Faculty and Staff
Called to serve.
Our Team
Our teachers, administrators, and staff are at the heart of our mission to engage students to acquire wisdom, cultivate virtue, and pursue rigorous academic study within a Christian worldview. They have all successfully completed a rigorous evaluation process in order to be selected for our team. They serve as stewards of a great legacy in classical Christian education.
Mr. Paul Fisher
Headmaster
Mr. Fisher has been leading in classical education since 2006 and in Christian education since 1997. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and composition with a minor in Bible and Religion from Harding University. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Cairn University, formerly Philadelphia Biblical University. Prior to serving as Headmaster of Capstone Classical Academy, Mr. Fisher taught middle and high school courses in English, Biology, Theology, and Comparative Worldviews. He served at Coventry Christian Schools, a classical Christian school in Pottstown, PA, for 18 years, where he led as the founding Upper School Principal, Director of Development, and Head of School. As Academic Dean, he helped Harding Academy of Memphis, TN, develop a robust model for integrating faith and learning, partnering with the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education in the implementation of Teaching for Transformation. Mr. Fisher came to Capstone after serving as Head of School at Eden Christian Academy, where he led their three campuses through a time of transition in leadership across multiple campuses. Mr. Fisher provides consulting to Christian schools across the country in the challenging task of authentic, rigorous biblical worldview integration across all facets of schooling and the life of the school community. He is married to Sheri, his bride of 27 years, and is blessed with three college-aged children.
Mrs. Shannon Archer
South Campus Dean
Shannon Archer earned a B.S. in Special Education from Moorhead State University and a M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Jamestown. Her teaching career spans 18 years. She spent several years in public schools and four years at a classical education charter school in Minnesota. Shannon was at Liberty Middle School in West Fargo for the past six years.
As Academic Dean, Shannon assists the headmaster with programming decisions, supporting teachers and providing support for students as needs arise. Shannon is very excited to be part of the first Christian classical education school in North Dakota. She considers it a privilege to provide a biblical worldview while educating students. She has seen firsthand how effective this model of education was for her own children.
Shannon’s son, Josiah, is a senior this year, and her daughter, Tyndale, is a junior. Both attend Sheyenne High School. Shannon and her family attend Harvest Plains Church.
The Archer family enjoys spending time at their lake cabin with family and friends in the summer and sitting in their hot tub in the winter. Most recently, Shannon and her husband have been enjoying rides on his “new” 1978 motorcycle.
Mr. Jonathan McGuire
North Campus Dean
Jonathan McGuire grew up near Jackson, MS, in a Presbyterian pastor's family. He attended Calvin University in Grand Rapids, majoring in history and political science before transferring and graduating from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago with a BA in pastoral studies. He received his Masters of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson. Jonathan served first as an assistant pastor and then as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Belzoni, MS, a lovely farming community and "The Catfish Capital of the World." While pastoring in Belzoni, he also taught history, English, and geography at a local high school. Eventually, Jonathan moved into classical education and to Fargo.
Jonathan is excited about Capstone's emphasis on pursuing a Christian classical education as students learn of the order and grandeur of—and reason for—our created world and use all they learn to create works of beauty for themselves, their communities, and God's splendor.
When he’s not serving at school, Mr. McGuire enjoys adventures with his family, Detroit Red Wings hockey, arts and crafts, woodworking, and science fiction.
Mr. C.J. Parmer
Director of Theology
C.J. Parmer was born in Florida and raised in Georgia. He attended Bethlehem College and Seminary in Minneapolis, where he graduated in 2021 with his B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies with an emphasis in Exegesis. He then spent two years teaching Bible and Literature at a Christian school in rural Southwest Minnesota. He is currently pursuing an M.Litt. in Historical Theology through a distance program with William Tennent School of Theology.
C.J. is excited to join the Capstone team in the role of Director of Theology, through which he hopes to share his passionate love for deep and worshipful learning. He is an adamant believer that head and heart, knowledge and love, and theology and doxology all belong inseparably together. He also believes that the content and methods of classical education provide the most fertile soil in which to form learners who embody such integration of proper thinking, affection, and living.
C.J. and his wife, Jacqueline, have two sons, William and Owen. In his spare time, C.J. likes to read and learn anything and everything he can. He and his family are especially interested in gardening, soil health management, and native plant life.
Mrs. Brittany Zinter
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Brittany Zinter has 17 years of teaching experience in pre-K and kindergarten at Christian schools in both North Dakota and Minnesota. She spent the past 12 years at Oak Grove Elementary as a pre-K teacher and kindergarten teacher. Brittany has a B.A. in Elementary Education and Bible with a minor in Early Childhood Education.
