Staff Directory

My name is Char DeKoekkoek. After 15 years as the Director of Elementary at Shoreline Christian, I am now serving as the Head of School. My roots go deep here as I attended SCS 1st through 12th grade. Six of my children are SCS graduates!

Christian Education has always been an important part of my life, and I am so honored to be serving here. I attended Calvin University and graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Education. Shoreline Christian truly belongs to the Lord, and I am looking forward to seeing what He has in store for us this year!

SCS Alumna

My name is Daniele Ott, and I have been a part of the SCS Community for almost 30 years. My husband, Jim, and I have five children who all attended SCS, and we are now proud grandparents. After my faith in God, family is the most important part of my life. That is why we love SCS. The relationships we have built here are precious and lifelong friendships! 

My background is in administration, psychology, counseling, human environmental science, and professional organizing. I was the personal counselor and Bible 10 teacher at SCS for 15 years. I am thrilled to be back and excited to be a part of the team. I’m looking forward to getting to know all of our families and continuing to build this amazing community.

I recently retired from Holland America Princess; a cruise line company based in Seattle. Over those 33 years, I held various analyst and manager positions overseeing 20+ hotel operations in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon.

My wife Jennifer works in Extended Care at Shoreline Christian School. Our daughter Kylie attended SCS from Preschool on and graduated in 2016. I am looking forward to keeping the school and grounds looking great and in good working condition.

I enjoy traveling, gardening, watching sports, and photography.

My name is Cynthia Gray, and I was born and raised in Ohio. I’m forever thankful and humbled by His love for me and that God answered my prayers to work at Shoreline Christian School in 2018. I have three children, Alicia, Blake, and Alora. I’m also blessed with seven grandchildren- being a grandma is so much fun (plus you get to give them back!). I graduated from The Defiance College in 1995 and have over 28 years of experience in accounting. I’ve worked for both small businesses and major corporations, like Campbell Soup. 

I’m a Buckeyes supporter and a diehard Cleveland Guardians fan (though also a Dallas Cowboys and Detroit Red Wings fan as well). I love getting to know staff, parents, and children. I thank God every day for Shoreline Christian School and the blessings working here has brought to my life. I am so excited to see what God has planned for the future of SCS!

Hi, I’m Eric, the Marketing and Communications Manager here at SCS.

I’m a graduate of Calvin University with a degree in Film Production, specializing in Photography and Digital Design. I’ve spent most of my career telling stories and helping organizations grow their reach through high quality media.

My two children, Lucas and Chloe, attend SCS. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help shape the school they attend, while also watching them grow into the people they become here.

Originally from Michigan, I have split sports allegiances between Seattle and Detroit teams. I also lead worship at Shoreline Christian Reformed Church, across the parking lot.

Hi, my name is Elizabeth, and I grew up in Shoreline, attending private Christian school. My time in Shoreline continued into my twenties, making me very familiar with the area. I currently reside in Kirkland and love to explore the nearby beaches, restaurants, and playgrounds with my young daughter, Amelia, whose favorite destination is the local cookie shop!  When I have alone time, I prefer to spend my morning taking an unhurried walk in nature, appreciating all of God’s beautiful creation.

I come from a background in esthetics as well as professional childcare. For the past decade, I have taken care of the beauty needs of the greater Seattle area and had a helping hand in raising the children in over half a dozen families. I am also a trained doula and active member at my local church.   

I am so excited to serve the families and my fellow team members at SCS. Feel free to come by the office and say hello!

Hello! My name is Madison Rowland, and I am so excited to be joining Shoreline Christian as the Office Administrator! I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington and I moved over to Seattle in 2022 to help start a new church. I am heavily involved in my church and love getting to serve the city of Seattle.

I am currently enrolled at Liberty University Online to get my Bachelors Degree in Biblical Studies and a minor in Christian Counseling. I love learning and diving into scripture. It truly is a deep passion of mine. 

If I’m not at work or serving at my church you can find me hanging out with my closest friends. I love going on adventures, discovering new cute coffee shops, and having deep conversations with them.

My name is Chloe, and I am grateful to be a part of Shoreline Christian’s staff and community! 

I have a BA in Marketing and Business Administration from Seattle University. I am passionate about my faith, exploring my creativity, and learning other people’s stories. Outside of school, you can find me spending time with my husband, playing at the dog park with our pup, or on the pickleball court.

