Bay City Christian School Teachers
A Team Committed to Your Child’s Education
A Christ-Centered Approach to Education
Our teachers are what makes us special. We all believe your children have eternal souls, so we take great responsibility to take care of their earthly education and their eternal education.
Meet Our Teaching Team
Amanda Moss
Sixth Grade
Amy Hager
Third Grade
Amy holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Maranatha Baptist Bible College. She has years of experience in both teaching at Christian schools as well as homeschooling her own three children. Amy takes a hands-on approach to education and goes the extra mile to make every one of her students feel welcome in her classroom. She values the importance of a Christ-centered education for her children as well as those in her classroom. Amy sings in the church choir, plays the piano in church, works in AWANA, and teaches a ladies Bible study. She and her husband Aaron
Debbie Brown
Fifth Grade
Debbie holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Bob Jones University. She credits her dad for helping her pursue a career she loves. He told her, “I hope you find something you love to do, and then find someone to pay you to do it.” The Bible verse Debbie finds most inspiring as a teacher is Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do with all thy might!” Debbie currently teaches 5th grade at Bay City.
Besides being the 5th grade teacher, Debbie keeps busy as church choir leader, piano teacher, women’s Bible study teacher, mom, grandma, and also
Dr. Michael Phillips
School Administrator and Math
As the administrator of Bay City Christian School, Dr. Michael Phillips is dedicated to using his expertise and experience to provide students a solid, balanced education that will push them to succeed educationally, socially, and spiritually. One of his greatest rewards in life and ministry has been the joy of watching students grow into young men and women that are seeking God’s will in their lives.
Jamie Gleason
First Grade
Jamie graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in International Studies. After being called into Christian education, Miss Gleason returned to BJU and earned a Master of Arts degree in teaching with a concentration in elementary education. She comes to Bay City with three years of Christian school experience in Virginia.
Katlyn Cashner
Kindergarten
Katlyn recently graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. In college, Katlyn worked at an afterschool program through the YMCA looking after children aged 4 years old to 5th grade. She has also student taught at Twin Rivers Elementary. Katlyn has also been involved in many ministries in both her home church and her extension church in college. She has worked in both children’s and teen’s ministries, as well as several music ministries.
Katlyn loves music and books. She plays the cello and the piano and sings. Getting lost in a book is one of her
Kellie Luther
Music
Kellie Luther has been heavily involved in teaching music for over 20 years. With a degree in Sacred Music from Northland International University, she focuses her efforts beyond just teaching into church music programs also. Kellie teaches music classes from first grade through twelfth grade. She leads the choir, chimes and band programs, as well as coordinating music for school programs as well as fine arts programs. Kellie hopes to increase her students’ ability and love of music through positive teaching and encouragement while instilling the knowledge of how God can be glorified through music.
Kelly Hawkins
Science
Kelly graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in Science Education. She is the mastermind behind the layout of Bay City’s science lab, which was constructed in 2002. She returns to Bay City after working for several years as a chemistry professor at NWTC. Mrs. Hawkins is anxious to use her love for and knowledge of science in continuing the science curriculum in “her” lab. Kelly and her husband Mark jointly operate a photography business and Hands on Deck, a STEM program teaching boat building.
Leah Marema
Fourth Grade
Leah graduated from Maranatha Baptist University with a major in English and a minor in TESOL. She has been working as an ESL instructor for Literacy Green Bay for the past year. She taught basic level English to adult and teenage immigrants, refugees, and international students from over 15 different countries. Leah has been involved in music and children’s ministries since high school. In college, she joined the orchestra and Chambers choir, and was also involved in music, nursery and children’s ministries in her extension church.
Leah loves reading, hiking, kayaking, camping, traveling, cooking, and knitting. She also loves cats, coffee,
Lisa Weldy
History
Lisa has been teaching in Christian schools, internationally in Korea and in the United States, for over ten years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Practical Christian Training with a minor in history from Bob Jones University as well as a Master of Science in Counseling. She teaches middle school history, Spanish, and speech. Lisa has always been interested in education, partly because her mom was a teacher and an elementary school principal. Now as a teacher herself, Lisa finds great joy in communicating information to her students in a way that helps them understand it, retain it, and be
Merilee Strutz
Second Grade
Merilee has been teaching in Christian education since she graduated from Faith Baptist Bible College with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Bible. She taught a range of ages, from first grade to sixth grade in Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and South Korea before joining the Bay City team.
Merilee enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as reading or participating in the arts, such as plays and symphonies. She stays active in her local church in music ministry and leading children’s church or women’s Bible studies. Merilee desires to be a Christ-like example for her students
Molly Offord
Music
Molly Offord graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in Piano Pedagogy and an MA in Biblical Counseling. Molly heads up the resource program for Bay City. Molly also helps in the music classes by accompanying the choirs. She loves playing the piano and reading, and would love to travel more. Molly wants her students to understand that being a Christian affects how they work, how they play, and how they interact with others.
