PROVIDENCE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL - Key Persons
Hi, my name is Alex Paul and this is my 4th year teaching at Providence. After completing my Bachelor's Degree at Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo I moved to Fairview, Alberta to work for 2 years. Before making the decision to return to Ontario and pursue my teacher career, I attended Tauernhof Bible School in Schladming, Austria. I am passionate about sports (especially basketball) and enjoy playing the guitar. My passion in teaching is seeing students grow as they hone their gifts and learn how to use them for serving the Lord.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
I'm Angeline VanderBoom and have been working in Christian School finance since 2010. I was excited to join the PCS team in 2019 and bring my experience from many other Christian Schools to the finance office here. I currently also serve Guelph Community Christian School and Ambassadors Christian School (Ottawa) as financial administrator and thoroughly enjoy the working environment and teams that I am a part of. I am a wife, and mom of 3 grown children, and in my spare time I enjoy photography, music, and hiking.
My name is Brittany DeGelder, I am an Educational Assistant/PSW at Providence. Before coming to Providence I graduated from Mohawk College with an Educational Support Diploma. From there I worked for a year for the Hamilton Catholic School Board. I have been at Providence for 5 years now and love finding new and exciting ways to teach children with special needs.
Hello! My name is Carla Alblas, and this is my 7th year teaching at PCS. I began teaching grade 5 in Jarvis over 20 years ago, and after staying at home for several years to raise my 4 children and working for 2 years at the Ontario Alliance of Christian Schools , I am thrilled to be back in the classroom again! I enjoy creating classroom spaces that are comfortable and flexible for students, and I am passionate about making learning meaningful for everyone. I am grateful to be able to help students discover and embrace their gifts for a life of service beyond their time at PCS!
My name is Daniel Hagen. I have spent my entire 20 year teaching career here at Providence Christian School. The majority of my 20 years have been in grade 8 helping prepare PCS graduates for the next stage in their education journey. I enjoy teaching students a love for God's Word and for sports. I have a heart for coaching and take pride in the athletic program here at PCS. Go Panthers!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hi! I'm Dave Brouwer; this is my 5th year at Providence Christian School after teaching ten at Cambridge Christian School. I love Christ and learning, and I seek to pass both passions on to my students. I've attended Redeemer UC, McMaster University, Dordt College, and Calvin College to develop my gifts in teaching and leadership. It's a pleasure getting to know this community as a school supporter, to lead students in the discovery of their gifts as a teacher, and to support staff in their work as a vice-principal.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
My name is Emily Naves and I am excited to be an educational assistant at Providence this year! I graduated from Mohawk College with a diploma in early childhood education and I love getting to work with children and see them learn. I look forward to all the connections I will be able to make with the children as I work with them. In my spare time I love reading and spending time with friends and family.
Job Titles:
- Guidance Counselor
- Counsellor
Hi, I'm Emma! I am the School Counsellor at PCS. While this is my first year at PCS as a staff member, PCS has been my community since I started here in my SK year… many, many moons ago. I am loving the opportunity to get to know all the students, while also advocating for mental health and wellness for our students and community! I live in Hamilton with my husband and our son. In my spare time, you can find me reading, playing games or playing outside with my family!
I have been connected to PCS for almost 32 years. First as a classroom teacher, then a parent, supply teacher, EA, and for the last number of years as the learning resource teacher. I love working in small learning groups and encouraging students to be all that God has made them to be. My husband Ted and I enjoy spending time with our three girls, two son-in-laws, and three grandsons and in my spare time I enjoy making cards.
I get the opportunity to work with the oldest group of learners this year, and so I'm excited to share the year together. I have been a teacher since the TV show Glee premiered, and I still feel this work is such a blessing. My hope is that I can return a portion of that blessing to the students and to the staff. Before becoming a teacher, I spent a number of years helping to build and renovate houses. Now, I enjoy spending my down-time working with wood, but, to be clear, I have never built, nor do I own, a charcuterie board.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hi, my name is Jennifer Cole and this is my third year with the Providence crew. I get the privilege of teaching music to most of the school, and hopefully spreading all of the joy that comes with it. You will find me here on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesday mornings. When I'm not teaching music at Providence you can usually find me involved in some musical endeavor somewhere else. I have had a ton of amazing opportunities throughout my life from singing with Jazz bands, to orchestras, to a campfire not far from your own backyard. Worshiping the King with the gifts He's bestowed is what I hope to instill in all of the children I am gifted with. I have already been blessed by this community, and I look forward to all that the future yet holds!!
