Upper School Faculty & Staff

Sonya has been an educator for 30 years. 17 of those years were spent as a classroom teacher in both public and private schools teaching AP, Honors, and Regular English, as well as Drop Out Prevention and ESL. For the last 13 years, she has served as a High School Principal in South Florida at a highly regarded Christian School. She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and English from Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from the University of Scranton. She will serve at Crossings as the Upper School Principal.

Mrs. Jones believes strongly in servant leadership coupled with high expectations. She strives every day to lead like Jesus. She serves students, faculty, and parents and understands this unity propels students towards excellence not only academically, but also spiritually. The goal of a Christian school should be to model Christ in a way that makes students want to know more about Him, while receiving a top-notch, well-rounded education where students can explore and perfect their God-given talents.

The Lord has blessed Sonya with a husband, Charles, of 28 years and two wonderful children, Chelsea and Colton. In her personal time, Sonya loves church, sports, musicals, jigsaw puzzles, reading, shopping, baking, and spending time with her family, including her baby, Sophia, a little Yorkshire Terrier.

Sonya is honored, humbled, and ecstatic about being a part of the CCS community and becoming a Knights fan.

Tammy started at CCS as Activities Director, Assistant to the Dean of Students/Athletic Director, Student Council Adviser and Spirit Coordinator in 2015. She earned her Bachelors degree from Oklahoma State University in Therapeutic Recreation. She later received her Master’s degree from the University of St. Mary’s in Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction. She has served on the Executive Board for the Oklahoma Association of Student councils for the past five years and was named Student Council Adviser of the year for 2014 by the OASC.

Her teaching experience includes Physical Education, High School Leadership, Character Education, Early Childhood and Educational Therapy. She is certified in the areas of Physical Education, Mild Moderate Special Education and Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Jensen’s passion is to encourage students to learn how to be strong and independent leaders in the world not of the world. Helping students love their school and be proud to be an active part of the high school experience is a priority for Mrs. Jensen.

She is married to her high school sweetheart, John. She has three wonderful children. Malcolm attends UCO and is the emcee of the OKC Thunder. Mack is a sophomore at OBU where he is a Defensive Back for the Bison Football Team. Hannah (17) attends Edmond Santa Fe where she is in the Special Education Program and is on the Emire Elite Special Needs Cheer Squad. In her free time, Tammy enjoys gardening, baking and watching football with her family.

Michael comes to Crossings after spending 14 years at Oklahoma Christian School. He has a B.A. in Music Education and is finishing up his M.A. in School Administration both from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Mr. Brown is intentional about using music to show the love of Jesus to everyone we come into contact with. From contests to football games, we are called to be a light unto the world. Music is a gift from God and the instrumental music department will glorify Him through every performance and event.

The Brown family includes wife Charissa and two children, Austin and Taylor. When not at work, Mr. Brown enjoys photography, movies, sports, particularly OSU and the OKC Thunder, and hanging out with friends and family.

Mr. Schenk holds a Masters degree in Educational Administration and a Bachelors degree in Math Education from Oklahoma Baptist University where he also played on the Men’s Bison Basketball team. Mr. Schenk came to Crossings in 2013 after 16 years in public school. He spent 12 of those years as a head coach in 6A schools in the state of Oklahoma. In his tenure as head coach, he has led all 3 of his teams to the state tournament including the Edmond Santa Fe boys basketball program to 5 state tournament appearances and 4 state semi-final appearances during his 6 years there and most recently the CCS Knights’ debut state appearance in 2016. Mr. Schenk is the recipient of numerous coaching awards ranging from OCA All-State coach to multiple conference, area, and regional coach of the year awards. He celebrated his 200th career win in 2016.

Mr. Schenk enjoys motivating students with diverse backgrounds and learning styles to achieve success. He is also passionate about helping students identify, embrace, and utilize the unique gifts and talents God has given them. In his experiences, Mr. Schenk has witnessed the positive impact that athletic participation can have on the mental, physical, and spiritual development and maturation of our youth. He remains committed to the support and the development of the coaches and student-athletes at Crossings and is honored by this tremendous responsibility.

