Meet Our Team
Meet Our Online Education Team
The staff at Hoosier College and Career Academy (HCCA) are dedicated to providing students with high-quality learning experiences.
School Principal
Samantha Goldsmith | Academic Administrator
Samantha Goldsmith is the interim academic administrator for Hoosier College and Career Academy (HCCA). She comes to HCCA from another Stride school, where she had been an administrator since 2018. She enjoys building data culture and helping teachers be the best teachers that they can be.
Ext. 4004 | Email: sgoldsmith@hoosieracademy.org
Meet Your Teachers
Aaron Baugh | CTE Instructor
Aaron Baugh is a CTE instructor and has taught at HCCA since 2019. He has a BS in history from Purdue University. He has five years of experience teaching technical education and social studies in middle school and high school.
Fun fact: "I'm a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and served from 2002–2006.
Ext. 4081 | Email: abaugh@hoosieracademy.org
Heather Baumann | High School English Teacher
Heather Baumann has been a high school English teacher at HCCA since 2019. She has a degree in secondary English language arts with a minor in literature. She has been helping students achieve success in the classroom for six years.
Fun fact: "I won a trip to Maui through a radio station where I learned why you will never find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (Rainbows are full circles and you can only see that from the air!)"
Ext. 4014 | Email: hbaumann@hoosieracademy.org
John Casey | High School Mathematics Teacher
John Casey has taught high school mathematics for 3 years. He is passionate about the subject because math is all around us! John tries to make that apparent in his lessons by using real-world examples. He believes that all students can learn. He also believes that perseverance and discipline are two keys to being successful.
Ext. 4011 | Email: jcasey@hoosieracademy.org
Ashlee Deal | Middle School Science Teacher
Ashlee Deal graduated from the University of Southern Indiana in 2011. She has 11 years of experience teaching Science. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and a science endorsement. Science has always been her favorite subject!
Fun fact: "I have been married for almost 10 years. We have two spoiled rotten Labrador retrievers. In my free time, I play competitive volleyball, and bake and decorate sugar cookies."
Ext. 4010 | Email: adeal@hoosieracademy.org
Brittany Eckhardt | Special Education Teacher
Brittany Eckhardt has been a special education teacher for HCCA's high school since 2017. She holds a bachelor's degree in exceptional needs K–12 and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. She taught for three years at Delta Middle School and six years at Oak Hill Junior High and High School as a special education teacher.
Fun fact: "I love watching cooking shows and cooking. My favorite things to cook and eat are Thai and Indian curries."
Ext. 4003 | Email: beckhardt@hoosieracademy.org
Carla Gehlhausen | CTE Instructor
Carla Gehlhausen has been HCCA's CTE computer education instructor since 2019. She holds a BS in accounting from Brescia University and an MA in education from Oakland City University. She taught in brick-and-mortar schools for seven years before joining HCCA. Prior to that she worked as an accountant for 30 years.
Fun fact: "I am married to a wonderful man and we have four awesome kids, two grandkids, four German shepherds, a yorkie, an African grey parrot, and three Paso Finos. My favorite things to do are horseback riding and spending time with my family and critters."
Ext.4009 | Email: cgehlhausen@hoosieracademy.org
Emma Kalinowski | English Instructor
I love teaching because I love helping kids see their own potential. I have a degree in education from Michigan State University and a degree in English and history from the University of Illinois. My teaching experience is mostly at the middle school level, but I have also taught high school English. Middle school kids are my favorite age group! My son Joel is in 12th grade and keeps me busy when I'm not working. I hope I'm better able to relate to both students and their learning coaches because of my experiences with my son and his education
Ext. 6095 | Email: ekalinowski@hoosieracademy.org
Tim Kasper | Middle School Math Teacher
Tim Kasper graduated from Ball State University in 2000 with a BS in mathematics education. This will be his 19th year in education. He has been a classroom teacher for 12 years and a director of eLearning for two years. For four years he was a teacher and an assistant administrator at a private school.
Fun fact: "I am a proud Hoosier and a big Colts fan! I've been married for 20 years and have three kids and two dogs. I'm happy to be at Hoosier College and Career Academy!"
Ext. 4008 | Email: tkasper@hoosieracademy.org
Lindsay Kellow-Free | High School English Teacher
Lindsay Kellow has been a high school English teacher at HCCA since 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English education.
Fun fact: "I have two different colored eyes—one blue eye and one green eye."
Ext. 4080 | Email: lfree@hoosieracademy.org
Mallory Kindig | English Interventionist
Mallory Kindig in an English interventionist. She holds a degree in English education.
Fun fact: "I did my student teaching at Hoosier and was hired on the next year! My husband and I had our first child, Lincoln, in December 2019. He's the light of our lives!!"
Ext. 6048 | Email: mkindig@hoosieracademy.org
Susan Kuckie | CTE Instructor
Susan Kuckie has been a CTE instructor at HCCA since fall 2020. She educational background includes family and consumer science education, business, and CTE. She has taught grades 7–12 throughout her 20-year teaching career. Her mission is to educate, inspire, and motivate young minds to build positive relationships, pursue their passions, and embrace happiness as a direction not a destination.
Fun fact: "My family and I love to travel, camp, and spend time in nature exploring. My personal hobbies include, reading, sewing/quilting, crafting, and cooking."
