HAWTHORNE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - Key Persons
Mr. Van Dyk was born in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. At an early age, his family moved to northern New Jersey where he has lived ever since. He now teaches middle school Social Studies at HCA.
Mr. Van Dyk is a proud alumnus of Hawthorne Christian Academy, and is thankful to be part of the ever-growing HCA community
Education
BA English Literature & History - William Paterson University
Job Titles:
- Director of Choral Music
- Music Teacher
Biography
"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." - Zephaniah 3:17
Originally from Atlanta, GA, Anne Paynter has served as the Director of Choral Music at HCA since 2009. The Paynter family moved to New Jersey in 2001, after selling their business, "Paynter Music," a full-line music store and academy in Stroudsburg, PA. As a singer, Mrs. Paynter has won various state and national competitions, including the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) competition, and the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) competition. She has performed with such organizations as the Atlanta Opera Company and the Vocal Arts Ensemble of Cincinnati, and in regional theater productions. She has also served as an adjudicator for many vocal competitions, and worked for 19 years as a studio demo singer for publishing companies such as Alfred Publishing and Shawnee Press. Mrs. Paynter has taught private voice lessons for 35 years, and her students consistently win admission to top music schools, recently including Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music, Pepperdine University, Arizona State University, Wheaton College, Houghton College, and Montclair State University. Mrs. Paynter was formerly a faculty member at Ramapo College, teaching general and advanced choirs and Music Theory. As choral director at HCA, Mrs. Paynter's choirs have ministered to dozens of churches, nursing homes, and community groups, and have won first place/gold medals over 60 times in the last decade. Servants of the King has won the "Most Outstanding Choral Group" and the "Choral Sweepstakes Award" at multiple Heritage Festival Competitions, including festivals in such cities as San Diego, Anaheim, Boston, and Washington DC. They have performed at Carnegie Hall (twice as part of the National Youth Choir, once as part of the National Sacred Honor Choir, and several times with Keith and Kristin Getty), at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, at major league baseball games, and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Both Chorale and Servants of the King have consistently won their divisions and "Best Overall Choir" at the Music in the Parks Competition in recent years. Mrs. Paynter has also conducted several community and church choirs through the years, and has served as guest conductor for special choirs, most recently the 25th Anniversary Monroe/Pike County Festival Chorus in Pennsylvania. Mrs. Paynter currently lives in Teaneck, NJ, with her husband Stephen, who is the Assistant Manager of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus.
Education
BM Vocal Performance - Converse College
MM Vocal Performance - Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music
Job Titles:
- English Department Chair / English Teacher
Mrs. Calo has been in education since 1992, teaching at HCA since 2000. She enjoys staying active: hiking, biking, and walking; visiting the shore during the summer; and traveling. When the weather does not cooperate, she enjoys quilting. Her favorite activity is reading.
Mrs. Calo has a passion for teaching her students how to write well, examine literature comprehensively, and think critically. She currently teaches several high school English courses at HCA.
Education
BA Literature - Northeastern Bible College
Courtney De Boer spent her first four years after college teaching first grade. After taking time to raise a family of four children, she joined the HCA team in 2021. She enjoys the enthusiasm, curiosity, and pure joy that her students bring to each day.
Education
BS Elementary Education - Houghton College
Job Titles:
- Assistant to the Head of School / History Teacher
Mr. Frederiks has been teaching at the Academy since 1992 and loves to come to work! He is grateful to be married to DarLynne, and to be the father of Luke and Calla.
Ms. Reitzel began teaching in 1980, and joined the Academy family in 1994. She has taught preschool, elementary grades K-5, select classes in middle school, and music in preschool through fifth grade. She has been active in her home church teaching Sunday school to various age groups, directing children, youth, and adult choirs, serving on worship teams, and serving as a worship leader.
Ms. Reitzel's scripture for life has been II Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
Education
3-Yr Bible Degree - Northpoint Bible College
BA Elementary Education - Southeastern University
Mrs. Novak has been involved in Christian education since 1986. She has served in three separate schools over the years. She is very thankful and excited to be a part of the HCA community.
Miss Westerman has been teaching art for 4th-12th grade students at HCA since 2015. She has loved creating art since she was young.
When Miss Westerman is not teaching she enjoys serving the community, hiking, reading, and painting. She often spends her summers Camp Cedarbrook, a Christian girls camp in the Adirondacks, where she has the opportunity to mentor campers and staff for Christ.
Education
AFA Art - County College of Morris
BA Art - Arcadia University
MA Art Education - Kean University
"Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." - Mathew 10:39
Miss Keith grew up in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York and moved to the New Jersey area in 2011 after completing her undergraduate and graduate English degrees at Liberty University.
