Position: Principal / 3rd-8th grade teacher
NAD Elementary Teaching Certification (in progress)
Spanish Language and Culture K-12 Teaching Certification
Highest Degree: Master's of Music
Major Field: Piano Performance - Collaborative Arts
College Where Earned: Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Mrs. Barna is a dedicated educator, with a extensive background in foreign languages and music. She is passionate about Adventist education and a strong believer is the Biblical instruction found in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
She was born and raised in Romania where she was an active member of her church serving as pianist, Sabbath School and Pathfinders instructor. In her early twenties she moved to the United State to pursue a college degree in piano performance. After receiving her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music, Mrs. Barna returned to school and earned her certification as a K-12 Spanish teacher. Before acception the teaching position at LCA, she taught Spanish, French and Italian at elementary and high school levels for five years as well as teaching private piano lesson for more than ten years.
Her hobbies include collaborating as a pianist with choirs and solo musicians, reading, traveling and hiking. She loves being married and learning daily about God's ideals for a Christian family.
Position: K-2 Teacher
K-5 Elementary Education Certification
PreK-12 English as a Second Language (ESL) Certification
NAD Elementary Teaching Certification (in progress)
Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction
Highest Degree: Masters of Curriculum and Instruction
Major Field: Elementary Education K-5
College Where Earned: Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City, TN
Mrs. Rietman is an enthusiastic educator who serves as the K-2 teacher. Having attended this school as a child, she places great emphasis on the importance of Christian education. Two of her favorite bible passages are Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13.
Mrs. Rietman was born and raised in the Morristown area and grew up in the Morristown Seventh-day Adventist Church. She spent many years as a dedicated Pathfinder. Eventually, she worked as a staff member and mentored younger children in the Pathfinder club at her church.
She and her husband, Josh, enjoy life on a small farm. Her hobbies include gardening, kayaking, camping, photography, traveling, cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family and friends.
Position: Academy Facilitator
Highest Degree: Master's of Science
Major Field: Mental Health Counseling
College Where Earned: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Mr. Tesfa is a passionate learner who loves to share his knowledge with children of all ages. He enjoys Bible study, hiking, running, gardening (i.e. - learning how), learning new ways to do things and helping others reach their goals. One of his favorite passages of Scripture is Isaiah 43:1-3. Prior to earning his Master's in Mental Health Counseling, Mr. Tesfa received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in chemistry from the same university.
He has served as a paraprofessional for LCA, working with elementary and middle school students; he has also taught and supervised college level classes in Career Counseling at FSU. Next to teaching, he has worked with children, teenagers and adults in various settings, providing in-home counseling, school counseling and other agency services. Mr. Tesfa currently serves as Vespers Coordinator and Pathfinders instructor in his local church.