Staff
Walk into any classroom at Ann Arbor Christian School, and you will find outstanding teachers who spark curiosity about God’s world.
Sixteen skilled teachers create a vibrant, nurturing learning environment in grades Preschool-8, art, music, and physical education. An acting head of school and two office personnel work with six standing committees (Building and Grounds, Development, Education, Finance, Public Relations, and Information Technology) to oversee the school’s day-to-day operations. A resource specialist works with students individually as needs arise. Our current staffing includes a Head of School, two administrative personnel, a Childcare Director, 10 classroom teachers, a part-time Athletic Director, and four specialists in Arts, Music, Spanish, and physical education.
All faculty members are experienced teachers at the elementary or middle school level and possess exemplary educational and professional backgrounds. Opportunities for professional growth are offered throughout the year.
Our teachers and staff are encouraged to draw appropriate materials from varied resources and adapt curriculum instruction to meet students’ learning needs. Their creativity and dedication have not gone unnoticed: parents surveyed as part of our accreditation process commented that AACS teachers nurture their students to be disciples of Jesus Christ and use educational methods that meet the student needs.
Staff Biographies
Jennifer Bryson jennifer [dot] bryson [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Eaglets Preschool Teacher
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 School, 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 children, both graduates of AACS, are in high school.
Karen Eekhoff karen [dot] eekhoff [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Kindergarten Teacher
Karen Eekhoff joins the staff as the new kindergarten teacher in 2011. She graduated from Calvin College with a B.S. in Special Education. She has been involved in the AACS community as a parent, as a member of the Education Committee (including the chair), and as a substitute teacher for more than 10 years. Karen lives in Dexter with her husband, Jeff. They have three children, all of whom have attended or are attending AACS. She has always been thankful for the Christ-centered approach to teaching and the sense of community this school has provided for her family. Karen is a member of the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church where she serves on the Youth Ministry Committee, teaches Sunday School, and enjoys fellowship with her small group. She also enjoys running and watching her children participate in sports. She is thrilled for this new direction that God has provided for her and is excited to be a part of the staff at AACS.
Susan Furr susan [dot] furr [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, First Grade Teacher
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.
Margaret Mayoros maggie [dot] mayoros [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Second Grade Teacher
Maggie Mayoros joined the AACS community as the second grade teacher for language arts and math in 2010. Maggie originally hails from Wimbledon, England. She has a Bachelors of Arts in English Literature and Education and Post-Graduate Certification in Education from the University of Surrey. Maggie has taught in various settings for over 20 years. She began her teaching career in England and moved to the United States in 1991 with her American husband, David. Since her move to Michigan, Maggie has taught in Christian schools; homeschooled her children through middle school, taught in homeschool co-ops, substitute taught, and taught classes from her home. Maggie has been married for twenty years and is a member of Christ the King Church in Ann Arbor. She is excited to see how the Lord has led her to AACS, where she can share both her love for teaching and her love for Christ with the students and excellent staff.
Kim Hubers kim [dot] hubers [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Second Grade Teacher (last hour of day)
Christian Education has been an important part of Kim Hubers’ entire life. Kim attended Christian schools through high school, received a B.A. in Elementary and Music Education at Dordt College, taught 8 years in CSI schools in three other states, and attained a M.A. in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Her love of education and the learning process has continued to come out through volunteer opportunities at the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, raising her two children, caring for the neighbors who God has placed around her, and substitute teaching. She has also served on the school’s Education Committee. Kim and her husband David are excited for this new opportunity for the 2011-2012 school year and look forward to another year of serving with the AACS community.
Leslie Hoek leslie [dot] hoek [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Third Grade Teacher
Leslie joined AACS in 2010. She was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and attended Christian schools as a child. Christian education has always been important to her. She graduated from Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois in 2003 with degrees in Elementary Education and Special Education. After college, she moved to Honduras to teach 3rd grade at a bilingual Christian school in the capital city for three years. While there, she learned about culture, Christ, and teaching. Leslie is thrilled to be part of the AACS community as the third grade teacher.
Renee McKeone renee [dot] mckeone [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Fourth Grade Teacher
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.
Becky Jungkuntz becky [dot] jungkuntz [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Fifth Grade Teacher
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.
Sue DeZeeuw sue [dot] dezeeuw [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Middle School History, Bible, Computers, Economics Teacher, Academic Support Coordinator
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 janet [dot] jansen [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Middle School Language Arts, Social Studies Teacher
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.
