An official Core Knowledge school accredited by SACS/CASI
975 Mission Springs | San Antonio, Texas 78258 | 210.402.6905
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it. — Proverbs 22:6
Bios
Founder
Rev. Buckner Fanning Contact
Buckner Fanning is known throughout San Antonio for his unique,
positive, and inclusive ministry. In 1959, he came to San Antonio to
begin the first of forty two years as Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church.
In that time, the church grew to over 10,000 members and was established
as a prime example of how a church gets involved in the community.
Through Buckner’s leadership, Trinity created numerous local mission
programs to improve the quality of life for countless groups in San
Antonio and reached the world with numerous world-wide mission
endeavors, including 30 trips behind the Iron Curtain. Buckner may be
best known for his extensive television ministry in which his unique 30
second “spots” were seen, on average, over one million times a week for
over 25 years in San Antonio , South Texas , and throughout the world.
During his tenure as pastor, Buckner directed the raising of over 23
million dollars in capital funds. His focus on interdenominational
cooperation can be represented by the fact that Trinity was the only
Protestant Church in America to have a prayer service for the Pope’s
visit to America in 1985. In addition, he received another honorary
Doctorate from the University of the Incarnate Word. Buckner and Rabbi
Stahl have led several “inter-faith” trips to the Holy Land as well.
Read more
Board of Trustees
President: W.N. "Chuck" Carroll, Ph.D./Major General USAF (Ret.) Contact
Family: Married 46 years to Shaaron Staats Carroll; daughters Nancy and Jennifer; granddaughter Madeline; grandson Aaron Bradley
Professional experience
Military — Command Pilot, Major General USAF, retired November 2000; Pentagon, Installations & Logistics Air Force Reserve Mobilization Assistant; Air Intelligence Agency, Deputy for logistics and reconnaissance technologies; Air Combat Command, Logistics, Air Material Command, Mobilization Assistant; Strategic Air Command, Aircraft Commander, Ohio Air National Guard; Flying Training Advisor, Republic of Korea Air Force; United States Air Force Instructor Pilot.
Education — Provost, Hallmark College of Technology; Education Leadership Masters Program Adjunct Professor, UTSA; Business Administration Adjunct Professor, Texas Lutheran University, Park University.
Program Manager — Program manager, Information Operations, Science Applications International Corp; Air Force Logistics Command, Program Manager Software Development.
Community involvement: School Board President, Buckner Fanning Christian School; Board of Directors, Trinity Legal Center; Board of Directors, Malawi Forward; Candidate Texas State Representative, District 122; Executive Manager and mentor, White House Points of Light Southwest Independent School District/Air Force Middle School mentoring partnership; City Year San Antonio Community Board of Champions; Business Member, SWISD Superintendent’s District Improvement Team; Co-chair, San Antonio 2000 committee for at-risk student retention; Chairman, Armed Forces Week Annual Texas Military Breakfast; Committee Chair, SD25 Senatorial District Conventions; Precinct Chair.
Education: Ph. D., Educational Administration, Texas A&M University; Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellow; Master of Science in Engineering Management, University of Dayton; Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology; Industrial College of the Armed Forces; Senior Cryptologic School, National Security Agency; Army War College; Program Management, Defense Systems Management College; Squadron Officer School.
Foundation representative: Jake Cherry
Updated 2011-12: Jake is currently the President of the San Antonio Rescue Mission.
He is a graduate of North East High School (now MacArthur) and the University of Texas at Austin. He then served as a platoon leader in the United States Army for two years. The next 25 years were spent as a Texas road contractor.
He is now a member of The Fellowship of San Antonio, serving as a Deacon. Also, Jake is the Foundation Trustee on the Buckner Fanning Christian School Board.
Prior church memberships are St. David’s Episcopal, serving as Vestryman and Senior Warden; Trinity Baptist, serving as Prayer Minister, Sunday School Director and Teacher and Deacon.
Jake and his wife, Maryln, have six children and nine grandchildren.
Administration
Interim Head of School Marty Soles Contact
Updated 2011-12: I am a born and raised "Yankee" from Pennsylvania. But don't hold that against me. My oldest son was born in San Antonio while we lived on Kelly AFB over forty years ago. I moved back to Texas six years ago and consider myself a Texan. I love San Antonio and can't imagine living anywhere else.
