Church Hill Academy Faculty

Jack Bell was born in Oxford, Mississippi and raised in Jackson. This past May, he graduated from the University of Richmond with degrees in Philosophy and English and successfully completed the Honors program in Medieval Literature. Upon graduation he received the Charles T. Norman Award for the outstanding English major at Richmond College. He currently resides in Church Hill and teaches English and Latin at the Academy.

 

 

 

 

Taylor Winters graduated from the University of Richmond in 2007. She was married in the summer of 2007. Taylor and her husband now reside in Church Hill. She is a teacher at Church Hill Academy.

Dan grew up in Rochester, NY. In 2003, he moved to Virginia to attend the University of Richmond. His four years at college become the most formative period in his life.  As a Sociology major he learned of the many social injustices that plague the inner-city.  While the courses certainly gave him an idea of what life was like outside of UR, it was not until he began volunteering with CHAT that he became exposed to how the injustices effect people. Upon graduating in May of 2007, he became interested in seeking ways to remain in relationships with the youth in Church Hill. When the need of starting an alternative school arose, he decided to move into the inner-city and begin establishing Church Hill Academy.
 
Dan now lives in the neighborhood of Church Hill, and attends Third Presbyterian Church. 

Megan graduated from Shippensburg University with a bachelor of arts degree in communication/journalism and earned a master of teaching degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Megan worked as a volunteer reading teacher during the Academy’s inaugural year. Due to the need for more individualized instruction and Megan’s desire to be a part of the Academy’s mission, she is a part-time reading and English instructor. She resides in Richmond with her husband and four-year-old son.

Kathryn grew up in Raleigh, NC and moved to Virginia to attend James Madison University, where she studied Psychology, Art, and Russian Studies. While searching for her calling after college, she mentored youth in a group home and at a learning center in inner-city Charlottesville. This stirred a desire to empower children in the inner-city and initiated a pursuit for a Master's degree in the counseling field. She is now an Art Therapist, and will be teaching Art and Creative Writing at Church Hill Academy.

Adam was born and raised Hickory N.C. where he lived up his youth on the soccer field, golf course, or on the slopes of the Appalachian Mountains.  He has always had a great love for the outdoors and sharing that love with others.  Aside from Adam’s extra curricular activities with sports and recreation, you would find him in church on Sunday mornings.  Adam has always been drawn to the Lord and very passionate about witnessing God’s work in his life.  After graduating from Appalachian State University in 2004 and being an active member in Lutheran Students of Appalachian (LSA), he knew that what ever profession he worked in would have to support his faith. 

 

After taking a semester in the Rockies through National Outdoor Leadership School, he took a full time position at the Cary YMCA in Raleigh, NC.  At the Y Adam was able to establish devotions and intentional ways to positively affect children’s lives through active programs and games.  He loved being the Director of the largest camp at the Y where he babysat 325 campers in a given week.  Adam’s staff always remembers him for his energy, ADHD, and passion for child development.  If you wanted to find Adam outside of work, you had to find his girlfriend Katie Plumley.  He met Katie back in college and would take his time in asking her hand in marriage and then moving to Richmond, VA. 

 

On June 30th of 2007, Adam and Katie would take the walk that everyone had waited to see in Yorktown, VA.  After the wedding they moved into a little house off of Cary Street near downtown Richmond and started their jobs.  Katie continued teaching 4th grade for Johnson Elementary, a title one school, and Adam left his job with finances to see how seminary fit.  With all these life changes they would never know how the Lord would move their steps to the Church Hill community.  After ironically purchasing their home in Church Hill they also joined Third Presbyterian Church where Percy Strickland approached him about being involved with CHAT.  From there Adam’s involvement with the children in the neighborhood, East End Fellowship, and passion for change landed him right where God could use him most.  He is now the Outdoor Experiential Educator, Physical Science Teacher, and Physical Education Teacher for Church Hill Academy; while also being the coordinator for service projects at CHAT. 

Ben spent his grade and high school years in Bucks County, PA before choosing to attend the University of Richmond, where he's in his last year as a senior, majoring in Biochemistry.  UR alumni, Dan and Jack on staff invited him to get involved by tutoring, which has lead Ben to teach Biology to our students during the week.  Ben has a strong desire assist youth and has been to China and Kenya serving these passions over the last 2 summers.  Besides balancing his college work, teaching and tutoring, he is working hard in the hopes of entering Medical School next year.