Lynn Peck is the Administrator of Ironwood Academy, responsible for all academic affairs, and she serves as Math Chair. She brings her outstanding teaching skills to our middle and high school students.  Lynn graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics. She also has a Masters of Education degree in Secondary Education from Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, where she graduated with a GPA of 3.9 out of 4.0.   Lynn’s love for middle school students stems from her time at the Harpeth Hall School where she taught for six years covering Standard and Honors Pre-Algebra, Math 7, Honors Algebra 1, and Honors Geometry.

Previously, Lynn taught Algebra I and Statistics at Ravenwood High School.   Ravenwood is not only where Lynn first started her teaching career before transferring to Harpeth Hall, but it is also where she met her husband, Josh Peck.  Josh currently teaches Robotics and Engineering at Ravenwood.  Lynn and Josh have two children: a 13-year old son, Brody, and an 11-year old daughter, Avery.

Elizabeth Elfers joined Ironwood Academy in 2021 to teach English to our high school students.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University in English and Theology, where she graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors).  She also has a Master of Theological Studies degree, summa cum laude, from Vanderbilt University Divinity School where she was a Founders Medalist.  In addition, in 2011, she was a Fellow in the Vanderbilt University Cal Turner Program for Moral Leadership.

Elizabeth has extensive experience in teaching, administrative leadership, and youth mentoring.  Most recently, from 2015-2020, she was Dean of Campus Ministry and Student Life at Father Ryan High School in Nashville.  In her leadership role, Elizabeth provided direction and oversight of student service opportunities such as Room in the Inn, Special Olympics, and Relay for Life, as well as overseeing student mission trips.  Prior to her tenure at Father Ryan, Elizabeth facilitated youth and adult volunteer opportunities as Co-Director of Lydia’s House in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She previously served as Associate University Minister at the University of San Diego for four years facilitating domestic and international immersion experiences for college students.  Elizabeth taught Great Books, Theology, and Social Justice at Pope John Paul II High School and was a Writing Consultant at Vanderbilt University’s English Language Center tutoring international students. Her extensive classroom experience in all grade levels, combined with her passion for reading, writing, and providing leadership development for youth and young adults, makes Elizabeth a tremendous addition to Ironwood Academy’s dream team faculty.  She and her husband, Jim, who is a Spanish teacher at Pope John Paul II High School, have been married four years and are the proud parents of a two-year-old daughter, Margie, and a four-month-old son, Oscar.  In her free time, Elizabeth volunteers for the homeless through Room in the Inn and other charitable organizations.  She is a Franklin, Tennessee native and her entire family is local.  Elizabeth plays guitar, enjoys live music, and she loves reading, especially works by Jane Austen, John Steinbeck, and J.K. Rowling.

Deborah Hayes returns to Ironwood Academy as EQ (Emotional Intelligence) Instructor with 30+ years of professional educational experience as a classroom teacher (public and private). She is a published author, curriculum developer, teacher trainer, and national speaker at educational conferences. She also homeschooled her three sons for several years. She has a strong passion for helping equip young people in the area of emotional intelligence.

She completed both her undergraduate degree and graduate teacher credentialing work at California State University, Sacramento, majoring in Liberal Arts/Education with a concentration in Communications Studies. She taught public school for several years in central California and the inner-city of Los Angeles. Debb was named “Best New Educator” her second year in the classroom. In addition to her tenure as a classroom teacher, she has significant experience in writing and developing curriculum and training materials for educational institutions and publishers. She has authored multiple best-selling teacher resource books and over one hundred curriculum guides and materials for publishers such as Scholastic, The Learning Company, LeapFrog, Houghton-Mifflin, Pearson Education, and Dorling Kindersley in London. One of her earlier books was adopted as a textbook for the teaching program at New York State University. Debb has also worked with the states of Texas and Michigan as a consultant for the correlation of K-12 curriculum to state assessment standards and benchmarks for Language Arts. She continues to write and create content for online educational resources. For many years, Debb’s national speaking engagements include educational conferences such as the International Reading Association, the National Educational Computing Conference, and the American Library Association. She also conducted multiple national teacher training workshops and seminars on a variety of topics for school districts around the country. During her previous tenure at Ironwood, she taught Composition, Literature, and Public Speaking/Communication Skills.

