MEET OUR FACULTY
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Alison Noakes
HEAD OF SCHOOL
anoakes@covenantchristian.school
Being a part of the Covenant Christian family is a true blessing. I have never "worked" in a place where everyone feels like family. My favorite part of the week is Monday mornings when the whole school gathers for chapel. It brings me to tears when I hear the students singing and praising our God!
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, to work alongside children to help support them in their educational development. Prior to coming to Covenant in 2019, I taught for 13 years in various roles: 1st grade, 4th grade and Intervention Specialist working with students K-6th.
I attended Indiana University for my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, IUSB for my Master's in Education and Bethel College for my Master's in Administration. I enjoy learning which is very fitting that I cannot leave the school environment!
My husband and I have two beautiful daughters. We spend most of our time playing and watching sports. We attend St. Marks.
As a mother, I know and understand that you are sending us your most prized possession. It is my goal for you and them to know how much they are cared for, how valuable they are as a person and push them to their full potential academically and spiritually!
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Hannah St. Clair
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
hstclair@covenantchristian.school
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Deana Wilson
FINANCE OPERATIONS MANAGER
dwilson@covenantchristian.school
This is my third year at Covenant Christian School. It is my first year in this position and I'm so happy to be here! I have a great deal of experience after being the administrative assistant for the past two years. I have always been involved in my children's schools over the years and have found that CCS has the most welcoming and positive atmosphere.
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Sarah Castro
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS AND ASSESSMENT, MIDDLE SCHOOL IMMERSION TEACHER
scastro@covenantchristian.school
I have worked in many different roles in education over the last 20 years in both the public and private sector. I can honestly say that Covenant has been the best school to work for. I love being able to share my passion for Spanish with the Middle School students as well as the younger ones. The students are really a joy to be with day in and day out. Being able to share Jesus openly in the classroom with my students is an added (big) bonus. The staff here really strive to live out CCS' mission statement in the classroom as well as their personal lives. I am honored to work alongside them.
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Claire Freddoso
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
cfreddoso@covenantchristian.school
Covenant Christian School is a place like none other. It is a joy to be a part of our staff, and to share about everything we’re doing with the community at large! The love of our teachers for our students and one another resembles a family more than a school, and our commitment to upholding biblical values and principles ensures parents can feel safe that the environment they’re fostering at home is supported in the classroom.
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Sandra Berlin
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
sberlin@covenantchristian.school
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Jennifer Potts
PRESCHOOL TEACHER
jpotts@covenantchristian.school
When the door opened for me to be part of the CCS team, I did not realize how much I would treasure being able to share my fondness for early childhood and love for Jesus at the same time within the classroom setting. Preschool children are curious, eager to learn, and amazed by the simple things in life. There is always laughter and joy in a preschool classroom and I am blessed to be able to see the world through the eyes of a child on a day to day basis. It is wonderful to teach with a like-minded staff that supports your efforts, challenges you to be your best and is willing to pray when a need arises. I appreciate the support I have received from my principal, and other teachers, for my classroom and my teaching philosophy. I am very grateful to be part of such a wonderful school!
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Karen Chavez
PRESCHOOL IMMERSION TEACHER
kchavez@covenantchristian.school
Here at CCS, there is a sense of warmth and comfort as soon as you walk through the doors. I feel extremely blessed to be a part of such a wonderful team and community. The foundation of God’s Word behind every aspect of leadership, communication, and teaching creates a significant difference in the atmosphere of this school. The opportunity to instill this spirit of joy, peace, and the eagerness to learn into early childhood education is a true blessing. Luke 2:40 “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.”
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Kaley Weaver
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
kweaver@covenantchristian.school
I am thankful to have the opportunity to teach kindergarten and be the assistant cross country coach at Covenant this year. I attended Mishawaka High School and Purdue University. I began teaching in 2018. I have taught first grade, third grade, and now kindergarten. I already know that this is my favorite grade to teach! My husband and I have two dogs. We attend church at Vineyard. I spend most of my time outside of school playing with our dogs or reading. I am excited to see all of the growth my students make in academics, their faith, and their relationships with each other this year!
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Angelica Zeider
KINDERGARTEN IMMERSION TEACHER
azeider@covenantchristian.school
Highlights:
I go to sleep every night with a smile on my face thinking of my day. I am so proud of my peers at CCS and the wonderful partnership we have with God and like-minded parents when it comes to faith. It has been a challenging year with changes always happening and we still pull through every time as a team, a family! I value the fact these parents have trusted me with the care and education of their children. Learning a second language could be intimidating for children, and their families as well. We are blessed with immersion teachers who are giving their all to prepare our students academically, spiritually, and emotionally with the incredible support from our office staff and a one-of-a-kind principal.
