OUR STAFF

administration

Principal

Mrs. Sonya Hughes
Principal

Sonya’s passion for Christian education stems from her belief that children are the most precious blessing and we all have a responsibility to raise them to know God. A Christian education helps them defend their faith effectively and unapologetically. She believes that it helps them know and live for God’s glory while developing their God given abilities. Christian education also helps children know the love of God and His Word and grow in the knowledge of Christ as Saviour and Lord. In a world where things are ever changing, a Christian education teaches children that God is steadfast. It teaches them to discern and stand for Truth and make wise choices today and in the future. Christian education is a gift we give our children.

She loves the verses found in Isaiah 43:1-2 KJV: “...Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” What beautiful assurance from the God who owns the universe that we are His beloved, He knows us by name! So, whenever we are afraid or anxious, we are reminded that God is on the throne, He is in control, we can run to Him, we are His and we can trust Him with our life, our children, our marriage, our all.

After God, her greatest joy comes from being with her family and friends! In the summer Sonya loves to entertain with them at their pool, go camping, BBQ, and go to the beach. In winter she loves to work at school and in their health food store, read, and have family movie nights! She thanks God for all her blessings.

Mrs. Amy Slater
Temporary Administrative Assistant

Amy’s children have attended CCA since 2020, where she’s seen the benefits of a Christian education first hand. She loves having the opportunity to now be involved in the school, as the administrative assistant.

She gained her administrative experience during the years she and her husband have managed Slater Plumbing. She also has the privilege of teaching Sunday school to preschool aged children at Faith Baptist Church.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, playing board games, and going on walks.

One of Amy’s favourite bible verses are Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mrs. Charity Miller
Administrative Assistant

Christian education has been a part of Charity's life since a very young age. She is so thankful for the strong foundation it has in her life, and wanted the same for her children. She grew up attending this school, and graduated in 2000. Her mom, Sheri Tirrell, taught at CCA for many years.

Charity received her BA in Christian School Education at Kingswood in 2006. She has also been blessed to work in many different roles. She LOVES the students, the atmosphere, and her coworkers.

One of her favourite verses is Psalm 91:14-15. The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honour them".

In Charity's free time she enjoys hanging out with her 2 children, her husband, and 3 cats.

Classroom teachers

Mrs. Caitlin Swim
Pre-Primary Teacher

Caitlin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian School Education from Kingswood University. In 2020, after completing her student teaching with us she came back to join our team full-time as our Pre-Primary teacher.

Caitlin is passionate about Christian Education and training up children to walk in the ways of the Lord. It brings her great joy to be able to work at a school where she gets to share Jesus' love with the children and teach them about our hope that can be found in Him.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and pup exploring new places and visiting coffee shops!

Caitlin's favourite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Caitlin says it is a privilege to be able to teach her students about God's word and the plans that God has for each of them.

Mrs. Francien Zijlstra
Primary Teacher &
Department Head of
Elementary

Francien started her journey in Christian education in 2019 at CCA. She has a deep passion for teaching our younger students and is very excited about play-based learning. Francien grew up in Belgium, where she received her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education, and moved to Canada in 2005.

In her free time, Francien values her family moments and together they find joy in serving at their church. She loves to express God's love through teaching and singing. Her favourite Bible verse, Matthew 6:26, reminds her of our worth in God's eyes!

Francien joins us this year as the new Department Head of Elementary and Middle School, putting her Spiritual gifts in administration and leadership to good use. Her strong organizational skills and visionary approach are set to enhance our school’s programs and support both students and staff. We’re excited to see the positive impact she will have on our community.

Mrs. Heather Wood
Grade 1 Teacher

Heather has had the privilege of teaching children, not only the academics, but truths from God’s Word for many years. Heather sees the challenges alongside seeing the rewards to see development in her students to be more like Christ.

Heather’s favourite Bible verses are Proverbs 3:5-6.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two granddaughters.

Mrs. Erika Stewart
Grade 2 Teacher

Erika started her journey in Christian education in 2018. She has a deep passion to see students excel both academically and spiritually. It is her desire to share her faith with her students on a daily basis, by using her role as an educator to further God’s kingdom through teaching.

In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and their five children. She also enjoys reading, running, and watching a good documentary from time to time.

Erika’s favourite Bible verse is Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Mrs. Tanya Slater
Grade 3 Teacher

Tanya received a Bachelor's of Religious Education in Counselling from London Baptist Bible College in London, Ontario (renamed Heritage College and Seminary).

As a former CCA student, Tanya believes strongly in a quality education founded on the love and truths of God and has had the blessing of home-schooling her sons since 2005.

One of her great enjoyments in life is baking for her beautiful family and special occasions.

