IJA Teachers & Staff 2024-2025

We encourage you to take the time to meet our teaching staff. Appointments are always available after school hours.

Eunice Barney

Principal

Mrs. Barney has worked in the field of education for over 20 years in both SDA schools as well as public schools. She has a passion for children being taught of the Lord, but also recognizes the importance of children having a sound education to be successful citizens in this world which we temporarily call home. She believes that all students are capable of learning and that it is important for children to learn in an atmosphere where they can be free to express and live out their beliefs without feeling out of place doing so.

Paola Pizarro

Business Manager

Mrs. Pizarro holds a degree in accounting from Peruvian Union Adventist University and she worked for several years as a treasurer of different Adventists schools in her native country. She received an MBA in business management from the Peruvian Union Adventist University in 2009. She got her second MBA in Human Resources from USI (University of Southern Indiana) in 2019. She has a very strong financial and management background, very familiar with school finances, and is able to oversee school operating finances and other matters related to operating school facilities. She has a passion for Adventist Education, and her commitment is to keep IJA’s finances strong and debt free.

Sandy Montoya

Hello! I am so honored to be your pre-k / k teacher for the year 2024-2025. I’m so
excited to get to know your child and learn and grow together. This would be my first
year on formal education, but I feel I have been working with kids my whole life. I started babysitting at 13 and since then I have worked in our church children’s Sabbath School Classes and with Adventurer’s. I graduated from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) in 2014 with a bachelor’s in finances and Banking at my home country Honduras, I also studied English as a Second Language at Mercyhurst
University in Erie, PA and graduated in 2015. I went back to Honduras and worked in
the banking industry and business financial management. Moved to the US in 2018 and started working in the customer service industry. I feel now humbled to serve the Lord’s little lambs and venture on the education field. I’m thrilled to be part of your kid’s first school experience and pray that we all will have a blessed year together.

Kelly Taitano

Mrs. Kelly Taitano (Miss Kelly) graduated from Purdue University with a B.A. in Secondary English Education and from La Sierra University with a Master's degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English. She has taught high school and college as well as home schooled Pre-K through 8th
grade, and she has received her elementary certification. Kelly is married to a CT Technician named John Taitano, and they have three children: Brenna, Zane, and Vance. Kelly enjoys cooking/baking, preaching, reading, writing, and kayaking. She loves children and wants to help bring them into a saving relationship with Jesus. Her favorite Bible passage is Romans 8:35-39.

Mrs. Rita Paunganwa is a native of Zimbabwe, Africa. She emigrated to the USA in October of 2000 after completing her Bachelor's of Business Administration at Solusi Adventist University. When she and her husband were blessed with their daughter, her interest turned to Education. She has worked over 10 years as an Instructional Assistant in the public-school sector, focusing on Math and Reading interventions. She also taught Preschool here at the Indianapolis Junior Academy for a year. Presently, she is working on her Master's degree in Elementary Education.

Rita Paunganwa is excited to join the IJA family. She hopes to build lasting relationships with both the students and their families that are motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. In her leisure time, Mrs. Paunganwa loves to garden, sew, sing, and try new recipes.

Hi there! My name is Mr. Camacho, and this is my first year teaching at IJA. I was born in Nebraska and have lived all over the Midwest. My dad was an SDA pastor, so we moved around that area quite a bit! I have six children (Maria, Marissa, Joey, Madeline, McKenzie, and Micaela), one-son-in-law (Riley), one grandchild (Riley Jr.), three cats (Tomboy, Izzy, and Miles), one dog (Leia), one hamster (Stumpy), and a lovely wife (Amy). My favorite sports teams are the Colts, Pacers, Hoosiers, and Fever, but especially my native Nebraska Cornhuskers. GBR! My favorite TV shows include professional wrestling and war documentaries. My favorite color is red, and my favorite food is just about anything that makes it to my plate! Except pickles ☹. My hobbies include playing guitar (I have eight of them) and collecting football cards (since 1986!). My favorite book is The Desire of Ages and Christ’s Object Lessons. I am also a Master Guide in pathfinders and have been involved with pathfinder clubs since the fifth grade. So, obviously I love camping, hiking, and backpacking too! I also enjoy talking. A lot. So, if we meet, hopefully you will have time to chat!