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).
Mrs. Rachel Haughey
Head of School
Welcome to Naples Christian Academy. Mrs. Rachel Haughey joined NCA June 2022.
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.
Samantha Shaffer
Preschool 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.
Gina Naples
Kindergarten Teacher
Mrs. Naples has been on staff at NCA since 2006. Gina is a graduate of Florida State University and holds 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 is a mother and grandmother and her children are impacting the world for Christ. Gina attends Center Point Community Church. She is passionate about teaching young children to know and love Christ, to live for Him and impact the world through Christian education.
Melissa Flom
1st Grade Teacher/EE Team Lead
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.
Chloe Cargnelutti
2nd Grade Teacher
Ms. Cargnelutti was born and raised in Southern California. She enjoys playing soccer, wakeboarding, going to the beach, hiking, snowboarding, and many other adventurous things. In 2015, she graduated high school and moved to Tulsa, OK to play soccer and study Elementary Education at Oral Roberts University. She taught 2nd grade at Lincoln Christian School from 2020-2022 and attended Bible school at Church on the Move this past year. She recently moved to Florida from Tulsa to teach at NCA. Ms. Cargnelutti is honored to be a part of all the wonderful things that God has in store for NCA.
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 35 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 Director of Parish Music. Sandra plays in the handbell choir, is a lector in Sunday service, and serves on the altar guild. Sandra and her husband have two sons, two daughters-in-law, two granddaughters, a grandson, and a cat.
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.
Haley Sanborn
4th Grade Teacher
Ms. Sanborn joined NCA August 2021. Haley was born and raised in Naples, graduating from Florida Gulf Coast University with her degree in Communications and Public Relations in the Fall of 2019. She worked in Los Angeles for a short period of time after graduation in marketing and public relations before moving back to her home town to follow God’s calling on her life. Haley is a member of the Covenant Church of Naples. Her love for Jesus has changed her desires to serve His ministry and discover her love for teaching children as well. She is excited to show young people how to honor the Lord in the modern age and encourage them to achieve intellectual excellence in her classroom.
Mary Ann Lee
5th – 8th Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher
Mrs. MaryAnn Lee joined NCA June 2021 as Interim principal. Ms. Lee has an extensive and varied background in the field of education with a passion for educating young people and serving Jesus Christ. Since moving to Naples in 2006, Ms. Lee has taught English at Lely High School, served as the Dean of Students at Naples Christian Classical Academy, and most recently served as the Director of Education at the Gargiulo Education Center. Prior to that, Ms. Lee was a successful teacher, assistant principal, and head principal in several schools in Indiana and Kansas. She and her husband attend the Covenant Church of Naples and Ms. Lee is beyond excited to bring her love for students and love for the Lord as well as her passion for education.
Leslie Nodal
Spanish, 5th – 8th Bible Teacher
Mrs. Nodal has been on staff at NCA since 2013. Leslie graduated with honors from Azusa Pacific University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and minors in both Christian Ministries and Theology. She has a Master of Science in Spanish Language Education from Nova Southeastern University. She has worked with children and youth at church and abroad as a Sunday school teacher, VBS, youth group, and Girls Club. She currently attends Vida con Vida Church. God has blessed Leslie with an amazing husband, Humberto, her daughter Rebeca, and her son Samuel. Her heart and passion is to train and to see the next generation rise up to be godly leaders that impact their world for Jesus.
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!
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.
Emily Klefeker
Admissions Director
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 6 and has been attending NCA since Pre-K3 and Riley Grace, who is 4 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
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.