Faculty & Staff

Administration & Office Staff

Mrs. Soots attended Ball State University from 1976 to 1982. During this time she received degrees in Education and Sociology. She also obtained an endorsement in Reading Instruction.

In the years following her graduation, Mrs. Soots worked in the Department of Special Education at Ball State University. While in the department, she worked within the context of a demonstration classroom for the hearing impaired. This setting allowed parents, extended family members, as well as students from the university (and those desiring a similar program) to visit, observe, and participate in the instruction process and teacher training. Mrs. Soots' early work linking children and parent instruction has prepared her to meet the needs of CCS families and faculty members.

Mrs. Fletcher grew up in Richmond before moving to Tulsa, OK. She and her husband (of over 25 years), Rick, moved to Maine shortly after their marriage. They moved back to Richmond in 2006 with their four children. They enrolled their children in CCS where Tamara became a lunchroom and classroom volunteer and a room mom. She began working at CCS in 2011 in extended care. Over the years she has worked in the lunchroom, helped with recess and extended care, and worked as a Music aide and Pre-K aide. She has also worked as a substitute teacher over the years. In 2018, she accepted the position of Administrative Secretary. The family joke is that her 4 children graduated from CCS, but she’s still here!

Mrs. Hickman has worked at Community Christian School since August of 1999. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Indiana University. Sheri is married to Dave, and they have four children: Matthew, Micah, Josh, and Allie. All of Sheri's children graduated from Community Christian School.

Dr. Jackie Schlichte brings her experience as an educator, spanning almost 35 years, to Community Christian. Those experiences include teaching, teacher & mentor training & observation, program development, curriculum development, coordination, along with student and teacher formation through professional development that takes place right in the classroom. At this time, Jackie has served 17 of those years at CCS.

Dr. Schlichte's current role is to follow Christ‘s lead in whatever way CCS may need help. These roles are summed up as Teacher Observation and Formation (Training and Support of Teachers & Students) based on the leadership of Christ on the foundation of the Holy Scripture. Additional education was from Indiana University Bloomington (B.S.), Indiana Wesleyan (M.S.), and Ball State University (Ed.D.). Her life verse is: “He must become Greater, I must become less.” (John 3:30)

Elementary Grade Classroom Teachers

Miss Girdley received a B.A. in English from Tennessee Temple University and a B.A. in Elementary Education from Baptist University of America. She also holds an M.Ed. from Earlham College. She has worked in education since 1972. Miss Girdley serves CCS in first grade and as a literacy coach. She enjoys reading, music, and writing. God used Isaiah 54:13 to lead Miss Girdley into Christian education: God used Psalm 45:1 to encourage Miss Girdley's love of literacy: "My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer."

Mrs. Girdley graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 1994 with a B.A. in English. After college, she taught English in China for a year. She met her husband in Louisville, Kentucky, and spent five years teaching both in the elementary classroom and at the tutoring level. She stayed at home raising her children after 2001. Her passions include music, Scripture, and family. Mrs. Girdley joined the CCS staff in 2017, and is delighted every day by the adventure, joy, and grace she meets at CCS.

Mrs. Yount graduated from Indiana University East in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Yount has worked in Christian education since 2004. She began teaching at Community Christian School in 2008, took some time off to care for her young children, and came back to Community Christian School in 2016. Mrs. Yount serves CCS in third grade and as a literacy coach. Mrs. Yount is married to Jeff, and they have two children, Bekah and Jered, who currently attend CCS.

Mr. Current graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Taylor University in Fort Wayne, and has worked in elementary education since 2006. Prior to working at Community Christian School, Mr. Current worked for Kenneth Christmon STEMM Academy as a teacher in 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Mr. Current also taught science at Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center. He has been at CCS since 2013, and has taught multiple grades from Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. He and his wife, Lori, have been married for over 15 years, and they have two sons, David (CCS class of 2019) and Cohen (currently attends CCS). In his spare time, Mr. Current enjoys watching movies, spending time with family, and shooting sports. Mr. Current says he loves working at CCS because "it is a warm and inviting environment that fosters strong academics with Christ's love and care."

Mrs. Price has been teaching for over 25 years, and has taught at Community Christian School since 1997. She enjoys teaching her elementary students, and also enjoys teaching math courses to adults at Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University East. She holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Math Education from Miami University, which has offered opportunities for her to provide professional development in math for teachers in a variety of settings. In her spare time, Mrs. Price works at her family’s antique mall and likes to spend time with her husband and daughter checking out the area antique hot spots. Mrs. Price's daughter, Emmy, graduated from CCS in 2010.

Middle School Teachers

Mrs. Locker received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Miami University. She has 18 credit hours towards her Masters in Children and Family Studies. Mrs. Locker taught at Brookville High School (Ohio) before taking time out to have her children. She and her husband of 25 years felt led to have their children in Christian education and found CCS. Mrs. Locker began teaching at CCS in 1997. Both of her children graduated from CCS and come back to visit often. Mrs. Locker loves the outdoors, fishing, camping, cooking, and reading cookbooks. ​

Mrs. Pentecost grew up in northern Indiana. She attended Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, and received a Bachelors in Mathematics Education in 2001. Tiffani moved to the Richmond area in 2002 and began teaching in Cambridge City, Indiana. Mrs. Pentecost stepped away from teaching to care for her young children when her oldest child was born. She answered God's call to return to the field of education when she began teaching at CCS in 2013.

Mr. Current graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Taylor University in Fort Wayne, and has worked in elementary education since 2006. Prior to working at Community Christian School, Mr. Current worked for Kenneth Christmon STEMM Academy as a teacher in 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Mr. Current also taught science at Wernle Youth and Family Treatment Center. He has been at CCS since 2013, and has taught multiple grades from Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. He and his wife, Lori, have been married for over 15 years, and they have two sons, David (CCS class of 2019) and Cohen (currently attends CCS). In his spare time, Mr. Current enjoys watching movies, spending time with family, and shooting sports. Mr. Current says he loves working at CCS because "it is a warm and inviting environment that fosters strong academics with Christ's love and care."

Mr. Metzger grew up on a dairy and grain farm in northern Illinois. He later attended Valparaiso University and graduated with a degree in History. Later he attended Indiana State University where he earned a degree in Secondary Administration and Supervision. Mr. Metzger has been involved in education for over 40 years teaching at the middle school and high school levels. During that time, he has also served as a high school assistant principal and a junior-senior high school principal. During his time at CCS he has taught 5th grade technology, 6-7-8th grade history and supervised lunch recess. "I am blessed to be able to work at CCS and it truly is ‘Christ First and Academics Second To None’; something that I could not say out loud during my service in public education."

Specials

Mrs. Deane graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Arts and Humanities from IU in December 2013. She has enjoyed the arts since she was young, and has been involved in state choirs, vocal competitions and her church's praise team. She and her husband, Ron, together have six children. After meeting her husband (an accomplished artist) in 2013, Leah realized her passion for fine art. She began painting with her husband, and quickly realized that God graced her with the talent of art. She has sold some paintings locally and donated a few to the Women's Fund of Richmond, IN.

She accepted the call to work at CCS in 2018 as the pre-k Music teacher, and soon after began teaching Art for pre-k through third grade. She hopes to help the children to understand the importance of the arts, and how it connects with our Creator & King, Jesus Christ. She thanks the parents for allowing her to be such a vital part of their students lives.