CAPSTONE CLASSICAL ACADEMY - Key Persons
Al is founder and owner of Premier Benefits Group, where he has served the insurance needs of the Fargo-Moorhead community for over 30 years. Al supports the work of Capstone Classical Academy with business and sales consulting, community engagement, and legislative engagement and outreach. Al has been married to his wife, Terinne, for over 40 years and is the proud parent of two adult sons and grandparent of four grandchildren. He and his wife, Terinne, attend Calvary Fargo.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student & Teacher Support Staff
- Office Assistant
Anne Peterson has lived in Fargo for nearly three years, and she loves the small-town feel here. For more than 15 years, she has been honored to serve three different churches as an administrative assistant, working behind the scenes to help each church achieve its mission.
Prior to joining Capstone, Anne was the administrative assistant at River City Church in downtown Fargo, where she is a member. She enjoys serving in hospitality and the children's ministry.
Anne and her husband raised four children and have ten grandkids, with whom she truly loves spending much of her time. Her other pastimes include reading, enjoying coffee with friends, or being anywhere there's water.
Anne is excited that the children at Capstone will receive a quality, Christ-centered education - a strong foundation upon which they can build lives that enrich their communities and bring glory to God.
Becca is thrilled for the opportunity to serve Capstone as the Pre-K Classroom Aide and as a part of the Extended Care team. Prior to coming to Capstone, she worked several years in childcare, including at a daycare and as a nanny. Becca graduated from the Free Lutheran Bible College with a diploma in Biblical Studies. One of her greatest joys is working with children and sharing Jesus with them.
Becca is drawn to the classical model because it is a thoughtful and intentional way of educating students. Her desire is that through this model of education, students would be filled with joy and a desire to learn. Her prayer is that the students at Capstone would seek truth, goodness, and beauty in all that God has created.
Becca and her husband, Peter, live in Fargo and attend Bethel Church (Kindred) where they both serve on the worship team. She loves reading, baking, traveling, taking walks, and spending time with her family and friends.
Brittany Zinter has 17 years of teaching experience in pre-K and kindergarten at Christian schools in both North Dakota and Minnesota. She spent the past 12 years at Oak Grove Elementary as a pre-K teacher and kindergarten teacher. Brittany has a B.A. in Elementary Education and Bible with a minor in Early Childhood Education.
She is so excited to have the privilege of pioneering the Pre-K program at Capstone. Brittany feels that the Lord will use her years of experience to develop a Christ-centered program that will help students grow spiritually, cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. Teaching students about Jesus is her favorite thing!
Brittany and her husband, Aaron, have two children, Lydia and Max. They live in Moorhead and attend Bethel Church, where they are active in music ministry and are part of a wonderful small group. Brittany and Aaron have also served as VBS leaders together.
Brittany loves to spend time with her family and friends, read, craft, and decorate.
Brooke is a classroom aid for kindergarten and part of the Extended Care team at Capstone. She was born and raised locally. Brooke is pursuing further education in psychology and education. She has a passion for integrating faith, mental health, and purpose. She hopes to be a classroom teacher or school counselor in the future.
Brooke has several years of experience working as a one-on-one paraprofessional. She has also served as a tutor, coach, and music director for theater programs in the FM area. She loves working with children, helping them to grow, learn, and engage in their interests.
Since 2018, Brooke has attended Burning Hearts Church in West Fargo and has been part of worship and ministry there. She believes that a relationship with God is the foundation for a life filled with grace, love, and peace. She was drawn to work at Capstone as she realized how the school's mission lines up with God's call on her life.
Originally from Excelsior, MN, Charlie Cobb earned his bachelor's degree and master's in accounting from Gonzaga University. After more than 10 years of experience in financial leadership as an assurance manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers and as a corporate controller and CFO for Alliance Management Group, he is now active in the management and operations of real estate holdings. Charlie brings an entrepreneurial and strategic mind to our growing leadership team.
He is thrilled to be a part of the unique opportunity that Capstone provides. Charlie values Capstone's classical education model and its utilization of Socratic teaching. He looks forward to working with the leadership team to develop and implement strategic financial plans to further enhance Capstone within the community.
