Get to Know Our Faculty!

I surrendered my life to Christ in 1992. Since that time, by God’s grace, He has enabled me to walk closer and closer with Him, and learn His ways. I am blessed to serve Him as husband, father, teacher and member of the body of Christ. I really enjoy teaching young people and watching them grow in their relationship with Christ. It is the ultimate challenge for me. I love to explore with them how the majesty and glory of God is demonstrated in every facet of life. My Hobbies include spending time at my parents cottage with my wife and 3 boys, sports, and reading.

I am a New York State certified teacher, I have a masters degree in Elementary Education from Nazareth College, and a BA in business management from St. John Fisher. I have 17 years experience teaching, including 2nd grade in public school, as well as here at Calvary Chapel I have taught various grades and subjects.

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I am a graduate of our own Calvary Chapel School of Ministry. I love serving the Lord wherever He has me. Whether that is being a faithful husband, teaching Sunday school, teaching here at Calvary Chapel Academy, the sound room, on mission trips, cleaning the church, even cleaning toilets, wherever the Lord has me I am blessed!

I truly enjoy teaching because I have the privilege and opportunity to minister and pour into the lives of these kids. While loving them and raising them up in the way of the Lord. I substitute taught here in various ways over the last few years, as well as in our Sunday school program and I have enjoyed every minute of it! My wife and I enjoy hiking, and of course serving the Lord.

I had had much experience in many different aspects of Calvary Chapel Academy over the years. As a teacher I taught 5th grade for 2 years and 1st grade for 1 year. I had home schooled our own children in different seasons of their education, currently I have our 10th grade daughter at home. I have my Bachelors in Science degree, Art Education degree, I attended Buffalo State College, and our own School Of Ministry. I would describe my relationship with Jesus as my #1 relationship!

It is the highlight of our day when the kids come into the cafe for lunch! I love the buzz of their conversations, and seeing their smiling faces. It is such a blessing to serve the Lord and serving his little Lambs. My biggest hobby is running for Jesus! Participating in marathons and races for the Lord is my favorite thing to do.

I met Jesus and first knew Him as my savior and Lord in 1998 just before my twentieth birthday. Every day since then, I’ve seen more and more the truth that I’m a sinner, saved by grace. His word encourages me, corrects my way, preserves my path, cleanses my heart, and His faithfulness and love endures all of my days. He is my savior, my father, my friend, my shepherd, my joy, and my life is His. I am safe in His hands. He’s my rock, my comforter, He sees all. He provides for all that I need.

I have my B.S. in organizational leadership and supervisions from Purdue university. I home schooled all three of my children, who are not 20, 18, and almost 16. I was an ESL teacher on foreign mission field, tutor to elementary aged children on the same mission field, children ministry leader, VBS teacher, and I always enjoy being a student learner myself!

I love llamas, the beach, the mountains, being outside, COFFEE, writing, “dad” jokes, laughing until my sides hurt, birds, and of course studying the word of God.

I was four years old when my family emigrated to America from Germany and my earliest memories are of my mother teaching me how to read from her Bible. I learned that Jesus loved me enough to pay the price for my sins. I loved Sunday School, church choir, and summer youth camp. I felt the Lord draw my heart the summer I was nine. I wanted to know more about my Savior and spent many hours with my Bible, especially the four Gospels.

As an adult I am still in awe at how much Jesus loves me. I am so thankful for His mercy and grace. I am thankful for answered prayer and the healing of my youngest son. I felt Jesus’ comfort and care during my bout with cancer. I love to sing to Him. My life verse is “While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:2 NKJV.

Reading has always played an important part of my life. As a child I learned to read German and then English. I read my Bible Story book until it was tattered. I discovered Laura Ingalls Wilder and her “Little House” books. I was on the prairie, in the covered wagon, the dugout, and many more places she wrote about. I found that I wanted to share my love of reading with others. I majored in Elementary Education with a minor in ELA at Anderson College now Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana. But my focus was on all the elements of reading.

This is my 15th  year teaching at Calvary Chapel Academy for which I am truly blessed. Teaching children to read involves more than decoding words. My goal is to install enthusiasm for the written word. To infer, comprehend, and reflect on what is being read. I want to make the passage come “alive” whether historical, poetic, humorous, or even a math problem. It is wonderful to watch students smile as they read a particular passage with inflection or to correct themselves when they miss a word. Reading should be fun as well as informative and that is what I work toward every day.

