Dr. Donna Shaw – Principal
Dr. Donna Shaw is the new Principal at Windswept Academy. Her grandfather was a school Principal and he instilled in Dr. Shaw at a very early age that “an education is something that no one can ever take from you”. Her grandfather’s words and the encouragement of so many others lined the way for her to get an education.
Dr. Shaw has completed a Bachelors degree, a Master’s degree and finally a Doctorate of Science degree in Biological Science (Environmental Biology) from the University of Southern Mississippi. She taught at the Community college and University level as an adjunct professor for a number of years. She held a position as a Horticulturist with USDA-ARS for over 20 years as a scientist. For the past 5 years she has served as an Administrative Officer for the location in Poplarville, MS. She is trained in leadership, team building and conflict resolution as well as many other aspects of administration.
Dr. Shaw and her husband, Mel, are not new to Windswept Academy or the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. They have been coming up at least once a year to help with a number of building projects. They have been a part of the building of the school as well as with the housing over the past eight years. They have watched and been a part of the growth of the school and Windswept Academy holds a very dear place in their hearts. God has moved in a HUGE way over the past months to assure that they could be a part of this school year.
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 including as an Art teacher and a bus driver.
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 worker, Pre-K & Kindergarten teacher, and then as the Director of the Bethany Center. She continued her education at Guilford Technical Community College.
Ms. McLeod has one adult son. She is currently enrolled at Oglala Lakota College finishing her bachelor’s degree in education and learning the Lakota language.
Elementary School
Mary Trapp – Kindergarten
Mary Trapp was born in the Chicago Area. She spent many of her growing up years in Colorado. She earned a bachelors degree in Linguistics from the University of Colorado. Then later, she earned a Masters Degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Wheaton College.
Ms. Trapp has been teaching for the past 21 years. She began her career teaching adults in the Dallas Community College system. She taught English as a Second Language for 12 years in the US public schools. The past 7 years she has been teaching overseas.
Ms. Trapp taught Middle School and High School English and Journalism at Windswept Academy in the 2021-2022 school year. She is excited to be teaching Kindergarten this year.
Tonya Thompson – 1st Grade
Ms. Thompson is from Valdosta, Georgia. Her daughter, Shelby, son-in-law, and two
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 28 years.
She taught first grade for 11 years. She has also taught kindergarten, third, and fourth
grades. She taught for 19 years in Georgia, 6 years in Suriname, and 3 years in China.
Ms. Thompson is very excited to be teaching first grade at Windswept Academy this year.
Carol Traversie – 2nd Grade
Leota Johnson – 3rd Grade
Leota Johnson has taught four years at Windswept Academy in second through fourth grades. This year she is delighted to be teaching third grade.
She grew up on a farm near Glad Valley, SD. At the age of seven, Leota trusted in Jesus as her Savior when she realized that knowing about Jesus was not enough; she must personally ask Jesus to be her Savior. Through her parent’s teaching and the ministries of the American Sunday School Union, she grew in the grace and knowledge of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Leota attended rural elementary schools and Isabel High School. Her summers were spent doing much farm and ranch work, as well as teaching Vacation Bible School in many rural areas and counselling in local Bible camps. After high school graduation Leota attended Prairie Bible Institute and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education.
The next year she married Allen Johnson of Firesteel, SD, and God blessed them with five children, all of which are now grown. For many years they homeschooled some of their children, and Leota worked alongside Allen on their dairy and beef farm.
In 2003 Leota went back to college to get her degree in elementary education. After fifteen years of gratifying teaching in the CEB public school, she suddenly felt led by God’s Spirit to apply at Windswept Academy. She has found these past four years to be fulfilling and fruitful, especially because the love and salvation of Jesus is taught throughout every day.
Some of the most relaxing times Leota enjoys are when she is helping with the cattle. Identifying new calves, branding, checking cattle in pastures, and selecting breeding stock are never seen as work. And driving a dual-suspension four-wheeler is pure fun.
Leota and Allen are active in the Prairie Fellowship Church in Isabel, (formerly the Isabel Baptist Church), where they have greatly enjoyed worshiping and serving with other believers. The verses that have helped Leota through these many years 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 Maholic – 4th Grade
Mrs. Maholic was born in Germany. She is from Cedarville, Ohio and has lived in Atlanta, Georgia.
She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre with a minor in Psychology and Bible from Cedarville University. After college, she was involved in community theatre and church ministry, including directing a major production for the community youth program. Mrs. Maholic continued her education at the Dayton School of Medical Massage (2015) and received her LMT title. She worked for a doctor’s office near Dayton, Ohio for 3 years as well as a residential facility for trouble youth where she helped mentor and develop behavior & social skills for youth dealing with a variety of issues ranging from personal trauma to mental disorders.
Her diverse background and training have kindled a strong passion both to help and to heal in many areas of life. She loves to problem solve, tackle hard issues, explore new ideas, kindle the imagination, express herself in music and drama, read a good book outdoors, and have adventures with her large dog. She was overjoyed to join Windswept Academy in our 2018-2019 school year.
Amy Bochman – 5th Grade
Amy Bochman is in her fifth year of teaching at Windswept. She is having the joy of teaching 5th grade this year.
Amy has enjoyed serving God by teaching children in Vacation Bible School and Sunday School through the years since she was in her teens. She has also been blessed by helping at Cedar Canyon Bible Camp (rural Faith) in various positions.
In her spare time, Amy enjoys sewing, crocheting, gardening, and playing piano. She also has a good time driving an old tractor through parades when given the opportunity.
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.
Middle School & High School
Alice Cook – English
Grant Cotton – 6th Grade
Grant Cotton is blessed to be teaching 6th grade this year here at Windswept Academy!
He grew up in Central Alabama’s tail end of the Appalachian Mountains and went to
college at Samford in the Birmingham area of Alabama, graduating in 2022 with a Bachelor’s degree in Geography. He is new to full time teaching but has gotten to see God work through his time with students, including as a cabin counselor at Bertram Bobb Bible Camp in Choctaw Nation, Oklahoma over many years and teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday school & helping with children’s ministry back in Alabama.
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 now living here in
Eagle Butte and looking forward to spending time with and serving his new neighbors in the city. In addition to spending time with students, he appreciates many things, including spending time outside, learning about God’s creation, and traveling.
Jonathan Maholic – History & Physical Education
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.
He has 6 years experience teaching various subjects, both full time and part time: History, Pre-Algebra, Computer, Geography, Economics, Bible, and Spanish I and II at two Christian schools in Pennsylvania. Mr. Maholic also was an assistance soccer coach.
He is looking forward to his 3rd year teaching history full-time at Windswept Academy in the Fall of 2021.
Staff
Melvin Shaw – Properties & Maintenance Manager / Campus Security
Buddy Colombe – Cook
