Our Team

Juanita Cowan

Juanita Cowan comes to Faith Academy with a long history of serving her church in a variety of roles. Her experience includes family and children’s ministries, teaching women’s Bible studies, leading small groups, lay leadership, and radio ministry. Her true passion is for teaching this generation of children the meaning and purpose of life, with God being the center of every choice they make. She is grateful for the opportunity Faith Academy presents her to carry out this mission.

A native of Wichita, Juanita is the seventh of thirteen siblings, all of whom grew up in the Apostolic Christian Church. She attended Wichita State University while working nights as a dispatcher for the Wichita Police Department. Juanita and her husband enjoy spending time with their two daughters and seven wonderful grandchildren.

Mikayla Edwards

Mikayla Edwards has taught preschool at her church since 2014. She has a real heart for children and really enjoys to teach. This year Mikayla is a para for the kindergarten and first grade class.

Outside of school Mikayla likes to play clarinet, sing, and to craft. She is really excited to teach her love of learning to children.

Jasmine Fields

Jasmine Fields brings with her to Faith Academy a personal mission of empowerment through education, coaching, and accountability, honed over her years practicing law in the Wichita area. Jasmine’s legal experience includes work with DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers and with the Kansas DUI Impact Center, where she served as a Victim Advocate. She also has over a decade of advocacy with a variety of organizations, including the NAACP.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Jasmine holds degrees from Missouri Western State University and the UMKC School of Law, and is licensed to practice law in Kansas and the US District Court for the District of Kansas. Organizational memberships include the Kansas Bar Association, the Wichita Bar Association, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and Wichita Urban Professionals. She is also a volunteer with the Midwest Innocence Project. Jasmine enjoys church activities, practicing Krav Maga, and watching football with her family.

Kimberlyn Gilchrist

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Kimberlyn Gilchrist knew from a young age that she wanted to dedicate her career to serving the community, helping people through hard times, and teaching others to do the same. Kimberlyn is a graduate of Newman University and holds a J. D. from the University of Kansas School of Law. Her legal experience includes work with Douglas County Legal Aid, where she was recognized with the Mary Anne Chambers Service Award, and the practice of civil law at DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers. She is licensed to practice law in Kansas and the US District Court of the District of Kansas, and is a passionate and determined advocate for the less fortunate.

Kimberlyn and her husband, Daniel, love spending time with family, including all of their nieces and nephews. She enjoys playing guitar and piano, writing music, and singing at her church.

Denise Hanson

A passionate and experienced teacher, Denise Hanson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Wichita State University. Her extensive teaching career includes working with gifted sixth-graders at Hadley Middle School and teaching third grade at Enterprise Elementary for more than a decade. In addition, she has taught primary Sunday school since the age of twenty. She is very excited to be part of the Faith Academy family.

Denise is a lifelong Wichitan and an active member of the True Church of the Firstborn, where she enjoys singing in the choir. She also loves traveling all over the United States, working on puzzles—both picture and word—and spending time with her family.

Jennifer Huff

Jennifer Huff has more than twenty years of teaching experience in a wide variety of schools and settings. A graduate of the University of Northern Colorado, Jennifer has substituted in the Denver Public Schools, taught third grade at a private Christian school, and taught fourth and fifth grade at a Montessori magnet school in inner-city St. Louis. In addition, she has homeschooled her three children and served as a leader in her homeschool co-op. She’s taught many different subjects at Faith Academy and loves them all, but her absolute favorite is science!

When not in the classroom, Jennifer enjoys traveling overseas for mission trips, volunteering at her church’s giving center, creating various crafts, and hanging out with her boys. She is looking forward to another great year with Faith Academy students!

Michael Sater

Michael Sater has been a faculty member at Faith Academy since its inception in 2015 and currently serves as Head Principal as well as upper school teacher. Michael graduated from Wichita State University, where he earned degrees in English Literature, Philosophy, and Latin. He is currently pursuing a MTS from Midwestern Theological Seminary. Michael attends Northside Bible Chapel and is an associate pastor at Target Park, a youth ministry dedicated to discipling teenagers and young adults. As a teacher at Faith Academy, Michael strives to show his students the power of God, history, and language to change lives for Christ, as well as to prepare them for success both academically and spiritually.