Most recently, Debb’s deep passion and dedication to the power of encouragement and building emotional intelligence has led to her passion project – a social-enterprise organization called I Can Do Stuff. Connecting with brain researchers, psychologists, and thought leaders in the EQ space, her dream is to provide tangible tools, support, community connections, and fun “stuff” to help people of all ages and stages engage the power of encouragement as they activate their callings and big dreams.

Deborah is equally passionate about learning and using life tools that promote positive mental, emotional and physical health. She is a board member of the Advisory Council at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. She is also a state-wide presenter of the End the Silence program. End the Silence is a program designed for middle and high school students (as well as school staff and families) to help educate, empower and increase knowledge in discussing mental health.

Debb and her husband, Steve, have lived in the Franklin area for over two decades. They will celebrate their 31st wedding anniversary this year. They have three grown sons (Conner, Tate, and Jack) and a good ole black lab named Ozzy. She loves reading, writing, travel, kayaking, and paddleboarding. And cookies.

Cassie Gillett has joined Ironwood Academy’s stellar faculty in 2022 to teach upper elementary and middle school math.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from DePauw University, where she graduated with highest honors (summa cum laude).  In addition, she has a Masters in Gifted, Talented and Education from Arkansas State University, also graduating summa cum laude.  Mrs. Gillett has over 16 years of experience as an educator in a variety of settings.  Most recently, she led the Liberty Learning Tutorial, which provided instruction in all subject levels.  Previously, she was a Master Teacher at the Tennessee Connections Academy for two years, and for six years, she was a Specialist Teacher at the International Connections Academy.  In her career, Mrs. Gillett has developed and reviewed curriculum and designed teacher resources.  Cassie and her husband, Jon, have been married for 3 years and together they have seven children: Sam (18), Giselle (16), Ezra (13), Zechariah (13), Jonah (10), Isaiah (9), and Clarabeth (7).  They also have 3 dogs and 3 cats! In her free time, she enjoys dancing as she teaches dance and is part of an adult dance company.  She is often found teaching group fitness classes, hanging out with friends, hiking, or doing anything active!  

Melanie Lemon joined Ironwood Academy in 2021 to teach Language Arts in the elementary program.  Melanie has over 20 years teaching experience and is a Tennessee state-certified teacher.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education, as well as a Master of Education degree, with an emphasis in administration and supervision, from Middle Tennessee State University.  For the past four years, Melanie has worked as a regular and beloved substitute teacher at Grace Christian Academy in Lieper’s Fork, TN.  Melanie’s colleagues have raved about her expertise as a teacher and her excellent rapport with students.  Previously, Melanie taught second and fourth grades at Walnut Grove Elementary for seven years.  From 1999 to 2005, she taught at Erma Siegel Elementary School in Murfreesboro.  Melanie began her teaching career in Georgia, having taught third and sixth grades there before moving to Tennessee. She has been a member of Franklin First United Methodist Church for 15 years, as well as a community volunteer and leader for a local non-profit group.  Melanie and her family enjoy being outside.  They like to spend time with family and friends as often as they can get together.  When she’s not teaching, Melanie enjoys volunteering, walking, hiking, and cooking.  

Allison Jarrett Timmons returned to Ironwood Academy in 2021 as our Art Instructor for all grades. Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies with a Concentration in Studio Art from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Art Education from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. Allison has taught all ages in a variety of settings, from traditional schools to homeschool tutorials to college to community education. She served as an Adjunct Instructor and Teaching Artist at Watkins College of Art, Design and Film and Watkins Community Education, as a 3-D art teacher at Father Ryan High School, a ceramics instructor at high schools and camps in New York, and as a private art instructor with her own studio, Art School. No matter who she is teaching, Allison’s primary goal is to teach the creative process, and to encourage students to take risks with their work and try new things. She enjoys teaching through contemporary art using traditional and non-traditional media and materials, and wants all of her art students to believe in their own innate creativity.

