Kindergarten teacher

Contact Amanda via her email

Learning Assistance Coordinator (K-5)

I have loved being a part of this community and am thankful to be taking on a new role as the K-5 Learning Assistance Coordinator.

I grew up in Ontario and went to Redeemer University College in Ancaster.  After getting married in 2000, I transferred to and graduated from Calvin College with my degree in Elementary and Special Education.  I spent a year teaching in Michigan and then moved to Lynden, WA when my husband got a job as a Youth Pastor there.  I do commute across the border each day, which makes life interesting.  I have been through many immigration issues, but am relieved to say I now have my Green Card, and I can live in the United States and work in Canada without worry.

I love to travel, read, and I enjoy all types of outdoor activities.  Most recently I have learned to knit, which makes my Grandmother very proud. 

The thing I appreciate most about LCS?   The kids!  They make each day fresh and exciting.  I am inspired by how they see the world and God’s hand in it. 

Contact Andrea via Email.  

Gr. 4 Teacher 

Anita Wood has been teaching at LCS since 1996 coming from Duncan Christian School.   She has taught grades ranging from 3 to 5 including combination classes.  Other roles Anita has held with LCS include Assistant Principal in charge of curriculum, art teacher to the grade 4 classes, as well as working on numerous committees.  The committees have included the Education Committee, Enrichment Committee, Curriculum Review Teams, and the SCSBC Curriculum Review Team.

Anita grew up in Ontario and moved out to BC when she started her first teaching position in Duncan.   She married Woody Wood (yes really) in 1995.  When Anita was expecting their first child, there was a “name the baby contest” where students got to suggest names for her baby.  The names include “Twiggy” “Holly” “Cedar” and other numerous botanical names. 

Anita and Woody have two lovely girls named Hannah and Isabelle and they are now parents at LCS as well as Anita being a staff member.  Woody has also served with LCS on the Elementary Building Committee.

Contact Anita via Email.

Gr. 5 Teacher 

Annette VandenBrink, a mother of 4 children and wife of a "tall, handsome  bald guy", is currently team teaching grade 5 at LCS.

After graduating from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a BA in Music Education, she enjoyed making music at Abbotsford Christian School, Surrey Christian School and in her church community. 

She enjoys being back in the school, learning along side her students and encouraging them to be leaders through service projects. 

Contact Annette via Email.

SEA Special Education Assistant

Bev Beimers email

ELL Teacher

Prior to working at LCS, I had been pursuing a career in marketing and event coordinating. I had finished a 2 year diploma in Marketing Management from Kwantlen University and was working as an Event Coordinator when a computer injury forced me to quit my job.

I had always been interested in learning about people from other cultures and I wanted to help newcomers settle into Canadian life, so I enrolled at Trinity Western University where I received my TESL Certificate.

While I was finiishing this program, the ELL position at LCS became available and I started teaching both elementary and Middle School ELL. Although my plan was to teach adults, being a parent, I found that it was an easy and wonderful transition to teach children.

The thing I love best about my job is the opportunity to meet children and their families who come from all over the world. I have learned so much from my students! I am especially grateful for the Christian staff I work with everyday who love the Lord, and deeply care about their students.

Contact Carole via Email.

Kindergarten Teacher

I am so excited to be a part of the team at Langley Christian Elementary.

I graduated from Trinity Western University in 1996 with my Bachelor of Education degree. The following September I was hired to teach Kindergarten at Port Kells Elementary in Surrey. It was a fantastic year! (A few years ago they invited me to attend the grade seven graduation of this class. I hadn't seen the children for seven years, but right away I recognized each of them. They had the same faces - only their bodies were bigger :-) )

After Port Kells, I headed off to Senator Reid Elementary School in Surrey and taught grade two for one year and then transferred to grade one. Senator Reid is a very multicultural school, and I enjoyed the new knowledge and experiences that this school community brought me. I stayed there for a total of four years and during that time had two children myself :-)

I met a wonderful teacher at Senator Reid ( who is also a parent at Langley Christian), and the two of us wanted to teach together. We headed off to Hillcrest Elementary in Cloverdale where we had a absolutely amazing year sharing a grade 2/3 split class. That Spring, I became pregnant with our third child, so the following school year I left at the end of September.

