Upper School

Education:  M.A., Organizational Leadership from Regent University. Advanced Literature and English Certificate from CSU Boulder; B.A., Organizational Communications from Murray State University. 

Mrs. Butler joined the Evangel faculty in 2020 and currently teaches CCU Dual Enrollment Courses for 11th Grade Humanities, AP Language and Composition, as well Senior Thesis. With 20 years of experience in education, Mrs. Butler is passionate about teaching literature that allows students to experience models of virtue and God’s truth.

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

Mrs. Chance has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baylor University with emphasis in secondary art and math. She taught for 9 years before moving into the admin and finance field for 12 years. She is overjoyed to be teaching again at ECA, having joined the staff in 2021. Her favorite mathematical concept is the golden ratio as its applications so perfectly reveal God’s beautiful creation as revealed in math, art, and nature.

Mrs. Griffith worked as an RN many years ago, but she has spent most of her adult years teaching — first her own six children, and then at Collegium Study Center and Evangel Christian Academy. She enjoys her 6th and 7th grade students this year in both school settings! During free time she values time with her husband and eight grandchildren. God has blessed her to live on five acres of prairie land, where she marvels at His eternal power and divine nature displayed in spectacular sunrises and sunsets!

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬‬‬

Mrs. Haiar joined the Evangel faculty in 2023 and has been part of the Evangel community since 2016 as a parent. She currently teaches Logic School Art and Geography and assists with Grammar School Art, where she loves helping students explore creativity, culture, and critical thinking through a Biblical lens. Mrs. Haiar earned her Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies – Communication in 2004 and her Master of Arts in Communication in 2008, both from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS). She brings to her classroom a passion for excellence in communication and artistic expression, guiding students to recognize the beauty, order, and creativity of God’s design in the world around them.

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

Education: Bachelor of Arts in History, Colorado State University, Ft Collins, CO; Masters of Human Relations, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK; and Masters of National Security Strategy, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. He is currently pursuing an advanced degree in English Literature.

Mr. Hopper joined the Evangel Christian Academy and Collegium Study Center team in 2022. He currently teaches 12th Grade Humanities (Modern Era), 11th Grade Rhetoric, 10th Grade Old Testament, 9th Grade Collegium D3 Instructor, and he also serves as our Safety & Security Coordinator. Prior to ECA, Mr. Hopper served 30+ years in the U.S. Army. He has lived in multiple locations across the United States, Europe, Middle East, and Asia.

Mr. Hopper is married to Mrs. Christina Hopper, and they have four children, of which one is a senior at ECA. The Hoppers are members of Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church where Mr. Hopper is serving as a Ruling Elder.

Mr. Hopper enjoys time spent with family and friends and has way too many hobbies. He loves reading Sci-FI and Fantasy, particualrly Star Wars and anything from J.R.R. Tolkien.

A longtime student and enthusiast of classical Christian education philosophy, Mr. Hopper is excited to serve the church, parents, and students at ECA and the Collegium Study Center.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Mrs. Jones joined the Evangel staff in 2023. She graduated from ECA back in 2021, she has always been connected to the school and was so excited to join the staff in helping to grow the minds of our middle school students.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Mr. Koch joined the Evangel faculty in 2024. He has almost 20 years in various technical support and systems administration roles. While he has not been a formal teacher before, he has been a tutor, mentor, and instructor as part of his technical roles as well as his real estate business. He and his wife are originally from MN, but moved here to be in the mountains and couldn’t be happier. Their daughter started attending ECA in Kindergarten and loves it as well. Mr. Koch is looking forward to growing the technology program at ECA while also equipping the students (and adults around them) to use technology ethically and responsibly.

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5

Elizabeth joined the ECA faculty in 2024, teaching honors anatomy and physiology, chemistry, Old Testament Survey, and a Myths, Legends, and Fairytales class. She received her bachelor’s degree in healthcare at Grand Canyon University, graduating in 2022. Elizabeth was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and spent the last six years in Phoenix, AZ.

Mrs. Meinz is a Colorado native, born and raise in Loveland. In college she double-majored in Music and Biology. After college, she and her husband lived in northern Illinois for 10 years, serving in camp ministry at a Christian camp.

She has been married to her husband Jeffrey for 26 years and they have six children and just recently born, their first grandchild. Mrs. Meinz homeschooled her children for 17 years and then joined the faculty at ECA in the fall of 2023. She enjoys spending time with her family, camping, hiking, and backpacking, (so far she has completed over 100 miles on the Colorado Trail!) visiting anywhere with a beach, missions trips, and playing oboe for worship. We have an awesome Creator God! What a blessing to explore many aspects of Life and Earth Science with students at ECA.

“The Lord is my Light and My Salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” Ps. 27:1-2

Education: Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biophysics from the University of
Denver; M.A. in Bioethics from Trinity International University; B.A. in Biology
and Chemistry, Mathematics Minor from the University of Colorado at Colorado
Springs

In 2025, Dr. Moon sensed God moving her to change career paths and pursue teaching
at the secondary level. She is thrilled to be able to share her love of science along with
her love of Jesus in the classroom at Evangel. She has experience with research, preparing
lab activities, and taught at the college level in the past. Dr. Moon currently teaches
Physical Science (8th Grade), Chemistry, Physics, and Advanced Financial Algebra. She
says that the best part about teaching science is being able to point to the way that God
put order into Creation and how that points to His character as an orderly God.

“By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what
is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 11:3

Mr. Murphy is a 23-year veteran of the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserves, including almost 17 years teaching Math and Economics at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Mr. Murphy wrapped up his time at the Air Force Academy as Head of the Department of Economics and Geosciences. He holds a Masters of Science degree in Industrial Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.

Mr. Murphy is in his third year teaching at Evangel, but he is anything but new to ECA. Mr. Murphy has been a part of ECA sports for over 10 years working as an assistant high school soccer coach, middle and grade school soccer coach, and middle school track coach.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” Proverbs 9:10

Education B.A., Political Science; M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction with Emphasis in Technology University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Mr. Poole is in his third year at ECA and his 35th in teaching. Mr. Poole enjoys working with young people and interacting with them in their roles as students, athletes, and people. He wants to see his students reach their potential as people and fulfill their purpose in God. He believes that God calls us to “good works in Christ Jesus and that we should labor as unto the Lord and not as unto men because our labor in the Lord is never in vain.” Mr. Poole enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, hiking, mountain biking, and photography.

“This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Education: M.A. Philosophy from Biola University. B.A. Communication from Colorado Christian University

After working for a Christian nonprofit helping students navigate technology, modern culture, and pluralism for several years, Miss Rea moved to California to study philosophy, hoping to learn from Christians of past eras about the nature of reality, what the good life is, and how one comes to know the truth. It is now her joy to help students ask and answer the many questions which are natural to human beings, inviting them to join the Great Conversation begun by the Ancient Greeks and carried on by our fathers and mothers in the Christian faith. Miss Rea currently teaches 10th Grade Humanities and 9th Grade Composition.

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17b-19

Mrs. Sánchez has taught Spanish and English for 20 years to learners of all ages. She was a missionary in Spain for 4 years, and loves teaching at ECA. Mrs. Sánchez and her husband have one daughter, who has attended ECA since Pre-K. Mrs. Sánchez´s favorite activities are crocheting, working in her garden and kayaking. Mrs. Sánchez hopes to inspire students to love languages and language learning, and to use their abilities to extend Christ’s kingdom to all peoples, tribes and languages.

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!’ ” Revelation 7:9-12