Faculty

Dr. Thomas F. Arnold has taught history at the Academy since 2004. He received his B.A. with High Honors from Oberlin College in 1985, and earned his Ph.D. in early modern and military history at the Ohio State University in 1993. Following his Ph.D. work, from 1993 to 1994 he held a post-doctoral research position in International Security Studies at Yale University. From 1994 to 2001 he was an Assistant Professor of History at Yale University. In 2001 he became Program Manager for Teaching at the Alliance for Lifelong Learning in New York City, an online consortium of Oxford, Stanford, and Yale Universities. He is the author of several articles on aspects of early modern military history, and the book The Renaissance at War (2001 and later editions), currently published by HarperCollins/Smithsonian press.

He enjoys teaching at the Academy, and the chance to work with motivated, gifted and talented young people who are just realizing their opportunities. Most May Terms Dr. Arnold leads a small group of students on a “history and hiking” trip to Europe. Past destinations have included Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany.

Clara Chi received her B.A in Japanese and English from Wellesley College, and worked in Tokyo, Japan for over ten years as a translator in the Japanese banking industry. She received her M.Ed. in World Language Education from DePaul University in 2014, specializing in Japanese language education. Her thesis on interdisciplinary Japanese and English high school education was selected for presentation at the 2013 Central Association of Japanese Teachers’ conference at Eastern Michigan University. She is also a graduate of Illinois Math and Science Academy, Illinois’ sister consortium school to Indiana Academy. She is passionate about teaching Japanese language and culture, through which she hopes to further appreciation for all world languages and cultures.

Ms. Cunningham was appointed Instructor of Computer Science in 1996. She teaches Computer Applications, Advanced Computer Applications, AP Computer Science A/C++ Programming, and AP Computer Science B/Data Structures. Ms. Cunningham has also taught computer training classes for teachers at the Outreach summer workshops, along with teaching the software track in the summer Student Technology Workshops.

She has taught night classes at Indiana Wesleyan. Before coming to the Academy, she was Departmental Manager for six years at Ontario Systems Corp. in Muncie, Indiana. Prior to that, Ms. Cunningham was a Software Project Manager at Conseco, Inc. in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was also in the position of Senior Programmer Analyst at Ball Corporation in Muncie, Indiana. While attending Ball State as an undergraduate, she was a programmer consultant for the Charles A. Beard School Corporation in Knightstown, Indiana. Ms. Cunningham is a former member (serving 3 terms) on the Board of Directors for Heritage Place in Indianapolis, Indiana (where she now serves as a consultant), a member of the Indianapolis Computer Society, and a former member of the Network of Business Women in Indianapolis, Toastmasters, and the YMCA Programs and Activities Committee.

Mr. Fakhruddin teaches AP/C Physics, Modern Physics, Optics, and Research Seminar. He is the coach for students competing for the U.S. Physics Olympiad team. Mr. Fakhruddin’s professional activities include presenting at various conferences, conducting workshops, and publishing research, including: Summer 1994 AP Physics Workshop at the Indiana Academy, “Interactive Long-Distance Learning in Science: Works and What Does Not,” “A Collection of Physics Demonstrations,” “Overhead Projector as a Traveling Microscope,” “Thermal Expansion Paradox,” and “A Convenient Energy Analyzer Calibration Technique.” He is the Winner of The 1998 John Vossen Memorial Award sponsored by The American Vacuum Society for a demonstration experiment involving a vacuum system and is included in the Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2000.

Since beginning at the Academy in 1991, Ms. Foltz has enjoyed teaching courses in Algebra, Precalculus, Finite Mathematics, Statistics, Calculus, and AP Calculus. She believes that “mathematics is not a spectator sport,” and so she seeks to engage students in the course topics, encouraging them to think like mathematicians in the process. She is also the instructor for the AP Calculus courses that are available through the Indiana Academy Online. Ms. Foltz has led Outreach summer workshops and school in-service sessions on the use of technology in the secondary classroom. She also currently serves as a Faculty Consultant in AP Calculus for the College Board, leading one day and weeklong sessions, and has been a Reader and Table Leader for the College Board in AP Calculus.

