Kirstin started out earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and working in a medical research laboratory. She soon realized that she truly flourished when interfacing with people. Thus, she started her own private music studio and offered classical piano instruction. She met David and they got married, had two children, and decided to homeschool. 15 years and two high school graduates later, the homeschool adventure was counted a success. During those years, Kirstin had the privilege of working in the children's ministry at their church. She also took and taught tae kwon do, earning a third degree black belt, specializing in bullying prevention and self-defense.

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With both children launched, Kirstin founded and coordinated a homeschool enrichment program at a charter school in Douglas County, teaching multi-aged homeschool classes. She also started tutoring privately, embracing the chance to work one-on-one with students, helping them find success in academics. Then, for four years, Kirstin directed and taught a 2-day a week academic homeschool hybrid program, supporting and encouraging families in their educational pursuits.

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She is grateful to the Lord for leading her to SCA and humbled by the opportunity to be a part of this team to serve children and their families to His honor and glory. God has been, and continues to be, her firm foundation. Hebrews 10:23 says, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Karah has always loved math, with one of her earliest memories being exploring odd and even numbers with Duplo blocks. She has tutored math in many settings, including at Pikes Peak Community College, 1:1 ACT/SAT prep, and math subjects for younger ages. She studied Computational and Applied Mathematics at Colorado School of Mines, where she met her now-husband Levi Barber. After graduation, she worked in defense as an analyst and software engineer and then in HR consulting doing math modeling and data science.

The Barbers have attended Southside Bible Church for four years. Some of her other interests include Biblical Theology, frugal homemaking, ethical consumerism, Costco, and hiking. “This year, I have meditated on a verse I had never really noticed before: 1 John 3:8b, which says ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.’ I have been finding much hope in the sureness of Christ’s victory over Satan and our future in the new world, where death and sin will be no more, and we will worship our King forever.

Chris grew up in varied circumstances in Oregon, Montana, California, Colorado, and Texas, allowing her to feel at ease with many different people. She has spent her entire adult life in the south Denver area, receiving BAs in Elementary Education and Sociology and later an MA in Mathematics Education. Chris has four adult kids and 11 grandchildren, all in OH, OR, AZ, and British Columbia. Now retired from teaching all grades from preschool through high school and many years of private tutoring, Chris misses teaching and ‘grand-mothering’, hence the draw to SCA! Through the ups and downs of about 30 years now Chris has cherished the encouragement of the 27th Psalm: “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? … I am confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living…be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”

Mandy's bio coming soon!

Haley grew up in a Navy family, living on both the east and the west coast throughout her childhood, and exploring some fun places like Guam, before she went to college in Anderson, South Carolina. Haley met her husband, Sam, working at a Christian outdoor camp in Pennsylvania, and she moved out to Colorado in 2022 after they were engaged. They were married in 2023 and now live in the Denver area with their daughter, who they welcomed in April of 2025. Haley and Sam are members of Southside Bible Church, where they have been attending since early 2022 and enjoy any opportunity to serve and support the body. The community they have found there has brought them great joy and encouragement through many seasons of life.

After Haley graduated from Anderson University in South Carolina with her Bachelor’s of Science in nursing, she spent a year in SC working on an adult telemetry floor turned COVID floor during the pandemic. When Haley made her move out to Colorado, this was also a fun time to pursue a childhood dream of becoming a pediatric nurse! Haley has worked at HealthOne Rocky Mountain Children’s, located downtown and attached to Presbyterian St. Luke’s, since moving to Colorado, and has loved her time there. She has gained quite a lot of experience here in taking care of a variety of kiddos, including oncology patients, spinal fusions, the seasonal winter RSV and flu breakouts, and a whole host of all the other fun things that kids get themselves into. She holds certifications in pediatric advanced life support (PALS), pediatric chemotherapy administration (APHON), and is a Certified Pediatric Nurse. She is thrilled to get to know all of the families at SCA this year!

Haley grew up in a Christian home and is thankful that she does not recollect a time in which she did not know the Lord. Her testimony today includes many times of trial or struggle that the Lord used to draw her closer to him and make that childhood faith she grew up with stronger and more secure in his word. Haley began her nursing career in the midst of the COVID pandemic, and this brought along with it much intensity and grief, as the loss of many patients was a harsh reminder of our temporal nature on this earth. In the midst of this, however, the Lord was faithful to remind Haley of his promises to his children - a passage that Haley holds dear because of this is Revelation 21:3-5: And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Isso grew up in Southern California, where the Lord graciously saved her at a summer camp while in high school. By God’s blessing, at that summer camp she became good friends with the boy, Victor, who would later become her husband after they both graduated from college. Always having felt led to help people in need, especially children, Isso received a degree in Criminology from Biola University, then went on to become a crime analyst at a police department. While she loved her original profession, after losing her first child (Celand) during pregnancy, Isso felt called to something new; she had a deep desire to raise her own children in the way of the Lord, and one day teach at an academic program where she could encourage other children to love the Lord too. Victor and Isso had their firstborn child and moved to Colorado, where God once again graciously provided her with her dream job, now at SCA. After jobs in private tutoring, teaching at a science camp, and tutoring at-risk youth, she is very excited to now assist homeschool families.

