Jennifer Allen
West Michigan has always been my home. I attended GRCC, Grand Valley State University and finished a communications degree at Kingston University in a study abroad program in the UK. My husband Todd and I married in 2004 and we have three children who continue to inspire and amaze us. My family loves to spend time outside on lakes and trails or in Northern Michigan. Prior to teaching I spent 13 years working in communications on a marketing team. After resigning to spend time at home with my family, God had a different plan for my return to work; my heart was led to teaching. Before coming to Forest School I worked in a Christian preschool along with substituting. It is such a joy coming to work each day to be with our class and watch them grow, learn and explore in God’s creation.
Dena Apotheker
I graduated from Calvin College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Special Education. Upon graduating, I taught first grade at Zeeland Christian School for several years. I later returned as a reading support teacher. I am excited to now be part of the Holland Christian community! My husband Tim and I have 3 children: Lauren, Max, and Zach. As a family, we enjoy being outdoors by skiing, boating, and playing golf together. I consider it a joy to walk alongside students to support their academic and spiritual growth. I am very grateful to be part of God’s work within the classrooms and hallways of Rose Park each day!
Joe Baillargeon
I graduated from Holland Christian in 2002 and Calvin College in 2006. Before coming to HC I taught at Lake Worth Christian School in Boynton Beach, FL and Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville. My wife, Lisa, and I have three boys. I value time spent outside in all facets such as camping, hunting, fishing, dirt biking, or a simple walk in the woods. My other interests include any and all sports, especially baseball, and listening to music.
I am excited to teach at Holland Christian and be a part of this community again. I am looking forward to teaching social studies to middle schoolers. I want to be able to show them the wonders of an active God in His world and where their place can be found.
Duane Baker
I graduated from Calvin College with a B.S. in accounting and then returned to school to pursue a history major, and minors in economics and earth science. I also hold an MBA from Grand Valley State University with an emphasis in economics and finance. I enjoy traveling, running, swimming and hiking and am a high school and college basketball official as well as a Certified Flight Instructor. I am married to my wife (Dawn) and we have three children.
I teach at Holland Christian because each year I have felt God leading me to continue my ministry here. I love seeing high school-aged faces throughout the day and playing a role, along with their Christian families, in preparing them to live for Christ, impacting a world that very much needs to feel His justice, love, and grace.
Dawn Baker
I graduated from Calvin College with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. I taught for one year in Iowa before God provided a job at Rose Park teaching 4th and 5th grade for 11 years. During this time I earned a masters degree in elementary education. I then felt God calling me to stay home with our children. In 2010 I began aiding in preschool, and I currently teach 4’s preschool at South Side.
I’m married and have 3 children. I enjoy walking, reading, scrapbooking, being outdoors, and spending time with family.
It’s a great joy for me to teach children in a Christian school. I love young children’s curiosity, energy, and love for life. It is a privilege to partner with parents in teaching their children about God’s love. My prayer is that my life will point students to Jesus.
Macie Barry
I attended Spring Lake High School and continued my education at Wheaton College, graduating with a degree in business economics. After running my own business for a few years, I followed the Lord’s calling to go back to school to become a teacher. I am thrilled to be working my first year at Holland Christian! My love for teaching, creating relationships with students, and raising the next generation of Christians has equipped me for this position.
I live in Grand Haven and recently got married to Lucas! You will often find us playing board games, pickleball, and golf. My passions are board sports, puzzles, and cats!
I am thrilled to share my love for the Lord with students. Holland Christian encourages students God-given gifts to shine, and I love being a part of that!
Laura Barton
I had the privilege to attend Holland Christian and graduated in 2003. I received my Associate of Arts in Child Development in 2006 and taught in a few different preschool settings before deciding to work from home as a childcare provider so that I could be home with my children.
I’m excited to now be teaching at Holland Christian! I feel blessed to be able to walk alongside my students in their earliest years of learning, guiding them in their knowledge of Jesus Christ. It is an absolute joy to work with young children!
I am married to Erik and have three boys who all attend Holland Christian. We attend Providence CRC and enjoy doing things as a family outdoors including camping, biking, and swimming. My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 because I find comfort in knowing that God goes before me and has a beautiful plan for my life.
Melanie Beckman
After graduating from Covenant Christian High School and attending Davenport University, I worked in various roles in the auto industry until staying home to raise our children. I started working at Holland Christian in 2021 as my youngest child began full-time kindergarten. My amazement for all that God has created, a love for the outdoors, and a passion to serve has led me to this position.
My husband and I have three children in HC schools and we have been blessed by the community, and most especially by the staff. I am excited and honored to join this group of servant-hearted leaders who love God and live out his calling on their lives. I pray that God’s Word will be written on the hearts of each child and that he will use me to let them know his love.
Sarah Becksfort
I attended Holland Christian from kindergarten through 12th grade and truly appreciated the formative and personalized experience. After graduating in 2007, I attended Hope College where I received my certification in Elementary Education and Special Education-Learning Disabilities. I am married to Ross and we have three children. We worship at North Holland Reformed Church.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking walks, and reading. I feel blessed and overjoyed to be able to teach in a school system that played such a significant role in my own faith formation! My role as a teacher, faith leader, and support for my students allows me to demonstrate Christ’s unconditional love and acceptance in my daily actions.
Jennifer Becksvoort
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Hope College in 1996, and went on to earn a masters degree from Western Michigan University in 1999. I have been a teacher at Holland Christian since 1996.
