• Elise Anschel
• Katherine Daven
• Andy Cross
• Kelly Hanson
• Kelly Homolka
• Nikki Montgomery

Elise Anschel grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, where she began studying Latin in the 7th grade. She received her B.A. in Latin from Swarthmore College, and her teaching certification from the University of Colorado at Boulder. After teaching briefly in a public high school in Colorado Springs, she returned to school and completed a M.A. in Classical Studies at Duke University. She and her husband Paul moved to Asheville in 2003, shortly before the birth of their daughter Livy, who is now a student at The New Classical Academy. Elise was the Latin teacher at New Classical in its first year, but took some time off after her son Quinn was born. She is happy to have the opportunity to return to teaching part-time. Latin poetry has been her passion for much of her life, and through teaching she strives to inspire a similar passion for Latin in her students.
When she's not playing ponies or legos, Elise enjoys cooking, eating other people's cooking, reading, Ashtanga yoga, and exploring Western North Carolina with her family. Back to top.

Katherine Daven has worked with children of all ages as an elementary school teacher, social worker, service learning coordinator, and camp counselor. From 2001 to 2008 she worked as the Outdoor Experiential Learning Specialist at Isaac Dickson Elementary School. The job involved teaching organic gardening, science, drama, writing, nature, insects, and literacy, just to name a few. Katherine loves to work in a non-traditional teaching setting and believes many of the skills that are needed for adult life can be learned while trying to capture a live chicken: the knowledge of when to go slow and steady, when to reach in quickly for the grab, and how not to squeeze too tightly when the goal is achieved. One of her greatest passions is teaching children (really anyone) to knit. With her husband, Morgan, and her children, Sam and Maddie, Katherine spends many fun hours camping, hiking, hunting for geocaches, and playing in rivers and streams. She is thrilled to be the new K-2 teacher at The New Classical Academy. Back to top.

Andy Cross teaches 6th-8th grade and science for all of the high school classes. He was born and raised in South Florida. He attended the University of Vermont where he studied Forestry and Environmental Education. During his time in college, Andy went to Kenya to further his education and attended the National Outdoor Leadership School. In 2002, Andy graduated with a BS in Forestry. After college he worked as a Program Director at Camp Highlander. He has also worked with Outward Bound, adjudicated youth, and one-on-one with at-risk students. He lives with his wife Jane, their beautiful baby Adi Kenya, and their dogs Pepper and Oakland. When Andy is not teaching he can be found continuing with his love of nature and hiking, and on occasion does hiking gear reviews for the Blue Ridge Outdoor magazine. Back to top.

Kelly grew up in Syracuse, New York but has lived in Asheville with her husband Chris for 19 years. She has two teenagers - Samantha and Colin. Kelly home schooled her children through middle school and during that time she taught numerous classes for homeschoolers including theater/drama, art, economics and life skills. She also volunteered for 8 years at Issac Dickson Elementary school in a mixed age classroom heading up an annual puppet play project for FoxFire and as a LEAF in Schools and Streets artist/mentor. Kelly is excited to teach at The New Classical Academy and looks forward to helping her students learn and grow in this exceptional educational environment. Back to top.

Kelly Homolka is the Founder and Director of The New Classical Academy. She was raised in northern Virginia and then went to California for college. She majored in Religious Studies and then went on to earn an elementary teaching credential from the University of California at Santa Barbara. In college she met her husband Gregg, who is a general contractor. They have three wonderful children, Emily, Daisy and Frank. Kelly has worked for the YMCA, as the Director of Children's Services for a homeless shelter, and as an educator for many community and home school classes. Her hobbies are traveling, hiking, skiing, eating and reading the classics. Back to top.

Nikki Montgomery was born in Asheville and raised in the Swannanoa/ Black Mountain area. �She attended Asheville Buncombe Technical College and is currently obtaining her degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been working with children for 10 years in both formal and informal settings. When she is not preparing for the next days' lesson, Nikki enjoys spending time with her wonderful daughter Whitney and their family. Back to top.