Our Faculty

Katherine Earles taught at Christ the Savior Academy from 2015-2018 and returned as head-of-school in 2021. She has taught mathematics and statistics, including classes for elementary and middle school teachers in mathematics and math history at Wichita State University. She has also taught third-grade and elementary Latin at CSA. She taught all subjects in sixth – eighth grades, elementary Greek and Latin at Newton Classical Academy, a hybrid school.

Katherine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Idaho State University and a Master of Science degree in Mathematics from Wichita State University.

“I love starting the day every morning in the cathedral, praying and singing with the students and their teachers. I love introducing the students to the rich poetry and music of the Orthodox church and drawing their attention to the company we keep among the saints, praying the same words in the same way that Christians have for centuries.”

Julie was hired by Christ the Savior Academy in 2024. Prior to coming to CSA, Julie served as Director of Admissions at St. Peter’s Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas. She also taught fourth grade, Bible, Church History and Theology at St. Peter’s. Aside from homeschooling her own children over a span of twenty years, Julie has also taught French Horn lessons and piano lessons, and she started her own company, Excellence in Learning, LLC.

Julie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Performance from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX.

“C.S. Lewis describes the process of education as the way “grown birds deal with young birds when they teach them to fly.” Therefore, the role faith plays in my life and the responsibility to share my faith with our students is the foundational issue. I cannot teach what I have not first lived. This is the example Christ gave to us when He said to His disciples, “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” If I, as a grown bird, am to help the young birds become good men speaking well, then it must be Faith that shapes my understanding of what is good in both flight and speech.”

Laura has spent the last 30 years working with children, and the last 20 have been concentrated on the Pre-K level. Prior to coming to CSA, Laura taught at Chapel Hill Preschool. Laura joined CSA in 2014 as the Pre-Kindergarten teacher.

Mrs. Bair’s classroom is joyful and filled with meaningful literature selections and toys that help build their fine motor skills and capture their imaginations.

“I’m pretty sure that I have the best job in the whole world. I love working with four and five-year-olds because their reactions to everything are so pure and honest.” Seeing them “get” something for the first time never gets old. I honestly believe that I get way more from them than they can ever receive from me and I am so grateful to get to be a part of their first school experiences”

Ellen has 40 years of experience in early childhood education. She began her journey of working with children as a Teacher’s Aide at a church-operated preschool in Orange, California. She began her studies at Orange Coast College earning her AA Degree with a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Transferring to California State University at Fullerton, she graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Child Development. Finally, after extensive experience as a Preschool Teacher and/or Director, she completed a second degree in Elementary Education at Newman University, Wichita, and holds a current Teachers License in the State of Kansas.

Ellen has completed dyslexia training at the Fundamental Learning Center.

“I have loved working with children nearly my entire adult life. I believe God has blessed me with this love and desire to help His children grow in love and knowledge of Him.”

Prior to coming to CSA in 2018, Moriah taught at public and private schools in Alaska, Atlanta, Georgia, and Geneva, New York.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History and a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Hobart and William Smith College in Geneva, New York.

Moriah completed dyslexia training at Fundamental Learning Center in the summer of 2024.

“It is incredibly important to me to share the love of God with my students. I want them to remember that everything and everyone is made by God and that His love for us is shown in the tiniest of flowers to the greatest gifts in our lives. All things good and beautiful are from Him and are given to us. We should love and appreciate that in all that we do – whether that is in learning a new concept in math or playing with someone on the playground.”

Prior to coming to Christ the Savior Academy in 2022, Sharla served as second grade teacher at Haven Grade School in Haven, Kansas. She has also served as the program manager for Kansas Reading Roadmap.

Sharla has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas.

Sharla has completed training in the Kagan Structures, Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, MTSS, and dyslexia training from Fundamental Learning Center in Wichita, KS.

“I love being able to share God’s word with my students. I love teaching them beautiful works of literature and scripture. I think that children are the best people in the world. God placed me on this Earth to share His word with children.

Mrs. Gates was an answer to prayer when she first came to CSA as a substitute teacher in November 2023 after one of our teachers had a medical emergency. She was so spectacular, CSA asked her to stay as our third-grade para the following year.

Mrs. Gates has been a substitute teacher for grades kindergarten through high school in USD 361 and Andover’s Special Education Department. Through her experience as a foster parent for six years, she has received training in children’s development, belonging and overall well-being. Aside from teaching, Mrs. Gates founded a nonprofit coZee shop and bookstore in Anthony, Kansas, called Higher Grounds Leather Bounds. She also has an apple and cherry orchard with more than fifty trees. The cornerstone of her life is her faith.

“The Christian faith plays an all-encompassing role in my life,”Mrs. Gates said. “It is inexhaustible when I am searching for wisdom, comfort, and salve for my soul. I know that it is very important to share my faith in not only words and feelings, but in how I act.”

Mrs. Wisniewski comes to CSA with extensive teaching experience. She has taught third grade at Eagle College Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona. She also taught fourth grade music and upper school musical theater. In addition to elementary education, she has taught dance education courses at Arizona State University and Maricopa Community Colleges. Finally, she has supervised education student teachers for the Mary Lou Fulton Teacher’s College.