Since then, she has been actively involved in Hawthorne Gospel's senior high youth group ministry. Through high school ministry and discipleship, she came to realize her sincere desire to help teenagers develop a genuine, growing relationship with Christ and equip them, through teaching, to communicate God's truth to those around them with compassion and confidence.
Ms. Keith has been teaching high school English since 2015 and is excited to be serving the Lord at Hawthorne Christian Academy. She started here in 2017.
Education
BA English - Liberty University
MA English Literature - Liberty University
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:6-7
Mr. Olsen began his teaching career at Hawthorne Christian Academy, starting in 1992. He has taught mathematics, science, business, technology, and Bible. He has the New Jersey teacher certification and the Association of Christian Schools International certification in mathematics, secondary education.
Mr. Olsen has been involved in curriculum development and instructional leadership with HCA for over fifteen years. He has been the senior class advisor for over ten years. He has been a member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics for over twenty years. For a few years in the early 2000's, he was an adjunct professor at Nyack College, teaching in the area of mathematics education.
Mr. Olsen enjoys playing tennis and doing ministry with the Christian education department at his church.
Education
BS Mathematics - Wheaton College
MS Mathematics & Education - Montclair State University
Gina Occhiogrosso has served the Lord as a Christian educator for nine years. She previously taught 2nd grade and 3rd grade at Bergen County Christian Academy, where she met her husband, John (who was teaching in the high school at that time). Blessed with three children, Gina had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom for 12 years. She then returned to teaching at BCCA until God opened a door for her to minister at HCA in 2022, just in time for her two daughters to become students in HCA's 8th and 12th-grade classes.
Gina loves spending time with her family, cooking, baking, and teaching her students about the love of Jesus. It has been a blessing for her to be able to minister to children in a Christian environment, and she is looking forward to continuing that ministry as an HCA Defender!
Education
BA Elementary Education - William Paterson University
BA Psychology - William Paterson University
Job Titles:
- Oak Brook College of Law & Government Policy
Job Titles:
- Instrumental Music Teacher
- Music Teacher
Mr. Peterson studied music at Montclair State University and has been playing instruments as far back as he can remember. He has been teaching at HCA since 2006.
During the week, Mr. Peterson directs two handbell choirs, provides instrumental lessons (brass, woodwind, and percussion), instructs a song composition and recording engineering class, facilitates both the high school and middle school worship teams, and leads worship for the middle school during Wednesday chapel.
Education
BA Family & Child Studies - Montclair State University
BA Music Studies - Montclair State University
Mrs. Mastin first started teaching at HCA in 1993 after graduating from Liberty University. She taught for eight years and met her husband here. She then stayed home to have her two children, Megan and Ben. Mrs. Mastin returned to teach at HCA in 2010, and her two children attended school here.
Mrs. Mastin teaches Math and Science, and truly enjoys building relationships with each of her students. Her desire is to create a learning environment where students are fully engaged and participating in labs, group activities, and demonstrations throughout the year.
Education
BS Education - Liberty University
Miss Stammer graduated from Kutztown University in 2017 and, upon graduation, spent one year teaching in a public high school before joining the HCA faculty in 2018. Since teaching at HCA, she has also completed her Master's Degree. Miss Stammer grew up attending Grace Bible Church until her father became a pastor at Ramapo Valley Baptist Church in Oakland. Miss Stammer loves to ride her bike, read, and spend her summers down the shore.
Education
BS Education - Kutztown University
M.Ed. Advanced Studies - American College of Education
"When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly." - 1 Peter 2:23
Biography
Mr. Burres grew up in Central Jersey and has been a teacher at HCA since 1998. When the time came for him to do his student teaching, he naturally gravitated to the school at which his wife, Kim, was a 4th grade teacher. Ken completed part of his student teaching under Mr. Gary Olsen in early 1998 and was hired as a teacher later that same year. After several years at HCA, Ken also assumed the role of Director of Technology.
Ken earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees from Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn University) in Bible and Mathematics Education. Ken and Kim currently have 7 children, all of which have attended the Academy (5 current students, 2 alumni).
Education
BS Bible - Philadelphia Biblical University (Cairn University)
BS Mathematics Education - Philadelphia Biblical University (Cairn University)
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Teacher
- Bible & PE Teacher
- Bible Teacher / Physical Education and Health Teacher
Coach Standford graduated from HCA in 1995, and has been blessed with the privilege of teaching and coaching at Hawthorne Christian Academy since 2001. He has a passion for seeing young people enjoy being active, and helping them develop a healthy lifestyle. In 2019, Kevin was given the amazing opportunity to teach Bible 9. He enjoys coming alongside our students and by the grace of God we "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior."
Coach Standford and his wife, Jennifer (HCA class of ‘95), have two beautiful daughters, Olivia and Sienna, both who attend the Academy.
