THE TEAM
Meet the team behind your future experience!
Rachelle Hodge, Executive Director
BOEC Executive Director, Trainer & Cognitive Coach, since 2010. Rachelle holds a Bachelor in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona. She has served as a classroom teacher in grades K-7th, Title I facilitator, curriculum coordinator, and teacher trainer since 1990 in private and public schools. She has a passion for training teachers to reach the hearts and minds of students. Through Rachelle’s leadership, Branching Out is planting foundational roots in Christian schools by bringing the best instructional practices to educators.
Kelly Weber Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Kelly Weber graduated from University High in Tucson in 1995. She received her BA in English and Secondary Education from Wheaton College. She began teaching in 2001 in middle school reading and writing. From 2005-2013 she taught high school English and was the guidance counselor at Desert Christian High School. She has been involved with professional development training for teachers since 2006. In 2009 Kelly earned her, Masters in Educational Psychology and is now a licensed associate counselor. Kelly is an expert in educational best practices and the needs of our student's today.
Brenda Woody, Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Brenda Woody has been working as a Christian educator since 1993 in a variety of capacities. With a BFA in vocal music, she spent over ten years teaching music and drama for K-8 students at Casas Christian School. Since receiving a Masters of Education with a reading endorsement in 2006, she has been serving as a reading interventionist and classroom teacher. Brenda is passionate about equipping children to become life-long learners and pursuers of God’s plan for their lives. She has been involved in teacher training since 2010 and uses her gifts and talents to bless others!
Melissa Odell, Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Melissa Odell graduated with her B.A. in Elementary Education from Concordia University in Portland, OR. She then moved to Tucson, AZ and taught first grade in the public school system before she moved to a private Christian school teaching Kindergarten. Melissa has an amazing amount of energy that she uses to keep up with her three young boys at home. She feels blessed to work with the amazing education team at Branching Out! She brings energy, expertise, and fun to our team!
Sheryl Morgan, Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Sheryl Morgan graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors degree in grades K - 8 in 1978. Before moving to Arizona she taught Kindergarten, 6th grade, and K-6 PE in the Oklahoma public school system. She then moved to Arizona and has spent the past 20 + years in Christian education teaching 2nd and 3rd grade. Sheryl is a certified 6 Traits instructor and has a passion for helping children discover the author within and experience the publishing process.
Jacquelyn Weber, Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Jacquelyn Weber has been an educator for 10 years teaching various grades 1st - 8th as well as student council. She received her Masters of Education from the University of Phoenix. Jacquelyn has taught in both public and private education with the concentration of her experience in Christian Education. She is currently teaching 5th grade at Desert Christian Schools. Jacquelyn has a passion for mentoring students and helping them to develop a love for learning while discovering their God given talents.
Erin Leckington, Trainer & Cognitive Coach
Erin Leckington graduated from Vanguard University of Southern California with her BA in Liberal Arts and a minor in Psychology. She began teaching in 2000 at a public elementary school in Whittier, California. After ten years of teaching grades K-4 in the public sector, God brought her to Verde Valley Christian School in Northern Arizona, where she currently teaches second grade and serves as professional development coordinator. Leaning on her relationship with Christ as well as her years of training and experience, Erin is passionate about helping her students to love and live out God’s Word. In addition to teaching, she is a wife, and mother-in-the-trenches to two energetic, fun-loving children. In her free-time, Erin loves to shop, hike, read, and nap.
Lindsay Bauer, Trainer & Coach
Lindsay Bauer is our newest Trainer and Cognitive Coach. She has been in public and private school education for the past 17 years. She has taught Kindergarten, 1st grade, 5/6 MAC, and was the principal of Emmanuel Christian Academy in Kingman, AZ. She has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University in Elementary Education. She also received her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University in Reading with an Emphasis in Elementary Education. She has had a lifelong passion for teaching and a heart for education. Her life mission is to ignite, engage, and enhance growth in herself and the amazing people around her. She describes herself as, “A warrior for Jesus, a wife of Jason, a mama to Cole and Grace, bestie to friends, a teacher of teachers, and an eater of frosting.
Betsy Midkiff, Trainer
Betsy graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2014 with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She has been teaching at Verde Christian Academy ever since. Betsy is passionate about Christian education and being intentional about infusing Biblical truths into students’ lives and education. Intermediate students at VCA can’t wait to be in Mrs. Midkiff’s middle school classes. She is fun, creative, engaging, and may or may not take pleasure in referring to herself in the third person.
What a fun team!!
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BOEC Board Members
Jerry Wilkinson, BOEC Board President
Rachelle Hodge, Executive Director
Meg Chandler, Board Member
Kelly Weber, Board Member
Tony Simms, Board Member
Choose Branching Out as a charitable organization to give back to through Amazon Smile.
Corporate Partners
Partnering Schools
Albuquerque Christian School Calvary Chapel Christian School Calvary Christian School
Casas Christian School Christian Academy of Prescott Desert Christian Preschool Desert Christian K-8
Desert Christian High School Emmanuel Christian Academy Family Life Academy
Faith Christian Academy Faith Community Academy Faith Lutheran School
First Baptist Christian Academy First Southern Christian School Flagstaff Community Christian School
Grace Christian Academy Grace Pointe Christian Academy Happy Trails Preschool
Kids City Christian Preschool Lamb's Gate Christian School Logos Christian Academy
Maranatha Christian School Native American Christian Academy
Northminister Christian School Payson Community Christian School River of Life Christian School
Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool Trinity Christian School United Christian School
Verde Christian Academy Wickenburg Christian Academy