Bob Jones Academy

Our HS and MS Faculty team is growing!

Beth Cofer: English
🎓 BA in Broadcast Journalism, MEd in English Education
💍 Married to John with 4 children
🦁 Taught at BJA and BJU Press online courses
✅ Enjoys playing piano, reading, and frequenting amusement parks with her family
💬 “I am looking forward to getting to know students and coming alongside them as they learn to navigate their world. It’s an honor and privilege to be part of the training of this special generation of young people.”

Maria Stephens: Social Studies
🎓 BS in Composite Social Studies
💍 Married to Blake
✅ Enjoys pickleball, basketball, and watching any sort of documentary
💬 “I’m looking forward to investing in the lives of the my students the same way I was invested into during my years at the Academy!”

Kelly Weldy: Science
🎓 BS in Biology Education, MEd in Gifts and Talented Education
💍 Married to Jeff with 2 children
✅ Enjoys photography, reading about history/science, and visiting historical sites
💬 “While teaching, I look forward to attributing all the amazing and beautiful things we observe in nature to the Creator and meeting the needs of young people by using God’s word.”

Kristin Gearhart: HS Math
🎓 BS in Secondary Mathematics Education, MEd in Instructional Coaching
💍 Married to Nathan with 4 children
💬 “I look forward to really understanding how ‘Eternity Matters More’ is worked out on a day-to-day basis.”

Karen Abels: MS Math
🎓BS in Math with a minor in Counseling, MEd in Secondary Education
💍 Married to Doug with 4 children
✅ Enjoys cooking, baking, spending time with family, and connecting with people over coffee
💬 “I can’t wait to meet my students and families and am so excited to love on and encourage my students as we grow together this year!”

J.C. Spare III- Computer
🎓 BA in Biblical Studies, Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling
💍 Married to Emily with 1 child
✅ Served as a BJU Financial Aid Counselor
💬 “I am excited to help others see how they can use computers to better help others and glorify God!”

See who’s joining our team!

Jen Weiss: MS/HS Nurse
🎓BS in Nursing
🩺 Worked in the Neuro/Trauma ICU at Greenville Memorial and volunteered at the Piedmont Women’s Center
💍 Married to her husband Josh, and has 4 children
✅ Enjoys reading, gardening, cooking, hiking, board/card games, and learning to play the mandolin
💬 “I’m excited to work in a Christian environment and serve my BJ family in the area of nursing.”

Laurie Orr: HS Choir
🎓 BS in Music Education and a MEd in Music
💍 Married to her husband, David, and has 4 children
🎵 Worked in BJUP Digital Permissons and helped with our MS Choir
✅ Enjoys KC Chiefs football, KC Royals baseball, sewing, gardening, and visiting national parks with her family
💬 “I’m excited about helping students develop their singing skills, confidence, and teamwork for personal enjoyment, while also advancing Christ’s kingdom through the powerful ministry of music.”

We’d like to welcome HS’s new Assistant Principal!

James Porter
🎓 BS in Accounting and an MBA from Clemson
✅ Is a certified Biblical counselor with ACBC and is an ordained pastor in his local church
🦁 Is a graduate of BJA and is excited to return to serve the students, families, and faculty of the Academy
🥾hobbies include anything outdoors (especially backpacking), guitar, and antique automobiles
💬 He has a passion for helping students build their relationship with Jesus, has served in youth ministries for over 16 years, and sometimes calls himself a “soul coach”.

Our Athletic team has new members joining this year!

Michael Weathers: Athletic Director
💍 Married to his wife, Stephanie, with 3 children
🎓 BA in Practical Christian Training with a minor in Physical Education
🔵 Worked BJA Day Camp, served as athletic director at a couple different schools, and oversaw large sports programs as the Assistant Director at Bellevue Baptist Church
💬 He is looking forward to working with people of like minded to impact the younger generation for the cause of Christ.