Education
BS Health & Physical Education - Eastern University
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6
Biography
Mrs. Burres began teaching at HCA in 1996. She taught fourth grade for five years. She has since taken time off for her family over the years, but has been teaching the enrichment class (GATES) part-time at HCA since 2003. These classes are offered for third through fifth-grade students. It is a pull out program that meets one afternoon a week to challenge our students who excel in the regular classroom.
More recently, Mrs. Burres has also assumed leadership of HCA's lower school STEM program, where she challenges our students in their science, technology, engineering, and mathematics skills, encouraging their innovation and creativity.
Education
BS Bible - Philadelphia College of Bible (Cairn University)
BS Elementary Education - Philadelphia College of Bible (Cairn University)
MA Reading - Montclair State University
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." - 2 Corinthians 3:17
Mrs. Fan is a wife, mother, and passionate science teacher. She has been a follower of Jesus Christ for 21 years.
Prior to HCA, Mrs. Fan taught Chemistry and Engineering in public schools, and worked in the technology industry as a data engineer and environmental consultant.
Mrs. Fan was born in China in the 70's during the "Culture Revolution" era. In the atheist education of China, she never heard the message of Jesus. But from a young age, she was fascinated by nature's orderly, repeating patterns. As a child, she always wondered who created the Universe and enforced such elegant natural laws like gravity. Later as a science student and engineer, she learned that to gain freedom in the physical world for engineering design, one must recognize natural laws, and follow them.
Mrs. Fan attended graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania, after which worked and lived in Northern NJ. After 9/11, she heard the calling in her heart to explore life's true meaning. She was invited to a Gospel dinner gathering and was saved by the good news of Jesus Christ. Her walk with the Lord shows her that in life's journey, one must also recognize and follow God's moral laws in the Bible, to gain freedom from the bondage of sin.
Job Titles:
- Education - College of New Rochelle
Mrs. Rainey began serving as HCA's Lower School Principal in the fall of 2019. During her tenure at HCA since starting in 2004, she has served as our Upper School Principal, and has taught Middle School Bible, Science, Social Studies, and Current Events courses. She also served as a homeroom teacher, 6th Grade Lead Teacher, Middle School Curriculum Coordinator, and Middle School Student Council Faculty Advisor. Mrs. Rainey's three daughters are HCA alumni. Mrs. Rainey enjoys baking, reading, early morning runs, and time with family.
Education
BA Bible - Evangel University
MS Early Childhood & Elementary Education - Bank Street College of Education
EdS Education Leadership, Management, & Policy - Seton Hall University
"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion- to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." - 1 Peter 2:23
Biography
Miss Deborah Fucci is a seasoned educator with experience in both educational leadership and school counseling. She has worked in education for fifteen years, the majority of which has been in Christian schools. Miss Fucci holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Christian Counseling from Louisiana Baptist University, her Master of Education in School Counseling from Liberty University and holds New Jersey certification in School Counseling as well as ACSI certifications in School Counseling and Administration. She has served in the role of a school counselor for the past nine years and has experience working with students from PreK-12 providing counseling and support in the areas of social/emotional, academic, and career development. Miss Fucci is passionate about helping students while pointing them to Christ and is excited to join the HCA family.
Education
A teacher and childcare provider since 1989 (with time off to raise children), Mrs. Mirabella joined the HCA team in 2017 as a preschool teacher, and is now teaching kindergarten. She considers working with young children a true calling and a blessing.
She and her husband moved to New Jersey in 2014 after spending a year in California, and before that on Long Island, where they raised their two (now adult) children. Mrs. Mirabella enjoys country music, reading, spending time with family, and traveling around the U.S.
Education
BS Business Management - Binghamton University
MS Education - Binghamton University
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know them full well."
Mrs. Lyttle is HCA's Media Center Coordinator, where she runs the media center lab, Makerspace, and library. She also teaches our middle school Makerspace class, and serves as a supportive assistant to the Director of Technology.
Mrs. Lyttle has two sons, both of whom graduated from Hawthorne Christian Academy.
"Come now, and let us settle the matter," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18
Mr. Steiner is a veteran who was born and raised in Northern New Jersey, and has lived in this area most of his adult life. He has been a middle school science teacher for over 12 years, predominantly in a local public school. As a member of Hawthorne Gospel Church for over 15 years, Mr. Steiner followed God's calling in 2020 to Christian ministry at Hawthorne Christian Academy.
Mr. Steiner is passionate about Jesus and about science. At HCA, he teaches on-campus science to grades 5-7 and Personal Finance to grades 11-12. Furthermore, he is the HCA Virtual course facilitator for Grades 6-8 in science and history. Mr. Steiner and his wife, Dr. Lisa Steiner, have two children who attend the Academy.
Education
PBACC Special Education - William Paterson University
CEAS - Earth Sciences & Plumbing and Pipefitting - William Paterson University
BA Environmental Studies - Stockton University