Faculty

LCS Administration

At Lanham Christian, our team is increasingly committed to the need for education as a ministry of cooperation within the Christian community. We are thankful for the partnership that we have with our families, allowing our staff, faculty, and teachers to invest in the academic, social, emotional, and spiritual development of our students.

Rev. Randall Burr

Executive Director

Mr. Burr is a graduate (Cum Laude) from Liberty University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has been in the ministry for more than twenty years. He served on the staff of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA before serving as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Savannah, GA and then Decatur Heights Baptist Church, Bladensburg, MD. He currently serves as an Elder of Grace Brethern Church, Lanham, MD. In 2006 he joined the administrative team of LCS and became Executive Director in 2010.

Lidia Beltré

Principal

Mrs. Beltré attended the University of Maryland, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Mathematics. Mrs. Beltré served as a youth pastor for 15 years and is currently serving as assistant pastor with her husband. She is passionate about educating and leading young people in their growth, development, and faith in Jesus Christ. She has been a part of the Lanham Christian School family for four years.

Nikki Butler

Vice Principal

Mrs. Butler holds a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College and a Master of Arts from American University. Her ACSI certification in Elementary Education and a Certificate of Broadcast Journalism enhance her expertise. Mrs. Butler embraces a Christian classical approach, nurturing students’ unique potential in a stimulating environment. With nine years of teaching experience, she brings a passion for education and dedication to our school’s leadership team, aiming to elevate educational standards and empower students to excel.

Vanessa Smith

Program Director

Mrs. Smith attended the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2007, she graduated with BS in Elementary Education. In 2018, she recieved a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Leadership. She has specialized in Science throughout her academic and professional career and currently maintains her post as LCS’ High School Pre- Calculus teacher in addition to her administrative role. She is a youth ministry leader with over fifteen years of experience and in 2007 joined the LCS team.

Church / LCS Administrative Office

Zaimi Barboza

Family Accounts Representative / Enrollment Coordinator

Mr. Burr is a graduate (Cum Laude) from Liberty University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has been in the ministry for more than twenty years. He served on the staff of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA before serving as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Savannah, GA and then Decatur Heights Baptist Church, Bladensburg, MD. He currently serves as an Elder of Grace Brethern Church, Lanham, MD. In 2006 he joined the administrative team of LCS and became Executive Director in 2010.

Sergio Castillo

Facilities Director

Mr. Castillo has a Bachelor of Theology from The Central American Theological Seminary of Guatemala. He believes that all people are unique and need an environment to help them grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and socially and spiritually. He strives to be a teacher that is guided by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word. Mr. Castillo has been an educator for fifteen years. 

Keri Gallagher

Business Manager / Human Resources

Mrs. Smith attended the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2007, she graduated with BS in Elementary Education. In 2018, she recieved a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Leadership. She has specialized in Science throughout her academic and professional career and currently maintains her post as LCS’ High School Pre- Calculus teacher in addition to her administrative role. She is a youth ministry leader with over fifteen years of experience and in 2007 joined the LCS team.

Earline Lee

Fine Arts Director / Reception

Mrs. Lee has been an asset to the LCS community for fifteen years. She believes that her role is to nurture her students by planting, watering, and giving light to their unique educational process, encouraging them to express themselves through the gifts and talents that God has given them so that they can use those talents to enhance the world around them.

Fatima Mendez

Registrar/ Reception

Mrs. Smith attended the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2007, she graduated with BS in Elementary Education. In 2018, she recieved a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Leadership. She has specialized in Science throughout her academic and professional career and currently maintains her post as LCS’ High School Pre- Calculus teacher in addition to her administrative role. She is a youth ministry leader with over fifteen years of experience and in 2007 joined the LCS team.

Eric Smith

Lead Pastor of Grace Church

Mrs. Smith attended the University of Maryland, College Park, in 2007, she graduated with BS in Elementary Education. In 2018, she recieved a Masters of Education in Teaching and Learning with a concentration in Leadership. She has specialized in Science throughout her academic and professional career and currently maintains her post as LCS’ High School Pre- Calculus teacher in addition to her administrative role. She is a youth ministry leader with over fifteen years of experience and in 2007 joined the LCS team.

