Faculty and Staff

Dr. Rutherford serves as Headmaster of Capstone Classical Academy, bringing a vision for education that is rooted in the conviction that students are formed not only intellectually, but also in character, affection, and faith. He is passionate about cultivating a school culture in which students learn to pursue the Good, the True, and the Beautiful while growing in wisdom and love for God.

Throughout his career, Dr. Rutherford has devoted himself to strengthening classical education and supporting the teachers and leaders who carry out its mission. Before joining Capstone, he served as Headmaster of Great Hearts Monte Vista in San Antonio, guiding the academy through its early graduating classes and helping establish a thriving culture of academic excellence. He later served as Executive Director for the Great Hearts San Antonio region, providing leadership and oversight for eight academies and their headmasters while leading district-wide academic initiatives. Most recently, he served as Head of School at Jackson Hole Classical Academy, a K–12 classical Christian school in Wyoming.

Prior to his work in K–12 education, Dr. Rutherford built a distinguished academic career in higher education. He taught at St. Edward’s University and Houston Christian University, where he served as Assistant Professor and taught courses in biblical languages, biblical theology, ancient Judaism and Christianity, and religious studies. His scholarly work includes contributions to the translation of the Holman Christian Standard Bible and publications in leading academic resources, including The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Greece and Rome and Harvard Theological Review.

Dr. Rutherford holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in New Testament and Christian Origins from The University of Edinburgh.

Dr. Rutherford, his wife, Heather, and their daughter, Charlotte, enjoy exploring God’s creation through hiking, biking, and visits to America’s national parks. They also enjoy reading great books, gathering with friends and family, and cheering from the sidelines at swim meets and college football games.

Mr. Holder comes to Capstone directly from Liberty Middle School in West Fargo, where he has been serving as the Head Principal and where he once supported and directed our very own Mrs. Archer. He has dedicated over 23 years to education, beginning his career as a World History and Economics teacher at West Fargo High School.

Over the years, he has served in various administrative roles at both the high school and middle school levels, most recently as the Head Principal of Liberty Middle School. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education from Minnesota State University Moorhead and a Master of Educational Leadership from North Dakota State University.

Mr. Holder has been married to his wife, Michelle, since 2001. Together, they have raised five children, whose ages span two decades. Dan and Michelle have faithfully served in churches and schools throughout the community. The Holder family worships with several Capstone community members at Harvest Plains Church in Mapleton.

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 before coming to Capstone.

As 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 is married to her husband Jeremy and has two adult children, Josiah and Tyndale. Shannon and her family attend Harvest Plains Church.

Miss Sinkovitz holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Classical Education from Hillsdale College and a master’s degree in Education Leadership & Administration from the George Washington University. She is also in the process of completing a Ph.D. in Classical Education from Faulkner University.

Miss Sinkovitz comes to Capstone from Michigan, where has taught elementary, middle, and high school students in classical Christian and parochial school settings, mainly in the area of literature. In addition, she served as the Dean of Academics at a Hillsdale Curriculum school in southeast Michigan, leading faculty in growth of classical pedagogy and deeper understanding of the liberal arts tradition. Most recently, she has served as a Hillsdale College School Leader Fellow, observing leadership and operations at Hillsdale Member schools in preparation to join as a school leader in the network.

Having watched the school grow from afar since its opening, Miss Sinkovitz is excited to join the Capstone community and its unique mission of building a Christian, ecumenical community centered on the human flourishing that is the goal of a classical education. Apart from school, Miss Sinkovitz enjoys summers at the lake, long dinners and good conversation with family and friends, and her hobby of creating stained glass artwork.

Brittany Zinter brings over 20 years of experience teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten in Christian schools across North Dakota and Minnesota. She holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Bible, with a minor in Early Childhood Education from the University of Northwestern – St. Paul.