A meaningful Bible verse to Tanya is Psalm 46:10 "He says, 'Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth'."; taking great comfort that she can rest knowing that the One true God, who masterfully created the universe and holds it all together, also holds her and those she loves in His very capable hands.

Mrs. Julie McLean
Grade 4 Teacher

Julie graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from Faith Bible College International in 2002. She has had the privilege of teaching in three different schools and volunteer in multiple Sunday school programs.

She is very passionate about teaching young people and helping them grow in their knowledge of Jesus. It’s so important for young people to know that God has a purpose and a plan for each and every one of them. Seeing kids flourish academically while growing in their confidence is her desire.

She loves spending time with her three children and her husband. Her favourite hobbies are singing, playing the piano, reading, arts and crafts, and exploring nature.

Her favourite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

Ms. Linda Dopson
Grade 5-6 Teacher

Linda has taught at Colchester Christian Academy since 1987 and is currently the teacher for grades 5 and 6.

Linda, who attends The People’s Church, finds teaching at CCA to be a blessing beyond description. Linda loves the fact that her life involves the awesome task, and divine gift, of training children. She understands that for young people, growing up in our world today can be a scary prospect. Linda feels her experiences of teaching at CCA gives her the opportunity to help equip her students with life skills – to enable and strengthen them to confront the challenges of life.

Linda enjoys painting and creating, reading and music. Although she can’t play any musical instruments, her voice is her very own instrument which she loves to share!

Linda’s favourite Bible passage is Psalm 139. It reminds her of God’s three “omni’s”: omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience. To Linda, Psalm 139 is full of important truths – and loves to bring life to the Word in the classroom.

Mrs. Angela Wellard
Grades 7-8 Teacher

Angela received her Bachelor of Science in Education and began her teaching career in Ontario. Upon her arrival in Nova Scotia, she became part of the CCA family, teaching grades 7/8.

Her favourite past-time is spending time with her husband and their 2 boys. She enjoys a good cup of coffee, nature, singing, baking, and a good laugh.

Classroom motto: "Be kind to everyone, because everyone is having a tough time."

"My desire as a teacher is not only to inspire learning but to remind each student how precious they are to God. There is no greater truth."

Mrs. Deanna Campbell
Grades 7-8 Teacher &
Department Head of Middle School

Deanna is our English teacher for grades 7 and 8 and one of our resource teachers for our Indigenous students at Colchester Christian Academy. She has a BA in English and has a Bed from St. Francis Xavier University, from which she graduated in 2006.

Deanna is a mother to three beautiful daughters and loves spending time with family and loved ones. She is passionate about teaching and seeing her students grow and become confident in whom the Lord has created them to be. She loves travelling, meeting new people, singing, and her favourite place to be is at an ocean beach.

Her favourite scriptures are Ephesians 3:14-21 and Psalm 146:8-10. They speak of the unfailing, incredible love of the Lord that Deanna experiences in her relationship with Jesus.

Deanna has joined our team as the new Department Head of Resource for this year. With her extensive experience and a deep passion for educational support, Deanna is set to play a pivotal role in advancing our mission to enrich the educational journey of our students and support our dedicated Educational Assistants.

Mr. David Robertson
Grade 8 Teacher/EA

David’s devotion to seeing students thrive both academically and spiritually is inspiring. He is dedicated to helping each child grow in their relationship with Christ and achieve their full potential.

David brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team, holding a Bachelor's in Social Work, a Master's in Divinity, and a Bachelor's in Sociology and with five years of educational experience in the public school system, he is well-prepared to make a positive impact on our students and contribute to our vibrant learning community.

Ms. Courtney Erskine
Grades 9-10 Homeroom

Courtney is the Grade 9/10 homeroom teacher. She also teaches English and History to Grades 9-12, among other social sciences. She has a BA in History and English Literature from Mount Allison University, from which she graduated in 2013.

Courtney has a passion for the written word, and there is little that brings her more joy than connecting a reader to the perfect book. She loves to read (especially historical fiction), sing, bake, and spend time around horses.

Her favourite Bible verses are found in Matthew 6: 25-34, which remind her not to worry about tomorrow, and instead to trust God and His plan for her life, even when it’s hard.

Mr. Colin Murphy
Grades 11-12 Homeroom & Department Head of
High School

Colin is the Grade 11/12 homeroom teacher. He has a BSc and BEd, both from Acadia University. He teaches all the grades 9 - 12 Mathematics and Science courses, and is currently in his 42nd year at CCA. In his spare time he enjoys reading, sudokus, and skiing.

His favourite Biblical character is Nehemiah because of the wisdom, courage, and organizational skills Nehemiah demonstrated in the rebuilding of the walls surrounding Jerusalem.

