Meet The Staff

Head of School

Sara Choat

Mrs. Choat has lived in Northern Nevada for most of her life. She has been in the teaching field since 1995. She graduated from CSU Stanislaus and holds an early childhood to 8th grade teaching license with an emphasis in GATE and TESL. She has been married to her high school sweetheart for 32 years and is blessed with two daughters and a new son-in-law. Mrs. Choat loves to garden, read, thrift, travel, spend time with her family and ponder how truly amazing God’s love is!

Office Manager & Assistant to the HOS and LCA Board

Lisa Potts

Mrs. Potts was born in North Dakota and raised in Montana. She came to Nevada through the Air Force after being stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas where she worked in Civil Engineering. She is married to Bob and they have two adult children, Hannah and Caleb. She and her family have hiked, rock climbed, mountaineered, mountain biked and river rafted through our National Parks in the western United States over the last 30 years. She loves to spend time in God’s amazing creation, read, cook, sew and knit. She enjoys interacting with students and handling all the multi-faceted tasks in LCA’s front office.

Registrar & Office Administrative Assistant

Meagan Shull

Mrs. Shull has called Carson City home since the age of six, when she moved here from Southern California. She is married to her high school sweetheart, Logan, and together they have two boys. This is Meagan’s second year at Legacy, where she brings her passion for investing in the future generation. Outside of school, she and her husband lead The Bridge Kids After School and Summer Ministry through their church. In her free time, she enjoys being out in God’s creation, reading, baking, traveling, spending quality time with her family, and cheering her boys on at their sporting events.

Classroom & Lunchtime Aide

Danielle Layman

Mrs. Layman has lived in Nevada since she was 5 years old. She went to preschool in the activity center when it was Capital Christian in the early 90’s. 

She has been a hairstylist for 20 years. She is now working there on the weekends since her 2 boys are both in school at Legacy. She loves working with kids and watching them grow as early learners. She is leading our Legacy Christian Academy Parents’ Association (L-CAPA) and loves to stay busy. 

She has been married to her husband Jake for 14 years. They are an active family with many hobbies and love being outdoors enjoying God’s creations! 

Kindergarten Teacher & Director of Worship Programs

Jennifer Ingram

Mrs. Ingram grew up in Austin, TX. She received her education degree from Baylor University, and she has been teaching children for 30 years. Mrs. Ingram is married to Paul, and they have four amazing children, a sweet daughter-in-law, and one grandson.  She loves to spend time with her family outdoors or playing board games, and she gets excited about developing musical talent in students that they can use to serve the Lord. Her family has enjoyed living in and exploring Nevada for the last 9 years!

First Grade Teacher

Shaelby Ruben

Mrs. Ruben has always called the Carson Valley home, having  lived in Northern Nevada her entire life. She graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with her Bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies. She earned her ARL through iTeach, and is currently finishing the process of obtaining her standard license. She has been serving in full time ministry for the past 10 years alongside her husband, who pastors a local church. They have two sons, who attend Legacy. When not teaching, you can find her studying God’s word, reading lots of books, drinking lots of coffee, baking cookies, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family.

Second Grade Teacher

Renee Solano

Mrs. Solano was born in Oregon and moved to Reno when she was in the second grade.  She attended the University of Nevada and earned a Bachelors degree in Human Development and Family Studies.  She has worked with children for several year including running a small preschool, working in the school district and now feels blessed to teach at Legacy.  Mrs. Solano met her husband at a local church camp in her senior year of high school, and they have now been married for 12 years.  The Solanos have two children.  In her free time she enjoys God’s beautiful creation through hiking, traveling, lake days, camping and spending time watching her kids play sports.

Third Grade Teacher

Kimberly Van Pelt

Kim Van Pelt lived in Alaska until the age of 10, when her family moved back to California. She grew up in a large family and later attended college, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Sonoma State University. She also holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Dominican University in San Rafael and a CLAD credential for teaching English language learners. With 32 years of accumulated experience, Kim has taught students from first through eighth grade in both private and public schools. Kim currently lives in Carson City with her husband, Rodney. She enjoys kayaking, bicycling, and traveling when she is not pursuing her passion for educating future world leaders with a biblical worldview.

Fourth & Fifth Grade Teacher

Nicole Broyles

Mrs. Broyles grew up in Southern California. She graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies and Education. She also received her Masters from University of Nevada Reno in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). When Mrs. Broyles is not in the classroom, you will often see her mountain biking, rock climbing, hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, camping, cooking, or reading. She passionately serves the Lord and loves the opportunity to have an impact on the future generation.

Middle School Teacher of Math, Science & Bible

Andrea Friend

Mrs. Friend is a Native Nevadan, born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She now calls Carson City her home with her husband of 18 years and 4 children. She has a degree from the University of Nevada - Reno in Supply Chain Management and recently received her teaching credentials. This is Mrs. Friend’s third year teaching at Legacy. She has loved getting to know the these amazing Middle Schoolers, and it has been such a blessing to get to explore the Bible, Math, Science them this year! Alongside teaching, Mrs. Friend loves to be with her family playing board games, enjoying movie nights, camping, and going to Tahoe during the summer.

Middle School Teacher of English/Language Arts, History & Bible

Jennifer Sheldon

Mrs. Sheldon was born in New York, but grew up in Southern California. She graduated from Biola University with a degree in education and a minor in Biblical Studies. She has been married to her college sweetheart, Bruce, for 32 years and has three amazing sons. She has over 25 years of teaching experience and loves teaching middle school students about Jesus, literature, and history. After the Christian school near her home in  Reno closed it doors last year, she is beyond excited to join the amazing staff at Legacy Christian Academy. She has been so blessed by the encouraging parents and wonderful students in the middle school and looks forward to a fantastic year! Mrs. Sheldon enjoys reading, cooking, camping, and spending time with her family in her free time. She loves her Savior and Lord and longs to serve him faithfully.