MARIN CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bible Teacher / After School Director
Alex Feleo is a welcome addition as our bible teacher and, working as the after school director. He is a graduate of our Bible College, Christian Life International Bible College. He has also completed his AA from SRJC in Human Behavioral Sciences. Alex has been volunteering in our Children's Church ministry for the past 20 years and has been teaching Sunday school for 10 years. He has a passion to see children pursue their relationship with God. Alex previously worked in the banking sector for over 15 years, as a manager for 8 years. He has a deep passion for missions, has been to 8 different countries, and plans to go on more mission trips.
Amy Olhava has returned to MCA and is currently teaching 6th grade. She attended Patten University and Marin Bible College. Amy has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Liberal Studies for Teachers, with a minor in Biblical Studies. Previously, Amy taught 6th grade and ran the after school program at MCA. She taught kindergarten and first grade at Sonoma Valley Christian School. She has also served in youth and children's ministry for over 25 years. Amy loves teaching children the Word of God and seeing them grow in relationship with Him. She enjoys spending time with her husband of 20 years and her almost grown children.
Avi Fernandez is a former MCA graduate and grew up attending youth group and church at New Life Novato. The past four years she was a high school counselor at San Rafael High School and currently works as an Academic Counselor at College of Marin. She is also the assistant youth director at New Life Church Novato. She is bilingual in both English and Spanish and holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and PPS Credential from the University of San Francisco. She's excited to be joining the team at NB!
Bekah Thompson graduated from Liberty University with her BA in Elementary Education. She received her California teaching credential through the IMPACT program at Teachers College of San Joaquin. She has taught 8th, 5th, and now 4th grade. She moved to Novato from the Central Valley this last summer when God called her to make the move. She has a corgi dog named George who she loves doing outdoor activities with.
Brian Niehausen graduated from the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse where he double majored in K-12 Education and Spanish. He relocated to the Bay Area in 2011 and began his teaching career at NBCA. Since then, he has served as the Spanish Department Chair, Middle School Lead, and currently as High School Dean and Athletic Director. He is an active member of Christ Church North Bay, and spends his free time hiking, snowboarding, and raising his three young boys.
Cheryl Geyer is the 7th and 8th Grade Homeroom teacher and teaches Middle School science and math. She earned her BA in Education from Wyoming State University and has been teaching for 35 years. She felt called to be a teacher at a very young age and loves watching students grow as the development of academic skills opens new worlds for them. Miss Geyer began her teaching career in an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Wyoming! Her favorite pastimes include hiking, reading and playing the banjo.
Job Titles:
- Humanities & Guidance Counselor
For the last 22 years, Chris DeLeo has been teaching students across the Bay Area. The first twelve years were spent teaching public elementary school in Oakland before spending the better part of a decade teaching high school literature and writing with a homeschool group in Novato. He's now in his fourth year teaching literature and history at NBCA. This year he is very excited to be tackling a new role as the school's guidance counselor. Chris enjoys spending time with his family, reading Shakespeare, and surfing.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Administration, Principal
Christopher Mychajluk is the principal at Marin Christian Academy. He grew up in a military family and graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Business Finance. His desire to serve God began after high school and directed him to leave his profession as a controller in the aerospace industry and become a Christian school principal in 1999. Mr. Mychajluk began his tenure at Marin Christian Academy in 2004 and is now the superintendent of schools for the PK-12th grade program. He is blessed with a beautiful wife of 30 years and four children that have all attended his schools. Mr. Mychajluk completed his Master's degree in School Administration. He is an avid reader and loves to dance.
Job Titles:
- Director of Curriculum and Instruction at MCA
- Vice Principal & Dir of Curriculum & Instruction
Deena Reyes is the Director of Curriculum and Instruction at MCA. She began at MCA in 1990 as a classroom teacher in the Middle School. She holds a California Teaching Credential and a Masters in Education from Dominican University, San Rafael. She also currently teaches New Testament at Lighthouse Bible School in Sonoma. Deena has a passion for supporting her fellow teachers in effective practices and implementing powerful programs that set our students up for success.
Heather Freeman began her teaching career at Noah's Ark Preschool in 2008. Two years later she transitioned into the school office where she has been serving the students, parents and teachers of both Marin Christian Academy and Noah's Ark Preschool.
Prior to MCA, Heather worked in the Corporate Industry for over 10 years. She has 2 amazing teenage children, an 8th grade son and a daughter who will be graduating high school. She enjoys reading, singing and spending time outside with her family.
