new faculty

James Ballantyne

James Ballantyne joins the faculty as a multidisciplined educator with a motto perfect for Christ School: “I do not teach science, I teach young men.”

Mr. Ballantyne is responsible for Chemistry classes, but has also taught Biology, Physics, Algebra, and Engineering in his decade-plus career. No matter what the subject may be, Mr. Ballantyne keeps student inquiry, engagement, and humor at the heart of every lesson.

He received his undergraduate degree in Biology from Southeastern Louisiana University and his master’s in teaching from Nicholls State University. A gifted athlete, Mr. Ballantyne owned and operated a wrestling academy for five years before leaning into teaching full-time. He taught at three different high schools; however, Christian Brothers High School in Memphis helped him zero in on the all-boys environment where he felt he could have the greatest impact.

Christ School’s commitment to its Four Pillars, and in particular Spirituality, complement the work Mr. Ballantyne has done with Christian Brothers’ High Impact Christian Club, an organization associated with Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He looks forward to launching a similar club at Christ School, in addition to coaching in the Outdoor Program and serving as a part of a duty team.

Mr. Ballantyne and his wife, Jill, have four children, James, Elijah, Mahri, and Selah.

William Ballenger

William Ballenger comes to Christ School with a wealth of experience as a teacher, AP exam reader, coach, and houseparent.

He teaches in the History Department, serves as Head of House in Young House, coaches basketball, and guides backpackers in the Outdoor Program.

Mr. Ballenger launched his boarding school career at Blue Ridge School (VA) in the late 1990s where he crossed paths with longtime Christ School faculty member Jamie Auch.

He and his wife, Kristin, most recently lived five transformative years overseas in Jordan, where he chaired a department and shepherded aspiring, young teachers as Director of Teaching Fellows at King’s Academy.

Mr. Ballenger’s favorite fictional character is Indiana Jones and he has lived out his own share of adventures, including thru-hikes of the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Camino de Santiago trails, as well as two complete coastto-coast bicycle treks. He is a believer in the educational value of travel, bringing history alive for students by integrating his personal, globetrotting experiences at historic sites in over

50 countries across five continents. Mr. Ballenger has been recognized several times with teaching and leadership accolades.

Mr. Ballenger is a boarding school alumnus (The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey) who graduated with honors in History from Alma College, later going on to get his master’s degree in Social Studies Education from the University of Virginia.

Mr. Ballenger and Kristin are both major animal lovers and thrilled to live in Young House.

Marshall Baltazar

Christ School students from 2010 to 2018 will be delighted to hear that Marshall Baltazar has rejoined the World Languages Department to teach Spanish.

During his Christ School tenure, Mr. Baltazar drew from more than 30 years of teaching experience in public and private schools in North Carolina and the Chicago area. In addition to sharing his love of Spanish language and culture with his classes, Mr. Baltazar launched and coordinated a distinctive, three-week study abroad program for Christ School students at Colegio Delibes in Salamanca, Spain. When Mr. Baltazar retired (temporarily) in 2018, the Angelus yearbook was dedicated to him.

Sawyer Duhaime ’18 read this tribute to Mr. Baltazar during an end-of-year assembly:

“This beloved faculty member has lived in three different countries and worked as a hotel manager, a tightrope and trapeze artist, a clown, and an acrobat. He earned a master’s degree in

Urban Teaching and won a dance contest on the 1970s TV show, ‘Soul Train.’ Since 2010, he has been an integral member of this community, teaching Spanish, directing plays, and leading trips to Spain. This kind, wise sage claims that his heart is a potato, though everyone who knows him would say it is a heart of gold. So, in an effort to keep this dedication short and sweet, just like our dear señor, the senior class dedicate the 2018 Angelus to Señor Baltazar.”

Sarah Benton

Sarah Benton has advocated and worked for the betterment of students throughout her young career. She is ready to pour that same energy into Christ School as Assistant Director of Advancement.

Ms. Benton is from Auburn, AL, and received her BS in Apparel Merchandising, Production, and Design from Auburn University. She assisted her peers as an undergraduate and graduate through academic advising and new student orientation before going on to complete her master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs at the University of South Carolina in 2022.

While in Columbia, SC, Sarah served as an advisor to students pursuing Graduation with Leadership Distinction, instructed courses, and oversaw the Gamecock Food Pantry.

