Meet the Artists
![Headshot of Brittney Hamilton]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721755168/orangewoodchristianorg/vngxfgmimrlunabegm1j/BrittneyHamilton2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721755168/orangewoodchristianorg/vngxfgmimrlunabegm1j/BrittneyHamilton2.jpg","width":370}])
Lower School Art Faculty
Lower School Art Faculty
bhamilton@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2007
EDUCATION
BFA in Computer Arts, Savannah College of Art and Design
FUN FACT
Some of her favorite activities are discovering new coffee shops and hunting for unique thrift finds.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Passing the Light at Graduation
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Jeremiah 29:11
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Salted Carmel Cold Foam Cold Brew
Mrs. Hamilton is originally from Vero Beach, Florida. She pursued her passion for art by attending school in Savannah, GA, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus on Computer Arts and 3D Animation at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). While she loved exploring digital art and animation, she felt called to teach and inspire others through Art Education. In 2007, she joined Orangewood Christian School, where she discovered her true passion—sharing her love of drawing, painting, and ceramics with children. She married her husband in 2009 and is a proud cat mom to six beloved "fur babies." Mrs. Hamilton enjoys exploring new creative endeavors, continuously learning, and sharing her artistic discoveries with others.
![Headshot of Christy Hayner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721330359/orangewoodchristianorg/h82mkiznvf2zcih5jaha/ChristyHayner1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721330359/orangewoodchristianorg/h82mkiznvf2zcih5jaha/ChristyHayner1.jpg","width":444}])
Upper School 2D Art Faculty
Upper School 2D Art Faculty
chayner@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2023
EDUCATION
MFA Painting, New York Academy of Art
FUN FACT
She likes swimming and exploring underwater.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Weekly faculty devotions and prayer
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Psalm 34:10
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Nitro with half & half
Mrs. Christy Hayner grew up picking blackberries, water skiing, and playing handbells in northeast Georgia. She and her brother would dig holes in the red dirt, and her family often raced to the train tracks at night to watch the freight trains rumble by. After graduating high school, she attended Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, where she loved living in the rolling hills and horse farms. She earned a BA at Asbury and fell in love with oil painting and the human figure. After graduating, she moved to New York City where she earned an MFA from the New York Academy of Art, intensifying her study of the figure, artistic anatomy, and the history of composition and design. While in NYC, she grew in her Christian faith and became more interested in theology. She worked for artists and taught art at a public high school in downtown Brooklyn, unexpectedly falling in love with urban life. She often rode her bike around town, whether on her way to eat soup dumplings in Chinatown, enjoying a beach day at Jacob Riis Park, or simply going to work. Some highlights she recommends for anyone visiting New York include Green-Wood Cemetery, the Met, the Met Cloisters, the Brooklyn Bridge, Prospect Park, and the food. While she misses NYC, she loves Florida for its unique characteristics, including the heat, beaches, springs, flora, and wildlife. She also loves her church and serving in music ministry, where she is back to playing handbells. She is thankful to be at Orangewood Christian School, where she serves students according to how God has equipped and called her, hoping to glorify Him through the lives of the students and the work of their hands.
![Headshot of Hugh Rechner]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721329898/orangewoodchristianorg/smnkwwxdopfiq6pmekdw/HughRechner1a.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721329898/orangewoodchristianorg/smnkwwxdopfiq6pmekdw/HughRechner1a.jpg","width":400}])
Upper School Instrumental Music Faculty
Upper School Instrumental Music Faculty
hrechner@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2009
EDUCATION
MA Theology, Wheaton College
FUN FACT
He loves playing the drums
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Homecoming
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
John 3:1-15
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Iced Tea-50/50
Mr. Hugh Rechner serves as the Upper School Instrumental Music teacher at Orangewood Christian School. He is originally from Yellowknife, N.W.T. in the Arctic region of Canada. He received his undergraduate degree in Religion from NABC in Edmonton, Alberta, and his graduate degree in Theology from Wheaton College in Illinois. In addition to teaching, he has worked in pastoral ministry in Worship and Arts for 17 years and still plays drums for worship regularly.
![Headshot of Laura Kelly]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721744822/orangewoodchristianorg/dijv4oilbaden9gqeoje/LauraKelly1_1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721744822/orangewoodchristianorg/dijv4oilbaden9gqeoje/LauraKelly1_1.jpg","width":480}])
Fine Arts Director
& Choral Music Director
Fine Arts Director
Choral Music Director
lkelly@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2008
EDUCATION
BA Music Education, Florida State University
FUN FACT
She loves writing and recording music.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Orangewood's Graduation Ceremonies
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Jeremiah 29:11
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Coke Zero
Mrs. Laura Kelly serves as Orangewood's Fine Arts Director and the Upper School's Director of Choral Music. She brings more than three decades of teaching experience from both public and private schools and holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University. She loves writing and recording music and was a finalist in the Gospel Music Association's songwriting competition. She is also a two-time quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Music Educator Award. Her husband, Tim, is a talented portrait photographer and musician, and they enjoy working on projects together. Between them, they have five children and three grandchildren.