Charlie and his wife, Mariaha, live in West Fargo with their two daughters, Kensington and Alessandra. In his free time, he enjoys golf, Bible study, and spending time outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Gate City Bank
Chris is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Gate City Bank. He is also the former CFO of Butler Machinery Company and a partner in the Financial Institutions group at Eide Bailly. He volunteers on the 4-H Foundation Board of Directors and the United Way Finance Committee. Chris advises the Capstone board regarding financial management and capital campaigns. Chris, his wife, Rachelle, and their family attend Harvest Valley Church.
Chrystal Deringer attended NDSU where she earned a B.A. in Physical Education and a minor in Coaching. She coached volleyball at Park Christian School for six years and was the physical education and health teacher there for four years.
As a physical education teacher, Chrystal is excited to come alongside the classroom teachers to instill discipline, respect, integrity, and joy in our students as they engage their bodies and minds in physical activity.
The Deringer family attends Lighthouse Baptist Church in Fargo. Chrystal and her husband, Aaron, are blessed with four children. They added a daughter-in-law to their family in July. When Chrystal isn't sitting in the stands cheering for her kids or on the sidelines coaching, she enjoys playing pickleball, going camping, and being outside enjoying God's creation.
Originally from Grand Forks, Courtney has lived in Fargo for the past four years. She attended Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, where she completed a two-year Christian Worldview program before earning a B.A. in the History of Ideas. This degree is a "Great Books" course, tracing the development of Western thought through seminal works of history, philosophy, and literature and evaluating these ideas from a Christian perspective.
Courtney is thrilled that Capstone will be her first experience in an educational environment. She has been passionate about the unique methods and goals of classical education for many years, especially after her college years gave her a taste of what it's like to join the "Great Conversation" of ideas and questions that humanity has always pondered. Her prayer is that students would not only learn how to think and speak well, but ultimately "…that they may have all the riches of complete understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery - Christ. In him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Col 2:2-3).
Courtney attends Resurrection Church, where she helps lead congregational singing, among other duties. She enjoys taking dance classes, reading, watching and analyzing movies, and being loud and proud about her North Dakota roots.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Founder and Owner of Refresh Equine Assisted Learning
Dawn is the founder and owner of Refresh Equine Assisted Learning. She has a B.A. in nursing, holds certificates in Life Coaching from the American Association of Christian Counselors and the John Maxwell Team, and she is currently working toward certification in Natural Lifemanship. She has operated as a philanthropist with numerous organizations and continues to organize non-profit operations today. She assists the Capstone board with parent and donor outreach. She is passionate about classical education as it promotes excitement for learning and the pursuit of virtues and the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. She has been married to her husband, Ron, for 30 years. Dawn is a member of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church.
Emily grew up in Fargo as the middle child between a brother and sister. She comes to us after teaching kindergarten for seven years in the Moorhead schools. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Inclusive Education and a minor in Special Education and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Dakota. Emily is excited to join the Capstone team and looks forward to guiding in the development of virtuous and knowledgeable students that see the fullness of what is True, Good, and Beautiful in Jesus Christ.
As a Capstone teacher, Emily strives to be patient, gentle, and humble with her students. She sees the biblical narrative as central to how teachers teach and how students learn and prays that the Capstone faculty will be examples in word and conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity (1 Tim. 4:12).
In her personal time, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, and spending time outdoors.
Emma Robson comes from a family of teachers. Three of Emma's grandparents - and her father and his siblings - were all teachers. Emma is happy to continue that familial legacy! She graduated from Hillsdale College with a B.A. in English. Last year, she taught 2nd grade at Will Carleton Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan.
Emma is so excited to be part of Capstone's mission to educate children for the kingdom of heaven through the exploration of goodness, truth, and beauty. She believes these things walk hand in hand, and it is a gift to be able to bring them into the classroom.
Emma and her husband, Luke, were married in July. They attend Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. Luke is originally from Fargo, but he and Emma recently relocated here and are looking forward to serving their parish in the coming months.
In addition to anticipating her first North Dakota winter, Emma enjoys reading, running, baking, cooking, and making Christmas ornaments.
