BELLINGHAM CHRISTIAN - Key Persons
"It's my reminder that we are so loved and it's my hope for my students, that they know they are deeply loved," said Alison.
Mrs. Sokol graduated from Lynden High School in 2006 and Central Washington University in 2011. She graduated with a B.A. in Education and a minor in music.
Alyssa uses her spiritual gifts of encouragement and teaching to point kids towards Jesus. She likes sunshine, prayer & coffee, friends, a good laugh, worship, and watching football. She is married to "the best man ever" and has a young son who characterizes BCS as his second home. She is passionate about prayer and foster care, and her hobbies include being in Creation with her family, reading, enjoying the throttle on any engine, gardening, and cooking.
Her favorite verse comes from the words of Jesus in John 15, "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
"I am so blessed to be a part of a community that strives to know God, abide in Him, and bring Him glory. Jesus is the best thing about me. I see Him everywhere. Each day is a fresh, new gift that I am determined to steward wisely as I seek to obey Him. I am amazed-again and again-by the faithfulness of God, the depth of His love, and His sweet, sweet grace. Jesus's steadfast light brings me hope amidst dark days and seasons. May He become greater and I become less!" Alyssa reflected about her walk with the LORD.
Alyssa first started at BCS in 2005. She attended Western Washington University and graduated with a BA in Education. She has taught middle school (5th-8th) before serving as Director of Discipleship.
"I strive for this, and fall short, but it's still where I want to be. Also, Luke 15:11-32 is the story of the Prodigal Son and it moves me almost every time I read it. The depth of God's love for me, for us, for anyone no matter what, is so unfathomable and that story really speaks to me as I look at my own kids from the perspective of a father. Then I realize I am the child that goes the wrong way… and God loves me the whole time," explained Mr. Lewis.
Andy graduated from WWU with a BA in Geography/Social Studies and has a Post-Bac in K-8 Education.
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 3rd / 4th Grade
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board
Bonnie Cunningham joined the BCS team in 2016. She teaches a multiage class of third and fourth graders.
Outside of her passion to teach, Bonnie enjoys long walks, cooking new recipes and spending time with her family. Give her some dark chocolate, sunshine and a garden and you'll see her smile! Her husband Shawn, is also in education and they consider it a privilege to both be serving on the BCS team. Together, they have two daughters and one son. Each of them graduated from BCS and their youngest is currently attending LC.
Bonnie's favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Simple trust in the goodness of her Heavenly Father and giving him all control is a daily focus for her. "There's nothing sweeter than being called a child of the most high God…may all the glory go to Him!"
Bonnie graduated from WWU with a BA in communication and elementary education. Over the years, she has taught kindergarten through fifth grade in Bellingham Public Schools as well as at Bridgeway Christian Academy.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- President of the Board
Miss Brink joined the BCS team in 2021 as an Instructional Assistant on the Kindergarten team. Miss Brink was born in China. She was raised in China and Lynden, WA. She graduated from Crown College in Powell, TN with a Bachelor of Elementary Education. Miss Brink has a heart to work with young children. When she's not working at BCS, she enjoys hanging out with friends, playing Ultimate Frisbee, attending Bible study with other young people and young adults, and game night at church.
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 5th / 6th Grade
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Enrollment Coordinator
- Enrollment Coordinator Works Out of Our Sunset Campus Office
Chantel Miller serves as our Enrollment Coordinator. She tours new families and helps them complete the registration process. Chantel was a BCS parent, served on the BCS board and has worked for the BCS Foundation.
A few of his hobbies are singing in his truck, running with the stroller, planting, and decorating his home. "Being home is relaxing, and this usually includes ice cream and a show," says Mr. Lewis.
His family lives in eastern Washington and Georgia. "We recently moved out to Ferndale to be in a family-friendly neighborhood as we grow our family. Sherri and I appreciate the mountain views, sidewalks, and slower pace out in the county, but we also love the venues and parks in Bellingham too."