Mr. Schenk is married to his beautiful wife, Jill, fellow CCS Middle School librarian. They have 4 children, Calvin, Clark, Faith and Mae. When he has free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, reading, watching sports, and being involved in church

Dori joined CCS in 2020. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Strategic Communication from Wichita State University. She has almost a decade of experience as an administrative assistant and homeschooled her three children before they started at CCS.

Dori is excited to be part of the CCS family. She has a heart for teenagers and desires to see them flourish both academically and spiritually. She enjoys serving others and lending a helping hand.

She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Eric, since 2004. In her spare time she loves home projects, reading, gardening, baking and spending time with her family and friends.

Lauren joined CCS in 2019. She has a Bachelor of Science in Advertising from Oklahoma State. She previously worked as an oil and gas Landman, owned and ran a shave ice truck, and most recently worked at Hobby Lobby in Advertising.

Lauren is thrilled to be part of Crossings. She has a heart for serving others and fostering relationships and hopes to be an encouragement to students and co-workers.

She has been married since 2009 to Jamie Wheat, who teaches middle school P.E. at Crossings. They have one son, Crosby, and two dogs, Beasley and Memphis. They attend Life Church NW OKC. Lauren loves to spend quality time with Jamie and Crosby and their family and friends. She likes to read, write, create, spend time outdoors, travel and explore.

Mrs. Shields joined CCS in 2009. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science degree in Education, specifically College Teaching with an emphasis in Student Personnel Services from Northeastern State University. Mrs. Shields is certified by the Association of Christian Schools International as a School Counselor Specialist and as a secondary teacher. She has experience teaching 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade English classes as well as undergraduate college courses. Mrs. Shields is called to work with tweens and teens. Her career objective is to assist CCS students in succeeding academically and to graduate with servant hearts and, most important, personal relationships with Christ.

The Shields family includes her husband George; son, Grant; and daughter, Susan. When not working Mrs. Shields likes to exercise, volunteer at church, and participate in small group bible studies. The book of John has been most influential in her Christian walk.

Jennifer is thrilled to return to the CCS staff in the summer of 2016. She originally joined CCS in 2007 as the assistant to the Headmaster, and after the birth of her daughter she took a break from work outside the home to be a stay-at-home mom.

Jennifer graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. She is passionate about using her gifts and talents to assist in furthering the mission of the school: to develop students into Christ-centered servant leaders who are academically and spiritually prepared for college and life.

When not working, Jennifer loves to spend time with her family which includes her husband, Michael, daughter, Stella and son, Wes. She enjoys reading, practicing yoga, listening to music, and traveling to her hometown of Houston to be with her extended family. The Foster family hobbies also include rock climbing, biking, and gardening.

Franci came to Crossings in 2012 as the Director of Spiritual Formation for girls. She also is the middle and upper school track coach. Franci has been involved in Christian education as an elementary teacher, middle and high school coach, and mentor since 1996. She is passionate about leading and discipling young people to Christ in every area of life.

Mrs. MacDonald is married to Paul, our headmaster, and they have raised four children and hosted five international students. She enjoys being a grandmother to Naomi and Maddox.

Janay grew up in Oklahoma. She received her B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University and then went on to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where she earned a Masters of Divinity. She spent a number of years as a campus minister in Oklahoma, primarily at the University of Central Oklahoma. While serving as a campus minister, she also taught numerous university Bible courses. Janay came to CCS in 2008.

Believing strongly that the most important relationship in anyone’s life is their relationship to God, Janay feels both a sense of honor as well as great responsibility in teaching the Bible. It is her desire that every student will not only know that facts of the Bible, but will know through personal experience the God of the Bible. She prays that Bible will be more than just a class but will rather be the beginning of a lifelong passion for God and for His word. It is her prayer that students will be able to know and apply God’s word to every aspect of their lives and that they will be “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:17).

Janay is married to Michael and they have two children Zachery and Elisabeth. She loves spending time with her family and friends and is active in her church. She enjoys sports, playing games, shopping, cross-stiching and studying and teaching the Bible.