Colin’s favourite Bible verses are Psalm 8:1, 3-4, “O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, You who have set Your glory above the heavens! When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon, and the stars, which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?”

Colin has been appointed as the new Department Head of High School for this year. With his wealth of experience and deep-rooted dedication to our school community, Colin is perfectly positioned to lead our high school department into a new era of excellence.

Mr. Glenn Erskine
High School Bible & Electives

Glenn's passion has always been to help students develop a personal relationship with Christ. He believes that just because you may grow up with parents who are Christians, doesn’t make you a Christian, any more than being born in a Hospital makes you a doctor!

"It’s a choice, one that only they can make. If I can help students understand God’s great Love for them in terms that they can understand, I can help plant the seed toward lifelong discipleship. Students are part of the church today, not the future, so the investment in discipleship is so important!"

His favourite verses are found in Colossians 2:2-3, “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:2-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Glenn enjoys sports, especially NFL Football, as well as reading mystery/crime novels.

SUPPORT Staff

Mrs. Melissa Stone
Resource Teacher

Melissa is one of CCA’s Resource Teachers funded by Jordan’s Principle. She is a former student and graduate of CCA. She has a Bachelor degree from Mount Saint Vincent University. She began at Colchester Christian Academy as a substitute, and is now on our full-time Resource team. She is passionate at helping kids succeed and find their God-given giftings.

Melissa's favourite Bible Verse is 1 Peter 5:7.

She loves watching her kids play sports, camping and spending quality time with family and friends!

Mrs. Liz Dorey
Resource Teacher

Liz is one of our Resource Teachers who is funded by Jordan's Principle. She is passionate about seeing students have "lightbulb moments" when their learning and academics come alive!

Mrs. Bethany Hirtle
Resource Teacher

Bethany is one of our Educational Assistants who is funded by Jordan's Principle. She loves children and is excited for this opportunity to help them learn and grow. She is so grateful for her daughter to be able to attend CCA.

In her spare time Bethany likes to volunteer coaching her daughter’s sports teams, going to the gym, and loves to spend time with her family and 2 dogs. Her favourite verse is Phil 4:11 .

Miss Charity Levy
Early Childhood Educator

Charity graduated from Jane Norman College with an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. From a young age, she knew she had a passion for working with children and wanted to be a part of the most crucial years of their lives, helping them reach milestones and showing them God’s love.

She loves witnessing children accomplish new and exciting things and enjoys watching them use their incredible imaginations to create wonderful things. Her favourite Bible verses are Ephesians 2:8-10 and Psalm 139:14. In her spare time, she enjoys going for walks and spending time with her boyfriend and family.

Mrs. Tracey Jardine
Early Childhood Educator

Tracey has worked with children in ministry settings for more than 30 years. She has a passion for Christian education and homeschooled both of her sons before returning to education herself, obtaining her level one ECE classification while working full-time in a daycare setting.

She finds joy in helping children learn and grow, seeing their excitement as they discover new things about themselves, and the world around them, and especially about our amazing God who created them and loves each of them dearly.

In her spare time, Tracey loves to spend time with her husband and family, travel, and read. She also enjoys building miniature room models.

Her favourite Bible verses are Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,I know that full well.” and Philippians 4:6-7” Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Mrs. Elsie Fillmore
Resource Teacher

Elsie is one of CCA’s Part Time Resource Teachers funded by Jordan’s Principle. She graduated from Cornerstone University with an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Elsie believes that sending her kids to CCA is a huge gift knowing her children learn about God’s world and His love. She also realizes what a gift it is to now be a part of the team and community here at CCA where she can now share God’s love with her students.

Elsie’s favorite verse is Romans 8:28 which says, ““And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for ithose who are called according to his purpose.” Things will not always be perfect, according to our plans, but they will be even better because we trust a loving God and His plan is always for our best (good).

Elsie loves being with her family enjoying camping, biking, swimming, hiking, and any other adventures they encounter. She also loves flowers, gardening, and crafting.

Mrs. Mariah Churchill
Resource Teacher

Mariah is one of our Resource Teachers who is funded by Jordan's Principle.

Mrs. Jennifer Sante
After School Care

Jennifer grew up as a pastor's kid in N.S., and was saved when she was around 7 years old. She loves Jesus, and is beyond grateful to have that personal relationship with Him. She desires to please Him, and know Jesus more and more everyday, until she gets to meet Him face to face! She is so thankful for the peace, joy, and steadfast love He brings to her everyday life.

She and her husband, Terry, have 6 girls, and they love being together doing simple things that bring so much joy.

She loves animals, being creative, being active at her church, and spending time with friends and her church family.

Her favourite verse is Romans 13:12 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." It reminds her to live for Jesus everyday, shine brightly for Him, and strive to put Him first.