Faculty and Staff
Tonya Hamby, M.Ed., Headmaster, High School Coordinator/Lead Teacher, Administrative Team:
In March of 2024, Mrs. Hamby was appointed Headmaster of Alpine Christian School and is also part of the Administrative Team that consists of Tonya Hamby, Debbie Skelton & Rudi Wallace. Mrs. Hamby has taught at Alpine Christian School for 8 years and leads our 8th-12th grade students. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education, a certification in Gifted and Talented Education, and a Master's degree in Counseling. She and her husband have two daughters who have both attended ACS. Mrs. Hamby has loved watching what Alpine Christian School provides for the Alpine community and surrounding areas and feels blessed to be part of it.
Mrs. Hamby also leads our Horsemanship Program and trains students to become better riders. God, faith, and family are her priorities. ACS is truly blessed and honored to have Mrs. Hamby and share in the miracles God has bestowed upon our school over the last 17 years.
Debbie Skelton, Administrative Assistant, Administrative Team & Board Chairman: Debbie has been a strong supporter of Alpine Christian School. She has served on the board as Treasurer and is currently the ACS Board Chairman. Debbie was an integral part of ACS’s Homeward Bound campaign that allowed us to raise $180,000 in two weeks in order to obtain our new school building on Loop Drive. Her hard work and perseverance carried the fundraising team through to success with school doors opening in August 2018.
Those who know Debbie know her for her honesty, talent of organizing, decorating skills, and passion and faith in the Lord. She has been seen sanding trim boards, painting porches, cleaning offices, organizing desks and closets, or doing whatever is needed to get a job done. Alpine Christian School is truly blessed by her presence and her love for the students and teachers.
Rudi Wallace, Comptroller, Registrar, and Administrative Team: Rudi Wallace joined Alpine Christian School in May 2021. He is part of our Administrative Team which consists of Tonya Hamby, Debbie Skelton, and Rudi Wallace, and serves as the Comptroller for ACS. He graduated with his BBA at Angelo State University in 1980. He also completed additional accounting courses at the University of Houston – Clear Lake. Rudi has over 40 years of experience in the accounting field. He recently retired as a Vice President of Finance at a Credit Union in San Angelo. In addition, Rudi is also a certified Texas Master Gardener. He loves to garden and be outdoors. Rudi has been very active in church for many years. He has served as an Eucharistic Minister and Treasurer. Rudi and his wife, Nancy moved to Alpine in late 2020. Rudi is excited to be a part of Alpine Christian School and to be in the Alpine community.
Email: rwallace@alpinechristianschool.com
Denise Olazaba, Bridge-K Teacher: Mrs. O, as her students call her, was born and raised in Alpine. She married her best friend, Steve. They have been married for over 19 years and share two wonderful sons. As a family, they enjoy camping, fishing, and traveling. Mrs. O loves spending her free time with family, baking, cooking, crocheting, and crafting. Her favorite Bible verse is Joshua 24:15, “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.”
Mrs. O is very excited about this upcoming school year and looks forward to seeing her students. We are truly blessed by her enthusiasm, her energy, and the amazing spiritual gifts she offers our school and our students.
Ichel Valenzuela, Kindergarten Teacher: Ichel was born in Alpine, Texas and raised in a small border town called Presidio, Texas. She graduated from Presidio High School and continued her studies at Sul Ross State University, receiving her bachelor's degree in EC-6 grade education. She was also a member of Kappa Delta Pi a prestigious honor society in education. Ichel volunteered as a Teacher's Aide through her studies at SRSU and then worked as a Teacher's Aide for ACS for 2 years, learning alongside our teachers the importance of Classical Christian Education. This is her second year teaching, she began as the 1st-2nd grade teacher where she has grown tremendously as a teacher. We are excited to announce that she will be teaching Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year.
Ichel loves children and looks forward to teaching Kindergarten this school year!
