Apex Staff

Dawn Frink
Kindergarten – Apex
After receiving a Master’s degree in Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill concentrating on families and children, she turned her focus to education to better meet the individual needs of her own children. That focus blossomed into a tutoring business, Foundations Educational Services, where she specializes in early elementary reading, writing, and math. She also administers the Woodcock Johnson Tests of Achievement annually for homeschooled, public schooled, and private schooled students. Through her interaction with parents who have committed to educating their children, Dawn has found a passion in partnering with families to provide emotional support, practical guidance, and encouragement. Dawn is excited to enter the kindergarten classroom supporting children through their transition into school while laying a solid academic foundation on which to grow.

Karen Doyle
Kindergarten – Apex
After graduating from college, she worked in two different adoption agencies both as a birth parent counselor and as the office manager. She says it was a joy to watch families come together and to have the chance to pray with her clients in her different positions. Karen claims her love and passion in life is working with children. Her favorite times during the day are witnessing those ”ah-ha” moments when a child’s eyes light up just as they have learned something new. Karen is so excited about working in a Christian environment and having the opportunity to share not just knowledge but the love of our Savior with the kids! It is her hope and prayer that each child she gets to work with will see Christ in her as she strives to teach and touch their lives for God’s glory.

Meagan Seymour
First Grade – Apex

Catherine Lael
First Grade – Apex

Jessica Penley
Second Grade – Apex
Jessica earned her BS in Elementary Education from North Carolina State University. Following graduation, she served as campus field staff with Cru at NC State for about four years before turning her focus back to Elementary Education. She has K-5 teaching experience in both public and private schools, as well as in tutoring settings. When working with children, she is

Dona Froning
Second Grade – Apex
Bio coming soon.

Amber Ross
Third Grade – Apex
She believes that as an educator, she has an awesome responsibility to guide young minds and help shape their learning. She hopes to inspire each student to have a love for life-long learning. She desires to partner with parents in helping teach responsibility, accountability, to encourage creativity, and facilitate critical thinking. “Let my teaching fall on you like rain; let my speech settle like dew. Let my words fall like rain on tender grass, like gentle showers on young plants. (Deut 32:2).”

Christa Liso
Third Grade – Apex

Lauren Brady
Fourth Grade – Apex

Katie Talbo
Fourth Grade – Apex
Katie fully believes that our only hope is found in Jesus. Being able to take that love for the Lord and mix it with her love of teaching seemed like the perfect fit for Katie. She strives to teach her own children, and now her students at HLA, that when we use the gifts and abilities given to us by our perfect and purposeful God, we will become successful in the deepest sense.

Michelle Stevens
Fifth Grade/High School Guidance Counselor – Apex
Michelle received a B.A. in Religious Studies from Westmont College, a M.A. in Counseling Ministries from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and graduated from the Focus on the Family Institute. In private school settings, she has taught Spanish, Bible, and has served as a guidance counselor. Michelle is passionate about discipleship and encouraging others in their walk with Jesus. She treasures investing in students and supporting parents in their journey.

Juliana Jensen
Fifth Grade – Apex
After 4 children and 10 years of homeschooling and co-op teaching, Juliana made a transition to a home-based business of one-on-one academic testing and educational consulting. She now believes that God has uniquely prepared her to teach in the UM educational setting at HLA and she looks forward to supporting and nurturing her students and their families both spiritually and academically each year.
Juliana enjoys gardening, making music and spending time with family and friends.

Susan Ruark
MS/HS – Apex
She loves to sing, as well as fellowship with other women in small groups and bible studies. She is a historical re-enactor, representing colonial women from the 1600’s. Book clubs, reading voraciously, art, gardening, traveling, antiquing, yard sales, and her little dog, Cricket, keep her very busy! She is so excited about starting a new school, making new friends, learning from one another, supporting one another, and serving God in His new Heritage Leadership Academy.

