Sis. April has been an integral part of the Richlands Christian Academy since 1999. With a passion for ministering to children of all ages, Sis. April spends her days teaching grades 2^nd – 6^th, as well as mentoring the older students. Sis. April is dedicated to making learning fun and helping students grow both academically and spiritually. Apart from teaching, Sis. April coordinates and organizes events, arranges field trips, directs fundraisers, etc. She is also the founder of the Richlands Christian Homeschool Program and helps oversee its running. Sis. April holds an Associate in Applied Science Degree with a major in Information Systems Technology and a specialization in Software Development and an Associate of Arts and Science Degree with a major in Education from Southwest Virginia Community College, where she was named Who’s Who Among College Students in 2001-2002. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Liberty University and was awarded Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers in 2004-2005. Outside of the classroom, Sis. April enjoys working around the church and all things music. She loves leading the little kid’s choir and youth choir, as well as helping lead the adult choir at church. She is also passionate about all other areas of ministry and especially enjoys working with the bus ministry.

Sis. Ciji has been an essential member of the Richlands Christian Academy staff since 2009 and previously worked part-time from 2002-2005. With a love for education and a desire to foster that love in her students, Sis. Ciji spends her days with the older kids, teaching 7^th – 12^th grade. Sis. Ciji is passionate about helping kids reach their full academic potential while helping them grow spiritually during their formative years. She is also the co-founder of the Richlands Christian Homeschool program and currently oversees its production. Sis. Ciji holds an Associate in Arts and Science Degree in General Studies with a minor in Education, as well as a Career Studies Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Southwest Virginia Community College. She also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a minor in Teacher Preparation and a Master of Science Degree in Education with a major in Elementary Education from Old Dominion University. Along with these degrees, Sis. Ciji also retains a Post-Graduate Professional Teaching License in Elementary Education PreK-6^th with an Endorsement in Secondary and High School English, as well as specialized training in child abuse recognition and neglect. Outside of the classroom, Sis. Ciji enjoys working and laboring in the church and on its grounds. She is also passionate about all other areas of ministry and especially enjoys working with the bus ministry.

 Since the day the doors opened in 1977, Sis. Doris has been the backbone of the Richlands Christian Academy. Serving, at that time, alongside her husband, Rev. Ralph Horton, as pastor of the Richlands Tabernacle, Sis. Doris’s work began at RCA as a Reading Monitor where she supervised the A.C.E ReadMaster Program and helped children grow in their love for reading. She served in this capacity for several years, until the early 1980s, when she moved into the office and took on the role as secretary. For over the past forty years, Sis. Doris has passionately served as secretary, recording and filing grades, processing and keeping all financial records, bills, and payments, keeping inventory and stock, organizing events, tutoring students, answering phone calls, taking care of the staff, students, and parents, and the list continues on. Outside of the school office, Sis. Doris loves spending time with her family. She has one beautiful daughter in Heaven, Deborah, and one precious daughter still living, Dana. She also has five grandkids, ten great grandkids, five great-great grandkids, and one great-great grandchild on the way. Along with being the lead pianist at church, Sis. Doris still works and serves in multiple ministerial avenues. She helps organize events, revivals, and camp meetings and has done so for over fifty-five years. She has sacrificially given, and is still giving, her life to the Gospel.

Sis. Dana has been a vital part of the Richlands Christian Academy since its opening in 1977. She has faithfully worked and served in the school for over forty-seven years, with the exception of nine of those years. A naturally gifted teacher, Sis. Dana has been the pillar of the first-grade learning center for many years. She is most adept and skilled reading teacher you will ever find, as well as the most proficient handwriting expert. Her quiet but loving, firm nature sets her apart from all the rest. She loves her students unconditionally and pours into them without reserve. Apart from the school, Sis. Dana’s life has been dedicated to working and laboring in the church as a minister of music. For forty-three years, Sis. Dana ministered alongside of her husband, Bro. Randall, across the United States spreading the Gospel through music until his passing in 2021. Since that day, Sis. Dana has held fast to their calling and still serves as choir director of the Richlands Tabernacle Choir. Through her employment with Humana, Sis. Dana also serves and ministers to many other people in our surrounding areas, caring for their physical, financial, and spiritual needs. Sis. Dana has two beautiful daughters, April and Aranda, and two precious grandsons, Logan and Luke. Along with spending time with her family, Sis. Dana enjoys raising chickens and tending to her dogs, Abby and Annie.

Sis. Sharon has been a pillar of the Richlands Christian Academy since 1981/1982. Before she started teaching, Sis. Sharon worked fixing student lunches and vacuuming the learning centers. Over the years, Sis. Sharon has been a steadfast rock in the high school learning center, except for the three years that she taught kindergarten. For over thirty years, she worked daily alongside of her brothers, Bro. Ralph and Bro. Phillip. Sis. Sharon is an impeccable record-keeper and is a priceless wealth of knowledge when it comes to the PACEs and what they entail. She faithfully serves in whatever capacity she is needed and has spent years helping students through mentorship and tutoring. Sis. Sharon’s heart is full of compassion and goes out to all students who cross her path, especially those who are struggling. She is faithful to study with students before tests, but more importantly, she seeks to build a personal relationship with each student. She is a prayer warrior who bears the burdens of the school, the staff, and the students. For thirty-two years, Sis. Sharon was married to Danny Roberts. From this marriage came two children and three grandsons, who are her absolute world. Outside of laboring in the school, Sis. Sharon enjoys spending time with her family and attending her home-church, Westside Holiness.

