Administration & Office Staff
Mrs. Jill Battjes
Educational Support Services (ESS) and Curriculum Director
(616) 878-3347
After serving as a classroom teacher for over 30 years, God opened the door to a new opportunity for me to serve as the Director of Curriculum and Educational Support Services. This position has allowed me to take all that God has taught me through past experiences and work in a different, yet meaningful, way with the students and staff at BCCS. It is a blessing to continue to serve this wonderful Byron Center Christian School community. As I support teachers in the classroom and interact daily with students, it is my deep hope that through gracious communication I can inspire, encourage, and empower others to take risks, try new things, and flourish as they live out their role in God’s story.
My husband Kelvin and I love spending time with our children and grandchildren. We also enjoy going out for dinner, snowmobiling in the winter, boating on Lake Michigan in the summer, and traveling to places both near and far.
My favorite verse helps me keep things in perspective in my life: "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18
My Deep Hope is that through gracious communication I can inspire, encourage, and empower others as they cultivate student growth. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Proverbs 16:24
I had the great privilege of attending and graduating as a third generation student from BCCS. Byron Center Christian and the teachers made a huge impact on who I am today, and I’m grateful for the gift of Christian education that my parents gave to me.
I attended South Christian and GRCC where I earned my associate degree in interior decorating. After graduating I worked at UBU Furniture and did freelance design work. When our oldest was born in 2009, I became a full-time stay at home mom. In 2021 I took a position at First Byron CRC as an administrative assistant. In the fall of 2023, I felt God moving me to make a move to BCCS, and He has blessed me greatly with the opportunity to be a part of this amazing school and team.
My husband Ben and I have 5 children, Sadie, Maggie, Alice, Tess, and Ren. Our family have all been so blessed by BCCS since our oldest began attending in 2014, and we are so thankful for each teacher and staff member that has worked alongside us to help us raise our kids to know and love the Lord. As a family we like to go camping, play games, and have family movie nights. In my own spare time I enjoy baking, running, and watercolor painting.
Favorite Verse: Colossians 3:16-17 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
I am excited and blessed to be a part of the Byron Center Christian community.
My wife, Carla, and I moved to Byron Center 13 years ago because we wanted to send our kids to Byron Center Christian. It was an obvious choice since Carla was a BCCS graduate in 1986 as was her father, Frank Sterk, in 1960.
I graduated from Michigan State University with a criminal justice degree and then earned a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law. God was molding me for my service for BCCS by giving me great experiences working in the financial field as a trust officer for a local bank and the estate planning field as an attorney. These professions have allowed me to see my vocation as helping the supporters of our school see themselves as caretakers of God’s property and not as the owners. And in so doing, my deep hope is I can use my relationship-building gifts to help BCCS achieve their financial goals.
There are so many special Bible verses, but one of my favorites is Galatians 2:20 which says: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This verse resonates with me because it is a reminder that I am a new creation, the old self is gone and I am now a child of God, an inheritor of His Kingdom.
We are blessed to have two wonderful children who both graduated from BCCS. We spend most of our free time following our kids around with their various sport activities. I also enjoy practicing the guitar, reading, playing golf, listening to live music, and hosting watch parties for Michigan football games.
My Deep Hope is to share the ministry of BCCS to our supporters so that they may catch a bigger vision for themselves and for God’s Kingdom and by doing so they may experience the joy of giving back to God what He has entrusted to them.
I grew up in the Grand Rapids area and attended Grand Rapids Christian Schools. After graduating from Calvin College with a degree in education, I taught middle school math for a few years before returning to work at Calvin in Admissions for the next 8 years. After the birth of our second child, I decided to stay home for awhile.
My husband Ben and I have two daughters who attend BCCS, Kaylin and Elise. Now that they are both in school full time, I feel very blessed to be part of the community here at BCCS and work a few days a week. It's fun to be able to see them in the hallway for a quick hug or wave. We greatly value BCCS and are so thankful for the wonderful teachers and staff who love our students and share God's love with them.
I love to read, bake, camp, play games, spend time on/near water and be outside enjoying God's creation.
My favorite verse is 1 Peter 8:9 "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."
My Deep Hope is that I will reflect Christ's love to those I interact with and be a welcoming and helpful presence to visitors and students.
I consider it a great blessing to be welcomed into the Byron Center Christian community. It is a privilege to work here each day and I look forward to getting to know you and your families better throughout the year.
After graduating from Calvin University in 2000, I began my career at West Side Christian in Grand Rapids teaching middle school math. I received my Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University and was able to attain administrative experiences in various roles while teaching. In 2014, I became the principal of Grand Haven Christian and had a wonderful experience working with amazing teachers and community members in my time there.
My wife Wendy and I have three children, Ben, John and Luke, who love school and are very active. As a family we like to load up the van and travel to different parts of the country each summer. We also enjoy spending time at Lake Michigan and other inland lakes in the warmer months and enjoy outdoor activities in the winter months as well.
As a servant of the King and Christian educator, my goal is to work with the excellent teachers of BCCS to provide an engaging learning environment where students daily discover the connection between their faith and learning. As a Christian school community, we need to intentionally teach and demonstrate for our children how their faith impacts and informs all facets of their lives. Our mission goes beyond preparing children for the next grade, high school or college. We strive to provide them with an excellent education, rooted in God’s Word, which then prepares them for lifelong service in God’s kingdom.