Macy Baldwin: Assistant Athletic Director/MS PE
🎓 BS in Sports Management, MA in Sports Administration and Coaching, and a graduate certificate in K-12 Teaching and Learning
🦁 GA at our MS last year
💬 “I’m looking forward to teaching in an environment that focuses on discipleship and keeps God at the center of all. I’m excited to further my relationships with students, parents, and coworkers!”

We are excited 🤩 about who is joining our Elementary team!

1st Grade: Sarah Bedics
👩🏼‍🏫 Taught 4th grade in NY
💍 Is married to Matt and has two children
✅ In her free time, she loves gardening, hiking, traveling, reading to her kids, and spending time with family and friends.
💬 She is excited to get back in the classroom and to see how God is going to work in her life and the lives of her students. She knows that He has a perfect plan and will guide and direct each step of the way.

3rd Grade: Kendall Dittmar
🐄 Grew up on a farm in WI
👩🏼‍🏫 Taught a variety of levels and subjects, including Kindergarten, upper elementary, and countless music classes for all ages
✅ When she’s not teaching, she loves to read, cook, sew, garden, hike, and learn folk music.
💬 She is excited to love and worship Jesus with her students as they all learn and grow this school year!

4th Grade: Cheyenne Baird
👩🏼‍🏫 Taught 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades
💍 Is married and has three children
✅ Outside of the classroom, she loves to read, bake, run, play the violin, travel, swim, and play lots of baseball with her family.
💬 ”God has truly given me a passion for working with children, and I am so humbled and grateful for the opportunity to serve Him faithfully at BJA.”

5th Grade: Wendy Tucker
👩🏼‍🏫 Taught 7th grade math for six years, substituted at BJA, served a term on the Anderson County School District One Board of Trustees in SC, and is currently serving on the Anderson County Library Board
💍 Is married to Tom and has 5 children
💬 “I am so honored to have this opportunity to return to the school that had such a wonderful, Christian influence in my life. I look forward to seeing how God works in my life and in the lives of my students this year!”

5th Grade: Emily Watkins
👩🏼‍🏫 Taught Kindergarten, 1st, and 3rd
💍 Is married to her husband, Stephen, and has 2 children
✅ When not at school, she enjoys exercising, working outside in her yard, reading, leading small groups from church, and helping guests become familiar with
💬 “I am so excited to join the BJA faculty as a 5th grade teacher! I have always loved teaching and being in a school setting!”

It’s the time of year 🗓️ again to introduce the new members of our BJA team! 🦁

Take a look 👀 at who is joining our athletic team!

Varsity Girls Volleyball Coach 🏐
Katelyn Hasse

🏐 Played 4 years of volleyball for the BJU Bruins in the Libero position
💍 Is married to her husband, Trevor
✅ Enjoys baking, playing sports, and visiting new coffee shops
💬 She is excited for the upcoming season here at Bob Jones Academy and is looking forward to what the Lord has in store!

Varsity Boys NACA Coach ⚽️
James McCarty

🦁 Born and raised in Greenville and attended the Academy all the way through
🏀🏐 Played soccer and basketball for the Academy and BJU
🧮 Works at an accounting firm
💬 “I’m excited to learn from the opportunities and experiences in a new phase of life.”

Varsity Boys Volleyball Coach 🏐
Joseph Simpson

💍 Is married to his wife, Leah
✅ Is an avid animal lover, enjoys house projects, and takes every chance to be outside
💻 Works in software sales and as the worship leader at church
💬 He is excited to mentor and coach the BJA Boys Varsity Volleyball team this year!

Senior Drama Plays 🎭 are this Saturday! 🗓️ We’d love for you to join us!

You won’t want to miss our MS Handbell 🤚🏻🔔 Choirs this Thursday 🗓️ evening in the Academy Auditorium!

