In a fall of 2021, I started working at South Christian High School as a long term substitute teacher for Mrs. Kim Koetje, and for Mrs. Roberta VanHaitsma. I really enjoyed working in a Christ centered environment. This job brought joy, a sence of purpose and healing into my life; it also allowed me to continue growing in my faith. I love being a part of Moms in Prayer group at SCHS. I currently work with Mrs. Sally Brown’s Enclusive Education Department team. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work at South Christian High School.

During my youth years, I majored in piano at the Music School of Rimskiy-Korsakov in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. I also majored in Early Childhood Education at the Teacher’s College and at the Institute of Childhood at the State Pedagogical University of Gertsen in Saint-Petersburg, Russia.
After coming to the United States, I acquired an Associates of Arts from Kalamazoo Valley Community College, majoring in Social Work and Mathematics. I was honored to be a student speaker at the 80th Commencement Ceremony. I worked with children of all ages throughout my work career. Before coming to SCHS, I was employed at Vicksburg High School’s Math Lab.

Family is very important to me. My husband Matthew and I have been married for 23 years. We have a son AJ (19) and a daughter Anastasia (16). We have three cats named Tigger, Rocket, and Daisy May. My hobbies include gardening, reading, playing piano, and spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy planting trees with my husband; we plant at least one tree a year together.

I am an Orthodox Christian, and I belong to Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

I’ve always felt God has called me to two purposes in His kingdom: be a teacher and be a mom, both of which I have been blessed to fulfill. I attended Cutlerville Christian and South Christian (2009), which I loved and cherish. I decided to attend Michigan State University and earned my BA in English and minor in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) with a teaching certification. Right out of college and for the last eight years, I taught English at Forest Hills Central High School. I felt God calling me to come back to my alma mater, and while I never expected I would ever be back, I am thrilled. My husband, Ben, a 2004 SCHS graduate and a landscaper, and I have been married for ten years and have three children: Evie, Tessa, and Case, who attend/will attend Moline Christian. We enjoy being outside, camping, playing games, and spending time with family and friends.

I attended Liberty University for my undergraduate work where I received a specific call from God to be a pastor while attending a chapel service as a sophomore. While there, I further deepened my love of studying the Scriptures and grew deeper in my understanding and love for God. During my time at Liberty, I met my wife, Faith. We have been married for over thirty years, and we have two sons CJ (15) and Andrew (13).

After graduating from Liberty, I spent the next several years pursuing two master’s degrees from Calvin Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. During this time, I worked sixteen years at Cornerstone University in Student Development focusing on student leader development, adjunct faculty work, campus small groups, chapel, and eventually served as the Dean of Spiritual Formation. In 2010, I accepted a call to be the Lead Pastor at a community church in Jenison where I served for eleven years until I stepped down to pursue an MA in Clinical Counseling, which I will be completing at the end of August. I enjoy reading, watching my sons play soccer, taking care of my garden, watching old movies, and spending time with cherished friends.

I grew up and spent my whole life in the West Michigan area. I graduated high school from Calvin Christian and went on to study Bible at Kuyper College. I graduated from Kuyper College with a double major in Bible/Theology and Ministry Leadership. After graduation, I served as the Youth Director and YoungLife Church Partner at Hager Park Reformed Church in Jenison, MI. During my time at Hager Park Church, I enjoyed substitute teaching on Fridays and being involved with YoungLife. It has been a blessing to be able to work with middle school and high school age students growing in our faith together. In my free time, I love to play sports and be active. I especially enjoy playing basketball any chance that I get. Also spending time with friends and family is important to me.

I have lived in Grand Rapids my whole life and attended Christian education through college. After attending Calvin College and graduating in 2004, I taught 1st-3rd grade at Eastside Christian School for five years. In 2010, I graduated from Western Michigan with a Master’s in Counseling Education after an internship at Forest Hills Central Woodlands and South Christian High School. For 11 years, I was blessed to work at Grand Rapids Christian High School as a counselor. I am married to Isaac and have four children (Corinne, Ezra, Everett, and Leland) My three older attend Trinitas Classical School. I enjoy spending time at our family cottage, golfing, cooking, and reading. 

After attempting to avoid going into education at the beginning of my college career, God nudged me into Social Studies education during my freshman year at Michigan State University. In the midst of some of the most chaotic years in recent history, I was able to graduate, student teach and find my first job. I graduated from MSU’s James Madison College with a degree in Comparative Cultures and Politics and a Secondary Education certification, then student-taught Government and US history for a year at Holland Public High school. I then taught a life-giving year of 6/7 Reading, Writing, and Social Studies at The Potter’s House in Grand Rapids. The idea of coming back to teach Government and Social Studies at South started to form when God first pushed me toward education, and I am excited and surprised to be able to fulfill that dream so early in my teaching career. 

I’ve spent the last six summers working in various positions at Camp Roger in Rockford, getting to encounter and celebrate God’s love for his children through relationships and experiences in creation. I deeply enjoy being outdoors, experiencing the refreshing and restorative joy of creation. I love to read, embroider, play volleyball, run, and occasionally get lost in the Star Wars Galaxy or the MCU (depending on which is next up on the release schedule).

I went to Central Michigan where I played basketball and then graduated in 2001 with a B.S. in Business Administration with a Computer Science emphasis. I worked in agriculture for 15 years and then the printing and promotions industry for three. At each place that I’ve worked, technology has always been a hat that I’ve worn. I’ve been coaching basketball at South since 2011 and really love the people and community support here. My wife Carmen and I are both SC alums (1996). We were high school sweethearts and married in 1998. She works at Moline Christian and we have three awesome kids – Luke, Maria and Isaac. We enjoy spending time with our extended family and friends while going to sporting events and the beach.