One of my favorite verses that guides me on a regular basis is from Colossians 3:12-14, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
My Deep Hope is for our children to radiate hope to the world and be inspired to build God’s kingdom by living lives filled with grace and thankfulness for Christ’s redemptive work.
My Deep Hope is that together, as the BCCS community, we create a loving, encouraging space for ALL learners to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to bring God’s kingdom in our classrooms and beyond.
Mr. Andrew Reidsma
Director of Operations and Family Relationships
(616)-878-3347 Ext. 236
I have an incredible passion for Christian education because of the impact that is has on not only students, but on all those in a school's community. I have felt God's call to serve others, and feel my role as enrollment coordinator at BCCS is the perfect way to do so!
In 2023, I completed a Master of Education program in Educational Leadership at Dordt University. I also have an undergraduate degree from Trinity Christian College in Management and an MBA from Cameron University. After spending two years in Florida, my family and I moved back to Michigan in summer of 2018.
BCCS is an amazing school full of staff that love the Lord and who desire to impart the love of God, and truths of His Word, to all of God’s children.
I am honored to be able to share with current and prospective families about how BCCS trains up all of God’s children academically, emotionally, and spiritually to shine for Christ! The best part of my job is showing people how much love our teachers and staff have for the students that walk these halls each day.
My wife (Jessica) and I have been married since the summer of 2016 and both grew up in the West Michigan area. Our son Judah was born in 2022. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with friends and family. I like just about every type of outdoor activity, but camping and kayaking are two of my favorites. I follow all four major Detroit sports teams and will attend a Whitecaps or Griffins game whenever possible.
I have many favorite verses, but my favorite book of the Bible is James. I love how clear it is to readers and how it challenges Christians to show the love of Christ in their everyday lives.
My Deep Hope is to lead servantly by empowering, equipping, and inspiring those I work with so we create an authentic educational experience pleasing to the Lord.
I have loved being around children ever since my babysitting days as a young teenager. I attended Calvin College and graduated from Michigan State University with a desire to work with children. I worked in Grand Rapids Public Schools as a speech language pathologist until our second child was born, when I decided to stay home as a full-time mom. When my husband and I moved to Byron Center after starting our family, the obvious choice for us was to send our children to BCCS. Once a part of this family, there was no turning back! As a stay-at-home mom, I was able to volunteer here in various capacities. That turned into becoming an aide as my children grew older and now working in the West Campus office. I truly enjoy spending time at this school, with this staff and our students and their families - what a blessing they all are!
My husband Dale is a Civil Engineer. We have three grown children who all got a wonderful start at BCCS. I love to read and do word puzzles and jigsaw puzzles in my spare time.
Favorite verse: "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14
My Deep Hope is to provide gracious, warm, welcoming service to our families, students, and staff so all feel a part of the family of BCCS and ultimately the family of God.
Mrs. Kristin VanWieren
Director of Teaching for Transformation
(616) 878-3347 ext. 225
Background:
BA in Special Education from Calvin College
MA in Language Arts from GVSU
Began teaching in 1995 at BCCS
Roles: K-8 ESS teacher, first-grade teacher, and second-grade teacher, instructional coach
I'm drawn to a few verses in Colossians entitled, "Rules for Holy Living" because my two passions, teaching and singing, are mentioned together in this chapter. God has called me to work in education using both of these gifts. Most recently, God has led me to use my years of experience to mentor and coach teachers, and I love it! My prayer is that others see Christ dwelling within me, and that they too will fall deeper in love with Jesus and desire to grow His Kingdom. As a Teaching for Transformation lead and instructional coach, my deep hope is to create a warm culture of reflection that leads to growth as we journey in God’s Story together.
Favorite Verse: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:16–17
My Deep Hope is to create a warm culture that leads to growth so that our students are rooted and prepared for life-long service. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
I have had the privilege of working at BCCS as a secretary for the last 20 years. I very much enjoy being in a school setting where I come in contact with many wonderful people and children. It has truly been a blessing to watch the faith of children for God in action.
My husband Dave and I have three grown children and three beautiful granddaughters. I enjoy each of them for the blessing they are in my life. I also enjoy camping, biking and reading.
Favorite Verse: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
My Deep Hope and prayer is that the Spirit would fill me so that the love of Christ would be evident in all I do and say when interacting with the students and families of our school.
In January of 2005 God led me to make a change from the position I had held for 18 years to become part of the BCCS staff. This change has truly been a blessing for me and my family. As Office Manager, I am able to use my accounting background and also interact with students. Although my position is mostly related to finances I also get to help sick kids, answer questions from parents, and help with general office tasks.
My husband, DJ, and I have two children in college and one at South Christian High School. God has really provided me with a great opportunity to do the work I love and have my kids near by at the same time. I appreciate the hugs and hellos I receive from my kids and their friends. My kids are receiving a great education here at BCCS and so much more! God’s love is evident every day in the classrooms and in the halls. I am so thankful I am able to be a part of it.
Favorite Verse: "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering." Romans 12:1
My Deep Hope is that I may serve the BCCS community with grace and joy, always demonstrating God’s love, performing my job and other duties to the best of my ability.