INSIDE THE ARNOLD ADMINISTRATION
2011-2012

Dr. Gary Arnold
Head of School
Gary Arnold was appointed Head of School by the LRCA Board of Trust in 2007 after an extensive nationwide search.  The school Board of Trust bears the constitutional authority and responsibility for the school and charges Dr. Arnold to effectively operate and advance Little Rock Christian Academy.  He has selected an administrative team to assist in fulfilling this responsibility. Dr. Arnold has served as head of school for independent Christian schools in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and the suburbs of Chicago, IL. He currently serves numerous professional organizations including the following:

• Council on American Private Education (CAPE) - National Coordinator of the State CAPE Network
• Council for Educational Standards and Assessment (CESA) - Board Member
• PAIDEIA, Inc. – Senior Consultant
• Arkansas Activities Association – Public/Non-Public Relations Committee
• Association of Christian Schools International – speaker, workshop leader and writer

.Before coming to Little Rock, Dr. Arnold served as the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council for Religious and Independent Schools (WCRIS) and the Director of the Illinois Coalition for Non-Public Schools (ICNS), serving as a registered lobbyist for private education. An adjunct professor at Concordia University and Trinity International University in Illinois, Dr. Arnold also received the PAIDEIA “Excellence in School Leadership” award. He earned a B.A. and M.A., summa cum laude, from Wheaton College followed with an Ed.D. from National-Louis University (IL).

Joe Neff
Upper School Principal
Joe Neff was selected as High School Principal at LRCA in 2006.  He now leads over seventy Middle School and High School department heads and faculty with a team which includes the Assistant Principals, Director of Student Life and Director of College Guidance. Prior to relocating to Little Rock, Mr. Neff served as a Christian School administrator in Illinois and Iowa for twenty-five years, fourteen of those as a head of school.  He has a Master's degree in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and has written articles for Focus on the Family and a variety of Christian education journals. 

Ann Chami
Lower School Principal
Ann Chami has been an established educator at Little Rock Christian Academy for twenty-five years.  For eighteen years she taught first, second and third grades. She has served in administration for the past seven years, initially as Early Childhood Principal and presently as Lower School Principal. Mrs. Chami provides leadership to over sixty elementary faculty and staff.  She excels in her position because of the love God has given her for people and her experience in Christian Education.  She earned her B.S.E. in Early Childhood Education from Ouachita Baptist University.

Johnny Watson
Athletic Director
Johnny Watson was chosen as LRCA Athletic Director in 2008 after serving the school as Head Football and Track Coach.  He is responsible for recruiting and leading coaches and athletic staff, as well as ensuring that the Athletics Department operates under regulations set forth by the Arkansas Activities Association.   Coach Watson brings an outstanding reputation as coach and as Athletic Director for over twenty-six years in Arkansas high schools.  He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Southern Arkansas University and completed both his Master’s Degree in Education as well as Principal & Administrative Certification at the University of Central Arkansas.  Coach Watson’s honors include:

• National Christian School Coach of the Year (2007)
• 5A Coach of the Year (2007), Hootens/State Farm and the Little Rock Touchdown Club
• All-Arkansas Coach of the Year, Arkansas Democrat Gazette
• High School Coach of the Year, Arkansas 360 Magazine
• U.S. Army High School Leadership Award
• Arkansas High School Coaches Hall of Fame – 2010 class

Darrell Smith
Director of Admissions
Darrell Smith serves as Director of Admissions with additional responsibilities as Communications Director and Assistant Athletic Director.  His previous LRCA experience as Director of Technology, Worldview Teacher and interim Middle School Principal equips him to share the distinctiveness of Little Rock Christian with prospective families and the community.  Mr. Smith joined the LRCA administration in 2002 after extensive ministry experience.  He holds a B.A. in Finance/Economics from Baylor University and a M. A. in Counseling/Psychology from Liberty University.

Jason Carson
Director of Development
Jason Carson has served as LRCA's Director of Development for the past 11 years. His primary responsibility is that of raising monies to advance the mission of the school and then to steward those funds to advance LRCA programs and facilities. Mr. Carson is also commissioned to build and nurture relationships with families and friends of LRCA. He brings guidance and oversight to the school's thriving booster clubs which raised and distributed over $250 thousand dollars throughout the school community. Mr. Carson holds a B.A. degree in Journalism from the University of Arkansas.

