Richard Gianni – Principal and Middle/High School Math
Richard Gianni was born in Boston, MA. He spent over 35 years calling South Carolina home and 30 years teaching and administrating in schools around the world in the USA, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. Mr. Gianni began his teaching as a math teacher and later taught business as well. He has been blessed to have opportunities to share his teaching experiences and faith with many students and faculty and is looking forward to being a part of Windswept Academy as Head of School and math teacher.
Beth McLeod – Office Manager
Ms. McLeod began teaching 1st grade at Windswept Academy in 2014. She has served in a variety of roles at Windswept Academy. She has served as an Art teacher, bus driver, cook when needed, and yearbook director. She now serves as the School Office Manager and fills in where needed.
Ms. McLeod attended Bob Jones University in Greeneville, SC for two years. She worked for Fayetteville Street Christian School in NC and Bethany Stepping Stones in NC for 29 years as a child care teacher and director. She taught Pre-K & Kindergarten and served as the Director of the Bethany Stepping Stones for 3 years. She continued her education at Guilford Technical Community College. Beth has continued working on her degree while here in South Dakota and will complete her degree in Early Childhood Education in December 2023.
Ms. McLeod has one adult son, who is married and they are foster parents in North Carolina. Ms. McLeod took in a lovely native baby girl in 2015. The tribe and parents approved the adoption of this little girl during the pandemic. She calls her “Her Pandemic Blessing.” Delanie is in the third grade at Windswept Academy.
Elementary School
Alice Cook – Kindergarten
Tonya Thompson – 1st Grade
Tonya Thompson is from Valdosta, Georgia. Her daughter, Shelby, son-in-law, and three grandsons live in Alabama. In her free time, she likes to cook, read, video chat with her grandsons, and watch college football.
She graduated in 1991 from Brewton-Parker College and has been teaching for 30 years. She taught first grade for thirteen years. She has also taught Kindergarten, third, and fourth grade. She taught for 19 years in Georgia, six years in Suriname, and three years in China. This will be her third year teaching first grade at Windswept Academy.
Carol Traversie – 2nd Grade
Leota Johnson – 3rd Grade
Leota Johnson considers it a joy and honor to be teaching at Windswept Academy. She taught second, third, and fourth grades in other years and will be teaching third grade this year.
Leota grew up on a farm on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation near Glad Valley. At the age of seven she received Jesus Christ as her Savior. As a child she learned about God and His love through family Bible reading each morning, regular Sunday School, and summer VBS and Bible camp.
She attended rural elementary schools and graduated from Isabel High School. Then Leota went to Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Bible and Theology. Later she updated her degree to include Christian Education. During her high school and college years, Leota spent many summer weeks in rural communities in South Dakota teaching Vacation Bible School and counseling at Bible camps. This was excellent training and a time of spiritual growth.
After college graduation Leota married Allen, and they farmed, milked many cows, and raised five children who are now grown. They home-schooled some of their children, and that gave them rich times of teaching and learning together. Allen and Leota love the Word of God, and faithfully attend the Prairie Fellowship Church in Isabel. They continue to operate a beef cattle ranch where Leota’s most enjoyable times are spent working with the cows and calves.
In 2002 Leota enrolled in Si Tanka University in Eagle Butte and graduated in 2005 with her elementary education degree. She then taught at CEB Upper Elementary until 2018. By the clear leading of God, she was convinced that she should work at Windswept Academy. She is genuinely thankful to be teaching children both academically and spiritually so they will be equipped to serve others. Her life verses are Proverbs 3:5,6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Amy Bochman – 4th Grade
Amy Bochman counts it an honor and blessing to be given the privilege of teaching at Windswept Academy again this year. Since she started 7 years ago, she has taught first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth through eleventh grades.
Amy grew up on a ranch at Imogene, SD, west of Faith. When she was young, she accepted Jesus as her Savior. Through her parents’ teaching and the encouragement, direction, and teaching of Sunday School teachers and Pastors at Prairie Home Church, she grew in her walk with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Following God’s calling in her life to teach, Amy spent time teaching Vacation Bible School at Prairie Home Church starting when she was 16. She also spent time as camp counselor at Cedar Canyon Bible Camp. Since that time Amy has also served God by teaching Sunday School and, also, volunteering in other positions at Cedar Canyon Bible Camp. Amy continues to be active at Prairie Home Church.
After graduating from Bison High School, Amy attended Black Hills State University. In 1994 she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She has enjoyed teaching ever since.