DayeAnn Walden dayeann [dot] walden [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Middle School Mathematics, Bible 7
DayeAnn Walden joined the middle school team at AACS as the mathematics teacher in 2010. DayeAnn earned a Bachelor’s degree from Spring Arbor University. After growing up with a family full of teachers and witnessing firsthand the many lives they influenced, she knew that teaching was her desire as well. DayeAnn taught in Ohio before getting married and moving to Michigan. Most recently, she has been a substitute in Oakland County. She loves having fun outdoors, water skiing, snowboarding, playing volleyball, and camping. She and her husband are members of NorthRidge Church. DayeAnn is happy to be part of the AACS family and excited at the opportunity to share and grow in faith with the students.
Mark Wiersma mark [dot] wiersma [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Middle School Science, Bible Teacher
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 is a member at Knox Presbyterian Church.
Claudia Hile claudia [dot] hile [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Middle School Spanish Teacher
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.
Amanda Boelter mandy [dot] boelter [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, K-8 Physical Education Teacher, Middle School Math
Part of AACS since 2008, Amanda Boelter originally taught 5th to 8th grade math and 7th grade Bible. In fall of 2009, she also assumed K-8 physical education teaching responsibilities. This year, she will continue as the physical education teacher and will be teaching two accelerated math courses in the middle school. 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 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. She and her family attend Christ the King Lutheran Church in Southgate. Her son attends preschool at AACS.
Wendi Mansfield omega [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Childcare Director
Wendi joined the staff this fall as our new Childcare Director. In this role, she spearheads our After School Program for Preschool 4 to Grade 8 (Kindergarten Aftercare and Omega). She is excited to share her knowledge and experience in Early Childhood with the school community. She has over 15 years of experience in working with children ages 0-12. She has taught pre-school, supervised two “before and after” school programs, served as a long-term substitute for three different grade levels, and was the lead teacher for a kindergarten enrichment program. She received her undergraduate degree and teacher certification from Madonna University and is currently working towards her Master’s in Education. She is married and the mother of one preschool-aged child. She and her family currently attend NorthRidge Church in Brighton.
Tammy Schoenfeldt tammy [dot] schoenfeldt [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, K-8 Music Teacher
Tammy Schoenfeldt joined the staff as music teacher at AACS in the fall of 2010. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Butler University and continued graduate work at Wayne State University. She has several years of classroom experience in both instrumental and general music. She continues to be the Worship Director at First United Methodist Church of Saline where she and her family are members. Tammy is also a member and assistant director of the Saline New Horizons Band and a member of the Saline Big Band. She and her husband, Richard, have been married for 28 years. They have two children Scott, age 22 and Kaitie, age 19.
Wayne Sit head [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Head of School
Wayne Sit joined the staff in 2010 as the new Head of School. He received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Harvard University and his Master’s in Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He and his family moved from Boston to Howell in 2009. While in Boston, he taught at the Buckingham Browne & Nichols School and was later part of the starting of Boston Trinity Academy in 2002, the only evangelical middle/high school in the city of Boston. During this 16 years in education, he has been a middle school teacher, as well as the academic dean and director of technology at Boston Trinity. He and his wife, Wendy, have been married for ten years. They have three young daughters (two attend AACS) and attend Knox Presbyterian Church. Wayne loves the AACS community and its desire to continue being an excellent school for Christ.
Susie Sulkowski ad [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Athletic Director
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 athletics.
Arienne Zimmerman arienne [dot] zimmerman [at] annarborchristian [dot] org, Art Teacher
Arienne Zimmerman joined AACS as the art teacher in 2010. She aspired to become an art teacher at a very young age, as her mother is also an art teacher. She attended the University of Toledo and graduated with a Bachelors degree in art education at the top of her class. Arienne moved to Milan, Michigan in the summer of 2009 when she married her husband Mark Zimmerman. Here, they opened up the Tree of Life Art Studio where Arienne creates, displays, and sells her artwork. They enjoy attending King’s Way Church in Ypsilanti, MI. In 2010, Arienne assisted in the opening of the Milan Art Center by working as the director of children’s programming and as an instructor. Previously, Arienne was a substitute teacher for Washtenaw county schools and volunteered as an art instructor at the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living. Her experience has allowed her to teach and work with students displaying a full spectrum of ability levels.