P.J. Chagan (Elementary, History, Geography, Music Faculty) received a B.A. in History from Denison University. In addition to her teaching at The American Academy, Mrs. Chagan’s teaching experience includes leadership in area Bible study programs and Sunday school at Tenth Presbyterian Church. The Daughters of the American Revolution named Mrs. Chagan the Pennsylvania State US History Teacher of the Year for 2004, awarded in Washington DC. Mrs. Chagan’s area of special interest is American History, and she is a member of the Civil War Library and Museum.

Barry Hofstetter (Classics, Bible Faculty) Mr. Hofstetter is a Ph.D., candidate (1991) in Biblical Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary; he received a Th.M., (Honors) New Testament, Westminster, 1991 (Thesis); M.Div., (Honors) Pastoral, Westminster, 1989; M.A., (Honors) Classics, Ohio State University, 1986 (Thesis).B.A., (Honors) Ancient Studies, Univ. Md. In addition to translating Latin for scholarly journals, Mr. Hofstetter has expertise in computer science. The Hofstetters have two lovely daughters, Jacqui and Nathania.

Susan Null (Elementary, History, Bible) graduated from Smith College with an undergraduate degree in Government and Education. Mrs. Null earned a Master of Arts degree from Gordon Conwell Seminary, and has attended Harvard University’s week long seminar in media studies. Mrs. Null has had previous experience teaching Bible, and for nine years was Fund Administrator for the USSA Fund, which provides scholarships to inner city children to attend Christian schools. Mrs. Null’s husband Robert is a PhD candidate in Theological Studies at Westminster Theological Seminary. The Nulls have three children and are members of Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr.

Edward R. O’Brien III (Math and Sciences Faculty) holds a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering with honors from Drexel University and a Masters in Engineering from Villanova University. He has teaching experience at all levels including the University level. Mr. O’Brien is a consultant in the engineering field for commercial and government clients, and holds three patents in electrical design. He has special expertise in mathematics, computer statistics, physics, and chemistry.

Mary Hanko (Elementary) A native of Grand Rapids, MI., Mrs. Hanko was educated entirely in Christian schools. At The American Academy, Mrs Hanko has been a part-time teacher and substitute for two years. Mrs. Hanko’s teaching experience also includes Philmont Christian Academy, where she co-taught pre-school, handled the Math Olympiad program in elementary school, and was the librarian for the kindergarten. Mrs. Hanko also taught part-time at Reformation Christian School (Norristown) in grades 1-6, and had administrative duties. The Hankos live in the Norristown area where Mrs. Hanko’s husband was a pastor fifteen years before his current position as the manager of marketing operations for Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. The Hankos have two sons, Nathan and David; David graduated from TAA in ’05 and attends the Templeton Honors College at Eastern University.

Sharon Traver (English Faculty) holds a B.A. degree in English from the State University of New York at Albany and the M.Ed. and Ed.D. degrees from Temple University. Her doctoral dissertation was on “The Bible’s Influence on Colonial American Literature.” Before coming to the American Academy, Dr. Traver taught for 33 years at Upper Dublin High School, a “blue ribbon” suburban school in Fort Washington, where she served as English Department Chairman for 21 years. She has also taken courses at Westminster Theological Seminary.

ADJUNCT FACULTY

Ahren Lalonde (Fencing Instructor) Mr. Lalonde is an experienced fencing coach with the Fencing Academy of Philadelphia.

Edward R. O’Brien II (Language Arts, History) holds an undergraduate degree in English from Brown University, and a Masters degree in History from Brown. Mr. O’Brien taught history in the Radnor, PA school district for forty years.

Leonard Stewart (French) holds an undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, and a Masters degree from Westminster Theological Seminary. Mr. Stewart was a missionary in France for fifteen years, and is the Missions pastor at Proclamation Presbyterian Church, Bryn Mawr.