Hi, I'm Jessica and I am excited to once again be on staff at PCS. I am married to Paul and we have four children - all of whom have now graduated from PCS. Over the years I have worked with children in a variety of ways: as an elementary and high school teacher, as an EA, as a children's ministry coordinator and as a foster parent. It is an honour to be a part of the team at PCS encouraging children to develop and use the gifts and abilities that God has given them. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, going for walks and baking.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Directors
Hi! I'm Justin Versteeg. I'm the grade 6 teacher and one of the vice principals here at school. I'm the guy you see before and after school helping the students get off and on the bus safely. After teacher's college, I taught for a year in Charlottetown and then taught for four years in Bowmanville before I began teaching here. I've been teaching at Providence for 13 years. I enjoy playing guitar and helping to lead our school's praise team. I love sharing with students what their role as image reflectors means to the daily walk with the Lord.
I am Karen Wilson and I have been a teacher in Christian education since 2007. I joined the PCS crew in 2023 in the resource department. Being able to help children recognize their unique gifts from God and to help them reach their full potential gives me joy! Outside of school, I find joy in spending time with my husband and three children, and spending time outside enjoying God's creation.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
I am Kevin Bouwers and I have had the privilege of leading at this school for 12 years. My favourite thing about PCS is the wonderful community. In my 20 years in education I have seen the positive result of a good partnership between the home and school. PCS is a place where our passions for faith, for children and for education truly entwine.
My name is Kevin Stevens and this is my 2nd year here Providence Christian School (as a full staff member); I did one of my teaching placements here 7 years ago while I was attending Redeemer University. I taught grade 7/8 for 5 years and one year at Woodland Christian High School. I love being able to share how everything on our planet points towards our Creator! I've always experienced this most out in nature seeing how the order and design in creation all works together. When I am not in the classroom, I love being outdoors as often as I can!
Hi! My name is Lindsay DeKoning and I am excited and grateful to be a part of the PCS team as an Educational Assistant! Throughout the past 13 years, I have worked part time in numerous Christian schools in the area; as a JK teacher, supply teacher and supply EA. My husband Kyle and I have four children and we enjoy watching them play their various activities. I am passionate about leading worship, caring for children and love to play a variety of sports!
Hi my name is Lynn Smith and I am an Educational Assistant at Providence. Prior to working here, I spent many years working in the Catholic School system. I am really enjoying being in this wonderful, caring school setting assisting students and working with this incredible staff. I have my Early Childhood Education Diploma from Sheridan College as well as a B.A. in Social Sciences from McMaster University. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me". Philippians 4:13.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of the Board of Directors
My name is Sarah Shields. This is my 5th year at PCS as the Activity Day kindergarten teacher. I really enjoy helping introduce and prepare our new young students for kindergarten. When not at school, you can find me volunteering with youth programs at church, or curled up with a good book or even bent over a puzzle at the dining room table - the more pieces the better! My heart and passions in life are in serving the Lord and our communities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Sydnie is a therapy dog that has recently been invited to work at PCS. Sydnie has been working in elementary schools since 2019, and even though she hasn't said it directly, PCS is her favourite place to work. One of Sydnie's role will be to help students regulate their emotions, but she is also willing to be a main character in any student's short story. When Sydnie is not working, she loves to find and eat apples from under the apple tree.
I am Teresa Bouwers and I am teaching grade four this year. I have been involved with PCS over the last thirteen years as a supply teacher, as a mom, and on the Fundraising Committee, especially Springfest. So being able to work here is an amazing opportunity. The last eight years I have spent time at Calvin Christian School, Hamilton where I worked as an EA throughout various grades. I attended Redeemer University many, many years ago and graduated with a Bachelors of Christian Education. My deep hope for my Grade 4 Mountain Climbers is for them to feel safe, wholly loved by God and have mountain top experiences while we work alongside each other. We will find joy in our relationship with God, His creation and His created order as we explore and develop their God given gifts.