I grew up in Cutlerville and went to Cutlerville Christian (now Legacy) then graduated from South Christian in 2004. After high school I went to cosmetology school. I worked in a salon for 10 years before staying home with my children. My husband Jeff and I have two children Travis and libby. They attend Dutton Christian school. As a family we enjoy camping,going up north to the family cabin and being at Lake Michigan. 

I am looking forward to being a part of the staff and community here at South. 

Staff Favorites

One of my favorite things to do as a child was exploring God’s creation, whether it was in the woods behind our house or in the dunes near Lake Michigan. I graduated from Wheaton College with a BS in Biology and Secondary Education. I am forever grateful for my Wheaton experience and how it challenged me to grow deeper in my faith, and also led me to my husband, Matt! After graduating, I had the opportunity to teach in a variety of educational settings. I began my career teaching in Illinois and Florida, where I taught primarily middle school science in the public schools. I then took a break to stay at home with our growing family, and had the privilege of homeschooling my own four children for four years. I am thrilled to be at SCHS teaching science where I can pour into the students and share my love for God’s creation with them.

Staff Favorites

After graduating from Calvin College in 2003, I taught chemistry in Florida for 13 years to many different levels of students. I then moved to China where I lived for nine years. There, I met and married my wife, who is Chinese, and we now have two lovely sons together. In China I instructed students primarily in colleges and universities. Some of the courses I taught were IELTS English to science majors and education theory to education majors. During my last year in China, I also taught at an international school where I instructed middle school students in world history and high school students in chemistry. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with my family and being outdoors in God’s wonderful creation.

The more I know God, the more my passion for art and people grows. After graduating from Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design at U of M, God led me to South Christian. I love working with high school students because of their curiosity and ability to push their skills to new levels. I’ve taught classes for youth and adults, and spend much of my time making work to exhibit and sell. Beyond the studio, my hobbies include trail running and pickleball, which I claim to be mediocre at both. Adventure is in my blood and I’ve been tempted by road trips across the country, backpacking the Alps, living in Alaska for a summer, and other wild things. You might find me dancing in the hallway or wearing lots of patterns and it’s because living is a joy.

Staff Favorites

I was born and raised in West Michigan and I attended Plainwell High School where I spent most of my senior year in woodshop class. This is when my passion for the craft of woodworking started. Since graduation from high school, I have spent my lifetime learning different trades: construction, concrete finishing, Ready-mix driver, and handyman. For the last 26 years, I have been working for the City of Otsego’s Department of Public Works. I have always desired to share my gift in woodworking with others; God has recently laid it on my heart to teach trades to high school students in an environment with a firm foundation in the Christian faith. I look forward to working with South Christian High School and am very excited to use my gifts and talents for God’s children and inspiring them to further His kingdom.

My wife Jill and I have been married for 34 years and have been blessed with five children (three girls and two boys). We were blessed to be able to put our children through Christian schooling and are passionate about the impact Christian role models and friends can have on young adults.

In my free time, I enjoy working in my barn where I have built my own woodshop. I always keep busy with miscellaneous projects whether it be around my home or elsewhere, but one of my most fun projects was restoring a Ford Model A.

I graduated from Michigan State University with my degree in Biological Sciences and Secondary Education, and a minor in Chemistry Education. I completed my student teaching internship at Innovation Central High School and Grand Rapids University Preparatory High School. Outside of work, I enjoy running, reading, and spending time with family and friends.

Staff Favorites

I graduated Holland Christian High School in 2016, and enjoyed spending my time there playing baseball and football. During that time, I was also blessed to have been able to visit Israel, which sparked a passion for teaching and studying the Bible. I graduated Calvin University with a degree in Secondary Education and took a job as an ESS Aide at Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, for a semester. This experience helped me grow tremendously as a teacher in both confidence and compassion. It also helped me start a job as a full time Social Studies and Bible teacher at Holland Christian Middle School in 2021. After teaching for two years and being blessed by the people at HCMS, God decided to bring me to South Christian as a Bible teacher! I couldn’t be more excited!

Staff Favorites

I grew up in Holland, Michigan and graduated from Holland Christian in 2016. I moved to Sioux Center, Iowa to study special education and received a minor in reading from Dordt University. After graduation, I moved back to Michigan and met a South Christian graduate and recently got married in July of 2023. My husband and I both came from large families and love spending time with them doing activities such as camping, going to the cottage, traveling, and relaxing! I love thrifting and sharing my lucky finds with those around me.

Staff Favorites

After multiple summers of awesome experiences participating in Camp Sunshine throughout high school, I decided to pursue becoming a special education teacher. Little did I know, this would be the best decision I could make for my life. This decision has led me to many great experiences, specifically becoming involved in Special Olympics Unified Sports, and coaching the team at Holland Christian the previous two years. My favorite part about Unified Sports is that it provides a platform for students with a wide-range of abilities to reach a common goal while fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging. I recently graduated from Hope College in 2023 with a B.A. in Special Education, Emotional Impairments and Learning Disabilities. I am most excited about joining a growing school system that loves to put their love for the Lord and others on display. A few things I enjoy are all sports, camping, and being around my loved ones.

Staff Favorites

God has given me the incredible blessing of three great kids. Although it was a challenge to raise them alone during much of their school years, God showed up in amazing ways and we have always had more laughter than tears! Spending time with my family is still one of my favorite things to do. Reading, hiking, and traveling make life interesting and fun. I have a B.A. in Education and a MEd in Learning Disabilities from Calvin University. I am also a trained life coach. I’ve worn many hats in my career – from teaching 3rd and 4th grade to preschool and kindergarten to being a middle school special education teacher. What keeps me in the world of education is the bold belief that God is still at work, calling students to follow him. And as someone who gets to speak that into their lives, I get the honor of reminding them they are his and that He has good plans for them.

Staff Favorites