I love my job here and it has been so fun to get to know and teach a new group with 22 different and unique personalities!
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Emily Twiddy
FIRST GRADE TEACHER
etwiddy@covenantchristian.school
This is my first year working as a first grade teacher at Covenant Christian! I have been so blessed by the way God has opened the doors for me to work here. From student teaching in first grade last year to teaching first grade this year has been so amazing. This school upholds Gospel-centered teaching and actions which is so encouraging. I feel so thankful that I am able to teach in a way that points back to Christ.
“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:5 -
Flor Acevedo
FIRST GRADE IMMERSION TEACHER
facevedo@covenantchristian.school
Proverbs 22:6
" Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old, they will not turn from it."
I'm delighted and blessed to be part of CCS and share my love for Jesus and education in the classroom.
As a native Spanish speaker, I am honored to promote cultural awareness embedded with academic excellence.
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Sarah Bauer
SECOND GRADE TEACHER
sbauer@covenantchristian.school
Working at Covenant Christian has changed my life dramatically. I am surrounded by like-minded Christians whose sole purpose is to give our students top notch education with God at the center of it all.
I am a Mishawaka High School Alumni (2009). During my Junior and Senior year, I was fortunate enough to attend Elkhart Area Career for Childcare and there I was inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. During my college career I attended Ohio Northern University majoring in Elementary Education (minor in history).
Our hearts longed to be home so eventually we came back and I graduated in 2017 from Indiana University with my Elementary Education Degree. During my first 5 years teaching I was teaching in a local public school system.
A friend of mine from church introduced me to Covenant Christian through discussion about her kids attending. I am forever thankful for my friend that introduced me to this amazing school I call my 2nd home.
I wanted to share a bible verse that holds to my heart when I think about CCS:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:1-2
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Annie Bennett
SECOND GRADE IMMERSION TEACHER
abennett@covenantchristian.school
This is my first year at Covenant Christian but my fourth year working in elementary education. What an amazing difference I have seen in working for an organization who puts God first. I have felt so welcomed, cared for and appreciated. I love that students have the opportunity to expand their worldview by learning a new language. It is such a blessing to be able to teach in Spanish and to work with students who are eager to learn and who have supportive parents. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to work with second graders. They are so smart and such a joy to teach!
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Paul Freet
THIRD GRADE TEACHER / SCHOOL CHAPLAIN
pfreet@covenantchristian.school
I am excited to be able to be a part of the staff at Covenant Christian School. I am grateful that the Lord and school leadership has given this opportunity to me. The Covenant community has welcomed me and already made me feel like part of their family. I attended Bethel College (University) and received a B.A. in Bible and Ministry. In 2021, I completed the Transition to Teaching program at Bethel University.
I have been involved in various aspects of ministry from my teenage years on and have served as a lead pastor. Prior to coming to Covenant this year, I had taught Kindergarten and 2nd Grade. I am thrilled to be back at a Christian school where Christ is at the center of all that we do. Presenting a Biblical worldview in the classroom and curriculum truly does make a difference in the lives of students. I believe that the children and youth of this generation are longing for truth and purpose, which is found in Jesus Christ and Scripture. I believe that the Holy Spirit has made this a call and responsibility for the community here at CCS.
The Lord has blessed me with my beautiful wife Amber and daughter and three sons. He has also given me the joy of being a grandpa to six wonderful grandbabies.
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Araceli Calderon
THIRD GRADE IMMERSION TEACHER
mcalderon@covenantchristian.school
It is a blessing in my life to work at Covenant Christian School! I feel welcomed and I’ve received a lot of support from the staff and parents who have also been very kind to me. I cannot fail to mention the principal, Mrs. Noakes, who has always been available when I’ve asked her for help or advice. My students are a special group of talented, active, and very independent students with whom we have been overcoming together every challenge that has been presented to us I n this teaching-learning process. To date, I can day “Thank you God for opening the doors of this school and giving me the opportunity to teach and learn from these wonderful children who bring life to my life every day and to surround myself with professional, respectful, and friendly people.”
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Danielle Mazzocato
FOURTH GRADE TEACHER
dmazzocato@covenantchristian.school
One chapter ends and another one begins. God has a plan for all of us and his plan for me was to begin a new fourth grade position at Covenant Christian School. The opportunity has finally come where I can combine my passion for teaching with my love for Jesus.
