ADMINISTRATION

OUR LEADERS OF THE PACK.

Leadership Team

Chip Blanchard

HEAD OF SCHOOL

Mr. Blanchard’s career in education spans almost 2 decades and includes a BS degree in History and an MS degree in Educational Leadership. His early career included History instruction, coach, grade level chairman, team chairman, and curriculum technology trainer. He also served as an assistant principal, vice-principal, and principal in middle and high school settings.  With his experience, he brings a vast array of ideas and enthusiasm to RCA.
 
In 2018, as Principal of Collierville High School, Mr. Blanchard received Administrator of the Year for Tennessee by the Tennessee Association of Student Councils.  While in that role, CHS was nationally recognized as one of the top 1K Most Challenging High Schools by the Washington Post, as well as, a Tennessee Reward School which recognizes the Top 5% percent of schools in academic growth state-wide. 
 
Mr. Blanchard grew up in Bartlett, TN where he attended a small private Christian school for his grade level years. And then, continued his education at a small private Christian college in Chattanooga, TN.  It is because of his background and strong faith that encouraged him to pursue a career shift from public education to private in order to follow the Lord’s pursuance of his talents and beliefs. Mr. Blanchard was selected as RCA’s new Head of School in 2019 and he is very excited to grow relationships in and outside of the community, while extending a quality learning environment and an extensive extra-curricular pathway for all future wolves.
 
Mr. Blanchard’s favorite bible verse is Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”  This is represented in the three C’s he uses to evaluate the work of RCA. 
 
Curriculum – how am I helping my students see God through the study of this subject? How do we see brokenness and redemption in this discipline? What is God’s intention for this aspect of his created order? How might we be a part of his plan to restore it?
Classroom – how am I modeling faith and how do my pedagogical practices encourage faith in students?
Community – is my classroom modeling Christ’s law of loving God and loving neighbors? How am I contributing to the professional community in my school? How is our school impacting our community?
 
He and his wife, Jana, enjoy living in the heart of Rossville, and have two children, both of whom attend RCA. Jana has a dedicated career in education and has served as a school counselor for 17 years. Together, they are committed to not only embracing RCA, but embracing the warm small town feel of this community. They share a united vision to grow ‘R Town & R School’ into something that is a positively unique and differentiated experience for the whole child as a child of God.  
 

Rachael Burnett

DEAN OF ACADEMICS

Rachael Burnett joined RCA as the Dean of Academics in 2017. As both RCA alumnus and former RCA teacher, Mrs. Burnett is grateful for the privilege to serve in this capacity, helping to shape the next generation to be thoughtful citizens, innovative, hardworking leaders, and most significantly, gospel-centered people.

Mrs. Burnett attended Mississippi State University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English. She then began her career in education and obtained a Master of Arts in Education from Union University. Having taught in several schools, both independent and public, and at various grade levels, Mrs. Burnett loves being at Rossville investing in the people that make RCA the wonderfully unique place it is. Working together with our leadership team, faculty, staff, students, and parents, Mrs. Burnett aims to bolster a culture of academic excellence and spiritual depth in which each student is prepared to live successfully and with eternal impact when he or she graduates.

She and her husband, Paul (also an RCA alum), have been married since 2009 and have two children who are part of the WolfPack family. In addition to her passion for education, Mrs. Burnett enjoys reading and cheering for her MSU Bulldogs and Memphis Grizzlies.

John Jacobs

DEAN OF ADVISING & PLANNING

Mr. Jacobs is the newest member of the RCA Administrative team serving as the Dean of Advising and Planning. 

Mr. Jacobs comes to Rossville Christian Academy with a Bachelor of Science in History and a minor in Bible from Tennessee Temple University. Additionally, Mr. Jacobs holds a master’s degree in Education from Union University.

Two high school teachers, Mr. Harmon and Mr. Fullerton, had a lasting and profound impact on Mr. Jacobs’s life, guiding him closer to Christ and maturity. This investment was a significant catalyst in his decision to pursue a career in teaching and, eventually, administration. Now, with over 20 years of education experience, Mr. Jacobs enjoys cultivating relationships with students and watching them evolve as young adults to discover their potential. 

Mr. Jacobs’s favorite Bible passage, which he routinely imparts to his students in senior Bible, shares how a person gains true wisdom, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:2-5

Mr. Jacobs has been married to his wife Jennifer for 18 years, and they have three children at RCA, Grace (9th grade), Carter (6th grade), and Hannah (Senior Kindergarten). Being a Memphis native, Mr. Jacobs enjoys cheering on the Memphis Grizzlies and the University of Memphis Tigers. However, watching his children participate in sports is his most enjoyable pastime. 

