Who We Are

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.

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 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. 

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 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.

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 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.