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Treasurer of the Board
I'm delighted to join the team at Bellingham Christian, in the capacity of principal, January 2022! To say this is a major twist (or u-turn!) on the road for me and my family would be an understatement. Two months ago we were still planning to move halfway across the world to my hometown of Perth, Western Australia to take up a principal position at my alma mater. However, due to a number of COVID restrictions affecting our travel plans and a proposition from the BCS Board, we find ourselves following God's lead so I can take up a leadership role at BCS. We have experienced tangibly, God's providential hand guiding and directing even when we don't always understand. I believe God is sovereign over all things. Not a hair of our head can fall apart from His will. He orchestrates and directs all things for His good purposes. Sometimes providence can be hard, but ultimately God orchestrates those things for the good of His people, for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28).
While it still feels a little surreal, I'm excited by the mission and vision of BCS and I'm looking forward to partnering with Board members, faculty, and parents, as an instrument in God's hand, to support some exciting plans that are in the works at BCS.
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 1st / 2nd Grade
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 1st / 2nd Grade
Job Titles:
- & Instructional Assistant
Hang Guthrie teaches for 1st-4th grade. She and her husband have two children in High School.
Mrs. Guthrie enjoys treats like coffee and dark chocolate. In her spare time she bakes, crafts, plays volleyball, hikes and reads.
Her favorite verse is Zephaniah 3:17, "The lord your God is with you, the mighty warrior who saves, He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
She has a recreation degree from WWU.
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 5th / 6th Grade
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board
Janelle Berschauer joined the BCS middle school team in 2017 and began teaching High School classes in 2022.
She and her husband Patrick have four kids, who she has home-schooled and brought to BCS. She enjoys cheering her kids on in their various activities, hiking crocheting and visiting with friends. When she wants a treat, she might choose dark chocolate, Thai food or salted caramel, but no nuts.
Janelle has so many favorite verses, including Phil 4:6-7, Eph 3:14-19 and the many truths in the book of Daniel.
Mrs Berschauer graduated from SPU with a BA in math and secondary education. She has previously taught at Mukilteo M.S. and H.S., Bellingham HS and Squalicum HS.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Instructional Assistant - 5th / 6th Grade
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 5th / 6th Grade
Job Titles:
- 7th / 8th Grade - Bible Lead
Mrs. Klassen joined the 5/6 multi-age team in 2019. Her husband, also an educator, teaches woodshop and robotics and loves to play disc golf. Their two sons attend BCS. Mrs. Klassen loves to read, mountain bike, laugh, study scripture, cook (because she loves to eat), and play outside. She earned a bachelor's degree in English from Trinity Western University and a masters in teaching from Western Washington University. She began teaching in 2003 and has taught in both private and public settings. When her sons were young, she took a break from teaching in the classroom to teach online and to serve as her church's women's ministry director.
She finds daily joy and courage in the fact that she is God's child. One of her favorite verses is Romans 8:14-16: "For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!' The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God." She endeavors to bring this joy and sense of belonging into her classroom community. "Just as I want my students to know they are an important part of our classroom, I also want them to experience the love of their Heavenly Father and that they play an important role in his kingdom," states Mrs. Klassen.
Jill was born in Seattle and raised right here in Bellingham. She graduated from WWU with a BA in Speech Pathology. Jill loves Bellingham and the many trails and outdoor opportunities for running and hiking. She married her husband in 1990 and they have two children, Alexa and Zac, who both went through BCS K-8.
She began assisting Carrie Carter in preschool in 2003. That is where her deep love and passion for working with early childhood aged children began. In 2013 she took a job at Northlake Community Church as their nursery director. After working there for 5 years a position opened up at Evergreen to assist Cindy Vandergriend in preschool . Which brings her to where she is now! Jill absolutely loves her job of helping teachers as well as loving, nurturing, guiding and teaching children. " I am grateful to be a part of a school that desires to glorify God in all things, and whose aim is to teach kids to believe, grow and go, from as young as 3 all the way up through Highschool! It is a privilege and blessing to be a part of BCS! A special thanks to all those parents who allow us to speak into their children's lives."