Serving here has been an incredible privilege. It’s truly remarkable to be a part of students’ journeys as they uncover their God-given talents and establish their sense of belonging at SCS and in the world. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for Shoreline Christian School this next year!

”Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32

Hi There! This is my first year at SCS, and I am so thrilled to serve as your School Counselor! I am in the final year of my Masters in School Counseling Program at Seattle Pacific University. Prior to that I received my BFA in Musical Theatre from Anderson University. 

My goal is holistic student success. I work with K-12 students in the areas of Social/Emotional Learning (SEL), Academic Support, and College and Career exploration. I believe it is important for all students to be provided with specific instruction on the social and emotional skills that we expect of them at each age. Academically, I am here to support all families and students by connecting them with resources, and to collaborate with students by assisting with academic goal setting as needed. In addition, I am excited to assist students in planning for their futures. From exploring the idea of careers with kindergarteners to collaborating with 12th grade students to select a post grad plan, my intent is to ensure each student is set up for post-secondary success. 

When not at school (or studying), I enjoy spending time with my husband, Daniel, and our bernedoodle puppy, Boone. We love a nice hike or a walk around Green Lake. I am a big fan of live theatre (especially musicals), sports (especially football), and thrifting (especially with a coffee in hand).  

My door is always open for families and students. I look forward to getting to know each of your students this year!

Hello! My name is Jennifer Martin and I am so delighted to be joining the SCS community and to begin serving as your Elementary Principal. I graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in Elementary Education, and later obtained an MA in Special Education. In all areas of education, I hope to give witness to our great God and seek to ignite kids’ imaginations and love toward Him.

I have years of experience as a children’s minister, classroom teacher, learning specialist, and coach. My great joy is to walk alongside people of all ages encouraging and equipping them in the Lord. I am the wife of a pastor who will be joining the pastoral staff at Holy Trinity Edmonds, and I am also a mom of 4 great kids, all of whom will also be joining SCS. 

I grew up in Iowa, and after graduating from college, I moved to Seattle where I met my husband, Eric. He graduated from SCS (when it was Watson Groen) and our four children who also attended SCS. The SCS community and Shoreline Christian Reformed Church, whose facility the Preschool is housed in, have become my family in Washington!

I love helping young students develop the gifts God has given them as they learn through play. I believe learning God’s love for them and how to play and get along with others is even more important for a preschooler to learn than how to write all the letters. Besides playing and learning with the kids, I enjoy gardening, camping, playing violin, and spending time with our adult children.

Hi everyone, my name is Caitlin Grutas! I am so excited to meet you and your lovely children. I am originally from a small town called Taft, California. I lived there for the majority of my life and then a little in Fresno, California! I am currently in school online at Hope International University where I am pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. My husband and I moved to Shoreline in September, trusting in what the Lord is doing in our lives and have been loving it! Some things that I like to do are travel, explore new coffee shops, and I recently got into golfing. It is such a pleasure to be here at SCS and I’m looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store! 

”Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭6‬

My name is Susana S. McCulley. I came to the United States last November 2015 all the way from the Philippines and got married in December of the same year. After almost 7 years of marriage the Lord has blessed us with three wonderful kids together, and they all are going to Shoreline Christian in Preschool, Pre-K, and Kindergarten.

I like Science and Technology in general. I have graduated from Naga City Science High School, and I have an Associate degree in Secondary Education—Major in Biology—at the University of Nueva Caceres in the Philippines. My passion in teaching never left me, so when I saw the opportunity to be part of Shoreline Christian as a Pre-K Assistant. I took it as an answer to my prayers. God has given me the heart to teach and be with the little ones in this school. I am very blessed and so thankful to be part of their learning experiences.

My name is Allison Stewart. I am thrilled to be a part of the Shoreline Christian Family as a Pre-K Teacher. I have devoted much of my life to caring for children, starting with my first job as an after school daycare assistant, where I learned that I could have a positive influence on children. While the parents were at work, I was able to share the love of Christ through my actions by caring for them. 

