Teachers

B.A. in Theology from Asbury University
M. Th. from University of Edinburgh, Scotland
Catholic, St. Barnabas

“Life is a mystery to be lived continuously, not a problem to be solved suddenly.”
~ Kierkegaard

Sedrick Dellinger is a co-founder of Canongate and its Principal. He believes the Appalachian hills are indeed alive with the sound of music. He and his wife are raising five children in this music, on a little piece of land that sings of God’s presence and bounty.

Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, formally educated in Kentucky and Edinburgh, Scotland, he received a poetic and philosophical education that led him into full communion with the Catholic Church in 2004. As a teacher, inspired by the Integrated Humanities Program and the vision of John Senior, Mr. Dellinger is leading his students to anchor life and education in the permanent things. The mountains. The stars. Great books. Virtue. The altar. Love.

Festina Lente

Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Duke University
Master of Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary
Catholic, St. Barnabas

A member of the Catholic Medical Association and the North Carolina Entomological Society.

"If through delight in the beauty of these [created] things men assumed them to be gods, let them know how much better than these is their Lord, for the author of beauty created them." Wisdom of Solomon 13:3

Barbara has been a Registered Nurse for 40 years and still practices at Mission Hospital in Asheville. She recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of her conversion to the Catholic Church. Barbara has been teaching high school biology on and off for over ten years in various homeschool and school settings. This is her third year at Canongate. Barbara has been married for 40 years, and has two grown children and four grandchildren.

B.A. in English from Montreat College
M.Ed from St. Joseph's University
Catholic, St. Barnabas

“But in reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like a night sky in the Greek poem, I see with a myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do.”
- C.S. Lewis

Born in Alabama and raised up and down the south eastern part of the country, Molly-Kate has returned home to these mountains after several years out West and, more recently, two years in Philadelphia while she completed her masters in education through St. Joseph's University. A seeker of truth, goodness, and beauty, Molly-Kate sees the convergence of that trio and the human condition within the canon of great books and strives to share that with her students. An avid reader and writer, she seeks to cultivate wonder as an educator. In her free time, Molly-Kate delights in spending time with her family, in being outside and in nature, and in dabbling in both poetry and fiction writing.

B.A. in French, from UNC-Asheville
Further Studies in Vocal and Cello Performance, George Mason University
Catholic, St. John the Baptist in Tryon

As theatre director and part time music director for Canongate, Jennifer’s days are filled with directing. Whether at her home, Ovenbird Farm, where she and her husband are raising and teaching a family of 8 children, or at the Cradle of Forestry or her local parish leading theatrical and musical productions, or at Canongate bringing the joy and beauty of the arts to students, Jennifer strives to be, in the words of John Senior, “born in wonder.” Jennifer has a love of language and culture, music and drama, and of performance and the arts that imbues all she does, whether a play with the entire student body or a culinary experience for family and friends. She believes that the performing arts are a perfect medium for bringing the joy of wonder and Faith to students and to the current culture. Thankful for her home in the Carolina mountains, Jennifer encourages community and a sense of place through music and theatre, and especially through our shared Catholic heritage and the beauty of the Mass. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

“‘The glory of God is man fully alive.”
~ St. Irenaeus

A.A. in ESL, Instituto Anglo-Mexicano De Cultura, A. C., Mexico
B.S. in Education, Universidad Anahuac, Mexico
Catholic, Immaculate Conception

“Open your eyes; the mysteries hidden in the visible are revealed to you.”
~ Gregory of Nyssa

Claudia comes to us from sunny Mexico and feels at home in Asheville. A people-lover, she seeks to get to know her students deeply in order to better serve them. She is inspired by people of various ethnicities and diverse backgrounds because differences point to their common humanity. She enjoys languages immensely and has taught English, Spanish, French and Latin in the Asheville Area. A big fan of Maria Montessori and her positive view of children, she continues to work with young children through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

In her free time, Claudia enjoys drinking coffee with her children and friends while making material for faith formation to help children get closer to Jesus “by themselves.

"The whole earth is a living icon of the face of God." -St. John of Damascus

Emanuel Burke is a western North Carolina native who developed an interest in the arts at a very young age. While in kindergarten he was inspired by Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and decided that he would grow up to be an artist.
Though Emanuel's path took a different direction than he expected, God reignited his love for the arts after seeing the beauty of God in an Orthodox sanctuary.
Emanuel immediately began to study ancient Christian art and write contemporary icons. Emanuel believes Christian sacred art, which communicates the objectivity of beauty, is the key to redeeming Western culture in America.
Emanuel has been married to his wife, Yam, for a little over 5 years and has two young children.

A.A in Mathematics, Physics, Psychology and Music from Miami-Dade College
B.S. in Mathematics, Physics from the University of Miami
M.A. in Mathematics from the University of Miami
M.S. in Educational Administration, Supervision and Curriculum from Florida International University
B.S. in Computer Science from Florida International University
Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology from Western Carolina University
Catholic, St. Barnabas
“Faith is to believe what you do not see. The reward of faith is to see what you believe.” St. Augustine of Hippo
Trent was born in Norfolk, Virginia and at the age of seven was relocated to Miami Beach, Florida with his family. He developed a love of mathematics, science and electronics during his teenage years and eventually decided to major in mathematics and education in college. He obtained a teaching license and taught at a Catholic high school in Miami and later went on to serve as principal at another Catholic high school there.
Trent moved with his wife and four sons to Asheville in 1987, at which point he entered the education scene in Western North Carolina. He secured an adjunct professorship of mathematics and statistics at The University of North Carolina Asheville and a full-time position as chair of the mathematics department at Asheville- Buncombe Technical Community College. Trent also served a three-year term as a member of the Diocese of Charlotte School Board. He and his wife Celine enjoy spending time with their four grown sons and eight grandchildren.

BA in English with minor in Classical Languages from Belmont Abbey College
"I had the means of an excellent education placed within my reach; a fondness for some of my studies, and a desire to excel in all, together with a great delight in pleasing my teachers, especially such as I loved, urged me on: I availed myself fully of the advantages offered me"
-Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
Margaret Boerner graduated Magna Cum Laude from Belmont Abbey in 2019 and is a member of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society. She is in love with learning. Throughout her academic career, she has been blessed with teachers that both inspire and delight. She is excited to share her passion and hopes to inspire students as her teachers have inspired her.

B.A. in Secondary Education and English from Russell Sage College
Catholic, St. Barnabas

“Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth”. Ephesians 5:8-9

Amy, a native of Connecticut, sees herself as blessed with the opportunity to call
Henderson County home. A convert to Catholicism in 2006, Amy with her husband Tim, began homeschooling four of their five children. She believes that her call to teach at Canongate is a natural extension of homeschooling her children, teaching at the homeschool co-ops her children attended, and catechesis for St. Barnabas. Amy and her husband are strong believers and supporters of the beauty of a classical Catholic education. This belief led three of their daughters to graduate from Canongate. Amy is an advocate for living a debt-free life and is excited to encourage her students to attend college, start a business, or learn a trade without incurring debt.

Bachelor of Science in Health from the University of North Florida Dietetic Internship completed at Virginia Tech
"It is easier to measure the entire sea with a tiny cup than to grasp the ineffable greatness of God with the human mind.” ~ Saint Basil the Great
Traci is a Registered Dietitian and has worked for over 20 years in various healthcare settings. She has been a Clinical Dietitian at AdventHealth (formerly Park Ridge) for 15 years. She and her husband moved to WNC 18 years ago and in that time four children were added to the Fleming household. She has taught many different subjects throughout the years homeschooling her children, at homeschool groups, and in public health settings.