ANN ARBOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - Key Persons
Hailing from Holland, Michigan, Abbie-Jo brings over 20 years' experience teaching PreK-12 music in both public and private schools in Minnesota and Michigan. She earned a BA in Humanities from Hope College where she played French horn. During her time in Minnesota, she conducted and started various children's choirs, taught both private piano and horn lessons, and played in a church orchestra. For 10 years, Abbie-Jo was the Musical Director for AACS Theater Club. She currently attends The Naz in Brighton and plays with the worship team in addition to being a guest French hornist for area churches.
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.
Job Titles:
- Art & Extended School Coordinator
Arienne 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 at the top of her class. Her diverse prior teaching experience has allowed her to teach and work with students displaying a full spectrum of ability levels. For Arienne, Christian education is important because it strengthens students' faith and understanding of how God plays a crucial role in all things that we do and in all subject areas. School not only shapes a child's mind, but also their heart. She lives in Ypsilanti and attends NorthRidge Church.
Becca attended Eastern Michigan University and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts with Teaching Certification. Upon graduation, she taught art at a K-8 school in Ypsilanti for 8 years. She took a break from teaching when her two boys were born. Once her children started attending AACS, she quickly fell in love with the community and soon joined the staff as an academic support team member. She enjoys serving the school in a variety of ways. Becca, her husband, and two sons attend Calvary Bible Church and live in Whitmore Lake.
Job Titles:
- Spiritual Life Coordinator
Helping children not merely know about God but connect personally with Him is Becky's passion. She loves finding ways to nurture students' faith and to support teachers as they help students on their faith journey. Working with the Middle School Praise Band/Team as they help lead chapel worship brings her great joy. She has been on staff with AACS since 1995, first as the 5th grade teacher and then moving to the role of Spiritual Life Coordinator. She loves the Christ-centered, denominationally diverse, and loving community found at AACS. Becky and her husband Tom are members of University Lutheran Church in downtown Ann Arbor.
Job Titles:
- Physical Education & Health, Athletic Director
Bryan brings his love of physical health and athletics to AACS. He attended Dordt College in Iowa, where he played baseball for four years. At Dordt, he earned his B.A. in Elementary Education with a minor in Physical Education, along with certification in middle school mathematics and social studies. Over the past eight years, he has coached football, basketball, cross country, baseball, and softball. He loves watching students use their God-given athletic gifts and developing them over the span of their school careers. Bryan and his wife attend Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church and live in Pinckney.
Caroline serves as a social worker consultant to Ann Arbor Christian School through our partnership with All Belong. She has been in the social work field for the last 10 years, with a focus on intervention with children, trauma therapy and diagnostics, and school social work. She looks forward to learning and growing with one another in providing loving, holistic, Christ-centered mental health services to students so they are able to thrive in every aspect of their lives.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Heidi first joined the AACS family in 2008 when her oldest child entered 3rd grade. All three of the Eliason children went on to graduate from AACS with the final graduation in 2019. Heidi is excited to be back at AACS serving the school in a different capacity. AACS provided a wonderful community for their family and all have lifelong friendships. Heidi and her husband will be forever grateful for the years their children attended AACS.
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.
Job Titles:
- Kindergarten Teacher Aide
Jeanne was born and raised in Holland, MI and attended public schools her whole life. After moving to Ann Arbor, she worked in the Ann Arbor Public Schools as a parapro in a Special Education class for 4 years. When she and her husband decided to send their 3 children to AACS, her entire family fell in love with the school. Jeanne joined our staff as a part-time aide in the aftercare program in 2015. Outside of school, she has co-directed a women's Bible study program (Coffee Break), taught Sunday School, and is currently the GEMS coordinator for 2nd-5th grade girls at the Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church.
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Teacher
- Consultant to
Jenna serves as a teacher consultant to Ann Arbor Christian School through our partnership with All Belong. Jenna brings a wealth of knowledge and practical resources to support our students and help AACS provide Christ centered education to students with learning differences and create places of belonging for all students. In the past she has served as an Educational Support Services director, Special Education teacher, and as a teacher in middle school and elementary classrooms.
Job Titles:
- Preschool & Aftercare Director
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.
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.
Julie fell in love with teaching during her senior year of college. During her student teaching experience, she realized that her love for literature and writing, and her love for teenagers, combined perfectly for a career in teaching. Her desire for all students is that they develop a love for reading, and more importantly, that they grow in their love and knowledge of God. Julie, her husband, and her three young-adult children live in Ypsilanti and attend Knox Presbyterian Church.
