Preschool Staff
I am excited to be working here at BCCS with the preschool students. Each day is a fun, new learning experience with these precious children. The students' excitement for learning and the conversations we have are a joy to be a part of. It is a blessing to be a part of not only their learning experiences, but also their spiritual journey. Showing them how to love God and serve others is a way I can help them become the children God wants them to be.
I graduated from Grand Valley State University and have taught Young 5's, 1st grade and 2nd grade in the Byron Center Public Schools. My husband's name is Denny and we have 4 children who attended BCCS.
Favorite Bible Verse: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
My Deep Hope is that I shine Jesus’ love to those around me and serve others with a servant’s heart.
Ephesians 3:18-19 says, “that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” This is my prayer for all the students that I have the privilege of seeing each day as I teach in the classroom.
I attended Reformed Bible College and Grand Rapids Community College and graduated with my Associates in Child Development. I taught three through five year old preschool at Zeeland Community Preschool for seven years, before staying home with my own children for several years. Currently, I am enrolled in Grand Canyon University's online program to complete my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. It has been a blessing to be back in the teaching role as I do that.
My husband Josh and I have four children, Clarissa, Silas, Lydia and Titus who attend BCCS. We enjoy spending time together outside and discovering new hiking trails.
My Deep Hope: We are filled with Jesus’ BIG love for us and get to overflow it to others. (Ephesians 3:16-21)
I was born and raised in Grand Rapids where I attended West Side Christian School, Grand Rapids Christian High School, and graduated from Calvin University in 2020 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. The Lord guided me to BCCS just after college, and continues to show me His ever-loving faithfulness through the relationships built here in this community!
Having grown up in a Christian environment, I appreciate the value of giving children an excellent education rooted in Christ. I believe every child was made in the image of God with their own unique set of strengths, skills, and talents. I strive to make a positive impact on people, especially children, and their families. Young minds are so intricately beautiful, and it is an absolute joy to nurture them as they grow into who God made them to be.
I married my best friend, Joel, in May 2023. I also love traveling, nature walks, spontaneity, and I’m a huge dog person!
Favorite verse: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in my weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
My Deep Hope for my class is that we know that Jesus loves us, grow in love for Him, know that we belong to Him, and grow in God’s story. 1 John 4:19 “We love because He first loved us.”
I am so grateful that God has led me to Byron Center Christian School! It is a blessing and privilege to work with His children and see them grow in their love for the Lord. I love being able to share my passion for Christ with my students, and I love to see their own faith in action—it is so inspiring!
I graduated from Cornerstone University with a degree in Language Arts Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood Development. I have also worked at Creative Kids in Hudsonville, Zeeland Community Preschool, and Hudsonville Christian Middle School.
I am married to Brad and we have a daughter named Chloe. I enjoy spending time with my family, playing and listening to music, reading, gardening, and traveling/experiencing as much of God’s beautiful world as I can.
Favorite Verse: “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.’” Isaiah 43:1
I am so excited that I will be working with the preschoolers of BCCS.
My own kids have had a great experience at Byron Center Christian. I have loved seeing their growth in knowledge and character but most importantly I have loved watching their faith journey unfold. I am grateful God has led me here to be part of that journey for these young kids. I consider it a blessing to be able to be a part of their lives, to help them learn about God and to help get their gears turning as they explore new things.
My husband Tim and I have 2 children, Kaylynn and Justin, both BCCS graduates. We enjoy camping and going to the family cabin. I enjoy trying new recipes and many different crafts so I can often be found in my craft room.
One of my favorite verses reads “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV
As each child creates a masterpiece, it’s my Deep Hope that they know they too are a masterpiece created by God!
I am so excited to be joining the Byron Center Christian School community. Prior to coming to BCCS, I taught Great Start Readiness Preschool in Jenison Public School for 5 years. Prior to adventuring into the world of early childhood education, I taught 6th grade for 2 years and worked with English Language Learners in Kentwood Public Schools.
I grew up on the east side of the state and graduated from Lake Orion High School (2007). I graduated from Grand Valley State University with both my Bachelors of Education in Elementary Education (2012) and my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction for Early Childhood Education (2020).
In my free time I love to be around the pool. While teaching in Jenison, I coached swimming to a variety of levels from kindergarten up through high school. My husband and I enjoy camping and biking in our free time, and also tend to our growing farm with both a garden and animals. I am also an avid reader and have recently developed a love for audiobooks.
My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (NIV) God’s plans are always greater than we can earthly imagine, and I am so thankful for the things he has orchestrated for me and continues to orchestrate.
My Deep Hope is that we see God’s love and share God’s love.
Working in preschool is so much fun! It is exciting to have a place in a child’s “firsts” in school. Getting to know each child and their unique personalities is my favorite part of being at school. I love to hear their questions and stories, listen to them sing, watch them play, and see how, even at such a young age, they know who their Lord and Savior is.
I graduated from Calvin University with a degree in Communication Arts and Sciences. I have also earned my Child Development Associate credential. I am married to Rob. We have two daughters and two sweet cats named Boo and Kit. I enjoy reading, swimming, and going on vacations with my family.
There are so many verses in the Bible that are very meaningful to me, but this is the one that keeps me focused on the Big Picture. “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 we can share in the fun of learning and friendship, work together through struggles, and embrace how God has made each one of us His special child.
I am a child of God. I know I am and I am sure that I am. It is a privilege to share this testimony with some of the smallest of learners every day at BCCS. I am blessed to hear their testimonies too! Their testimonies are the "simplest and the best," and I find that I am learning more than I am teaching on most days. When I look at the paths God has taken me, I can see that I am exactly where he planned for me to be right now. From my college experience at Trinity Christian College and through my teaching and life experiences, God has shown me his faithfulness. I have taught Kindergarten, I have worked with struggling learners in first and second grades, and I have worked closely with students who have special needs. Each of these experiences has prepared my heart and created a longing and desire to be a teacher of preschoolers. My days are filled with joy and I feel God has provided for me richly to be able to be teaching preschool at BCCS.
A favorite verse that has been very meaningful to me is Psalm 91:4. "He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."
To prepare our students for lifelong service in God’s kingdom, my Deep Hope as a coach, mentor, and leader is to:
Nurture authentic relationships with my colleagues
Encourage them in their own lifelong learning
Inspire them to continually pursue excellence in their practice
As a teacher, my Deep Hope is that my students discover big and small ways that God has poured His love into them and practice living out many ways to generously show others this love too.
It is such a joy to be a part of the preschool team here at BCCS! Every day is an exciting opportunity to live out the wisdom of Proverbs 22:6, “directing children onto the right path, so that as they grow older, they will not depart from it.”
I grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa, where I graduated from Dordt College (now Dordt University) with a degree in Elementary Education. After graduation, my husband Josh and I moved to Michigan where I taught first grade for 4 years before stepping back to raise our family. We have four children - two attend South Christian and two attend BCCS. Six years ago, I began easing back into teaching: first as a substitute teacher, then as a para-professional in lower elementary and finally to preschool in 2019.
When I look back, I can see God’s hand leading me and our family to Byron Center and the BCCS community, It is that sense of community and family that has kept us here for more than 20 years. And it is that same sense of community, that feeling of belonging, that I want to impart to each and every one of my preschoolers and their families, too.
My favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” - a great reminder of God’s providential leading in my life!
My Deep Hope for my students: SEE God with a sense of wonder, KNOW Jesus’ love for you, and GO with the Holy Spirit leading you to show that love to others.
