STAFF & FACULTY

JAMES PURCELL

HEAD OF SCHOOL | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

JEFF KEITH

Mr. Keith has been at Benton Hall Academy since 2015, although he taught here from 1984-1985. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree at Belmont College in Physical Education/Health, a Master of Education degree at Tennessee State University in Administration and Supervision and has completed various coursework and subject matter pertaining to discipline, leadership, and “best practices/instructional strategies”. Before coming to Benton Hall Academy, Mr. Keith led West End Middle School to “Reward Schools Status” in first year of new TCAP Assessment format. He has officiated TSSAA High School Baseball as an umpire for 30 years, worked the TSSAA State Baseball Tournament in 1989, umpired baseball collegiately from 1985-1996 and played NAIA Baseball for Belmont College as a starting and relief pitcher.

MARY REYNOLDS

DEAN OF ACADEMICS

Ms. Reynolds started her teaching and coaching career here at Benton Hall Academy in 2012 and taught in the lower/middle school until 2015 and coached the soccer team. She has also taught English, Journalism, and Literature to middle and high school students and coached the middle school girls soccer team at Colegio Maya in Guatemala City, Guatemala from 2015-2018. She returned to the Nashville area and taught ELA at LEAD Neely’s Bend middle school and served as the English Language Learners Coordinator from 2018-2021 (as well as boys and girls soccer coaching). Prior to being in education, she earned her Bachelor of Psychology from York College. She also played NAIA soccer at York College and associate coached. She earned her Master of Education from Lipscomb and is master teacher certified in 7-12 English/Language Arts and ESOL K-12 in the state of Tennessee. Ms. Reynolds loves volunteering with L.E.T.S. Play, an organization that helps students learn English through sports, as well as travel, live music, book clubs, cooking, hiking, and being outdoors, as well as spending time with family and friends.

KIM EVANS

OFFICE MANAGER

Kim Evans is a former student at Benton Hall Academy, attending her freshman year (’84-’85). She is the mother of four children, two with Autism, and one currently enrolled at Benton Hall. She has worked in the medical and autism fields for 30 years. She began as an Emergency Medical Technician and Medical Assistant. Then she worked her way to becoming an Office Manager and Clinical Assistant for a Physician, surgeon, and Outpatient Surgery Center. Kim was also a Founding Member, the Office Manager, and an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapist of Tennessee’s First ABA school, Above and Beyond in 1994. She has also worked as a private contractor as an ABA therapist for private clients in their homes, as well as acting as an advocate for families and students during IEP meetings. She has served as Vice President and President for multiple school PTOs. Kim has chaired and been a part of many fundraisers and has also owned an event/wedding planner, decorating, and catering business.

JEAN FERGUSON

DENISE JOHNSON

SHERIDAN KAATZ

TEACHER | ATHLETIC DIRECTOR | BUS DRIVER

ALEXANDRA TORRES

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.

AMY MURPHY

SAM POLATSEK

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.