Holly comes to Capstone with 29 years of teaching experience with an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Kaiser University, an EDS in Educational Leadership from Northwest Nazarene, and a B.A. in Mass Communications and Marketing from Augsburg College. She comes to us from teaching in the Lisbon schools after serving most of her career in Minnesota public and Christian schools. Holly is excited to be a founding teacher with Capstone Classical Academy, where she may use her God-given skills to inspire and equip students for a lifelong pursuit of learning what is Good, True, and Beautiful for God's glory. Holly and her husband, Stephen, are members of Harvest Fellowship in Sauk Rapids, MN, with which they engage remotely in weekly services and Bible studies. For Holly, next to God, family is everything. She spends her spare time with her grown children and grandchildren, crafting, and cleaning and repairing her 120-year-old home.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student & Teacher Support Staff
- Admissions Counselor and North Campus Office Manager
Jana and her husband, Troy, live in McLeod, ND, where they have parented their 7 children, whom Jana homeschooled for 20 years. Troy runs a Vision Fencing but is also transitioning into full-time ministry through Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The Solhjems are members of Eagle Valley EFC in Christine. Jana enjoys spending time with her kids and grandkids, traveling with her husband, cooking, and corgis!
Prior to serving the Capstone community, Jana earned degrees in social work and child development and served as a guardian ad litem for the juvenile courts. She and Troy also facilitate a chapter of While We're Waiting, a ministry to grieving parents.
Jana is our admissions counselor and North Campus office manager. She serves as our admissions concierge for parents, helping to make the admissions process as smooth as possible. She supports the rest of the administrative team in various roles as needed.
She is most excited about the rich Christian environment that Capstone offers, with a focus on the love of learning and community. Her prayer is that families and students join this community and feel welcomed and loved as they pursue an education that glorifies God in every subject. Her youngest son, Eli, is a 6 th grade student at Capstone.
Jonah earned his Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Jamestown and holds a bachelor's degree from NDSU in physical and health education. He comes to Capstone from Park Christian School in Moorhead, where he has served for the past three years as the strength and conditioning coach and assistant football coach.
As Capstone's Activities Director, Jonah strives to offer Christ-centered athletics, arts, and clubs led by faculty and coaches who love the Lord and long to encourage young men and women in their sanctification through the process of co-curricular activities. Jonah loves the privilege of teaching in a school that strives to point students and faculty to Christ and to humbly serve one another.
Jonah and his wife, Jessica, have been married for five years and have two children. They are faithful members of Harvest Plains Church in Mapleton. Jessica leads the hospitality ministry, and Jonah co-leads a life group that meets in south Fargo. In his free time, Jonah enjoys volunteering as a referee for powerlifting, hunting, and going to the park with his family.
June is the former marketing and admissions director for another Christian school. She holds a B.A. in marketing from the University of North Dakota. In her time serving Christian education, she has helped plan and implement the expansion of a high school and a second campus. She currently serves as a board member for Valley Christian Counseling Center and volunteers for ND Family Alliance. June assists the Capstone board with marketing, community outreach, and fundraising. She believes that the Capstone model is the best way to reach children and teach according to their God-given strengths. She currently attends Northview Church.
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Director
Kara is originally from Steele, ND, and graduated from MSUM with a degree in Mass Communications. She has several years of experience in marketing and communications in a variety of industries, from magazine publishing to engineering.
She spent the past 6 years homeschooling her children, who are now Capstone students. Capstone seemed a natural fit for the Orcutt family because they also chose the classical model for their homeschool. Kara was also drawn to the academy due to the emphasis on community among students and staff. Her prayer is that students will develop a love of learning and that God will be glorified as the vision and culture of Capstone unfold.
Kara is responsible for telling Capstone's story. She provides editorial feedback and guidance for both schoolwide and external communications. She is also responsible for additional creative work, such as writing, graphic design, and photography.
Kara and her husband, Ryan, live in Fargo with their 3 daughters. In her spare time, Kara enjoys playing board games, cooking, proofreading, and snuggling her goldendoodle puppy, Phoebe.
Kaylie comes to Capstone after teaching for 12 years in Enderlin and Casselton. She earned her B.A. in English Education from NDSU and her M.S. in Education with an emphasis in English from Valley City State. She is excited to be able to educate students in a classical model that also shows the centrality of Jesus Christ.
