Elementary Staff

Kindergarten - Amanda Botts/Katie Dodd: 
 

Mrs. Botts has been with VCA since 2021 and is one of our kindergarten teachers. She received her Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Concordia University Irvine in 2014 and her C.A. multiple subject credential in 2016. She has taught kindergarten for five years. She is a Napa native and has been married to her husband, Jake, for four years. God has blessed them with two sweet little boys- Bentley and Mack- and a baby to come. Her interests include chasing her little boys all around, spending time with family, and baking all things sweet and all sorts of bread. Her favorite thing about VCA is that Jesus is alive on campus, and His name can always be loudly proclaimed.

Mrs. Dodd joined our VCA Kindergarten teaching team in 2021! She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University, St. Paul, MN. She taught first
grade for three years before staying at home to raise her kiddos. Mrs. Dodd loves teaching kindergarten and sharing Jesus' love with her students. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Dodd enjoys adventuring with her husband and four kids, going to the beach, organizing, drinking chai, and spending time with friends and family.

1st Grade - Jennifer Niemi 

Jen Niemi has been part of VCA since 2017. Over the years, she has served in various roles, eventually becoming a member of the administration team while teaching first grade. Jen holds a Master of Education degree, a California Multi-Subject teaching credential, and an ACSI administration certificate. Her dedication to education extends beyond academics; she is passionate about facilitating social-emotional learning and student leadership.
Outside of her professional life, Jen has been married to her husband, Jon, for over 28 years, and they have raised two spectacular now adult children. Together, they enjoy spending time with their family and traveling.  

2nd Grade - Betsy Fraser 

Betsy Fraser has a bachelor's degree in Christian Leadership and Administration from Grand Canyon University and in the process of completing her ACSI certificate. She has been working in the classroom with students for the majority of her adult life. She has experience as a teachers aid, paraeducator for k-8th students, and teaching a life skills class for 8th-12th grade students.. In the more recent years Betsy was the children's director at Napa Valley Life Church. She is a Napa Native and a mom of two amazing girls.

3rd Grade - Ariana Miranda

Mrs. Miranda joined VCA in 2022 as part of the Aftercare program. Ariana has a bachelor's degree in biblical studies and is working towards completing her ACSI teaching credential. When not teaching, Mrs. Miranda fervently serves at her church and loves spending time with her husband, family, and friends. 

4th Grade - Chrissy Cole

Mrs. Cole has been with VCA since the beginning of 2021. Previously, she ran a private POD for first and third grades and taught after-school enrichment classes for NVUSD for 13 years, as well as tutoring. Mrs. Cole received her bachelor's from CSU and has studied at WGU for her master’s degree program in elementary education. She is the mother of four unique and beautiful daughters and has been married to her partner in crime for almost 24 years. In her (not so) free time, Mrs. Cole enjoys cooking, running, and, of course, being a part of every bit of her adventurous daughters' lives (which is mostly a competition dance mom these days). Her love for children and Jesus led her to teach at a Christian school, where she was a part of a BIG PURPOSE, which is her calling. Making a BIG IMPACT on each student's heart and mind drives her to inspire a purpose-filled life in these young ones daily.
 

Art - Lindsay Deters

Lindsay loves teaching ART for VCA and we are so blessed to have her! It’s her dream job - kids, paint & fun ! She attended Azusa Pacific University (God First!) and received her B.A. in multiple subject education and then went on to Touro University for her multiple subject teaching credential. She has been married for 13 years and has four fantastic kiddos (three attend VCA!). Lindsay loves Jesus, ART (duh!), all things Hawaii, pastries, fresh peonies, baking yummy things & lots of coffee. She loves VCA because she gets to teach students about art AND Christ! What could be better!?  

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Spanish - Sonia Tinnon

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Mrs. Tinnon has been at VCA since 2014. She teaches Spanish ES/MS. She has been married for 24 years and has four children. She enjoys watching her children compete in HS & collegiate sports. She also enjoys teaching the New Believer’s class alongside her husband at their home church Hillside