Alison Garison has worked with Pre-K at HCA since August of 2020. She also does recess duty and works one on one with students for literacy intervention. She has two children, Chloe and James, who have been attending since she started at HCA. She is married to Caleb, the associate pastor at Traverse Christian Church in Windsor. They moved from Texas to Colorado in 2018 to be a part of the church. Her favorite thing about Heritage is the devoted community of families and fellow believers.

Acacia Halte is HCA’s Kindergarten teacher and is passionate about Christian education and the community of Heritage Christian.

Acacia moved to colorful Colorado when she was married in 2003. They have a daughter who attends HCA.

She has a bachelor’s degree from Colorado Christian University and a master’s degree from Liberty University. Acacia has teaching experience in various grades from Pre-K to 2nd grade. She has also enjoyed being a behavior therapist, a resource teacher, a dyslexia interventionist, and a community director.

Isaiah 54:13 – And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

Kelly Curnutt is HCA’s first grade teacher. She is originally from California, then lived in Southern Utah for 10 years before moving to Colorado in 2014. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Colorado Christian University in Early Childhood Education. Kelly has experienced teaching students in Kindergarten up to 4th grade, and has found her heart is truly in first grade!

Kelly is deeply passionate about the Lord, her family, and her animals. Kelly is married to her husband, Jason, and in addition to managing a classroom of first graders, she manages a home of family members that include three sons, one daughter, two dogs, and three bunnies.

Kelly and her family are big sports fans (Go Avs and Go Giants!) and spend most of their weekends cheering on their kids in baseball, hockey, and gymnastics, or traveling with their camper on family adventures.

Kelly is actively involved in her church and with her church family. Kelly and her husband served on a missions trip to Guatemala in 2017 and she is looking forward to serving on an upcoming missions trip to Peru in 2024!

Kelly feels so blessed to be part of the Heritage Christian Academy family where her school-age kids also attend (elementary through high school). Kelly is dedicated to living out the word of God and excited to see the impact God has on Heritage students!

Heidi Anderson is HCA’s 2nd grade teacher. She is originally from Fort Collins.  She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication with an emphasis in Elementary Education.  She is passionate about the LORD, her family, and children.  Heidi is married to a loving, kind, strong, and tenderhearted man- Russ Anderson.  Together they have three children:  Kaylee, Levi and Josiah- the treasures of their lives.  They love sports (watching kids play), camping, 4-H and all the adventures the LORD has taken them on.  Her life verse is Isaiah 41:10- “Do not fear for I am with you.  Do not be afraid for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  She is so grateful for God’s endless grace and goodness in her life.  He is good!!

Sherry Walker is one of HCA’s 3rd grade teachers. She has been married since 2000 and is the mother of two adorable children. Mrs. Walker was a primary teacher in the public school system for 14 years. She spent 10 years at home when her children were small and has been at HCA since 2021. Mrs. Walker loves witnessing “a ha!” moments with kids and has found out it is a huge privilege to be given the opportunity to share her faith and pray with her students. She enjoys playing piano and reading when alone. Plus, she loves hiking with her husband, learning about chickens with her son, and baking with her daughter.

Valerie Brown is the Elementary Director of Academic Instruction as well as one of HCA’s third grade teachers. She joined the HCA team in 2019, but she has been affiliated with Heritage as both a parent and a volunteer since 2005. Mrs. Brown received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with Fields of Specialization in both Reading and Art from Dordt College, and she is certified through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). Mrs. Brown’s favorite part of teaching is discovering each child’s unique potential and fostering both personal and academic growth.

Devon Smith is HCA’s Fourth Grade Teacher. Mrs. Smith started teaching in 2001. She has taught in both the public and private sectors on and off since then. She has been at HCA since 2022.  

Mrs. Smith is married to an Air Force helicopter pilot and has four children; her two daughters are current students at HCA, her youngest son is an alumnus, and her oldest son lives and works in Washington.  She has taught in 5 different states and moved 14 times since being married in 2001. Mrs. Smith grew up in Germany where she spent 14 years of her life. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in German, and a Master of Teaching degree is Early Childhood Education. She holds a professional license with ACSI.  

Mrs. Smith’s favorite part of teaching is helping students develop their love and faith in Christ. She was led to Christian education in 2017 after staying home for 10 years to raise her children. Her passion has been found in Christian education.  

When Mrs. Smith is not teaching or attending her children’s MANY sporting events, she loves to spend time with her husband and children. As a family, the Smith’s spend their winters on the slopes and their summers on the lake.  

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it. 

Michal Packard is HCA’s 5th grade teacher. Before she was seven years old she realized she knew what she wanted to be when she grew up. She wanted to be a teacher. Her stuffed animals were her first students. She didn’t have any behavior issues.

Both her parents were teachers until retirement age. She is originally from Southern California, but has lived in Fort Collins since 2003. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, with an emphasis in Language Arts, at Arkansas State University where she played Division 1 Volleyball. She loves being a teacher. Her favorite thing is to make learning fun for kids.

She has three sons Eddie, Charlie, and Matthew. Her entire family is here at HCA. Her husband, Joe, is the Athletic Director and does a few other things around HCA. She has been teaching 5th grade since 2020.

She loves being a teacher at HCA for so many reasons. At the top of the list of reasons that teaching fills her cup is because of the team aspect that teaching provides. She views herself as part of a team that is together, helping raise kids into being decent humans in this world and a person that leads with love and service to others. She believes we have the most perfect example in Jesus Christ. When a child gets asked what they want to be when they grow up, she teaches kids to say that they want to be whatever God is preparing them to be. It is her greatest joy to walk kids toward the Light of the World.

Russ Bruxvoort is HCA’s sixth grade teacher. He received a bachelor’s degree in Youth Ministry from Colorado Christian University, a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Denver Seminary, and a Master’s in Educational Leadership from Colorado State University. Mr. B loves that he gets to play with the students. Hearing them recite memorized Scripture is a close second. Praying with them after studying who God is in the Psalms is third. Talking about heaven and getting excited about what it will be like is up towards the top, too. Mr. B has always loved school, and he still enjoys learning a wide variety of new things. He takes pleasure in seeing students grow in their knowledge and application of whatever he teaches.

For over twenty years, Mrs. Silvestri has been a music educator. She has directed children’s vocal choirs and specializes in conducting and ringing in English Handbell choirs.

Mrs. Silvestri holds music degrees from Colorado State University (M.A. in Music Education- Kodály emphasis), and Oberlin Conservatory (B.A. in Music Education-with a minor in vocal performance). She has completed her Kodály and Orff Certificates as well as Orff Master Class Certification. Mrs. Silvestri has taught elementary music in Southern and Northern Colorado school districts, served as a district music mentor in Poudre School district, been a university coach for student teaching placements with Colorado State University, and presented at multiple conferences throughout Colorado.

In addition to teaching music, Mrs. Silvestri has the privilege of leading women in bible study using the Precept Upon Precept inductive method. She has served as the Cubbies director in the AWANA International club, as well as joining with local musicians in leading worship at church.