Mrs. Wisniewski has her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Fine Arts from Arizona State University. She has also received Memoria Press Training.

Mrs. Wisniewski loves beginning every day at CSA in prayer.

“My faith in God helps me face the challenges of each day with peace and joy,”Mrs. Wisniewski said. “When I get off track, I know that God is gracious to forgive. I can always start again.”

Prior to coming to Christ the Savior Academy in 2018, Mr. Wagner worked for eight years at a non-denominational Christian school in Laconia, NH, teaching 5th and 6th graders Latin, writing, and humanities. There he also taught Great Books courses to middle and high school students.

Mr. Wagner graduated from Gordon College in 2009 with a B.A. in History and Education. In 2017 he was certified a Master Teacher by the CiRCE Institute when he completed the CiRCE Institute Teacher Apprenticeship Program in classical rhetoric and pedogogy. In 2021, Jeremy completed CiRCE’s Latin training program.

“I love initiating students into the mysteries of an ancient language and watching them go step-by-step from knowing nothing in the language to being able to read, write, and speak the language in the end. Without Jesus Christ I am nothing. I try to teach my students to call upon Him as the fountain of all wisdom and tower of all strength.”

Prior to joining Christ the Savior Academy in 2022, Amy taught middle school English and History at Northfield School of Liberal Arts in Wichita, Kansas. She also homeschooled her six children classically. Amy has published in periodicals such as WORLD magazine and the Wall Street Journal.

Amy received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Northern Colorado. She also has a Master of Theology Degree in Pastoral Counseling from the Antiochian House of Studies at the University of Balamand in Lebanon.

Amy has completed writing training at the Institute for Excellence in Writing.

“I am incredibly grateful to teach in an environment where I can speak freely about what I believe and hold most dear. At the middle school/logic stage, children are full of questions, some of them deep, and I would not know how to without being able to reference the Bible and Church writings. I truly believe that Christ came to show us the way to a whole and healed life, and I am so glad that at CSA, I am free to share and pass on Orthodox Christianity and its path towards becoming fully human.”

Prior to coming to CSA in 2015, Keri taught Algebra, Geometry, and Trigonometry at Northfield School in Wichita, Kansas. Keri also homeschooled her five children for 17 years.

Keri holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture from the University of Kansas. She has also completed Stern Math training.

“My Orthodox faith is the centering part of my life and my family. I strive to put it at the center of my teaching as well. The beauty and truth of God’s creation is what makes all of our learning important and meaningful.”

Mrs. Teichler brings more than twenty years of experience. With two degrees in music, she has taught Kindermusik, general music, choir, private flute and piano lessons to preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, college –aged and adults.

“I love teaching music, whether it’s a little one just starting out on their musical journey or a seasoned musician honing their skills,” Mrs. Teichler said. “It gives me great joy! Coming to Christ the Savior Academy is a perfect combination of my love of music and children, and I am so glad to be here! It’s an added blessing to be in a Christian environment where I can talk to the kids about my faith in the course of our interactions.”

Mrs. Teichler’s goals for the children are to get them comfortable with their singing voices and to help them build their ensemble skills, which include listening, turn-taking, working together, and reading rhythms and notes on the staff.

“I want them to know that music is for everyone and everyone is musical,” she said. “Plus, it really does make you smarter – there’s tons of research linking music with gains in literacy, math, social and physical development.”

Vas has taught at Christ the Savior Academy since its inception in 2012. She created the art curriculum for CSA. Prior to coming to CSA, Vas taught dance and mime to children and adults in New York City and Austin, Texas. While in New York City, she was a movement therapist for professional and amateur athletes rehabilitating from sports injuries.

She served for 15 years as the Diocesan Coordinator for Christian Education for DOWAMA, leading workshops for church school teachers and directors, instructing teachers how to teach in the Sunday School classrooms, and teaching iconography and other aspects of the Orthodox Christian faith.

Vas is trained in Russian Byzantine style of iconography and has been given a blessing by His Grace, Bishop Basil to write icons for private prayer. She has served in that capacity for the last 20 years.

Vas has a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Dance from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, and a Certificate of Movement Analysis from the Laban/Barteniel Institute of Movement Studies in New York City.

“I love teaching art to the students and helping them see the world and look beneath the surface. It is so exciting to watch as their artistic talents grow and they use their creativity and imaginations to create unique works of art. I also love teaching the about Icons of the Church. We peel back the layers of each Icon and reveal the deeper meaning of the image, which should give them a better understanding of their faith. They ask great questions that lead to deep discussions on the Icon as they learn about Christ.

The chance to combine his passion for sports and physical education with his faith is what makes Mr. Odong excited to be at Christ the Savior Academy. Prior to coming to CSA, Mr. Odong was the physical education teacher at the American International School of Lagos.
He has also served as a tennis coach for high performance players.

Mr. Odong holds a degree in Sports and Business Science from Southern New Hampshire University. He has also completed training in Responsive Classroom, which has equipped him with specific skills to create safe, joyful, and engaging classrooms. Mr. Odong attends St. Mary Orthodox Church in Wichita.

“Faith is the cornerstone of my life,” Mr. Odong said. “At CSA, I believe integrating faith into Physical Education can support students’ spiritual growth, as it is important to educate students holistically.”