I enjoyed five years at home focusing on my children and family life. We enrolled our eldest son in the inaugural Pre-School class of 2004, with the famous Miss Wind, and our two other boys have followed. As parents, we are so happy with the school.

At the start of 2009 I began substituting at Langley Christian Elementary and realized that I really missed teaching! My three boys were getting older (Noah was in grade three, Cody was in grade one and Mackenzie was ready for Pre-School) so when I heard about a fourth Kindergarten class opening up in the Fall of 2009, I jumped at the chance to interview for it.

I can honestly say I love my job! Kindergarten children are at such a neat age. It is so special to see the world through their eyes and they keep me feeling young!

Contact Dawn via Email.

Gr. 3 Teacher

I teach 60% Grade 3 as well as train the Peacemakers and run Drama Club. 

I have taught FOREVER (really, I am OLD!!!)  Put it this way:  I started my first job in 1988.  I came to LCS (via the Prairies) in 1993.

I attended the King’s College in Edmonton for two years, and then enjoyed the next three years at the University of Alberta before graduating as a person capable of maintaining her sanity in a roomful of children on a daily basis.

I love LCS because there is always someone who will listen, who will make me laugh, who will give me a hug, who will pray with me.  This is the most amazing community!

Contact Dawn via Email. 

Special Education Aide

Dorothy isn't ready to tell us her story. Check back soon to hear what she has to say. 

Contact Dorothy via Email. 

Gr. 4 Teacher, Enrichment Coordinator

Elizabeth isn't ready to tell us her story. Check back soon to hear what she has to say. 

Contact Elizabeth via Email.

Gr. 1 Teacher 

I am teaching grade one. Some of the committees I am on are: social committee & chapel theme committee.

How many years have I been teaching – too many to remember. I got my education degree through UBC, with my first year at Trinity. It was a college way back then, but it really formed who I am today and my Christian walk.

I love working at LCS and the staff is incredible. I have made some life long friends.

Contact Fran via Email.  

Contact Gertie via Email. 

Preschool Teacher

Harmony Wilson email

Gr. 4 Teacher 

Hi, I’m Ineke Last and I’m not smarter than a fifth grader. That’s why I’ve been teaching grade 4 for so long!

Prior to teaching at LCS I was a learning assistance aide at LCS for 6 years.

I received my teaching certificate from SFU and have been teaching here since then.

I enjoy walking the track for Running Club and coordinating sound for chapels.

The thing I love most about teaching at LCS is that I am forever learning from the kids.

Contact Ineke via Email.   

Special Education Aide

I joined the LCS family in December 2011 as a Special Education Assistant.

Prior to becoming an SEA, I enjoyed working in dentistry, being a stay-at-home-mom, working part-time as a bookkeeper, taking a few English Composition courses and volunteering at my daughter’s school, among other things.

I have been married to my husband, Ben, for 21 years, and we have been blessed with a daughter, eleven year old Ava.

I am very happy to have a place at LCS; I feel honored and privileged to work both with God’s precious kingdom kids, and alongside the amazing and dedicated staff members at Langley Christian School!

Contact Ingrid via Email.

Teacher Librarian

My name is Jane Traas and LCS is the place to be, since I’ve been here for many years!

I graduated from Calvin College with a BA in Education and began my teaching career as a grade5/6 teacher in Shannon Heights (LCS) . For the next ten years I taught various grades from grade 3 through 6, taking on some of the Art instruction in the rotation schedule.

After an eight year absence from school while busy with home and family, I returned to volunteer in the library. This eventually became a part-time teacher-librarian position. I currently spend two days a week working in the library where the best thing is sharing new stories and old favourites to all the students who come in.

During Lunchtime on Tuesdays, along with a few assistants, I run a Yarn Club for students in grades 4 and 5, where we are learning to knit, crochet and weave.