Ben Patterson joined the CCS faculty in 2018 as the 10th grade Bible Theology teacher. Before joining the teaching faculty, he was a lay coach for the middle and upper school baseball teams as well as the middle school softball team. He graduated from Oklahoma City University in 2018 with a B.A. in Religious Studies. Ben enjoys playing with his golden doodle Beau, attending or watching sporting events, and spending time with friends and family.

Mr. Patterson has a passion for encouraging and inspiring teenagers by applying biblical principles to their everyday lives. It is his goal to walk side by side with students as they develop their faith and grow in their knowledge of scripture. He is actively involved with the Young Adult Ministries at Crossings Community Church and has served on the leadership team at Kanakuk Family Kamps. He is excited to be a part of the Crossings Christian School family as he continues to serve the youth of today.

Eric joined CCS in 2017. He has a B.A. in Christian Ministry from Tabor College and a M.A. in Theological Studies from Liberty University. Before arriving at CCS, Eric was a full-time Youth Pastor for over twelve years in Kansas and Nebraska.

Eric’s life purpose is to use his creativity and enthusiasm to love and encourage all people, with the hope that they might become believers who row into disciples that live on mission for the Kingdom of God. The primary way he enjoys doing this is by engaging students in a real and substantial way that gets them excited to learn more about God’s word and apply it to their everyday lives. Eric focuses on providing meaningful opportunities for his students to learn and succeed in the classroom and life.

Eric has been married to his church camp high school sweetheart, Dori, since 2004. They have three amazing children who also attend CCS. The strangest thing he has ever eaten is cow tongue and snail. When Eric isn’t teaching or coaching, he enjoys playing with his kids, date nights with his wife at Macaroni Grill, cheering for the St. Louis Cardinals and Wichita State Shockers, or simply enjoying a good movie.

Eric’s favorite verse is Ephesians 2:1-10 which describes the incredible work of Christ on the cross and salvation that is possible through faith.

Randy joined the staff at CCS in 2014. He has a B.A. in English and Political Science, a Masters in Educational Administration from UCO, and a Ph.D. in English Education from the University of Oklahoma. A nationally Board Certified teacher, Randy has been teaching for the past 39 years – 36 of those in the Putnam City School District.

Dr. Baker enjoys teaching high school and college students and watching them grow academically. He loves teaching English and recently received the Distinguished Service award from the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English where he served as President in 2011-2012.

Dr. Baker is married to his wife Rose Mary, who is also a teacher of drama at Putnam City North. He has two children Bart and Sara. His grandchildren Ben and Will both attend Crossings Lower School. There is a very good chance that one might find him there having lunch and checking on his beautiful boys.

Dr. Baker believes that God is the center of his marriage and his life. He hopes to share God’s Love with his students and each and every day at Crossings Christian School.

Beth joined Crossings in 2014. She earned her B.A. in Communications and a double minor in Christian Education and Bible Theology from Wheaton College. While at Wheaton, she was the teaching assistant to Dr. Nancy Eckstein where she helped teach her freshman level speech class. While working as the teaching assistant, Beth also aided in significant research for Dr. Eckstein.

Mrs. Hickey is very excited to be teaching “Public Speaking”. She believes it is a fundamental skill everyone can and should learn.

Matt and Beth Hickey have been married since 2003. They have three elementary aged daughters, Allison, Madeleine, and Quinlyn. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, coaching her daughter’s sports teams, and crafting.

Jonetta Jonte joined CCS in 2014. She has a B.A. in English from Southern Nazarene University and a M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning from Liberty University. Before coming to CCS, she taught in Oklahoma city Public Schools for 15 years.

Above all else, Ms. Jonte sees herself as a student who enjoys discovering new ideas in literature and delving deeper into the use of words in all types of communication. Her students are encouraged to become sesquipedalian and stump her as often as possible. When asked which her favorite book to teach is, it changes to the one currently being taught. She says it is unfair to ask an English teacher to choose.

