Joan Wanner

Director/Teacher

Originally from Charlotte, NC, Joan Wanner moved to Toccoa in 2006 with her growing family. She and her husband, Curt, have four children, ranging in age from college to middle school. Joan accepted Christ as her savior at the age of four and credits her parents with giving her a strong grounding in faith and curiosity about Biblical studies. She and Curt met while pursuing MDiv degrees at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Joan went on to complete her coursework towards a ThD in Hebrew Bible at Harvard Divinity School. She was a participant in the archaeological excavation at Tel Miqne-Ekron, as well as a contributing author and assistant editor for the Zondervan Archaeological Study Bible. Joan has decades of experience teaching students, from masters’ level students to preschoolers.

Joan shared, “I love the Lord and have a passion for understanding His Word. It is a blessing to share this dedication to life-long discipleship with students, as we study God’s revelation. I am so excited to be able to help students grow in their understanding of who God is and who He made them to be.”

Challise Taylor

Teacher

Challise Taylor is originally from Southwest Missouri but moved to Georgia in 2021 to be near her family. She graduated from Ozark Christian College with a Bachelors of Arts in Christian Ministry in 2020. Challise accepted Christ at 15 years old at a summer camp and felt God calling her to ministry shortly after at just 17 years old. She comes to us with experience working with children and teens in all realms, childcare, church youth, summer camps, and behavioral and mental health settings.

Challise shared, “I love teaching teens about the importance of studying and understanding the Bible themselves- to know why you believe what you believe is so important to me! Seeing others come to understand and believe in Jesus and experience His grace is an indescribable experience. I’m so excited to work at at a place where this happens!”

Challise teaches 7th and 8th grade at CLC.

David Gailer

Teacher

David Gailer is a graduate of Toccoa Falls College where he met his wife Donna. After graduating with a degree in teacher education, they moved back to Chattanooga and taught for twelve years. In 2001 he moved back to Toccoa and has worked in education until recently retiring. David and Donna have three adult daughters and one grandson.

Even though he attended church since he was a small child, it was until he was a teenager that David realized his own need to accept Christ as his Savior. He is thankful for the love, mercy and grace that the Lord has extended to him throughout his life. He has worked with children and youth for over thirty years in public education, youth and student small groups in the church.

“I love the Lord and desire to see young people know how deeply God loves them and to learn more about Him, His plan for their lives and how to study God’s Word.”