Faculty and Staff
We are proud of our dedicated faculty. Our faculty is truly inter-denominational, in that our teachers represent a dozen local churches and bring diverse Christian experiences while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our statement of faith and primacy of Christ.
Our faculty also embodies academic excellence and life-long learning. All K-8 teachers are degreed educators and many have higher degrees, including masters and doctorate degrees. All K-8 teachers are required to be certified by the state and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Dr. Phillip Tingle
Headmaster
Dr. Tingle has been the administrator for nearly 7 years. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from Georgetown College, KY; M.A in Secondary Education from Arizona State University; M.S. in Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast; Ed.S. in School Administration and Ed.D. in Secondary Education from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN. He holds ACSI Lifetime Professional Certificates as well as the Educational Leadership Certificate from the State of Florida.
Dr. Tingle is an Air Force veteran. He has served as a Christian school administrator for over 37 years serving schools in Indiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. Prior to coming to NCA he served for 9 years as Headmaster of Southwest Florida Christian Academy in Ft. Myers. He has served on the Board of the Southern Baptist Association of Christian Schools, the Advisory Board for ACSI in Florida, and on several accreditation teams with ACSI.
His wife, Janice, served as a Christian school teacher and cheerleading sponsor for more than 20 years prior to her current position as concierge at Edison National Bank in Ft. Myers. They have a son, Andy, in Woodstock, GA and a granddaughter who is a junior at Cherokee Christian High School. Janice is a member of the choir and Dr. Tingle served 4 years on the Finance Committee at McGregor Baptist Church in Ft. Myers.
We are proud of our dedicated faculty. Our faculty is truly inter-denominational, in that our teachers represent a dozen local churches and bring diverse Christian experiences while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our statement of faith and primacy of Christ.
Our faculty also embodies academic excellence and life-long learning. All K-8 teachers are degreed educators and many have higher degrees, including masters and doctorate degrees. Four of our faculty members are currently pursuing higher degrees. All K-8 teachers are expected to be certified by the state and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Two of our teachers have achieved the high honor of national certification through the National Board of Professional Teachers.
Candace Deonarine
Pre-K Teacher / Preschool Director
Miss Deonarine has been on staff at NCA since 2017. Candace graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Florida South Western State College. She is certified to teach Pre-K to sixth grade. She also earned an English for Speakers of Other Languages endorsement and a Reading endorsement. Candace also has a Director Credential certifying her to lead the Pre-K division. She has served in many roles at NCA including teaching art, 2nd grade, and working in the office. She is an alumni; she graduated NCA in 2008. Candace attends and teaches at Capri Christian Church.
Gina Naples
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Naples has been on staff at NCA since 2006. Gina is a graduate of Florida State University and has a B.S. in Child Development and Elementary Education. She has certification from the State of Florida in elementary education with an ESOL endorsement and is ACSI certified. Gina taught kindergarten in the Collier County Public Schools from 1992 to 2006, and also served as a reading coach. Gina was awarded the Golden Halo award in 2017 and received a Rising Star award in 2019. She has three daughters; 2 are graduates of the Academy, one son ‘in’ law and one beautiful grandbaby. Gina attends CenterPoint Community Church. She is passionate about teaching young children to know & love Christ, to live for Him and impact the word through Christian education.
Melissa Flom
1st Grade Teacher
Mrs. Flom has been on staff at NCA since 2000. Melissa holds a BS in Elementary Education and Biblical Studies. She attended Word of Life Bible Institute and Word of Life School of Youth Ministries and Evangelism. She received her degrees from Philadelphia Biblical University. Melissa is certified in elementary education through the state of Florida and through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). She taught middle school in New York and Texas before transitioning to Naples Christian Academy, where she has taught preschool and elementary and served as our office manager. Melissa was awarded the Golden Halo award in 2019. She loves that she is free to teach Biblical truth in the classroom. Melissa and her husband have two children who graduated from the Academy. Her family attends Destiny Church.
Samantha Shaffer
2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Shaffer joined NCA June 2020. Samantha was born and raised in Naples, graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with her degree in Elementary Education. She taught in the Collier County Public School system before having her first son. Since then, she has taught preschool-age children in Community Bible Study, served as a teacher in Center Point Community Church’s Sunday School (where she and her family attend church), and pursued her love of art through photography, Bible journaling, and creating commissioned art pieces. Samantha’s 2 children, Matthew and Jackson, have attended NCA since pre-k, and her husband of 12 years, Nicholas, is an NCA alumnus. Samantha has a love and passion for teaching children about Jesus, and she is excited to show them how to honor the Lord through their artwork.
Sandra Birner
3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Birner has been on staff at NCA since 2015. Sandra has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Concordia Lutheran College, Bronxville, NY. In 2011, she earned a Master’s Degree in Reading Education from Florida Gulf Coast University. Sandra has been teaching for 34 years with most of her experience in 2nd and 3rd grades. She has served as a teacher at Grace Lutheran School in Winter Haven, Florida, and Christ Community Lutheran School, Nicaea Academy and Gulf Coast Charter Academy South in Naples. Sandra and her husband, Jonathan, attend Grace Lutheran Church where Jonathan is the Minister of Music. Sandra plays in the bell choir, is a lector in Sunday service, serves on the altar guild, and is a substitute Sunday school teacher. Sandra and her husband have two sons, two daughters-in-law, two granddaughters, a grandson, and two cats.
To Be Announced Soon
4th/5th Grade Teacher
We are proud of our dedicated faculty. Our faculty is truly inter-denominational, in that our teachers represent a dozen local churches and bring diverse Christian experiences while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our statement of faith and primacy of Christ.