Sis. Susie leads the most energetic class of all, Kindergarten, and she has served in this position since 2021. Like others, Sis. Susie is a naturally gifted and God-called teacher. She is a passionate educator with the most creative learning tactics. Sis. Susie strives to make learning fun and exciting, and each day is an adventure in her learning center. She desires to make an impact on her student’s lives, leading them to the Lord through Bible stories, activities, songs, and daily prayer-time. She goes above and beyond for each of her students, and they all love her unconditionally. Sis. Susie has been married to the love of her life, Keith Hackworth, for forty years. Together, they have four children and eight grandchildren. Prior to her current position, Sis. Susie worked in the school from 1994-1999 until she felt called to homeschool her children. For the next ten years, from 1999-2009, Sis. Susie homeschooled her children. In 2009, she took a teaching position at Keen Mountain Christian Academy and served in that position until 2012. In 2021, God called her back to the Richlands Christian Academy where she currently ministers and serves daily. Outside of her learning center, Sis. Susie enjoys spending time with her family and working and serving in her church, Westside Holiness.

Sis. Teresa has served our school and has been an indispensable part of our school family since 2001. She has worked in multiple areas, including kindergarten and first grade. However, her main role has been teaching in the elementary learning center, specifically 2^nd – 6^th grade. Her calm, patient demeanor has enabled her with the perfect skillset for working with younger students. Sis. Teresa strives to make each student feel seen and heard by taking them under her wing and being an attentive listener, showing genuine interest in each of their needs, challenges, and achievements. Apart from teaching, Sis. Teresa helps with the school photography and the organization of school events.  Sis. Teresa is married to the love of her life, Steve Coleman, and together they have two beautiful daughters, Whitney and Maegan. Outside of laboring in the classroom, Sis. Teresa enjoys spending time with her family and working in the kitchen at the church.

Sis. Debbie has been an important part of our staff since 2015. With a calling on her life to work with younger kids, Sis. Debbie has mostly served in pre-K, kindergarten, and first-grade. For three years, Sis. Debbie was our lead pre-K teacher. At the present, she serves, alongside of Sis. Dana, as one of our first-grade teachers. Apart from teaching, Sis. Debbie also serves the school in other capacities. She works tirelessly during the year helping plan and decorate for events, dinners, parties, graduations, and banquets. She cooks, cleans, serves, washes linens, creates and alters costumes, sews, etc. Her creativity and skill are truly a special calling and gift from God. In the past, Sis. Debbie worked for three and a half years in Christian education at Gloryland Tabernacle. For the past fifty-two years, Sis. Debbie has been married to the love of her life, Bobby Parks. Together, they have two wonderful daughters, six grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. Outside of the school, Sis. Debbie enjoys spending time with her family, taking care of her grandchildren, and working on the church grounds and in the kitchen, especially helping clean and prepare rooms for visiting ministers and families.

The newest member of our staff, coming aboard in 2023, is Sis. Rebekah Hackworth. Bright, young, and active, Sis. Rebekah has become a crucial part of our school family in just a short amount of time. Serving in whatever capacity needed, Sis. Rebekah undertakes each task with great diligence and dedication. Most of her days are spent in the elementary learning center working with students in grades 2^nd – 6^th. Sis. Rebekah also helps organize school events, helps teach P.E., serves as a substitute in other learning centers, and works tirelessly during school functions. Outside of the school, Sis. Rebekah enjoys serving in the ministry by working on the church grounds and helping with the bus ministry.

Bro. Brian is one of the greatest assets of the Richlands Christian Academy. He has been a vital part of our staff since he graduated high school in 1992. Bro. Brian wears many hats and serves the school in multiple capacities. To list all of his duties, we would have to write a book. He spends part of his day in the elementary learning center answering flags and filing paperwork. He floats in and out of the high-school learning center answering flags there as well. Bro. Brian runs errands for everyone. He checks the mail. He takes out the trash. He unlocks and locks the doors to all the buildings. He makes sure all of the lights are off at the end of the day. He takes care of lunches. He monitors the kids on break. He opens the door and lets each student in every morning, and he makes sure that they get back to their parents each evening. He loves the Lord, and He prays. The kids adore him, and he adores them. Outisde of the school, Bro. Brian serves the church in much of the same manner as he does the school. He’s everyone’s go-to guy. He loves spending time with his mom and going to church. He loves going to the radio station on Fridays and getting to attend Gospel singings in the area. Every school and church would be blessed to have a Bro. Brian.