughter in college. The Gresh family attends Lighthouse Church.

ABBEY BAREFOOT

Abbey is one of HCCA’s instructors for grades K-1. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Wofford College with a degree in Studio Art and Education. She has studied in Rome, Italy, and traveled across Europe, Africa, and Asia, and most recently taught English in Bilbao, Spain. Abbey attends City Life Church.

TAYLOR HORTON

Taylor is HCCA’s elementary school English language arts teacher. She has an education degree received cum laude and has been teaching in the elementary school of a local Christian school since 2021. She has specialties in teaching Shurley grammar and Foundations - Logic of English. She is a devoted follower of Christ and has also been a religious education instructor since 2019.

MOLLY DAMIANI

Molly is HCCA’s middle school math and physical education teacher. She received her bachelor’s degree in education with a minor in math from Texas State University. Molly moved to Charleston last year and has been a substitute teacher at many local schools since her arrival, including Laing and Lucy Beckham middle schools. Prior to her arrival in Charleston, Molly taught in San Antonio, Texas. She is a former Division I softball athlete and has been a softball coach. She has also served on multiple mission trips to Africa. Molly attends Seacoast Church.

NANCY RATHMAN

Nancy is one of HCCA’s instructors for grades K-1. She is a graduate of Louisiana State University and has been teaching children of the Lowcountry for over two decades, including, most recently, as a beloved teacher at Palmetto Christian Academy.  She recently published a book entitled The Art of Seeing God and is already working on her second book. Nancy and her husband Bill have two adult children. The Rathman family attends East Cooper Baptist Church.

DEMI TROTTER

Demi is HCCA’s elementary school lead work cycle teacher. She previously taught English/Language Arts at HCCA. She was born and raised in the heart of Texas - Fort Worth - and is a graduate of Abilene Christian University with a BS degree in General Studies with concentrations in Child and Family Services, Communications, and Psychology. Prior to HCCA, she taught 2nd grade in Texas. She has served on many Christian missions, including to Brazil, Kenya, and Zambia. She and her husband Alex attend Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant.

SOL GREENE

Sol is HCCA’s foreign language instructor.  She is a graduate of Fermín Toro University and has lived and studied throughout the world prior to settling in Charleston.  Born in Venezuela, Sol is a native Spanish speaker and has been teaching Spanish for several years to local Christian students.  Sol is also a former professional baker and chef. She and her husband Jason have four children, one of whom attends HCCA. The Greene family attends Lighthouse Church.

JON GRESH

Jon is HCCA’s middle school Bible teacher. He is the Senior Pastor at Lighthouse Church and has extensive experience serving as a student pastor over middle and high school students.  He also serves on the Board of Directors for numerous local nonprofits, and on the Board of Advisors at HCCA. He has a bachelor’s degree from College of Charleston. His goal is to see our students fall in love with the Word of God by fostering a love for learning the scriptures. Jon, his wife Natalie, and his children Ansley and Cade attend Lighthouse Church.

RICK LYNCH

Rick is HCCA’s technology, computer, and Internet teacher, and the school’s cybersecurity expert. He is a 20-year veteran of the United States Air Force and an accomplished cybersecurity expert and instructor. Toward the end of his military career, he provided technical support to highly classified DoD Programs. During this time, he received several certifications in Microsoft technologies culminating in a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer with Security.  In 2007 his concentration moved solely to Cybersecurity, and he achieved the “Certified Information Systems Security Professional” certification.  Rick continued providing DoD Programs’ Cybersecurity support for the next 18 years. He has also taught religious education for over a decade. Rick and his wife Kathy attend Lighthouse Church.

SUSAN BALLENGER

Susan is HCCA’s elementary school math and science teacher. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College with a BS in Biology with minors in Chemistry and German. She holds a master’s degree in Hospital Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina. For the past 7 years she has taught in the math and science department of the Porter-Gaud School. Susan has traveled extensively, including visiting over 50 countries and having lived in Italy and Greece studying marble sculpting. She has a son who is attending law school. The Ballenger family attends Stella Maris Catholic Church.

JESSICA STANZIALE

Jessica is HCCA’s Administrative Assistant and elementary school PE teacher. She graduated from The New York College of Health Professions and has been a business owner/director in the health & wellness industry for over 20 years with certifications in both fitness and nutrition.  She spent several years teaching children’s’ exercise classes in her privately owned wellness studio and was a swim instructor and classroom teachers' assistant at The Henry Viscardi School for children with physical disabilities.  Jessica and her husband Christian have 2 children, one of whom attends HCCA. The Stanziale family attends SeaCoast Church.

NICK ZERBST

Nick is HCCA’s middle school’s Men’s Spiritual Formation teacher. He is the Family Pastor at Lighthouse Church and has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in nonprofit leadership from Clemson University. He has been teaching middle school and high school students since 2009, including at Palmetto Christian Academy. Nick, his wife Katelyn, and son Preston attend Lighthouse Church.

LEESA WELCH

Leesa is HCCA’s elementary school history instructor. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a BS degree in Elementary Education with graduate work at East Tennessee State University in reading. She has been teaching for over three decades, including History, Humanities, Language Arts, and Latin. She most recently taught 2nd grade for 11 years at Palmetto Christian Academy. She and her husband Andy have two adult children. Leesa is also the grandmother of an HCCA student. The Welch family attends City Life Church.

SHAYLA MELSON

Shayla is HCCA's middle school work cycle teacher. She previously taught science at HCCA. She graduated from the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and nurse practitioner certification. She served as a Navy Nurse and was stationed in Charleston where she met her husband Richard. Shayla was a founder of Palmetto Christian Academy and has taught middle school science, CPR, and nursing courses to a variety of students, including to homeschool students, at a mission hospital in Rwanda, and as an adjunct professor of nursing at Trident Technical College. She and Richard have two adult children and are grandparents to an HCCA student. The Melson family attends East Cooper Baptist Church.

CHARLENE MORGAN

Charlene teaches HCCA’s grammar, literature, and writing within our humanities course and Latin to our 5th-8th grade students. Charlene--a previous Teacher of the Year finalist for the South Carolina Independent School Association--has a long and accomplished history in the Low Country as an educator and Orton Gillingham Academy Associate Level Practitioner, including having taught at Palmetto Christian Academy, Coastal Christian Preparatory School, and Trident Academy. In fact, Charlene has even taught Nancy Rathman's daughter! At Trident Academy, Charlene was the Director of Teaching and Learning and, most recently, Charlene owned and operated Coastal Academic Therapy and Tutoring Services, where she provided, among other things, general tutoring and taught math and writing skills using OG methods to students ages 6-18.  Charlene was also the Director of Children’s Ministry at Saint Andrew’s Church. She has her Master of Arts in Teaching from University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from West Virginia University.  Charlene and her husband attend St. Andrew’s Church.