Anchor Learning Center marks new chapter with faculty changes
Chris McNeer’s joining ALC marks “an exciting new chapter in the nonprofit Bible learning center’s mission to make disciples through Scripture-based education,” a press release stated.
“McNeer is a well-known and deeply respected figure throughout the greater Knoxville and Farragut community,” it added. “He brings 19 years of experience in education, instructional leadership and coaching to this role.”
Anchor Learning Center is a nonprofit Bible learning center with classes held in Faith Promise Church in West End Center.
“It is a released-time Bible education program,” ALC executive director Sherry Shope said. “Released-time Bible education is a program that’s about 100 years old. It was actually challenged at the U.S. Supreme Court level in the 1950s in a case, Zorach vs Clausen.”
It is “dedicated to equipping students of all ages with a foundation in Scripture and a passion for discipleship,” according to a press release.
Shope said released time Bible education allows for the creation of a class for public high school students, for which they can leave the high school campus and be taught “academically rigorous Bible education in a devotional manner” in an elective course and get school credit, Shope explained. “What’s important is Bible can be taught in most any public school with restrictions: being taught as a historical or literary perspectives, but not devotional.
“We don’t have those limitations,” she said. “We can address behavior or any number of things and, most especially, we can teach that Bible is the truth.
“Release time Bible education can be and is done by other religions, not just the Christian faith, but that’s what we are,” Shope said.
Three things make the classes legal: it has to be off campus during the school day; it has to have parental permission; and there cannot be a penny of government funds to support it, she added.
Students may be part of the class by signing up for it as an elective and having their parents’ permission.
On its board, ALC has “all these [church] denominations represented,” Shope said and explained Faith Promise Church is its host location.
Currently in his ninth year at Farragut High School, McNeer teaches advanced placement government and psychology and previously served as the lead teacher of the Health & Human Services Academy, a signature program recognized for developing real-world skills and leadership in students across the region.
“A proven leader both on and off campus,” McNeer also served as the Farragut High School Admirals football program’s defensive coordinator and associate head coach from 2018 to 2023, “earning a reputation for building culture, developing young men and driving results,” the press release stated. “Prior to Farragut, he spent eight years teaching American history and leading character education initiatives at Daniel Boone High School in Washington County.
McNeer holds a Master of Education degree from Milligan College and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from East Tennessee State University.
“His commitment to community extends well beyond education,” the release stated. “McNeer serves as an elder at Shoreline Church and has faithfully invested in student and men’s ministry. He is a
devoted husband to his wife Gina and a proud father of two.”
“We are beyond thrilled and deeply grateful to our Sovereign God for bringing Chris to ALC,” Anchor Learning Center Board of Directors stated in the release. “His years of teaching excellence, his coaching leadership, his ministry involvement and his love for this community make him uniquely equipped to carry this mission forward. We couldn’t be more excited.”
This announcement coincides with the departure of Lane, ALC’s founding teacher and director of Program Development, who is leaving to answer a new calling. He has been tapped to serve as the founding teacher of Bearden Learning Center, a new ministry partner launching in the fall of 2026.
For more information about ALC, visit alcfarragut.com.
Lane, who spent 16 years as a Bible history teacher at Bearden High School before joining ALC, “returns to familiar roots with a vision to expand the discipleship model he helped build at Anchor.”
“Tyler has poured into this ministry with purpose and passion,” the Board added. “He leaves as a respected leader, a trusted friend and a valued ministry partner. We are excited to continue walking alongside him as he follows God’s calling.”