Contact Jane via Email. 

Kindergarten Teacher 

My name is Janet Van Hemert and I have the privilege of teaching Kindergarten at LCS!

I began teaching in 1999, when I was hired to teach Grade 4 at Surrey Christian School. I enjoyed working in Surrey, but found the commute a bit tiresome. In 2007, I decided that it was time to find a teaching position that was a bit closer to home. After interviewing with LCS, I was offered a Kindergarten teaching position. Although Kindergarten wasn’t a grade level I had ever expected to teach, I am thoroughly enjoying this new experience! It is now my second year of teaching Kindergarten and I love watching my little students learn so much in only 10 months!

There are a lot of things I love about working at LCS! My favourite people at LCS are one of the Grade 5 teachers, a student in Grade One, and a student in the Preschool program. (For those of you who don’t know me very well, my husband teaches Grade 5, I have a son in Grade One and a son in the Preschool! ☺)

I feel very blessed that I get to work so closely with my family! There are many other things I love about LCS. I work with very loving and encouraging colleagues and, as an added benefit, we have fun together! I also love the school playground, the library, and our class set of laptops.

Our school facility is so wonderful and we can be thankful to God for that! Of course, I also love the students I work with and I think we have an awesome parent community. I really enjoy working at LCS and I am thankful for the opportunity to teach in this community! ☺

Contact Janet via Email. 

Special Education Coordinator, Elementary Campus

This is my 8th year at Langley Christian and my 23rd year of teaching.

This year is a new experience for my in that this is the first year in my career that I won't be directly teaching students.

I have been working in the field of Special Education/Learning Assistance for 16 years.  In a previous life I was a "real" teacher with some experience teaching at every grade level from Kindergarten to Grade 8. 

I received my training at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the University of Windsor in Ontario.

Prior to coming to Langley Christian, I taught for the first 10 years of my career at Sarnia Christian School in Ontario.  When the opportunity presented itself I moved to Duncan, British Columbia and taught for 5 years at Duncan Christian School. 

he greatest joy in my job is the opportunity I have to work with teachers, assistants, students, and parents at all 3 campuses of LCS – it is a privilege. 

Contact Janet via Email.

Assistant Principal, Elementary School

Teacher Librarian

Jenny deGroot is the assistant principal for curriculum and a teacher-librarian at the elementary campus. These two roles bring together her love for children, teaching and books.

This is Jenny’s fourth year as assistant principal. She has been on the staff at LCS since 1993 in her role as teacher-librarian. Jenny began volunteering at LCS in 1984. It is a joy to be part of committed community of staff, parents and grandparents.

Jenny especially enjoys welcoming the next generation, the children of children who attended LCS.

Contact Jenny via Email.

Grade 3

Jeneca Penner

jpenner@langleychristian.com

Gr. 3 Teacher, PE 2-4 Instructor

Jim is also involved with the:

• Christian Teachers Association of BC board
• Society of Christian Schools in BC board
• Terry Fox run committee
• Track and Field coach
• Running Club
• Intramurals coordinator

Jim has been teaching for 25 years, 10 years at LCS. He has a Bachelor of Education from UBC and has taken a number of Christian Perspective courses at Trinity Western.

What Jim likes best about working at LCS is the privilege of working alongside other believers to train up the next generation of Christians.

Contact Jim via Email.

Assistant Principal, Elementary School

Gr. 5 Teacher, Athletic Director

John van der Leek is an Assistant Principal and the Athletic Director at the elementary campus and has served at Langley Christian since 2004.  As well as working in an administrative role, he also teaches Physical Education and Math.

Since graduating from Calvin College with an education degree in 1991, John has taught in a few Christian schools in the Lower Mainland.  He taught at Surrey Christian for nine years and then at Abbotsford Christian for three years before coming to Langley Christian.

John enjoys the positive energy found at the elementary campus.  The collegiality and dedication of the staff, the enthusiasm of the students, and the support of parents make working at Langley Christian extremely rewarding.