Ms. Foltz was the chief developer of educational materials for the web-based Get-A-Five, an online provider of calculus video tutorials, diagnostic questions, and practice AP exams. She was part of the team that prepared materials for the training manual used by AP Calculus consultants. Previously, she was a contributing author for the Kaplan AP Calculus AB & BC study guide and was a member of a project team that completed a National Science Foundation calculus curriculum grant at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Ms. Foltz was the recipient of the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished High School Mathematics Teaching from the Mathematical Association of America, the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Outstanding High School Teacher Award, the Radio Shack National Teacher Award, the Sigma Xi (Ball State University Chapter) Teacher of the Year Award, the Siemens Award for Advanced Placement – Teacher Award for the State of Indiana, and the Dean Roy Weaver Indiana Academy Outstanding Contributor Award.

Mr. Grady has been with the Academy as Instructor of Computer Science since 1996. He teaches Computer Applications, Advanced Computer Applications, Web Page Design, Machine Organization and Computer Science Seminars. Mr. Grady has led Outreach summer workshops on Web Page Development. For the past two summers he has taught the Student Technology Workshop (Hardware Track) for high school students from across Indiana. He also helps in the selection of Academy students to participate in programming contests throughout Indiana. Mr. Grady has led workshops for the faculty in many different comptuer related areas. He is an active member of the Indiana Computer Educators (ICE), ISTE, HECC and NECC. During his years at the Academy, he has participated in numerous conferences throughout the United States to keep abreast of the newest technological advances used in high schools and other computer-related areas. Aside from his teaching duties, he also assists the LAN manager in the upkeep of the network and the troubleshooting of computers.

David Haynes has been an Instructor of English at the Academy since 2008. He has taught American and World Literature, Creative Writing, Junior and Senior Colloquium, and the Victorian novel. David received his Masters degree from Marquette University and did three years of doctoral work in literature at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He has taught composition at Marquette, Ball State, and UIUC, where he also served as a graduate assistant in several literature courses. He has authored an article on an Irish film, which appeared in the New Hibernia Review in 2002. His graduate work focused on British and Irish modernism and Victorian literature.

Dr. Kallmeyer teaches many biology courses including Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Zoology, and AP Biology, as well as General Chemistry. Before joining the Academy, she taught for several years in the Biology Department at Ball State.

Her research interests include aquatic biology with emphasis on macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton, zooplankton, fishes, and their association with limnological parameters. Early research has been on zebra mussel population dynamics in Lake Michigan and the Ohio River as well as studying the impact of tributaries on major river systems.

Dr. Kavars teaches the Solar System Astronomy and Galactic Astronomy classes at the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. He received his B.S. degree in 2001 from the University of Iowa with honors in Physics and Astronomy. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Astrophysics from the University of Minnesota in 2006. Prior to arriving at the Indiana Academy in the fall of 2006, he taught astronomy classes at the University of Minnesota and Inver Hills Community College near Minneapolis, MN. As a graduate student, his research focused on radio astronomy where he used one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, the Green Bank Telescope in Green Bank, WV.

In the fall of 2015 Dr. Kavars became the Associate Director of Academic Affairs at the Indiana Academy. His primary duties include working with parents and students to create and implement 504 and IEP special education plans, overseeing attendance, advising international students, overseeing May Term trips, and continuing to teach the Academy’s astronomy classes. During his tenure at the Indiana Academy, Dr. Kavars has attended and presented at several education conferences including the Hoosier Association for Science Teachers Inc., National Science Teachers Association, Indiana Associated for the Gifted, AdvancED Indiana, and Ball State University Teachers College Best Practices in Education conferences.

In his free time Dr. Kavars enjoys geocaching, gardening, reading/watching science fiction and fantasy books/movies, traveling, and in particular, spending time with his family. In recent years he and his family have explored the world outside of the United States, traveling to Canada, Iceland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. In the near future he hopes to explore Scotland, England, New Zealand, and Australia, although his daughters are doing their best to convince him a trip to Hawaii must happen soon.

Ms. Cheryl Kellogg joined the Indiana Academy in fall of 2006 after an extensive career within the area of clinical medicine. Her background of 15 years includes emphasis in biotechnology, biochemistry, and medical microbiology. As a project leader within research and development for Mid West Hemostasis and Thrombosis, she developed the testing procedures for genetic risk factors for thrombolytic disorders. Her education includes a BS from Ferris State University, an MT (ASCP) from St Mary’s Hospital at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, and an MA in biology from Ball State University. She spent time as a fellow for the National Science Foundation from 2003 to 2005. Her teaching experience includes the areas of Hematology, Biochemistry, and Immunology at Northwest College in Powell, WY, and Medical Microbiology at Ball State University. Her background provides a connection between education, research, and medicine. A recent grant awarded through “Out Run the Sun” for Melanoma awareness in the science classroom allows this connection to continue. Cheryl teaches in the area of life science with emphasis in Genetics, Ecology, and AP Biology.

