Our Staff Directory

We believe that Valley Christian Schools is important to the future of our country. And in order for VCS to be truly successful in achieving our vision and pursuing our mission, we attract and develop gifted and committed faculty and staff while fostering an exceptional work environment that few institutions can match. Our team is our most valued asset, and our team member culture is the glue that helps bind our organization together.

VCS has been consistently recognized as one of the top Christian high schools in the nation and one of the best K-12 Christian schools in the state, in large part due to our outstanding and committed faculty and staff. Through annual surveys, our team members have named VCS as a Top Workplace in Arizona in 2023 and 2024.

Our Executive Leadership Team

Troy Thelen ’03

Head of School

Kittren Johnson

Executive Director of Advancement

Timothy Livengood

Executive Director of Business Operations

Daniel Johnson

K-8 Principal

Robin Rugg

HS Principal

Our Directors and Deans

Michelle Cefola

Dean of Academic, College and Career Advising

Kelly Clausen

Dean of Student Activities

Eric Cochran

Director of Security

Jason Gregg ’96

High School Vice Principal

Greg Haagsma

Director of Athletics, HS Boys Basketball Head Coach

Kristi Hanenburg

Controller

Marianne Heim ’97

K-12 Director of Fine Arts, HS Director of Choral Studies

Barbara Hunsaker

Director of Special Education (VINE)

Allena Hynes

Director of Human Resources

Vickie Linehan

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, & Assessment

Sarah Snedeker

5-8 Vice Principal

Charmain Thorneycroft

K-4 Vice Principal

Dr. Greg Tonkinson

Director of Spiritual Life, Director of ENGAGE, HS Ministry Development Teacher

Ashley Trathen ’09

Director of Marketing & Communications

Our Faculty and Staff

Taylor Adams

Engage Administrative Assistant

Candido Aguilar

Maintenance Service Technician II

Melissa Ainsworth

3rd Grade Teacher

Abby Alvarado

Kids Club Aide

Chizuruoke Anderson

Coordinator of Student Health & Wellness

David Anderson

HS Bible Teacher, Department Chair

Maia Arneson

Community Engagement & Events Coordinator

Jeff Bailey

JH Spanish Teacher

Jacquelyn Balzer

K-8 VINE Teachers' Aide

Addison Bare ’10

JH Social Studies Teacher

Kim Blum

HS English Teacher, NHS Advisor

Sara Botma

Speech Therapist & Special Education Teacher

Taylie Bouten

4th Grade Teacher

Jenny Brecht

HS Teacher (Freshman Seminar, STEM Survey), HS Cross Country Coach

Jesus Briceno

Facilities Technician

Maria Briceno

Facilities Technician

Laura Brundage

5th Grade Teacher

Kathy Cappellano

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Haley Cefola

Academic Support/VINE Teacher

Madolyn Chamerski

Kindergarten Teacher

Alyssa Cheney ’18

HS Math Teacher

Kevin Christy

HS Teacher (History, Government)

Melody Christy

Kindergarten Teacher

Giselle Coronel

Operational Support Liaison

Debbie Cox

Human Resources Specialist

Janine Crow

2nd Grade Teacher

Cesar Cruz Espinoza

Facilities Technician

Bethany Davis

6th Grade Teacher

Georgette Dicataldo

JH Teacher (Science, STEM, Math)

Donna Dukes

HS Science Teacher

Ashley Eason

K-4 Receptionist

Dr. BJ Eason

HS Bible Teacher

April Ellis

1st Grade Teacher

Nicole Eyler

5-6 ELA Intervention/VINE Teacher

Genevieve Ferrara

Kindergarten Teacher

Ashley Folker

HS Teacher (Integrated Science, Physics)

Gregory Fisher

Transportation Manager

Madison Fraley ’19

HS Teacher (Girls Health, PE, Weight Training)

Savannah Freeman

Executive Project Manager

Carol Freibott

4th Grade Teacher

Allison Gentala

K-8 VINE & Intervention Manager

Alicia Gerard

K-4 Physical Education Teacher

Hannah Gonzales

HS History Teacher

Linda Gregg

5th Grade Teacher

Erin Groen

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Sean Gruenemeier ’07

Maintenance Service Technician II

Anthony Gutierrez

Kids Club Coordinator

Elizabeth Hales

HS VINE Teacher

Jeffery Hankins

Maintenance Service Technician II

Troy Hanzal

HS Weight Training Teacher, Athletic Trainer

Cleonie Harrison

HS Spanish Teacher

Paige Harrison

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Amy Hartranft

Accounts Payable Specialist

Ben Headrick

HS STEM Teacher

Brian Heigle

K-4 Physical Education Teacher

Erica Herman ’02

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Nici Higby

Student Account Manager

Kristin Hines

K-4 Student Services Coordinator

Peter Hinkley

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Kimberly Hirsch

HS English Teacher

April Hooper

K-4 Reading Intervention & VINE Teacher

Jonathan Hunsaker

Technology Specialist II, HS eSports Head Coach

Makayla Hurt

K-4 Computers Teacher

Lynn Ingram

Kid's Club Aide

Tracey Jackson ’97

HS Administrative Liaison

Justine Jaeger

HS Upper Division Math Teacher

Christy Johanningmeier

JH Bible Teacher

Brynn Jones

HS Teacher (Speech, Theatre)

