Mrs. Heidi Freeman

Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Heidi Freeman is our 3 day preschool teacher.  She was born and raised in Whitefish and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Montana.  She has been a part of our school since 1993, teaching both kindergarten and preschool, and enjoying a few years off during this time to raise her boys.  Heidi and her husband, Mike, have two boys at home.  She is thrilled to be a part of WCA's early childhood program.  Her goal is to provide a positive learning environment for children and to instill in them a love of learning!

Mrs. Lynda Morrison

Preschool Teacher

Lynda is the five day preschool and enrichment teacher. Lynda has been in involved in preschool and children’s ministry for more than 30 years. Her formal childcare training was completed at Diablo Valley College in Concord, CA. Lynda’s passion is to help children and parents make a smooth transition to the school environment while assisting the child to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Lynda’s love for the Lord, her students, and their families is evidenced in her caring and gentle manner in the classroom. As each preschool student begins their academic career, it is Lynda’s goal is to give them and their families a positive first step in education.

Mrs. Linda Puchta

Kindergarten & Enrichment

Linda grew up in St. Louis, MO. She had the privilege of attending Christian schools for her entire education, graduating from Concordia College in Seward, NE in 1979, with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She has taught since 1979. The Puchta family moved to Montana in 1997. Linda has been teaching at Whitefish Christian Academy since 2003. She and her husband Rick have two children. Emily is a 22-year-old college student at MSU Bozeman, and Bryce is a 16-year-old sophomore at Glacier High School. She and her family attend New Covenant Fellowship Church. In her “leisure” time, she enjoys reading, photography, kayaking, watching “old” movies, crafts and just being with her family!

Mrs. Carrie Broughton

Kindergarten Aide

My husband and I moved to Montana from California with our 2 children, Gillian and James, who also attend WCA.  Moving to Montana was a big step, but God has had his hand in it the whole way, including providing my job here at Whitefish Christian Academy. I came looking for a preschool and found so much more. I enjoy working with all the kids everyday. They are a real blessing, and they make me smile. I began my career at King’s Valley Christian School in Concord, CA, where I was a teacher’s aide and helped run the after school program. For the past 13 years I have worked for several families as their personal childcare provider. Being able to work and be with my kids at the same school has been an amazing blessing. As much as I enjoy working with kids and all of the wonderful people at WCA, I also have a passion for cooking and an obsession with recipes. I enjoy spending lots of time with my family, curling up with a good book, writing and discovering all the beauty Montana has to offer. My family and I attend church at The River in Kalispell.

Mrs. Pennie Parrish

First Grade

Pennie was raised in Las Vegas, NV. She attended UNLV and taught in Vegas for fourteen years. She moved to Whitefish in 2001 with her husband, Paul, and son, Nathan. She has taught at Whitefish Christian Academy since the fall of 2003. She enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time at home with her family and three dogs.

Mrs. Rachel Erickson

Second Grade

Hello! My name is Rachel Erickson. I am a Montana native, and have lived in the valley since 2007. My husband Shane and I, along with our daughter Madison, currently live in Columbia Falls but hope to eventually move back to Whitefish where my husband is a police officer. I earned my degree in Elementary Education from Montana State University in 2008, and am very excited to be the 2nd grade teacher at Whitefish Christian Academy. In the past, I have taught 7th and 8th grade, as well as preschool.  My husband and I attend East Haven Baptist Church where I am a part of the worship team. In addition to teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family and my pets, reading, and spending time outside.

Mr. Brendan Hosking

Principal Teacher, Third Grade

Hi, my name is Brendan Hosking, I am a native to Queensland, Australia. I have been a part of Whitefish Christian Academy since 2004. I live in Kalispell with my wife, Tarah, and my beautiful daughter, Emma, who was born in October of 2009. I enjoy helping out at “Feeding the Flathead,” a local feeding program for the hungry and being active at Headwaters Church. I am so thankful God has placed me at Whitefish Christian Academy to work with such talented people and also to witness so many amazing miracles through teaching.

