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Staff Biographies
Jennifer Bryson was hired as the kindergarten aftercare provider at
AACS in 2007 and became our Eaglets preschool teacher in 2009. She is
trained and licensed as a social worker, having earned a B.A. in
psychology from Calvin College and a master's degree in social work
from Michigan State University. Prior to joining the staff at Ann Arbor
Christian, Jennifer taught preschool for seven years at Sonshine
Nursery School, a cooperative preschool in Ann Arbor. Jennifer enjoys
the wonder that comes with teaching young children and watching their
excitement as they learn more about the world that God created. In her
free time, Jennifer enjoys biking with her husband and children as well
as traveling, reading and scrapbooking. Jennifer attends Ann Arbor
Christian Reformed Church. Jennifer's son, a graduate of AACS, is in high school. Jennifer's daughter attends AACS.
Barb Dick has taught kindergarten at AACS since 1995. Barb grew up and attended pubic schools in Ann Arbor. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Education from Central Michigan University, completed 20 hours of graduate education work at Eastern Michigan University, and holds a Michigan permanent teaching certificate. Barb substituted in Ann Arbor for nine years in grades K-6, which included three years of teaching "children at risk." For Barb, education is about nurturing and developing each child's God-given spiritual, social, and academic abilities. She is so pleased that AACS' Christ-centered environment, emphasis on excellence, and integrated curriculum allow her to do that. Along with a dedicated staff that works especially well together, Barb appreciates the supportive caring families. In addition to teaching, Barb enjoys spending time with her husband, daughters, and granddaughters. Walking, gardening, befriending a displaced family from Hurricane Katrina and reading Christian literature are other activities that she finds fulfilling. Barb and her husband are members at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Susan Furr has taught at AACS since 2000, and currently teaches first and second grade. Susan graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Montana State University. She has also attended Indiana State University, Indiana University, and is currently pursuing further education at Eastern Michigan University for Michigan certification requirements. She has taught for 23 years, and she currently holds Michigan provisional certification. Susan says without reservation that this is the best school community she has ever had the privilege of serving, because of the central focus on Christ, on the school's collaborative spirit, and on its commitment to excellence. Susan attends Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church with her husband, Bruce, and enjoys reading, bird-watching, walking, and music.
Lisa is an AACS parent who has assisted in kindergarten through 2nd grade classes over the past decade and currently serves as an AACS librarian. She also coordinates the multi-age Children’s Worship Program at Scio Community Church. She is excited to apply her love of children and learning in a Christian classroom. She has 3 lovely daughters that attend AACS.
Kellie Steen has taught third grade at AACS since 2001. She graduated with a B.A. in Elementary Education from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and is currently pursuing further education at Eastern Michigan University for Michigan certification requirements. She currently holds Michigan provisional certification. Kellie has a deep love for Ann Arbor Christian School and is especially thankful for the opportunity to integrate faith and learning daily. One of her favorite parts of the day is worshipping with her students each morning! Kellie also appreciates the excellent academic environment that promotes hands-on, experiential learning that engages the children in the learning process. She enjoys forming relationships with her students and is grateful for the gift of the warm, supportive community of staff and families at AACS. Kellie attends Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church with her husband and together they enjoy outdoor activities such as playing on the church softball team, kayaking, camping, and biking.
Renee McKeone joined the staff of AACS as the fourth grade teacher in 2009. Renee received her educational training at Eastern Michigan University and holds a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education. She has several years of classroom teaching experience, university teaching experience, and has worked with reading intervention programs in public school settings. She has been married for 22 years and is the mother of four children ranging from ages ten to eighteen. Renee is a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor. She is looking forward to being a part of the AACS family.
Becky Jungkuntz has taught fifth grade at AACS since 1995. Teaching has been a life long goal for Becky, who doesn't remember a time when she didn't want to be a teacher. Graduating from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in education and a K-8 provisional teaching certificate was the first step toward that goal. She now holds a professional certificate after earning an additional 18+ hours of graduate credit in the field of education. After many years of teaching, Becky's enthusiasm for the teaching profession and teaching at Ann Arbor Christian has only increased. The Christ-centered, denominationally diverse environment, the integrated, hands-on curriculum, and the loving, nurturing climate of Ann Arbor Christian are all reasons why she loves her job and can't imagine teaching at another school! She is a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church and loves participating in her small group. Outside of teaching she loves reading, leading worship, scrapbooking, gardening, and spending time with friends.
Amanda Boelter has taught 5th to 8th grade math and 7th grade Bible at AACS since 2008. In fall of 2009, she also assumed K-8 physical education teaching responsibilities. Mandy graduated with a B.A. in Education from Calvin College. She is also working to complete her master's degree at Grand Valley State University. Before joining the staff at AACS Mandy taught for four years at Jenison Christian School. Besides her years of teaching experience Mandy has been involved in coaching basketball, volleyball and track for several years. Mandy currently holds a Michigan professional teaching certificate. Mandy is thrilled to join the middle school staff at AACS and is excited to join with AACS parents to walk along with students through the middle school years. Ann Arbor Christian School has already been welcoming and uplifting and a great place to be! Mandy loves coming to school each day to experience God's world with her students and also enjoys being outside, playing and coaching various sports and spending time with family.
