St Johns Academy | Kris Kelly

Kris Kelly

Mrs. Kelly is entering her 22nd year of teaching music at SJA. Raised in Santa Barbara CA, she attended Santa Barbara City College and then Cal State Northridge as a music (voice) major. She found her true collegiate home at Westmont College, a Christian Liberal Arts school where she graduated with a BA – Diversified Degree in 1984. Eventually, she realized that teaching music was more her passion and went to Mercer University to become certified to teach music K-12. She taught in public schools in Georgia and St. John’s County for 9 years prior to coming to SJA in 2003.

She is very active at her church, where she leads the Praise Band and plays piano. She recently retired after 23 years, as Children’s Choir Director. She just completed serving a 2nd term as president of Delta Kappa Gamma (a Teacher’s Society) and has been a proud member for 30 years.

Mrs. Kelly has taken the SJA Chorus several times to Orlando Theme parks (Disney World, Sea World & Universal) but also enjoys taking students to perform at local nursing homes to spread joy of the Lord.

For personal musical growth, she enjoys singing with the St. Augustine Chamber Singers and other vocal groups/choirs/theater productions when able. She has been married to Dr. Yvan Kelly (Professor at Flagler College and pastor at Kirkwood Presbyterian) for 41 years and they have one daughter, Allie, who attended St. John’s Academy, K-8, and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.

“It is a pure joy to teach at SJA and I love being able to teach classical composers and literature and fundamentals of music with the goal of instilling a joy of music and to develop an appreciation of “good music” that glorifies God! ~ Non Nobis Domine!”