One of Isso’s favorite passages is in John 9, where Jesus heals the man born blind. She is always amazed and encouraged by the blind man’s boldness to oppose the Pharisees and defend Jesus, speaking theological truths to them as he does so. She prays that her students would be bold in their faith, like the blind man, and speak God’s truth. One of her favorite verses is Isaiah 40:8: “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” - a truth and promise that she hopes her students will never forget.

I am a follower of Christ, wife, and mother. I was born in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to godly Christian parents serving the Lord in Southeast Asia. My husband’s parents worked alongside my parents in Asia, which is how we met! For as long as I can remember, I have been captivated by God’s creation. Whether it be plants, wildlife, the sky, the scientific laws that govern the world, bugs (which there were plenty of in Thailand), I have always loved being in and learning about God’s creation. This passion led me to pursue a bachelor's degree in Agriculture and Nutrition from Huntington University and work in my previous roles in teaching both in public and private Christian schools. I moved to Colorado in 2024 shortly before marrying my husband. We attend Lakewood Bible Chapel, where I serve in the Sunday school.

Although I made a “profession of faith” at a very young age and continued to believe in God and seek Him, I first truly began to understand what Christ did for me when I was in middle school. Since then, as I keep with repentance and faith, I continue to better understand the depths of my sin and the love of God given to me on the cross. One of my favorite passages in my current season of life is found in Colossians 1:12-14, which speaks of Jesus “... who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

Alex is a first-year MDiv student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a member of Southside Bible Church. He felt the call to pastoral ministry at the time of his conversion in 2018, and since then, the Lord has led him through seasons of life, ministry, and education across South Dakota, Iowa, Texas, Minnesota, and Colorado.

Alex has studied at Minnesota State University–Mankato, Bethlehem College & Seminary, and Reformation Bible College, while serving in various ministry contexts along the way. Youth ministry has become one of his greatest passions, particularly the privilege of walking alongside children and young people as they learn to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

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Alex has two sisters, one older and one younger, as well as a younger brother. His sisters share the same mother, while his younger brother shares the same father. His family background and childhood experiences have deeply shaped his passion for the home, the church, discipleship, spiritual leadership, and raising up the next generation. His desire is to be the mentor and brother he wished he had growing up, faithfully serving Christ and His Church wherever the Lord leads. 

One of Alex's favorite bible verses is Psalm 116:5-9, “Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.”

I grew up the 6th of 12 children in Las Cruces, NM. With so many children I never felt loved or noticed except when I broke the rules. I struggled with most of my siblings. When I was 15yrs. an older sister invited me to participate in a Christian singing group. There I found the love I was missing. Through participating in the group I surrendered my life to the Lord.

I went to nursing school in NM, then moved to CO a year after graduating to work at Children's Hospital. I met my husband there, but got to know him through church. We've been married 44+yrs, have 2 grown daughters, 3 grandsons, & a granddaughter, ages 12-15yrs.

My husband & I are both retired & enjoy time with our grandchildren.

We did homeschool both our daughters through high school & helped homeschool our grandchildren during 2020-22.

I co-founded a homeschooling support group in Lakewood in which we ministered for 10+yrs before the Lord called me out from that ministry.

Born and raised in a small rural farming community. Earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering. Sprirtual growth began later in life, based on Bible study and attendance at biblically sound churches. Wife, Betty and I have 2 children and 2 twin girls for grand children. This is their senior year in high school. Looking forward to what the Lord has in store for me at SCA.

Growing up in rural Michigan, Steve worked the fields and raised horses, cows, and chickens. Heeding the wisdom of Proverbs 16:3 — “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans” — he moved to Atlanta, GA (quite a transition) to study aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

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After graduation, he joined the Navy, Steve’s memoir, “Fair Winds, Following Seas, and a Few Bolters,” shares stories of becoming and serving as a carrier pilot on Western Pacific cruises during the last throes of the Cold War and the First Gulf War.

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After starting a family, Steve left the Navy and attended USD School of Law, supported by his wife Patricia. Steve spent 13 years in private practice followed by 12 as a senior trial attorney at the US Securities and Exchange Commission. He retired from the SEC in 2022 but maintains his law license for interesting cases. St. Thomas More, where Patricia serves as an extraordinary minister and Steve volunteers as a Knight of Columbus and member of the safety ministry, is their spiritual home. Steve is excited to support Southside Classical Academy, while honing his insights into ways to improve public education and engage grandparents to help Protect Your Grandkids’ Education through GrandParents4Kids, a nonprofit where he is a board member.