Why Kinetic Bridges Exists

Kinetic Bridges was created for students who need a thoughtful, structured, and values-driven approach to learning.

We exist because not every capable student thrives in a traditional classroom. Too often, students disengage not because they lack ability, but because the environment wasn’t designed with them in mind. Kinetic Bridges was founded to provide a different path forward — one that combines clear expectations, meaningful relationships, and purposeful growth.

Our Purpose

Kinetic Bridges was founded to serve students who are capable, curious, and often misunderstood in traditional school environments. We saw students with potential disengage not because they couldn’t learn, but because the environment wasn’t built for them.

We believe students flourish when structure and support work together. When expectations are clear, relationships are strong, and learning is intentional, students gain confidence, ownership, and momentum. Our goal is not to lower the bar, but to build the right environment so students can rise to it.

What Guides Our Work

Everything we do at Kinetic Bridges is shaped by a few guiding principles:

Progress over perfection
Growth matters more than flawless performance. We focus on steady forward movement, learning from mistakes, and building confidence through effort.
Joyful collaboration
Learning is relational. Students, families, and educators work together in an environment marked by trust, respect, and shared responsibility.
Relentless optimism
We believe students are capable of growth. Challenges are met with hope, perseverance, and the belief that progress is always possible.
Creative focus
We value thoughtful problem-solving and flexible thinking. Creativity helps students engage deeply, stay focused, and approach learning with purpose.

Our Team

The Kinetic Bridges team is made up of educators and leaders who care deeply about students and believe in thoughtful, relational education.

Our teachers work closely with students in small learning environments, allowing them to provide support, accountability, and encouragement tailored to individual needs. Leadership is actively involved in daily school life, ensuring consistency, clarity, and care across the community.

Faculty

Emily Owen

Kindergarten

Kyra Twibell

First Grade

Lynsey Letterman

Second Grade

Mrs. Letterman is our 2nd grade teacher at KB. She works closely with students, teachers, and families to support learning and provide strong instruction.

What matters most to Mrs. Letterman is making sure students feel supported while still being challenged. She believes students thrive when learning is structured, meaningful, and designed in a way that works for them.

When students interact with her, she wants them to feel safe, respected, and encouraged. She creates a classroom where kids know they can ask questions, take risks, and grow without feeling judged.

One of her strengths is understanding how students learn and adjusting support to help them succeed while building independence.

Mrs. Letterman chooses Kinetic Bridges because the school values students who don’t always fit traditional models, and she loves being part of a Christ-centered environment that helps them grow.

Wendy Kerns

Third Grade

Wendy holds a degree in Elementary Education from College of the Ozarks. With 28 years of teaching experience in public and private school systems. Not to mention, teaching VBS, Children’s Choir and church camp for many years.

Wendy brings a strong background in best practices of academics and education of the whole child. She currently teaches Third Grade at KBA. She especially enjoys teaching Math and helping students “treat others the way they want to be treated”.

Outside the classroom she enjoys seeing her grandchildren, playing Pickleball and acting at Stained Glass Theatre.

Gannel Moss

Fourth Grade

Dallion Rehm

Fifth/Sixth Grade Permanent Sub

Mrs. Rehm serves as the 5th and 6th grade instructor at Kinetic Bridges Academy, working closely alongside co-instructor Erin Salisbury. For Dallion, great teaching starts with trust, and trust is earned through consistency, kindness, and genuine care.

When students spend time with Mrs. Rehm, she wants them to feel truly seen. Dallion works to show real interest in who they are right now and who they’re becoming. I make it a point to regularly affirm their thoughts, their effort, and their progress, and to remind them that God made them with purpose, exactly right for the life He has planned for them.

One of my strengths is creating engaging learning experiences, with a strong emphasis on excellence in writing. Dallion chooses Kinetic Bridges because I wholeheartedly believe in its vision, and it’s an honor to help move it forward by teaching and loving students, one day at a time.

Jaime Benson

Science/Personal Finance/Health

Mrs. Benson is one of our secondary educators at Kinetic Bridges Academy. She teaches all 7th–12th grade science classes, along with finance and health.

Mrs. Benson works hard to create a space where students can learn both academically and emotionally. She focuses on building genuine connection and trust, while sparking curiosity and helping students unlock their potential by discovering and developing their strengths.

When students interact with Mrs. Benson, she wants them to feel supported and engaged, knowing they are valued and empowered to learn.

One of her biggest strengths is her extensive training in learning styles, especially in how students process information. That allows her to connect with diverse learners, meet individual needs, and build strong self-belief in her students.

Mrs. Benson chooses Kinetic Bridges because KBA was personally transformative for her own child during adolescence. Now, she’s grateful to be part of the KBA family not only as a parent, but also as an educator. She deeply admires the school’s culture of holistic character development, a biblical worldview, and a learning environment where faith shapes growth in every area.

Janet Fortney

Academic Individual Modifications (AIM)

Jacob George

Bible/Creative Writing /Geography

Jacob George holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Southwest Baptist University and in Theology from Baylor University.
With four years of teaching experience in Bible and other elective class, he brings a strong background in service and ministry.