Ms. Jonte has two grown sons who live in the area and she currently cares for her mother. While waiting on grandchildren, she devotes her attention to two spoiled Dachshunds, tries out new recipes, and watches lots of football.

Bio Coming Soon

Mr. Thompson began teaching at CCS in 2018. After graduating from Hillsdale College in 2009 with a B.S. degree in History, he taught for 7 years in Christian schools in Tulsa and most recently in a rural public school. Nearing the completion of his M.A. in American History and Government, he is working on his thesis about how the religious beliefs of John Witherspoon and Thomas Jefferson shaped their understanding of the Declaration of Independence and how to best encourage the proper use of liberty.

Having taught 9-12th grades Oklahoma History, Government, US History, and World History, Mr. Thompson has come to appreciate the influence of big ideas and worldview in shaping the events and culture of different eras and groups. While many students will not pursue a vocation related to history, history offers a great opportunity to study worldview and even to reveal the ways our own culture shapes us – often without our knowledge. In what some have termed a post-Christian culture, it is important for students to become adept in applying a Biblical worldview in this context to be agents of change in the areas God will lead them. In addition to academics, Mr. Thompson enjoys the simply joys of interacting with students throughout the daily grind of the school year.

While in Christian schools, Mr. Thompson coached Cross Country and Track. As with many things, athletics can be a means of glorifying God through using one’s gifts or twisted to be used to bring glory to oneself. With this in mind, sports can be a great avenue to develop work ethic, perseverance, self-sacrifice, and, perhaps just as important, fellowship and the enjoyment of competition.

Outside of school, Mr. Thompson enjoys reading, playing and watching sports, and listening to podcasts and audio books. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with and relaxing with his wife, Melissa. They are eagerly expecting their first child in December 2018.

Roy is excited to teach at CCS. He has a B.A. in Economics from Wheaton College, Wheaton IL, and an MBA from Oklahoma Christian University in Edmond.

Mr. Dockum was a business owner and manager for about 25 years. He taught at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) College of Business for three years. Currently, he now works as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Motor Vehicle Commission for the State of Oklahoma.

Roy enjoys learning and loves to share his knowledge and experience with the next generation. He has a passion for integrating faith and learning.

Roy is married to his wife Mary Beth, son, Kent, daughter Beth, and 6 grandchildren with whom he loves to spend time. In his spare time, he and his wife love to travel. Roy has been fortunate to have been able to travel to over 60 different countries.

Mr. Harris joined the CCS staff in 2018. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Central Oklahoma but returned to school to become certified as an Oklahoma teacher shortly after. He received his education certification from Southern Nazarene University and was soon in the classroom.

Mr. Harris has taught in several places throughout his 20+ years as an educator, including stops at Putnam City North (his alma mater), Edmond Memorial, Plainview (Ardmore, OK), Cashion, and Pottsboro, TX. At each place, Mr. Harris built solid life-long relationships with students and players; and continues to stay in touch with many of them.

A lifelong history teacher, Mr. Harris has taught US History, World History, Oklahoma History, US Government, Ancient World History, and World Studies. He is Advanced Placement Certified through College Board and has successfully taught AP United States History where several of his students received a “5” on the exam. Mr. Harris is also a National Board Certified Teacher in Social Studies.

“Coach” Harris spent as much of his educational career on the athletic field as he has in the classroom. His first love is basketball, where he was the head coach at Cashion (1998-2003), Pottsboro, TX (2003-2005), Plainview (2005-2008), and Putnam City North (2008-2015). He also has served as assistant basketball coach at Putnam City North (1993-1998) and Edmond Memorial (2015-2017). Other sports Mr. Harris has coached include football, baseball, softball, boys and girls golf, boys tennis, and track.

His life is completed by his faith and his family. Janet, his wife, has been by his side for over 30 years and they have two grown children, Taylor and Blake.

A strong advocate for education, Mr. Harris believes he is fulfilling the call to ministry as a teacher by serving, edifying, and building up the body of Christ. He is passionate and focused on preparing students for the world we live in and specifically empowering students to succeed once they have graduated.