Mr. Marsh loves teaching, and was delighted to join the Academy faculty in August 2006. Over the previous 17 years, he held various instructor positions for Ball State University and the University of Indianapolis, teaching courses in American History, Western Civilization, World Civilization, Public History, and Religious Studies. Mr. Marsh was selected twice by the students at Ball State to receive a University Professorship Teaching Award.

In addition to teaching, Mr. Marsh was the Executive Director of the Grissom Air Museum from 1995-2006. During his tenure, the historic aircraft collection, exhibits, educational programs, and operating funds all grew substantially, while annual museum visitation more than tripled.

Other endeavors during his wide-ranging career include writing an op-ed column for the Indianapolis News and other papers, as well as authoring articles for history and general interest publications. Mr. Marsh co-authored a musical play, Gettysburg, which had over 100 performances in Branson, Missouri. He served as Vice-President of Marketing and Production for the theatre in Branson, and also performed as on-stage host. Prior to those activities, Mr. Marsh founded a burglar and fire alarm company in Muncie which he operated for seven years. He has a business degree from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in history from Ball State University.

Mr. Mayfield teaches Human Anatomy and Physiology, Ecology, Environmental Biology, Introduction to Microbiology, Introduction to Zoology, Botany, Humanity/Biotechnology, and Social Issues and Research. Additionally, he serves as the sponsor of the Environmental Club, Speech and Debate Team, and Envirothon Team. Mr. Mayfield is an evolutionary biologist who is doing his dissertation research on evolutionary relationships in orchids. He has published articles in the fields of systematic botany and entomology.

Mr. McSparrin joined the faculty at the Academy in 2012. He presently teaches AP Chemistry, AP Seminar, Forensic Science, General Chemistry, and Introduction to Organic and Biochemistry. In addition, he and Mrs. Kellogg co-direct the Institute for Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Biomedical Science. Prior to coming to Ball State, Mr. McSparrin has taught biology, chemistry, and mathematics since 1991. During these years, he has specifically taught AP Biology and AP Chemistry at San Bernardino City Unified School District in California and Sharpsville Area Schools in Pennsylvania.

Mr. McSparrin received his Bachelor of Science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania with majors in biology, chemistry and mathematics. He also took graduate courses in biology and did research dealing with sister-chromatid exchanges as indicators of stress on DNA as the result of mice being exposed to carcinogens found in grilled meat.

Mr. McSparrin received his Masters of Science in Chemistry and Chemical Education from Youngstown State University in 2005. His chemical research interest was in synthesizing ligands to possibly be used in future nanostructures and determining molecular structure from X-ray crystallography. His chemical education research interest lies with student misconceptions in chemistry and using guided inquiry as a pedagogical method for correcting these misconceptions. Mr. McSparrin has had paper publications and has done presentations related to these research areas.

Mr. McSparrin was named the 2005 Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the Penn-Ohio Border Region of the American Chemical Society and the 2006 Chemistry Teacher of the Year by the Central Region of the American Chemical Society representing the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Mr. McSparrin has also received the Keystone Technology Integrator Award for Pennsylvania educators in 2007 and has been named in Who’s Who Among American Teachers several times over the years.

Dr. Myers has been an instructor of history at the Academy since the Fall 2006 semester. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Bluefield State College in West Virginia, a Master’s Degree in U.S. History from East Tennessee State University, and a Ph.D. in Appalachian Regional History from West Virginia University, where he wrote a dissertation titled, “Deindustrialization and the Decline of Community in the Coalfields: McDowell County, West Virginia, 1950-2000.” From 2001 to 2006, Dr. Myers taught history part-time at West Virginia University while working on his doctorate. He has also taught history at East Tennessee State University, Fairmont State University (WV), Bluefield State College, Ball State University, and Ivy Tech Community College. Along with the Foundations and American History core classes, Dr. Myers also teaches advanced reading courses in Appalachian History, American Working Class History, Native American History, the History of Science and Technology, and US History from 1920-1945. Dr. Myers is the author of “Depression, Recovery, Instability: The NRA and the McDowell County, West Virginia, Coal Industry, 1920-1938,” published in Coal, Class, and Politics in Modern Appalachia: Essays in Honor of Ronald L. Lewis (Morgantown: West Virginia University Press, 2009), as well as numerous encyclopedia entries and book reviews. Dr. Myers is currently working on a project on Dr. Henry Hatfield, the Progressive era governor of West Virginia.