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 1st / 2nd Grade
Joshua Ausfahl joined the 7/8 Teaching Team at BCS in 2021. He has been a parent of BCS students since 2016 with graduates in 2018 (Josiah), 2021 (Ezra) and one last one in 2024 (Micah)! His wife Heidi of 21+ years has been active in the BCS community.
He graduated from Cedarville University, OH with a BA in Math and also a BA in Christian Education/Youth. He also has an M.Div. from Northwest Baptist Seminary and has done some doctoral work specializing in ministry. Vocationally in full time ministry, Joshua has been a youth pastor in America from 1998-2001 and an associate pastor as a missionary in South Africa from 2004-2016 primarily working with youth. He pastored Baker Creek Bible Church from 2016-2021 before joining the BCS team full-time. His varied teaching experience began at Tacoma Baptist High School from 2001 to 2004 and then continued at Baptist Bible College of KZN over a decade while in South Africa. He also taught Bible at Bellingham Christian's High School in early 2021.
His passions outside full time ministry and teaching are the St. Louis Cardinals, frisbee (ultimate and disc golf), Whoppers from BK, and Cedar chai lattes from Woods. His favorite verses are Psalm 19:14 and Psalm 37:4 both of which center their focus on God and how He can guide desires, words and actions. He desires to push his students outside of their bubbles and see how God has loved the whole world and wants us to reach them.
Job Titles:
- Instructional Assistant - 5th / 6th Grade
Once a Washingtonian, always a Washingtonian. Growing up in Bellingham, Joy and her sister often played outside with the neighborhood children and built tree forts. They not only received strong academic support as students at Lynden Christian, but also formation of a Biblical worldview that has proven invaluable on her journey to adulthood. After graduating in 2002, she attended Trinity Western University where she finished two degrees in Education, History, and English. In 2019, she also completed her Masters in Teacher Leadership online through Dordt University.
Surprisingly her first teaching position took her to a public school in rural Tennessee near the Smoky Mountains. Over the next 5 years this adventure brought experience with first to third grade students, a close-knit school community, spiritual formation, and hikes amid fall colors.
The summer of 2013, Joy rejoined her family in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She has so much fun being an aunt, and close enough to play together! God also provided a wonderful year teaching in Evergreen Christian's preschool. Since then, at both Evergreen and then Bellingham Christian, she has enjoyed teaching third and fourth grade - a wonderful age for imagination, curiosity, and exploring creation together. She hopes her students will discover a love for learning, and a longing to follow Jesus with joyful hearts.
During her free time she enjoys singing in choir, hiking for a mountain view, reading children's literature, and snuggling with her kitties. The Lord has given her a love for studying his Word through Precept studies and growing with his people at Hillcrest Church. She is excited for the adventure ahead. Further up, and further in!
"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving!" (Psalm 28:7)
Julie enjoys spending time with her family, walking and beach combing for agates. She and her husband Steve married in 1992 and they have two young adult children. She is blessed to live near both sides of her extended family, all of which are excellent cooks, so they are often found celebrating life together over good food.
"What a privilege it is to work with our little ones! I love their smiles and bright enthusiasm as we get messy with art or we experience the excitement of writing and sharing our stories at carpet time. It brings me so much joy to see them learn and grow, but especially to see them grow in their knowledge of God and how much He loves them."
Her favorite verse is Isaiah 41:10. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." This verse reminds her to keep her eyes on Jesus and to rely on His strength to do what He has called her to do.
Julie attended Nooksack Valley High School and graduated from Pacific Lutheran University with a BA in elementary education. She taught preschool for four years before beginning her family. While her kids were at BCS she was a parent volunteer and did both short and long term sub positions before accepting a preschool position in 2015 followed by a kindergarten position in 2020.
Job Titles:
- 7th / 8th Grade & High School
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Vice - President of the Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Secretary of the Board
Job Titles:
- 7th / 8th Grade & High School
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director of Support Services
Job Titles:
- Member of the BCS School Board
- Member of the Board