For Kaylie, good teaching is modeled after the greatest teacher, Jesus himself. She believes that through his words, she and her students learn what it is to truly become wise and virtuous. She strives to be a living example of Christ in fulfillment of the Great Commission. Her prayer for her students is that they learn and grow and become smarter than her.
She and her family are members of Kindred United Methodist Church, where she leads the Sunday school program. She and her husband raise three beautiful children and live on a farm in southeast North Dakota.
When Kaylie is not teaching at school or church, she loves to travel, read, and craft. She loves to learn, so her interests often shift to what she is learning about at the moment.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Operations and Logistics Coordinator for Facilities Maintenance
Kelley Peterson lives in Fargo with her husband, Dave. Together they have raised three children, who are all living their young adult lives. They enjoy cooking, playing games, watching movies, and going to the lake together. For Kelley, however, serving kids of all ages continues to be her passion. In her personal life and her career, she has always been dedicated to service, learning, and caring for young people.
Kelley comes to us from Oak Grove Lutheran School, where she directed the lunch program at the North Campus and was known for her delicious and nutritious home-cooked meals and loving service to her students. She served her children through homeschooling for 10 years prior to that. She is excited about serving as a founding staff member for Capstone because she feels that the vision and culture of the academy are Spirit-filled. She is eager to see growth and joy in students as they are blessed by the model of classical Christian education.
Kelley serves as an operations and logistics coordinator for facilities maintenance, the acquisition of supplies, equipment and furnishings, and the lunch program and supports the rest of the administrative team in various areas of need. Her prayer for Capstone is that Jesus would have center stage and that we would be defined by joy as we build up the family of believers.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Treasurer of the Board
- President of Crown Development
Larry is the President of Crown Development and former President of Roers Development. He holds a B.S. in Accounting and Business Management from Moorhead State University. He has worked in real estate development for over 30 years, with projects in the upper Midwest and Cape Coral area of Florida. He serves as board member of the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency and has extensive experience helping non-profits solve their real estate needs. Larry assists the Capstone board with facilities planning and management as well as business strategy. He and his wife, June, have three married sons and two grandchildren. They enjoy spending time at the lake, celebrating the 4th of July, and hunting. He believes Capstone's emphasis on the True, the Good, and the Beautiful will cultivate young adults who can think critically and speak well. He currently attends Northview Church.
Lindsay Peterson earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and a M.Ed. from the University of Minnesota. She has homeschooled her children for the past 11 years and previously served as the Education Coordinator at The Perry Center.
Lindsay is excited to nurture the hearts of students and instill a lifelong love of learning and excellence. She knows that the Lord will use her years of experience as a homeschool educator as she transitions into the classroom. Lindsay enjoys making math come alive and diving into the question "Why?" with students. She desires that her classroom be a place of peace, beauty, and truth to inspire her students to model these characteristics in their lives.
Lindsay and her three children live in West Fargo and attend Harvest Valley Church. They enjoy playing games, hiking, watching movies, traveling, and going to Disney World. She also has two goldendoodles, Lexi and Minnie. Lindsay's oldest child is training Minnie to become a certified therapy dog. They plan to visit hospitals and assisted living facilities to bring comfort to others.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Member of the Board
Luke is a graduate of Hillsdale College and current JD candidate at the University of Notre Dame Law School. He has worked for multiple governors and has experience starting businesses and identifying opportunities for economic and community growth. In college, Luke experienced firsthand the transformative experiences that a classical education provides and is excited to bring a Pre-K-12 classical education to North Dakota. Luke is a member of the Orthodox Church of America and attends Holy Resurrection Church in Fargo and Holy Ascension Church in Albion, MI, while in law school. He is engaged to Emma Peters, a 2nd grade teacher at Will Carleton Academy in Hillsdale, MI. Luke and Emma will be moving back to Fargo after their marriage.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student & Teacher Support Staff
- Executive Assistant to the Headmaster
Lynette Schock is thrilled to serve in the role of Administrative Assistant at the south campus of Capstone Classical Academy. She feels blessed to be part of a team dedicated to cultivating students into virtuous people who are equipped to live well.