My personal life revolves around my family. I am married to my college sweetheart, and we have three grown children and six grandchildren. My husband and I love to travel. We have crossed the country by train eight times. Rented a car at each destination and visited many sights in this great land of ours. When at home we have a standing Saturday morning date for breakfast at a favorite diner and then go for a long ride around the Finger Lakes. We sing, laugh, reminisce, and enjoy each other’s company. My hobbies include tending flowers, reading, and watching the hummingbirds from my deck.

I was raised catholic and went to catholic school. I enjoyed Bible studies as an adult but never knew the whole truth. I gave my heart to Jesus at a Potters Field Ministry sharing at Calvary Chapel Rochester in 2000. Previous to that I was attending a Methodist church but going to Calvary Chapel of the Finger Lakes Bible studies on Wednesday and Sunday evenings, and through that the Lord drew my husband and I to leave the Methodist church and come to CC Finger Lakes full time in 2001. I am blessed to serve here as a teacher and help in the cafe/bookstore. I also enjoy our ladies studies.

I have an associates degree in computer science, a NYS license in cosmetology, as well as education for accounting and math. I spent time in the Cananadaigua School district as a teachers aid for four years, as well as teaching 5th grade here at CCA in 2016-2017 school year.

Children are so precious! I love children. I love to see their excitement when they get to give an answer. Its fun to listen to their stories especially when they are sharing with each other. It’s so much fun to help them learn. I have two daughters, and 4 grandchildren, I love spending time with them going on adventures, and doing fun things like crafts. I am a crafter at heart, enjoy knitting and crocheting, making jewelry, or paper crafts, and of course spending time with my family.  

I am so thankful God continues to help me grow in the knowledge of Him, He has begun a work in me and promises to continue.

My walk with the Lord started early in my childhood when I decided to be an “Onward Christian Soldier” and cherished every opportunity to worship and participate in my Christian spiritual growth. I met the worldly challenges head on as I started into young adulthood, but God has never left me. I listen for Him each and everyday, and have been blessed to serve Him throughout my years.

I love learning and I enjoy sharing the experience of learning with others, young and old. I believe God has made each individual to have unique qualities, talents and skills. he guides the way for each individual to grow spiritually, physically and intellectually throughout their life. I spent ten years teaching in public and private schools pre-k-12th grades, in bath and Rochester, 28 years as principal and Director of Education at Hillside Children’s center. My certifications are in School Administrative Supervisor, and Teacher of Special Education. I have a BS in Special Education, and MS in Education Diagnostics and Instruction.

I love to go on walks, hikes, and Kayaking in God’s creation. I love music, singing and playing instruments, reading my Bible, traveling and spending my time to serve Him and pray for others.

I have been saved for 18 years and I’ve only recently really learned what it means to walk with Him; what it means to love Him above all, letting Him lead and guide and trusting Him. By serving and worshiping through it all.

I love being able to teach the things in life that I’m passionate about and giving them the opportunity to share and develop that as well, whether its the ways of the Lord or the world of sports.

I have had the blessed privilege of serving in children’s ministry at Calvary Chapel Finger Lakes for the last 4 years. I was home schooled my entire education, and then I attended the School of Ministry for two years. I am currently serving full time at the only radio station that matters, 99.7 WZXV here at Calvary Chapel. This past summer I married my best friend, Izzy Powell!

Jesus is my best friend. He is my comforter in times of need and my shelter through every storm. I want to honor and glorify Him in all that I do because of how much He has done for me in my life!

I have homeschooled my whole education until I graduated in 2020, I now attend Calvary Chapel University online. I am now working towards my Bachelor’s degree in Women’s Ministry. I truly love it when I see kids get excited about learning something new, especially in the books that they are reading, or see a cool picture they want to show me. I believe it is very important to live a life that is wholly centered on following Jesus, and for these kids to see that in practice. There is nothing more important than showing the younger generations what that looks like. I really enjoy being the librarian because I know this is what God has called me to do, and I am blessed to be a part of the CCA Staff!

In my free time I enjoy reading, photography, playing guitar on our worship team, art, and writing.