Over the past ten years, I have had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom to my three boys, Kaleb, Colton, and Oliver. Parenting alongside my husband, Andrew, has been the greatest joy and, with God’s help, has continued to stretch, shape, and mold me into a better person every day. As a family, we love to explore the outdoors, travel (usually to visit family), go on bike rides, play games, and bake delicious treats. During my kids’ preschool years, I had the opportunity to volunteer and work alongside their preschool teachers. I enjoyed being able to help teach the early learners and see their joy and excitement as they discovered new things. I have always had a heart for caring for children, teaching them biblical principles, as well as providing them with a strong academic foundation, and I am really looking forward to working with our wonderful Pre-K students and families.

I am glad to meet you! My name is Debbie Ruffcorn, and I absolutely LOVE kindergartners and their special world of learning. I have been an educator for eighteen years, ten of which I spent in my own classroom teaching second grade, first grade then kindergarten. God works in the lives of little children so transparently, and it is so exciting to see His teachings blossom with each child in my room. Having a Christ-centered and Bible-based learning environment allows students to grow spiritually as well as academically—a partnership I am passionate about! 

I am a Pacific Northwest native, and my husband, Ron, and I enjoy the natural beauty and great history of our state with road trips. I also am an avid gardener using native plants that encourage birds to visit our yard. We have a loving daughter, Hannah, who was married to her husband July 2020 and now has two children. 

I am honored to be your Kindergarten teacher and look forward to the blessings God will pour out on us at Shoreline Christian School as we journey together this school year!

Hi! My name is Monica Wheeler, and I am very excited to be a part of the Shoreline Christian School Community as the 1st grade teacher! I relocated to Seattle from Georgia with my family years ago. I have a M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from LaGrange College in Georgia, and a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Education from Texas A&M University. I taught kindergarten in Georgia for 7 years and taught 1st grade in Texas for 3 years. I am excited to have the opportunity to teach in a Christ-centered school. 

I have been married to my wonderful husband Ben for 17 years, and we have 3 boys— Henry, Simon, and Lucas—who attend Shoreline Christian. We have absolutely loved exploring the outdoors in the Northwest and enjoy hiking and bike riding with our kids.

Hi! My name is Allison Kamholz. I grew up in Southern California and received my Bachelor’s degree from Sonoma State. I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree through Grand Canyon University. I discovered my passion for education and teaching at a young age and it became quite obvious that this was God’s purpose for me. I come from a family of educators and am very proud to follow in their footsteps. 

In 2020, I moved to Washington and was blessed with the opportunity to get back into education. This will be my fourth year as a teacher and my first year at Shoreline Christian. I am very excited for the adventures to come this year!

Hello! My name is Lydia McCroskey and I’m so excited to be a part of SCS’s community. I have lived in the Seattle area my whole life and had the pleasure to attend SCS and be an alumni here.

I graduated from Whitworth University with a degree in elementary education and a minor in special education and reading instruction. I have had many amazing experiences with students in a variety of settings and grade levels. 

I’m so excited for this year to see God’s faithfulness and what He has in store.

Hello! My name is Krista Bosman, and I am honored to teach 3rd grade at Shoreline Christian. I recently moved to the area and come with 8 years of experience teaching 3rd grade at a private school. I really enjoy students at this age level, so I’m glad that I get to continue teaching 3rd graders at SCS!  

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and was so impacted by my education growing up, that I wanted to offer the same quality, Christian education to the next generation of students. It is my desire to not only teach students academics, but also touch their hearts in a way that brings them closer to Christ. I’m excited to learn and grow with my new students this year!

Outside of teaching, I’ve enjoyed playing piano on the worship team at church, hiking out in God’s creation, seeing beauty in the world, and spending time with family and friends. I also drink tea most days and have an orange tabby cat, named Hamilton.

My name is Sarah Wine, and I am so excited to be teaching fourth grade at SCS (in the very same classroom that I was once a fourth grader!). I believe that one way that we can worship God as students is by celebrating creation through creating as artists, mathematicians, writers, readers, scientists…etc. In the classroom, I love to have big discussions, get lost in good books, and make math into an adventure!

I grew up in Shoreline near Richmond Beach where my favorite hobbies were and still are collecting shells (and glue-gunning them into various creations), ballet/lyrical/jazz dancing, watercolor painting, and making big bouquets of flowers from my grandma’s rose garden. Whether at the beach or up in the mountains, I love to be out in nature and to document what I see through art and writing. Thank you for welcoming me back into this wonderful community; I can’t wait for all that this year will hold.

