Amy Holst teaches preschool in the Monkey Classroom (4-year-olds). She attended Dominican University where she received her B.A. in Liberal Studies/Teacher Education. She is a credentialed elementary teacher and has worked with both preschoolers in church and elementary students since she was 11.  God has given her a clear gift and passion for teaching His little ones. She is enthused to be teaching in such a wonderful Christian environment building a foundation in them of God’s everlasting love. Interestingly, Mrs. Holst has had a growing collection of monkeys since she was a kid – now she is teaching a bunch of monkeys!

 

Caitlyn Christie teaches preschool in the Monkey Classroom (4-year-olds) and recorder music classes for 2nd-5th grade students at MCA. She studied music and education at UC Irvine and received additional early childhood training through Vanguard University and Santa Rosa Junior College. She loves helping children discover and grow in their God-given personalities and gifts. She brightens daily lessons with silly and creative songs and has a passion to encourage children and adults to worship God with singing and instruments. Her latest endeavor is learning how to whistle classical opera music!

 

Lucia Mychajluk is currently teaching the Transitional Kindergarten class and has been at MCA since 2004.  She is a graduate from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and started teaching first grade in 1990. As a licensed minister, she has earned the title of Reverend. She and her daughter had an entry in a national science magazine competition that won third place in the nation in 1995. She is dedicated to education and knows that God will use it to transform the children’s lives. She enjoys cross-stitching and is working to finish a project that she started twenty-two years ago.

Anna Rhea Phutsangdee was born and raised in Manila, Philippines and moved to the United States when she and her husband got married in 2009. She has 12 years of experience working with young children and served as a children’s pastor in her local church in the Philippines. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and has Early Childhood units. She plays the guitar and piano and also loves to teach young children how to sing and dance. She joined Noah’s Ark Preschool in 2009 and is currently teaching in the Bearcub classroom (3-year-olds). She loves working at Noah’s Ark Preschool and she believes that she is called to teach each child to love God and to love others. It is her prayer and desire to see each child’s life transformed into the person God has called them to be.

 

Kristen Cederwall teaches in the Ladybug classroom  (2-year-olds) at Noah’s Ark Preschool. She has a B.A. in Spanish from Sonoma State University and her Child Development Site Supervisor Permit. Kristen has spent many years working with young children and has taken many child development classes at Santa Rosa Junior College. It is Kristen’s love of young children and desire to share God’s love with them that brought her to Noah’s Ark Preschool. Teaching children about God in their early years helps to build a stronger foundation for their faith to grow later in life. Kristen also loves to serve on short term mission trips and has been to places such as Macedonia and Kazakhstan.

 

Felicia Ajimatanrareje is the lead teacher of Bear Cubs Class (3-year-olds).  She studied at Patten University and received her BA in Christian Education/Early Childhood Education. She has been a part of Victory Christian Fellowship since 1990 caring for the children at her church. When she was not at church she was previously at Jack in the Box Preschool until starting at Noah’s Ark Preschool in 2004. Her passion for children comes from the natural chemistry she shares with children of any age. Little children are close to her heart. She has spent a majority of her life teaching and raising them, having three of them herself, which are now grown. Felicia feels that the Lord has called her to teaching children in the ways of the Bible. Her heart is never happier than when she is enriching the lives of children. Though she is of Nigerian decent, she takes pride in her ability to cook virtually any dish from any culture.

 

Aleyda Panasik teaches in the Sea Turtle class (Transitional Kindergarten).  Recently, she began teaching Spanish to the Sea Turtle class.  She is in the process of completing her Early Childhood Education Units at College of Marin.  Prior to working at Noah’s Ark Preschool, she worked with troubled teenagers in an after school program called Marin Education. She has a passion for teaching children about Jesus because she feels called to share His love, mercy, and compassion with them.  God has blessed Aleyda with a big heart as she is always putting others first and going out of her way to help them in any way she can.

 

 Sharika Grasso teaches in the Ladybug classroom  (2-year-olds) at Noah’s Ark Preschool.  She studied early childhood education at College of Marin. She previously worked for the City of Novato Parks & Recreation department and was the director of the Children’s Ministry at New Covenant Tabernacle Church for 3 years, and for two years before that at Elmhurst Church.   Sharika comments that “teaching children has been very rewarding for me because I have the opportunity to foster a child’s confidence.  It is amazing to see the excitement on a child’s face when they learn something new, and being an integral part of that process is a blessing. “   She came to Marin Christian Academy when she decided to enroll her children in Noah’s Ark Preschool.   Although she and her family attend Sunday service regularly, she felt her children would benefit from a preschool that is grounded in Christian values. Sharika enjoys photography and making short films.