LCS Teachers

Joseph Alexander

Elementary PE Teacher

Mr. Alexander has a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from North Carolina Wesleyan College, where he also was the starting quarterback for his college football team. He currently is the family life pastor at Capital Christian Fellowship. He believes that all children have been created in the image of God and in the classroom, it is vital that they are educated, engaged and encouraged in a way that reflects the Truth of Christ. He has been teaching PE for three years and has also served as our Athletic Director.

Kimberly Alexander

Middle School Bible and Math/ Middle School Department Chair

Mrs. Alexander has a Bachelor of Art in Religious Studies from North Carolina Wesleyan College. She believes that education is about reaching the next generation and pouring into them for the purpose God has for them. She desires to shape students academically, socially, and spiritually. She has been teaching for three years.

Michelle Alexander

Reading Specialist

Mrs. Alexander has an Associate Degree and Certification as an Advanced Practitioner in Respiratory Therapy and a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication Disorders from Howard University. Her personal goal as a teacher is to meet her students at their academic level and motivate them to reach beyond their preconceived academic limitations to accomplish what they thought was impossible.  Her goal is to teach her students never to use the phrase,” I can’t do this”, but to know that they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Mrs. Alexander has been teaching for nineteen years.

 

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Jess Almy

Librarian / Elementary Computer

Mrs. Almy is an Alumni of LCS and graduated with the class of 2004. She has previously worked as support staff on LCS. In recent years, Mrs. Almy worked for a contracting company with NASA, but has now returned to Lanham Christian School to be the Librarian! Mrs. Almy has a passion for creating and building on imagination, so she is thrilled to assist students to read and build on their imagination and learning skills. Her prayer is that God would work in each student’s heart at LCS so that they may choose to follow Him in their lives.

Victoria Alvarez

High School Science Teacher | Anatomy, Biology, Physics

Mrs. Alvarez has a Bachelor of Education from Bryan College. She believes that education should be hands on and incorporates hands on activities in her classroom. Her classroom is an emotionally safe space where students are comfortable learning about the world God created, but also life skills such as processing emotions, healthy coping mechanisms, and conflict resolution. Mrs. Alvarez has been teaching for seven years.

Naadira Andrews

Elementary Teacher

Bengelbert Andrickson

Bible Teacher

Mr. Andrickson has a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Lancaster Bible College and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Christian Counseling. He believes that the job of an educator is to elicit from the student’s curiosity for life. He is passionate about teaching students to know to understand their faith closer and draw closer to God. He has been teaching for seven years.

Victoria Bell

Math Teacher

Rev. James RT Boyce II

Athletic Director

Pastor Boyce has a Bachelor of Science in Bible and Music from the University of Valley Forge. He is a Family Life Pastor at Trinity Assembly of God. He believes that sports help students interact with teachers and each other differently than they would in the classroom. It’s a way to break down walls and encourage teamwork and problem-solving.

Melanie Boyce

English Teacher | English Department Chair

Mrs. Boyce has a Bachelor of Science in Bible and Christian Education from the University of Valley Forge. Her goal is to provide a high-quality academic experience while displaying a love for Christ in all she does. While she desires for her students to share her passion for learning and commitment to excellence, her greater desire is for her students to grow in their faith and deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ. Mrs. Boyce has been teaching for twenty-eight years.

Donna Burr

Piano & Voice Teacher / Hand Bells

Mr. Burr is a graduate (Cum Laude) from Liberty University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has been in the ministry for more than twenty years. He served on the staff of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA before serving as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Savannah, GA and then Decatur Heights Baptist Church, Bladensburg, MD. He currently serves as an Elder of Grace Brethern Church, Lanham, MD. In 2006 he joined the administrative team of LCS and became Executive Director in 2010.

Elizabeth Byrd

Middle School Science and History

Ms. Byrd has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary from an emphasis in History and English from Ferrum College. She believes that her job as an educator is to foster, mold and guide all her students to meet their potential and give them the skills they will need as they move to the next grade. Ms. Bryd has been teaching at LCS for four years.

