First Baptist Academy

🍎 Building for the Year Ahead! 📚
On Tuesday, First Baptist Academy hosted our first "Brown Bag" Lunch of the summer! Our faculty enjoyed time getting to know new staff members, hearing updates from our Headmaster, and collaborating on the vision and goals for the upcoming school year.
Even during the summer months, our teachers are investing their time and talents to prepare for an exceptional year of learning and growth for our students. We are grateful for this dedicated team and excited about all that God has in store for the year ahead!

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Cindy Cohen as our new "Missions" Teacher!
After more than 15 years as a collegiate athletic trainer, Mrs. Cohen felt the Lord calling her to faithfully serve her family as a stay-at-home wife and mom and invest in the next generation. Through years of preschool ministry and service at First Baptist Opelika, she has developed a deep passion for helping the next generation to know and follow Christ, walk faithfully as children of God, and embrace His command to make disciples of all nations.

Mrs. Cohen and her husband, Ben, who serves as the Field Director for Globeworks International Ministries, are actively involved in faith-based missions both locally and around the world. Together with their two sons, Elijah and Caleb, they seek to share the Gospel and make disciples of all nations.

When she’s not serving, Mrs. Cohen enjoys running, cooking, baking, spending time outdoors, and making memories with her family.

Her prayer is that Christ will be exalted always and the students develop a lifelong passion for the Great Commission.

We are excited to welcome Beth Strother as our new music teacher starting this fall!

Beth grew up in Tulsa and holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Oklahoma Baptist University. She is certified in Kodaly and Orff-Schulwerk music methodologies. After graduating she taught early childhood and elementary music in public schools across Oklahoma for 10 years.

She moved to Alabama in 2021 and worked on staff at FBC Opelika as music ministry assistant with the worship pastor Bruce Hill for 3 years. She currently teaches beginner and intermediate piano at the Fine Arts Academy at the church.

Beth has been married to her husband Josh for 4 years. They have a one-year-old son, and are expecting a second son in July. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and family. Her goal is to help every student experience the joy and appreciation of music by giving them foundational knowledge and skills through singing, dancing, and playing instruments.

Hi! My name is Annie Vaughn and I am so excited to be a first grade teacher at First Baptist Academy! I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama, and I recently completed my Bachelors degree at Auburn University in Early Childhood Education. I got married in May of 2026 and am so thrilled to be staying in the Opelika-Auburn area to teach. I absolutely love teaching and working with children and am very passionate about educating through a Biblical lens. When I'm not working with kids, you may find me going on walks, cooking and baking, or hanging out with friends. I am beyond excited to join FBA in the Fall and I am praying 1 Timothy 4:12 over my classroom: "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."

Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Washburn to the First Baptist Academy family!
Mrs. Washburn and her husband, Jason, have called the Opelika area home for the past 24 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from Auburn University and began her teaching career in Walker and Jefferson Counties, teaching second grade before returning home to raise their three sons and serve in children’s ministry leadership at her local church.

In recent years, Mrs. Washburn returned to the classroom as a third-grade teacher, continuing her passion for educating and encouraging young learners. She and her family have attended First Baptist Church Opelika for the past two years.

When she is not teaching, Mrs. Washburn enjoys reading, playing pickleball, square dancing, and spending time with family and friends at the lake.

We are excited to have Mrs. Washburn joining FBA and look forward to the impact she will make in the lives of our students!

We are excited to welcome Mrs. Stringer to the First Baptist Academy family as our new Art teacher!
Originally from Long Island, New York, Mrs. Stringer earned her master’s degree in Elementary and Special Education before beginning a rewarding 30-year career teaching students in grades K–8. She later moved to Savannah, Georgia, where she married her husband, Bruce. Five years ago, they relocated to Opelika and became members of First Baptist Church of Opelika.
Mrs. Stringer is passionate about helping students grow through creative expression, art appreciation, critical thinking, character development, patience, and a Biblical worldview. We are thankful to have her joining the FBA team this year! 🎨🖌️

FBA is so thankful for our 25-26 staff!