Leadership Team
Dr. Nickerson has been privileged to learn, teach, and lead in Christian school environments throughout his life where the central importance of a thoroughly Christ-permeated faculty, curriculum, and community has been essential. After being homeschooled through most of his elementary and middle school years, Dr. Nickerson graduated from a Christian high school in South Carolina. A highlight of his high school experience was spending a year abroad in mainland China as an exchange student. Following high school, he earned two degrees at Cedarville University: a Bachelor of Science in biology and a Master of Education with a concentration in educational administration. Dr. Nickerson later earned a PhD in organizational leadership at Columbia International University, where his research focused on the academic influence of Christian school athletic coaches.
Professionally, Dr. Nickerson served as a secondary math and science teacher early in his career before shifting to school leadership roles. However, he considers himself a teacher at heart, and it is his prayer that the Holy Spirit uses each student's experience at Legacy to draw closer in their relationship to God. Dr. Nickerson takes joy in partnering with Christian families to educate students in a Christian worldview so that students develop in godly character and wisdom and are prepared to lead change in their world. He has served as chief steward of the Legacy mission, Equipping Leaders for Christ, since the fall of 2021.
The Lord has given Dr. Nickerson and his wife, Allison, two sons: Micah (LCA class of '26) and Judah (LCA class of '27).
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -Paul (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." -Jesus (John 17:3, ESV)
"Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!" -David (Psalm 34:3, ESV)
Mrs. McCoy began attending a Christian school in Whittier, CA, in the third grade, and she has been attending or educating in Christian schools ever since. She is a graduate of Bob Jones University with a BS in education and the University of Dayton with a master's degree in elementary education.
Mrs. McCoy has four children and seven grandchildren. Two of her grandchildren live in Japan, and three attend Legacy Christian Academy! She is very excited to get to know the rest of the Legacy family and serve God however He wants. Mrs. McCoy’s favorite things are visiting Japan, reading, playing the piano, seeing great school plays, and talking with her grandchildren.
Her life’s verse is “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27, KJV)
Mr. Alan Shaeffer is a Xenia Christian alumnus and a graduate from Northland International University in Dunbar, Wisconsin, with a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Education and Bible. He has served at Dayton Christian as both a teacher and their drama director, he has worked in the family construction business for several years, and he has taught at Legacy Christian Academy for the past four years before taking on a role as an administrator. His wife, Beth Shaeffer, and he met during their college years and married after graduating. With 3 children who attend LCA, they have served as teachers, worked on the drama and musical sets, and led the senior class as their advisors. It has been Alan's joy to serve at the same school from which he graduated and help the students understand and grow their own faith in Christ. He enjoys physical fitness, hiking, remodeling, teaching, and leading worship along with his wife in their local church.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,” (Colossians 3:23, ESV)
Mrs. Hager is a former Air Force spouse, and has lived all over the U.S. She graduated with a degree in English from the University of Alaska Anchorage and put her degree to good use homeschooling her children for ten years. She enjoys traveling, sports, decorating, hosting, getting lost in a good book, and a quality latte.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)
Mrs. Harmon earned a BA in English from Cedarville University and an MA in English with a concentration in composition pedagogy from The University of Dayton. She is excited to have just finished her Doctor of Education degree, EdD, in Curriculum and Instruction and her certificate in Instructional Design and Technology from Liberty University this summer. Over the years, she has taught English to students in grades 7-12, both in person and online, as well as college-level composition and literature. She is passionate about motivating students to read and write with excellence.
Mrs. Harmon has been married to her husband, Fred, for over 30 blessed years. Together they have 8 children (5 of whom have been LCA grads) and 2 sons-in-law. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains in the summer months with her family. She is looking forward to using her gifts in curriculum development and design to serve LCA students in the coming years.
A verse that is meaningful to her is Philippians 1:6 which says, “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (ESV). She continues to marvel that God, in His goodness, revealed Himself to her as a young teen who had never heard the gospel and at the impact that His work of grace has had on the trajectory of her life.
Mrs. Michelle Miller has over 25 years of experience as an administrator in Christian education, both at the K-12 level and in higher education. She received her undergraduate degree from Cedarville University and her Master of Library and Information Science degree from Kent State University. It should come as no surprise that she enjoys a good book particularly when paired with an extra dry cappuccino. Mrs. Miller and her husband, Steve, have been blessed with two daughters who graduated from Xenia Christian / Legacy Christian Academy. One is at home with Jesus; and the other is a senior Honors student playing collegiate golf at Milligan University.
Her penchant for detail and desire for excellence serve her well in her current role at LCA. She is a seasoned ladies Bible teacher and lives out her faith with confidence, knowing that "the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His." (II Chronicles 16:9)
Mr. Davis has over 30 years of administrative and athletic experience in a wide variety of employment and athletic settings. He received his undergraduate degree from Cedarville College (University) in Business Administration. He has played and coached and helped manage teams at all levels; even coaching women's basketball at the NJCAA level for a couple of years. He has a passion for all things athletics and enjoys watching any and every type of sporting event and learning more about those sports that he isn't super knowledgeable about. He will never turn down an opportunity to watch a live sporting event. He loves young people, having been involved in various churches as a youth leader and finds real joy in getting to know young people and how they plan to serve the Lord with their lives. Mr. Davis is married to his college sweetheart, Dawn (who is also on staff at Legacy) and they have enjoyed being married for 32+ years and he looks forward to many more years to come. Mr. Davis is a committed Cleveland sports team but he is a HUGE fan of his Ohio State Buckeyes and his English football team; Arsenal. Mr. Davis has 3 adult children who he loves even more than sports.
His life verses come from Philippians 3:12-14 (ESV) - "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesuss has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."