Adam Clark

Early Elementary Teacher

Mr. Clark has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Elementary Education from Columbia Union College. He believes that children are a blessing from God and considering that, the role of the Christian educator is to develop the whole person, academically, spiritually, and emotionally. He loves helping little ones reach their full potential. He particularly loves teaching science and bringing a love for all creatures great and small to his classroom. Mr. Clark has been teaching early elementary students for twenty-eight years.

Michaela Graham

Early Elementary Teacher

Roxanne Gorham

Early Elementary Teacher

Mrs. Gorham has a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Kaplan University and is credentialed in early childhood education. She is an early elementary teacher with over ten years of experience and she has a heart for young students. She believes that building a caring classroom helps students to reach their fullest potential.

Stephanie Lee

Kindergarten (4) / Early Elementary Lead Teacher

Mrs. Lee has an Associates Degree in Child Development from the Council of Early Childhood Professional Recognition. Her desire is to teach children in the love and admonition of the Lord and lead her students by example. Her classroom is a warm and safe place for students where students can begin their academic journey with high standards and a sense of nurture. Mrs. Lee has been teaching in the early elementary classroom for twenty-three years.

Claudia Mejia

Elementary Teacher

Mrs. Mejia has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland is currently pursuing her Master of Arts in Education from Liberty University. She believes that all children can reach academic excellence when they have the necessary tools and support provided by a motivating classroom environment. Her mission is to guide her students to achieve their educational goals and lead them to become socially mature individuals. Mrs. Mejia is a first-year teacher at LCS and is looking forward to many wonderful years ahead. 

Meyli Melgar

K4 Teacher

Mrs. Melgar is an El Salvadorian native, who has been teaching for six years. As a first-year teacher at LCS she is excited to challenge our youngest students to be all that God has created them to be. She has Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Ashworth College is current pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education in Grand Canyon University. 

Dezmon Ouzts

English Language Arts

Mr. Ouzts is a graduate of Bowie State University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in English/Secondary Education. He has worked in public schools for the past two years and is currently transitioning into the Lanham Christian family. He desires to enable his students to aim high and achieve greatness academically, socially, and spiritually, but setting high standards which embody a spirit of excellence.

Rahila Salik

Elementary Teacher

Dr. Rickey Payton

Choir / Praise Band Director

Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., a voting member of the GRAMMY’s and 2004 Linowes Leadership Awards Recipient, is a prolific composer, arranger, producer, performer, and teacher. Dr. Payton is the founder of The Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts in the heart of Silver Spring, Md www.urbannation.org. Also in keeping with his strong commitment to peace and social justice, Rickey is the co-founder, a former board member, and musical director of City at Peace, an organization that uses the performing arts to teach tolerance and cross-cultural understanding.

Candace Penn

Liturgical Dance/ High School Next Steps

Mr. Burr is a graduate (Cum Laude) from Liberty University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has been in the ministry for more than twenty years. He served on the staff of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA before serving as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Savannah, GA and then Decatur Heights Baptist Church, Bladensburg, MD. He currently serves as an Elder of Grace Brethern Church, Lanham, MD. In 2006 he joined the administrative team of LCS and became Executive Director in 2010.

Nancy Ponce

Spanish Teacher

Mr. Burr is a graduate (Cum Laude) from Liberty University. He is an ordained Baptist minister and has been in the ministry for more than twenty years. He served on the staff of Fellowship Baptist Church, Chesapeake, VA before serving as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church, Savannah, GA and then Decatur Heights Baptist Church, Bladensburg, MD. He currently serves as an Elder of Grace Brethern Church, Lanham, MD. In 2006 he joined the administrative team of LCS and became Executive Director in 2010.

Dr. Rickey Payton

Choir / Praise Band Director

Dr. Rickey Payton, Sr., a voting member of the GRAMMY’s and 2004 Linowes Leadership Awards Recipient, is a prolific composer, arranger, producer, performer, and teacher. Dr. Payton is the founder of The Urban Nation Academy for the Performing Arts in the heart of Silver Spring, Md www.urbannation.org. Also in keeping with his strong commitment to peace and social justice, Rickey is the co-founder, a former board member, and musical director of City at Peace, an organization that uses the performing arts to teach tolerance and cross-cultural understanding.

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