Education Faculty

Terri Gaeddert

Terri Gaeddert 2012
Position: 
STEP Director and Licensure Officer; Associate Professor of Education; Chair of the Education Department

Serving as the Associate Professor of Education, Terri is passionate about preparing future teachers to serve and change the world through education. One aspect that brought Terri to Sterling College is that she strongly believes in its mission and vision. Terri enjoys stamping, scrapbooking, skydiving, biking, and camping in her spare time. She is married to her husband, Tim, and has 2 sons.

Nancy Hicks

Nancy Hicks 2012
Position: 
Administrative Assistant of Education

Nancy came to Sterling College at a very difficult time in her life. When friends on campus knew she was in need of a job, they told her about an opening in the Education Program. Unknown to her at the time, Sterling quickly became a place of healing and ministry. Since then, Nancy works as an Administrative Assistant for the Sterling Teacher Education Program (STEP). Nancy especially loves that at Sterling College you are free to share your faith in such a diverse community of faculty, staff, and students.

Frank Leone

Frank Leone 2012
Position: 
Assistant Professor of Education

Frank has over 30 years of experience in public and private education, most recently serving as administrator of Flint Hills Christian School in Manhattan, Kan.

Debra Millikan

Debra Millikan 2012
Position: 
Assistant Professor of Education

Deb Millikan serves as Assistant Professor of Education at Sterling College. She has 19 years of elementary classroom experience; additionally, she has designed and presented educational workshops and in-services for 12 years. Millikan has served as a Kagan Cooperative Learning District Trainer, math specialist/consultant and was an adjunct instructor for Friends University.  Deb enjoys traveling, cooking and ballroom dancing. She is married to Mike and they have 4 adult children.

Dr. Marielena Righettini

Elena Righettine
Position: 
Assistant Professor of Education

 She taught in public schools for more than 10 years, primarily in Title 1 schools. She worked as an adjunct professor at the university and community college in Reno for 13 years, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in reading, writing, second language acquisition, methods for teaching English language learners, and reading and language arts assessment.  Marielena has also developed and taught online courses for teachers who were enrolled in an endorsement program to teach English Language Learners.

Spencer Wagley

Spencer Wagley 2012
Position: 
Assistant Professor of Education

Mr. Wagley is an Assistant Professor of Education at Sterling College. Prior to joining the faculty at Sterling College, Mr. Wagley taught English,Theatre, and Speech at the secondary level for eight years in Texas. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from East Texas Baptist University and a Master of Divinity from Hardin-Simmons University. He is currently completing his Ph.D. in Education from Capella University.