Emily grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina and is wife to John, a native Memphian, and mom to 6 children, ages 1 to 9 years.  She received a BA in psychology, with a minor in English, from Wake Forest University and an MS in applied educational psychology and PhD in school psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  She has worked with children in various school and clinical settings; now, she is a full-time homeschooling mom and occasional adjunct professor at CBU.  Emily was raised in the Evangelical Presbyterian faith and came into the Catholic Church in 2013, initially prompted by the Church's radical and consistent teachings on the sanctity of life.  She chose St. Katharine Drexel as her patron saint.  Tired of lamenting that there was, "no perfect educational option," Emily was inspired to help create one by Pope Leo VIII's words to St. Katharine (when she asked him to send missionaries to America): "Why not my child, yourself become a missionary?"

Ann-Katherine is a native Memphian and lifelong Catholic. She is wife to her high school sweetheart, John, and mother of 4 children, 7 months to 7 years.  She attended St. Benedict for grade school and earned her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development from the University of Georgia.  Returning home to the University of Memphis, she received her master’s in Social Work with a clinical emphasis.  She has 8 years of experience working with families in the state early intervention program as a developmental therapist.  From the moment she became a mom, Ann-Katherine was inspired by the mission to raise saints.  Her desire to start a classical Catholic hybrid in Memphis arose from a long season of prayer and discernment leading up to her oldest daughter starting Kindergarten.  She appreciates this opportunity to help serve and strengthen the Catholic community in Memphis through the Spirit-led formation of Holy Family Academy.   

Jenny is a homeschooling mother of four boys, ages 6 to 11 years. A native Memphian, she grew up attending local Catholic schools (St. Louis and St. Agnes), earned her BA in Journalism from Auburn University, and returned to Memphis to work as a managing editor of MidSouth magazine, senior account executive at Archer Malmo, chair of MPACT Memphis, and feature writer for Faith West Tennessee.  She has spent the past ten years researching and studying education, especially the classical and Charlotte Mason approaches, and has been working to bring Catholic classical education to Memphis in a formal setting for the past few years.  Jenny and her husband, Hunter, have taught Theology of the Body at St. Peter, and she has served as a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd catechist for level one (ages 3-6) and two (ages 6-9). Her love for our Lord and His Church impels her to do whatever He tells her to do with love for her family, friends, and community. 

John Michael Simpson is married to Caroline and together they have four children, ages 4 months to 5 years.  He was born in Memphis and grew up in greater Nashville area, where he was homeschooled during his elementary years.  John Michael earned his BA in Humanities with a minor in Philosophy from the Pontifical College Josephinum.  He completed his MA in Theological Studies from Christendom Graduate School.  He is currently pursuing a MEd from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University in Independent School Leadership.  He had wide experience in Catholic high schools and elementary catechesis in New Jersey, central Ohio, Memphis, and Nashville.  He is currently a teacher and administrator at St. Cecilia Academy in Nashville.  A major advocate for faith-based, classical education, John Michael is thrilled to be involved with Holy Family Academy!