Who We Are
Faculty
Elizabeth Painter – Pre-Kindergarten Teacher & Art (All Grades)
Elizabeth Painter received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Nazareth College of Rochester, NY. She taught middle school and high school art in Churchville, NY for ten years, before leaving her position to move to California.
A former military spouse, Ms. Painter has lived in San Diego, Hawaii, and Tennessee. She had the privilege of staying home for ten years to raise her three children Molly, Truman, and Virginia. After moving back to NY, she taught at Greece Arcadia High School for three years before joining the faculty at Rochester Classical Academy.
Raised by parents who are artists and musicians and have a deep love for the Lord, Ms. Painter had a rich upbringing with a strong knowledge and foundation in Christ. She imparts this love and reverence not only to her own children but to her students as well. Ms. Painter is privileged to use her knowledge, training, and gifts to teach music and fine art, as well as Kindergarten at RCA.
Amy Boschen - Kindergarten Teacher
Amy Boschen is fortunate to have known Jesus from a young age and to have come from generations of faithful people. She met her husband, David, in Sunday-school at church in the third grade. They have been married since 2007 and have two children who both attend RCA.
The Boschens, native to Northern California, followed the Lord’s leading to Rochester in 2019 where they found true community at Grace Road Church and Rochester Classical Academy. Amy’s background is in the medical field, working for many years in pediatrics, urgent care, and finally in labor and delivery as a nationally certified birth doula. This year brings her full-circle to a long-lost dream of teaching kindergarten.
Amy’s true passions are gardening, hiking, singing, reading, and writing. Her favorite authors are Jane Austen, Leo Tolstoy, Agatha Christie, Ruth Chou Simons, Thomas Hardy, and C.S. Lewis. You can usually find her barefoot and singing in the garden, hosting board game nights, or lost in thought writing in the corner of a coffee shop.
Katie Ruth – First Grade Teacher & Lead Teacher
At age 21, Mrs. Ruth invited Christ into her life and proclaimed Him as her Lord and Savior. A little more than a year later, she met Andrew, the man who would become her husband, while he was on leave from the Navy. They married in 2005 and have three children.
Mrs. Ruth has a Bachelor of Arts in English and an Master of Science in Literacy Education. She has taught children ages birth through eighteen in public school, private school, homeschool, and daycare settings. Her background includes classical training in piano and voice and has dabbled in basic guitar. She has studied French and Latin and practiced the arts of dance and martial arts. Her absolute favorite pastime is reading, reading, reading. Greek mythology has been of particular delight since age sixteen. She plans to teach herself logic and drawing and continue her way through the Great Books of our culture. She adores anything and everything by C.S. Lewis; she has thoroughly enjoyed studying his books on the Medieval era. Literature and history are by far her favorite subjects!
“The devil is fighting with God and the battlefield is the human heart.” Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov
Leigh Ann Gausselin - Second Grade Teacher
Leigh Ann Gausselin earned her Bachelors degree in Political Science from University of California Santa Barbara and is also a licensed practical nurse. It was during her college years that the Lord saved her; she committed her life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at 19. Prior to working as a teacher at RCA, she practiced as a licensed practical nurse and children’s teacher in California. She has taught in various capacities in the last 13 years: private school daycare and preschool, public after school tutoring programs, ESL online teaching for kids in China and Korea, Sunday school teaching, and substitute teaching for RCA. She was also a stay at home mom for many years. Leigh Ann’s true joy is having fun adventures with her husband and two daughters, at home or abroad. In her free time, she enjoys photography, play dates, and reading. She attends and serves in children’s ministry at Webster Bible Church.
Karyn Jetty - Third Grade Teacher
Hello, my name is Karyn Jetty. I attended SUNY College at Buffalo for my BS in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. I obtained my masters Degree at Nazareth College in Special Education. I taught four years at Crestwood Children’s Center working with children with Emotional Disturbances grades k-2nd. I subsequently joined the US Army Reserves and made a move to North Carolina. I taught four years at the elementary-high school grade levels in regular and special education settings. During my military enlistment I was deployed to Bosnia. I married my husband, Henrey, who is a now retired Command Sergeant Major from the US Army. I have traveled around and lived in several different states to include North Carolina (3 times), Texas, Utah, New Jersey and New York City with my husband and twins, (now 20 years old), Malachi and Liberty. During the course of my husband’s several deployments I had the privilege to stay home and focus on raising my twins. I also hold a certification, received from Bellevue Hospital in New York City, in Radiography/ Mammography and worked within that profession for over ten years. Outside interests include stain glass, kayaking, and attending bible studies.
