CUMBERLAND CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - Key Persons
David Lewen and his wife Julie have homeschooled their two children since 2009 and have been with Classical Conversations (CC) since 2012. David Lewen is a federal prosecutor with the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee since 2008. Prior to that, Dave was an active duty United States Army JAG Officer for 5 years and served in Korea, Hawaii, and Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Admin
- Administrator / High School Advisor / Board
Jeana, mother of two college age children, Donald and Krista, and wife to Sonny Partin resides in Knoxville, TN. She is a committed believer in Jesus Christ and actively involved at Central Baptist Church of Bearden. For eight years, she worked as a controller and operations manager for an international software company, Waves, Inc., and then felt called to homeschool her children. After twelve years of successfully homeschooling, tutoring students, representing Classical Conversations in several capacities and serving on the SMHEA Board, she is privileged to be a part of this new Tennessee umbrella program,Cumberland Christian Academy, designed to serve families pursuing a Classical Christian Education.After successfully guiding her children into college, Jeana is ready to serve homeschool families in her new roles as CC Academy's Administrator and Advisor.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Member of the Board
- Secretary of the Board
- Vice President of Member Services for HealthCare 21 Business Coalition
Jeff Townsend is Vice President of Member Services for HealthCare 21 Business Coalition in Knoxville TN. He and his wife, Natalie, have homeschooled their five children for the last seven years. Jeff is an elder at Fellowship Church, and teaches within the church on culture and worldview. In the fall of 2017, he will be directing middle schoolers through Classical Conversations.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- K - 8 / High School Advisor
Jennifer Gebbie is married to Scott Gebbie, and together they have raised 3 children. They are currently in their 19th year of homeschooling, with 2 in college and the youngest in 11th grade. Jennifer has been part of Thursday Connection for 8 years, and has served as registrar for the last 4 years. She is excited to join CCA as an advisor, and looks forward to meeting new families.
Judy and her husband, Rich, have been married for 29 years. They have five children; three who are adopted and two biological children. The youngest two of her children were both adopted from China in the last three years. This family's homeschool journey began when the oldest two were very young. As a result, they have homeschooled for 17 years and accomplished the task of graduating the first two. The oldest is currently attending college and the second is an entrepreneur, starting her own tailoring business two years ago. This leaves the younger three, who are thirteen, six, and five, in their homeschooling nest. Judy, who was formally trained as a registered nurse, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. She left hospital nursing in labor and delivery in order to stay home with her children full-time. Affectionately, she describes her homeschooling journey as "a venture in cultivating a beautiful garden in which I have labored to plant productive seeds to bring forth beautiful fruit for His glory!" It is her fervent prayer her children will go forth and serve the Lord with all their hearts and for her to touch the lives of other homeschooling moms through sharing the family's experiences.
Job Titles:
- Advisor / Board
- Assistant Administrator and Classical Specialist
Kristie Fox has an amazing husband and five children. She has been homeschooling for more than five years. She has a Master's Degree in Biology. The focus of her degree was in Herpetology (Reptiles and Amphibians). Before children, she taught Biology I, Biology II, and AP Biology. She has worked with an environmental education program for the last 15 years. She loves being outside and asking lots of questions.
Job Titles:
- Testing and Graduation Coordinator
- Testing Coordinator
Lori Rowe has been homeschooling her three daughters through Classical Conversations for the past 9 years. Her background in elementary education has equipped her to serve multiple families as a Foundations Tutor for the past 6 years. Additionally, she has been able to serve the community for 4years as an area Testing Coordinator. Lori is thankful to the Lord who blessed her with a supportive and encouraging husband who has helped to provide so that she can stay home with her children and pour into their lives on a daily basis.
Madeleine Hebert is an 18 year-old student who plans to use the skills that she acquired in her nine years of Classical Conversations to attend the University of Tennessee Chattanooga for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing and then a Masters of Science in Nursing to be a Certified Nurse Midwife. She plans to use the nursing skills she learns and the speech skills she has gathered through three years of competitive speech and debate to serve God in medical missions overseas after college.
Job Titles:
- Classical Specialist
- High School Advisor
- High School Advisor / Pastor Mike Wilkinson
Marcia Walker has finished homeschooling her four children who are now all graduated from high school and two from college. After 23 years of home educating,she is continuing to assist with her grandchildren and has stayed involved with Classical Conversations as a high school director. She has completed nine years with CC in various Challenge levels and as a Support Representative. Marcia has also been an ACT tutor for the past three years. She is a retired CPA and worked with Exxon for 11 years. Marcia and her husband, Rodney, attend Heritage Fellowship Church in Oak Ridge.