Mrs. Heather Stiver

Fourth Grade

Hi, my name is Heather Stiver. I am very excited to be the 4th grade teacher! I earned my elementary teaching degree from Western Governors University in 2007 and am currently completing a master’s degree in elementary mathematics. I have been a substitute teacher for the past 2 years in Montana and Minnesota. I have been married to my husband, Jeff, for 18 years, and we have 3 children, Emily, Erik and Rachael. We will be staying in Bigfork until our house in Minnesota sells and then we will look for another home. We are attending First Baptist of Bigfork. I am overjoyed to be a part of Whitefish Christian Academy and cannot wait to meet my students and their families!

Mrs. Judy Cooper

Middle School, 5th & 6th

In 2005, Judy and her husband Chris moved to Whitefish from Vernon Hills. In 1972, Judy began her teaching career in Dallas, TX. During her tenure as a teacher, she has taught in Texas, Illinois, and now the great state of Montana. The opportunity to write curriculum for numerous school districts, present several workshops for teachers, and teach sessions at the Illinois Reading Conference are all part of her teaching history. She has taught a variety of courses and grade levels. However at Whitefish Christian Academy, she teaches Bible, literature and language arts. Though she has loved each educational experience, teaching at Whitefish Christian Academy has brought her great joy. Being able to share her love for the Lord with young people is the highlight of her career in education.

Mrs. Deanna Kotila

Middle School, 7th & 8th

Mrs. Kotila was raised on ranch south of Polson and graduated from college in Billings with her bachelor's degree in 1991. She and her husband, Todd, also of Polson, enjoy over twenty years of marriage and two lovely daughters. Deanna has taught for over a decade and participated in a classical home-schooling cooperative in the Seattle area, serving as their Grammar Coordinator for five years. In that role, she was responsible for the development of classical curriculum for grades K-5 as well as supervising ten teachers. Deanna is also an registered independent test administrator.

Mr. Gabriel Morrow

Music and Latin

Having been born and raised in California, Gabriel Morrow comes to the Flathead Valley after living several years in Texas and Florida.  It was in Texas  where he received his bachelor's degree from LeTourneau University and met his future wife, Angela.  Since that time he has worked in a wide variety of occupations, including flight instructing, being residential staff for live-in special ed., working in an alternative school for emotional and behavioral disorders, and leading professional church-based youth ministries in two churches. Gabriel was the youth pastor at Hope Ranch, a Christian therapeutic boarding school west of Whitefish from January 2006 until the Ranch closed in fall 2009.  Since then he has been substitute teaching in both Whitefish middle school and high school.  He and Angela have a seven year old daughter, Amelia Grace, and a two year old son, Jude.  Gabriel and his family are active members of Whitefish Church of the Nazarene where he serves on the church board and can often be found teaching on Wednesday nights at the church.  He is also pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.  Currently he finds great enjoyment in throwing rocks in lakes with his son, riding bicycles with his daughter, and on all too rare occasions getting to sit alone with his wife in a coffee shop, drinking coffee and reading a good book.

Miss Dani Jenkins

PE Teacher

In January of 2001 I moved from a small town in Oregon to Great Falls, Montana. I completed a double major of Elementary Education and Health/Physical Education at the University of Great Falls in the spring of 2003. My teaching career started at Great Falls Public Schools as an elementary health enhancement teacher, where I taught for 4 years. I also coached high school and middle school volleyball. The kids presented many challenges and multiple opportunities to learn, as well as, teach. In May of 2004 I started working towards my Masters in Education. Integrating Art into the Curriculum not only helped me enhance my teaching, but also allowed me to delve farther into a few of my hobbies. When I moved from Great Falls to the Flathead Valley in the summer of 2007 I worked as a Paraeducator at Whitefish Middle School. During my time working in a special education classroom I decided to go back to school for my special education endorsement. I am excited to be back in PE and working at Whitefish Christian Academy.

Mrs. Tana Voeller

Mathematics & Enhancement

Tana Marie Voeller came to Whitefish Christian Academy in 2009. Tana is a native of Montana who graduated from the University of Montana with an elementary education and physical education degree. Her first teaching job brought her to the Flathead Valley over 10 years ago where she has enjoyed teaching many subjects and grade levels of elementary education. She was drawn to the Flathead Valley because of all the opportunities for outdoor adventure. Here is where she met her husband Jim, and had two children Carson and Josie. As a family they take advantage of everything this valley has to offer for outdoor activities. Tana’s family is blessed to be a part of The Whitefish Nazarene Church. Tana and her children are also fortunate and excited to join Whitefish Christian Academy.