Growing up, I always felt drawn to the outdoors and found joy and peace in exploring God’s creation. That lifelong curiosity naturally led me to pursue biology, continuing a family tradition of attending Calvin College (now Calvin University), where I graduated in 2020 with a degree in Biology. Starting my teaching career during the height of COVID was challenging, but it gave me a deep appreciation for the relationships built in the classroom and the value of hands-on, inquiry-based learning. After spending time substitute teaching in the Grand Rapids area, my husband, Luke, and I moved to Florida while he attended graduate school and I began my teaching career. We are grateful to be back in West Michigan, closer to family, and excited to raise our children in a community that shares our Christian values.

Coming from a long lineage of teachers and preachers, it was only right that after trying to fight the inevitable at the beginning of college, I found my calling in education. After several amazing years culminating in my final student teaching experience at West Ottawa High School, I graduated from Hope College in 2025 with a BA in Social Studies Education. Thus far, my young career in education has blessed me with so many opportunities to foster meaningful connections with students and staff in ways that I never imagined possible. This year, I will be teaching AP Psychology and US History along with coaching freshmen football. I am incredibly excited to be joining a school and community that radiates love for the Lord in everything they do.

Music has been an integral part of my life as long as I can remember. I’ve been fortunate to have had wonderful directors at my church, Byron Center Christian, South Christian, and Grand Valley State University. I received my Bachelors of Music Education from GVSU in 2001. I taught in Wyoming Public Schools, Kelloggsville Christian, and Dutton Christian. After having my 4th child (we added #5 in 2017), I stepped away from the classroom, and went back to school. In 2013 I graduated again from GVSU with my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. I started my nursing career at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, and I currently work one night a week as a labor and delivery nurse. I have been a substitute teacher in our South Suburban Schools, coached softball at SCHS (2006-2012), the Madrigals Director for the past eight years at SCHS, and church choir director at First Cutlerville CRC for 26 years.

I’ve lived all over the U.S. thanks to my dad’s military career, but I spent most of my growing-up years in California and Washington State. I went to a Christian school from early on and continued that path into college at Dordt University, where I earned my Bachelors in Social Work in 2014 and later returned and completed my Masters in 2024.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work in a variety of social work roles—from case management and mentorship programs to medical social work and university counseling. I’ve loved the variety, and each experience has helped shape the way I support students today. Being a counselor is something I genuinely enjoy—I love walking alongside students and helping them navigate life. I’m married to Brady, and we have three amazing daughters—Teigen, Taytum, and Tenlee—who keep life busy, loud, and full of joy. In my free time, you’ll usually find me outside, walking with my kiddos and our dog, or playing in the garden with a coffee in hand (because coffee makes everything better).

I graduated from Calvin University with a degree in secondary education integrated science and a minor in biology. While at Calvin, I did my semester of student teaching at South Christian in the fall of 2024, teaching physical science and chemistry.

When I’m not at school, I love hanging out with my friends and being outside in nature. I also love to travel! I have recently discovered the joy of sudoku and crossword puzzles. I am a huge nerd when it comes to Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, 70s/80s rock music and of course, science. When it comes to caffeine, I just love an iced dirty chai latte or an iced caramel latte. I love being out in nature and seeing science first hand, and I can’t wait to show that to my students!

Beginning with my first Spanish class as a freshman in high school, I developed a love for languages. Although I had always wanted to be a teacher, my Spanish classes in high school encouraged my choice to become a high school Spanish teacher. I majored in Spanish and minored in Math at Calvin College, focusing on Secondary Education. I spent time in both Spain and Honduras in college and returned to Honduras to teach at an international school for five years after college, further developing my love, not only for the Spanish language, but for Spanish-speaking people and their cultures. After Honduras, I taught in Brazil for a year and then returned with my family to the United States. From 2019-2025, I taught K-8 Spanish at Allendale Christian School. I am excited to be back in a high school classroom, exploring the Spanish language and culture with high school students. My husband, Tony, and I live in Grandville with our three children, Kylynn, Hudson, and Viviana. In addition to speaking and teaching Spanish, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, camping, running, playing and watching sports, reading, and cooking.