DR. DEWAYNE JOWERS
PASTOR & ACADEMY PRESIDENT
Dewayne Jowers was born to Tom and Gwen Jowers in Jacksonville, Florida. He graduated from Trinity Christian Academy. He received a Doctor of Ministry from Christ’s College and entered the Pastorate after being ordained in 1987.
He was called to Grace Baptist Church in March of 1995. He displays the heart and love of a Pastor/Shepherd. He has led Grace Baptist Church into active and faithful participation in supporting missionaries and missions projects around the world.
He was invited to serve on the Board of Directors of the Rock of Ages Ministries by Dr. Ron Gearis and has worked alongside Dr. Charles Keen and First Bible International in getting the Bible to people groups who have never had one.
Pastor Jowers was married to Lisa O’Steen, daughter of Milo and Colleen O’Steen, in 1982. They have three grown sons: Tim, Christopher, and Jonathan, and six grandchildren.
Pastor Jowers is a lover of college football and an avid Georgia Bulldog fan.
Mr. Grant Dawson
Principal
Mr. Dawson holds a Bachelor’s Degree in church ministries with an assistant pastoral focus from Trinity Baptist College, which he received in 2016. He has served in Grace Baptist Church ministries since 2013 in the areas of children’s and youth Sunday school, children’s church, Vacation Bible School, youth pastor, and music director. Mr. Dawson has been on staff at GCA since 2016, serving as a preacher, athletic director, and coach. In the Spring of 2025, Mr. Dawson become the Principal of Grace Christian Academy.
Mr. Dawson has been married to his wife, Casey for 13 years. They have three wonderful children, two of which are students at GCA!
In his spare time, Mr. Dawson enjoys fishing, hunting, and the beautiful outdoors.
Mrs. Lisa Jowers
Secretary
Lisa Jowers was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Trinity Christian Academy in 1977.
She has served alongside her husband, Pastor Jowers, at Grace Baptist Church since March of 1995. She has been the
Secretary/Bookkeeper at Grace Christian Academy since January of 2005. She enjoys working with the staff, students
and parents at GCA.
She has been married to Pastor Jowers since February of 1982. She has three grown sons, Tim, Christopher and
Jonathan and his wife Victoria. She also has two granddaughters, Tori and Camdyn, and four grandsons, Jase, Hunter,
Easton and Lincoln.
Her greatest enjoyment comes from serving the Lord at Grace Baptist which also includes teaching the Teen Girls
Sunday School Class. She also loves spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, church family and
friends. Her favorite places to vacation are the mountains, the beach and cruising.
Mrs. Casey Dawson
LEAD TEACHER - VPK AND KINDERGARTEN
Mrs. Casey Dawson is the lead teacher in our Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten classroom. She is a proud graduate of Grace Christian Academy, and she holds a VPK Staff credential from the Childcare Education Institute. Mrs. Dawson enjoys teaching children the foundation of education. She is a creative teacher who makes learning fun and exciting for her students.
Mrs. Dawson is a faithful member of Grace Baptist Church and has served in many areas including Pastor’s Secretary, VBS worker, nursery worker, and Sunday School teacher.
Mrs. Dawson is a proud parent of three beautiful children, two of which are currently GCA students. She enjoys crafting, traveling, and spending time with family.
Mrs. Denise Bennett
Teacher - 1st Grade
Mrs. Denise Bennett joined the staff of Grace Christian Academy in the fall of 2023 after 13 years in the medical field as a Medical Assistant and private caregiver. Prior to that, she was in the accounting field. She holds a Medical Assistant Certification and an Associate’s Degree from FSCJ. She is a wife and mother of 5 children. Before returning to the work field, she homeschooled for several years using the Abeka Curriculum. She also was a parent volunteer in the public school system for grades kindergarten through fifth grade. One of her favorite responsibilities in the public school system was cultivating a love for reading through the Accelerated Reading Program. In her free time, she loves sharing Jesus with children at her local church, reading Christian historical fiction, and spending time with her family and their spoiled dogs.
Mrs. Jennifer Sapp
Teacher - 2nd Grade
Mrs. Jennifer Sapp is thrilled to be teaching second grade at GCA. Born and raised in Florida, Mrs. Sapp has an AA degree in her favorite subject, English. Working with children has always been a passion of hers, and she has been a classroom teacher for various ages, starting with preschool. Mrs. Sapp's favorite part of teaching is sharing her favorite books with her students and helping them develop a love of learning. She also enjoys getting to share God's love with her class. She is married with three children, two of whom are GCA students (and the other one will be as soon as he's old enough!) Mrs. Sapp enjoys reading, crafting, gardening and being with her family. She also enjoys serving in her church's childrens' ministry and teaching middle school Sunday School.
Mrs. Sarah Waddell
TEACHER - 5th and 6th GRADE
Mrs. Waddell began working at Grace Christian Academy in 2017 as a volunteer and a substitute teacher. She then joined the academy staff full time. Mrs. Waddell has excelled as a Math teacher, guiding students to grasp the various concepts of Mathematics. She has taken every opportunity to grow as a teacher by pursuing training opportunities through Pensacola Christian College’s Abeka Teacher Training Program. Mrs. Waddell enjoys building character and encouraging spiritual growth in all of the students she teaches. Mrs. Waddell is also the proud parent of two GCA students.
Mr. Matthew Emigh
Teacher - 8th and 9th grade
Mr. Matthew Emigh joined the staff of Grace Christian Academy in the summer of 2025. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Church Ministries from Trinity Baptist College, and has worked with young people in Church and School settings for over 20 years.
Mr. Emigh has a passion for reaching the youth of our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and seeing them grow into all that God has for them to be.
Mr. Emigh and his wife, Amanda, are members of Grace Baptist Church.
Ms. Kim Shank
Teacher - 10th, 11th, & 12th Grade
Miss Shank holds bachelor’s degrees in Physics from Jacksonville University and a Civil Engineering degree from Georgia Institute of Technology. While serving on active duty in the Navy's Civil Engineer Corps, she also earned a master's degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida. She left active duty in the military to teach high school physics and math while completing twenty years of military service in the reserves. She has taught internationally for over fifteen years in the Arabian Peninsula and is excited to be teaching in her home state of Florida at Grace Christian Academy. She enjoys helping students learn and encouraging them to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and mind. During her free time, she enjoys DIY projects and gardening.
Mrs. Shirley McElrath
Teacher - Resource
Mrs. Shirley McElrath started working at Grace Christian Academy in the spring of 2024. She has been a teacher for over forty years in three different Christian schools in South Carolina. For many years, Mrs. Mc taught kindergarten, but now loves to work with teenagers. Mrs. Mc is a widow of twelve years, she has two daughters who are both pastor’s wives, she has nine grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. She moved to Glen St. Mary, Fl two years ago to be closer to one of her daughters and her grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, watching them play sports, and Sunday lunches with the family. Mrs. Mc is a treasured member of our staff and a blessing to the students and staff of Grace Christian Academy.
Mrs. Victoria Jowers
Teacher - Culinary
Bio coming soon!