Over 90 musicians playing six+ octaves of handbells and chimes, plus a variety of percussion and string instruments will amaze you! 🎶🎼🎵

Prepare to be swept away and dazzled 🤩 with film score music and silent 🤫 📽️movies presented by our very own Bob Jones Academy Symphony Orchestra! 🎻 🗓️Thursday, April 11th, at 7:30pm our HS Symphony will be presenting a fun, memorable concert for all ages! 🎶🎵

Enjoy cheesecake 😋 made by our fabulous chefs 👨🏻‍🍳 right here at our BJU culinary school! Tickets 🎟️ are being sold in the HS main office and from symphony members for $5 each. Get them right away!!

MS and HS parents will also have the opportunity to purchase coffee ☕️ from S and J Roasters in the Academy Auditorium lobby before and during our two 🎶🎵 concerts on April 11th.

K4 took their learning 📚 to the zoo last week after studying farm and zoo animals in science class! 🐄🐖🐘🦧

It was a beautiful day ☀️ to marvel at God’s amazing creatures! The students were especially excited to see the giraffes, lions, and monkeys! 🦒🦁🐒

2 of our MS Robotics 🤖 teams took awards 🏆 at two recent tournaments:

🥇🎉Alpha Omega won their first Vex Robotics MS State Championship and brought BJA our 3rd state championship in a row!

🥳👏🏻Alpha Centari won the excellence award at the Pickens Tournament! 🏟️

Congratulations on all your hard work!

Sons of the American Revolution Essay Contest 2024 ✍🏼🇺🇸
——————

Congratulations 🎉 to Ryn S (1st 🥇) and Aaron S (runner-up🥈) who won the top spots in the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution essay contest.

The students who submitted 📝 were in competition with local public and charter schools. 🏫

At our Vision Meeting last week, Dr Abels announced the Academy’s newest website: Refined With Time – A History of Bob Jones Academy. It is a collection of illustrated articles about BJA. Currently the articles are about the school’s founding and years in Florida. Additional articles will be posted periodically. You can sign up to be notified when that happens on the website. Articles contain photographs and diagrams as well as audio and video segments. By hearing the Academy’s stories you can see how God has refined and blessed BJA during its near 100 year history.

ES Vocal Ensemble is excited to be part of 🐻 BJU’s Living Gallery 🖼️ production this year!

They took a trip to the recording 🎤 studio to record “By Faith” to enhance the sound 🎶 for the live performances.

Come hear the students and be encouraged by ❤️ “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled” on 🗓️ March 28, 29, and 30.
Tickets 🎟️ are available for purchase.

4 MS students participated in the MATHCOUNTS 🧮 competition this past weekend. 

The competition builds problem solving 🧠 skills and fosters achievement beyond the math classroom. ✖️🟰Contestants take individual tests and then compete together as a team to battle against other schools from Greenville and Spartanburg.  🏫

The BJA team took 3rd place 🥉 in the team competition this year.  Students learned that math doesn’t solve all your problems - just SUM. ➕🟰

CONGRATULATIONS 🎉 to Darrell D on hitting his 1️⃣,0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th point last week! 🏀 The team’s excitement level instantly went through the roof as he passed this milestone! 🤩🥳

Thank you to our coaches; Maria Chen, Steve Visser, and Larry McCrum! 🏀👏🏻

Photo Credit: Marc Gunther 📸

Coming up: BJA’s 🦁 5th Grade held a special assembly with local meteorologist. 🌧️🌤️

Read full story below. ⬇️

Chris Justus, Channel 4 Meteorologist, visited BJA last Friday for a special assembly for the 5th graders. During his visit, he shared his testimony of how the Lord directed him into forecasting the weather and his passion for what he does every day. Students learned about the 5 main things of his job that he has to report on.

It is said, “Students will reinforce what was learned during this special assembly in their upcoming weather science chapter.”

Students and teachers were thankful for the learning opportunity Chris Justus presented to them in learning more about his job and field of expertise.