 

 

Marin Christian Academy Teachers

Cindy Isaac has been teaching Kindergarten at MCA since 2009.  She earned her BA at Kent State University, attended CA State University Northridge and has been a Christian Educator since 1999.  She believes the importance of a Christian Education that starts in the formative year of Kindergarten.  Mrs. Isaac believes  a child’s personality and reading skills are established in kindergarten and that there’s no warmer or richer place to prepare them for life than at Marin Christian Academy.  In her spare time, she writes and directs Christian plays.  She also loves roller coasters.

Kim Lewis is currently the first grade teacher.  She received her BA in Liberal Arts at Fresno State University as well as her teaching credential.  She also earned a Masters of Divinity at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary.  Miss Lewis has a love of working with children of all ages. Prior to coming to MCA in 2005, she taught preschool for 5 years and substitute taught grades K-6.   She loves watching students increase in knowledge and helping them learn new things. Teaching students about God and integrating faith throughout the learning process is truly a blessing. She enjoys collecting smiley faces and visiting Disneyland at least once a year.

Mary Scott has taught both second and third grades at MCA since 1998.  She is currently teaching 2^nd grade.  She has two Bachelor of Science degrees, one in Social Sciences from Southern Oregon State College in Ashland, OR and the second in Ministerial Studies and Biblical Counseling from Christian Life International Bible College in Novato, CA. Upon receiving a professional clear teaching credential from Bethany College in Scotts Valley, CA, she began teaching at Marin Christian Academy. Ms. Scott’s journey as a teacher can ultimately be traced back to a two week “life finding” vacation to Novato in 1982; she visited and never left! She also enjoys hiking, reading, and relaxing with family and friends.

 

Ellie Borrman is currently teaching third grade.  After graduation from Bridgewater State College in Massachusetts, she taught seventh grade English in New Bedford, MA. After three years, she traveled to Hawaii to visit friends who had recently become Christians.  The Holy Spirit soon revealed the reality of Jesus, the living God, and Mrs. Borrman became a new creature in Christ.  Since then, God has opened many different opportunities to teach children and adults both inside and outside of the traditional classroom.  She has been teaching at Marin Christian Academy since 2004.  All of her children are graduates of MCA and are now students at UC Berkeley, SF State and UC Santa Cruz.  Her favorite pastimes include cooking, hiking and time well spent with family and friends.

 

Brianna Kearsley is the 4^th & 5^thgrade teacher.  She graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Diego State University where she completed her degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics.  She also received a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from SDSU. She taught in the San Diego Unified School District for two years before moving to Marin County this last spring with her husband.  Being able to watch the students expand their knowledge and develop a passion for God and learning really drives her love of teaching. She believes that a Christ-centered learning environment not only develops a child’s mind but their spirit as well. In her free time, she enjoys making her own holiday decorations and scrapbooking.

 

Ruth Cooney is the sixth grade homeroom teacher and middle school history teacher. She has been a licensed teacher since 2004. Prior to Marin Christian Academy, she taught in Santa Rosa Christian School as well as Vintage High School in Napa.  Ms. Cooney graduated from Pacific Union College with a B.A. in Spanish and an emphasis in English.  She has also attained a Master’s Degree in Education.  Ms. Cooney has a passion for travelling; she has travelled all over Europe as well as to Taiwan.  She also enjoys hiking, running and spending time with her three young nephews.

 

Cheryl Geyer is the 7^th & 8^th Homeroom teacher and the middle school science teacher. She earned her BA in Education from Wyoming State University and has been teaching for 30 years. She felt called to be a teacher at a very young age and loves watching students grow as the development of academic skills opens new worlds for them. Miss Geyer began her teaching career in an old-fashioned one-room schoolhouse in the mountains of Wyoming! Her favorite pastimes include reading and playing the banjo.

 

 

Diane Searle received her Bachelors of Science Degree from Cal Berkeley, a Master’s in Education and California Multi-Subject Teacher’s Credential (Life) from Dominican University in San Rafael, CA, and a Graduate Certificate in Educational Therapy from SF State University. For 27 years she has taught all grade levels from kindergarten through high school and at the college level in private, public, charter, home schools, and at San Quentin State Prison. She has been part of the Administrative Faculty at the School of Urban Missions Bible College in Oakland.  Diane has also been the director of two learning centers in Novato. She and her husband, Dr. Kenneth P. Searle, have been in ministry together for 33 years. Their three adult children attended Marin Christian Academy and are now college graduates and in the workforce. Mrs. Searle first started teaching for MCA with Deena Reyes and Cheryl Geyer in 1990! Interestingly, she had the same 5th grade teacher as President Obama at Punahou School in Hawaii.