Since the launch of Capstone’s Pre-K program, Brittany has had the joy of pioneering and shaping its development. She is passionate about creating a Christ-centered learning environment where young students grow spiritually, cognitively, physically, socially, and emotionally. One of the greatest joys of her day is teaching children about Jesus and His incredible love for them.

Brittany and her husband, Aaron, have two children, Lydia and Max. Aaron serves as a 6th-grade math teacher and Choir Director at Capstone. The Zinter family lives in Moorhead and attends Bethel Church, where they are active in music ministry, involved in an amazing small group, and have served as VBS leaders together.

In her free time, Brittany enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, crafting, and decorating.

Mrs. Kathy Barron was born in Minnesota, was raised in Langdon, North Dakota, and is thrilled to be returning home after so many years. She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of North Dakota and has spent her career serving young learners in a variety of educational settings. Her teaching experience includes five years in Kindergarten, seven years in First Grade, homeschooling her son through the elementary years, and six years as a Preschool Storyteller with the public library. For the past fifteen years, she has devoted herself to studying and implementing classical education, particularly in the formative early years of childhood.

She delights in reading aloud to children, helping them discover the beauty and wonder of God's creation, and nurturing both their love of learning and their knowledge of the Lord. She is excited to join the Capstone community as a PreK teacher and looks forward to learning alongside Mrs. Zinter as she invests in the school's youngest students.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys sewing, crafting, coloring, sharing coffee with friends, and reading or watching cozy mysteries. She and her husband, William, recently relocated to the Fargo area and are prayerfully seeking a church home where they can worship and serve. They are grateful to be closer to their extended family in North Dakota and enjoy traveling to Colorado to visit their son, Josiah, and other loved ones.

Emily holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Inclusive Education and a minor in Special Education from MSUM. After teaching kindergarten for seven years in Moorhead, she joined the Capstone team in 2022. Emily 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).

Emily lives in Fargo with her husband and their son. In her free time, Emily enjoys being outside and spending time with family and friends.

Mrs. Sabrina Giles brings experience in both early childhood and elementary education, with a particular passion for building strong relationships with students and supporting their academic, emotional, and spiritual growth. She began her teaching career in preschool before moving into elementary education, where she taught Third Grade. She has also served as both a building substitute and long-term substitute across multiple grade levels, gaining experience with a wide range of learners and classroom environments.

Mrs. Giles holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Social Work from Northern Arizona University, with a specialization in crisis intervention, as well as a master's degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University. Her experiences in education have strengthened her desire to teach in a community where faith is woven naturally into both learning and relationships. She is especially grateful to join Capstone, where she can partner with families in faith and nurturing students in truth, goodness, and virtue.

Mrs. Giles and her family attend Relevant Life Church, where she and her husband serve on the worship team. Outside the classroom, she enjoys spending time at home with her husband, daughter, and two dogs. She especially enjoys cooking, crafting family memories, and simply being together.

With more than 25 years of experience, Shelly Allen is excited to join the Capstone community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Bemidji State University, with emphases in reading, early childhood education, and social studies, as well as a kindergarten endorsement from the University of Minnesota Morris. Shelly has taught grades K–6, including 15 years in first grade. She began her teaching career in Bemidji, Minnesota, and has spent the past 12 years teaching in the Moorhead-Fargo area. Reading instruction is her passion, and her love for foundational education and literacy aligns naturally with classical education’s emphasis on language, wonder, virtue, and the pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful. She enjoys seeing students grow and experience those “lightbulb moments” when learning comes alive. Shelly is eager to help students discover truth, goodness, and beauty, with Jesus as their ultimate source.

Outside the classroom, Shelly enjoys reading, walking, and doing crafts. She and her husband also enjoy traveling, especially overseas to visit their daughter, who lives in Germany. They are grateful to have two adult children nearby and one grandson, with whom they love spending time. Shelly is especially excited to teach alongside her daughter, who is also a teacher at Capstone, and to be part of the same school community as her grandson, who attends Capstone.

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."