I earned my Bachelor's degree in elementary education from West Chester University and now hold a Masters in Education. I taught in the Northside School District in San Antonio while my husband was in the Air Force. We moved back to Pennsylvania to raise our children where all our family lived. After thirty-five years of teaching in Pennsylvania, we retired to San Antonio and I have been blessed to work at Buckner Fanning since 2006. Nothing I have done can compare to working in this very special Christian school. Being the Assistant Head Of School at BFCS has its perks. I am able to get out into the classrooms, visit with teachers and children and even do some teaching.
I have been married to my wonderful husband, Al, since 1967. While living in Pennsylvania we owned and operated a gift shop and ice cream parlor for twenty years. Combining a retail business with teaching and raising a family was quite a busy schedule. But we enjoyed every minute of it. Al and I have two wonderful sons, Allen, who lives in Virginia Beach, Va. and Steven, who resides in Exton, Pennsylvania.
I have always been a dog lover and have two wonderful furry "grand pups", Tank ,the pug, lives in Virginia and Roscoe, the Boxer, lives with us. He is the funniest most adorable canine I have ever met. I enjoy knitting, reading and music. We are members of FOSA and have found a fantastic church family to fill the void of being "empty nesters".
Faculty
Athletic Director: David "D.J." Jones Contact
Updated 2011-12: Coach D.J., the school's athletic director and basketball coach, is the founder of the Shooting for Success life skills program.
A former Harlem Globetrotter, he also played professionally in Germany and Poland. He oversees and plays for a semi-pro team that travels internationally for the Shooting for Success program for youngsters, which he operates to, in his words, "open their minds up to dream a little bit better. It's not just about basketball. It really is a way of life. All I want to do is make a difference in kids' lives."
D.J. was featued in an article in the San Antonio Express-News on Feb. 19, 2012, detailing how he worked with NBA player Jeremy Lin before the 2010 NBA draft to help improve the former Harvard player's jump shot.
"Basketball was so good to me, I just wanted to give back to others who love the game," said D.J. "Maybe someday he (Lin) will want to give back in the same way." Read the article
SlideshowPre-Kindergarten teacher: Stacey Alderink Contact
Updated 2011-12: This is my third year teaching Pre-K 4 and my first year at BFCS. I teach the Pre-K 4 Combo Class. I previously taught at Parkhills Baptist Church and assisted Special Education at Stone Oak Elementary. I am very excited to be a part of the BFCS family!
I graduated from Texas A&M University and have been married to my wonderful husband for 20 years. We have lived in San Antonio for 9 years. We have three daughters. They are 11, 13 and 16 years old. We also have two cats. My spare time is spent with my family, either on the softball field or cheer gym!
Pre-Kindergarten teacher: Carrie Kuhn Contact
Updated 2011-12: This is my fourth year to have my wonderful job teaching Pre-K at Buckner Fanning Christian School. The first two years I taught the 5-day 4-year-old Pre-K class; last year I taught the 3-year-olds. This year, I have 4-year-olds again. Some of my children come on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; some come Monday through Thursday and some come Monday through Friday. Whether I am teaching 3- or 4-year-olds, I love my job! I am so grateful to be here.
I retired from teaching Kindergarten in NEISD in 2008 and wanted to continue working in a private Christian school. BFCS was my first choice since my niece, Cameron Walker, has attended since Kindergarten. (She is now in 8th grade here.) Lucky for me, BFCS needed a teacher for the 5 day Pre-K class at that time. I feel so blessed!
I have two grown children, Justin and Amanda, and three grandchildren. My grandchildren are all girls: Abby is Justin’s daughter and is 5 years old; Bradlee and Marlee are Amanda’s babies. They are 2 years old and 1 year old. Hopefully, Bradlee will be in the 3-year-old class here next year!
In my spare time, I like to walk, read, and play with my grandchildren!
Pre-Kindergarten teacher: Stacie Magott Contact
Updated 2011-12: I began my career teaching at St. Mark's Catholic Church and was there for 11 years. This is my 17th year of teaching PreK and my sixth year here at Buckner Fanning Christian School. I teach the Monday-Thursday 4-year-old class. I LOVE BFCS!!! Teaching PreK is my passion!
