BRISTOL ACADEMY - Key Persons

Jessica Harwood will co-teach this class with Linda Lahr. Jessica is a graduate of the Medical Laboratory Science program which Linda directed at NSCC. Jessica is a licensed Medical Laboratory Technician with over 5 years of experience; she has taught Continuing Education courses for hospital employees.

Job Titles:

• Member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church

Nick Grabar knows how to foster creativity and teach critical thinking skills. For over 50 years, he's led team after team on the journey from passive participants to innovative, active problem-solvers. He is well studied in the psychology of what makes organizations excel, but his knowledge is beyond book learning. He has decades of experience working with people of many cultures, equipping leaders to recognize and enhance the unique talents and skills of every person on their team. He was a consultant for NSA, which protects our country through cryptologic excellence. He had many other private clients, including Damler-Crystler. Nick has been a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport for over 40 years and has served in many leadership positions there. He volunteers as a mentor for for homeschooled students seeking to qualify for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship. Nick Grabar brings in many extra resources and fleshes out his courses with wit and practicality. His desire is to help train our children to think clearly, know what they stand for (and why), and help them become able communicators with people of any age or background. Nick Grabar is very encouraging and very thorough. I highly recommend his courses for any student interested in become a better person, who is more proficient in critical thinking skills. " --Ruth Grunstra

Job Titles:

• Leader
• Owner
• Certified Systems Engineer

Tim Meredith is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and the owner of Tech Eagles, which provides cybersecurity and network support to over 100 businesses in our region. Tim earned a BA in Political Science with another major in Economics. He completed graduate research under Dr. Edward Weisband at Virginia Tech. He earned a Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He was a pastor for 7 years prior to founding Tech Eagles.

Alison Meredith graduated from Virginia Tech with a BS in Mathematics. She taught professionally for six years in the 1990s, at Dobyns-Bennett and at schools in North Carolina and Massachusetts. She spearheaded a new teacher training program and mentored young teachers. She taught all Math subjects from Pre-Algebra through Calculus, but Geometry became her favorite. In 1997, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics selected 10 teachers to receive their Future Leaders Award, Alison was among them. Alison and her husband Tim been married over 25 years; they have home-educated their seven kids since the beginning. They are both actively involved in leadership at First Presbyterian Church, Bristol. Alison is the committee chair of Boy Scout Troop 3. Alison has created extensive resources regarding how to protect kids and teenagers in digital communications.

Anna Manley earned her Master of Arts and Reading Education from UNC Pembroke. She has over 25 years of teaching experience, teaching professionally in NC Public Schools and in Kingsport City Schools. Anna is a home-educating mom, private tutor, and a distributed scorer for Pearson Educational Company. Anna and her family attend First Broad Street United Methodist Church in Kingsport where she volunteers in the children's ministry.​ "Two of my students took Anna Manley's American Literature class. I was impressed with the level of work that Mrs. Manley required of them. The works of literature that she chose were an interesting mix, and there was something to grab the attention of each student. Mrs. Manley had obviously taken the time to produce a well thought out class plan, which she was willing to tweak as she got to know the students better. I take this as the sign of a true teacher, who has the best interest of her students at heart."

Job Titles:

• Co - Teaching With Jessica Harwood
• Member at First Christian Church

Linda earned a BS in Medical Laboratory Science from ETSU and a Masters of Science from California State University. Linda is an active member at First Christian Church, which so graciously hosts our Bristol Academy classes. Jessica is a member of Avoca Christian Church.

Madeleine Bullen has been a theatre educator with the Barter Youth Academy for the last 7 years. Madeleine started acting at the age of 4 and since then has appeared in over 30 productions. Toward the end of high school, Madeleine developed an interest in theatrical lighting design and she had the honor to work as a lighting design/theatre electrician intern at the Barter Theatre for 2 years. Working at the Barter in the production department helped spark Madeleine's love of directing and in 2014 Madeleine started directing and teaching for the Barter Youth Academy. Over the last seven years, Madeleine has directed over 35 shows for the Barter Youth Academy. Madeleine also holds the title of resident designer and choreographer for the Barter Youth Academy. Madeleine had the privilege of being on the team responsible for creating Barter Youth Academy's advanced acting classes, which she now also directs. In addition to her work in the theatre, Madeleine is the production designer for the Christian film company Cross Purposes Productions where she is designing her first feature-length film. Madeleine lives in Bristol TN with her husband Joshua and their 2 young children, James and Anna Theresa. They attend Abingdon Presbyterian Church (PCA) and are actively involved in their local Bible Bowl Team.