Coach Jonathan Keathly is part of the Crossings Christian family as the head football coach and a freshman history teacher.

After earning a degree in education from Oklahoma State, he began his career in 2002 at Western Heights, and then spent the next seven years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The Keathlys then returned to Oklahoma, and he served for 8 years as a football and basketball coach at Deer Creek High School, where he helped the Antlers win two district championships on the football field and the Lady Antlers win three state championships on the basketball court.

Before joining CCS, he was the head coach at Watonga, leading the Eagles to a 9-3 record and their farthest advancement in the playoffs this century.

Coach K and his wife, Cindy, were married in 2002. Their children, Annabelle and Kannon, are both students at Crossings.

Coach Keathly feels God has called him to a ministry in the classroom as well as the football field. Early in his career a young student shared Luke 12:48 with him, to whom much is given, much is required, and he has reminded himself of these words daily.

Matthew began teaching Mathematics at Crossings in 2013. He has a B.S. in Mathematics (with Honors) from Oklahoma Baptist University and a M.S. in Applied Mathematics from Oklahoma State University. Prior to Crossings, he was a Conversational English teacher in East Asia for two years and he also taught as a Lecturer in both the Mathematics and Statistics Departments at OSU.

Mr. Henneke views teaching as a balance of encouragement and instruction especially when tackling the subject of mathematics. He desires to incorporate a wide-range of examples and explanations into his teaching to be more effective in reaching his students. Ultimately, he sees his role of teaching encompassing all of life and not just mathematics.

Matthew foremost enjoys spending time with friends over a great cup of tea or coffee. He desires to continually learn new things about our world and God through reading, traveling, studying, and discussing. He also enjoys disc golf! He has also been blessed to travel extensively through Europe and Asia and desires to further his travels in the future.

Jeremy joined CCS in 2014. He has a B.S. in Mathematics from the University of Indianapolis and a M. Ed. from Indiana Wesleyan University. Before coming to CCS, Jeremy taught at Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid, OK for 9 years.

Mr. Kliewer has a passion for teaching math and coaching athletics. He has a rich background in mathematics and thoroughly enjoys teaching algebra. Coaching-wise, Mr. Kliewer coaches football and baseball. He believes that these sports give opportunities to teach athletes to have a strong work ethic and teach other applicable life lessons.

In his spare time, Mr. Kliewer enjoys anything outdoors. He is an avid runner who has completed 9 marathons.

Katie joined CCS in 2018. She has a B.S. in Math Education and M.S. in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Central Oklahoma. Prior to coming to Crossings, Katie taught high school math for six years in Edmond. She also currently serves on the UCO Alumni Board of Directors.

Mrs. Klossner loves teaching math! She understands that not every student feels the same way about math as she does, but loves the opportunity to change their perspective. Mrs. Klossner strives to make each math class meaningful and applicable to her students. It is her hope that each student leaves her classes feeling accomplished and successful.

Katie married her husband Josh in 2012. When not working, Katie enjoys cooking, drinking LOTS of coffee, playing in the CCC orchestra Sunday mornings, and spending time with her family.

Derek joined CCS in 2020. He has a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Central Oklahoma. Before coming to CCS, Derek served as the Upper School Mathematics and History teacher at Trinity School in Oklahoma City.

Mr. Reedy loves teaching high school and connecting with his students in the classroom. He believes that God has called him to teach, and has loved every step of this crazy, rewarding journey. He is passionate not only about mathematics, but also the various ways students can apply these concepts as they progress in their academic and professional careers. When not at work, Derek enjoys watching movies, playing the trombone, trying out new recipes, and spending time with his family and friends.

Alexander Lau joined CCS in 2017. A native of Edmond, Alexander attended the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics for high school. He graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Zoology from the University of Oklahoma, and he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. During his years studying at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Alexander discovered his true passion for instilling his love of science to others. He taught for 13 years at Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City, and as Science Department Chair, he taught Advanced Placement Biology, International Baccalaureate Biology I and II, as well as Anatomy & Physiology, Physics, and Zoology.

