ABOUT
All of the administrators and teachers at Bent Mountain Christian Academy have a passion for teaching and guiding students to become the best version of themselves.
Administrators and Teachers
Karen Scott
Administrator and Teacher
Karen Scott received her Bachelor's in Science Agronomy degree from Virginia Tech in 1981, and has worked as a soil scientist since. She returned to school several years later to work on teacher certification in earth science through Roanoke College.
She became a Christian in 1989, when in need of our Lord and Savior, King Jesus. She has homeschooled some of her own children, and taught other homeschool students in the sciences since the 1990s. She has been an administrator and teacher at Bent Mountain Christian Academy since its founding. She is married to Jim Scott. They have five children and four grandchildren.
Emily Coleman Chernick
Teacher
Before becoming a teacher at Bent Mountain Christian Academy, Emily Coleman chose to be a home school mother for ten years. She has garnered invaluable experience undertaking the education of her own four children and has become a strong proponent of the Charlotte Mason method of teaching. She is currently aiding Mountain Christian Academy in their transition to teaching a Charlotte Mason style curriculum.
Emily and her husband, Peter Chernick, share their home in Boones Mill with her three youngest children, five dogs, and multiple cats.
Reatha Sanburn
Teacher
Bio coming soon.
I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.
~Socrates
Jonathan I. Montoya
Teacher
Jonathan Montoya grew up in Siguatepeque, Honduras where he studied Sacred Music before moving to the United States to continue his studies. In 2018, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Philosophy and Christian Studies from Bryan College (Dayton, TN), graduating as the class Valedictorian. In 2019, Jonathan and his wife, Madison, moved to Roanoke to join and serve in Calvary Memorial Church. Jonathan is currently completing his Master’s degree in Bible Teaching through Bryan College. He enjoys teaching, reading, coffee, and music.
Earl Gudeman
Teacher
Earl Gudeman has a Bachelor of Science in Vocational Agriculture and a Masters of Science in Education from the University of Illinois. He taught Vo Ag for four years and junior high science for one year before helping to start a small Christian school in Illinois. He later moved to Jamestown, NY, where he spent 19 years teaching secondary math, science, and Bible in a Christian school, mostly in junior high. He “retired” to Roanoke 18 years ago where he has spent a number of years homeschooling his grandson. He has been married for 53 years to his own personal secretary who will be typing all his class outlines. At this point, he counts 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.
Mike Christian
Teacher
Mike Christian has been married for 41 years, and has 2 sons and 1 grandson. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Lynchburg College (1978) in addition to an Associates of Science Degree in Business Administration from Blue Ridge Community College (1976). Mike lives in Roanoke, Virginia and recently retired from Suburban Propane in 2018. His favorite place to go is Outer Banks of NC in Hatteras. He enjoys swimming & taking walks with his family. Mike is looking forward to working with the middle & high school students. "May God Bless all the students as we learn the Fundamentals of Personal Finance."
Terri Thieben
Teacher
Bio coming soon.