In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, crocheting and other crafts, playing piano, and working outside in her garden and yard. One of the Bible verses that has encouraged Amy throughout the years is Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men”.
Grant Cotton – 5th Grade
Grant Cotton is thankful to be teaching again at Windswept Academy! This is his third year. He has taught both 5th and 6th grade.
He grew up in the tail end of the Appalachian Mountains in Alabama and later went to college at Samford in the same state, graduating in 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Geography. He later received a temporary elementary teaching certificate from the ACSI accrediting organization. He is honored to teach elementary PE at Windswept and be the assistant coach for the school archery team.
He has been able to witness God at work through his time with students in many different places, including in Eagle Butte and as a cabin counselor over many summers at Bertram Bobb Bible Camp in Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma. God used the experience of helping at camp to point him toward working alongside students and showing them Christ’s love and Good News! Grant is enjoying living in Eagle Butte and spending time with the people here. In addition to teaching and mentoring students, he appreciates spending time outside, learning about God’s creation, and traveling. He has great fun hiking with students throughout the year!
Ben Farrar – Lakota Language (part time)
Rev. Ben Farrar is from Morganton, North Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Lenoir Rhyne University with a double major in Theatre and Family Ministry and a Master’s of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, he has taken Lakota Language courses at Oglala Lakota College.
He has been living and pastoring in Eagle Butte for several years. He has served in several roles at Windswept Academy: Theatre Arts teacher, Substitute teacher, Lakota Language teacher and Pastor.
He has been involved with more than forty dramatic productions and revels in the opportunity to use his skills to point people to Jesus and teach young people to communicate.
Amy Maholic – Part-time Music/Specials
Mrs. Maholic was born in Germany, grew up in Georgia & Ohio, & enjoys her dual Canadian-American citizenship.
She came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior at age 5 and is so grateful to see God at work in her life ever since. From childhood, she cultivated a love & respect for all cultures of the world ~ and wanted to serve God by “helping people.” Her passion & faith developed through her teen years by impactful mentors & teachers. Meanwhile God used theatre & church ministry to find her footing and confidence in The Lord.
She graduated from Cedarville University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre and minors in Psychology and Bible. After college, she continued to serve in various ways: directing productions for the community theatre, directing summer drama camps, and leading kid’s worship. Mrs. Maholic continued her education at the Dayton School of Medical Massage, received her LMT title, and worked in a Chiropractor’s office for 3 years. Meanwhile she also worked at a residential facility for troubled youth mentoring kids and teens dealing with a variety of issues ranging from PTSD to mental disorders.
After waiting many years for God’s timing, Mrs. Maholic was called to serve full-time in 2018 at Windswept Academy. She’s taught a variety of grades from 4th-6th and loves helping kids learn & discover the world around them. In 2020 she meet the love of her life when Mr. Jonathan Maholic joined the staff at Windswept. They were married in 2022 and are thrilled to serve together side by side.
Middle School & High School
Bethany James – English & Bible
Bethany James is a mission’s minded adult who has had many homes over the past 20+ years of her life. From Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, and Arizona all the way to Papua New Guinea, she has seen so many different cultures and mindsets. This has led her to an innate curiosity about all of the cultures in the world around her.
She graduated from Calvary University in December of 2023 with her bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education English. She looks forward to using all that she learned in and out of the classroom as she begins teaching English to the middle and high school students of Windswept Academy ’24-’25.
When not in the classroom, Bethany enjoys writing novels, reading books, building relationships, and organizing her room. She loves to learn new skills and enjoys being teachable.
Through student teaching, teacher’s aiding, and substitute teaching, Bethany has experience in many classrooms all around the world both in the public and the private setting. She has worked with students of all ages- from second graders in a classroom to graduate students working on their final thesis.
Jonathan Maholic – History
Jonathan Maholic is from the town of Bellefonte in central Pennsylvania.
Ever since Mr. Maholic was young, he has loved studying history and visiting historical places. Throughout his secondary and college educational years, God began to shape this love of history into a desire to teach history at a Christian school.
Mr. Maholic received a Bachelor’s Degree in History Education from Northland International University in 2014; and a Master’s Degree in History from Liberty University in 2020.
He has taught for 6 years in Pennsylvania, and this will be his fourth year at Windswept Academy.
When he moved to Eagle Butte, he met Amy, who also teaches at Windswept Academy. In 2022, they were married, and they now have been happily married for over a year. They both are enjoying teaching together, and look forward to the many adventures that this year holds!
Staff
Ms. Haven – Cook
