Our Team

Carl has been involved in worship teams since since the 8th grade as a singer, acoustic guitarist, electric guitarist, bassist, worship leader, and audio engineer. He has a Bachelor’s in Worship Leadership from The King’s University, and he pairs his background in the church/worship realm with his love for music to truly engage with God in special, artistic ways. His belief is that each person has unique God-given gifts that can be used 1) to have a personal encounter with Him, and 2) to help others encounter Him for themselves.

As a speaker, pastor, playwright, and leader, Jessie has been in ministry and performing arts for twenty-five years. Jessie is an ordained pastor with a degree in Theatre Education. She served as a children’s pastor for seven years, then had the unique experience of traveling the U.S. performing in a 30-city tour as the host and spokesperson of VeggieTales Live, where she performed numbers from her album “Pump Up the Praise.” Internationally, Jessie has performed and evangelized in Nepal, Africa, Haiti, and Hondorus with evangelists such as Luis Palau. She has performed and preached at T.D. Jakes’ The Potter’s House, Tony Evans’ Oak Cliff Bible Church, and Robert Morris’ Gateway Church. She also ministered and performed at festivals such as KLTY’s Celebrate Freedom, T.D. Jake’s MegaFest, and CreationFest West. Through her non-profit organization, Stand Ministries, Jessie has trained hundreds of children and teen leaders on how to use their performing arts gifts for Jesus. Jessie is has written, directed, and produced the plays “No Place Like Home” and “Forward to the Past.” Jessie and her co-author Janet Bloss recently morphed “No Place Like Home” into an illustrated young adult novel similar to the “Wizard of Oz” novel. With her natural gifts of speaking, teaching, and leading, Jessie is a recurring guest on the Fishbowl Radio Network’s Vinelife Ministry show.

Ryleigh has been a part of Stand since she was born (literally!), and has had a passion for hip-hop and ministry for the past 16 years. Ryleigh recently graduated from The King’s University with a Bachelor of Christian Ministries degree, and has a deep desire to see the Church be influential in the arts. From working as a children’s ministry intern for a year to traveling the globe and pursuing the travel industry, she truly longs to see the kingdom of Heaven come to Earth. Ryleigh is 23 and has been traveling with Stand since she was 12, her first mission trip being in Haiti with the Reid Saunders association in the 6th grade. Her love for connecting kids and teens to hip-hop and the Lord has only continued since she started teaching at Stand at age 16.

Kayla Karnes has been dancing for 18 years. She has experience in recreational, competitive, and professional. As many young dancers do, she started off in a tap/ballet combo class at the age of 3, then started competing at the age of 6 with Caron Moore Dance Productions, which later became Footworks Performing Arts Center. Kayla competed until the age of 12, when she decided to privately study ballet with a former American Ballet Theater ballerina. Upon entering high school, she joined the Azle High School Emerald Dazzlers drill team, where she performed and served as Historian, Junior Lieutenant, and Captain during her time there. She then danced for the Texas Wesleyan University Gold Line Dancers her first two years of college, and was blessed to dance for the NBA G-League’s Texas Legends Spirit Squad for the third. Kayla now teaches dance and choreographs for teams all over the state of Texas. Outside of dance Kayla is a senior at Texas Wesleyan University pursuing my B.S. of Biochemistry, and serve as Miss of Texas 2020 through American Pageants

As an actress, singer, and dancer, Alison has been in the performing arts for over 10 years. She began community theatre at the age of 9 and started professional theatre at age 13, receiving her equity membership candidate card and began collecting points to one day join the AEA. Some of Alison’s credits include Les Misérables (Eponine), Cinderella (Cinderella), and Beauty and the Beast (Belle). Alison is a senior at the University of North Texas studying a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a minor in Theatre. Alison is passionate about teaching students in the arts and loves helping them grow in their God-given abilities.

Lindsay has a 25-year history in the performing arts space. She began her theater career at a young age with time spent at The Country Dinner Playhouse (Denver, CO), Starlight Performing Arts (Euless, TX), and Casa Manana (FT. Worth, TX). She has performed in a number shows including The Wizard of Oz (Ensemble), The Jungle Book (Kaa), Babes in Toyland (Ensemble) and Tom Sawyer (Amy Lawrence). She played Josie Pye as well as an understudy to Diana in Anne of Green Gables. If you ask her what her favorite show to participate in was, she would tell you participating in the chorus of Annie, performed at The Bass Hall Summer Musicals. In addition to acting, she has a long history of singing and dancing. Lindsay attended Dallas Baptist University where she received both her Bachelor's and Master's degree in Communications. During her time at DBU she participated in the Legacy Show Choir, and the traveling Drama Team. Lindsay has been leading worship at various churches around the metroplex for more than 15 years. Whenever she is not working, performing or teaching, she is spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Shannon brings a unique combined experience of both business finance and performing arts to STAND. Shannon’s performing arts background is focused on vocal performance and theater. With more than 3 decades of vocal training and performance, she is a striking vocalist and actress with a passion for the performing arts. She has spent more than two decades in choir, show choir, and placing in regional, all state, and solo/ensemble competitions. In her free time she teaches Toast Masters courses and participates in community theater. More than anything, Shannon desires to see the next generation build their own performing arts skills and find their own confidence on the stage.

Renee is a Theatre Director at Haltom High where she has directed musicals and plays for 26 years. She loves teaching playwriting and dramaturgy and preparing her students for college. She is on the board for Stand and was in awe of Jessie’s ministry from its conception. She loved getting to teach Acting summer of 2021 for Stand students. She also directs and choreographs at Artisan Center Theatre. She has been blessed to get to work as an actress in DFW since moving to Texas as a teenager. She is married to Ethan Norris and they have two children- Ellie and Dominic.