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
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Ana Magana
FOURTH GRADE IMMERSION TEACHER
amagana@covenantchristian.school
What I love about Covenant Christian and the immersion program is that with all the fabulous teachers who have taught my now 4th grade classroom, have helped shape and influence their appreciation for the Hispanic culture and the traditions of other countries. I had the opportunity to do an informative unit on winter holidays around the world and the students wanted to learn about each other’s chosen holiday. At the 4th grade level, I love how well they work together, their independence, and their willingness to help and learn the Spanish language. Angelica Zeider took on the role of being the point person for this year’s immersion program and I am so appreciative of her efforts to make sure this year has gone smoothly with what is needed to continue a great Spanish Immersion program. I also enjoy the companionship of the teachers at this school. I love how we are willing to go out of our way to help one another, giving pointers, and that we can rely on each other. I feel very fortunate to teach at a Christian school, such as this great school, because besides helping students grow their love for God, I also get to be a part of that learning alongside them. Thankful for our principal too, these past two years have been notable under wonderful leadership.
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Melissa Horvath
FIFTH GRADE TEACHER
mhorvath@covenantchristian.school
Teaching at Covenant Christian has been a true blessing. The close-knit community here makes it feel like a family, and I cherish every student as if they were my own children.
Over the years, I've had the pleasure of teaching from middle school through fifth grade, and I've discovered my true passion lies in teaching fifth graders.
My goal is to be more than just a teacher. I want to be a mentor and a guiding presence in their lives. The students at Covenant Christian will never truly understand the depth of the impact they've had on me.
Working in a school grounded in the love of Jesus Christ is an incredible honor. It allows me to integrate faith into our daily learning and watch the students grow not only academically but also spiritually. I am deeply grateful to be part of such an amazing community and look forward to a wonderful year ahead.
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Luz Phipps
FIFTH GRADE IMMERSION TEACHER
lphipps@covenantchristian.school
At the beginning of the semester, I was really excited but scared. A new year, a new grade, I didn’t know what to expect. I am absolutely in love with 5th grade. My students are always eager to learn new things. It’s amazing how students can talk and solve problems in Spanish at this young age. I am very surprised how my students can understand different dialects. My class is filled with curious and wonderful personalities. My favorite thing about my class is the desire that the students have to please God in every way. As a teacher, I am so happy that I can talk and incorporate God in all classes. I also love that our parents are willing to work and help us. In addition, I have always felt comfortable talking to our principal. She is always willing to hear and help us in any way possible. The staff is family, if any of us have a problem, we are always ready to help.
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Alaina Henderson
SIXTH GRADE TEACHER
ahenderson@covenantchristian.school
It is an honor and privilege to be here at Covenant Christian School. I love this mission I have been given by the Lord, to educate our young people. I enjoy working with all ages but middle school is my favorite and I am grateful for this opportunity to be in the environment at CCS.
Covenant Christian School is a school that cares for the whole student, mind, body and spirit. The staff at CCS are like family, and it is a joy to work alongside them in the body of Christ for the common goal of educating our students.
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Rebekah Ramos
MIDDLE SCHOOL ELA/BIBLE TEACHER
rramos@covenantchristian.school
Teaching at Covenant has been the best teaching experience I have ever had. The supportive administration, dedicated parents, and helpful teachers are an amazing blessing in my life. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach middle school students this year. This is such an important time in their lives, and I feel privileged to help guide them into the people they will become through their education. I am very passionate about challenging students to build their character as well as their academic understanding.
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Tami Post
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH TEACHER
tpost@covenantchristian.school
I grew up in Holland, Michigan, and received an education degree from Calvin University, with minors in math and English. I also was a member of the cross-country and track teams there. After spending many years moving around throughout the midwest, my family finally settled in South Bend in 2018. I never would have guessed that I would teach middle school math, but I have truly loved it. Being a part of the staff at Covenant, and forming relationships with the students has been a huge blessing to me. I have confidence that God placed me in this position to be a positive role model, mentor, teacher, coach, and even friend to my students. It's my desire to help provide an excellent education for the students at Covenant. And I am so thankful that my two children are part of the CCS family as well.
