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, 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Our Executive Leadership Team

Troy Thelen ’03

CEO & Head of School

Kittren Johnson

Chief Advancement Officer

Daniel Johnson

K-8 Principal

Robin Rugg

High School Principal

James Brooks

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Our Directors and Deans

Eric Cochran

Director of Security

Dr. BJ Eason

Director of Spiritual Life

Jason Gregg ’96

High School Vice Principal

Greg Haagsma

Director of Athletics

Marianne Heim ’97

Director of Fine Arts

Jonathan Hunsaker

Director of Technology

Allena Hynes

Director of Human Resources

Spencer Mitchell ’08

Financial Controller

Sarah Snedeker

5-8 Vice Principal

Geoff Stemple

Director of Special Education

Charmain Thorneycroft

K-4 Vice Principal

Ashley Trathen ’09

Director of Marketing & Communications

Our Faculty and Staff

Candido Aguilar

Facilities Technician

Lynnette Amparán

HS Administrative Liaison & Registrar

Chizuruoke Anderson

HS Coordinator of Student Health & Wellness

David Anderson

HS Teacher (Bible)

Mónica Angulo

5-8 Teacher (Modern Language)

Faith Arnott ’24

5-8 Teachers' Aide

Chris Aviles

JH Teacher (Bible/Social Studies)

Meghan Bale

K-8 Substitute Coordinator & Substitute Teacher

Jacquelyn Balzer

5th Grade Teacher

Addison Bare ’10

JH Teacher (Social Studies)

Kristina Blauman

5-8 Administrative Liaison & Registrar

Mario Blauman

HS Teacher (Social Studies)

Kim Blum

HS Teacher (English)

Sara Botma

Speech Language Pathologist & K-4 Teacher (VINE)

Jenny Brecht

HS Teacher (English)

Kyla Brecht ’22

5th Grade Teacher

Jesus Briceno

Facilities Technician

Maria Briceno

Facilities Technician

Kathy Cappellano

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Holden Carson

HS Teacher (Science)

Ben Carter

Marketing Specialist

Alyssa Cheney ’18

HS Teacher (Math)

Isabella Collins

HS Online Learning Facilitator

Giselle Coronel

K-8 Admissions Manager

Luke Corsaut

K-8 Spiritual Formation Advisor

Toni Corsaut

4th Grade Teacher

Debbie Cox

HR Generalist

Janine Crow

2nd Grade Teacher

Cesar Cruz Espinoza

Facilities Technician

Shelli Davenport

K-4 Teacher (Fine Arts)

Bethany Davis

6th Grade Teacher

Lisa DePalma ’89

Trojan Time Coordinator

Stacy Dobbs

5-8 Nurse

Danica Dykstra

5-8 Receptionist

Ashley Eason

K-4 Administrative Liaison & Registrar

April Ellis

1st Grade Teacher

Christopher Evans

K-8 Security Officer

Nicole Eyler

4th Grade Teacher

Genevieve Ferrara

Kindergarten Teacher

Madison Fraley ’19

HS Teacher (Physical Education)

Don Francis

5-8 Fine Arts Teacher

Savannah Freeman

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Carol Freibott

4th Grade Teacher

Laynie Fuller ’22

Kindergarten Teacher

Allison Gentala

Tuition Strategist

Linda Gregg

Academic, College & Career Advisor

Erin Groen

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Elizabeth Hales

HS Teacher (VINE)

Jeffery Hankins

Maintenance Service Technician II

Troy Hanzal

Assistant Athletic Director

Cleonie Harrison

HS Teacher (Modern Language)

Paige Harrison

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Amy Hartranft

Business Services Manager

Keyon Henderson

HS Teacher (VINE)

Sherrie Hendricks

HS Teacher (VINE)

Erica Herman ’02

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Miguel Hernandez

Groundskeeper

Nici Higby

Student Account Manager

Kristin Hines

K-4 Student Services Coordinator

Peter Hinkley

5-8 Teacher (Fine Arts)

Kimberly Hirsch

HS Teacher (English)

Dr. Dan Hood

JH Teacher (Math)

April Hooper

K-4 Teacher (VINE)

Jamie Howell

Lunch Program Liaison

Brooke Hudspeth

3rd Grade Teacher

Makayla Hurt

K-4 Teacher (Computers)

Erika Jackson

HS Substitute Coordinator & Substitute Teacher

Justine Jaeger

HS Teacher (Math)

