About Us
Mission
Niagara Classical Academy seeks to partner with families to provide a classical and Christ-centered education in order to equip graduates with the necessary tools to lead and shape culture with wisdom and virtue.
Vision
We desire that all NCA students will learn to listen carefully and think clearly. They will eagerly pursue and joyfully submit to the standard of Scripture as the lens through which every other fact and experience should be evaluated. They will precisely and persuasively articulate their beliefs and opinions. Their powers of discernment will be trained by constant practice. They will be equipped for life with the tools of learning so that they will approach every new situation with competence and faithfulness. They will know and love Jesus the King, and desire to imitate Him in their actions, words, and attitudes. They will participate in building a culture founded on gratitude and joy.
Ryan Eras
Headmaster
Ryan Eras serves as Headmaster of Niagara Classical Academy, where he also teaches Math, Logic, and P.E. He earned a BA in History and an MI in Library and Information Science. Ryan and his wife Rachel were involved in the founding and operation of Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto, and the early founding of Oak Hill Academy in Hamilton. Since moving to the Niagara region in 2018, they and their five children have been blessed to be able to participate in the classical and Christian vision for education in both homeschool and day school settings. Ryan is an elder at White Stone Reformed Church in Grimsby, and enjoys cooking, weightlifting, and trying to learn to sing harmony.
Rachel Eras
Curriculum Director/Third Form
Mrs. Eras is a graduate of the University of Toronto with a BA in English Literature and Linguistics.
Rachel and her husband Ryan were introduced to Classical Christian education when their oldest daughter was a toddler, and she has been a committed enthusiast of CCE ever since (that daughter is now 15). Rachel was a substitute teacher at Westminster Classical Christian Academy in Toronto, and has been classically homeschooling her own children for the past six years. Rachel loves to teach and is passionate about training other parents and teachers to model virtue and wisdom to their own students. She has been a regular speaker at homeschooling conventions.
Rachel enjoys reading, knitting, gardening, and mowing the lawn. She lives in Dunnville with her husband Ryan, their five high-speed country kids, and a big goofy dog.
Miriam Vroom
First Form
Miriam is a mother of 6 who has been homeschooling her children for the past 7 years in a mix of classical and Charlotte Mason style and is excited to fully dive into teaching in a classical school setting. From a young age, she has loved children and had many opportunities to help homeschool and look after her many nieces and nephews.
Following high school, she moved to Philadelphia where she received a certificate in Christian Counseling from CCEF at Westminster Theological Seminary.
Shortly after getting married, she settled into full-time motherhood/homemaking – her true dream job. She has also taught piano and been involved in various homeschool co-ops over the years.
Miriam enjoys cooking good food, playing piano – whether improvising or playing the good ol’ classic(cal)s, singing, hiking, and canning/preserving food for her family.
She lives in Wellandport with her husband Richard, 6 children, a dog, and flock of hens.
Virginia Jonker
Resource Teacher/Second Form
Mrs. Jonker is a graduate of CCRTC, a Reformed Christian teachers’ college in Hamilton, Ontario, where she earned a Diploma of Teaching. She has experience teaching first grade at Dufferin Area Christian School and has spent several years as a substitute teacher at Attercliffe Canadian Reformed School.
Mrs. Jonker has always been enthusiastic about education, books, and exploring various learning and teaching techniques. Recently, she has been introduced to Classical Christian Education and looks forward to immersing herself in this educational approach.
Virginia enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, baking bread, cooking, and running her poodle and doodle breeding program. She lives in Caistor Centre with her husband Tim, their five children (ages 6-16), two poodles, and a Golden Irish dog.
Madeleine Ravensbergen
Latin/Fourth Form
Miss Ravensbergen recently graduated with her B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture at New Saint Andrews College in Moscow, Idaho.
Maddy grew up in the Niagara Peninsula and has moved back to her childhood home where you can often find her reading, writing, playing violin, going for walks, concocting something tasty in the kitchen, or fellowshipping with friends and family.
She first began to appreciate Classical Christian Education during high school when she was homeschooling, and has since grown to love it even more during her four years at NSA. She has also discovered a love for Latin and has had the opportunity of sharing that love with 5th graders for two years at Logos School. She looks forward to blessing the students and parents at Niagara Classical Academy (and being blessed by them) and doing what she can to further Classical Christian Education in Ontario.
Elizabeth McCabe
Fifth Form/ Math & Science
Miss McCabe was introduced to Classical Education by her parents and Veritas Scholars Academy online. From there, she went on to receive a BA from New Saint Andrews College in Idaho. After a brief break to work as a web developer, she received an MLitt in Systematic and Historical Theology from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. In the last decade she has lived in three countries and visited a few more, and now she is excited to be back on her home turf and helping to grow Classical Education in Canada.
When not in school, she reads as much as she can about everything she can—though she particularly enjoys a Dorothy Sayers novel. She also loves to cook, knit, be outside—these often with an audio book—and play the piano, and her favourite way to spend an evening is with good friends, good food, and good conversation.
Rylee Vanderhoeven
First Form/PE
Miss Vanderhoeven joined the NCA faculty after spending a season as a student teacher in both First and Second Forms. She discovered classical Christian education through family friends, and is working to develop a deeper understanding of classical teaching principles. Rylee is also working towards a BA in Psychology.
Outside of school, she is an active athlete, competing in soccer and running, and organizes the youth group for her church.