She was born, raised, and educated in Valley City, ND. Lynette spent 18 years subbing and teaching at Nativity Elementary School in Fargo.
Lynette and her husband, Shane, attend Calvary Fargo. They are involved in Bible study groups and the Board of Trustees. They also enjoy being Sunday greeters and helping out with various gatherings.
The eldest of Lynette's four children is getting married in August, so this summer has been a time of preparation mixed with lake time, bike rides, and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student & Teacher Support Staff
- Office Assistant
Patti will serve as an office assistant. In 2021, Patti and her husband Tom, and their two children moved to Fargo from Palm Springs, California. They attend Salem Evangelical Free Church in Moorhead. Patti enjoys spending time with her family, watching cooking shows and learning new recipes, and exploring the area.
Patti grew up in the church. She was involved with Young Life during her high school years and served as a leader at YL Malibu camp in Vancouver, BC. She has worked as a dental hygienist for nearly 20 years and served as an instructor at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. While she enjoyed serving and getting to know her dental patients, she is excited to be working in an educational environment once again.
Patti believes strongly in the role and mission of Capstone. She is honored to serve in a school whose mission is to train students on how to think critically within the context of a Christian worldview. She looks forward to serving students and their families and prays that each student at the school experiences God's love on a daily basis and is encouraged to be all that God created them to be.
Mr. Fisher has served in classical Christian schools for a decade and in Christian education for 25 years. He holds a bachelor's degree in English literature and composition with a minor in Bible and Religion from Harding University. He holds a master's degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cairn University, formerly Philadelphia Biblical University. Prior to serving as Headmaster of Capstone Classical Academy, Mr. Fisher taught middle and high school courses in English, Biology, Theology, and Comparative Worldviews. He served at Coventry Christian Schools, a classical Christian school in Pottstown, PA, for 18 years, where he led as the founding Upper School Principal, Director of Development, and Head of School. As Academic Dean, he helped Harding Academy of Memphis, TN, develop a robust model for integrating faith and learning, partnering with the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education in the implementation of Teaching for Transformation. Mr. Fisher came to Capstone after serving as Head of School at Eden Christian Academy, where he led their three campuses through a time of transition in leadership across multiple campuses. Mr. Fisher provides consulting to Christian schools across the country in the challenging task of authentic, rigorous biblical worldview integration across all facets of schooling and the life of the school community. He is married to Sheri, his bride of 25 years, and is blessed with three college-aged children.
Rachel comes to Capstone after teaching for two years in China and then six years in West Fargo. She earned her B.A. with a major in vocal music education from Concordia College. She is excited to serve at Capstone and to share the beauty of our Savior through the beauty of music. Rachel sees teaching as her calling to love her neighbor as herself as she gives students the tools they will need to go out and serve in their communities. She sees her students as unique image-bearers of God and places a high value on respect and dignity for each student to maximize learning in her classroom. She is excited to teach at Capstone because the music curriculum emphasizes great composers and their masterworks before teaching notation. This makes sense to her, for why should students care about music notation if they have not learned how to listen, to appreciate, and to care about the beauty of music itself? And why care about any music if it can't point to the beauty and goodness of God? Rachel's family attends Lutheran Church of the Cross, where she directs the choir and plays handbells. When she is not making music at school or at church, Rachel enjoys performing in community theatre and rereading her favorite books by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Member of the Board
Rachelle is an RN-Screening educator at Sanford Health. She holds a BSN. She has two years of teaching experience as an adjunct faculty member at a local college, as well as multiple years of board experience at another Christian school. Rachelle assists the Capstone board with community outreach and engagement. She is drawn to classical education because its framework is built upon the framework of child development and fosters curiosity, passion for learning, critical thinking, eloquence, and the art of persuasion. Rachelle, her husband, Chris, and their three children attend Harvest Valley Church.
