Dr. Kovalcik has over twenty years of experience in teaching and administration at the University, international and private school levels. His Ph.D. in medieval studies was granted by the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom. He is a graduate of Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Arts in Theology. Since 2001 he has served in multiple academic and administrative positions, including The Griswold Distinguished Professor of History at Millikin University in Decatur Il, Teaching Pastor at numerous Churches and President of the School Board at Decatur Christian Schools. In these various roles Dr. Kovalcik has served as the History Department Chair, Council on Faculty Chair, the Social Science Secondary Education coordinator, a Board of Trustees representative and multiple organizational responsibilities. He is also a robust scholar, with many conference presentations and publications related to medieval history, local history and the theory of History. For all of his accomplishments he has been internationally recognized by his peers, e.g. winning the 2016 Teacher of the Year award at Millikin University and named a Coleman Scholar by the Coleman Foundation in 2017.  

Dr. Kovalcik is married to Helene and they have four children, Kaley, Emmery, Isaiah and Sara Beth. They are a busy family with multiple interests including a voracious reading schedule, world travel, a plethora of pets, and an aggressive athletic agenda.

Diana graduated from Texas A&M-Texarkana with a degree in Elementary Education. She has an EC-4 certification in both Texas and Louisiana. She taught in Texas for 12 years, before moving to Shreveport in 2021. She has taught 1st grade and Kindergarten for over 15 years. Diana had the privilege of being raised by the most dedicated, amazing teacher...her mother. The example of kindness and love her mother showed her students helped to guide Diana to teach. She truly feels that working in education is not a job, but a calling. Diana feels blessed to be a part of the Ascension Classical School family. She looks forward to watching her first graders grow into lifelong learners. Diana enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe and daughters, Brooklynn and Brynn. During her free time, Diana can be found traveling, attending sporting events, playing tennis, or playing with her fur babies, Beaux, Zoey, and Louie.  

Kenzie graduated from Louisiana State University Shreveport with a degree in Elementary Education and a certification in Special Education. Throughout her education experience, Kenzie taught at least 300 hours of lessons in schools across Caddo Parish and Bossier Parish, including Arthur Circle Elementary where she student taught 3rd grade for a semester. Throughout that time, she learned and practiced many strategies and methods of teaching students with varying abilities, strengths, and academic levels. She absolutely loves teaching and investing in the lives of children in and beyond the classroom. 

Kenzie was drawn to teach at Ascension when she learned of the Christian-based, classical approach to education that the school is centered around. She admires the focus on discipleship the faculty and staff have for their students as they grow to be diligent, ambitious learners, as well as fervent Christ followers. 

Kenzie married her husband, Colin, in March 2020. When she is not teaching or planning lessons, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, crocheting, and doing DIY projects at home! 

Christine graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education. Christine has experience working with kindergarten,1st, 3rd, and 5th grade as well as two years of working experience as a teaching assistant in an International Baccalaureate preschool in Kent, Ohio. After graduating, Christine married her husband, Wesley, in April of this year. They then moved to Shreveport where her husband is stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base to work in cyber security.  She was drawn to Ascension after learning more about classical, Christian education and seeing the beauty and truth that is instilled into children through this type of education. For a long time, Christine has also felt a call to Christian education and ministry where she can share her faith and love for the Lord to children everyday. When Christine is not teaching, she enjoys hiking, traveling, baking, and has a love for nature. 

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At a young age, Becky felt called by God to be a teacher. She graduated from Missouri Southern State University with a B.S. in Education, then taught in high school Special Education in Missouri. After her husband, David, brought her to his home state of Louisiana, she earned a Master of Science in Education degree from Louisiana State University Shreveport while working in Adult Literacy.

Becky’s passion for the Christian classical model of education began in 2007 when she was trained as a leader in a homeschool program equipping parents in the classical model. While homeschooling her four children, she helped equip families across Louisiana to educate by using the classical model. Her desire is to continue to use this model to help students grow academically and spiritually in knowledge and understanding, which lead to wisdom.

Besides her love of teaching in the classroom, Becky also enjoys teaching Bible studies at her church. She finds one of her greatest joys is spending time with her family.

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Julie earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Louisiana Tech University in 1988 and 1990 respectively. In 2006, she earned a Master’s Degree Plus 30 Graduate Hours from Centenary College in Parish/City School Supervisor of Instruction. Julie spent years teaching in Caddo and Bossier parishes before becoming an administrator in 2014. She retired from Caddo Parish in June 2021 after 32 years. She found herself missing the daily interaction with students and decided it was time to return to her roots. Last year was the best year of her teaching career, and she cannot wait for this year to be even better! She feels blessed and highly favored to be part of the ACS family!

Julie is the mother to two children, Sydney and Zach. Sydney graduated in 2020 from NSU with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Zach graduated from BPCC in 2021 in mass communications. She also has a fur-baby, Paisley. Julie enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, shopping, and watching college football.

Jeff is from Haughton and received a degree in computer science from LSUS. That’s where he met his wife, who is first-generation Vietnamese American, although she immigrated when she was three. Jeff’s first career field was IT, during which time he and his wife lived in Asia for two and a half years. After their first daughter was born they returned to Asia to live another sixteen years. As they raised their daughters in Asia they homeschooled them there. Jeff enjoyed and valued many aspects of homeschooling his daughters, but two that stand out were learning alongside them and getting to read such great novels to them.

Jeff was first introduced to classical education by another homeschooling family in Asia. One element of classical education in the curriculum Jeff and his wife taught was an integration of literature and history as the backbone of the program. Jeff taught the history side, and his wife taught the literature side.  

Jeff and his wife are members of Grace Presbyterian Church. Jeff was drawn to Ascension through his friendship and interaction with Ascension families in the church. Jeff believes God has been preparing him as a classical educator for many years. His prior classroom teaching experience include 9 years of English courses at a Chinese university and one year of Algebra 1 at another private school in Shreveport.

Jeff’s wife is a nurse in the newborn nursery at St. Mary’s Hospital. His older daughter is almost finished with a social work degree at LSU, and his younger daughter is working on a civil engineering degree at Louisiana Tech. Jeff enjoys spending time with his family and friends and walking in the area of South Highlands, where he lives.

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Born in Shreveport, LA, I grew up in South Bossier, graduating from Parkway High School. I obtained my Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from LSUS in May 2022. Over the years, I've had the pleasure of serving in both high school and college ministry, dedicating a year to each. After college, I worked as a campus missionary at the Shreveport BCM, a ministry I actively participated in during my undergraduate years. In addition to my academic and ministry commitments, I'm heavily involved in my church, Broadmoor Baptist, occasionally leading worship and guiding high school small groups. When not teaching, I work as a barista at MOOR coffee. I find joy in reading, particularly books that deepen my spiritual knowledge. Traveling with friends and family is another cherished pastime. Furthermore, I contribute my time to helping out at summer camps. I look forward to fostering a positive and enriching educational environment for all students this year