At KB Academy, Mr. George teaches the Upper Bible Classes, Geography, and Creative Writing. He especially enjoys teaching the Bible in an accessible and creative way.

Outside the classroom, Mr. George enjoys hiking at conservation areas, going to movie theaters, building LEGOs, watching NFL games, and reading and writing fiction.

Ashlie Henry

Academic Individual Modifications (AIM)

Ashlie Henry holds a Master’s degree in Communications Sciences and Disorders (Speech-Language Pathology) from Missouri State University. She also holds a Certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech and Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Missouri Licence to practice Speech-Language Pathology from the Missouri Board of Healing Arts. With 17 years of therapy experience in Speech-Language Pathology, she brings a strong background in speech sound disorders, language, executive functioning, fluency (stuttering), dyslexia, motor planning, swallowing, and autism.

At KB Academy, Mrs. Henry works to help develop AIM plans for students. In addition, she assists students in and out of the classroom with AIM accommodations and collaborates with teachers to best meet student needs.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Henry loves to spend time with her husband and 17 year old son. In her free time she loves working out and walking on local trails.

Emily Sampson

English

Mrs. Emily Sampson holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education English from MSU. With 9 years of teaching experience in ELA she brings a strong background in literature and professionalism.

At KB Academy, Mrs. Sampson teaches 7-12th ELA. She especially enjoys teaching literature and guiding students to apply lessons learned in the classroom to real life, as well as building relationships with students and staff alike.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Sampson enjoys spending time with her family and going on nature walks/hikes with them, listening & singing along to music, reading, preserving what God has provided through nature through canning and more, and learning many new things in the world of homesteading.

Jourdan Lunsford

Math

Jourdan Lunsford serves as the Upper Grades Math Teacher at Kinetic Bridges Academy. She is passionate about helping students feel seen, capable, and supported—especially when math feels hard or discouraging. In her classroom, mistakes are welcomed as an important part of the learning process, and students are encouraged to grow in confidence and perseverance through patient guidance and steady encouragement.

Jourdan’s hope is that every student experiences grace, feels truly valued, and leaves her classroom believing they can grow. She first chose Kinetic Bridges as a parent, and now feels grateful to teach here because of the school’s commitment to educating the whole child and partnering with families to help students develop in both character and faith.

Bri Willet

Electives/P.E./Music

Brianna Willet holds a degree in General Art from Southwest Baptist University. With 1 year of teaching experience in various electives, she brings a strong background in Art, Music, and PE.

At KB Academy, Brianna teaches Elementary Art, Music, and PE; as well as High School Art, PE, Sociology, Psychology, and Media & Communication. She especially enjoys seeing students grow and encouraging their curiosity and creativity.

Outside the classroom, Brianna enjoys creating art and spedning time with her family and pets.

Staff

Lindsay Babbitt

Event & Volunteer Coordinator

Amy Dascher

Principal

June Middleton

Accountant

Amanda Nichols

Director of Education

Mrs. Amanda Nichols holds a degree in Elementary Education from College of the Ozarks.With over 15 years of teaching experience in Elementary and Upper grades, she brings a strong background in the classical educational model, leadership and training faculty.

At KB Academy, Mrs. Nichols serves as the Director of Education. She especially enjoys encouraging faculty and students strive for their individual goals, then celebrating when growth and learning takes place.

Outside the classroom, Mrs. Nichols enjoys reading, listening to music, gardening and swimming with her family.

Erin Sailsbury

Fifth/6th Grades Support

Mrs. Salisbury is the 5th and 6th Grade Support Teacher at Kinetic Bridges Academy. She works closely with students to meet them right where they are and help them keep moving forward.

Erin wants every student to feel uniquely valued and genuinely cared for. One of her greatest strengths is humor, and she loves bringing joy into the day and making learning feel lighter and more fun.

What keeps her at KBA is simple: watching students grow, spiritually, academically, and socially. Seeing that progress day by day is what makes the work rememberable and rewarding.

Jennifer Strickland

School Counselor

Jennifer Strickland holds a Master’s degree in Counseling from Missouri State University, with undergraduate degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from Evangel University.With 25 years of experience in the counseling field she brings a strong background in treating trauma and a variety of developmental and relational challenges.

At KB Academy, Jennifer serves as our on-site Mental Health provider. She especially enjoys seeing students who are open to trying new things to become the best version of themselves possible.

Outside of the school setting, Jennifer enjoys getting outdoors, experiencing new adventures, and spending time with her family.

Debra Walker

Secretary

Mrs. Walker serves as the School Secretary at Kinetic Bridges Academy. She’s often one of the first people students see each day, and she works to make sure they feel noticed, welcomed, and cared for.

What matters most to Debra is that every student knows they are valued, important, and here for a purpose. When students interact with her, she hopes they experience love, truth, and joy. She brings consistency to her role, along with a steady smile that helps create a safe, encouraging environment.

Debra chooses KBA because she loves being part of a community that helps one another grow into who God created each person to be, while genuinely caring for one another along the way.

Mark Walker

Director of Operations

Board Of Directors

Alex Clark

Member

Sarah Hansen