Jennifer Jones received her Multiple Subject Teacher Credential from Dominican University In San Rafael and has been teaching for 21 years. She has taught in both the public and private sector, teaching for Novato Unified School District and Marin Country Day School. Jennifer has spent most of her career teaching first grade, but had the wonderful opportunity to teach preschool and then step into the role of Preschool Coordinator while having three young children under the age of 5. Jenny is a Novato Native and continues to reside here with her family. She enjoys hiking Mt. Burdell and shuffling between the many recreational activities that her children participate in.
Kimberly Filipowicz currently teaches third grade. She has been working in the education
field for seven years, three years as a full inclusion aide and as a teacher for four years. She worked at Sonoma Charter School and at Prestwood Elementary in Sonoma Valley. She graduated with her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Sonoma State and with her Teaching Credential from Dominican University. She enjoys being at the beach, camping, and being with her family and friends. She lives with her two children and husband in Sonoma Valley.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director
- Assistant Preschool Director
Kimm Hodges is our Preschool Assistant Director. She taught previously at Noah's Ark Preschool and Marin Christian Academy summer STEAM program. After 10 years of teaching in public and private education, Kimm has eagerly returned to Noah's Ark Preschool. She holds a masters in education and has over 20 years working in the field of education. Her teaching background includes Physical Education, Adapted Physical Education, Mathematics, Science, and Science Department Director of Curriculum. Kimm resides in Novato with her husband and 13-year-old son. She enjoys spending time with her family and wonderful network of friends.
Laura McElroy is the fifth-grade teacher. She has been with MCA in a multitude of positions over the past 6 years. Positions such as the aftercare director, summer day camp director, fifth and sixth-grade math instructor, technology instructor, (elementary through high school at NBCA) student council advisor, newsletter advisor, and yearbook advisor. In 2018, Laura was awarded teacher of the year by Novato Rotary Club. Laura thoroughly enjoys sharing her passion for learning with the students, but her biggest joy is getting to know the students on a deeper level, allowing her to connect with them daily.
Marty Regis teaches all levels of high school mathematics. In college at Pacific Lutheran University (BA in Mathematics Education), she got a job at the "math help center," and learned that she loves to teach and tutor. She has been teaching and tutoring ever since. Marty sees math as beautiful, in the way that all concepts work together, and as part of God's creation. Not all of her students agree with this beauty, but Marty likes to plant that seed. Marty has enjoyed living in Novato for 25 years, with her husband and 3 (now grown) children.
Mary Scott currently teaches 2nd Grade. She has taught both 2nd and 3rd Grades. She holds two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Social Sciences from the University of Southern Oregon in Ashland, OR and the second in Ministerial Studies and Biblical Counseling from Christian Life International Bible College in Novato, CA. Upon receiving a professional clear teaching credential from Bethany College in Scotts Valley, CA, she began teaching at Marin Christian Academy in 1998. She is a BTSA mentor and enjoys serving the staff as well as her teaching duties. In her free time, Ms. Scott enjoys hiking, reading, and relaxing with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Preschool & TK Director
Ruth Ann Newberry is our Preschool Director. She has been Directing Noah's Ark Preschool since 2003. She holds degrees in Biblical Studies and Early Childhood Education. She and her husband have three children who are all graduates of Marin Christian Academy. Ruth Ann is active in Crossfit and loves creative art. She enjoys bringing health, fitness, and fun art into her everyday teaching philosophy.
Sara's family has been involved with NBCA / MCA for a very long time! Her husband graduated from NBCA Class of '99 and beginning in 2012 all three of their children have been enrolled in the family of schools. Sara has worked in a variety of office administration capacities in Sonoma and Marin Counties. She has served as a classroom and office volunteer at both campuses and now is excited to serve staff, students and their families in a greater capacity as Middle School / High School Campus Office Manager. When she's not at school, Sara enjoys spending time with friends and family, leading worship at her church and exploring the beautiful Bay Area.
Stephanie Vu graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in English, and holds a California Teaching Credential. She has been working in the Children's Department of Lighthouse Christian Church for the past 8 years, and for the past year she and her husband have been working as Youth Pastors as well. Stephanie is also an Alma Mater from Marin Christian Academy and has a great love for the school and the students. It was at MCA that God put a burden in her heart to teach and inspire the next generation. For her hobbies, Stephanie enjoys playing piano and cooking. Her recent success is a homemade lasagna with her own special sauce.