Hope Christian Academy
OUR STAFF
Caroline Dodd
Director & High School Teacher
Caroline Dodd has been teaching at Hope Christian Academy since 2010. She has had a passion for working with people with special needs for as long as she can remember. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Appalachian State University in teaching students with learning disabilities. Upon graduating from ASU, she taught English in Mexico to elementary and middle school students. Since returning to the States, she has taught in private and public schools, instructing students in regular and special education.
In 2020, Mrs. Dodd took on the role of Director in addition to her teaching duties. She was voted Best School Administrator in 2026 by readers of the Lexington Chronicle. She loves working with students of all ability levels and prays that God will use her to help students reach their full potential.
Jenny Williams
Jenny Williams began teaching at Grace Christian in 1983 after completing a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education at Tennessee Temple University. The Lord has allowed her to teach at Grace for over 40 years. Ms. Williams considers it a privilege to now teach at Hope. The Lord has put a love for teaching in her heart, and she feels blessed to be at Hope.
In her free time, Ms. Williams enjoys reading and watching Clemson football.
Jenny Williams
Middle School Teacher
Hannah Rye
Hannah Rye grew up in Murfreesboro, TN, but has called Columbia home for over 6 years. She taught elementary school for 8 years before becoming a mom. Her six-year-old and four-year-old keep her and her husband on their toes. They love camping, movie nights, game nights, and just being together. Spare time is hard to come by, but when it does, Mrs. Rye enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and watching old, classic television shows.
Hannah Rye
Middle School Teacher
Madison Blanch
Maddie Blanch has been working in the field of special education for 4 years. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Developmental Psychology and finished her Masters of Special Education in 2025.
Ms. Blanch spends her summers doing mission work in Honduras, and in her free time, she volunteers with her church and a local nonprofit. She also loves snuggling up with her dog, Lucy, and reading a good book.
Jena Sherban
Jena Sherban is a testing consultant at HCA. She lives in Lexington with her husband, four children, and their puppy, Bonzo.
After graduating from Grace Christian School, Mrs. Sherban attended Bob Jones University. After graduating, she earned a master's degree from USC. Before joining Hope as an elementary and middle school teacher, she spent ten years providing speech therapy services.
Mrs. Sherban also enjoys reading, playing piano, and coaching performance speech.