Laura Truesdell - Fourth Grade Teacher
Laura Truesdell is a local educator who has been teaching upper elementary students since 2005. Laura is a Rochester native and received her master’s degree as a Literacy Specialist from Nazareth College. When she is not helping students reach their potential in the classroom, she enjoys gardening and traveling with her family. She and her husband, Eric, have three boys attending RCA.
Luke Rosamilia - Fifth & Sixth Grade Primary Teacher
Luke Rosamilia comes to RCA with a degree in English literature from Houghton University and eight years of experience in publishing and editing. He loves both exploring the contours and plumbing the depths of great stories. Having experienced firsthand the benefits of a classically-oriented Christian education himself, Luke is excited to join the faculty of RCA and participate in the work of cultivating a genuine love for truth and beauty in RCA’s students. During his free time, Luke enjoys playing board games with friends, reading good books, discovering new music, hiking, and participating in the life of his church at Community of the Savior.
Linnea Landin Burr - Music (All Grades)
Linnea Landin Burr is a wife and mother, and holds degrees from Houghton College in Choral Conducting (MM) and Instrumental Music Education and Piano (BMus). Prior to teaching at RCA, she taught 7-12 Choral Music in Bemus Point, NY. Mrs. Burr also served several summers as a teacher for Warren County Summer Music School in Pennsylvania, in addition to teaching private piano lessons. She has taught students from elementary through high school levels in Music Theory, Sight Reading and Solfege, Conducting, Choir, Music History, and Piano. Music ministry is close to her heart; she has passionately led the music teams for Community Bible Study in Rochester for five years. Her favorite pastimes include reading, painting, and knitting. Mrs. Burr is a member at Grace Road Church and volunteers in the children’s ministry.
Nathan Baxter - Physical Education (All Grades)
Nathan Baxter is not just a gym teacher; he’s an art student and a dedicated creative enthusiast. With over three years of experience working in children’s ministries and family-focused environments, Nathan brings a unique blend of passion and skills to his role.
His primary loves include God, art, youth development, conservation, and promoting physical fitness. Nathan’s active lifestyle extends beyond the classroom as he engages in various sports, running, and adventurous activities like rock climbing and hiking.
Originally hailing from Wisconsin, Nathan followed a spiritual calling that led him to Western New York, which he has called home for the past seven years. It’s where he met and married his wife, and now, they are proud parents to a kitty and an adorable Shiba puppy.
Melissa Martin (Group Violin Teacher)
Violinist and music teacher Melissa Martin currently teaches and performs in the Rochester area. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bob Jones University and her Master’s degree in Music Education from Boston University. Having taught private lessons in her studio as well as orchestra for over 12 years in public/private schools, she has experience working with students from age 5-85 who are at a variety of levels. She knows how to tailor the lesson to each student’s individual personality, learning style, and goals.
Principal
Katie Curtis
Katie Curtis is first and foremost an RCA Mom with four children at the school. She began her journey as a volunteer and hymn leader, but then joined the Board of Directors in 2021. She is now thrilled to serve the school as Principal, with her primary goal to come alongside families and teachers to inspire the students toward a deeper knowledge of God and His creation.
Mrs. Curtis is a classically trained vocalist with degrees from Roberts Wesleyan College in Music and Biblical Studies, and the University of Oregon where she received her Masters in Vocal Performance. As a freelance mezzo-soprano, she has performed leading roles in opera and musical theatre and has a small home voice studio.
When not at RCA you can find her performing around Rochester, on a Sunday at Grace Road Church, or mostly trying to corral her four kids into their van.
Board Members
Mary Delmastro
Mary Delmastro has taught art history at several local colleges for over ten years, including Brockport, RIT, and Finger Lakes Community College, where she is currently an Assistant Professor. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester and a Master of Arts in Art History through Syracuse University’s program of Renaissance art in Florence, Italy. She, her husband, and their two young children attend Greece Assembly of God.
Zach Marshall
Zach serves as the Board President of Rochester Classical Academy and owns a 122-year-old lumber yard and custom milling business in the Adirondacks.
A former US Navy SEAL and seasoned entrepreneur, he has led multiple startups in San Francisco and NYC, including robotics, AI, and Web3 ventures.
On the board, he focuses on leadership, vision, and fundraising. Zach and his wife, Sarah, are active members of Grace PCA Church and have four children, three of whom attend RCA, with their youngest starting preschool next year.
He has also served on the boards of 51 Vets, supporting elite veterans transitioning to civilian careers nationally, and ScaleFLX, fostering tech job growth in Rochester.
Brian Roscoe
Brian Roscoe is an Electrical Engineer who has worked in the automation field in Rochester since 2014. He currently works as a Controls Software Manager for Calvary Robotics in Webster, NY. Brian received an MS in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University.