She is so excited to have the privilege of pioneering the Pre-K program at Capstone. Brittany feels that the Lord will use her years of experience to develop a Christ-centered program that will help students grow spiritually, cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. Teaching students about Jesus is her favorite thing!
Brittany and her husband, Aaron, have two children, Lydia and Max. They live in Moorhead and attend Bethel Church, where they are active in music ministry and are part of a wonderful small group. Brittany and Aaron have also served as VBS leaders together.
Brittany loves to spend time with her family and friends, read, craft, and decorate.
Mrs. Emily Malingen
Kindergarten Teacher
Emily grew up in Fargo as the middle child between a brother and sister. She comes to us after teaching kindergarten for seven years in the Moorhead schools. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Inclusive Education and a minor in Special Education and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of North Dakota. Emily is excited to join the Capstone team and looks forward to guiding in the development of virtuous and knowledgeable students that see the fullness of what is True, Good, and Beautiful in Jesus Christ.
As a Capstone teacher, Mrs. Malingen strives to be patient, gentle, and humble with her students. She sees the biblical narrative as central to how teachers teach and how students learn and prays that the Capstone faculty will be examples in word and conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity (1 Tim. 4:12).
In her personal time, Emily enjoys spending time with family and friends, crafting, and spending time outdoors.
Mrs. Mandie Drege
Kindergarten Teacher
Mandie Drege received her B.S. in Psychology and Theology from Grace University. She spent two years as a Kindergarten paraprofessional and continued on to earn her Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Elementary Education.
Her love for education and passion for nurturing the hearts and minds of her students has brought Mandie back to the Kindergarten classroom. Her greatest joy is seeing the “lightbulb” come on throughout the year as students learn and begin to grow to love learning.
Mandie lives in Fargo with her husband Nate. They have three children, Elayna, Becklyn, and Branson, who are all active in various sports and musical endeavors. Nate and Mandie serve in various ways at True North Church. They served together in full-time worship ministry for 14 years and continue to serve in worship and youth leadership—and even volunteer in the toddler room from time to time. Together, the Drege family enjoys camping, ice fishing, and all things “outdoors."
Mrs. Sheri Fisher
First Grade Teacher
Sheri Fisher lives in Fargo with her husband, Paul. Together they have raised three children and have served in Christian and classical education together for most of their 25 years of marriage. Sheri loves walking with her dogs and family. Her time with family is often spent following them over rocks, through the woods, on the trails, over mountains, and down rivers.
Sheri comes to us after teaching first grade for 24 years, 18 of that at Coventry Christian School, a classical school in the Philadelphia area. She particularly enjoys teaching young children the fundamentals of reading and mathematics.
Sheri is putting her teacher veteran status to work by finding and securing all of the curriculum materials and supplies for our faculty and students. She is putting together teacher curriculum kits and assisting in the organization of the staging area where faculty and staff can locate their materials and meeting with the faculty to design spaces that best meet their needs so that they can be excellent in the classroom. She has also been the primary assessment facilitator for students in our admissions process.
Sheri is excited to be part of a team that brings a new model of education to the FM area. It is her prayer that the Capstone faculty and staff will be the hands and feet of Jesus as they serve the students and their families. She prays that Capstone students continuously pursue God’s purposes and take delight in all that He has made.
Mrs. Karlie Deane
1st Grade Teacher
Karlie Deane graduated from the University of Minnesota Crookston with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She taught for two years at Riverside Christian School in East Grand Forks, MN, first teaching preschool and K-1 music and then 1st grade.
Karlie is excited to join the Capstone team this year. She is looking forward to joining another Christian school community and gaining more experience within classical education.
In her free time, Karlie loves to spend time at the lake, go on walks, and go to coffee shops and thrift stores. Karlie and her husband, Max, attend Harvest Plains Church.
Ms. Signe Edison
Second Grade Teacher
Signe lives with her family in Fargo and attends River City Church. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and going to the lake. She comes to us from Independence Elementary School in West Fargo, where she has taught third grade for the past two years. Prior to that, she taught for five years at Arcadia Elementary School in Deer Park, Washington. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Valley City State University, a B.S. in Human Development and Family Science, and an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership.
Signe is enthusiastic about the classical model of education because of its emphasis on thinking critically and expressing oneself winsomely. Her prayer for her students is that her students will develop their God-given abilities to their full potential, that they will internalize a Christian worldview, and that they will acquire lifelong tools for learning.