Alexander believes that our study and understanding of science allows us to pursue a further understanding of God’s universe and ourselves. A personal goal of his as a science educator is to excite students to ask insightful questions, think critically, and love learning. While there may be many things we never fully understand, he looks forward to encouraging students to strive in their pursuit of knowledge.

Alexander enjoys ice hockey, and in his spare time his hockey team plays weekly and in out of state tournaments. Alexander was truly blessed to meet his very best friend–a stray Labrador puppy who followed him everywhere throughout the halls of school. That moment changed both of their lives. Years later, “Shadow” still acts like an excited puppy chasing tennis balls and Frisbees, and after rescuing Alexander, Shadow keeps him out of too much mischief during their daily, epic adventures.

Dr. Holly Hixson joined CCS in 2020. She has a B. S. in Chemistry from Oklahoma State University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from Kansas State University. Before CCS, she taught at Cairn University in Langhorne, PA, for two years. Prior to returning to the United States, Dr. Hixson served with her family in Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa, at Kigali International Community School for 11 years, where she taught science through the lens of a biblical worldview. Dr. Hixson taught at Oklahoma Christian University prior to her mission in Africa.

Dr. Hixson strives to show the connections between science and her personal faith in God. Her desire is to illustrate how science actually bolsters her faith in our Creator instead of contradicts it, as is a widely held view in many institutions and churches today. Dr. Hixson believes that new discoveries in science serve to reinforce belief in our Creator and to prove His existence and omnipotence.  Further, that knowledge of these things allow opportunities to share the truths of God with others in ways that are unique to scientific disciplines. Dr. Hixson works to train students to critically analyze the information presented them, instead of accepting information at face value.

Dr. Hixson married her husband Bryan in 1991. She has two godly, intelligent, and beautiful daughters, Alexis and Grace. Dr. Hixson loves to learn new things, especially things related to scientific evidence for faith. She also loves to travel to new places, to meet people from other cultures, to sing, and to sew whenever she gets the chance.

Dr. Hixson loves to pray through Psalms 23, 27, 46, and 91, as they were instrumental in the ministry in which she participated in Rwanda.

Tiffany joined CCS in 2019 working as a substitute teacher before accepting a position as the Biology and Environmental Sciences instructor. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Dietetics and her Master of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Prior to coming to CCS, Tiffany was the dietetic internship director and an instructor at the University of Central Oklahoma for over 12 years where she received the Outstanding Staff Member recognition in 2009 and 2013.

Tiffany is a registered dietitian who worked at Mercy Health Center for 18 years. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has served as the media spokesperson for the state of Oklahoma since 2007. Additionally, she was honored with the Distinguished Dietitian of the Year award in 2016.

When not teaching, Tiffany and her husband enjoy traveling. They even lived in an RV for a year driving around the country seeing God’s beauty. Their family includes four children, one grandchild, and a very spoiled Labrador, Sammie.

Jessica joined CCS in 2015 as the head athletic trainer and sports medicine teacher. She has provided outreach athletic training services through McBride Orthopedic Hospital for CCS since 2011. She has a B.S. in Athletic Training and a M.Ed from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Jessica has been a certified athletic trainer since 2004 and has experience working in different clinical, high school, college, and industrial settings.

Jessica has always loved sports and has a desire to help people. She found athletic training to be the perfect blend of her interests and takes pride in keeping athletes healthy and participating in the sports that they love.

Jessica is married to her best friend, Jimmy. They have a daughter, Jestyn, who attends Crossings. They love hanging out as a family, watching and playing sports, and cheering for the OKC Thunder.

Helen began teaching Chemistry and Physics at Crossings in 2013. She has a B.S. in Secondary Science Education from Oklahoma Baptist University and has completed her Master’s Degree in Physics education. Before coming to CCS, she taught at Putnam City North High School for 10 years.

Mrs. Denman loves teaching and loves science. She strives to create an environment of excellence within her classroom and highly encourages investigation and exploration. She expects her students to build a strong foundational knowledge in both the physical sciences and life-long learning skills.

Helen is married to Matt Denman and has a son, Sebastian Denman. Helen enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking and camping. She also likes reading, drawing, and watching sci-fi shows with her family.