Ext. 4007 | Email: skuckie@hoosieracademy.org
Nikki Lynch | Special Education Teacher
Nikki Lynch has been a special education teacher at HCCA since 2014. She holds a special education certificate of completion, K–6 general education license, and a K–12 special education license. She was a developmental preschool teacher from 2008 to 2014.
Fun fact: "I like to exercise and garden."
Ext. 4079 | Email: dlynch@hoosieracademy.org
Brian Nash | High School Social Studies Teacher
Brian Nash had been a high school social studies teacher at HCCA since 2011. He has a degree in undergraduate social studies education.
Fun fact: "I was in a TV commercial as a kid."
Ext. 4002 | Email: bnash@hoosieracademy.org
Jon Osborn | High School Science Teacher
John Osborn teaches math and science at HCCA. He as a bachelor’s degree in physics from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and a master's degree in physics from the University of Arkansas. He has been teaching high school and middle school for eight years, and has been an adjunct faculty member at Ivy Tech Community College since 2007. Before he was a teacher, he was a computer engineer, so you can ask him about unix commands. He is a strong science technology engineering and math (STEM) advocate.
Fun fact: "My lifelong teaching goal is that one of my students will go to Rose-Hulman to help build the future."
Ext. 4068 | Email: josborn@hoosieracademy.org
Libby Powell | High School English Teacher
Libby Powell, high school English teacher at HCCA. I have a B.A. in English Education from Ball State University and an M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Olivet Nazarene University. I previously taught at Shenandoah School Corporation for 23 years teaching various English classes, as well as dual credit through Indiana University. Fun Fact:" I am married to my husband of 25 years, and we have 3 grown children, a son, Carson, and two daughters, Avarie and Eden. When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing the piano, and taking my dog Teddy for walks."
Ext. 4019 | Email: lpowell@hoosieracademy.org
Susan Pylant | Special Education Teacher
Susan Pylant has been a special education teacher at HCCA since 2014. She holds a master's degree in secondary education with a special education minor K–12, and a bachelor's degree in elementary education, a Jr. high and middle school endorsement, and a minor in math. She has taught elementary and middle school math, high school algebra, and middle school and high school special education.
Fun fact: "I was a financial advisor for several years."
Ext. 4072 | Email: susanpylant@hoosieracademy.org
John Schellenberg | CTE Instructor
John Schellenberg has been the business CTE instructor at HCCA since 2017. He holds a BS in business administration and a teaching license. This is his 17th year teaching.
Fun fact: "I worked in sales, marketing and management in the business world before becoming a teacher. My wife and I have been to four Coldplay concerts and three Earth Wind & Fire concerts—my two favorite bands!"
Ext.4016 | Email: jschellenberg@hoosieracademy.org
Brian Shepherd | High School Social Studies Teacher
Brian Shepherd is a science teacher from Indianapolis, Indiana. He earned his BS in geology with a minor in chemistry from Indiana State University. He also holds an MS in athletic administration from Ohio University and has been a successful track and field coach in the past.
Fun fact: "I'm married and have three daughters. I enjoy various sports as well as the outdoors. When my career comes to a close, I plan on moving to rural Washington to enjoy the beaches and mountains on the west coast."
Ext. 4089 | Email: bshepherd@hoosieracademy.org
Victoria Slinker | High School Mathematics Teacher
Vicki Slinker, Mathematics Teacher for Hoosier College and Career Academy since 2021, and has a BS in Mathematics Education from.
Indiana State University. I have been in education at the high school or college level since 1992.
Fun Fact: "My husband and I have two grown children, one of whom went to a charter school in high school and the other spent his freshman year in a virtual school. I love the outdoors and enjoy camping, hiking, and fishing. I am certified to teach mathematics, grades 9-12.."
Ext. 4025 | Email: vslinker@hoosieracademy.org
Connie Smith | CTE Coordinator/Teacher
Connie Smith has been a CTE coordinator/teacher at HCCA since 2018. She holds an MEd in curriculum and instruction and a BS in business management. She has 15 years teaching experience primarily at Indiana charter schools, 20 years’ experience as a marketing manager in a variety of industries.
Fun fact: "I taught IB business for three years in Curacao, a Caribbean island."
Ext.4063 | Email: csmith@hoosiereacademy.org
Kathleen Tatone | Special Education Teacher
Kathleen Tatone has been a special education teacher at HCCA since 2014. She holds a master's degree in special education. She has experience as a technical recruiter, massage therapist, and a teacher. She has taught for 14 years and this is her seventh school year with HCCA.
Fun fact: "My previous experiences have helped me a lot with our student population. I feel it brings a different perspective to the table."
Ext.4082 | Email: ktatone@hoosieracademy.org
Corissa West | Health and Physical Education
I graduated from Ball State University in 2012 with a B.S. in Physical Education and Health Education. This is my 10th overall year of teaching. I have taught the previous nine years in the brick-and-mortar setting, so this is my first year with HCCA!
Fun Fact: I have three dogs and three cats. All of them are adopted!
Ext.4005 | Email: cwest@hoosieracademy.org
Annie Wickersham | Special Education Teacher, Department Lead
Annie Wickersham has been a high school special education teacher and the department lead at HCCA since 2012. She holds a BS in education–special education, mild interventions. Before coming to HCCA, she taught for six years at Options Charter School in Noblesville, Indiana.
Fun fact: "I love to incorporate music in my classes and often speak in song lyrics."
Ext.4006 | Email: awickersham@hoosieracademy.org
