Faculty and Staff
As you evaluate the educational options available to you for your children, the most significant consideration arises, “Who will be teaching my child.”
You want them to be masters of their subject matter. You want them to possess expertise in educational training that ensures exceptional instruction. Ultimately, you want them to share your values as they partner with you to shepherd your children in the ways of Christ.
We, at Augustine, have been blessed with such individuals. Each one has sensed a call by God to serve our students with humility and grace. The average classroom experience of our faculty is 15 to 20 years. Finally, out of 15 faculty, eight have earned a masters degree, one is a doctoral candidate, and three have full doctorates.
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Seth Drown
Brad Green
Caroline Hull
Paul Jackson
Frances McGough
Mary Milton
Donna Nelson
Aaron O'Kelley
Frances Raines
Ellen Tilleros
Kevin Vailes
Kathleen Wagar
Elise Welsch
Cathy Windham
Dean of Academic Affairs & Middle School Director
Latin Instructor
Lower School Music Instructor
Middle School Bible, Greek, and Math Instructor
Third Grade Instructor
Kindergarten Instructor
Administrator
Sixth Grade Instructor
First Grade Instructor & Lower School Director
Fourth Grade Instructor
Seventh & Eighth Grade Instructor
Second Grade Instructor
Art Instructor
Pre-Kindergarten Director & Instructor
Brandon Byrd
Mr. Byrd comes to us with six years of experience teaching in classical Christian schools around the world. He even helped start and run a classical Christian school in Africa. In college, he had a double-major in history and English and won an award for his history research. He and his wife, Melissa (who taught at Augustine several years ago), have two children. We are excited about his contribution to our school.
Seth Drown
Mr. Drown joined the Augustine Faculty in 2006 as the Middle School Grammar, Spelling, and Writing Instructor. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in English from the University of Indiana. Mr. Drown was Associate Instructor at Eastern Kentucky University and Indiana University where he taught courses in composition and rhetoric. He was employed by the Institute of Reading Development for several years teaching Preschool through adult professionals in the areas of reading enrichment, speed reading, and study skills. In 2007, Mr. Drown was appointed as Augustine School’s first Dean of Academic Affairs and Middle School Director. He continues to teach Middle School Grammar, Spelling, and Writing, as well as History & Literature and Logic & Rhetoric.
Brad Green
Dr. Green teaches theology full-time at Union University, and was one of the founders of Augustine School. Married to Dianne, their three children attend Augustine School. Dr. Green taught Latin at Augustine School when it was founded, and will teach Latin for the younger grades. Dr. Green has contributed essays to several books, and is currently working on a book on the relationship between the Christian gospel and the intellectual life. Dr. Green also serves on Augustine School’s Board of Trustees.
Caroline Hull
Mrs. Hull is a licensed and certified Kindermusik Instructor. She has taught music at Augustine School since 2005 and has maintained a private piano studio for more than twenty years. Additionally, she is a Fine Arts Instructor for Afternoons at Augustine where she teaches private piano lessons and Music for Little Mozarts, an introduction to piano for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students.
Paul Jackson
Dr. Jackson, a talented teacher and scholar, serves as Middle School Bible and Mathematics Instructor. A published author, Dr. Jackson earned his Ph.D. from South Western Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently Professor of Christian Studies at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee where he teaches New Testament and Greek. He continues to write articles for publication in The Biblical Illustrator. Dr. Jackson also serves as Augustine School’s Athletic Director coaching Cross-Country, Track, and boys’ basketball.
Frances McGough
Mrs. McGough has nineteen years of experience in the classroom, primarily as an elementary teacher, and one year experience in administration. She received a B.S. in Liberal Arts at the University of Tennessee – Knoxville and a second B.S. in Elementary Education at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She completed an M.S. in Special Education at Peabody of Vanderbilt. Mrs. McGough has continued her professional development by participating in a variety of workshops and conferences including formal training in the Core Knowledge Curriculum. She joined the faculty in 2007.
Mary Milton
Mrs. Milton studied at Murray State University where she received her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She was employed by Rhone-Poulenc Rhorer Pharmaceuticals as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative and Business Team Leader for almost ten years. She joined the Augustine faculty during the 2005-2006 academic year as Assistant Teacher in Pre-Kindergarten and in 2007 as Kindergarten Teacher. As an experienced homeschool educator, Mrs. Milton has performed extensive research on classical
Christian education.
Donna Nelson
Mrs. Nelson joined the staff of Augustine School in 2006. She brings a varied background in office management, having been employed in retail for over 20 years. Her work experience includes positions as Customer Service Manager, Bookkeeping Manager, Human Resources Specialist, and Administrative Assistant to IT Department Directors and Support Teams.
Aaron O'Kelley
Mr. O’Kelley comes to us from Louisville, Kentucky, where he taught Latin at Dorothy Sayers Classical School while finishing his Ph. D. in systematic theology. He and his wife, Joni, have two children. We are confident he will make a fine addition to our faculty.
Frances Raines
Mrs. Raines comes to Augustine School with thirty-three years of teaching experience and serves as the Lower School Director and First Grade Teacher. She studied at the University of Tennessee – Martin and received her B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Following, Mrs. Raines completed an M.S. at The University of Memphis in Administration and Supervision. In addition to her extensive career as an elementary classroom instructor, she co-founded and directed a daycare at her church in Humboldt, Tennessee.
Ellen Tilleros
Mrs. Tilleros has been a member of Augustine School’s faculty since 2004 and brings over twenty years of teaching experience to the school. She completed an Associate of Science Degree from Jackson State University in Elementary Education and a B.S. in Elementary Education from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. She performed additional studies in counseling and reading at the University of Memphis completing an M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision.
Kevin Vailes
Mr. Vailes comes to Augustine School with experience in the world of classical and Christian Schools. A History major (with minors in Interdisciplinary Studies and English), Mr. Vailes promises to be an excellent addition to the Augustine School faculty. Mr. Vailes is married with two young children.
Kathleen Wagar
Mrs. Wagar joined the Augustine School Faculty in 2007. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Akron University, Akron, Ohio, and taught Second Grade in a local Christian school. She was responsible for developing the kindergarten curriculum while working as the Kindergarten Enrichment Teacher at the YMCA of Akron. Most recently, Mrs. Wagar worked with pre-school children at First Presbyterian Playschool of Jackson, Tennessee.
Elise Welsch
Mrs. Welsch earned a B.S. in International Studies from Dickinson College, which included a year of study in Bologna, Italy. After college, Elise joined IBM as a Marketing Representative in Chicago, IL and then Honolulu, HI. She has studied art at the Silvermine School of Art in CT, Evanston Art Center in IL, and most recently has focused on watercolor techniques with professional artists Jim Gensheer of Augusta, GA and Janice Sumler of Jackson.
Cathy Windham
Mrs. Windham joined Augustine School in 2006 as the Pre-Kindergarten Director to develop Augustine’s Pre-Kindergarten curriculum. She earned a B.S. in Religion and Sociology from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and subsequently, an M.A. in Education. Prior to coming to Augustine, Mrs. Windham taught Pre-Kindergarten for four years and served as a social worker with the Carl Perkin’s Center for Child Abuse.