![Headshot of Liz Hogan]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721326498/orangewoodchristianorg/rmjfircphszoehbbkmjq/LizHogan1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721326498/orangewoodchristianorg/rmjfircphszoehbbkmjq/LizHogan1.jpg","width":396}])
Upper School 3D Art Faculty
Upper School 3D Art Faculty
lhogan@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2021
EDUCATION
MFA Visual Art, Azusa Pacific University
FUN FACT
She is inspired by green, growing things and creates art based on plant structures.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
RamTram between campuses
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Philippians 1:6
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Iced Cinnamon Dolce Latte
Mrs. Liz Hogan and her wonderful husband, Brian, have two energetic boys. Their household, which includes three guinea pigs, is often messy but full of life. Liz was born in Massachusetts, raised in Florida, and educated in Ohio and California. She loves learning and finding relationships between unexpected things. Her story is one of receiving God's faithfulness and being delighted by Him. She finds God's hand at work everywhere and is amazed by the incredible mysteries hidden in His love and wisdom that He shares with us. Green, growing things inspire her, and she loves the rhythms and structures found in plants, which inspire her to create art. Although she would love to have a prolific vegetable garden, her plant inspiration is mainly to create art rather than food.
![Headshot of Melissa Macnab]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721328692/orangewoodchristianorg/xqzfyn770aekseem53ge/MelissaMacnab1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721328692/orangewoodchristianorg/xqzfyn770aekseem53ge/MelissaMacnab1.jpg","width":424}])
Lower School Music Faculty
Lower School Music Faculty
mmacnab@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2022
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s of Music Education from Stetson University
FUN FACT
She plays clarinet in an orchestra.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
The Fall and Spring music programs!
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Romans 8:38
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Cherry Coke
Mrs. Melissa Macnab was born and raised in Indiana, moving to Melbourne, FL after graduating from High School in 2005. She attended Brevard Community College earning an Associate of Arts degree in 2009, and then moved to Deland to attend Stetson University. She graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2012. She has enjoyed teaching since then, joining the Orangewood faculty in 2022. She resides in Deland with her loving husband and children. She loves watching her son play soccer, and her daughter dance. She is an avid gardener and artist in her occasional spare time. She is also active with the worship team at her church, and also performs music with her local orchestra.
![Headshot of Michelle Brightman]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1721326236/orangewoodchristianorg/qxoqfgbwpzit0ojgskeb/MichelleBrightman1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1721326236/orangewoodchristianorg/qxoqfgbwpzit0ojgskeb/MichelleBrightman1.jpg","width":455}])
Upper School Theatre Director and Faculty
Upper School Theatre Director and Faculty
mbrightman@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2018
EDUCATION
BA Communication Arts Education, Oral Roberts University
FUN FACT
She loves doing things people don't expect her to do, like riding a caster board.
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Passing the Light from graduating seniors to rising seniors at graduation
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Ephesians 3:20
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Chai Tea Latte with oat milk
Mrs. Michelle Brightman grew up on a farm in rural Illinois, dreaming of becoming an actress. She was blessed to grow up in a Christian household where she learned the value of hard work and striving for excellence. She began performing as a child, even writing plays to direct and perform in elementary school. She continued performing through high school and attended college as a theatre performance major. After earning her degree she moved to Orlando and began working as a professional actress in local plays as well as film and television. Once married and with the birth of her daughter, she stopped performing to focus on being a mom and homeschooling Emma. An unexpected opportunity to teach at OCS came, bringing her enjoyment in directing, and working with students. She is passionate about theatre and the life skills it provides, believing it to be a fun way to become more comfortable in front of others, a better communicator, and a part of an ensemble. She loves to travel and has visited numerous countries as well as all 50 states. She loves spontaneity and is grateful for all the adventures God has brought her way, including spending a night in the tree canopy of the Costa Rica rainforest, having her own television show, and knowing the proper way to milk a cow. She looks forward to whatever adventures God brings next.
![Headshot of Rachel Groff]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1722471153/orangewoodchristianorg/lpydqixyujtzj64rgtyq/RachelGroff1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1722471153/orangewoodchristianorg/lpydqixyujtzj64rgtyq/RachelGroff1.jpg","width":433}])
Lower School Music Faculty
Lower School Music Faculty
rgroff@ocsrams.org
Apple Teacher Certified
JOINED ORANGEWOOD
2024
EDUCATION
BA Music/Vocal Performance and Piano, Houston Christian University
FUN FACT
I love my family, coffee, music, and the beach
FAVORITE OCS TRADITION
Incredible Kid Day
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
Lamentations 3:22-24
FAVORITE BEVERAGE
Starbucks Iced Oat Milk Latte. Chick-fil-a Half Sweet Half Unsweet Iced Tea
Mrs. Rachel Groff joins our lower school this year as the elementary music teacher/choir director. She received her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance with a minor in piano from Houston Christian University. In college, she performed in her school’s operas, and competed in choir and vocal competitions throughout the state of Texas. Since she was 18 years old, she has been teaching music, mainly as a private voice and piano instructor. She and her family moved from Detroit, Michigan to Orlando in June of 2020. She and her husband, Tyler, have 3 children - Emmy, (7th grade) Layne (5th grade) and Caleb (2nd grade) and they all attend Orangewood Christian School. Her husband, Tyler, is the lead pastor at Orangewood Church, and she is excited to be a part of the team at Orangewood Christian School!
Theatre
Instrumental Music
Choral Music
Visual Arts