Lauren joined CCS in 2020. She has a B.A in Graphic Design from Missouri Western State University. Before coming to CCS, Lauren taught public school in the greater Oklahoma City Metro.

Mrs. De La Garza loves the combination of art and technology. She believes her classes provide a great opportunity for students to use creativity to solve practical problems.

The De La Garza family includes her husband, Isaac, sons, Samuel, David, Wyatt, and daughter, Alexa. When not working, Lauren loves to hunt for bargains, work on DIY projects, and spend time with her family playing games.

Jenn joined Crossings in 2013. She received two degrees in cello performance from the University of Central Oklahoma. She plays cello in The Stringents, Metro String Quartet and for her church.

Mrs. Bounds has taught music since 2001. She is excited to be able to teach community and love of music to students, through Christ. Also, to praise God, through music, with her talents and the talents of her students.

Jenn’s family includes her husband Cody, son, Micah and daughter Eden. When Jenn isn’t playing her cello or teaching music she loves to run in races, go on play dates with her kids, paint, read, shop, photography and travel.

Nathaniel grew up in a Spanish speaking household with English being his second language. After graduating from U.S. Grant High School in 2002, he moved to Guadalajara, Mexico to take a discipleship training course and serve as a missionary through Youth with a Mission and the University of the Nations. Upon returning, he obtained his B.S. in Behavioral Science and Bible/Theology from Mid-America Christian University. He began teaching Spanish at Crossings in 2009.

Mr. Estrada believes a Christian education is an awesome opportunity for a child to develop a strong relationship with God early in life, so that, “When they are old they will not depart from it.” Not only can students have a relationship with God, but they can also have teachers and fellow believers all around to encourage them and guide them in the way they should go. When asked “Why do you want to teach in a Christian school?” He said, “In a Christian school, the ability to teach a child to strive for knowledge and excellence in this life as a Christian is very important to me… hopefully, I can impart to them what I know and broaden their minds in learning another language that can help them be a great success.”

The Estrada family includes his wife since 2007, Hope, their two children Ezekiel (2013) and Elicia (2015), and a miniature dachshund, Lolita. When not working, Nathaniel enjoys working with the youth at his home church where he is a deacon and plays the drums in the worship band. He also enjoys playing all sports especially golf and indoor soccer on the weekends.

Garrett joined Crossings in 2018. He has a degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. He has been blessed to serve as a music teacher for the past 6 years in both Oklahoma and Texas. Most recently his service was with the Wheeler Independent School District in Wheeler, Texas as the Assistant Band Director.

Mr. Johnson has been an active church and outside musician for over 10 years. He enjoys using his gifts at his local church within the worship team. He also enjoys his pastimes, which include things such as running, recording music, drone photography and reading.

Mr. Johnson is excited about his role with the band program at Crossings. His experiences throughout the years have trained him to not only effetively teach music but also create a classroom culture that is positive and engaging. The goal of his class is to teach students how to play their instruments and to also teach life lessons and skills through it all. He hopes to show students that music is a gift from God and it is only the beginning of his greatness. With God all things are possible and the transformations that we go through when we accept him are more beautiful than anything we can imagine. Ultimately, his students will learn how to tie together their experiences in music, life and as a Christian and apply them to their own lives.

Angela began teaching at Crossings in Spring Semester 2010. She has a B.A. in English Language and Literature and a Minor in Biblical Studies. Before her advent to CCS she taught English as a Second Language at Edmond Language Institute at UCO.

Ms. Lux believes in a method of teaching that involves a lot of questions and allows both the students and teacher to learn new things while finding the answers to those questions. She works hard to promote a loving, creative, and inspiring environment where the kids can grow, discover, and be challenged. Her favorite part about teaching Social Studies is the myriad of opportunities to bring in information from a range of other subjects and disciplines.

Outside of her classroom, she enjoys delving into the wealth of literature, roaming the world, drinking coffee, creating literary worlds of her own, running, and coming up with new improbable ideas of adventures she can go on. She loves spending time with her family, whether playing board games, cooking feasts, obeying her nephews dictatorial commands, or going antique shopping with the girls.