Stephanie Nagelkirk joined the Indiana Academy faculty in 2005, having taught previously in Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Ms. Nagelkirk’s masters degree – from East Stroudsburg University – is in Secondary Education, English, with an emphasis on teaching writing, and she is currently working on her dissertation for a Ph.D. in Literature. Her specialty area is Postcolonial theory and its application to African-American women’s literature. The 2011 recipient of the prestigious Battey National Educator Award, Ms. Nagelkirk is also a reader for the College Board in AP English Language and Composition. She presents widely on the Project-Based Learning method of teaching and continues to be involved in pedagogical developments on both the national and local levels. With an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice, Nagelkirk’s interests are quite varied. She is an avid distance runner, a lover of all things seafood, and the mother of two children, Jack and Ella. She is passionate about her family, her students, and her teaching, and her enthusiasm is immediately evident. Ms. Nagelkirk teaches the American and World Literature courses, African-American Literature, Utopian Literature, and AP English Language and Composition. She has also taught the colloquia series, Creative Writing, Writing Lab, and a May Term running course.

Ms. Ney has taught various English classes at the Academy since 1991, including American Literature, British Literature, Expository Writing, and Creative Writing. Before coming to the Academy, she taught English at various high schools in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan. Ms. Ney has made numerous presentations at seminars and workshops around the nation, such as the National Association of Gifted Children’s Conference, the Teaching Gifted Girls Conference, and the Indiana Association of the Gifted Conference. She was chosen as an Indiana Academic All-Star Teacher in 1993 and as a Presidential Scholar Teacher in 1989. She also won the Illinois Governor’s Master Teacher Award in 1984, and received teaching honors from Loyola University and the University of Chicago.

John Rajca has been an Instructor of Mathematics at the Indiana Academy since 1991. He has taught most of the courses in the mathematics curriculum, including Advanced Algebra/Trigonometry, Precalculus for AP, Finite Mathematics, Statistics, Advanced Placement Calculus AB and BC, Discrete Mathematics, and Probability Theory. He served as Chair of the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science from 1996 to 2005, and has been an academic advisor every year since 2005. Before coming to the Indiana Academy, he taught at Wittenberg University in Ohio and at SUNY-College at Oswego. Mr. Rajca has written and presented papers on applications of statistical and probabilistic models to professional sports. He was interviewed by Robert Siegel about his statistical model for upsets in the NCAA basketball tournament for National Public Radio’s All Things Considered in March 2003. Mr. Rajca is a member of the Mathematical Association of America and of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

Mr. Chris Reid is in his first year teaching Spanish at the Indiana Academy. He received his B.A. in English from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1974, and earned his M.A. in Spanish and Latin American Studies from St. Louis University in 1980. He taught Spanish at Regis University in Denver, Colorado from 1980 to 1983. From 1984 to 1995 he taught Spanish and coached track and field at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, Mo. and for 14 years before relocating to Muncie, Indiana he taught Spanish and directed various campus ministry programs at St. Francis Borgia Regional High School in Washington, MO. Mr. Reid is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach many gifted, talented and highly-motivated students here at the Academy. He looks forward to helping his students discover the numerous possibilities for using their Spanish-speaking talents to communicate effectively with fellow students and especially with native Spanish-speaking people, both here in the United States and abroad. He and his wife Brigid have 3 daughters – Kathleen (25), a puppeteer in Portland, OR; Elizabeth (22), a senior at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, MO majoring in Spanish and Psychology, and Megan (19), a freshman also at Rockhurst University. When he’s not at the Academy, Mr. Reid enjoys cycling along the Cardinal Greenway Bicycle Paths, volunteering at the Harvest Soup Kitchen, socializing with colleagues and reading.

