Banner Christian is welcoming teachers and staff member Ms. Scarlett Blankenship (Middle School/Upper School Math), Mr. Rick McKeel (Upper School Bible, History and Dual Enrollment Speech) and Mrs. Lisa O'Connor (volleyball coach and long-term substitute for Mrs. Minter while she is on maternity leave) to our team.
Ms. Blankenship (pictured right) is no stranger to the classroom. Last year, she was a substitute teacher at various private schools throughout the region, including Banner Christian and Richmond Christian School. And while attending college at Liberty University, she worked part-time at Good News Christian Academy—initially, Ms. Blankenship was an assistant teacher and for the ensuing three years, she worked as an aftercare teacher. During her years majoring in education in college, she took part in a student teaching internship at Richmond Christian School as a way of fulfilling a practicum/field-experience requirement.
Her volunteer efforts include time at the Capitol Commission, where she worked on and off for a seven-month stint (December 2018-June 2018). While the legislative session was taking place, Ms. Blankenship was at the State Capitol at least once a week where she volunteered with the state minister, assisted with and prepared materials for Bible studies as well as undertaking weekly assignments, including office work. To this day, she occasionally helps the state minister and his wife with projects.
A 2025 graduate of Liberty University, she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computational Mathematics: Computer Science.
Mr. McKeel (pictured right) brings a diverse background to Banner. Most recently, he was an instructor at Randolph-Macon College, teaching Public Speaking and Communicating About Health. He has also
taught public speaking at Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College, including classes to Richmond Public School students as part of the Early College Academy Program.
Mr. McKeel served from 2011 to 2022 as an instructor at the VCU Schools of Business, Education and Kinesiology, dealing with a variety of subjects such as Business Essentials for Emerging Professionals, Substance Abuse and other education-related courses. During that time, he also taught communication, public speaking and career development courses at ECPI University.
For more than a decade, Mr. McKeel has been a subject matter expert for Prometric Inc., contributing to educational assessment projects across multiple disciplines.
Outside of the classroom, Mr. McKeel was the former executive director of the Regional Drug-Free Alliance, as well as the director of marketing and public affairs at the Science Museum of Virginia from 2000-2007. In 2010, he co-founded the Community Coalitions of Virginia, providing a statewide forum for substance abuse prevention professionals, parents, educators and community leaders.
Mr. McKeel holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Education degree from UNC Greensboro.
These hirings are in addition to Banner Christian welcoming Ms. Lisa O'Connor as head women's volleyball coach and long-term substitute teacher. Read her bio here.
