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

CEO & Head of School

Kittren Johnson

Chief Advancement Officer

Timothy Livengood

Chief Financial Officer

Daniel Johnson

K-8 Principal

Robin Rugg

High School Principal

Our Directors and Deans

Michelle Cefola

Dean of Academic, College and Career Advising

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

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

Chizuruoke Anderson

High School Coordinator of Student Health & Wellness

David Anderson

HS Bible Teacher, Department Chair

Jacquelyn Balzer

K-8 VINE Teachers' Aide

Addison Bare ’10

JH Social Studies Teacher

Kristina Blauman

5-8 Liaison

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

Kathy Cappellano

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Haley Cefola

Academic Support/VINE Teacher

Madolyn Chamerski

Kindergarten Teacher

Alyssa Cheney ’18

HS Math Teacher

Giselle Coronel

Recruiting & Staffing Manager

Debbie Cox

Human Resources Specialist

Janine Crow

2nd Grade Teacher

Cesar Cruz Espinoza

Facilities Technician

Bethany Davis

6th Grade 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

Gregory Fisher

Transportation Manager

Madison Fraley ’19

HS Teacher (Girls Health, PE, Weight Training)

Savannah Freeman

Executive Assistant to the CEO

Carol Freibott

4th Grade Teacher

Allison Gentala

K-8 VINE & Intervention Manager

Alicia Gerard

K-4 Physical Education Teacher

Linda Gregg

5th Grade Teacher

Erin Groen

Elementary Teachers' Aide

Sean Gruenemeier ’07

Maintenance Service Technician II

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

5-8 Theater and 5-8 Art Teacher

Kimberly Hirsch

HS English Teacher

April Hooper

K-4 Reading Intervention & VINE Teacher

Jamie Howell

Lunch Program Liaison

Jonathan Hunsaker

Technology Specialist II, HS eSports Head Coach

Makayla Hurt

K-4 Computers Teacher

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

Christopher Kim

Technology Specialist I

Trish King

Instructional Technology Specialist

Vera Kingkade

HS Instrumental Teacher

Eric Kluth

Development Manager

Dan Kuiper

Senior Ambassador

Trey Kuyper

Marketing Specialist

Luci Lenderink

Administrative Liaison for Spiritual Life

Maggie Lengyel

Fine Arts Coordinator & Events

Elizabeth Limbeck

JH Teacher (VINE ELA, VINE History)

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

Wendy Marsh

Elementary Music Teacher

Mikayla Marshall

K-8 Admissions Manager

Jen McCarthy

1st Grade Teacher

Leah McDermott

High School Coordinator of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

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

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

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 Nurse & 5-6 Classroom Aide

Jill Sanchez

3rd Grade Teacher

Janine Sass

K-4 Nurse

Kris Sawyers

3rd Grade Teacher

Ellie Sayer

HS English Teacher

Dwayne Seals

Campus Facilities Manager

Jenna Semon

JH English Language Arts Teacher

Brett Sexton

JH Teacher (Bible, Social Studies)

Gabrielle Sherrill

HS Math Teacher

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

Development Coordinator

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

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

Tyler Trathen

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

Mark Van Bebber

HS Bible Teacher

Tommy Vasquez

Facilities Manager

Araceli Vazquez Rivera

Facilities Technician

Meghan Verbitsky

K-8 Coordinator of Student Wellness & Academic Support

Brianna Widger ’18

HS Teacher (Math, Ministry Development), Department Chair

Alexandrea Wolf

Curriculum & Instruction Manager

Dr. Renee Wozniak

HS VINE Teacher

Cheryl Zimmerman

7-8 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.