My husband, Brian, and I have been married for 18 wonderful years. We have been blessed with a 16-year-old daughter, Brianne, who is in the 11th grade at Smithson Valley High School, and a 13-year-old son, Brenner, who attends 8th grade here at BFCS. GO BOBCATS!!! We have a 2-year-old black Labrador Retriever named Shotgun and cows that roam the ranch.
In my free time I love to spend time with my family, take pictures and travel.
Pre-Kindergarten teacher: Amanda Martin Contact
Updated 2010-11: This is my sixth year teaching preschool and my first year at BFCS. I teach the Monday-Friday Pre-K 3-year-old class, which I love! I get to see those sweet faces everyday!! I am so very thankful to be here!!
I have been married to my sweet husband, Chad, for a little over five years. We have Lab/Shepard mix Gracie that is our baby right now. In my free time I enjoy shopping, exercising, and spending time with Chad and Gracie. I feel so very blessed to be a part of and a great Christian environment.
Pre-Kindergarten teacher: Grayce Parker Contact
Updated 2011-12: This is my ninth year in the field of education and my first year at BFCS. I am very blessed and fortunate to be part of BFCS as both a teacher and a parent.
I grew up in Dallas and moved to San Antonio over five years ago. I attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, where I received my Bachelor's of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a specialization in Early Childhood Education. Upon graduation, I returned to Dallas and taught in the classroom at DISD for several years, where I earned my Master Reading Teacher certification through the Dallas Reading Academy and University of North Texas. I then became the academic coordinator, dyslexia interventionist, and Master Reading Teacher for our campus for two years.
I took a small break from teaching to raise my babies to school age.
Before I was employed at BFCS, I was one of the Chapel teachers for the Children's Morning Out program at Bulverde United Methodist Church, where my family and I also attend church. I am on the Children's ministry team at BUMC and also teach Sunday School to Kindergartners.
My husband, Brian, and I have been married for nine years and have four wonderful children: Bryce, 7; Blake, 5; and a set of twins, Brooks and Ellie, who are 3. They are all students at BFCS.
In my spare time, I love running, biking, swimming, reading and being outdoors in the sun.
Kindergarten teacher: April Gregg Contact
Updated 2011-12: I have been blessed with the most amazing job on earth — teaching at Buckner Fanning Christian School.
This is my 11th year of teaching and my second year at BFCS. I love teaching and feel blessed to be at this outstanding school.
I come from a long line of teachers: parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and on and on. I grew up in New Braunfels and graduated from Southwest Texas (now known as Texas State) with a Masters in Elementary Education with a reading specialization.
I have been married to my wonderful husband, Mark, for almost 10 years. We have two beautiful children. Connor is in first grade and Caroline is in kindergarten. They both attend BFCS. I enjoy spending time with my family, photography, scrapbooking, reading and most of all, going out to eat!
Kindergarten teacher: Anne Ivy Contact
Updated 2011-12: I am beyond thrilled to be teaching Kindergarten at BFCS!! I have 8 years of experience (six in first grade, two in kinder). I grew up in San Antonio and am a graduate of Alamo Heights High School and Texas A&M University.
My wonderful husband, Mike, and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. We have been blessed with two beautiful boys, Matthew (first grade) and Blake (Pre-K). They both attend BFCS. We also have a precious 10-year-old lab, Bailey, and a fish named Shermy. I adore spending time with my family, reading, watching movies, going to Sea World, Fiesta Texas, the zoo and traveling!
I am looking forward to an amazing and blessed year!!! Go Bobcats!
Kindergarten teacher: Marcy Mitchel Contact
Updated 2010-11: I grew up in El Campo and attended Sam Houston State University where I received a Bachelors in Elementary Education with a specialization in Math and endorsement in Early Childhood Education. This is my first year teaching at Buckner Fanning Christian School and I absolutely love working with children where I can share the love of God with them!
Before I worked here, I was a teacher for nine years and a stay-at-home mom for six years. I taught middle school and elementary school in the NEISD. I was an active participant in our church, teaching preschool children in Sunday school and elementary children in children's church, I worked as the temporary children's director until they could find someone permanently, and I organized VBS.
