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Administration & Office Staff

Wayne Sit, Head of School
B.A., Psychology, Harvard University; M.Ed., Elementary Education, Lesley University; Graduate of the Van Lunen Center for Executive Management at Calvin University
Wayne Sit, Head of School since 2010, fell in love with teaching during his junior year at Harvard. During his 28 years in education, he has been a middle school teacher, as well as the academic dean and director of technology at Boston Trinity Academy. Wayne loves the AACS community and its desire to continue being an excellent school for Christ in the greater Ann Arbor area. He is particularly passionate about the school’s expansion into high school grades to have a greater impact for God in the community. He and his wife have five children, three who currently attend AACS, and are members of Knox Presbyterian Church.

Cheri Lubbers, Administrative Manager
B.A., Business Administration, Calvin College
Cheri Lubbers has been a part of the AACS community since its organization back in 1986. In the school’s early years, she was involved in a variety of volunteer positions, inside and outside of the classroom. One of her favorite things to do was to listen from the hallway as each class began with morning devotion time. She was hired to staff the main office in January 2003, the year the school moved to the current building. Cheri and her husband Mark are the parents of three adult daughters, all of whom graduated from AACS. She and her husband are members of Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church.

Jan Musch, Finance Manager
B.A., Music, Calvin College
Among the founders of AACS, Jan and her husband have been involved with the school since 1986. She formally joined the staff in 1994 as Administrative Assistant and made the transition to Finance Manager when the school occupied its new building in 2003. In addition, Jan also regularly helps the school as a piano accompanist for various school events. Jan and her husband have three adult sons, the youngest of whom attended AACS and are members of Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, where Jan is on staff as the organist.

Renee McKeone, Curriculum Director & Student Support Coordinator
B.S., Elementary Science, Eastern Michigan University; M.A., Curriculum & Instruction, Eastern Michigan University

Becky Johnson, Spiritual Life Coordinator
B.S., Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University

Brian Baird, High School Planning Coordinator
B.A., Psychology, University of Michigan; Teaching Certification, Eastern Michigan University; M.A., Mathematics, Northeastern Illinois University
With 30+ years of high school experience (including leadership roles, committees, and working closely with the counseling department to support students with their mental health) and often praised as one of the best teachers at Dexter High School, Brian will bring invaluable insights to the planning of our new high school. Brian says, “To help shape a school and a culture is about the biggest dream a life-long teacher could ask for!” Brian and his wife attend 2|42 Community Church in Ann Arbor.

Heidi Eliason, PR/Development Assistant
B.S., Nursing, Bethel University; MSN, Nursing, Vanderbilt University

Mike Myers, Building Manager
Bachelor Studies, Washtenaw Community College
Preschool

Jennifer Bryson, Preschool & Aftercare Director
B.A., Psychology, Calvin College; M.S.W., Social Work, Michigan State University
Jennifer became the first AACS Preschool teacher in 2009 and has seen the program grow over the years. Previously, she 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 about the world that God created. Residing in Dexter, Jennifer and her husband attend Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church. Her two children are both graduates of AACS.

Dawn Geldermans, Preschool Teacher Aide
Dawn Geldermans was born and raised in Grand Rapids where she went to Christian schools and attended Calvin College. She has a heart for Christian education and has been involved with AACS since it was founded. She has a passion for working with children, seeing their creativity, and zest for life, and watching them develop into the person God created them to be. She served in numerous roles during the years that her children attended AACS – helping in the classroom and library, various committees, and preparing and serving lunch. Dawn and her husband Arnie attend the Ann Arbor Christian Reform church and have four adult children, all of whom are AACS alumni.

Arpi Arkoussian, Preschool Teacher Aide
Undergraduate Certificate (CDA Credential Prep), Penn Foster College; Early Childhood Education, Khatcher Kalousdian Pedagogical Center (Beirut, Lebanon)

Christina Stoller, Preschool Teacher Aide
B.A., Sports Management, Minor in Bible, Cedarville University
After growing up in a Christian school, Christina knew she wanted to be involved in Christian education as an adult. After graduating from Cedarville University, she moved to Michigan when she married her husband, Chad. When it came time to find a school for their two children, they fell in love with AACS after the initial tour and knew it would be a perfect fit. Christina has spent many years coaching young children and is now taking her love of teaching into the classroom. When she is not spending time at AACS she enjoys leading women’s ministries at 2|42 Community Church or following her passion for sports!
Kindergarten

