Wendy Baldwin, Principal
Wendy was born and raised in the Mid-West. She attended Wisconsin Academy for her high school and Andrews University where she obtained her undergraduate degree in elementary education. Upon graduating from Andrews in 1993, she accepted a teaching position in Aurora, CO. In 1999, she accepted a call to teach in Madison, WI. Feeling the Lord calling her to leadership within the Adventist educational system, she accepted the position as principal here at ACA. Her husband, Rich, and her children Kirsten, 10, and Hunter, 5, are happy to become a part of the ACA and Sharon church family.

 
Barbara Forquer, Secretary
Barbara Forquer is the office manager for ACA. Her voice is the first you'll hear when calling the school. She is an experienced office manager having worked for a medical doctor in West Virginia for many years. She loves children and is very good at band aids and ice packs. Barbara has 5 grandchildren.

Cathy Carlton, First and Second Grades
For the past twenty years, Cathy Carlton has been one of ACA's most remarkable teachers. Without raising her voice, she is always able to maintain perfect control of an active class. The students love her!  Cathy has an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University. Early childhood education and the primary grades are her specialties. She considers it a privilege to be with young students as they begin their journey in education. Cathy is married to Wendell Carlton, ACA's 5th and 6th grade teacher. They have one son, Paul, who also lives in Charlotte.

Teresa Ernst, Kindergarten

Sharon Crux, Third and Fourth Grades
Sharon Crux is a gifted and creative teacher. Her classroom explodes with color, interest, and activity. Sharon graduated from Canadian University College and has been at ACA for seven years. She specializes in literature based thematic units. Her hobbies are art, reading, and travel. Robert Crux, her husband, is the superintendent of education for the Carolina Conference.  Sharon and Robert have two children, Kimberly and Robert. Kimberly is traveling with her husband this year through North America and Robert is an airplane mechanic in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Wendell Carlton, Fifth and Sixth Grades
Wendell (married to Cathy Carlton, our ACA first and second grade teacher) is a great stabalizing, even-tempered teacher and mentor to ACA's 5th and 6th graders. His classes are very organized and interesting. Wendell serves the Sharon church as an elder and is the primary teacher of an adult Sabbath school clalss. Wendell graduated from Southern Adventist University with a B.A. degree in religion. He obtained his Master degree in elementary education from Loma Linda University. His resume includes teaching in Adventist elementary schools in Indiana, Florida, and Alabama before coming to teach at Adventist Christian Academy twenty years ago! Wendell enjoys digital photography, bicycling, hiking, reading, and spending time with his wife, Cathy, and their adult son, Paul.

Roger Wein, Seventh and Eighth Grades                                                                       Roger was born in Illinois. He is a graduate of Southern Adventist University with a B.A. degree in history and elementary education. He completed his master degree in curriculum and instruction at La Sierra University, in California. His interests include sports, reading and touring historical sites. Roger is married to Ruth Evelyn, his wife of 30 years. Ruth is an oncology nurse at Presbyterian Hospital. They have two children. Their son, Brian, newly married and living in Ooltewah, TN, is a graphic designer. Their daughter, Heather, lives in New Mexico and is engaged to be married. She works as an accountant for a large healthcare system. Both Brian and Heather are graduates of Southern Adventist University.

Annette MacConnell, Art Instructor

We are pleased to have an excellent art program for ACA under the direction of Annette.

Beth Adams, ACA Music Director 

Beth is not only the classroom music teacher but also the choir director. She has studied piano with Marian Shaffer, pianist and principal harpist for the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Alma Blackmon, former Director of the Aeolians of Oakwood College, and with Dr. Kelly Ker-Hackleman, former principal pianist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Beth received a music scholarship in piano performance to Southern Adventist University and was a recording artist with the Christian singing group, Trilogy. She also was a featured vocal soloist with Die Meistersinger Chorus at the Tivoli Theater in Chattanooga, TN. Beth frequently provides the music for Carolina Conference events. She is the current Minister of Music for the Monroe SDA church and recently she composed and orchestrated the ending musical score for The Quiet Hour's international DVD release, The 3 Angel's Messages.

Beth has been married to her husband, Tam, for 8 years. Her personal mission is to use music to glorify God and to lead people to Him. We are very thankful to have Beth on our staff.

Jon M. Thornton ACA Band Director

Jon began playing music at age 10. By the age of 16 he was playing professionally in the Charlotte area clubs and was a featured soloist with the bands of Marian McPartland, Donaly Dyrd, Dizzy Gillespie and Herb Ellis. Jon formally studied music at University of Miami, FL, Berklee College of Music, Boston, Winthrop University, and UNC Charlotte. He studies privately at the University of Tennessee with jazz educator, Jerry Coker. His touring experience includes dates with Max Roach, Milt Hinton, Natalie Cole, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Les Elgart Orchestra, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, the Four Tops, the Temptations, the O'Jays, Don Dixon, Marty Jones, Faction, Jim Brock and Beth Chorneau.

Jon can be found on over 50 recordings by various artists from Jazz to Rock and Pop. He has recorded over 100 commercials for TV and radio and has been part of a sound track recordings for the TV series 'The Young Indiana Jones.' He has served for 4 years as as 'Artist in Residence' in NC community colleges and he is very active in the Charlotte Jazz Society. He currently resides in Charlotte and leads an 8-piece swing band, an 11-piece Latin jazz group called Fuego Lento, an 18-piece rehearsal band and a classical brass quintet called 'Brass Act.'

In addition, he teaches band to our ACA students. May God continue to bless Jon.

Gary Bartsch, Maintenance

Gary comes to us from Florida where he was an integral part of the former church pastored by Minner Labrador. Not only is he great at maintenance and fixing almost anything, he is excellent at managing the media and sound equipment of the church. We are so happy that Gary decided to move to Charlotte along with the Labrador family. His skills are very valuable to all of us.

Jolene Burell, Pre-Kindergarten

Jolene is one of those extraordinary persons who loves small children and enjoys watching them grasp new ideas and concepts. This makes her the ideal Pre-kindergarten teacher.