SCS Alumna

My name is Nate Alexander, and I am excited to be part of the Shoreline Christian community this year. I grew up in Shoreline and have always been passionate about education, as I am a child of an educator myself. I graduated from Seattle Pacific University in December 2023 and have since worked in Shoreline Schools, supporting special education students.

My commitment to serving youth extends beyond the classroom; I am actively involved in my church, Bethany Greenlake, and have spent many years with Young Life. Giving back to the community has been a significant part of my life, inspired by my parents’ dedication to serving children when I was younger and beyond.

I love all sports, especially Husky athletics and basketball, and I enjoyed my time as an assistant basketball coach at Shorewood High School. I believe in walking alongside students as they grow and succeed in all areas of their lives.

My approach to education focuses on the whole child. I understand that students thrive when they feel known, supported, and valued. I look forward to ensuring that each child has a fulfilling and enriching educational experience.

I have been teaching for five years now, all at Shoreline Christian School. This place and these students have encouraged and helped me grow as an individual and an educator. As I continue to teach and walk alongside students, I pray they will know God’s love, see the world with wonder, and embrace the power of the word “yet”. 

Originally I was born in Illinois, but spent my childhood in Honduras (4 years) and South Korea (8 years). I got my bachelor’s degree from Calvin University in Elementary and Special Education. I enjoyed playing soccer and discovering my passion for teaching at Calvin. I now call Washington my home and love the mountains, water, and the many coffee shops. 

It is an honor to be the 6th grade teacher here at SCS!

When touring SCS as a Kindergarten option for my daughter, I was instantly impressed with the warm community and
educational philosophy holistically integrating faith in every area of instruction. I grew up in Edmonds and attended
public schools until transferring to SPU as a Junior. After graduation I settled into a career as a professional nanny which
took me to Washington DC for almost a decade. It was there I met my husband and after we welcomed our daughter,
we decided to move closer to my family in the Seattle area. I’m delighted join the staff of SCS as a teacher’s assistant to
continue supporting families with our common goal of learning about and glorifying God by understanding and enjoying
His creation.

Outside of school you might find me in a pool, at a park or at home, baking, reading or playing games.

Hi! My name is Briana, but on campus I’ll go by Coach Bri. I’ll be in our gymnasium teaching Elementary P.E. and coaching our high school volleyball teams. I think I have the best classroom here!

My goal as the elementary PE teacher is to create a safe space for every student – whether going to the gym is their least favorite, or their very favorite part of the school day. The way we learn about our bodies and movement as they relate to sports is a critical element of both our mental and physical development. Everyone remembers their early PE experiences, and the memories are either overwhelmingly positive or negative, not a lot of neutral. If our gym is the place where students learn (and continue!) to love sports and movement, then I think we’re doing it right.

When I’m not in the gym, I love to be in the sun. My favorite way to unwind and re-center is to pop in my AirPods, listen to an audiobook, and tend to my yard. My other job as chief scheduler and wellness manager for my five kiddos (+husband +dog) keeps me alert at all times. What’s the saying? “Full schedule, full heart?” I’m thankful for it all.
Looking forward to a great year here at SCS. Go Chargers! 

I grew up in Canada and played field hockey at the University of British Columbia.  I’ve been at SCS for over 20 years. During those years, I have taught many different middle school and high school classes including: literature, geography, history, Bible, PE, and explorations. I am currently the Director of Secondary. This role allows me to work with students and teachers, create new programs and classes, and connect with families and the community.

Working at SCS has given me freedom to engage with teachers and learners in a wide variety of ways. The faith-focused community at SCS is a big part of what makes it so special and so rewarding to be a part of. 

I love cheering on our Charger athletes in sports, watching school plays, going to music concerts, and greeting all students in the parking lot. Outside of school, I enjoy skiing with my family and summer vacation adventures. My two children have attended SCS since they were in preschool.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always had a passion for God’s Creation. I loved visiting the zoo, collecting earthworms, and especially learning more about how the natural world works in school. 

I grew up in Seattle and am an alumna of SCS. After 14 years at SCS, I attended Whitworth University where I earned a B.S. in Biology. Throughout my teen and college years, I fulfilled my dream of working at Woodland Park Zoo in the education department, providing engaging experiences for learners of all ages. 

