ADMINISTRATION
OUR LEADERS OF THE PACK.
Leadership Team.
Chip Blanchard
HEAD OF SCHOOL
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 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