Our faculty also embodies academic excellence and life-long learning. All K-8 teachers are degreed educators and many have higher degrees, including masters and doctorate degrees. Four of our faculty members are currently pursuing higher degrees. All K-8 teachers are expected to be certified by the state and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Two of our teachers have achieved the high honor of national certification through the National Board of Professional Teachers.
Teachers to be Announced Soon
We are proud of our dedicated faculty. Our faculty is truly inter-denominational, in that our teachers represent a dozen local churches and bring diverse Christian experiences while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our statement of faith and primacy of Christ.
Our faculty also embodies academic excellence and life-long learning. All K-8 teachers are degreed educators and many have higher degrees, including masters and doctorate degrees. Four of our faculty members are currently pursuing higher degrees. All K-8 teachers are expected to be certified by the state and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Two of our teachers have achieved the high honor of national certification through the National Board of Professional Teachers.
Susie Rodriguez
Music Teacher
Mrs. Rodriguez is a veteran teacher of NCA. After receiving Elementary and Primary Education degrees from the University of South Florida, Mrs. Rodriguez joined NCA as a Preschool teacher in 1994. She went onto teach Kindergarten, 2nd grade and then Music to grades Pre-K – 8th. Mrs. Rodriguez took some time off to begin raising a family, but shortly after began teaching an early childhood Kindermusik program at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts. She went onto become the director of the program and later a business ower of ‘Kindermusik with Susie’ for approximately 15 years. Due to the pandemic, Mrs. Rodriguez was unable to offer her Kindermusik program, but was so excited to be given the opportunity to return to NCA to work with grades K-2nd. Mrs. Rodriguez has felt so at home again at NCA, and is enjoying every moment she has to once again share the love of Christ through musical education!
Samantha Shaffer
Art Teacher
Mrs. Shaffer joined NCA June 2020. Samantha was born and raised in Naples, graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with her degree in Elementary Education. She taught in the Collier County Public School system before having her first son. Since then, she has taught preschool-age children in Community Bible Study, served as a teacher in Center Point Community Church’s Sunday School (where she and her family attend church), and pursued her love of art through photography, Bible journaling, and creating commissioned art pieces. Samantha’s 2 children, Matthew and Jackson, have attended NCA since pre-k, and her husband of 12 years, Nicholas, is an NCA alumnus. Samantha has a love and passion for teaching children about Jesus, and she is excited to show them how to honor the Lord through their artwork.
We are proud of our dedicated faculty. Our faculty is truly inter-denominational, in that our teachers represent a dozen local churches and bring diverse Christian experiences while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our statement of faith and primacy of Christ.
Our faculty also embodies academic excellence and life-long learning. All K-8 teachers are degreed educators and many have higher degrees, including masters and doctorate degrees. Four of our faculty members are currently pursuing higher degrees. All K-8 teachers are expected to be certified by the state and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
Two of our teachers have achieved the high honor of national certification through the National Board of Professional Teachers.
Cindy Bradam
After Care Program
Mrs. Cindy Bradam has been with NCA since 2018. She is the wife of NCA’s former music teacher Mr. Michael Bradam. She is the leader of the After Care program. In addition, she teaches Preschool music, library, substitute teaches when needed, and volunteers throughout the school. Mrs. Bradam along with her husband are seeking the Lord’s leading to find a local congregation and have begun attending North Naples Baptist Church. She worked in the medical field for 35 years, primarily in trauma and cardiology. After retiring from nursing, she was excited to begin ministering in education. Her heart is for serving the families, faculty, and staff of NCA. Her favorite Bible verse is Ruth 1:16: “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.’”
Emily Klefeker
Office Assistant/Admissions
Mrs. Klefeker has been on staff at NCA since 2019. Emily graduated from Miami Dade College in 2011 with an associate’s degree in psychology. She has taught preschool-aged children since 2012. She is originally from Miami, Florida, but moved to Naples in 2011 and loves this beautiful city. Emily attends Parkway Life Church and has been married for seven years to her husband, Zack. They have two children: Levi, who is 5 and has been attending NCA since Pre-K3 and Riley Grace, who is 3 and will be attending NCA this year. They have seen the blessings that come with being a part of this school family and there isn’t any other place they would want to be.
Miriam Menejias
Assistant Office Manager
Miss Menejias (aka Miss. M) has been on staff at NCA since 2019. Miriam is a Naples native and a licensed Real estate agent, she Graduated locally from Hodges University earning an Associates in Business Administration. In her free time She loves spending quality time with her family, the outdoors, painting, crafting, graphic designing, gardening, and caring for her pets. She believes “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24. Miriam hopes to see the coming generations growing in their love for God and others, using their unique gifts to be a blessing to others.
Hemachal “Sono” Pokhan
Maintenance Manager
Mr. Pokhan has been on staff at NCA since 2013. Sono graduated from Pinellas Technical School in 1993 with a major in A/C and minor in Electrical certification. He has over 26 years of experience in property management and maintenance. He held the position of Property and Maintenance Manager at the family-owned rental apartments inSt. Petersburg, FL. He also worked as a youth leader and summer camp counselor. Mr. Pokhan is a certified security officer and has worked at various exclusive communities in the Naples area. In all the positions he’s held, he’s always put his relationship with Christ first and is not afraid to share his faith. He attends Living Word Family Church in Naples with his wife and children. All his children have attended NCA, with 1 presently enrolled and two graduated, who attend high school at First Baptist Academy. Mr. Pokhan believes and lives by the words found in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”