Ms. Benton likes to spend her free time traveling with friends, taking Pure Barre classes, and spending time with her fiancé, Christ School alumnus Mason Blevins ’16.

Chris Daller

Sports have opened many doors for Chris Daller, who will help the boys balance academics and athletics in their own lives, too.

Mr. Daller is a new addition to the Christ School Math Department and Athletic Department – he taught and coached basketball and football the past seven years at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis.

Mr. Daller was a 4.0 student while pursuing a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. He had the same grade-point average at Central Michigan University, where he earned his master’s in Educational Leadership with an emphasis on supervision. Mr. Daller graduated with a BS in Mathematics and minor in English Literature from Aquinas College in 2015.

Mr. Daller is engaged to Jenna, an immigration lawyer, and the couple share a love for animals.

Patrick Dansdill

Patrick Dansdill earned the “Most Respected” award from his Wheaton College (IL) football coaches and teammates in 2013 and they were onto something.

Mr. Dansdill has distinguished himself the past nine years with a willingness to explore many different courses in K-12 education.

Mr. Dansdill graduated from Wheaton with a BA in Elementary Education.

He teaches Spanish at Christ School and is an assistant football coach, but has previously worked with students in art, business, English, math, music, physical education, science, and social studies. Mr. Dansdill most recently taught at Hall Fletcher Elementary School in Asheville.

Patrick Haley

Carrying on Christ School lacrosse’s winning tradition spoke to Patrick Haley, as did the Greenie value system, which mirrors his own. Along with Head Varsity Lacrosse Coach and Program Director, Mr. Haley is Assistant Athletic Director for Student.

Mr. Haley comes to Christ School from St. John’s College High School near Washington, DC, where he was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the country’s No. 1 ranked high school team, according to Inside Lacrosse and USA Lacrosse. Prior to his eight years at St. John’s, Mr. Haley was offensive coordinator and the first coach and employee of IMG Academy’s program in Bradenton, FL. He was responsible for launching IMG Academy’s residential lacrosse student program. Mr. Haley has a bachelor’s degree in Communications from the University of Maryland University College.

Mr. Haley brings 14 years of coaching experience to Christ School and comes from an extensive lacrosse family. Mr. Haley has mentored dozens of NCAA lacrosse players, including two of his younger brothers (Georgetown University and University of Maryland) and four of his cousins (University of Denver, Georgetown University, University of Maryland, Ohio State University, and United States Naval Academy).

Mr. Haley played collegiate lacrosse at Towson University. Through his education and work experience, he has built a network will support and build Christ School lacrosse.

Mr. Haley and his wife, Kellie, live on campus with their sons, Pax and Rowe.

Peter Hartwig

Peter Hartwig wears many hats in his first year at Christ School, teaching Humanities and serving as Assistant Chaplain.

He was previously at Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, and the Westminster Theological Centre in the United Kingdom. Mr. Hartwig was most recently a Communications Associate for Global Endowment Management out of Charlotte.

Mr. Hartwig was an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia, receiving his BA in Religious Studies and Classics in 2016. He then went on to receive master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge (Theology, Religion, and Philosophy of Religion) and the Princeton Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity).

George Johnson

Greenie football players have an incredible resource in George Johnson, who played defensive end in the NFL for nine years. There is more to Mr. Johnson’s life than just football though, and his background in philanthropy and working with youth aid him as the new Assistant Dean of Campus Life. Coming to Christ School reunites Mr. Johnson with Varsity Football head coach Chad Walker – the two men were previously on the same coaching staff at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa, FL. Mr. Johnson played professionally for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and New Orleans Saints from 2010 to 2018.

Mr. Johnson is completing his BA in Labor Studies and Labor Management from Rutgers University where he was a four-year starter at defensive end.

Mr. Johnson has six years of volunteer experience for the Boys and Girls Club of America and has also been involved in benefits for youth and families in need through a church food pantry. Mr. Johnson comes to Christ School with his wife, Rebecca, and their children, Olivia, George, Mae, and Bo.

Jeff Joyce

Jeff Joyce is getting to know Christ School’s many passionate supporters in his role as the new Associate Director of Advancement.

