Eric Compton is one of HCA’s Secondary Math Teachers. He teaches AP Calculus, AP Precalculus, AP Physics, Personal Finance and is also adding to our electives by leading Robotics/Coding and Applied Science.

Growing up in a military family, Mr. Compton chose to follow that route himself. Upon graduating from high school, he attended the University of Portland where he was awarded an Air Force ROTC scholarship and graduated with a BS in Physics. Subsequently, he was commissioned into the Air Force and completed pilot training to become a helicopter pilot. During his 23 years in the military, Mr. Compton served in numerous capacities including as: an instructor and evaluator of future Air Force pilots; a trainer for pilots from countries including Iraq, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, El Salvador, Indonesia and Thailand; and as a Combat Aviation Advisor with Air Force Special Operations Command.

After retiring from the military as a disabled veteran in 2022, Mr. Compton decided to put his love of science and God’s creation to use by pursuing an advanced degree in the field of education and is thankful for the opportunity to be able to minister in a Christian school.

Lori Merkley has been at HCA since 2004. She wears many hats, teaching secondary science, Health, Speech, and Responding to Emergencies. Mrs. Merkley earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Middle School Education (double major) from the University of Northern Colorado. She has been in education since 1998, and she loves watching the students develop a Biblical world view as they study the subjects. Mrs. Merkley feels that teaching is powerful when students realize that God is IN everything, has a PURPOSE for everything, and then apply that lesson directly to their own lives. If she could, she would take as many Bible classes as possible, especially Hebrew.

BriAnna Morel is HCA’s secondary science teacher. Her classes include AP Biology, AP Environmental Science, Biology, and Chemistry. BriAnna is a Colorado native, a product of Christian education herself, having attended a small Lutheran School as a child in Denver, CO, and graduating from Denver Lutheran High School in 2004. She pursued a B.S. in Organismal Biology at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley (2008), where she participated in two major research studies on bats in Colorado, and presented her research at both a national and international conference during her tenure at UNC. After serving three internships in the field of Zoology and Animal Care, she felt God’s direct call to go back to school and to pursue a career in education. She earned a M.A. in Secondary Education at the University of Phoenix (2013) and has served as a High School Science Teacher for Thompsons School District since 2015.

BriAnna is married with 3 young children, two of whom will be attending Heritage this school year. She met her husband while on a music staff for a Christian college retreat, and they still love serving in music ministry together at their church. She also enjoys camping, hiking, photography, reading, and journaling. Her passion for nature and the outdoors led her to her love of science and environmental stewardship. She hopes to bring not only her passion for the environment and stewardship to the students at Heritage, but also her deep love for and relationship with the Creator. She was drawn to Heritage for an educational home for her children because of the encouraging and positive learning community, then discovered a student body that acted with integrity and kindness as a substitute last year, and now looks forward to using her gifts and talents to bless the Heritage Community in the future as an educator.”

Favorite Verse: “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?” Psalm 27:1

Isaac Bowen is HCA’s high school history teacher.  Isaac previously taught high school english and drama at Heritage. Isaac is an HCA alumnus and holds a teaching degree from Colorado State University.  He has a passion for helping students see how the truth of a Christian worldview is apparent across every subject, including the ones he teaches, as he hopes the knowledge and insight students gain in class will contribute to their growth as wise and Christ-like disciples of Jesus.

Patricia Hahn has been teaching at Heritage for an impressive 44 years, since 1980. She currently teaches Rhetoric, AP Literature, and AP U.S. History. Mrs. Hahn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Chadron State College, double majoring in history and English. Prior to teaching at Heritage, Patricia taught high school English for two years in Manderson, Wyoming. During her time at Heritage, Mrs. Hahn has taught both junior high and high school level English and history. Mrs. Hahn is involved at her church, having served as a church council member and other service ministries. In her free time, she enjoys scrapbooking.

Michael Cuckler is HCA’s Head Administrator. He also teaches two Bible classes, Senior’s Worldview & Philosophy and Christian Doctrines (year I). Mr. Cuckler holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Bible Exposition from Pensacola Christian College. He has been teaching at Heritage since 1999, and Choice City Christian School and Fort Collins Christian Academy before that. Outside of Heritage, Mr. Cuckler enjoys being a dad, volunteering with the youth at church, and running.

Hilary Swiers is HCA’s front office support and the Friday substitute for the middle school English class. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Denison University and a Master of Social Work from the University of Denver.  She has worked as a Social Worker at the Veterans Administration Hospital, as a Librarian at the Wellington Public Library, and as a substitute teacher for HCA.  She loves spending time with family and friends, reading, talking about books, and gardening. 

Her favorite verse is  2 Corinthians 1:3-7: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”s front office support.