Before joining the Academy faculty in 2015, Jennifer Robinson taught French to students in grades 4-12 in rural, urban and suburban Oklahoma classrooms. Most recently, she taught at Classen School of Advanced Studies in Oklahoma City, preparing students for the IB Diploma. In 2007-08, she was a Fulbright Exchange Teacher in Poix-de-Picardie, France, where she taught English in a rural middle school. She was named Oklahoma City Public Schools’ District Teacher of the Year in 2009, and was a finalist for the 2010 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year. In 2011, she received the Young Educator Award from OU in recognition for her leadership in education. From 2006-13, she worked closely with the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the Académie d’Amiens in France on an educational partnership between the two regions, and continues to serve as an advisor to the Franco-American Fellows Program sponsored by the Alliance Française d’OKC.

Before moving to Indiana in 2013, she spent two years as the Director of Global Education Programs at OU’s College of Education where she worked to increase the number of future teachers studying abroad through short-term programs and student exchanges.

Ms. Robinson is a National Board Certified Teacher in World Languages, and has extensive international travel experience. She has studied abroad five times: in Clermont-Ferrand, France; Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon (a French territorial collectivity in the North Atlantic Ocean); Dakar, Senegal; Vichy, France; and Rome, Italy.

In her spare time, Ms. Robinson volunteers at Minnetrista and with her neighborhood organization. She enjoys canning, baking and traveling with her husband and young son.

Mrs. Rogers has taught Russian language at the Indiana Academy since it opened its doors in the fall of 1990. Over the years she has also taught Russian literature at the Academy and German language both at the Academy and at Ball State University, as well as served as an English/Russian translator for Ball State University and around the community of Muncie. Mrs. Rogers holds a Masters Degree in Russian Language and Literature from Purdue University in West Lafayette and a Masters Degree in German from Indiana University in Bloomington, where the focus of her graduate work was on historical linguistics and old Germanic languages. In her free time, Mrs. Rogers is active with volunteer work for Muncie Community Schools and for First Presbyterian Church in Muncie and enjoys traveling with her husband, two daughters and her beagle.

Joshua Ruark earned his Bachelor’s degree in Math and Social Studies in Secondary Education from Cornerstone University in 1999. In 2011, he earned a Master’s in Discrete Mathematics from Michigan Technological University, where he stayed on for the 2011-12 year as an instructor before joining the faculty at the Indiana Academy.

Prior to his teaching at MTU, Joshua’s previous teaching experience includes public high school, both regular and alternative programs, public charter school at the middle school level, and five years as a tutor with Sylvan Learning Center where he tutored in subjects form early elementary to college prep.

On a personal note, Joshua is an avid game player, with Scrabble, Dominion, and 7 Wonders among his favorite. He also is a fan of all things Star Trek, and although he doesn’t own a costume from any of the series, he can identify almost any episode of ST:TOS and ST:TNG by title.

Mr. Sayers currently teaches General Physics and Electronics. Prior to coming to the Academy he taught physics and mathematics at Brazil and Northview High Schools. At Northview, Mr. Sayers started the AP Program and taught AP Physics B and C, Calculus AB, General Physics, and Algebra 2. He has also taught Introductory Astronomy at Indiana University and was Physics Teacher in Residence at in the Physics and Astronomy Department at Ball State University in 2004-2005.

Mr. Sayers has been active in science education, participating in many professional development programs at the state and national level. He has given numerous presentations and workshops at the local level, and at state and national science conferences.

For many years Mr. Sayers has been especially interested in the applications of technology in science education and how modern technology allows students to engage in real scientific research, particularly encouraging and helping students to conduct their own research in seismology, astronomy, and physics. He is currently a participant in several national projects in science education funded by the National Science Foundation. These include the Princeton Earth Physics Project (seismology), Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education (astronomy) and the Physics Teacher Education Coalition (physics education).

Special recognition includes Indiana High School Physics Teacher of the Year in 1997, Indiana Teacher Technology Fellow in 1997, Rose-Hulman Outstanding Teacher Award in 2000, Indiana Academy of Science Summer Research Fellow in 2002, and the Radio Shack National Teacher Award in 2003.

Mr. Sayers is currently working on completing his doctorate at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Mr. Schuh has been with us for over a decade, and teaches all levels of Physics for the school. He received three certificates of Distinguished Service during his education at Purdue University and was awarded the Top Graduate Teacher award in 1998. Since joining the Academy family, he has been awarded Meritorious distinction for both Service and Teaching, and has been listed several times with Who’s Who among American Teachers. Mr. Schuh regularly speaks across the country helping AP teachers improve their craft, and has logged over 2000 hours in front of distance-learning cameras for both national and international instruction.