Karen has been a part of Ann Arbor Christian for over 25 years, as a parent, substitute teacher, and kindergarten teacher. Though she had to leave the school community when her husband accepted a job placement overseas, her love for AACS and her commitment to Christian education remained strong. Karen began serving on the school's Board of Directors while living overseas. Returning from the overseas assignment, Karen returned to her home in Dexter, her home church at Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church, and also joins the middle school team as a support to teachers and students.
Starting in 2001, Kellie was a teacher at AACS for 9 years and then stepped away to be home with her growing family. Kellie remained closely connected to AACS in many ways, including substitute teaching and serving on the school board for 5 years. She has also enjoyed her role as an AACS parent as her own children have embarked on their educational journeys here! She was thrilled to rejoin the staff in 2020. Kellie resides in Whitmore Lake with her husband Paul and their two sons. They are members of Ann Arbor Christian Reformed Church.
With over 25 years of teaching experience, Kirstin brings a love of all things middle school (particularly the students), her energetic personality, her passion for developing excellent reading and writing skills, new technology skills in digital teaching to our middle school community. Above that is her passion for learning about God and teaching students about God's truths in the classroom. She and her husband live in Ann Arbor and attend NorthRidge Church. They have 3 adult daughters and are grandparents.
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.
After graduating from Ohio State Lisa moved to Ann Arbor ("enemy territory" as she called it) to be with her high school sweetheart and eventual husband, Shawn. Now they have two boys who attend AACS and are excited to see how God will grow the school in future years. When her youngest came to AACS she felt a calling to start working again part-time and was excited when an opportunity came to be a part of our academic support team almost 3 years ago! Lisa enjoys planning ALL the things, organizing, and traveling. Lisa's family attends Dexter United Methodist Church.
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.
Manuela is so thankful to be joining AACS! She moved back to Michigan (where she is originally from) 2 years ago after living overseas for more than 25 years. She speaks 4 languages: English, Swiss, German, and Arabic. She and her husband have 4 amazing children. Manuela loves to play the piano, sing, and lead worship. Her passion is to each children music and is looking forward to seeing all that God has planned for this year!
Job Titles:
- Second Grade & Elementary Lead Teacher
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.
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.
Job Titles:
- Director of Engineering at Bosch
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.
Mike attended Washtenaw Community College for a time and then changed directions and was hired as an Instructors Assistant in their auto body shop. He accepted Christ on January 10, 2011, at 22 years old at Camp Barakel and attends Calvary Bible Church in Ypsilanti. He teaches Sunday school and is an AWANA leader. He loves to serve, and this position has opened a great opportunity to serve the staff, kids, and families every day. He lives in Dexter with his two sons, and if not at work he is with them out in the woods on their mountain bikes. Mike is also an amateur blacksmith.
Job Titles:
- Curriculum Director & Student Support Coordinator
Involved in education for over 30 years including public school teaching, private school teaching, reading intervention, and university level teaching, Renee joined the staff of AACS as the fourth grade teacher in 2009. Renee is now our Curriculum Director, overseeing the school's curricular offerings and academic programs. She and her husband are members of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and have four children.
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.
Tama began her career teaching middle school mathematics and language arts while her husband, Mike, was attending seminary. After his graduation they moved to Ann Arbor. They are the parents of six children, all of whom graduated from AACS. Tama loves seeing students' progress in their analytical, reasoning, and problem-solving skills and use of various strategies to tackle challenging math problems. Tama's husband Mike is a retired Associate Pastor from Knox Presbyterian; they are currently serving at Restoration Outreach Ministries.
Tami first came to AACS as a parent. She also served on the board, was a substitute teacher, and taught a math elective. Tami's love for AACS led to her joining the middle school team. She has been teaching math in some capacity for the last 20 years. She loves the challenge of teaching a subject that can be some students' least favorite and most challenging class. She loves to see a student grow and learn to love math. Tami and her husband have two sons and attend Knox Presbyterian Church.
Ty and his family have been AACS supporters since his son entered the school in 2010. In 2022, Ty brings his forty-five year passion for God's Word to 6th Grade Bible learners. He has enjoyed coaching many sports in various communities and school settings over the years, including AACS baseball and flag football since 2021. Ty's weekdays are spent at the University of Michigan where he designs the telecommunications cabling and facility infrastructures. He and his family attend Ypsilanti Free Methodist Church and are active in leading small groups, community meals, and KidZone.
Wayne Sit, Head of School since 2010, fell in love with teaching during his junior year at Harvard. During his 27 years in education, he has been a middle school teacher, as well as the academic dean and director of technology at Boston Trinity. Wayne loves the AACS community and its desire to continue being an excellent school for Christ in the greater Ann Arbor area. He and his wife have five children, three who currently attend AACS, and are members of Knox Presbyterian Church.