Contact John via Email. 

Gr. 2 Teacher 

When you’ve taught at a school for over 16 years you begin to develop a bit of a reputation. Mine includes my “very neat” printing (Well, what do you expect, I do teach Gr. 2 after all!), that I like to sing and dance (In class, anything makes spelling more fun!) and my annual BURP DAY (Actually, the children do most of the burping!).

Besides teaching at the primary level, I am involved in the excitement of training Grade 4 and 5 students to become Peacemakers.  This gives me a terrific opportunity to connect with former students and get to know new ones.

Twelve years as a student in the Edmonton Christian School system, an education degree with a special education minor, many Christian perspective courses, a number of courses from TWU, years spent teaching at Calgary Christian School and Fort McMurray Christian School, and here I am at LCES.

After more than 20 years of teaching, I still think I have the best job in the world - for me! Where else could I have so much variety in my work, spend time with so many wonderful people and constantly be working with my students to see and understand God’s hand in every part of our lives?

Contact Karen via Email. 

Learning Assistance Aide

I have been roaming the halls as an Aide at LCS for 14 years.  I have been involved in education for the past 18 years.  The thing I most enjoy about working at LCS is that we've never had to fill out a bio before!!

Working with kids helps to keep me young and maintain my sense of humour.

Contact Kathy via Email.

Kaitie Neely

Katie hails from the tropical bliss of O’ahu, Hawaii, and in the spirit of beautiful landscapes and moderate temperatures, she considered it a great move when her husband from the state of Nebraska moved them to British Columbia as he pursued graduate work at TWU. Kaitie received her degree in occupational therapy at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in December 2011. She joined the LCS community as a Special Education Assistant in September 2012 and works part-time as an Occupational Therapist at a nursing home in Lynden, Washington. Kaitie loves being surrounded by the children at LCS because it reminds her to be like a child before our Father in heaven.

Gr. 2 Teacher 

I am happy to be once again teaching grade 2 at LCS.

I was born in Edmonton, AB but grew up in North Delta, BC.

After completing a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Psychology at SFU I returned to Edmonton a few years ago to obtain my Bachelor of Education degree at King’s University.

Since then I have taught Kindergarten at White Rock Christian Academy, and TOC’d in various grades.

This past summer I had the pleasure of teaching a group of Spanish exchange student and traveling to South Korea to teach at an English Camp for children.

Thank you for welcoming me to the LCS community!

Contact Kelly via Email.  

Gr. 4 Teacher

Kim graduated from UBC in 1987 and worked full time at Surrey Christian School for 5 years. After taking a break to stay home with her 4 children, Kim returned to work part time at Langley Christian in 2004. Kim now enjoys being a full time grade 4 teacher and teaching French teacher to all the grade 4's!  Kim enjoys being part of the school community and the great staff at LCS.

Contact Kim via Email.

Grade One

Lana Dyck

After 10 years of working as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist I made a rather bold career change to teaching Grade One, and I LOVE it!

In 2006 I moved from Burnaby to Langley to upgrade my BCIT diploma to a BA and BEd at Trinity Western University. I was thrilled to become part of the
Langley Christian Staff right after graduating in 2010.

While my path to becoming a teacher may be unconventional it is not totally surprising. I come from an extended family of teachers going back several generations. My love for teaching also came out in my engineering career, as I was always eager to help, inform, train and organize. One highlight of this passion was the opportunity to live and work in Germany for 18 months to assist with relocating our company’s headquarters.

I find Grade One students so inspiring, they love learning and get so excited when they discover something new. They motivate me to do my best and to find joy in learning every day.

Email

Gr. 1 Teacher

As a child I went to Haney Pitt Meadows Christian School (now known as Maple ridge Christian) and then Fraser Valley Christian High.

I graduated from the Kings University College in Edmonton with my Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences in 2006 and again in 2008 with my Bachelor of Education.

I taught Grade 2 at Abbtosford Christian in 2008 and then moved to Langley Christian the following year to teach Grade 1.

