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.

Cliff Russell

DEAN OF STUDENTS

Mr. Cliff Russell is a 2005 graduate of Union University, and recently completed his master’s degree from Liberty University. Mr. Russell’s experience in education includes teaching, a variety of administrative roles, and most recently, principal at Macon Road School.

Prior to his journey in education, Mr. Russell served as a college & career coordinator, youth pastor, and discipleship leader. Mr. Russell’s primary goals are to teach young people about Christ, prepare them to defend their faith from a Biblical perspective, and to equip them to share the gospel to the world.

Mr. Russell and his wife of 17 years, Jessica, have three children who are excited to join RCA. During school breaks, Mr. Russell and his family enjoy spending time on their family farm and going on camping trips.  

John Jacobs

DEAN OF ADVISING AND 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. 

Dan Haddow

COLLEGE AND 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.

Melanie Leet

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Mrs. Melanie Leet joins RCA as the Director of Educational Support Services. In this role, she oversees our Flex Learning Differences program, our Bodine Erika Center Reading program, and our Quest Gifted Learning program. Mrs. Leet has 11 years of experience in education; she earned her Masters of Arts in Instruction and Curriculum with a Special Education emphasis from University of Memphis and her Educational Specialist degree in School Leadership from Arkansas State University. Mrs. Leet has worked in elementary and secondary schools, teaching in inclusive classrooms, intervention, and leading professional development for colleagues to promote best practices for supporting learning differences.

Mrs. Leet and her husband are members of Living Hope Church in Piperton. They enjoy traveling, hiking, and visiting their grandchildren in their free time. One of her favorite verses for work and life is Micah 6:8, “O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Mrs. Leet is thankful for the opportunity to join the RCA family and looks forward to partnering with families and teachers to fulfill the mission of developing well-rounded, gospel-centered leaders of tomorrow.

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.  

Mickaleen Osborne

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Mickaleen Osborne joined the Wolf Pack in 2022 as the middle and high school administrative assistant. Mickaleen has spent much of her professional career in medical coding and processing patient referrals. When she and her family moved to Tennessee in 2020, she began working with children as a teacher’s assistant. In 2022, she enrolled her son, Cooper, in RCA, and shortly thereafter accepted the position of administrative assistant. Mickaleen enjoys being in a school setting because it allows her to be part of a community and prioritize her role as a mother.

When Mickaleen is not working, she enjoys being with family and friends, traveling, reading a good book, and crocheting.

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

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