At SCS, my passions were nurtured, and I was deeply known as an individual in our community. Now, as a teacher, I strive to provide my students with the same exceptional experience I had at Shoreline Christian where they are able to discover, develop, and belong. 

I’m excited to share my passion for biology, chemistry, physics (and more) while helping students explore their own God-given abilities and passions.

SCS Alumna

Hello! My name is Marta Stahlfeld, and I am the Secondary Social Studies teacher at Shoreline Christian School. I was born and raised in the Burien area, and I love the Pacific Northwest. I earned my undergraduate degree at Wisconsin Lutheran College and my graduate degree in teaching at Seattle Pacific University. Soon after graduating from SPU, I moved to Shenyang, a city in northeast China, to teach at an international school.

I love history because people are endlessly fascinating. The study of history and social studies allows approaching those people—individuals, groups, and movements—that helped to shape the world they lived in and the world we live in.

My name is Heather Whitney, and I am delighted to be at Shoreline Christian School teaching secondary math! I love the precision and beauty of mathematics, and I hope to inspire my students to develop both a practical and an awe-filled appreciation for the ways in which math reflects the elegance and extravagance of God’s Creation. 

After a previous career in wealth management and finance, I spent the past 15 years as an educator and academic coach in the broader Seattle area, with a particular focus on executive functioning support, gifted education, and the intersection between the two. I love helping my students grow as learners, develop an awareness of their own unique interests, lean into strengths, and embrace challenges.

In my free time you’ll often find me hanging out with my family, walking my dog, Ruby, leading worship, cooking, or watching Sounders games (or Arsenal games really early on Saturdays or Sundays)!

I am originally from North Central Indiana and moved to the Seattle area in 1999. This is my 20th year of teaching at SCS and 19th year of coaching basketball. SCS has been a special place for me and my family. My wife, Tammie is an alum (class of 1995), and we have one child who is an alum of SCS (2022) and also another in 7th grade (class of 2029!).

I love sports of all kinds, hiking, running, reading about economics, culture, and philosophy, and love being outdoors. I appreciate chances to get together with friends and family and have great conversations.

I always want to help students learn and grow in an environment where they feel connected, seen, and loved for exactly who they are, as I believe Christ sees and loves them. Thank you for sharing your students with me.

Hello! My name is Mr. Zabel (or just “Ben”). I grew up in the Church, with a father who served as a pastor all over North America. I attended North Park University in Chicago, where I received a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a bachelor’s degree in Biblical & Theological Studies.

After graduation, I spent 9 years serving in youth ministry and worship ministry roles in a few different churches while completing coursework and internship requirements for a Masters of Divinity degree from North Park Theological Seminary. I hold ordination in the Evangelical Covenant Church, which is the denomination I serve as Lead Pastor at Shoreline Covenant Church. When I’m not working, I love to watch and play soccer, play board games with friends and family, and sit around the campfire in our backyard.

This year, I’m celebrating 21 years in the classroom! My favorite five years have been here at Shoreline Christian School teaching middle and high school English. I also support our teachers as an instructional coach, helping and guiding our amazing staff.  

I’m not only a teacher, but a Shoreline Christian School parent as well. My four children attend SCS, from elementary through high school. I graduated from Santa Clara University with a BA in History and Education, from Stanford University with a MA in Education and a clear teaching credential, and finally the University of Washington with an M.Ed in instructional leadership. I love being in the classroom with SCS students, and our small class sizes allow me to really get to know each learner. Together as a class community, we can share where we see God’s goodness and truth in literature, communication, and writing.  

In my free time, I garden, read, travel, snuggle cats, and practice French. 

My name is Cathy Lian, and I am excited to step into the role as the PreK-12 Inclusion Specialist. I have over ten years experience in Special Education roles such as a self-contained behavior classroom, pull-out Resource Room, and self-contained life skills classroom. I am particularly eager to join Shoreline Christian School and support the inclusionary model. I believe that each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139) and that God has a clear purpose for everyone. Therefore, I am called as an educator to help children believe in something bigger than themselves, discover their God-given talents, and recognize who they are as God’s chosen child. I approach children with compassion, patience, understanding, and respect. I seek to teach students to learn from mistakes, persevere through things that don’t come easy, and to believe in themselves. 

