First Grade Team
Jodi Dearmin – 1st Grade Teacher
Jodi Dearmin graduated from Surry Central High School. She earned an Associates in Arts degree from Surry Community College, and she earned her Bachelor in Elementary Education at UNC at Charlotte. She started teaching at MCA in January of 2002. Since then, she has earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University. She and her husband, Justin, have two little girls, Elizabeth and Lillian.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail jodidearmin@mcacademy.com
Karen Fritz – First Grade Teaching Assistant
Karen Fritz loves children and loves being a Teaching Assistant! She has a two-year degree in general education from Surry Community College and has her Teaching Assistant certificate. She has 12 years experience as a substitute teacher. Mrs. Fritz lives with her family in Mount Airy, and her granddaughter is an MCA student.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail karenfritz@mcacademy.com
Christy Handy – First Grade Teacher
Before graduating with a teaching degree from Lees McRae, Mrs. Handy completed an internship under Jodi Dearmin, MCA first grade teacher, and since then she has substituted numerous times. Mrs. Handy is thrilled to be at MCA as a teacher, although she’s been a parent at the school for more than ten years, and still has one son enrolled.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail: christyhandy@mcacademy.com
Heather Luke – First Grade Teaching Assistant
Heather graduated from Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC, with an Associate’s Degree in Management. She has been involved with MCA in various roles since 2001 which include being a parent volunteer, MPACT, Booster Treasurer, substitute teacher and Lions Watch care taker. She was hired as a Teaching Assistant in August 2015. Heather resides in Mount Airy with her husband, Darren and daughters Darien and Delaney.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail: heatherluke@mcacademy.com
Jennifer Lovill – First Grade Teacher
Jennifer Lovill joined MCA in 2011. She holds an Associates in Arts from Surry Community College, and a bachelor of science in Elementary Education from Appalachian State University. She lives in Mt. Airy with her three children, two of which are MCA students.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail jenniferlovill@mcacademy.com
Becky McMillian – 1st Grade Teacher
Becky McMillian came to MCA in 2005 with twenty-one years of teaching experience in grades K-1. Prior to MCA, she most recently taught at Mountain Park Elementary. She graduated from Radford University witha BS in Early Childhood Education is is certified BK-6. She resides in Cana, Va with her husband Britt. They have two sons and one granddaughter.
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail beckymcmillian@mcacademy.com
Jeanette Phillips – 1st Grade Teaching Assistant
Phone Number 336.789.7570 E-mail jeanettephillips@mcacademy.com