Baker's Staff
Baker's friendly and diversified staff will make your stay a rewarding and pleasant learning experience.
Jennifer Baker
Jennifer is the school owner. She began her career at the school in 1978, when the school was known as King’s. Being new to aviation, she quickly fell in love with the entire aviation world, especially the world of the aircraft mechanic. She became a partner with the owner and took over the operation of the school. Jennifer taught A&P and IA Courses for 16 years, before buying out her partner and changing the name to Baker’s School of Aeronautics in 1994. She is a strong advocate for the aircraft mechanic and has served on several committees over the years to help promote the professional status and appeal of an aviation maintenance career.
She served many years on the FAA AMT Award’s Committee and helped in rewriting Advisory Circulars pertaining to the AMT Awards Program. She is currently working on the Tennessee Mid-South Aviation Maintenance Committee and is on the Advisory Committee for Tennessee Technology School of Science. In 2010 she was instrumental in helping NASA space technicians be recognized by the FAA for having enough experience to obtain their FAA Airframe ratings. She was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in November of 2009.
One of her personal quest is to help broaden the awareness of Charles E. Taylor, the first aircraft mechanic. Jennifer was a strong supporter of having May 24th recognized as AMT Day by the State of Tennessee and helped achieve that goal in 2003. In 2005 she began hosting an annual AMT Picnic at the school around Charles Taylor’s birthday to help keep the awareness alive.
Jonathan Wickes
Director
Baker Duncan
Assistant Director
Donna Highers
Donna holds the title as our Chief Instructor and has taught full-time with our school since 1988. She came to us with five years prior experience teaching A&P mechanics for another school. She teaches our A&P Courses and our Inspection Authorization Course. Donna also holds an Advanced Instrument Ground Instructor's rating and has taught many flight ground school courses in the past. She is famous for her dynamic and detailed, (but “keep it simple”) teaching methods. Donna's long tenure, coupled with her personal quest of ensuring that all her students pass the first time, has earned her a very well-known and popular reputation among the aviation community all around the world. All the thank you letters and cards that she has received from past students over the years would probably wallpaper our entire school!
During her off time she enjoys spending time with her family, especially her young granddaughters.
Reba Evans
Reba began her career in aviation maintenance while she served with the Tennesse Air National Guard. After training and working on C-130's, she knew she was hooked and decided she wanted to spend her career in aviation maintenance. After gaining the required field experience, Reba attended Baker's School and received her A&P certification. She worked as an on-call mechanic at the BNA airport and has experience with Cessna 152's up to Boeing 767's certified in various categories.
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When Reba began working for the school, it didn't take long for everyone to see that she was a natural teacher. She is currently teaching our Airframe and Powerplant writtens and Oral and Practical courses. She is devoted to her students and takes pride in ensuing that each one is ready before encouraging them to take the FAA exam. She often will work with students one on one, if she feels that they need additional training on a particular subject or area. Her compassion and encouraging words are certainly appreciated by all of her students. She enjoys making the students feel at home while they are in class and is always ready to help them.​
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Besides her natural teaching skills, Reba will tell you that she feels her greatest accomplishment is her young daughter, who has also discovered a love for aviation, like her Mom.
Tommy Simpson
Tommy was born in Gallatin, Tennessee, and attended Portland High school prior to enlisting in the Tennessee Air National Guard at Berry Field ANGB in 1984. He was initially assigned as C-130 Crew Chief until selected as a C-130 Flight Engineer in 1995. While a traditional Guardsman, he was employed as FAA certified A & P technician for Corporate Flight Management. In 2001, he became a full-time Guardsman. During his tenure, he served as Standards and Evaluations Evaluator and the Formal Training Unit (FTU) Flight Engineer Course Manager, instructing students from all over the world in flight engineer operations and aircraft systems. As the Operations Group transitioned from the C-130 to the MQ-9 Reaper, he cross-trained to sensor operator while establishing the foundation and developing personnel for Reaper Operations.
Tommy retired after thirty five years from the military and joined the Bakers team in April of 2019.
Tommy has degrees in Aviation Operations, Instructor of Technology and Military Science, and Air and Space Operations.
John Wylley
Instructor
Wayne Johnson
Instructor
Susan McGuire
Meet Susan McGuire! Her beautiful smile and eagerness to help others has been a huge asset to our school. She is one of our three Admission Coordinators. Susan is here to answer your questions by phone, email or in person.
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Susan McGuire is a proud mom of two amazing young men. She is originally from Kentucky and moved to Tennessee at the age of 9 and graduated from Mount Juliet High School. She is a huge Vols fan, and enjoys spending time with her boys, being outdoors, traveling and living a fun filled life. Susan has over 21 years of experience in HR and Administration. She spent 20 years in the entertainment/music industry when she arrived at Baker's and she says she is absolutely loving learning all the knowledge of aviation.
Caitlynn Khanthavongsay
Admissions Coordinator
Ashley Miller
Admissions Coordinator