Job Titles:
- Career and College Specialist
Maria is wife to Jeremy and mother of two precious girls, Ruth and Esther. They live in Sevierville, TN and have been homeschooling with Classical Conversations for 7 years. Maria has also been a Classical Conversations Foundations Tutor for 4 years. Prior to home educating her children, Maria worked in the field of counseling and career advisement at a university in Georgia and also worked in community counseling. She holds a Master's degree in Education with a concentration in Counselor Education. Maria is excited to begin her role as a Classical Specialist with an emphasis in special needs and high school career counseling for Cumberland Christian Academy. She has a heart to assist families in their journey of classically educating their children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board
Mary is married to Doug, homeschooled her five (now adult) children, and is anxiously awaiting the arrival of her first grandchild. Mary was the founding administrator of Thursday Connection, and while she is an RN who currently owns Choices in Senior Care, she attributes much of her business success to the things she learned during the establishment of Thursday Connection. She enjoys walks on the beach, spending time with family, and creating new businesses and programs that will enrich the lives of others. Mary loves the way that God weaves together all of life's experiences to create the person that each of us is meant to become, and is so excited to serving on this board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board
Michelle Bickers and her husband Andy have three children Sam, Benji and Abbey and live in Fountain City. All three of their children have been homeschooled in elementary, middle and high school. Michelle has served as the administrator of Thursday Connection Homeschool Cooperative since 2011. As her lifetime passion for the arts continues to unfold, she delights teaching people how to connect to God, others and themselves by exploring and practicing the visual arts. Michelle's church home is Apostl es Anglican Church.
Job Titles:
- Pastor
- High School Advisor / Pastor Mike Wilkinson
- Pastor of Knoxville First Cumberland
Mike Wilkinson is the pastor of Knoxville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which is the sponsoring agency for Cumberland Christian Academy. Pastor Mike has been married to his gracious wife, Joanna, for nearly thirty-five years. They have three daughters and three awesome grandchildren. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Board
- Director of New Business
Mr. Scott T. Whitaker is Director of New Business Initiatives at Classical Conversations. Prior to Classical Conversations, Mr. Whitaker held the role for 10 years as Co-Director of Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University where he served as an international education advisor He is a graduate of Princeton University and the Kellogg School of Management. Their family includes three amazing children, Eleanor, Liliana and Nathaniel, who have each only known homeschool through Classical Conversations Communities.
Ryan is a husband and the father of six children who are involved in a local CC community. He is the lead designer at Moldesign and enjoys developing new products. Mostly, he helps others bring their own concepts to reality. One of his own inventions is the Greenstalk vertical garden. Ryan also serves as an associate pastor and worship leader at The Church at Bennington Place.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Treasurer of the Board
Tom Witmer has been a member of Cumberland Christian Academy's sponsoring church, Knoxville First Cumberland Presbyterian since 1978. He currently serves as KFCPC's Treasurer, Building/Office Manager and Cumberland Christian Academy's Treasurer. He was born and raised in Dallastown PA, married his high school sweetheart in 1970, went to work at Newport News Shipyard and moved to Knoxville in January of 1977. He retired from TVA in 1990 and was president of local computer consulting company until 2003. Tom is married to Lois Witmer. They have been married for 47 years this May 22. They have two children Allison Witmer Davis and Brent Witmer. They have 5 grandchildren, Hunter Witmer (16), Hailey Davis (15), Laci Witmer (12), Connor Davis (12) and Hannah Davis (9).
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Classical Specialist
Tricia Fulton is married to Chad Fulton and they live in the Smoky Mountains with their four children. Because of her background in public and private schools, she never considered home schooling as an option until she met families whose close relationships drew her attention toward the possibility of a different method of education. After 16 years of homeschooling and with one in college, they hope to continue leading their children in a hearty love of learning and to steer them toward seeking the Lord on their own thus passing down the love of God to the next generation. Tricia graduated from University of Tennessee with a B.S in Biology and has had the privilege of teaching classes in science, writing, grammar, and the art of worship dance to children of all ages. As she strives to be a learner, her hope is to inspire parents and students in becoming life-long learners. She has directed a Classical Conversations community for 7 years.