A published contributor to a college textbook, Michael also consulted on a New York Times bestseller on the power of storytelling. In addition, he is an award-winning songwriter and musician who has collaborated with several Grammy and Dove Award-winning artists. He has played shows nationwide supporting Rescue: Freedom and The Mentoring Project. In his free time, Michael enjoys soccer, reading, kayaking, cheering on KU basketball and Buffalo Bills football, and spending time with his family and his dog, Trotter.

Kim Wenzel

Kim Wenzel has taught several subjects at Faith Academy including Art and Etiquette, and has also served as a substitute teacher. She is thrilled to come on board as the Kindergarten teacher in 2019. Kim was the Director of Kids Ministries at West Evangelical Free Church from 2014 – 2019, and has been passionately involved in children’s ministry since 2003.

Kim has sat on the Board of Directors for several ministries, including Campus Kids Ministries and Kids Great Getaway Summer Bible Camp. She is continually seeking to continue her education, and has participated in numerous ministry and child development workshops and classes in an effort to best teach children with God’s Word and help them understand and apply it to their daily lives.

Kim has been married to Rob, who is also a teacher at Faith Academy, since 2002. They have two daughters, Molly and Hannah, who both are students at Faith Academy.

Rob Wenzel

Rob Wenzel has been a teacher at Faith Academy since 2017. He has taught history and Bible classes to grades three through seven. He also teaches a shop class helping high school aged students understand basic automotive and household maintenance skills.

Rob has been a licensed aircraft mechanic at Textron Aviation since 2002. He has a degree in Applied Sciences from the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. He is a proud husband of his wife, Kimberly, since 2002, as well as the father of two daughters, Molly and Hannah, who both attend Faith Academy.

Bobbie Gardner

Faith Academy Office Manager Bobbie Gardner is a passionate advocate of Christian education and children’s ministry. Along with her husband, Scott, she has been involved with kids in many aspects, including as nursery leader, teacher and leader for Missionettes, ZFM Radio, Ground Zero concerts, and BACA, a child advocacy group. Bobbie homeschooled all three of her children, the youngest of whom just graduated in 2019. Since 2008, she has been a member of WWHM, a homeschool co-op, for which she has served as volunteer, teacher of literature and PE, and concessions coordinator. She also served as one of three main leaders of WWHM for six years.

When not teaching, Bobbie enjoys the easy life, spending time with her wonderful husband, their amazing kids, and their two beautiful granddaughters.

Trevor Edwards

A graduate of Friends University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Trevor Edwards teaches high school math and science at Faith Academy. He is passionate about proving to students how God and His Word are prevalent in the universe, by using the scientific method.

In addition to teaching academic subjects, Trevor loves introducing students to new board games. When not at school, Trevor enjoys playing tuba, telling jokes, and spending time with family. He has been married for five years to his wife, Kaylan.

Brian MacFarland

Brian McFarland is thrilled to join the Faith Academy family, where he will be teaching fourth grade. He received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior as a teenager, and shortly thereafter discerned a call to become a teacher. Brian earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from College of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. Following graduation, he spent six years teaching language arts at a private school in Honduras. While there, he also met his wife, Dilcia, whom he married in 2015. When not teaching, Brian can be found gardening, taking walks with his wife, exploring nature, and going to dinner with friends and family.

Caroline Whiteside

Caroline Whiteside is so excited to return to teach Theatre at Faith Academy! She is a graduate of Butler Community College, which she attended on vocal scholarship. An active member and choreographer of the Headliners Show Choir, Caroline received her Associate’s Degree in Secondary Education. She is now attending Friends University to complete her Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Education. She has been blessed to work with theater programs all around Wichita, including Christian Youth Theater, Classical School of Wichita, and Douglass High School. She has always had a passion for teaching children and helping them use their talents to glorify God.

A native Wichitan, Caroline is a graduate of Maize Virtual Preparatory School and grew up participating in a variety of local fine arts programs. When not at Faith Academy, she can be found hanging out with her husband, Christian, and volunteering with her church’s youth group.