God has blessed me with an incredible husband of almost 10 years and two amazing little girls. I am so excited to have my children at this wonderful school. When I am not teaching, I love to shop, cook, scrapbook and most of all spend time with my husband and girls.
Second-grade teacher: Marsha King Contact
Updated 2011-12: Greetings! I have had the joy of teaching second grade at BFCS for the last five years! I received a B.S. degree in Geography from The University of Texas and my Elementary Education Certificate from Houston Baptist University. After teaching for three years, I began graduate work at Trinity University and received Kindergarten Certification. In Northside ISD, I taught a combination of K-2nd grade for 10 years. Then my husband and I began our family and a whole new world of teaching began!
My husband and I have been married for 38 years and are blessed with two children. I stayed at home and homeschooled our children until high school. I was very involved in the homeschool community and loved being with my children. (I was teased about having to turn everything into a “lesson!”) We have now watched both our son and daughter graduate from Baylor, marry spouses from Baylor and now all four are in graduate school at UT Austin. A sweet, elderly Golden Retriever still greets us at home each night!The Lord has put a love of learning and a love of children in my heart. I am truly blessed to be teaching at this wonderful school.
Second-grade teacher: Lindy Lester Contact
Updated 2011-12: This marks my eighth year at Buckner Fanning Christian School as a classroom teacher and my sixth year as a chapel leader. I began as a music and pre-k teacher at our school. The following year I moved to second grade. Last year, I took a detour to fourth grade which provided me new insight. I have thoroughly enjoyed each position that I have had at BFCS.
It is an honor to come to school each day to motivate and engage students in our Core Knowledge content and to share the word of God with them. I love our students and their supportive families.
Educationally, I received my Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from the University of Texas in Austin. Professionally, my experience ranges from public school teaching to home schooling, with a number of years serving outside the classroom in managerial positions.
With two teenage daughters and a husband of twenty-five year, my personal and professional life keeps me busy and fulfilled.
Middle School lead instructor: Catherine Miller Contact
Updated 2010-11: This is my seventh year at BFCS as a middle school teacher and my 11th year here as a parent. I have a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity University and a Master of Arts from New York University.
Before I worked here, I was a stay-at-home mom with my three boys, an active volunteer at my church, and a high school teacher. For eight years, I taught freshman regular and honors/pre-AP history and English and also junior AP English Language and Composition at Taft and Health Careers High Schools in Northside ISD. I also was head of the English department and taught junior AP English and Composition and dual credit at Midland High School. While I lived in New York, I was fortunate to work as a freelance historian, writer, and coordinator of historical exhibitions.
God has blessed me with this job. I love working with young teens in a Christian atmosphere. I am also thrilled to be BFCS with my own children. When I am not teaching, I enjoy reading, hiking, jogging, and spending time with my wonderful husband and boys.
Middle School math teacher: Kellen Cervetto Contact
Updated 2011-12: My name is Kellen Cervetto and I grew up in Stephenville, Texas, which is 60 miles southwest of Fort Worth. I attended Stephenville High School where I participated in football, baseball, track and power lifting. I accepted a football scholarship to Tarleton State University but I only played a couple of years because I wanted to concentrate on my academics. I graduated with a degree in Kinesiology from TSU and I was accepted into an exceptional teacher program where I completed observation hours at Stephenville and my student teaching at Dublin ISD.
My father is the Head Football coach at Dublin High School and my mother is a secretary at Stephenville Independent School District. My sister is a Kinesiology major at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.
I am a happily married man to my wife, Stephanie. She is the reason we made the move to San Antonio. She is a third year dental school student here at UT Health Science Center with only one year left. We really enjoy living here in San Antonio and we are making the most of our opportunities while the Lord has us here.
I taught physical education last year in San Antonio ISD and I really enjoyed it. I worked with students that were from Kindergarten through fifth grade but I didn’t know if that was the place where the Lord needed me. I prayed about the situation for a while and he blessed me with the opportunity to teach and coach at Buckner Fanning Christian. I am real excited being here at BFCS because I know that this opportunity is more than teaching and coaching. It is about being a part of family and helping each other grow in Christ and to help become a superior individual.