Keri Louwerse, Kindergarten
B.S., Elementary Education, Northern Illinois University; M.A., Education: Curriculum & Instruction, Cornerstone University

Jeanne Palmbos, Kindergarten Teacher Aide
B.A., Spanish, Grand Valley State University
Elementary

Mary Admiraal, First Grade
B.A., Elementary Education, Taylor University
With 14 years of teaching experience in lower elementary classrooms at public and Christian schools in Michigan and Indiana, Mary is a seasoned teacher. A member of the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, she is known by many staff members and families who speak highly about her love of children and her faith in Christ. In the past, she has also served as her church’s children’s ministry director, youth director, church camp counselor, VBS director, Sunday school teacher, and church nursery caregiver. She is passionate about faith formation in the lives of children.

Laura Bougher, First Grade Teacher Aide
B.A., English, Minor in Elementary Education; Currently pursuing a Master's in Curriculum & Instruction with a Reading Emphasis at Eastern Michigan University
During Laura’s early years of college, she volunteered at Military Ave Church in Detroit in their homework program for struggling students. That is where she decided to become a teacher. With over a decade of experience in the classroom, including public and private schools, and her time at Wayne State University, she brings experience that benefits both students and stuff at AACS. Laura has been a parent at AACS since 2014. She, along with her husband and four children, attend Antioch Community Church.

Margaret Mayoros, Second Grade & Elementary Lead Teacher
B.A., English Literature and Education & Post Graduate Certificate of Education, Elementary Education, Digby Stuart College, University of Surrey

Stacy Charlton, Third Grade
B.A., Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University; M.A., Reading Instruction, Eastern Michigan University
Stacy is thrilled to be joining the AACS family. She loves reading and seeing children become avid readers. Stacy taught for several years in a public school before taking time off to be home with her children. Recently, she taught at a Christian school and loves being able to share God’s word with her students. Stacy and her husband live in Chelsea and have three children. They are members of Immanuel Bible Church. She feels it a great privilege to serve at AACS and be surrounded by a community who seeks to know and love Christ deeply.

Kellie Steen, Second & Third Grade Mathematics
B.A., Elementary Education, Calvin University (formerly Calvin College)

Michelle Harris, Fourth Grade
B.A., Elementary Education and Special Education, Lewis Clark State College
Michelle feels that teaching is her specific call from God. She cares deeply about helping children grow deep in their walk with the Lord as they learn about His created world. Previously, Michelle taught at Washtenaw Christian Academy and in other private Christian and public schools. Michelle grew up in Idaho and has taught in Washington and Oregon. She and her family moved to Michigan in 2005. Her husband, Philip, is the pastor at Canton Calvary Assembly of God and their son, Austin, attends North Point Bible College in Grand Rapids.

Timothy Sliekers, Fifth Grade
B.A., Elementary Education, Trinity Christian College; M.ED., Lakeland College
Timothy fell in love with teaching between semesters in his first year of college when he worked with 2nd graders in a Christian school in downtown Chicago. Now with over two decades of teaching experience, mainly in upper elementary and middle school at Christian schools, Timothy and his wife came to AACS from Illinois. Timothy’s Master’s thesis topic was on the transition from fifth grade to sixth grade in small private schools. Timothy’s faith background is in the Christian Reformed Church, but he most recently attended a Lutheran church.

Julie Simons, Fourth & Fifth Grade Mathematics
B.S.E., Chemical Engineering, Princeton University
Julie has tutored in mathematics at all levels for 7 years, and served as a substitute teacher in Dexter Community Schools for the past 4 years, where most recently she was a premier substitute for third and fourth grade. In addition, she has worked as a curriculum writer for a special education curriculum, creating several units of Algebra II lessons and lesson plans. Julie has always had a passion for math education and is excited to pass on her excitement for math to the fourth and fifth graders at AACS. Julie and her family live attend Grace Bible Church, where their family serves in children’s ministry.
Middle School

Kirstin Boettcher, Language Arts & Social Studies
B.A., History, Eastern Michigan University; M.A., History, Eastern Michigan University