Sue DeZeeuw is part of the middle school team at AACS. She has a B.A. from Calvin College in education and social studies, and a M.A. from Eastern Michigan University in educational leadership. She has a Michigan teaching certificate. She taught in Lansing, IL before moving to Ann Arbor, and substituted while her children were small. She started teaching fourth grade math at AACS in 2001, moved to middle school math in 2002, and now teaches history, Bible, computers, and economics in the middle school. She has been involved in AACS as a public relations committee member and as a part-time administrator. Sue loves her students and enjoys being able to talk freely about God and his plan for the students (and herself!). She feels loved and supported by the awesome school community and encouraged to grow professionally and spiritually. Her other interests include reading, traveling with her family, and gardening. She and her husband have three children, all of whom have attended AACS. They are members of Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church.
Janet Jansen has been teaching at AACS since 2002. She has a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Reading from Eastern Michigan University. Her experience in small private schools spans many years. It started with her own K-12 education at Gaylord St. Mary, and she's also taught at Saline Christian School and St. Mary in Pinckney. She joined the AACS teaching staff as a self-contained sixth grade teacher, but now teaches middle school language arts and social studies. Janet sums up her job as a perfect place to teach because kids are learning to break out of their comfort zone, take care of each other, and find exceptions to rules (i.e. grammar rules). Both of her children have attended AACS. Hanging out with her husband and two kids, Lake Michigan, and pinball are a few of her favorite things. She attends church services at Ann Arbor Vineyard.
Mark Wiersma has taught middle school science and Bible at AACS since 2003. Mark grew up in Michigan's creeks, countryside, and snow piles. He recalls emerging from middle school a very different person with a personal commitment to Jesus. Mark earned a B.A. in education at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI and an M.A. in education from Michigan State University. God has blessed Mark abundantly through his marriage to Eileen and through their three children. Mark has been a teacher since 1979. While he has typically taught middle school, Mark also coached Haitian teachers in rural Caribbean schools for more than 10 years. Mark is profoundly thankful to teach at Ann Arbor Christian, particularly due to the intentionally cooperative spirit that energizes teachers and parents and spreads to students. He makes time for swimming, biking, hiking, canoeing, downhill and cross country skiing. Mark and his wife are members at Knox Presbyterian Church..
Claudia Hile has taught middle school Spanish at AACS since 2004.
She was born in Heidelberg, Germany and lived part of her childhood in
Barcelona, Spain. She attended Inlingua School of Languages in Berne,
Switzerland and graduated with a foreign language correspondent
diploma. She worked as a foreign language correspondent in Hamburg,
Germany and Jerusalem, Israel. In 1981 she came to Ann Arbor, MI to
visit a Christian community where she met and married David Hile. They
have three children. Claudia first started teaching foreign languages
out of her home, and then for a company in Plymouth that provides
language instruction to employees relocating to other countries. In
addition to teaching part time at AACS, she also teaches Spanish at St.
Paul's Lutheran School and German and French at Concordia University.
Claudia loves teaching foreign languages and sharing the cultural
knowledge she has gained from living in different countries. She also
enjoys the contact with her students and helping them achieve their
language goals. Claudia attends St. Luke Lutheran Church in Ann
Arbor.
Kristen Kovak has taught art at AACS since 2005. Kristin graduated from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania with degrees in Studio Art and Art Education along with a minor in Art Therapy. She is currently pursuing her Masters of Fine Art (low-residency) at the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has taught art to students ranging from 4-84 at various schools, community centers, and institutions for the last seven years as well as exhibiting as a painter. Kristin is excited to enter her fourth year at AACS, where she is able to collaborate with her exceptional peers to create an integrated art curriculum. She believes that the AACS community is uniquely committed to the growth of the whole child and to celebrating his/her unique gifts. Kristin attends West Side United Methodist Church in Ann Arbor with her husband, Brian, and enjoys painting, hiking, bird-watching, baking, and practicing her life-long ambition to be a professional kazooist.
Susie Sulkowski has been the athletic director and seventh and eighth grade health teacher at AACS since the fall of 2009. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a B.S. in Education. In addition, she has a Master of Arts degree from Michigan State University in Athletic Administration. Susie has lots of experience in teaching and athletic administration. She has previously taught/coached/served as athletic director at Flushing High School, Detroit Country Day, and Plymouth Christian Academy. She loves horses and the outdoors and can’t wait to become involved in the lives of our students through health and athletics as well as in volunteering at lunch recess and at dismissal. Thom Ritzema began serving as
principal at AACS in August 2007 and added music teaching
responsibilities in 2009. Thom has a B.A. in elementary education (fine
arts group major) from Calvin College and an M.A. in educational
administration from Michigan State University. Thom has been happily married for 29 years to his wife, Jan. They have
four children Todd, Laurel, Ryan, and Heather, as well as two grandchildren, Lillyanna, and Ivy. Thom enjoys music,
puppetry, and mime. The Ritzemas are members at Calvary
Undenominational Church in Grand Rapids. |
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