Remi Vannett earned a BS in Human Nutrition from the University of North Dakota. Her experience in the classroom includes teaching English in Cambodia while working with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) and teaching nutrition classes to elementary students during her supervised practice with NDSU Extension. Remi also has experience working in youth ministry. She attends Hope Lutheran Church, where she currently leads a confirmation group for 8th grade girls. Remi is thrilled to be working in a classical Christian environment, as she feels no other education is as important as one that is rooted in God's Word. She believes a firm foundation in Christ built during the formative years of one's schooling is the most indispensable tool a child can develop before facing the world upon graduation. She is grateful to be a part of guiding students in Christ through working at Capstone. She was born and raised in Fargo and is the middle of three sisters. In her free time, Remi enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- President of the Board
Ron is the former COO of Aldevron, LLC. He earned a BS in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M. He has decades of startup experience and ownership, as well as non-profit experience with the F5 Project and Valley Christian Counseling Center in Fargo. Ron serves the Capstone board as chairman and provides leadership in facilities, business, and legal matters. Having witnessed the effects of a classical education as a Hillsdale College Trustee, he desires to offer the same valuable education to families in Fargo. He and his wife, Dawn, make their home in Fargo and are members of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church; they have an adult daughter in Fargo and a son at Notre Dame Law School.
Roxanne is a lifelong North Dakotan, raised on a farm with her eight siblings. She received an elementary education degree and a kindergarten license from MSUM and has taught for 14 years in the JPII Catholic Schools.
Her desire to join the Capstone community began by learning about the classical Christian model of education. She is drawn to its intentional pursuit of what is Good, True, and Beautiful and its goal of forming critical thinkers and articulate communicators. She feels it will be a great gift to participate in a community so clearly striving to draw students closer to Jesus through education.
Roxanne and her husband, Brian, are members of Sts. Anne & Joachim church. They have been married for 26 years and are raising six children from 8 to 23 years of age. Their family is often playing board and card games or on a bike ride. In her spare time, Roxanne enjoys reading, scrapbooking and baking.
Sean graduated from St. Cloud State University with a double major in Music Education and Social Studies Education with an emphasis in History. He has been a band teacher for the past 10 years, including seven years in West Fargo. He looks forward to building the band program at Capstone and is excited to work at a school where Christ is at the center. The Rebischke family attends Lutheran Church of the Cross, where Sean also conducts the handbell choir. He enjoys sharing his love of books and music with his young son, future Golden Gryphon, Michael.
Shannon Archer earned a B.S. in Special Education from Moorhead State University and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Jamestown. Her teaching career spans 18 years. She spent several years in public schools and four years at a classical education charter school in Minnesota. Shannon was at Liberty Middle School in West Fargo for the past six years.
As Academic Dean, Shannon assists the headmaster with programming decisions, supporting teachers and providing support for students as needs arise. Shannon is very excited to be part of the first Christian classical education school in North Dakota. She considers it a privilege to provide a biblical worldview while educating students. She has seen firsthand how effective this model of education was for her own children.
Shannon's son, Josiah, is a senior this year, and her daughter, Tyndale, is a junior. Both attend Sheyenne High School. Shannon and her family attend Harvest Plains Church.
The Archer family enjoys spending time at their lake cabin with family and friends in the summer and sitting in their hot tub in the winter. Most recently, Shannon and her husband have been enjoying rides on his "new" 1978 motorcycle.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant, First Grade Teacher
Sheri Fisher lives in Fargo with her husband, Paul. Together they have raised three children and have served in Christian and classical education together for most of their 25 years of marriage. Sheri loves walking with her dogs and family. Her time with family is often spent following them over rocks, through the woods, on the trails, over mountains, and down rivers.
Sheri comes to us after teaching first grade for 24 years, 18 of that at Coventry Christian School, a classical school in the Philadelphia area. She particularly enjoys teaching young children the fundamentals of reading and mathematics.
Sheri is putting her teacher veteran status to work by finding and securing all of the curriculum materials and supplies for our faculty and students. She is putting together teacher curriculum kits and assisting in the organization of the staging area where faculty and staff can locate their materials and meeting with the faculty to design spaces that best meet their needs so that they can be excellent in the classroom. She has also been the primary assessment facilitator for students in our admissions process.
Sheri is excited to be part of a team that brings a new model of education to the FM area. It is her prayer that the Capstone faculty and staff will be the hands and feet of Jesus as they serve the students and their families. She prays that Capstone students continuously pursue God's purposes and take delight in all that He has made.