I am married to Robert Becksvoort and we are parents to two sons, Austin and Dylan. We make our home in Holland and attend Providence Church. In my spare time, I enjoy being outside, scrapbooking, and going to the gym and pool.
It is a blessing to observe how God has created each child in my classroom in His image. With God’s help, I seek to nurture each child’s academic, emotional, and spiritual life. It is a joy to be a teacher at HCS!
Merideth Beukelman
I graduated from Holland Christian in 2009 and then went on to Calvin College to study secondary education, where I graduated in 2014. After graduating from Calvin I moved to the Black Forest of Germany, where I served for two years as a middle school science teacher. Once my second year at Black Forest Academy was finished I moved to Dublin, Ireland, where I attended University College Dublin to obtain my masters degree. Ireland was also where I met my husband, Andrew.
Getting the opportunity to learn and do science alongside young people, while continually encountering and learning more about the greatness and love of our Creator is the best job in the whole world, and I am humbled that I get the chance to do it every day.
Erika Blom
I graduated from Hope College in 2006 with a degree in Vocal Music Education and began teaching at Holland Christian in 2009. In addition to teaching choir at the high school, I assist with the theatre department as a vocal coach.
I enjoy life with my husband, Josh, and our three kids. We like to spend time playing music together, cooking and eating good food, and exploring new places.
Music is an integral part of society. I desire for students to grow a deeper understanding and appreciation of music through participating in choir. More importantly, I believe that we were created to worship our Creator. Singing plays a central role in expressing praise and honor for what God has done for us through Jesus. I am humbled to be able to lead our students as we worship God together in song.
Katie Boer
I graduated from Holland Christian High School in 2006 and from Calvin College in 2010 with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Spanish. Before rejoining the Holland Christian community in 2013, I taught at Rehoboth Christian School and Kalamazoo Christian School. It is my goal to combine my range of cultural experiences with my ability to be a compassionate, enthusiastic, and intelligent teacher who will make a positive contribution to the Holland Christian community.
I take comfort daily from the words in Psalm 23, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me… Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.”
Natalie Boer
I had the privilege to attend Holland Christian and I graduated in 2011. I continued to Calvin University to pursue my love for teaching. I graduated with a B.A. in Elementary and Special Education. I have been teaching at Holland Christian since 2015.
I grew up in Holland with my parents and three older sisters. My husband Kyle and I were married in the summer of 2018. Kyle and I live in Holland and belong to Pillar Church. In addition to teaching, I enjoy reading, taking exploratory walks through God’s Creation, and spending time with my family and friends.
I have found it my passion to teach all of God’s amazing children. Guiding children to grow in their faith with Jesus Christ is what I am called to do.
Anna Boorsma
I graduated from Calvin College with a major in Integrated Science and a minor in Physics and I started teaching at Holland Christian in 2010. I completed my Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Science in 2015. My husband, Anthony, works as an engineering manager in Grand Rapids. We live in Byron Center and enjoy traveling and playing board games. I enjoy gardening during the summer.
Science is about curiosity and answering questions about the world that God has created. The world has been created to be an intricate network of connections and I love to see wonder in those connections. I am very blessed to be teaching at Holland Christian because I am able to teach students to see Christ through science as well as in the Holland Christian community.
Rita Bos
I graduated from Hope College in 1996 with my B.A. in elementary education emphasizing on math and science. In 2000, I received my M.A. in elementary education from Western Michigan University. After teaching in West Ottawa for four years, I took ten years off to be home with my children.
My husband, Mark, and I have been blessed with three treasured children, Parker, Annika and Madison.
I consider it an incredible privilege to be teaching at Holland Christian! I pray each day, with God’s leading, I am able to help students understand they are “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the image of our GREAT God!
Leanne Bouwman
I attended Jenison Christian, Unity Christian, and Trinity Christian College. I graduated in 2009 with a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education and minor in psychology. Since then I have been teaching here at Holland Christian. I love being a part of the Holland Christian community.
I am married to Michael and we live in Zeeland. When I am not in the classroom I love to spend time with family and friends.
“Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky” (Philippians 2:15b). I believe that each child of God is a unique star in the sky. God has gifted us all differently in His image. As an educator I am able to teach my students how much our Sovereign God loves them. I love to share my faith and hear stories about how God is working in the hearts and lives of my students.
Krystle Brouwer
I graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2007 with my major in English Literature and my minor in Elementary Education. I began my teaching career in public education where I taught for 11 years. I am so excited to be teaching second grade at Forest School, after years of teaching preschool and Junior Kindergarten at South Side!
My husband, Chad and I have two children who attend Holland Christian. We attend Providence Church and enjoy spending time together as a family in downtown Holland and exploring all the beautiful nature spaces Holland has to offer. In my spare time I love to read, spend time outside, and camp with my family.
I am passionate about helping kids feel included and loved in my classroom. I am honored to be able to share God’s love with my students each and every day.
Amanda Brouwer
I feel so blessed to be able to continue the work God is doing in me at Holland Christian. I am a graduate of Holland Christian Schools, Hope College, and received my masters in early childhood education. I have been teaching preschool at Holland Christian since 2006.
My husband and I met in high school and have been blessed with three amazing children. As a family we enjoy camping, fishing, being outdoors, and movie nights.
Working in a Christian school gives me the opportunity to use my God given gifts and talents to make my students’ learning experience nurturing, fun, and memorable. They are all created with gifts and talents that will help build His kingdom and I have the honor to play a part in helping them grow into the person God created them to be.