Our Mission Is To Partner With Parents To Educate, Develop, And Nurture Students For A Life Of Christ-centered Excellence In Academics, Christian Character, And Servant Leadership.
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 - Melody Bingham: Mrs. Bingham has been part of VCA since 2020 as the 3rd grade teacher. She enjoys the individualized attention she can provide in the classroom setting at VCA. She has been in education for over 30 years with a vast experience from preschool to administration positions. Melody has two adult children and 7 grandboys who she enjoys spending time with. She and her husband enjoy traveling, camping, and visiting the ocean.
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.
5th Grade & 6th Grade - Amanda James: Miss James is our 5th and 6th-grade teacher and has been with VCA since 2021. She was born and raised here in Napa. After graduating from Napa High School, she went to Cuesta Junior College in San Luis Obispo, where she completed general education classes and played Water Polo! She then transferred to Biola University in Southern California and earned her bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in Biblical Studies. She began working for a high school and college ministry in Southern California before returning to school and earning her Teaching Credential and master’s in education, Specializing in Best Practices from the National University. Miss James taught 1st and 2nd Grades in Nevada and Texas before returning to Napa in 2021. She started teaching 5th grade here at VCA and has transitioned into a 5th/6th Combo class this year. Ms. James has also been the assistant Water Polo coach at Napa High for the last 2 years, and she spends most of her free time with family, spoiling her nieces and nephews!
Art - Lindsay Deters: This is Lindsay’s first year teaching ART for VCA! 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!?
Reading Intervention - Anne Harlow: Mrs. Harlow has been an elementary school teacher since 1995 in both the public school (Napa Valley Unified School District) and the private school communities. She has a California Professional Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential that she earned at Cal State University of Sacramento in 1994. She has a Cross-cultural Language and Academic Development Certificate 1996, ACSI Educator Certificate 2016 and Adult/Child/and Baby First Aid/CPR/AED training Certificate of Completion through the American Red Cross 2021. Mrs. Harlow joined the VCA family in 2013 as an educator and also as a parent. She has been married to her incredible husband Jeff for 27 years. She has two amazing daughters Emily 22, and Natalie 20, who are currently attending Christian colleges down in Southern California. Mrs. Harlow loves going to the beach and watching the sunset. She enjoys paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe, going to sporting events: S.F. Giants or Golden State Warriors games, concerts, and going on vacations with her family. Her favorite thing about VCA is that our school is an encouraging family. We learn and love the Lord in all we do throughout our day. That is very special.
Spanish - Sonia Tinnon: 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