I have always loved school and was blessed to have many wonderful teachers who made a significant impact on my life. My past teachers inspired me to become a teacher and my dream is that I can have the same impact on my students’ lives.

What I love most about teaching is listening to students discuss topics that they learned about in class, on their own. I also enjoy the challenge teaching brings to me as the teacher, the challenge to be a better person and to think through topics in a new way.

Contact Lauren via Email. 

Gr. 2 Teacher 

I love teaching  grade 2 at LCS (most of the time, some days I just like it).

I think that the best part of working at LCS is the wonderful community of people you get to work with. There are wonderful people here who share a common vision and always try to meet that vision in every way they can.

Contact Laurie via Email.

Special Education Aide

I have been a member of the LCS community for over a decade,  in various roles. In 1998, my husband started working at the high school campus, teaching social studies. In 2002, our first child entered Wilma's kindergarten class, followed by our son three years later and then our other daughter two years after that. In 2008, it was my turn to go to kindergarten....as a special education assistant in the class. I am now entering my second years an as aide at LCS.

Last year, I completed my special education teaching certificate at Columbia Bible College.

It is with great anticipation that I look forward to another year with my LCS family!

Contact Leigh-Anne via Email.

Gr. 5 Teacher 

I teach a grade 5 class here at LCS. I have been involved in teaching here at LCS for the last 10 years in the role of subbing, part-time and full time teaching.

I have been standing in front of classrooms since the late 1970’s, taking a long sabbatical to raise a family somewhere in the middle of it all.

I received my degree in Education from the University of Lethbridge, Alberta where I grew up.

The best thing about LCS is the kids. They are a great deal of fun and keep life interesting. There is never a dull moment in front of a bunch of kids!

Contact Linda via Email. 

Special Education Assistant

This is Lindsay's second year at LCS. This year Lindsay is working in grade 2 and 3.

So far this year Lindsay has modeled her first but hopefully not last wedding gown, she was Cinderella at the Fairytale party in 3TB.

Lindsay loves working with children, she has worked with them for quite some time. Lindsay has nannied for over four years, part time and full time. She currently still takes care of her 2 cousins some days after school, they both attend LCS.

After Lindsay graduated from High School in 2004, she attended Columbia Bible College and took their QUEST outdoor leadership program. Lindsay loved living in dorms and experiencing new things in God's creation.

A few years later Lindsay took her Special Education Assistant program and that led her here to LCS.

She is very thankful and feels extremely blessed working here with great staff and wonderful students. God is good!

Contact Lindsay via Email.   

Music Teacher

Lisa Van Boom email

Kindergarten Teacher 

Marian Seinen grew up in nearby Ladner and earned her education degree at Dordt College (in Sioux Centre, Iowa).

She taught school for four years in Alberta before changing careers to become a full-time mom.

In 1999 the Seinen family moved from Edmonton to Langley where they quickly got involved in LCS.

Marian is enjoying teaching kindergarten at LCS. Every year she learns something new from her young students such as how giant spinners extract yogurt from yogurt plants! You can’t help but smile and laugh each day when you spend your time with five-year-olds! They are delightful.

What does Marian like best about LCS? The people! The children, the parents and the staff together create a wonderful Christian community – the evidence of God’s presence alive among us.

Contact Marian via Email. 

International Student Coordinator

Langley Christian School----wonderful students and  an amazing staff. I have been privileged to be part of LCS as International Student Coordinator for the past 9 years. 

My role is to administrate both the International Student Program and Homestay Program. I also provide support to families who are new to Canada.

I am passionate about Christian education and value the teaching which supports the values taught in the Christian church and home.  My  family has been part of the Langley Christian community for the past 20 years , each of my sons has graduated or are still attending LCS. Before coming on staff, I served as an Education Committee Member and Board Member. 

I have a Certificate in Intercultural Studies from the University of British Columbia.

In addition to my work at Langley Christian School , I work with the Society of Christian Schools in BC providing support to schools in the area of International Education. 