Heidi Reid
Sixth Grade – Apex
Heidi comes to HLA from the beautiful Great Lake State of Michigan where she was born and raised on a small dairy farm. After graduating from Great Lakes Christian College (1992) with a BRE majoring in religion and minors in counseling, business, and education she went onto get her MEd in K-8 education with specialties in middle grades Math & Science at Milligan College in Johnson City Tennessee (1994). After marrying her husband Jonathan in Michigan (1995), they quickly moved south where the weather is warmer and the sun shines more often. They moved to Raleigh two years ago from Marietta, Georgia with their three teenage children, the oldest of which has already headed off to Liberty University, opening a whole new chapter of family life. The youngest (Jorja) started as a 9th grader this year at HLA.
Heidi brings over 25 years of teaching experience to HLA, having taught at both middle and high schools for public, private, and Christian schools, homeschool and homeschool hybrids. One of her greatest joys is watching children learn that their Creator reveals Himself to us through Math and Science and to give students confidence in applying knowledge gained in the world around them.

Janice Gregory
Sixth Grade – Apex
Janice is beyond excited to return to the classroom and feels extremely blessed that it is at HLA. Born and raised in Prairie View, Illinois, she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Illinois. Upon graduation, she accepted a position with Dade County Public Schools in Miami, FL where she received Teacher of the Year honors for the 1984-85 school year. After 6 years in the classroom, she left teaching to pursue other adventures. She landed in North Carolina in the early 90’s where she met and married her husband, Martin. They were blessed with 3 beautiful daughters, Katie, Lily and Abbey. When their youngest, Abbey, was ready for school, they enrolled all 3 girls at a local christian school. It didn’t take long for Janice to feel God’s pull back to the classroom. After more than a decade of chasing the world’s idea of success, she finally returned to the classroom. . .the place God created her to be. She taught there for 10 years as her daughters attended the same school. She left the classroom again after the birth of her grandson, Tucker, in 2016. This time she pursued her favorite adventure yet. . .being a Grandma!
She learned about HLA from a fellow teacher shortly after the school opened. Though intrigued by its concept, she was too busy being Tucker’s grandma and welcoming her second grandchild, Summerlin Faith in 2018. But God’s plan is ALWAYS the best, and she once again felt pulled to return to the classroom. She listened to His leading and applied to HLA. No openings; not His time. Then on July 26th she received an email from HLA asking if she’d be interested in teaching 6th grade! It was finally His time, and, as always, His timing and plan is perfect (Proverbs 16:9). The university model allows Janice to pursue her heart’s desires – teaching and being a Grandma. She gives God the glory for the entire journey that has led her here, to HLA, where she can share her passion for reading, writing and history with His young leaders in training.

Kim Porter
Pre-Algebra, Algebra, & Geometry – Apex

Chris Cockerham
Logic, & Leadership – Apex

Ursula Fagerstrom
Middle/High School English – Apex
Wanting to merge the two vocations, she earned an English major and a Master’s in Teaching at the University of Washington to become an English Language Arts teacher. She married her husband, Eric, in 2004 and they have three children – one boy and twin girls. She enjoys reading, traveling – she’s visited 47 of the 50 states (airports don’t count) – learning to cook new allergy-friendly creations for dinner and a movie themed family nights, and cheering on her children at sporting events or cheering with them watching American Ninja Warrior.

Kelly Frazier
Middle/High School History & Logic – Apex

Marcia Agar
Middle School English– Apex
Since beginning teaching years ago, Marcia has spent 16 years in language arts education. Nine of those have been in traditional classrooms – mostly Christian schools, and four of those teaching years were spent homeschooling her own middle and high schoolers while teaching in co-ops and private writing classes. God has also allowed Marcia to spend five years in instructional design writing and editing digital curriculum for adult learners. She holds additional certification in reading which complements her licensure in middle school language arts.
An Easter NC native and graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Marcia lives with her husband and two sons in Fuquay-Varina. She enjoys tennis and may be seen jet-skiing around the during the summer.