Brad Kimberlin

DEAN OF STUDENTS 7th-12th & HEAD FOOTBALL COACH

Coach Brad Kimberlin is excited to join the staff at Rossville Christian Academy and is thrilled to be able to serve as, not only the Head Football Coach, but also the Elementary Athletic Director. He brings a wealth of experience with him. He has coached for 24 years in various capacities, including being the head varsity coach in football, basketball, track, tennis, and golf. His teams have made 14 playoff appearances, and he has been honored with Division 2 AA District Coach of the Year. He has been selected 3 times to be an Auto Zone Liberty Bowl All-Star Coach and was selected to coach in the Northeast Mississippi Football Coaches Association All-Star game. He believes in using sports to teach young men and women life lessons and to impact their lives for eternity.
 
Coach Kimberlin and his wife, Paige, have been married for almost 35 years and have four grown children and three grandchildren. The Kimberlin family has been involved in sports their entire lives. Coach and Mrs. Kimberlin were involved in high school and college athletics themselves. He was blessed to coach all four of his children during their school years and enjoyed watching several of his children compete at the collegiate level. He and his wife thank God for the time and opportunity to teach and coach their children and be completely invested in all of their activities. Coach & Mrs. Kimberlin are both wholeheartedly committed to Christian education and are so excited about being part of the RCA family!
 
In addition to coaching, the Kimberlins own and run a wedding venue, Kincaid Manor, in Holly Springs, MS, and Paige is also a Realtor. Coach and Mrs. Kimberlin are active members of Red Banks Baptist Church. They are blessed to have many opportunities to show and share the love of Christ to others. Their prayer is that their love for the Lord and their desire to please and serve Him and others in every aspect of their lives will be evident to everyone who encounters them. Coach Kimberlin’s life verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Dan Haddow

COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELOR

Mr. Dan Haddow has joined RCA this semester to provide College & Career focused counseling to our high school students. Mr. Haddow has a Master’s in Counseling and over 33 years of experience working in the education/human services fields. He has served in various settings including juvenile delinquency group homes, mental health facilities, K-12 public/private school settings, and at the university level as an instructional supervisor. Job titles have included teacher, counselor, human resources coordinator, principal, and deputy superintendent: human resources.

Marilyn Loftin

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Marilyn is originally from Western KY and currently lives in Memphis.  She attends Grace Valley Church in Collierville where she is active with guest services.  Marilyn has two daughters and one granddaughter.  In her free time, she enjoys yard work, reading, home improvements, traveling, and spending time with her family. 

Stacey Gwyn

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICE

Mrs. Gwyn joined the RCA finance department in 2022.  Prior to joining the staff at RCA, she worked 20 years in the paramedical insurance industry.  

Stacey and her husband. Gary, have been married 19 years. They have two daughters, Ava and Hayley, who have attended to RCA since 2015.  They are members of Rossville Baptist Church.  

In her free time, she enjoys watching her girls play softball, traveling and spending time with family and friends.  

Jennifer Bailey

ELEMENTARY OFFICE ASSISTANT

Jennifer joined RCA in August of 2010 as the Elementary PE teacher and Varsity Softball Coach. In 2019, she transitioned to the role of Elementary Office Assistant and Varsity Softball Coach.  Jennifer loves her Wolfpack family and serving them. She has been married to Troy for 23 years and they have a daughter, Annie Clare, that is a Junior here at RCA. Annie Clare has attended RCA since Pre-K. Jennifer and her family are members of First Baptist Church Hickory Withe. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her family, friends, and dogs, swimming, coaching, and anything outdoors. Jennifer’s favorite bible verse is Proverbs 22:6:  “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

April Shivers

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT & ADMISSIONS COORDINATOR

April Shivers Joined RCA in November of 2021 as the Admissions Coordinator. She is passionate about welcoming prospective students and families to the WolfPack campus and showing them what a true family we are. She previously worked in the medical field for 22 years. She and her high school sweetheart, Jason, have been married for 19 years. They have two children: Bryson (16) and Abbie (13) who have both been a part of the Pack their entire school career! The Shivers family enjoys watching the Arkansas Razorbacks play all sports, and in her free time, April enjoys attending her children’s sporting events. They are members of Rossville Baptist Church. Her favorite verse is “ And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6