I have always felt strongly that God’s plan for my life involved the teaching and nurturing of young children. This belief grows stronger each year that I am privileged to guide a new group of children along their faith journey.

One of the greatest joys of teaching is to make that connection between what we are learning in the classroom and God’s love for them as evidenced throughout his creation. God is found in everything that we do and say and it is such a wonderful gift to be able to teach here at Ada Christian and speak freely about my own faith journey. It is my prayer that my students’ experiences in 2nd grade at Ada Christian will equip them to make discerning choices inside and outside of our classroom.

I graduated from Calvin College in 1992 with a degree in Elementary Education. Upon graduation I accepted a full-time teaching position at Alameda Christian School in Alameda, California. I taught first grade there for one year. Although I had a wonderful experience in the Bay Area, I felt God calling me back to West Michigan. I decided not to accept another year and returned home. Upon my return to Michigan I began teaching at Ada Christian. When my oldest child was born I went to a part-time, shared 2nd grade position and stayed in that capacity for 12 years. During those years I received a Masters degree in Reading from Grand Valley University. In 2009 I went back to a full-time 2nd grade teaching position at ACS.

I am a product of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools. I attended Seymour Christian, Millbrook Christian and Grand Rapids Christian High. Upon graduation I crossed the street and attended Calvin College for 4 years. My father and mother are both educators and teaching is in my blood.