Pastor Aaron Lichtenwalner
Family Ministries/Youth Pastor & Bible
Aaron Lichtenwalner has served as the Youth and Assistant Pastor at Bay City since 2016. He received his Biblical Studies degree from Northland International University and Boyce College. As the 9th and 10th grade Bible Class teacher, Aaron enjoys investing in the lives of students to encourage their walk with the Lord, their knowledge of Scripture, and their love for the church. Outside of class, Aaron enjoys spending time with his wife Meagan and their son Asa, playing ultimate frisbee, and continuing his education as he pursues his Master of Divinity.
Pastor Dave Bender
Family Ministries Pastor and Bible
Dave Bender has completed two master’s degrees: a master’s in Biblical Counseling and a Master of Ministry. He teaches the senior high Bible class at Bay City. He also oversees family ministries and the counseling center at Bay City Baptist Church while being a part of the Three Desires Seminar. Before serving at Bay City Baptist Church, Dave worked at Faith Baptist Church in California. In his free time, Dave enjoys spending time with his family and playing sports. Dave desires to see his students know the Lord and to serve Him with all their hearts.
Pastor Paul Brown
Senior Pastor and Bible
Paul has been involved in Christian education for over 40 years in nearly every role available. He currently serves as the Senior Pastor at Bay City Baptist Church. He has received a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Bob Jones University. His years in Christian education have spanned from South Carolina to Wisconsin. Paul started teaching at Bay City in 2015 and taught a variety of subjects in middle school and high school and currently teaches 7th & 8th grade Bible. His wife Debbie also teaches at Bay City. Paul’s desire is to see each student grow in their knowledge, understanding,
Sarah Ray
Art Teacher/Elementary Aide
Sarah Ray is the art teacher for all our students at Bay City. Mrs. Ray earned a degree in Fine Arts from St. Norbert College, and we are thrilled to have our first art teacher in both the elementary and high school. She also helps out in our first grade classroom as an aide. She is especially suited for her new responsibilities. Sarah’s compassion was also evident when she worked with special needs children when employed by the City of DePere.
Shellee Phillips
English
Shellee has a bachelor’s degree in Interpretative Speech and Psychology from Bob Jones University. She has over twenty years of experience teaching in Christian schools, and her heart for ministry began at a young age. As far back as she can remember, she has been actively teaching Sunday School, AWANA, and women’s groups. Shellee is passionate about helping each of her students better understand their Creator while teaching them the complexity of the English language. She tries to follow the philosophy that God lays out for the Israelites in Deuteronomy 10:12-13: “Israel, What doth the Lord thy God require of
Tara Hinze
Middle and High School
Tara Hinze, a graduate of Bay City, has taught within Christian schools for over 13 years. Since graduating from Maranatha Baptist University with a degree in History Education, Tara has sought to instill high educational standards and a deep love and understanding of God’s Word. She taught at Bay City from 2001-2005 and 2006-2007 as well at Ozaukee Christian School from 2012-2016. Tara lives with her husband and three children and is heavily involved within Bay City Baptist Church.
Teddy Kincaid
Middle School
Teddy is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist University, where he majored in Physical Education and Health and minored in Coaching. Teddy has worked as a teen counselor at Camp CoBeAc in Michigan and as a youth sports instructor at the YMCA in the past. He has also been involved in music ministry for much of his life. In high school, Teddy led the congregational Spanish music for the Spanish ministry at his home church. As he began college, Teddy desired to follow his parents’ footsteps and joined a choir at Maranatha. In Maranatha’s Chambers choir, he continued his parents’ tradition,
Tiffany Anderson
Kindergarten
Tiffany is a graduate of Bay City Christian School. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English from Maranatha Baptist Bible College. Mrs. Anderson began teaching at Bay City Christian School soon after graduating from college and has taught middle and high school English classes as well as 3rd and 4th grade. She now teaches the K5 class.
Tiffany has been happily married to her husband Ray for nearly 20 years. He pastors Lakeshore Baptist Church in Kewaunee. They have four amazing children, which of course doesn’t provide much time for hobbies. Mrs. Anderson enjoys date
Vanesa Pritchard
Math
Vanesa Pritchard, originally from Michigan, graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College before flying across the world to teach in a Christian school in Saipan. After teaching there for thirteen years, the Lord directed her back to this hemisphere to minister at the Calvary Baptist Christian School in Puerto Rico. Although Miss Pritchard loved both of her places of service, the Lord has led her back to the United States for another chapter of her life. Not only does she bring a wealth of experience in teaching math, Vanesa will direct your students to see the beauty of mathematics in God’s