Mr. Joyce fell in love with the rivers and mountains of Western North Carolina while working at a summer camp in college and has lived and worked in the area since 2008. He served as the Director of Public Policy for the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for eight years, before transitioning to the world of philanthropic development. Mr. Joyce has most recently been Director of Alumni Affairs and Development for nearby Brevard College.

Mr. Joyce is a 2008 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Staying active in his community has been a common theme as Mr. Joyce served as Board Chair for the Brevard/Transylvania Chamber of Commerce and as President of the Young Professionals of Asheville. When he’s not working, Mr. Joyce can be found whitewater kayaking or mountain biking on local rivers and trails.

Carolyn Lowe-Thompson

Carolyn Lowe-Thompson P’24, P’26 has a background and a drive that make her a natural fit at Christ School.

She is a Math instructor, Cuningham houseparent, and assistant coach with the Greenie cross country and swimming programs. Mrs. Thompson was the valedictorian of her high school, won a NCAA Division III national championship in the 10,000-meter run, and has taught, coached, or been a houseparent at schools in the Bahamas, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Virginia.

She was one of the founders of the Community School for Arts and Academics in Roanoke, VA, where she worked from 2013 to 2020. Mrs. Thompson has head-coaching experience in cross country, cycling, swimming, and track.

Mrs. Thompson earned her BS in Operations Research from Carnegie Mellon University and then a master’s degree in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She enjoys all outdoor activities, including training for triathlons.

Mrs. Thompson and her husband, History instructor Mark Thompson, have three children –Tyler ’24, Spence ’26, and Kaile.

Jack Peterson

Jack Peterson will be a great asset to the Learning Resources Department given his educational background and experience teaching all age ranges, including at the college level. He joins the Learning Resources department mid-year.

Mr. Peterson describes himself as a creative, collaborative English teaching professional with strong administrative skills and a passion for student success in higher education.

He is the founder of Ao English, an online service that offers tutoring and editing. Mr. Peterson has previously been an instructor at five different colleges, most recently on a part-time basis at Durham Technical College in Durham, NC. He was the Parish Administrator for Durham’s St. Titus’ Episcopal Church from 2021 to 2022.

After receiving his BA in English from Georgia’s Covenant College in 2002, Mr. Peterson studied at the University of Washington where he earned his master’s in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and then Indiana University Pennsylvania, where he received a PhD in Composition and Applied Linguistics.

Mr. Peterson was born in Ohio, but has also lived in Vietnam, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Indiana, Washington, and now North Carolina.

Mr. Peterson enjoys writing poetry in his free time and his work has been published a number of times. His wife’s name is Amy and they have two children.

Josh Schwartz

Josh Schwartz bases his coaching philosophy around three E’s (effort, enthusiasm, and execution), which has allowed him to build an impressive resume in lacrosse.

Mr. Schwartz has worked at five different colleges, most recently rising to the rank of Associate Head Coach at Catawba College. Christ School lacrosse is not only bolstered by his coaching expertise – Mr. Schwartz is also a new teacher in the Learning Resource Department.

He graduated from the University of Mount Olive with a BS degree in Exercise Science in 2014, then earned his master’s in College Athletics Administration from Coker College. Mr. Schwartz lives in Greenbrier House with his wife, Katie.

Wenshun Tang

Residing on campus and the daily ebb and flow of boarding school are part of what drew Wenshun Tang to Christ School.

Mr. Tang is a new addition to the World Languages Department with his specialty being Mandarin.

He has spent the last couple years in Wuxi, China, teaching English and before that taught five levels of Mandarin, assisted with admissions, and served as a liaison to international families at Florida Prep Academy.

Mr. Tang received his BA in English from Nanjing Normal University in China and his master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Vermont’s SIT Graduate Institute.

Mr. Tang is excited to be a houseparent in Young House where he will live with his wife, Ying, and he anticipates sharing his love of table tennis with Greenies of all ages.

Mark Thompson

Always eager to keep learning and bettering himself, Mark Thompson P’24, P’26 has been involved in education for three decades, including the past 14 years as an administrator.

He is a new addition to the History Department and has a willingness to pitch in wherever needed with coaching.

Mr. Thompson was formerly Assistant Head of School at The Greenfield School in Wilson,

NC, and prior to that was Head of the Upper School at North Cross (VA) for 12 years. He has also worked at schools in California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New York.

Mr. Thompson received his BA in History from Bates College in 1991 and his master’s in Social Studies Education from Boston University in 1995.