My husband and I live locally in Shoreline, and we have three children ranging from 2 to 9 years old. Together, we love to visit our property on Hood Canal, play board games, and go to the park. I enjoy being outdoors, running, coaching my son’s soccer team, and playing the piano. 

I am honored to walk alongside your child’s educational journey and support their academic, behavior and social/emotional growth.

Hi, I’m Eric Taylor, the Athletics Director at Shoreline Christian School.

As a Seattle native, I was fortunate to receive an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Saint Martin’s University, where I earned my BS in Biology. My passion for sports has led me to own and operate several youth sports organizations over the past decade, and I continue to actively coach select basketball teams.

In my spare time, I enjoy watching my favorite sports teams, traveling, or reading a new book. I’m committed to helping each student-athlete at Shoreline Christian discover their passion, develop their skills, and achieve their goals. I’m excited to be part of a community that values growth, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence.

Hi, my name is Anthony Jenkins, and I am an Office Administrator here at SCS. I am new to this administrative role but am an eager learner and excited to invest more in SCS and the students. 

Currently I am an online student at Southeastern University studying Biblical Studies and minoring in Psychology. I am originally from North Carolina but spent most of my life in Tacoma. 

I love Jesus, and everything I do is to serve Him and others. The two greatest commandments are some of the pillars that I live by as a follower of Jesus.

I love SCS because of the community that has been built and the connections I have already made within this school. I am also the Girls’ Varsity Head Basketball Coach, which has been a fantastic experience.

I love to tinker on just about anything mechanical, and derive great pleasure in spending entirely too long on something, so it is just right when finished.

When I’m not at school and not doing normal family stuff you will find me with my wife and three children hiking, boating, or flying.

My goal is to help each student expand their ability to think logically, critically, and creatively. Through this, they can better understand our Creator’s world and how to best live in it.

Hi, I’m Nan VanKlaveren, and I’m coming out of retirement, to teach PreK-2nd grade music. (I always knew it would be the ONLY reason I’d come out of retirement, because I love music and kids!)  I taught for 37 years (18 in Christian Schools, and 19 in the Edmonds School District), and then worked in Pharmacy at Costco, for 3 years before officially retiring.  

I’m excited to be part of the SCS family!  I am an alumni, and attended from 4th-11th grade, when our family moved to Ohio. I graduated from Calvin University and did graduate work at the University of Washington, all in music education and elementary Ed.

My husband and I have 2 adult (married) sons, all living in the area. 

I’ll be on campus 2 afternoons a week, and look forward to getting to know everyone! 

Hello, my name is Chris Peck. I am a transplant from Boise, Idaho. I have always loved music and am a life-long multi-instrumentalist and singer. I worked for years as a worship pastor before deciding to make the switch to education. When I am not at school, I can be found about town, playing board games, or on the water somewhere fishing. I love all things having to do with Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, guitars, and fishing.

I grew up in Shoreline and now live with his wife and boys in Seattle. I majored in visual art at Seattle Pacific University in the 90’s and got my master’s in art education from University of Florida in 2016. I started my career teaching K-12 art at Carachipampa Christian School in Bolivia, and then taught at Eastside Christian for 22 years. After teaching mostly Spanish in a public and a non-Christian private school, I am very excited to return to teaching at a school where I can openly share my faith and get to teach art to all levels again. 

I love working in a wide variety of artistic media and styles, mostly drawing and painting. Although my gifts are more in visual art than music, I enjoy playing guitar and percussion, mostly for worship at my church in Wallingford. I am a fervent bike commuter and love competing in triathlons when I can. As a Seattleite, I also enjoy all sorts of outdoors activities, especially when the weather is good.   

Hi! My name is Beth Knutsen. I grew up in Bothell, and attended SPU for both my undergraduate and graduate studies.  I deepened my love of Spanish during a two month mission/service trip to the Dominican Republic at the end of my freshman year of college. I later participated in the Latin American Studies Program in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Cuba which was a deeply impactful and meaningful experience. I earned my Masters in Teaching degree with endorsements in ELL and Spanish, teaching in local public high schools until I had my second child. I am excited to return to the classroom, and my husband and I are thrilled to have our 4 boys join the Shoreline Christian community!

When I am not in the classroom you can find me on the soccer field walking around chatting with friends or listening to an audiobook and watching my boys practice. If I have free time I love hiking around St. Edwards, watching theater or ballet, baking, gardening, playing games, puzzling, and spending quality time with my friends and family! 

