Our Staff

All Staff Members

Pastor Samples

Administrator & Principal

Michael Aaron Samples was born on April 23, 1975 to Christian parents in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had the privilege of attending Temple Baptist Church and Temple Christian Academy. Dr. Clarence Sexton was his pastor for over thirteen years. On September 5, 1993, Pastor Samples placed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for his soul’s salvation. During a teen revival at Temple Baptist Church, Pastor Samples surrendered his life to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Levi Armacost

Principal, 9th-12th Grade Teacher

Levi Armacost graduated from Fairhaven Baptist College with a degree in education. He joined the Victory Christian School staff as principal and high school home room teacher. He and his wife Bethany have two children.

Kaitlyn Whitney

Kindergarten Teacher

Kaitlyn Whitney grew up in Michigan, and later moved to Tennessee with her family. She received a bachelor’s degree in education and joined our staff in Fall of 2023.

Anna Zdziarski

1st & 2nd Grade Teacher

Michael Aaron Samples was born on April 23, 1975 to Christian parents in Knoxville, Tennessee. He had the privilege of attending Temple Baptist Church and Temple Christian Academy. Dr. Clarence Sexton was his pastor for over thirteen years. On September 5, 1993, Pastor Samples placed his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for his soul’s salvation. During a teen revival at Temple Baptist Church, Pastor Samples surrendered his life to preach the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.

Melissa Esayenko

3rd & 4th Grade Teacher

Melissa Esayenko is from Alberta, Canada. She graduated from Baptist College of Ministry with a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and recently received her Masters in Biblical Counseling from Maranatha Baptist University. We are excited to have her as our 3rd & 4th grade teacher.

Sarah Olson

5th & 6th Grade Teacher

When I was five years old, my family and I moved to Zambia, Africa, as missionaries. I spent the next ten years of my life as a missionary kid. We had to return to the States in 2012 because of health problems that my dad was battling. It was quite an adjustment going back to a Christian school, but I am so grateful for those years. I had the privilege of being homeschooled while on the mission field and then being a part of Fairhaven Baptist Academy.

Melissa McConnell

7th & 8th Grade Teacher

Melissa McConnell grew up in Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northland Baptist Bible College and later a Postgraduate Certification in Literature. Upon graduating college, she taught for five years in Hawaii where she met her husband. They have since had three children and have lived in Colorado and Indiana before moving to Ohio. Melissa started teaching at Victory Christian in 2019 and is our 7th and 8th grade teacher.