Mr. Thompson describes himself as an avid reader, runner, and hiker. He ran in college and has completed five marathons, a Half Ironman triathlon, and other shorter races.

Mr. Thompson and his wife, Math instructor Carolyn Lowe-Thompson, have three children –Tyler ’24, Spence ’26, and Kaile.

Tracy Weldon

Christ School students can count on Tracy Weldon to be a trusted ally in their college search. Our new Assistant Director of College Guidance says she is inspired by college applicants who take the process seriously and aims to help every boy explore all possibilities, whether the universities are domestic or abroad.

Mrs. Weldon grew up on a small farm just outside Asheville but has spent her last 10 years working as a college counselor at international boarding schools in Leysin, Switzerland, Shanghai, China, and most recently, Jeju Island, Korea. Besides college counseling, she also has experience working in admissions and alumni affairs at a small private liberal arts college. She holds a master’s degree in Higher Education from Harvard University and both a master’s in Creative Writing and a BA in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

Mrs. Weldon has long admired the mission and beauty of Christ School. Her first visit to campus was one of her high school cross country races that she remembers fondly.

Outside of school, Mrs. Weldon enjoys traveling, hiking, gardening, and spending time with her daughter and husband.

Akin Williams

Akin Williams has impressed everyone with his energy and enthusiasm in his initial months at Christ School.

He aims to keep campus a formative, but fun place as Assistant Dean of Student Engagement.

Mr. Williams worked last spring as an assistant coach for the Greenies’ state runner-up track team while he was wrapping up his own career at UNC Asheville. Mr. Williams graduated from UNCA with a BS in Health Sciences and a minor in Neuroscience.

Mr. Williams is a houseparent in South Carolina House.

Chelsey Williams

Chelsey Williams describes her passion in education as creating a learning environment where students are encouraged to ask questions, wonder, make mistakes, and explore things in a new way.

Mrs. Williams taught Learning Resources Department this first semester and is taking off the second semester to have a child. She has spent the past seven years teaching in Singapore. She graduated from Liberty University with a BA in Education. Along with a background in incorporating technology and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) into her lesson plans, she has experience coaching basketball and volleyball.

Mrs. Williams lives in Ivy House with her husband, Physics instructor Matthew Williams.

Matthew Williams

No matter where his travels take him, Matthew Williams remains endlessly fascinated with the subject of Physics and connecting science to realworld applications.

Mr. Williams pursued his BA in Physics at Cedarville (OH) University, before going on to earn a master’s degree in Science Education from the University of Dayton. He is quite a world traveler, having visited more than 25 countries. Mr. Williams spent the past five years teaching and coaching at an international school in Singapore. It was there that he met his wife, Chelsey.

Outside of teaching, Mr. Williams enjoys hiking, travel, and spending time with his wife. He lives on campus in Ivy House.

Lauryn Wooding

Along with a temporary new home, the Christ School Bookstore has a new face this year in Lauryn Wooding.

Construction on the Beaver Student Center has moved the store to the Stolz Dining Hall’s Bradshaw Room for at least part of the 2022-23 school year. Ms. Wooding is assisting Manager Cissy Elmer in day-to-day operations during this transitional time.

Ms. Wooding graduated from Appalachian State University in May with a BS in Psychology. She lives in Arden.

Faculty Professional Development

• Antonio Britto began working on his master’s in English at Middlebury College's Bread Loaf School of English, and Wyatt Long continued in his second year there.

• William Ballenger (AP European History), Jessie Breite (AP English Literature), and James Uhler (AP US History) all served as readers and scorers for the AP exam this past summer.

• Steve Chester (AP Economics), Jack Lynch (AP Environmental), and Will Gordon (AP Language) attended AP Institutes.

• Learning Resources teacher, Julia Delaney, celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary in June with a two-week trip around Andalusia, Spain, visiting Granada, Cordoba, Ronda, Frigiliana, and Seville.

• Michael Karp started (last March) a master’s in Educational Leadership through Moreland University, Washington DC, and will finish March 2023.

• Spenser Simrill is developing a series of four NCAIS virtual classes on topics including “Podcasting 101: How and Why to Bring Podcasting Into Your Classroom” and “The Green Light: Giving Students Voice and Audience through Customized Websites.”