STAFF & FACULTY

BENTON HALL ACADEMY SINCE 1977

Benton Hall Academy Dead of School, James Purcell

JAMES PURCELL

HEAD OF SCHOOL | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

Mr. Purcell received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Resources from Trevecca Nazarene University. He has been at Benton Hall Academy since 1993. He has been a teacher, coach, bus driver, lunch coordinator, athletic director and dean of students during his career at Benton Hall Academy.

j.purcell@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Sam Polatsek

SAM POLATSEK

DEAN OF ACADEMICS

Mr. Polatsek received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from the University of Florida. He has been at Benton Hall Academy since 2016. During his years at Benton Hall, Mr. Polatsek has taught pre-algebra, algebra I and II, bridge math, geometry, trigonometry, pre-calculus, statistics, chemistry, physics, and music history/appreciation. In his free time, Mr. Polatsek enjoys playing guitar, participating in a local brass ensemble, hiking with his wife and dogs, and reading.

s.polatsek@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Jean Ferguson

JEAN FERGUSON

TEACHER

Ms. Ferguson has been at Benton Hall Academy since 1992. She has over 30 years of teaching experience. Ms. Ferguson teaches high school English and Spanish. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

j.ferguson@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Denise Johnson

DENISE JOHNSON

TEACHER

Ms. Johnson has over thirty years of classroom experience and has been teaching at Benton Hall Academy since 1997. Ms. Johnson teaches middle school science, social studies, reading, and health for both the lower and middle school. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from David Lipscomb University, Nashville. She also is a Designated Career Level 3 Master Teacher.

d.johnson@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy Basketball Couch, Sheridan Kaatz

SHERIDAN KAATZ

TEACHER | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR | BUS DRIVER

Mr. Kaatz began teaching at Benton Hall in 2015. He teaches high school US History, World History, Government, Economics, and Middle School P.E. Mr. Kaatz earned a bachelor’s degree and completed a Teacher Certification Training Program at Lipscomb University.

s.kaatz@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Alexandra Torres

ALEXANDRA TORRES

TEACHER 

Ms. Alexandra began teaching at Benton Hall in the fall of 2021. She is the main teacher for the Middle School. She grew up in the Nashville area and graduated from Brentwood Academy in 2015. She received her B.A. from the University of Kentucky in 2019 and just finished her MSc at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. She loves to read, write, and run during her free time.

a.torres@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Amy Murphy

AMY MURPHY

TEACHER | LUNCH COORDINATOR | AFTERCARE | SUMMER CAMP

Ms. Amy has taught at Benton Hall since 1993. She teaches art in the lower, middle and high school, and teaches lower school math and language arts. In addition, she coordinates lunches and is in charge of Aftercare. She is also the head of the prom committee.

a.murphy@bentonhallacademy.org

Benton Hall Academy teacher, Consuela Reed

CONSUELA REED

TEACHER

Ms. Reed is a native of Nashville. She received her Bachelors and Masters from Lipscomb University in Education. She currently teaches English to students around the world and for Nashville International Center for Empowerment. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering with Khalsa Aid, Hands on Nashville, and Inner City Ministry. Her hobbies include traveling, cooking. learning new languages and cultures, and writing poetry.

c.reed@bentonhallacademy.org