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!
Ken Arthurs
I live on Holland’s northside with my wife of 33 years, Katy. We have three adult children: sons Alex (married to Sara), Patrick, and daughter Annie (married to Tim). I could go on and on, but will simply say we have been blessed beyond measure!
Teaching is my calling! My passions over the span of the last 30 years plus, include the nurturing of children and the outdoors. I have experience in middle school and lower elementary special education, while completing the last 22 years teaching 4th grade in West Ottawa Public Schools at Lakewood Elementary. My outdoor pursuits include canoeing/voyaging over 30 of Michigan’s rivers, five trips to Isle Royale National Park, hiking, swimming, a recent mission trip to Alaska and quite honestly being outside as much as possible. However, my greatest pursuit is fly fishing. To me nothing beats chasing steelhead, salmon and smallmouth bass with handmade flies on Michigan’s beautiful rivers!
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.
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 a son, David. 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.
Jennifer Bieri
I graduated from Hope College in 1984 with a business major, and then married my husband (Bob) that summer. We have four grown children, three daughters (all married), and a son. I love to do pretty much anything in the outdoors with family or friends including running, biking, hiking, swimming in Lake Michigan, and skiing. I also enjoy reading, cooking, and watching good movies.
I’ve been working in athletics since 2010 and I love Holland Christian. Our children all had wonderful experiences here as students. I feel very fortunate to be a part of this special community.
Jane Blauwkamp
I am Holland Christian and Calvin College Alum and joined the HC staff in 1995. I am married to Rick and between our families have five daughters, all HC graduates, and ten grandchildren.
I am excited to be able to be part of a school system that glorifies God, allows me to serve others and Him on a daily basis, and where the following values are seen and taught daily: Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails-And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
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.
Keith Blystra
I graduated from Calvin in 2005 and taught Bible at Ontario Christian Middle School until 2009. I then pursued graduate studies in Jerusalem, Israel, at both Jerusalem University College and at the Hebrew University with a focus on Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) and Modern Hebrew. I joined the Holland Christian faculty in 2014 and teach Bible and Hebrew Language.
My wife Laura and I have four daughters. We are active members at Maple Ave. Ministries here in Holland and believe deeply in its vision to be centered in Christ, called to the core city, and committed to becoming a multi-cultural community of reconciliation. I am excited to be teaching at a place like Holland Christian that values the study of the Bible and its call for social responsibility in our lives and the world around us.
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.”
Shelly Boer
In 1988, I graduated from Calvin College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. I continued on with my schooling and received a Master’s of Reading from Western Michigan University in 1996. I taught at Cutlerville Christian (now Legacy Christian) in kindergarten and 1st grade from 1988-1995. I began teaching at Holland Christian in 1996 where I taught 11 years in preschool and am currently at South Side and Pine Ridge teaching music.
King David proclaims in Psalm 92, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.” Music is a wonderful gift from God. With music we can image our Creator, praise His name, and connect with Him in a profound way.
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!