Contact Marlene via Email.

Gr. 3 Teacher

This is my fourth year teaching at LCS and my first year teaching Grade 3!

I was born and raised in Surrey, B.C., and attended both Surrey Christian School and Fraser Valley Christian High School. Right after high school, I enrolled in Trinity Western University and five years later, in May 2009, I graduated with both my Bachelor of Arts in English and Social Studies and my Bachelor of Education.

I was married in December 2007 to my husband, Luke, and we love to camp, hike, play Scrabble, and make trips to Tim Horton’s.

I have always wanted to be a teacher and I cannot wait to share my passion for learning more about the world and the people that God has blessed us with.

Contact Melissa via Email.

Special Educational Assistant

Naomi Moews

My name is Naomi Moews. I am a SEA (Special needs education assistant) at the Elementary School. My husband's name is Randy. He has been working at BEVO Farms for 10 years. We moved from Abbotsford to Langley and love living in an apartment on the third floor. We have 3 married boys and 5 grandchildren. We have been happily married 32 years this November. I have a golden doodle named Tessa and we go hiking or walking every weekend together. My hobbies are reading, cross stitch and scrap booking. I became a Christian at a young age and was raised in a very loving Mennonite home in Cloverdale. My goals in life are to always see Jesus in everything I do and to thank God for every challenge because this makes my faith stronger.

Contact Naomi via Email

Special Education Aide

I've been working at LCS as an SEA since 2006. It seems that I must have struggled a bit as I've had to repeat both kindergarten and grade 1 at LCS.  I'm proud to announce that I will be moving on to grade 2 this coming year- a big triumph for me! :-)

I have been married to my amazing hubby, Rob for 15 years and we have 3 children- all who attend LCS.  I have been accepted at Columbia Bible College and plan on taking night courses in the fall.

I love working at LCS.  I'm eager to get my day started in the morning and love to celebrate the successes of our students. I am also deeply blessed by the staff I have the privilege to work with. I look forward to another great year at LCS.

Contact Mona via Email.

Learning Assitance Aide

Stacey is in her second year as a Learning Assistant at LCS and works four days week with students in grades 4 and 5.   She has recently completed her coursework at Columbia Bible College toward certification as an SEA. 

She is married to Clary, who is on staff at the high school campus, and she is a mother of four children who all attend LCS.

Stacey graduated with a BA in Communication from Dordt College many years ago and wonders where the time goes.  In her free time she likes to hike with her family, cook, read, and knit.

Contact Stacey via Email.

Music Teacher

Sarah Froese email

Principal, Elementary School

After the honour of being a wife, mother and grandmother, Susan is most notably a teacher who has been called to the awesome task of principal of Langley Christian Elementary School. This is her fifth year at LCS. Her teaching career spans 24 years in Christian Education; first as an itinerant teacher (Grades 4-10) at Nanaimo Christian School, next as a primary teacher and curriculum coordinator at Duncan Christian School, and subsequently as teacher and assistant principal of curriculum and staff development at Abbotsford Christian School.

Susan received her Bachelor of Arts through the University of Toronto and at the same time received her Christian Education training through her church’s undergraduate program. A number of years later (as a mother of two small children) she returned to UVic to complete her PDP (post degree program) and obtain her teaching certificate. Over the years, Susan has continued to take additional courses that have allowed her to grow professionally and supported her passion of being a life-long learner. She is presently finishing the last year of her Masters of Arts in Leadership at TWU.

Susan loves working at LCS. She loves the daily interaction with students, staff and parents. She especially values the importance of the wonderful Langley Christian School community and its commitment to educate students from a biblical worldview for lives of committed and faithful service throughout all of God’s creation in Christ’s name.

Susan appreciates your prayers for her leadership and wants you to know one other important characteristic about her. She loves hermit cookies and vanilla hot-steamed milk!

Contact Susan via Email.  

Education Assistant

Contact Suzanne via her email 

Special Education Aide

Contact Taryn via Email.