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Nick Geever
MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER/GYM TEACHER/ELECTIVE TEACHER
ngeever@covenantchristian.school
Mr. Geever joins the covenant team with a long history of investing in young adults as well as youth, and a zeal for helping them recognize the immense potential that they hold for furthering the kingdom and showing the love of Christ to the world. With a strong desire to serve and a love for uniting science and faith, Mr. Geever loves teaching his students to think and engage the world with new perspectives, while always letting God be the focus of it all.
When not at school working with the students, it is not uncommon to find Mr. Geever teaching or helping out in other ways around the area or around the globe. With a passion for missions and a general love for people alongside a curiosity about the whole of Creation, Mr. Geever is often on the go; be it heading abroad for another missions-focused service trip, or just going out on the trail to explore God's creation, he is often up to something and rarely alone in his escapades as he is frequently joined by his lovely wife and sometimes their friends as well.
Needless to say, Mr. Geever is welcomed member of the team and we are glad to have him onboard.
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Emily Lechlitner
Physical Education/Electives
elechlitner@covenantchristian.school
Covenant Christian has quickly become a second home for me. Being able to teach Physical Education, Dance, and Sport Studies is so rewarding. I truly have always had a passion for teaching and impacting young lives. Every day I can put a smile on the student's faces is a day I can call a true blessing.
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Sandra Zylstra
MUSIC TEACHER
szylstra@covenantchristian.school
I have been involved with Covenant Christian School from the very beginning! When my kids were young I was a substitute, a preschool aide, and have served on the education committee for many years. My kids all graduated from Covenant several years ago. The education that they received here really prepared them for their high school and college experiences. The last several years I have also had the privilege of serving as the music teacher. As a music teacher, I want to provide them with a love for music by listening to and learning to play a variety of music through various avenues. I would love for all students to find a special place for music in their life. Music can be a powerful thing if you let it!
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Kandi Bernhard
PRESCHOOL AIDE/SIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER
kbernhard@covenantchristian.school
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Carmen Luna
SPANISH REMEDIATION
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Belkis Rodriguez
SPANISH PREK AIDE
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Kisbel Bastardo
SPANISH AIDE
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Valerie Hiser
MIDDLE SCHOOL MATH/CLASSROOM AIDE
vhiser@covenantchristian.school
I count it as a blessing to be able to work with such great kids here at Covenant. I have always worked with children of all ages at various capacities and it stands to prove that when you pour into a child 's life ,we are advancing and equipping the saints for Kingdom service for Christ Jesus. I'm proud to say that I work for Covenant Christian School and I appreciate the warm environment of a family atmosphere that dwells in our school. I look forward to serving and teaching to the glory of God.
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Denise Boger
CLASSROOM AIDE/ BUILDING SUBSTITUTE
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Sofia Correa
CLASSROOM AIDE/IMMERSION LITERATURE
scorrea@covenantchristian.school
I am very grateful to be at this school and thank God for guiding me here. This is my first year at the school, and I have loved it from the very beginning. The environment is welcoming, cheerful, and conducive to development and learning.
Education has always been my passion, as I believe it significantly contributes to society and the formation of well-rounded and spiritual individuals. I am from Chile, where I worked for 5 years at a private school, and I also completed my Bachelor's Degree in Education and a Master’s in Spain.
I am excited to continue learning and enriching my practice and training through this culture, alongside the excellent professionals at CCS and our students.
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Kim Haughee
REMEDIATION SPECIALIST
khaughee@covenantchristian.school
Kim has a Master’s Degree in Education from Ball State University. She is a certified tutor and trainer at the initial and advanced levels of an Orton-Gillingham IMSLEC accredited training program. She is also a Certified Academic Language Therapist and an Instructor of Certified Academic Language Practitioner through ALTA. She also serves on various ALTA committees. She has 45 years of teaching experience helping children and families address reading challenges.
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Brityna England
MIDDLE SCHOOL ART/BOYS & GIRLS CLUB DIRECTOR
bengland@covenantchristian.school
The longer I work for covenant, the more I am aware that this is where the Lord has called me. I graduated from Grace college with my bachelor of arts degree. From there I worked for the boys and girls club in goshen as their art teacher! Later God called me to work for this wonderful school, the door swung open for me to also direct the after school boys and girls club program! What an honor and joy it is of mine to encourage these young brothers and sisters in Christ. It is truly a blessing to get to speak the name of Jesus in a school.
I am happily married to Marc, who works at Gospel City where we both attend.
Psalm 146:1
Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord.
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Terry Wilcox
MAINTENANCE
twilcox@covenantchristian.school
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Lisa Taulbee
CUSTODIAN
ltaulbee@covenantchristian.school