Marissa Vance

Marissa Vance is a music teacher continuing in her family’s legacy. Her grandfather started Vance Music, a private teaching studio, in 1952. Her parents and aunt carried on the family business, and now Marissa and her sister are the third-generation teachers. Marissa has over 15 years of teaching experience and specializes in violin, voice, piano, mandolin, improvisation, and music theory. Having received her Bachelor of Violin Performance from Wichita State University, Marissa has had the privilege of studying under world-class musicians such as Dr. Alla Aranovskaya of the St. Petersburg Quartet, Dr. Mark Laycock, Dr. Walter Mays, and Professor Jacquelyn Dillon-Krauss. As a member of the WSU orchestra, she was able to perform with the rock band KANSAS, and also to perform in Carnegie Hall. She performs as a soloist, and also performs as part of the Vance Music Band, the Vance Music String Quartet, and other orchestral and music theatre ensembles.

She currently serves as a member of the praise team at Douglas Assembly Of God. Marissa is a member of the state and national chapters of the American String Teacher Association as well as the National Association for Music Education.

Tonya Wells

Tonya Wells is thrilled to teach physical education for grades K-12th at Faith Academy. A graduate of Kansas State University, Tonya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and has several years of experience teaching preschool through third grade in both public and private schools. In addition to her teaching experience, Tonya has been in the fitness industry since 2008, and has owned her own fitness business in Wichita since 2001. Her personal training clients have ranged in age from seven to ninety-three! She has a true passion for fitness and loves to teach children and families how to care for their bodies as God instructs in the Bible, and to experience the rich rewards of living a healthy lifestyle!

Tonya lives in west Wichita with her husband. She is excited to bring a fun, fit, and faith-filled physical education program to the children of Faith Academy!

Our Board

Bill Wullschleger – Chairman of the Board

A native of Wichita, Kansas, grew up in the Riverside area. He attended North High, Wichita State University, and Butler County Community College.

Bill has an extensive background in the Insurance and Financial Services business as a Market Business Consultant, Designated Supervisory Principal, and Regional Agency Manager for Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Financial Services. He earned his CPCU, AU, AIS, and INS designations through the Insurance Institute of America.

He served on the Board of Trustees for the Urban League of Kansas for 8 eight years. He was on the Executive Committee for 6 of the 8 eight years as Secretary and Board Chairman.

Having been involved in music since his childhood days Bill is now a freelance musician as a drummer and vocalist. He drums for some of the local church worship teams in the Wichita area and enjoys playing jazz with his band and other local groups.

Bill and his wife Debbie have 2 daughters, Tera and Lisa, and 4 grandchildren.

John Harder – Board Member

John is pleased to be able to serve Faith Academy’s vision to develop Christ-like young men and women that are able to influence the larger culture. He has been blessed to see this vision come to fruition in his own children as they have attended faith academy for the last 3 years. John is the Vice President of Operations at Balco and brings over 15 years of business management and organizational leadership experience to the team. John is a graduate of Tabor College with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration. He and his family attend First Evangelical Free Church where John helps bring leadership to the adult studies and has served regularly in the children’s ministry.

Chris Yoder – Board Member

Chris Yoder is honored to join the Board of Directors at Faith Academy. A graduate of and passionate advocate for classical Christian schools, he strongly believes in the mission of Faith Academy and is eager to see the next generation of students benefit from this form of education. An attorney by day, Chris will be opening a law practice in Paola next spring. He holds degrees in Philosophy and English from Wichita State University as well as a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law.

In their spare time, Chris and his wife, Rachel, a breast cancer researcher at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, enjoy working with Even the Rocks, a homeless outreach ministry in eastern Kansas which seeks to share the Gospel with the homeless while giving them the tools they need to reestablish their lives. Chris is also enthusiastic about small farming and animal husbandry, his involvement with the Land Institute in Salina, and reading classic literature. He wants families at Faith Academy to know that he and Rachel are always available to answer any questions about their careers in law and scientific research, and to serve as a resource and sounding board for any other questions or concerns.