Susana Busey, First & Second Grade and Language Teacher: ACS is pleased to have Mrs. Busey as our 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher and After School Care Coordinator. This is her sixth year teaching at ACS where she adds an amazing energy to our school with her passion for Jesus Christ and love for children. Mrs. Busey attended the National Autonomous University of Mexico, The Benemerita National School of Teachers in Mexico City, and she is also a certified Christian counselor through the Crisis Recovery Institute of Texas. She has also taken courses to understand children and family development through the Birth2Work program. Mrs. Busey strives to continue her education and learning, especially about child development.
Mrs. Busey believes that in today’s challenging society, she can apply her knowledge and teaching methods to supplement the classical education that her students receive. She treasures friendship, loves teaching, and cooking, and believes very much in the power of prayer. Mrs. Busey has been teaching for 19 years and we are so blessed to have her as part of our ACS family.
Andy Covington, 3rd & 4th Grade Teacher: Andy's history with ACS goes back to the beginning. When speaking to Alicia Bryan outside a grocery store years ago, Alicia shared how God had placed on her heart the desire for a Christian School in Alpine. Andy shook her head and laughed because God had placed the same desire on her heart and she had been buying books on the subject. Andy shared the books with Alicia and the beautiful fire from a spark began, ACS opened in 2004.
Andy taught at ACS in previous years. She started a program in 2004 called KONOS, then taught 1st-2nd grade in the 2018-2019 school year, leaving the teaching role to be a grandma, and substituting when needed the last three years. Andy is a graduate from Sul Ross State University in Social Science education. She taught History and Government at Alpine High School in 1988.
Andy is married to Carl Covington and has four amazing daughters, two grandsons, and two granddaughters. She looks forward to teaching at ACS this school year alongside teachers and staff she respects so much.
Caitlyne Kibbe, 5th Grade Teacher: Caitlyne was born and raised in Alpine. She is a graduate of Alpine Christian School, and now holds a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication from Liberty University. She is passionate about Classical Christian Education and looks forward to leading her students through classic literature. She is a firm believer that learning about classical thought, from the ancient thinkers to 20th century literature, can help change the way we look at current issues and promote a Biblical worldview. She is also very familiar with Wilson Hill Academy’s online program that is used for the upper grades at ACS.
Caitlyne enjoys good books, baking, riding horses with her family, and flying planes with her husband, a fellow ACS graduate. Her mission at ACS is to shine the love of Jesus through to her students, as well as prepare them for the world the way that ACS has prepared her. She feels honored to still be a part of ACS and give back to it in any way possible.
Nancy Wallace M.Ed., 6th & 7th Grade Teacher: Nancy returns to Alpine Christian
School with over thirty years of experience in education, a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Master’s Degree in Education Related Sciences. She is certified to teach Kindergarten-8th grade, history, special education Kindergarten-12th grade, early childhood development and is an Educational Diagnostician. She has attended numerous workshops and hours of training in reading, writing, math, science, dyslexia, and phonics. Nancy has also worked as a Librarian, Social Worker, and Foster Adopt Trainer. Nancy’s faith and love for Jesus is reflected in teaching her students. She has served on the music team for her church and helped with Vacation Bible School. She believes that the Holy Spirit opens minds and hearts to hear and respond to the Gospel.
Nancy and her husband, Rudi, have been married for over 40 years and have one son who is a Latin and AP History teacher in the Rio Grande Valley. They love hiking and biking in the Alpine area and love being part of the community at Alpine Christian School.
Gracie Galindo, : ACS is pleased to have Mrs. Galindo as one of our Upper Class advisors.
We are so blessed to have her as part of our ACS family.
Email: ggalindo@alpinechristianschool.com
Nicole Armendarez, Teachers Aid, Sports Coordinator:
Email: narmendarez@alpinechristianschool.com
Aileen Salcido, Bridge K Aid:
Email: asalcido@alpinechristianschool.com