OUR TEACHERS

MRS. BOBBIE KING

PRINCIPAL

Mrs. King is a graduate of Evangel University in Springfield Missouri with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. Following graduation, she was employed by the Missouri Department of Social Services as a Children’s Service Worker. As a Children’s Service Worker, she carried a caseload of abused and neglected children and their families, as well as investigated alleged abuse and neglect. In 2001, Mrs. King began working at Lee’s Summit Academy as the School Social Worker. She helped with the behavioral and mental health of students as well as helping parents and staff work together to solve problems and implement appropriate change strategies. In 2006, Mrs. King was asked to become the Principal of Lee’s Summit Academy. As Principal at Lee’s Summit Academy Mrs. King’s goal is provide students with the best environment possible to learn and be academically proficient.

MS. SUZI BYBEE

VICE PRINCIPAL AND TEACHER

This year marks Ms. Bybee’s 45th year of teaching in which 32 of those years were in the public-school system. She has cherished every minute that she has been in a classroom. Ms. Bybee has a Master's Degree plus 30 hours of post graduate work. She teaches mainly social studies, language arts, speech and drama. Ms. Bybee has been known to facilitate a few other classes. Teaching at LSA is a dream fulfillment. To be able to proclaim God's goodness while enhancing academic endeavors, has always been of utmost importance to Ms. Bybee.

MRS. MICHELE AUGUSTINE

ADMINISTRATOR

Began in 2005, with experience in data entry and bookkeeping. Working for LSA has truly been an amazing experience for Mrs. Augustine. She watched her daughter excel and flourish from the time she started in 2005 until graduation in 2011. It dramatically changed her life and Mrs. Augustine’s. This will be her 14th year working at LSA. Mrs. Augustine’s jobs include: receptionist, registrar and finance administrator. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of such an amazing group of people dedicated to teaching and pouring into the lives of our children. “This journey has been such a joy and I look forward to the future.”

(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: MRS. BOBBIE KING, MRS. MICHELE AUGUSTINE, MS. SUZY BYBEE)

MRS. DEB ALBURTUS

VOCAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC TEACHER

Mrs. Alburtus is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Music degree and teacher certification. She has taught in the public school setting for 12 years, in private school 7 years, and in private studio for 35 years. Her husband is a public-school administrator with the Independence School District. Mr. & Mrs. Alburtus have 4 daughters, 4 sons-in-law, and 7 grandchildren.

MRS. MONICA SORENSON

KINDERGARTEN AND 1ST GRADE TEACHER

Mrs. Sorenson has her Missouri teaching license degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching for over 20 years in public schools and also taught home school to her own children. She has taught at the Academy before and we are very glad to have her back teaching K-1. In addition to all this she is also tutoring elementary students on the side for extra help in reading and math.

MRS. BROOKE VIERRA

2ND AND 3RD GRADE TEACHER

Mrs. Vierra is a Lee's Summit Academy graduate and after she went on to study Early Childhood and Elementary Education at Evangel University where she graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree. Prior to coming on full time at Lee's Summit Academy she worked at Libby Lane Preschool through college and then again for a year and a half after she graduated college. Mrs. Vierra teaches a variety of classes including elementary art, elementary physical education, yearbook, and consumer math.

MS. JESSICA SHEARER

4TH AND 5TH GRADE TEACHER

Jessica Shearer is a graduate of Evangel University in Springfield, MO with a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Public Relations and a Minor in Music. Following graduation, she taught private music lessons to kids for 25 years and was certified in Teaching English as a Second Language.

Mrs. Shearer also worked at an Advertising Firm as Account Executive. That transitioned into running the office of a family-owned business which led to a role as an Accountant when she and her family moved to Kansas City. Mrs. Shearer was a volunteer at LSA for over three years before officially teaching elementary education. She is also a children’s ministry leader at her church.

Mrs. Shearer’s many experiences have brought her to LSA to help give the fourth and fifth-grade students the skills and education they need to succeed.

MR. AARON LAGE

HIGH SCHOOL PE

Mr. Lage serves as the School Administrator at the Revival Training Center in Kansas City, MO along with teaching several Bible Courses as an instructor there. Also serving as the High School teacher for Physical Education he concentrates on attitude and participation over talent. He's always had a personal interest in physical fitness and enjoys sports of all kinds.

MRS. JILL KOPPANG

MS/HS SCIENCE, BIBLE, AND HONORS PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Mrs. Koppang has been an educator for 17 years. She received Bachelors of Science Degree in Education with a minor in Science and Math from the University of Central Missouri. For more than ten years, Mrs. Koppang has taught many grade levels at LSA ranging from 2nd grade to upper level high school Science. She resides in Lee’s Summit, MO with her husband of seventeen years and her four sons. Her enthusiasm for science has led her to teach the Middle School and High School Science classes.

MS. BECKY HILL

MS/HS MATH

Ms. Hill has taught Middle School Math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Accounting, Computer Programming, Kinesiology and Forensics at Lee’s Summit Academy for 12 years. She graduated from State Fair Community College with an Associate of Arts in Psychology in 1984, and then returned to school in 1991 to pursue a degree in Occupational Therapy. She graduated cum laude with a BHS in Occupational Therapy in 1994 from the University of Missouri-Columbia and is licensed in the state of Missouri. She worked as an occupational therapist with an emphasis in hand therapy and industrial rehab for 14 years prior to leaving that profession to do what she had always dreamed of doing teaching. Ms. Hill loves math and the challenge of instilling the love of math in her students.

MS. CAROLE HAWKINS

MIDDLE SCHOOL ENGLISH/NEWSPAPER

Ms. Hawkins has been teaching for over 17 years. She has a diploma from West Philadelphia High school and attended Burlington County College in New Jersey. With 15 years as a English and Language Arts teacher for both Middle and High School students, Ms. Hawkins is well versed in the subject matter that she teaches. Additionally, she has 2 years as a Physical Education teacher, for Elementary, Middle and High school level, so her experience outweighs her educational degrees which makes her an up to date asset for our Academy.