Amber Mash graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education from Southern Nazarene University. She has 20 years of teaching experience to share with her students. Before coming to CCS in 2018, she encouraged and taught middle and high school vocal music in districts that include Union City, Yukon, Mid-Del, Western Heights, and Putnam City. While teaching at Western Oaks Middle School, she was named Teacher of the Year for 2017-18. She is an active member and leader in state music organizations, and was chosen by the Oklahoma Music Educator’s Association to receive the Exemplary Middle School Teacher Award in 2018.

Mrs. Mash enjoys teaching and working with students! She encourages students to be good stewards of the talents and gifts God has given them. She believes it is a special privilege to be able to assist in improving the skills and confidence of students, especially in regard to their own voice. Knowing that music is one of the primary tools we use for worship, she leads and supports students in their pursuit of excellence.

Mrs. Mash is married to her husband, Barret, a Physical Education teacher in Mustang. They have two school-age sons, Jacob and Tyler. When she is not working or attending school and church activities with her family, Mrs. Mash enjoys spending time with friends, playing games, reading, and eating movie theater popcorn.

Jonnathan joined CCS in 2019. He has a Bachelor in Biblical Studies from Eternity Bible College and three Associate degrees in Spanish, Humanities, and Liberal Arts from Moorpark College in California.

Before coming to CCS, Jonnathan was a Missions Intern at Bridgeway Church (OKC), Spanish Ministry Director at Cornerstone Church, and a Paraeducator (Spanish) at an elementary school in Simi Valley, CA.

Jonnathan is a life-long learner who is passionate about encouraging, equipping, educating, and empowering the next generation of student leaders. Being fluent in both oral and written English and Spanish, Jonnathan loves all things Hispanic/Latino language and culture. He is grateful and excited to finally make his dream of teaching Spanish a reality.

During his free time, Jonnathan likes to read, watch movies, attend theatrical plays and shows, play basketball and soccer, enjoy some food at a favorite restaurant, and talk about life and faith. He is the oldest, and only male, of five siblings. His favorite teams are the LA Lakers, LA Galaxy, FC Barcelona and—after moving to OKC—the Thunder. He also enjoys a variety of coconut products.

Sarah studied Art at the Kansas City Art Institute and at the University of Oklahoma, where she received a B.A. in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Photography, and a minor in Art History. She recently received her Masters in Secondary Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Before coming to CCS, she was Coordinator of the Photography facilities at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Sarah says that she is passionate about exposing young people to the beauty of art and to the glory of God. Her goal is to create a warm and loving environment where students can explore their God-given talents, become more knowledgeable in the arts, and develop their creative sides. Sarah considers it a blessing to work at CCS where she has the opportunity to educate students both spiritually and intellectually.

Sarah’s family includes her wonderful husband, Adam, and their adorable dogs, Bowzer and Russ. When not working, Sarah loves to take photos both recreationally and professionally. She also loves riding her bike with her husband, spending time outside with her dogs and enjoying time with friends and family.

Joining Crossings in 2012, Dennis has a B.S. in Computer Science from Oklahoma City University and a M.A. in History from the University of Central Oklahoma. Before coming to CCS, he had a twelve year career in Information Technology at companies such as the Daily Oklahoman, Dobson Communications and Sonic, following a four year career debating at Putnam City and in college.

Mr. Savill believes in helping to equip Christian students with the logical framework and persuasion skills needed to defend their faith against the myriad of intellectual attacks they will receive in college and beyond. By combining dialectic techniques with practice debates and learning about intellectual systems and Biblical examples, the student should calmly and persuasively argue that Christianity makes more sense than any other philosophy or structure.

The Savill family includes daughter, Olivia, French bulldog Blackberry and a slider turtle, Sacagawea. When not teaching, Dennis loves to read for fun and learning, watch movies and sports, travel and spend time with his favorite daughter. An avid movie and history buff, Dennis loves to discuss these two favorite subjects with other fans.