Tama Frison, Mathematics
B.S., Business Administration (Marketing), Miami University; Secondary Mathematics Education, Xavier University

Tami Michele, Mathematics & Bible
B.A., Secondary Education, Mathematics, and Economics, Calvin College

Julie Straight, Bible, History, Language Arts & Middle School Lead Teacher
B.A., English and Secondary Education, James Madison University

Mary Wiland, Science
B.A., Biology and Psychology; Oakland University; M.A., Biology, University of Michigan
Mary first joined the AACS family as a parent when her oldest child entered 5th grade. Mary’s experience as an educator spans 3 decades, most recently teaching high school mathematics at Washtenaw Technical Middle College and college-level math and biology at Washtenaw Community College. She has also traveled with her husband to Burundi in East Africa to minister to a team of medical missionaries. Mary is especially excited to pursue her passion for teaching science and Bible from a Christian perspective at AACS.

Karen Eekhoff, Middle School Support
B.A., Special Education, Calvin College

Ty Anderson, Sixth Grade Bible
B.S., History, Political Science, and Secondary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Specials

Daniela Chacón-Beltran, Elementary Spanish
B.A., Spanish, French, and TESOL, Eastern Michigan University
Daniela is joining the AACS family while getting her degree in Spanish & French Teaching as well as TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She is originally from Colombia and loves languages and language learning. For as long as she can remember, she has dreamed of becoming a teacher as she comes from a family of educators. She believes teaching is the greatest of all professions: without it no other professions could come to life. Daniela believes that a AACS is a wonderful place for kids to learn about their Almighty God while they learn about the beauty of the Spanish language.

Anilú Seromik, Sixth Grade Spanish
Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades, Durango, Mexico; Eastern Michigan University
Born and raised in Mexico, where most of her family still reside, Anilú is excited to join the AACS community. She has taught Spanish at the elementary and junior high levels for over 25 years in several area schools. As a certified grief counselor, she also has the privilege to work with women and children in difficult situations, and she has led several mission trips to impoverished parts of Honduras. She and her husband are members of Christ the King Catholic Church.

Magaly Nagpal, Middle School Spanish
University of San Carlos de Guatemala
Magaly is a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala. Her background is in Psychology and Child Development and she is a certified vocational and educational counselor. She worked as a Montessori Master teacher for ten years, as well as a Spanish teacher at the Rudolf Steiner High School in Ann Arbor for ten years. She loves teaching Spanish and sharing Latin American history, culture, and Christian values. She and her husband Mohit are members of Saint Francis of Assisi in Ann Arbor, and she has been a member of the Coffee Break Ministry at the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church for nine years.

Bryan Diemer, K-8 Physical Education & Health, Athletic Director
B.S., Elementary Education, Dordt College

Manuela Mansour, K-8 Music
B.A., Music Education and Classical Piano Performance, Zurich Music Conservatory (Switzerland)

Abbie-Jo Wilcox, Middle School Band
B.A., Humanities, Hope College

Arienne Zimmerman, K-8 Art & Extended School Coordinator
B.A., Fine Art and Education, University of Toledo
Learning Support

Antoinette Naab, Learning Specialist
B.A., Elementary Education, Michigan State University; M.A., Teaching & Curriculum, Reading Specialist, Michigan State University
Antoinette has aspired to be a teacher since 1st grade. She has 10+ years of teaching experience, ranging from pre-k through 8th grade in both public and charter schools. She is very excited to teach in a Christ-centered environment. Since each child is uniquely made by God, she utilizes students’ strengths to motivate students to create individualized plans for them to reach their full potential. She, along with her husband and two children, attend University Lutheran Chapel in Ann Arbor.

Becca Arnold, Elementary & Middle School Academic Support
B.F.A., Eastern Michigan University, Teaching Certification

Lisa Hawley, Elementary Academic Support
B.A., Human Resources; Minor, Early Childhood Education; Ohio State University

Caroline Wiersma, Social Worker Consultant
B.A., Psychology and Communication Arts, Northpark University; M.S.W., Western Michigan University; Certifications in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-DBT), Child Welfare Institute, and Trauma Across the Lifespan

Jenna Zemaitis, Teacher Consultant
B.S., Psychology and Education, Grand Valley State University; K-8 Elementary Education Certificate; Endorsements in Cognitive Impairment and Emotional Impairment