I have been at SCS since 2020 and have been teaching since 2016. My elementary and ELL endorsements are through CityU. I am Wired for Reading Level 3 trained. I also have an MFA in Children’s Writing through Simmons College and was a children’s bookseller for 8 years.

I have taught and assisted in many grades, and my favorite has been reading intervention (of which I have done for many years now). When teaching beginning readers, much of our time is focused on learning phonics and other pre-reading skills through chants, discussions, and interactive games. For more advanced readers, I like to use books of their choice to decode/discuss, while still utilizing interactive games. (I love redeveloping classic games and individualizing strategies that are unique to each child.)

For math intervention, I empathize with students who struggle with numbers and calculations. (Math was so hard for me as a kid. I was almost screened for dyscalculia.) Once I found patient teachers who didn’t make me feel stupid over “not getting” even the simplest problems, numbers started making sense. I was able to climb over the barrier of math making me feel stupid and inadequate. Through my years of teaching math, I have found ways to break down each step of even a “simple” math problem into approachable segments.

Some non-educational facts: I have two cats, Hunter and James. I attend Trinity Church Seattle (in Ballard), I commute by bike, I love sketching (mainly ink and watercolor) and digital drawing, and I love coffee and chocolate.

I am a mama of four who has homeschooled for the past seven years and have now moved from coast to coast! I was born and raised in Massachusetts and have slowly moved across the country with my husband and family for ministry. I lead worship at our church and own a small “paint and sip” business. You can find me in my garden, on a hike, or reading a great book! I also love to go camping and spend as much time with my family as I can!

I am Leanna Ramos. My current position here at Shoreline Christian School is in Secondary Student Support, and I teach the CTE 9 class. I have been in education for 15+ years. In the past, I have taught all subjects in grades 5 through 8. I enjoy seeing students succeed. A driving factor for me to go into education was the fact that I was a student who struggled—but didn’t know I struggled—so I didn’t understand why I didn’t get good grades. Then in 7th grade everything started to make sense. I say that this is when “God turned my brain on.” I believe all students can learn; we just all learn in different ways and at different rates.

I have taught in a Christian private school for 10 years and 3.5 years in public school. I did my undergraduate studies at Seattle Pacific University and my Masters In Teaching from City University. I enjoy being able to integrate my faith into my teaching.

My name is Rachel Mesenbrink, and I am so excited to be joining the Shoreline Christian School team as a Support Staff. In 2020, I earned my bachelors degree at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and I am continually working my way towards earning my full teaching degree. The past three years I have worked in Canada, B.C. as an Education Assistant, helping students with diverse-abilities. I have always had a passion for teaching and helping people to realize their full potential. God has given us all a different story and varying ways that we can thrive, whether it be through academic work, social interactions, or extracurricular activities.  

I moved down to Washington to expand my teaching experiences and to be auntie to my new nephew. Since moving, I find that I am most excited to help my sister with the new baby and to explore the Pacific Northwest. In my spare time, I love to be outside in nature; hiking, biking, or swimming. Additionally, when the weather is not so nice, I love to drink tea and create new things by crocheting, scrapbooking, or making a new craft.  

I am thankful for all of the wonderful opportunities that are before me and am excited to see how God uses me through Shoreline Christian School. I can’t wait to be in the classroom helping students to discover their God-given talents and find a place to belong. 

My name is Jennifer Jones and I work in Extended/Childcare. I have been at Shoreline Christian since 2004 when my daughter Kylie was in second grade. She graduated from SCS in 2016. I enjoy working with different age groups of kids, which makes childcare a perfect fit as we work with children from Pre-K to 5th grade. I love hearing about their day and watching them have fun with their friends as we play games, be creative in art, read books and get exercise outside. As this is my 19th year at SCS it has been fun to watch kids I have known since Preschool excel and grow all the way through high school graduation. Some even return to help out in childcare during their high school years which is very rewarding.

I feel blessed to have been married to my incredible husband King for the last 34 years. He has been the head of Maintenance the last 3 years so SCS has been a real family affair for us. In our leisure time our family loves to travel. We especially enjoy road trips to visit our beautiful National parks and cruising. This past summer we enjoyed our first extended trip to Europe with a 35-day tour of Italy, Greece and Rome, including a 19-day cruise.