Andrew Kaemingk

HS History Teacher, HS Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

LeAnn Kazan

5-8 Receptionist

Tina Kidd

Executive Administrative Assistant & Registrar

Trish King

Instructional Technology Specialist

Vera Kingkade

HS Instrumental Teacher

Joy Kini

Kids Club Aide

Eric Kluth

Development Manager

Dan Kuiper

Senior Ambassador

Trey Kuyper

Marketing Specialist

Maggie Lengyel

Fine Arts Coordinator & Events

Elizabeth Limbeck

JH Teacher (VINE ELA, VINE History)

Phillip Linehan

Facilities Technician

Heather Loechelt

JH Teacher (Math, Coding, Robotics)

Deneen Mackey

HS VINE Teachers' Aide

Heather Malmin

K-4 Math Intervention/VINE

Gina Mangiaracino

4th Grade Teacher

Mikayla Marshall

K-8 Admissions Manager

Wendy Marsh

Elementary Music Teacher

Damian Martin

5-8 Fine Arts Teacher

Marie Martin

HS Spanish Teacher

Jen McCarthy

1st Grade Teacher

Olivia McCarty ’18

HS Science Teacher

Eileen McFadyen

5-8 Math Intervention/VINE Teacher

Frank Medrys

K-8 Security Officer

Dr. Lisa Miller

HS Science & Department Chair

Stacy Miller

2nd Grade Teacher

Carla Morgan

HS Teacher (ASL, Bridges)

Lori Morgan

5-8 Fine Arts Teacher

Margaret Mosteller

JH Math Teacher

Julie Murphy

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Lisa O’Brien

Guidance Assistant/Athletic Secretary

Jay Olinger

HS Security Officer

Hannah Patterson

Marketing Specialist

Sharon Pearson

5th Grade Teacher

Sergio Peralta

Facilities Technician

Jake Petersen

HS Weight Training Teacher, HS Assistant Athletic Director, HS Football Head Coach

Samantha Phillips

1st Grade Teacher

Tim Pitts

HS Bible Teacher

Viviana Quintanilla

K-8 Administrative Liaison

Matt Rainey ’12

Maintenance Service Technician II

Stephen Ramsey

Associate Conductor & Collaborative Pianist

Diana Rhoades

6th Grade Teacher

Chessie Ross

5-8 Health & Administrative Liaison

Jill Sanchez

3rd Grade Teacher

Janine Sass

K-4 Nurse

Kris Sawyers

3rd Grade Teacher

Ellie Sayer

HS English Teacher

Dwayne Seals

Maintenance Service Technician II

Jenna Semon

JH English Language Arts Teacher

Gabrielle Sherrill

HS Math Teacher

Brett Sexton

JH Teacher (Bible, Social Studies)

Blake Silves

JH Physical Education Teacher, JH Athletic Director, HS Girls Basketball Coach, JH Boys Basketball Coach

Ashleigh Sloan ’11

2nd Grade Teacher

Tiffani Sproul

K-12 Senior Lunch Program Liaison

Dorothey Staten

HS Art Teacher, HS NAHS Advisor

Geoffrey Stemple

HS VINE Teacher

Damon Sterling

HS Admissions Manager, HS Girls Flag Football Assistant Coach

Drew Streeter

HS Teacher (English, Yearbook), Department Chair

Jennifer Sulger

HS VINE Teachers' Aide

Ava Thornton

Kids Club Aide

Scott Timmer

HS Teacher (Health, PE, Weight Training), Assistant Development Director, HS Boys Basketball Assistant Coach

Jennifer Tonkinson

JH Language Arts Teacher, JH Student Council

Loren Trathen

JH Math Teacher

Tyler Trathen

HS Career & Technical Education Teacher, Student Council Advisor, HS Volleyball Head Coach

Mark Van Bebber

HS Bible Teacher

Cori VanderLey

6th Grade Teacher

Tommy Vasquez

Facilities Manager

Araceli Vazquez Rivera

Facilities Technician

Lindley Webster

Kids Club Aide

Debbie Weidinger

HS VINE Teacher

Brianna Widger ’18

HS Teacher (Math, Ministry Development), Department Chair

Alexandrea Wolf ’10

Curriculum & Instruction Manager

Dr. Renee Wozniak

HS VINE Teacher

Summerslee Young

Academic, College & Career Advisor

Maddie Yue

Kids Club Aide

Cheryl Zimmerman

JH Science Teacher

Marianne Zylstra

HS Math Teacher, Student Council Advisor

The Valley Way Award

At Valley Christian Schools, we are excited to honor our colleagues who are well-representing our Core Values and our Staff Culture Guide. This peer-nomination process is a great opportunity to celebrate how God is using each of our faculty and staff members to equip students to be culture changers for Christ.