Lake Jennett ’21

HS Teacher (Social Studies)

Christy Johanningmeier

JH Teacher (Bible)

Andrew Kaemingk

HS Teacher (Social Studies)

Chris Kim

Technology Specialist II

Trish King

Instructional Technology Specialist

Vera Kingkade

HS Teacher (Fine Arts)

Nicole Kirkish

HS Receptionist

Eric Kluth

Advancement & Development Manager

Caleb Knipmeyer ’17

HS Teacher (Science)

Katie Kruger

HS Teacher (Science)

Shannon Kuiper ’07

JH Athletics Secretary

Trey Kuyper

Marketing Specialist II

Karly Larson

K-4 Receptionist

Luci Lenderink

Spiritual Life Program Manager

Maggie Lengyel

Fine Arts Coordinator & Events

Elizabeth Limbeck

JH Teacher (VINE)

Brandon Lindemulder

K-4 Teacher (Physical Education)

Heather Loechelt

JH Teacher (Math)

Michael Loughboro

Senior Accountant

Brian Lutgen

Facilities Technician II

Jake Mac Donald

HS Strength & Conditioning Coach

Deneen Mackey

VINE Learning Specialist

Heather Malmin

K-4 Teacher (VINE)

Wendy Marsh

K-4 Teacher (Fine Arts)

Mikayla Marshall

HS Teacher (Career & Technical/StuCo)

Jen McCarthy

1st Grade Teacher

Hayley McCrory

HS Teacher (Modern Language)

Leah McDermott

HS Curriculum & Instruction Manager

Eileen McFadyen

5-8 Teacher (VINE)

Alaina McQueen

2nd Grade Teacher

Dr. Lisa Miller

HS Teacher (Science)

Stacy Miller

2nd Grade Teacher

Lori Morgan

5-8 Teacher (Fine Arts)

Ray Morganfield

Technology Specialist I

Jen Moyers

5th Grade Teacher

Kami Mueller

5-8 VINE Teachers’ Aide

Julie Murphy

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Adam Nelson

HS Teacher (Career & Technical)

Jay Olinger

HS Security Officer, HS Wrestling Head Coach

Isaiah Paulec

JH Teacher (Science/STEM)

Sergio Peralta

Facilities Technician

Jake Petersen

HS Teacher (Physical Education)

Samantha Phillips

1st Grade Teacher

Lilianna Pirir De Soriano

Facilities Technician

Tim Pitts

HS Teacher (Bible)

Faith Raines

6th Grade Teacher

Stephen Ramsey

Associate Conductor & Collaborative Artist

Diana Rhoades

6th Grade Teacher

Gregory Rodriguez

K-8 Security Officer

Jill Sanchez

3rd Grade Teacher

Janine Sass

K-4 Nurse

Kris Sawyers

3rd Grade Teacher

Ellie Sayer

HS Teacher (Bible)

Dwayne Seals

K-8 Facilities Manager

Jenna Semon

JH Teacher (Language Arts)

Gabrielle Sherrill

HS Teacher (Math)

Blake Silves

JH Athletic Director & JH Teacher (Physical Education)

Ashleigh Sloan ’11

5-6 Teacher (VINE)

Melissa Smith

Academic, College & Career Advisor

Tiffani Sproul

Development Coordinator

Dorothey Staten

HS Teacher (Fine Arts)

Meghan Stein

K-8 Coordinator of Student Health & Wellness

Damon Sterling

HS Admissions Manager

Drew Streeter

HS Teacher (English)

Jennifer Sulger

HS VINE Teachers' Aide

Bryan Timmer

HS Facilities Manager

Julie Timmer

K-8 Curriculum & Instruction Manager

Scott Timmer

HS Teacher (Physical Education)

Jennifer Tonkinson

JH Teacher (Language Arts/StuCo)

Tyler Trathen

HS Teacher (Career & Technical/StuCo)

Mark Van Bebber

HS Teacher (Bible)

Araceli Vazquez Rivera

Facilities Technician

Madolyn Whites

Kindergarten Teacher

Hannah Whitson

Sports Information Coordinator

Brianna Widger ’18

HS Teacher (Math/MinDev)

Alexandrea Wolf

K-8 Curriculum & Instruction Manager

Dr. Renée Wozniak

HS Teacher (VINE)

Cheryl Zimmerman

JH Teacher (Science/STEM)

Marianne Zylstra

Kelly Clausen

2018-19

Barbara Hunsaker

2017-18