Dr. Sean A. Scott joined the Academy history faculty in August 2015. He earned a Ph.D. in history from Purdue University in 2008. Since receiving his doctorate he taught history at Ouachita Baptist University and American studies at Christopher Newport University. He also served as an assistant editor with the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project, conducting research at the National Archives. A specialist in the study of religion during the Civil War era, he has authored A Visitation of God: Northern Civilians Interpret the Civil War (Oxford University Press, 2011) and several peer-reviewed articles in scholarly journals.

Dr. Smith studied philosphy as an undergraduate in Massachusetts and Germany and did her graduate work in English literature. She taught English in Texas and Massachusetts and came to the Academy from Auburn University in Alabama where she had been teaching World Literature and Composition. Her graduate work focused on modern poetry, and she teaches an Academy course on reading poetry, as well as courses in Women’s Literature, American Literature, British and World Literature, and Writing About Literature.

Mr. Robert Smith joined the Academy in 2014. He received his B.A. in Spanish grammar and conversation from the University of Massachusetts at Boston in 1991. He earned his Master’s degree in Teaching Languages in 2008 from the University of Southern Mississippi campuses in Madrid and Mexico. Before coming to The Academy, he taught Spanish most recently at Danville High School in Danville, IN. Before that, he taught at a college preparatory school called Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA. He also taught at Boston College High School in Dorchester, MA. As part of his graduate and undergraduate studies, he spent almost 2 years in Spain and three months in Mexico. He also spent a year in Ecuador working with the poor and underprivileged. He has also travelled extensively in Latin America. His professional work includes serving as a Spanish/English interpreter in courtrooms, hospitals and for private businesses. He was an Adjunct Faculty member at Indiana University for 8 years before coming to The Academy. He is married to his wife Christina and they have two kids: Elizabeth and Bobby. When he is not teaching, Mr. Smith enjoys many outdoor sports like running, biking and hiking. He also practices basketball, golf and his new passion: Muay Thai; which is a martial art from Thailand. Mr. Smith has been practicing Muay Thai since 2009 and he has fought in a few competitions. He considers it a great skill to know and a great way to keep in condition. Mr. Smith is looking forward to working with the talented people here at The Academy as teaching Spanish is his passion and he loves sharing it with people.

Mr. Stuart has been with the Indiana Academy since its inception, and currently serves as the Chair of the Division of Humanities. His course load varies from year to year. Currently, Mr. Stuart instructs a Junior Civitas course, an Integrated Humanities course titled Human Struggles/Civitas (team taught with Academy English instructor Jane Haynes), Decades of Controversy (an examination of the 1950s and 1960s), Multi-Ethnic Studies, and two sections of Junior Colloquia. He has also taught Senior Civitas, Senior Colloquia, Modern Times, American Reform Movement, Technology and Social Change, and World Civilizations to 1500. In 1994, the Academy nominated Mr. Stuart to receive the Ball State Teachers College Outstanding Teacher award, and he was selected. He has twice made presentations at the National Council for Social Studies conference annual meetings, along with a presentation at the Classical League annual meeting. Mr. Stuart was a speaker at the International Council for Social Studies conference in Sydney, Australia, in July 1997. In 1984, he was chosen as a Fulbright Scholar to study in Israel.

Mr. Willis returned to teach at the Academy after serving as a Fellow in English during the 1997-98 school year. He is a graduate (BS, MS) of Indiana State University with degrees in English, Speech, and Drama. He taught at New Castle Chrysler High School in New Castle, Indiana for 36 years prior to coming to the Academy. At the Academy he teaches American Literature, World Literature, Shakespearean Comedies, Creative Writing, and both Junior and Senior Colloquiums. He co-founded The Academy Players, a group designed to give the Academy an organized theater program. He has also served as technical director for You Can’t Take it With You and directed The Comedy of Errors. During May Term, Mr. Willis has taught a course dedicated to playwrights William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. The class included visits to the Stratford and Shaw Festivals in Ontario, Canada. In 1998, Mr. Willis and planned and executed a May Term trip to Ireland with Dr. Felicia Dixon.

In 2011 Mrs. Wright moved to Muncie and began teaching at the Academy. She studied mathematics and education as an undergraduate at Assumption College in Worcester, MA while she played on the basketball team for four years. She completed her graduate work in mathematics at the University of Maine. Before she came to the Academy she taught at a community college in Maine. She believes Academy students are challenging but lots of fun. She is an instructor of Statistics, and Precalculus, among other math courses.