Abi has been involved with Musical Theater and Performance for over 10 years, having worked in all facets of theatre including performance, directing, teaching, design, choreography, stage management, and production management. She has had the honor of working with theaters all over the state of Texas including Casa Mañana, Music Theatre of Denton, The Theatre Company of BCS, UNT Theatre, Wishing Star Stage Company, Artisan Center Theater, Grand Prairie Arts Council, and is so excited to be teaching with Stand! Abi attended Texas A&M University and the University of North Texas, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Theatre Education. During college, her primary focus of study was theatre for young audiences and using performance as a tool in any classroom. Throughout her career Abi has been seen on the stage in a wide variety of roles, a few of her favorites being Ariel (The Little Mermaid), Chava (Fiddler on the Roof), Gertrude (Seussical), Kelly Mangrum (Hands on a Hardbody), Kim MacAfee (Bye Bye Birdie), and Antonia (Man of La Mancha). In addition to performance, Abi has worked as a director for children’s theatre, directing titles such as Mary Poppins Jr, Schoolhouse Rock Jr, Junie B. Jones Jr, and is currently working on The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. When she’s not on stage or teaching a class, Abi spends time at The Creek Church where she is a staff member, serves on the worship team, and leads a middle school small group.

Deardre Randolph is a native of the Keller/Fort Worth area. She has been dancing since she was 2 years old and teaching since the age of 15. Even though her specialty is hip hop, she has trained in various styles of dance such as jazz, tap, ballet, and other African diasporic repertoire. She has trained with Rhythmic Souls Drawbacks tap ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre (Summer Intensive), and the Debbie Allen Dance Institute. Deardre has performed in prestigious venues such as the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth,Texas. She was a member of the Hoofin’ Crew Tap Ensemble and danced with Triple Motion Dance Company for 2 years. Deardre was a member of Stephen F. Austin State University’s collegiate pom squad winning second place in Division 2 at National Dance Association College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.

While at Tarrant County College Deardre served as a company member of the Mosaic Dance Project outreach touring company. As a member of Mosaic she had the honor of representing Tarrant County College in a Gala Performance at the American College Dance Association Conference in March of 2018. In 2018 she began her dance studies at Texas Woman's University in the department of dance. and choreographed for the International Dance Company. Her piece "Evolving" was selected to be adjucated at the American College Dance Association conference. Currently, Deardre is the choreographer for Stand Performing Arts Ministries. She will graduate with her Bachelors of Arts in Dance in 2021. Deardre graduated with her BA in dance from Texas Woman’s University and plans to continue teaching and serving the performing arts.

In her third year at STAND teaching acting, vocals, and dance, Brigette Marquardt loves teaching the kids, and basically is one. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Belhaven University, where she trained in classical ballet and modern dance technique, and her formal training includes acting, singing, tap, jazz, hip hop, musical theatre, and 1920-1940s vintage swing dancing. Professionally, Marquardt has voice acted for Funimation/Crunchyroll, toured nationally with Dallas Children’s Theatre, danced for Zion Dance Project, directed/choreographed plays and musicals locally, and is founder/artistic director of Chameleon Dance & Theatre company, a company which utilizes dance and plays to inspire thoughtful conversation and the pursuit of truth.

Macye Armstrong has been involved in the performing arts for over 10 years and is thrilled to be at Stand teaching the younger generation about the performance world that she loves so much! She is an 18 year old college freshman at The Kings University. Macye loves teaching kid’s performance skills and helping them grow in confidence. Macye has had experience both on and off the stage in over sixty productions all over the metroplex and has been teaching theatre arts for four and a half years now. She has had the honor of working in productions such as Once Upon A Mattress (Director; Artisan Center Theatre), Purpose (Directing Intern; Stand Performing Arts), No Place Like Home (Holly Sprite; Stand Performing Arts), Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (Hair and Makeup Artist; Artisan Center Theatre), Peter Pan Jr (Stage Manager; Legacy Classical), and Twas The Night Before Christmas (Strawberry Scout; Casa Mañana). Macye also serves at The Mount Church on the worship team.

Jill has been a theater director for almost ten years and a teacher for over 20 years. She loves sharing her passion for theater with students and helping everyone shine on stage. Jill’s background in performing arts started with ballet and tap training at the age of three that continued to adulthood. She was a featured ballet pointe soloist at events throughout Dallas growing up. She went on to get her Bachelors and Masters in Communication and Educational Leadership from The University of Texas at Arlington. Jill started the theater arts program at a Christian private school and went on to direct musicals such Elf Jr., Willy Wonka Jr., and Frozen Jr. This also included taking many students over the years to competitions where they all excelled and were often selected for best actor and all-star cast recognitions. This year a script Jill wrote was also performed in front of a live audience at a featured event. Jill has worked for several different amazing theater companies including teaching 175 students this summer at theater arts camps. She is excited to join the STAND team and support the amazing endeavors and help bring people to know Christ through the performing arts. When she's not busy with theater, Jill adores spending time with her husband and six kids. It is often a family affair as most of Jill's kids enjoy the stage as well!

As an oldest of 4 and mother of 6, Faith has been teaching most of her life. Music performance has been part of her life since she began playing the violin at 12 and then singing at 16 years old. She went from varsity and show choirs in High school to 5 different choirs in college including Jazz and Madrigal players. She then took part in city and church choirs and theater performance most of her adult life. She feels so blessed to have had the joy of helping to open 2 theaters in the metroplex and has been performing and teaching for the stage for the better part of 25 years. Finding Stand is an answer to her prayers. Being in a place that is not only a safe space for talented young people but adults ever honing their craft is everything she's ever wanted.