Andrea Trieschmann
Director of Learner Services

Andrea Trieschmann joins the LRCA educational leadership team for the 2011-12 school year with over 11 years of experience in gifted and talented instruction, curriculum development and differentiated instruction. Mrs. Trieschmann will direct our learner services team and also serve as our resident curriculum specialist, K-12. Following a B.S. in secondary education from Baylor University, Mrs. Trieschmann completed her Masters of Gifted Education at the University of Arkansas. 

Andy Baxley
Middle School Assistant Principal
Andy Baxley is in her third year as Assistant Principal of the Middle School.  She brings to LRCA nine years of previous experience teaching Math and ten years as a High School Counselor in Little Rock public schools.  Mrs. Baxley loves her job because she is inspired by young people, and her gift for communicating with them is evident on our Middle School campus.  She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Arkansas and a M.S. in Education/Counseling from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. 

LeAnn Murry
Elementary Assistant Principal
LeAnn Murry begins her second year at Little Rock Christian, but she is not new to education in Little Rock. She received a B.S. and M.S. in Education from Arkansas State University.  For two years, she was an instructor of English as a Second Language at ASU; she taught third and sixth grades in Fort Worth, Texas for four years; and she has been a fifth grade teacher at a private school in Little Rock for the past twelve years.  Her duties at LRCA include partnering with parents and teachers to guide children to right behavior, overseeing elementary chapels, planning elementary service projects, and guiding faculty as they pray for and teach their students.

Carla Bollinger Kenyon
Director of College Guidance
Carla Bollinger Kenyon joined the LRCA High School team in 2009. Her experience as a college counselor, including eight years at a private school in Texas and ten concurrent years in private practice, is manifest in her commitment to our high school students. Working alongside our academic guidance professionals, Mrs. Kenyon enhances the opportunities available to LRCA students by counseling them from ninth grade through graduation, stimulating them to discover their God-given gifts and talents. She meets individually with families to design a college entrance plan unique to the needs and goals of each student. Mrs. Kenyon is a magna cum laude graduate of Southern Methodist University.

Patrick Salman
Director of Student Life
Patrick Salmanserves LRCA as Director of Student Life.  In addition to previous administrative roles, his twenty-five years of education experience include teaching high school science as well as coaching various sports.  Mr. Salman earned a B.S. from University of Central Arkansas and a M.S.E. from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  His involvement with the Boy Scouts of America is another extension of his passion to see students develop their leadership potential by serving their school, community and church. 

Robyn Dodson
Librarian
Robyn Dodson came to us in 2008 and oversees the three libraries on the LRCA campus.  She brings her experience as an elementary teacher and a librarian to her leadership role.  Along with managing inventory and selecting library material, she also supervises circulation and cataloging.  Mrs. Dodson earned a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Media Library Science at the University of Central Arkansas. 

Randy Robertson
Director of Technology
Randy Robertson has served LRCA for the past eight years.  He was previously a Systems Engineer at Complete Computing, Inc. in Little Rock.  His credentials include:

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
• Watchguard Certified System Professional
• Certifications in IBM and HP

Mr. Robertson also enjoys the role of NCAA Division I Basketball Official.  

Karen Stotts
Director of Educational Technology
Karen Stotts joined the LRCA staff in 2008.  She performs the vital role of training, planning and assisting our teachers with their technical needs in order to maximize instruction time.  Her previous experience includes teaching and directing Mother’s Day Out and Children’s Programs.  Mrs. Stotts earned a B.S. in Business Technology from Arkansas State University. 

Eric Schmidt
Director of Facilities
Eric Schmidt joined our staff in the summer of 2009 after eighteen years of property management experience.  He has managed security, staff, budgets and capital improvements at multiple facilities in several states.  His responsibilities for our 50+acre campus include:

• Buildings and grounds
• Event set-up
• Food service
• Traffic
• Safety and crisis management

Mr. Schmidt earned his B.S. in Public Affairs from Indiana University.