Signe lives with her family in Fargo and attends River City Church. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and going to the lake. She comes to us from Independence Elementary School in West Fargo, where she has taught third grade for the last two years. Prior to that she taught for seven years at Arcadia Elementary School in Deer Park, Washington. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Valley City State University, a B.S. in Human and Family Development, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
Signe is enthusiastic about the classical model of education because of its emphasis on thinking critically and expressing oneself winsomely. Her prayer for her students is that her students will develop their God-given abilities to their full potential, that they will internalize a Christian worldview, and that they will acquire lifelong tools for learning.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Student & Teacher Support Staff
- Business Office Administrator and Assistant Director of Development
Sue and her husband, Doug, live in Fargo with their three children, are members of Salem EFC, and enjoy spending time with friends, playing strategy board games, and hanging out. Doug has served as the director of FM Child Evangelism Fellowship for 12 years. Sue comes to us with experience as the office manager for Christian Adoption Services, where she supported the financial elements of the office and donor relationships.
About Capstone, she shares, "The thing that sold me is that. . .theology is the ‘mother' of all sciences and is the underpinning and overarching Truth that informs all other areas of learning. I am very excited to see it in action and the effect it will have on our daughter."
Sue will primarily assist parents and staff with financial matters and is the staff member to reach out to with questions about tuition matters. She is serving as the dashboard manager for our donor relationships and is an important link in our development chain.
Her prayer is that God would bless our students in their studies with a sound mind, a desire to learn, and a passion to know Him more and for our families to be encouraged in their faith journey and as a result of their experiences with Capstone.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member
- Secretary of the Board
Terinne is the former Superintendent of Park Christian School. She has an M.Ed. in Education Administration, which she has applied to 19 years in Christian school administration, and has been trained in policy governance by John and Mariam Carver. She is currently the owner of Raising the B.A.R. Consulting, which serves local non-profits. Terinne brings board experience from service to the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Northern Plains, Great Plains Evangelical Foundation, M State Foundation and Alumni, Valley Christian Counseling Center, and Jail Chaplains. She has also served on the education committee of the Moorhead Chamber of Commerce. Terinne is passionate about Capstone Classical Academy because she believes God is opening the door to provide an effective, unique, and much needed form of PreK-12 Christian education to our growing community. She and her husband, Al, have been married for over 40 years and are proud parents to two adult sons and grandparents to four grandchildren. Terinne and her husband, Al, attend Calvary Fargo.
Whitney Friesen graduated with a degree in University Studies and a minor in Art History from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She taught art in a nursing home setting for the past year and has additional experience teaching as part of various VBS programs.
Whitney knows that the Lord uses us to shape others, and she believes she is being called to do that here at Capstone as she leads the art program. She is excited to encourage young learners in their faith journey as well as their love for art.
The youngest of four children, Whitney is also a twin. She grew up being encouraged in her faith and her curiosity with all things associated with art. Her grandpa was a talented watercolor painter who taught her many things about art and looking through the eyes of the beholder. Whitney is a member of River City Church in Fargo and is active on the worship team there. She has previously served on the Care Team and in River City Kids. In addition to art, Whitney enjoys the outdoors, music, and anything related to winter!
Pastor Baker has been in youth ministry for six years, leading a variety of teen and children's ministries. He holds a bachelor's degree in pastoral studies from Ambassador Baptist College. Before moving to Fargo, he served for two years as the youth pastor for Emmanuel Baptist Church in Milledgeville, GA. Earlier in his ministry, he led primary age programs. Will's passion is to help people grow in their knowledge of God and their relationship with Him through expositional study of the Bible. He derives a deep sense of meaning and purpose from serving the students at Capstone so that they might experience the beauty of God in all of life and worship Him as a result. Will serves as the Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Outreach at Brookdale Baptist Church in Moorhead. He and his wife, Sarah, have two young daughters. Will grew up in northern Virginia and stays loyal to his hometown teams, especially the Washington Commanders and Capitals. In his free time, he enjoys listening to podcasts and watching sci-fi and superhero movies with his friends.