Allison was raised in Nashville and attended Father Ryan High School. When she is not teaching, she volunteers her time with the American Legion Auxiliary Volunteer Girls State Program, a citizenship and leadership program for high school girls. Her own artwork and creative projects include lettering, embroidery, writing, sculpture, and quilting with her mother Anita. Allison and her husband Matthew have a 6-month old daughter, June, and they spend their free time together playing music, renovating their Donelson home, and chasing after their silly dog Gracie. Allison is thrilled to be able to return to the Ironwood community!

Allison Blair joined Ironwood Academy’s stellar faculty in 2022 as one of our elementary science teachers. Most recently, Mrs. Blair taught second and fourth grades in Smyrna, TN. She is passionate about implementing lab-based and interactive, hands-on science instruction in the classroom and devising creative methods to ignite a life-long love for learning in her students. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Middle Tennessee State University and is a licensed professional teacher in the State of Tennessee. Mrs. Blair is a member of the National Science Teaching Association and the Council for Elementary Science International. She has served as a volunteer for Tennessee Girls in STEM, leading workshops for girls in grades 5-8 to explore careers and conducting experiments to ignite their passion for science. She led a youth group for four years at LaVergne First United Methodist Church and currently leads the 4th/5th grade worship at River Oaks Community Church. Mrs. Blair and her husband Justin have been married for five years and they have a 20-month-old son, Nolan. Their family enjoys traveling, scuba diving, and playing with their Husky named Marlee.

Sarah Jackson Zanotti joined Ironwood Academy in 2022 to teach Theater Arts to all grades. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts/Musical Theater degree from Lipscomb University, where she graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors).  Sarah is very involved in the Nashville theater arena in a variety of community support roles.  Currently, she is the founder (along with her husband) of Acting All Around, a youth theater company in Nolensville, TN.  Sarah is a TPAC Disney Musicals in School Teaching Artist.  For four years, she was a Teaching Artist for Backlight Theater Productions in Franklin, TN, working directly with special needs students coaching voice, character and memorization work.  Previously, she was an ESL Online Teacher for VIPKID assisting children in China in immersive English language instruction.  She is a Teaching Artist for Nashville Shakespeare Festival where she leads workshops for area schools.  In 2016, Sarah was a Teacher for the Florida Repertory Theater Education Department.  She has produced and directed a number of theater and musical theater performances.  Sarah and her husband Josh have been married for five years and they host a children’s podcast together called “The Quest Company.”  In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, and hiking.

Abbie Hays joined Ironwood Academy as an instructor for the 2023-2024 school year of our second grade class.  Most recently, Abbie taught second grade for five years at a charter rewards school in the Metro Nashville school system.  She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham method for reading instruction.  As a Nashville native, Abbie graduated from Harpeth Hall high school and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies.  She has been married for three years to her high school sweetheart, Wilson Hays, and they have a son, Huck.  When she is not teaching, Abbie loves spending time with her husband, their son, and their boxer Nala.  She enjoys walking, reading and creating beautiful flower arrangements.

Julie Lankford joined Ironwood Academy in 2021 as an elementary teacher.  She has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education in homeschooling and in public school for 20 years.  Julie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Baylor University and is a certified Tennessee teacher.  For eight years, Julie taught kindergarten and pre-kindergarten in the Metro Nashville Public Schools having previously served as a substitute teacher.  She has written curriculum for Lifeway Christian Resources and designed a pre-K curriculum guide for teachers.  She is the Preschool Choir Director for Nashville First Baptist Church, a position she has held for over 30 years.  In addition, Julie is a clinician at music workshops and has written music education curriculum for Growing in Grace.  She worked with the Nashville Children’s Choir (Belmont Academy) for twelve years and traveled with the NCC’s touring choir.  Julie has been homeschooling for 17 years and has helped many families get started homeschooling using a tutorial.  She has taught parenting classes on how to integrate math and language into everyday activities and conducted continuing education workshops for early childhood teachers.  The Lankfords were one of the instrumental families at Ironwood Academy when it was founded in 2011.  Her daughter, Caroline, attended Ironwood Academy and is now a senior at Lee University majoring in Nursing, with a minor in Spanish.  When she is not teaching, Julie enjoys walking and hiking, singing, working jigsaw puzzles, riding roller coasters, and traveling with her children.