TCA Staff
Administration
Carson Sensing, Interim Administrator, Choral Director
Carson Sensing is a third-generation Nashvillian and a graduate of Battle Ground Academy in Franklin and The University of Mississippi. He worked in his family business for 18 years before selling the company in 2007. Carson resides in Brentwood, Tenn. with his wife Wendy and their seven children, six of which are enrolled at TCA. They have been involved in classical Christian education for the past 14 years and just sent their oldest child off to a classical Christian college. They are founding members of St. Mark’s Reformed Church in Brentwood. In his spare time, he enjoys singing in parts, motorcycles, listening to music, entertaining and playing the guitar.
Eric Van Gorden, Interim Administrator, PE Teacher
Originally from Scranton, Penn., Mr. Van Gorden grew up in Maryland and attended Edison Community College in Ft. Myers, Fla. He has worked in education since 1988, and in 1996 came to work with his family at Eagles Nest Academy, founded by his father, the late Rev. Dale Van Gorden, and mother Linda. He and his wife Cathy (also a TCA teacher) live in Franklin with their four children, three of which are students at TCA.
Ben Crist, Upper School Principal, Latin and Rhetoric Teacher
Mr. Crist was born in San Jose, Cal., and is a proud alumnus of Bellarmine College Preparatory. He attended Vanderbilt University, where he studied English literature, political science, and the violin. Mr. Crist has been teaching students of all ages since 2005. He firmly believes in the principles and practice of Classical Christian education, and is thankful to have worked alongside wonderful colleagues at Franklin Classical School and Eagle’s Nest Academy. In 2007, he married his best friend (a fellow Latin teacher), Blair, and they have Katherine (2) and are expecting a second child in January. As upper school principal of The Classical Academy of Franklin, Mr. Crist looks forward to the development of quality education to the glory of God.
Eric Hale, Lower School Principal, Fifth Grade Teacher
Eric Hale is a native of Nashville where he graduated from Ezell-Harding Christian School. He attended Lipscomb University, graduating with a Bachelor’s in Music Education with a voice/choral emphasis and Vocal Performance. He attended graduate school at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford, in West Hartford, Conn., where he earned his Master of Music degree in Composition. He has taught at Ezell-Harding Christian School and The Classical Academy of Franklin. He and his wife, Kimberly, met at Lipscomb and have two children, Alex, 4, and Bethany, 1. As principal of the lower school at The Classical Academy, Mr. Hale is excited to continue his involvement in “recovering the lost tools of education” for future generations of leaders trained to serve God.
Staff
Laura Boivin, Teachers’ Assistant/Pre-K Teacher
A native of Sumner County, Mrs. Boivin attended Volunteer State in Gallatin, Tenn., and now lives in Peagram with her husband Luc and two children, both students at TCA. She has taught at TCA for four years.
Judy Chancey, Eighth Grade Math and Upper School Algebra II
Mrs. Chancey has been at TCA for five years. Originally from Oliver Springs, Tenn., she received her Bachelor’s in Computer Science from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Mrs. Chancey and her husband Scott live in Nashville with their daughter, an eighth grade student at TCA.
Taryn Clausing, Fifth Grade Bible, Upper School Literature, History, Bible and Composition
An Australia native, Mrs. Clausing moved to Bogota, Colombia in 2006. There she taught upper school English literature and composition in a private international British school for five years. She currently is International Examiner for the International Baccalaureate (IB) English Diploma Program. While living in Colombia, she met her now husband, Cameron, who was working there as a missionary. They were married in 2010 and moved to Franklin in July 2012.
Molly Darr, Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Darr was raised in Franklin and received her Bachelor’s in Special Education from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. She taught elementary at the University School of Nashville for 10 years and later at a Christian academy in North Carolina. She and her husband Brad returned to Franklin in 2012 and have two children, both students at TCA.
Michael Griffin, Upper School Chemistry, Science, Math and Literature
Mr. Griffin arrived at TCA from Texas in 2012. The former Air Force officer received a Master of Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tenn.; a Master of Arts in Religion from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from University of Tennessee – Knoxville. Mr. Griffin has a wealth of international teaching and work experience, having traveled the globe as a missionary, teacher and pastor. He and his wife have three children attending TCA.
Esther Hall, Elementary Music, Science and Art Teacher
Originally from Williamson County, Mrs. Hall graduated from Franklin High School and received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Ark. She and her husband have two children, both part-time students at TCA.
Karen Holland, Art Teacher
Mrs. Holland has taught art, Latin and French since joining TCA in 2003. She received a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from Maryville College and helped found Regents School of Oxford in Oxford, Miss. She and her husband have been married 22 years and have four children, the youngest of which attends TCA.
Rebecca Johnson, Kindergarten Teacher
A native of Centerville, Tenn., Mrs. Johnson has taught kindergarten at TCA since 2007 and has more than 12 years’ experience in private schools. She received her Bachelor’s in Education from Freed Hardeman University in Jackson, Tenn. She has one son and one daughter, and recently welcomed her first grandchild, Tate.
Jenni Moyer, First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Moyer grew up in Lakeland, Fla., and has taught at TCA since 2004. She received her Bachelor’s in English from the University of Mississippi and her Master’s in English from the University of Alabama. She and her husband Dean have three sons, two of which are students at TCA.
Kristin Najar, Second Grade Teacher
Kristin Najar is a Nashville native and attended Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Ga. She received her Bachelor’s in English and is now in her third year as elementary teacher at TCA.
Laura Switzer, Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Switzer grew up in Massachusetts and is in her seventh year teaching at TCA. She received her Bachelor’s in Management from the University of Massachusetts and her Master’s in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, Mass. She taught for three years at a Classical school in her home state before relocating to Tennessee. Mrs. Switzer and her husband David have one son and one daughter.
Rev. Joe Thacker, Upper School Bible
Rev. Thacker is the pastor at St. Mark’s Reformed Church in Brentwood.
Cathy Van Gorden, Math Teacher
Originally from Naples, Fla., Mrs. Van Gorden double-majored in Education and Math at Flagler University in St. Augustine. She began teaching in 1993 and joined TCA (then Eagles Nest Academy) in 1996 with her husband, Eric. They have four children, three of which are students at TCA.