Shawn Bertholf
– Apex

Gentry Doggendorf
Geometry – Apex
Born and raised on a wheat farm in Kansas, Gentry loves being outdoors and traveling back to the family farm whenever she can. She earned an Associates of Arts degree from Hesston College (a Christian college in Hesston, Kansas) where she played volleyball and basketball. She then transferred to Kansas State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. She has 9 years of teaching experience in the Kansas and North Carolina public school systems. During this time, she received National Board Certification, served as a Department Chair, and coached volleyball for several years.

Josh Estep
HS Apologetics – Apex
Bio coming soon.

Katye Wood
Music – Apex
After Taylor Katye interned in youth ministry at a church, worked as house staff in a therapeutic boarding school, and taught preschool for ten years, as well as teaching private piano, voice, and violin lessons for the last 20 years and various week long music camps. She is so excited to go back to her first love of teaching music in the classroom where she is passionate about helping students learn about themselves and their world through the lens of music and giving them the tools to be life long music makers and music enjoyers!
Jay Helms
Physical Education – Apex
Some of the books that have informed Jay’s life journey over the last half-decade are “Love Does” by Bob Goff, “Mindset” by Dr. Carol Dweck, “Beautiful Outlaw” by John Eldredge and “The Underground Railroad” by William Still. Additionally, he enjoys road trips and videography. When you see him, ask him about the time he flew his drone over Beverly Hills.
His favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.”
Jay met his wife Carla in college. Together they have four children, Anna (15), David (13), James (11), and Roger (1).

Laura Mann
High School Spanish – Apex
Laura, her husband, and two boys have lived in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia, and have traveled extensively around the world. They speak in Spanish at home. Laura has previously taught Spanish at the high school level in a public school setting, English as a Second Language to students of all ages, homeschooled her two boys, and currently substitutes at all grade levels in the Wake County Public schools. She loves to study languages and cultures, and strives to teach her students to do the same. Laura and her family are active members of the Summit Church.

Kim Elliott
Art – Apex


Beverly King
Spanish – Apex
My experience has been that learning through song allows students to retain new language concepts far longer than simple memorization. I have applied this wonderful tool of teaching in all of my elementary classes and they have enjoyed it! In my middle school classes (7/8), it is my desire to provide the students with some conversational skills in the language which they could easily incorporate, whether it be on a mission trip or family trip to a Spanish-speaking country. I am also excited to take a closer look at Spanish-speaking countries around the globe.

Anya Butcher
Latin – Apex
Anya graduated from Asbury University in Kentucky with a degree in social work and a minor in Spanish. After moving to Raleigh, she taught high school Spanish at North Raleigh Christian Academy from 2011-2014, taking one year of maternity leave to substitute in the elementary, middle, and high school. She transitioned to staying home when her second child was on the way and have spent the last three years caring for our family as well as babysitting for several other families in her home.
Robbie Spiers
Middle and High School Worship Band – Apex
Prior to moving to NC, Robbie was a public-school Band Director at Lancaster High School in Virginia. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental Music from James Madison University. While at Lancaster he grew the high school band program to 190 members in 10 years. His bands performed all over the Eastern US as well as overseas in London, Bahamas, and Bermuda. His bands were known for their superior performances both in concert as well as marching band. He retired in 2018 after teaching at the same school for 33 years. In 2018 he was named teacher of the year for Lancaster County Schools. In addition to his teaching job Robbie was the Music Director and Worship leader at Kilmarnock Baptist Church (Va) for 10 years. He directed the choir, lead the worship band, and planned music for all services.
“I feel extremely excited and blessed to be a part of HLA. The fact that I can teach music, disciple young people, and serve my Lord and Savior is incredible.”
In his spare time, Robbie enjoys walking, biking, playing the trumpet and just spending quality time with his wife. Robbie volunteers weekly at “With Love from Jesus” where he enjoys being God’s Hands and Feet.