Third Grade Staff
It is an honor and privilege to be a part of the teaching staff at BCCS. This school and community are truly special. To be able to openly speak of God’s grace and love with students, and revel in awe at His goodness and the world He created, is such a joy. Seeing God’s story through the eyes of children is inspiring and renews my child-like faith.
While I have always been involved with children and teaching, it wasn’t until later in life that God called me to become a teacher. I graduated with my BS in education from Western Michigan University in December 2022, with majors in Elementary Education and Elementary/Middle School Language Arts. During my bachelor’s program, I had internships in Plainwell Community Schools and Grandville Public Schools. Upon graduating, I worked as a paraprofessional doing academic interventions at Countryside Elementary here in Byron Center. The diverse experiences at each of these schools has been incredible.
I grew up in Byron Center, attending Byron Center Christian School and South Christian High School. My husband and I married in 2007 and now live in Cutlerville with our two daughters. I have a great love for BCCS and its commitment to providing an excellent education, deeply rooted in God’s word, to prepare our students for lifelong service in His kingdom. Our daughters are the third generation in my family to attend BCCS, and I am the third generation in my family to teach at BCCS.
One of my favorite Bible passages is Isaiah 55:8-9. “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
My Deep Hope for you is that you will understand the gift of salvation, love God and others, and whatever you do, do it as working for the Lord.
I graduated from Calvin College in 1985 and moved to California with my husband where I taught in a Christian school in inner-city Los Angeles. We were blessed with 3 boys after 11 years of marriage and moved back to West Michigan in 2002. After our boys started at BCCS, I started substituting and working as a paraprofessional. I have been teaching at BCCS since I moved back from California.
All of our boys are post-college and are entering the work-force. My husband and I enjoy supporting and watching them grow into who God has called them to be, a story that began for each of them at BCCS. As a family, we enjoy taking trips to see family in Washington and taking trips to Lake Michigan.
With my 25+ years of teaching experience, I have enjoyed supporting student teachers and first-year teachers as a mentor and advocate. One of my greatest joys as a teacher is the opportunity for inclusive education, helping each student discover their unique, God-given purpose. My Deep Hope for my students is that they will begin to understand God’s deep love for them and be inspired to learn about God’s world and their place in His story. It’s an amazing privilege to be able to communicate God’s love to my students every day!
My favorite verse: is: "I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16: 8 – 11
My Deep Hope for my students is that they will begin to understand God's deep love for them and be inspired to learn about God's world and their place in His story.
I feel blessed to be able to live out God's calling on my life to teach at BCCS. One can learn so much about the heart of Jesus from spending time with children and it is a true honor to be a part of their journey through life!
I grew up in the Lansing area and attended both Lansing Christian School and Dewitt Public Schools. I went on to graduate from Hillsdale College in 2020. During college, I spent my summers working at Camp Geneva in Holland. I now live in Wyoming with my husband, Nick.
My favorite place to be when I am not in the classroom is anywhere in nature! I enjoy camping, traveling, and spending time at the beach.
I did not commit my life to Christ until adulthood. I know what it is like to live with and without God at the center of my life and I believe my faith is stronger because of that! I pray that the Lord uses my testimony to speak into the hearts of my students!
My favorite verse: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3
My Deep Hope for our students is that they would know they are loved by God so they can be His LIGHT and share God’s love with others.