Meet Our Faculty & Staff
ADMINISTRATION
Henriët Schapelhouman | Superintendent
Henriët has been the lead pastor at New Day Church the past three years as well as the superintendent. As many of you know, Valley Christian School (VCS) is a ministry of New Day Church, that has been serving the greater Auburn community since 1977. Henriët is also the founder and lead pastor of True Hope Community Church in Preston, a church for families and individuals dealing with addiction, recovery and mental health issues. What’s most important to her is living a life that pleases Jesus.
As a pastor, coach, mentor and parent, Pastor Henriët understands the importance of excellence at VCS and the importance of a growing community wholeheartedly loving and following Jesus. Henriët was born in the Netherlands and moved with her family to California as a teenager. She has been married to her husband Fred since 1981 and their son Harrison works on staff with them at True Hope Community Church. She holds a Master’s degree in Global Leadership from Fuller Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Santa Clara, California.
Nick Sweeney | Principal
principal@valley-christian.com
Mr. Nick Sweeney has served as the Director of schools in Washington, California and Ukraine. He originally received his Bachelor’s degree from George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. In school he taught US History, Geography, and several other courses. Later he earned his Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Seattle University. In the past, he has served as Vice-Principal, Principal, Athletic Director, Technology Coordinator, School Director, Head of Schools and Superintendent.
He has been involved with missions for many years, to the point of actually running a missionary school in Ukraine. Born in Seattle, Mr. Sweeney has his roots in Washington. He is a Christian-Educator who has a desire to collaborate with our staff and families to have a Biblically based education for our students. He believes the partnership between the school, church and home is the best way to give our young people a chance to succeed in school. He is married to Margaret Sweeney and has three wonderful daughters. “I am very excited about being a part of this organization as we move forward serving our community.”
Ariane Brother | School Administrator
Forrest Mazarac | Kitchen Coordinator
Denyse Touma | Business Services & Athletic Director
Rebecca Pike | Church & HR Administrator
Sandee Almaas | Financial Administrator
Dan Pike | Facilities & Safety Coordinator
FACULTY
Michelle Dudgeon | Kindergarten Teacher
michelle.dudgeon@valley-christian.com
Ms. Dudgeon has a BA in Early Childhood Education and a BA in Elementary Education from Central Washington University. She received her Washington State Teaching Certification in 2005 as well as her ACSI certification in 2021. She was a teacher in the Kent School District from 2004-20013. She began teaching at VCS in 2017. She has taught kindergarten, third grade, and second grade. She began teaching at VCS in 2017.
Peggy Hackett| Intervention Specialist and Administration
peggy.hackett@valley.christian.com
Mrs. Hackett earned a BA in Liberal Studies from Simpson University in 1995 and a California Teaching Certificate in 1996. Since that time, she has also earned a Spalding Phonics Certificate, a California Reading Teacher Certificate, a Washington State Teaching Certificate, and an ESL (English as a second language) Certificate. Additionally, Mrs. Hackett has either taught or been in a long-term substitute position in every grade in kindergarten through eighth grades and has taught English and Science as single subjects in middle school. She has been at VCS for eight years and is currently Valley Christian's intervention specialist and teacher mentor.
Samantha Baas | 4th Grade Teacher
samantha.baas@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Baas has a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas State University. She taught in public schools in Texas: 1st grade, 2nd grade, 4th grade, and intervention for 15 years. While teaching in Texas, she has been a Math Mentor Teacher for 4th grade, and a RtI/Intervention Coordinator for K-5. She has been at VCS for the past five years as a K-5 Art teacher, a 6th-8th middle school math teacher, a middle school Art teacher, as well as teaching Yearbook, and Drama electives. Every year Mrs. Baas runs and directs our theater club to put on a spectacular Christmas program. Outside of school she was a Christian Youth Theater (CYT-Seattle) class, camp, and show coordinator.
Breeanne Johnson | Marketing Director
breeanne.johnson@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Johnson received a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Washington State University in 2010. She has worked for international law firms, as well as local churches and feels honored to be part of the VCS team.
Steve Hackett | Computer and Music Teacher, Technology Support Specialist.
steve.hackett@valley-christian.com
Mr. Hackett has been our music and computer specialist for eight years at VCS. Besides teaching, Mr. Hackett has helped with IT and served as a worship leader in our church. Mr. Hackett helps create a spectacular Christmas concert every year, as well as talent shows, student-led worship songs, and many more things around campus that make him one of a kind. We are very fortunate to have his skills for this position!
Joan Havrilla | 2nd Grade Teacher
joan.havrilla@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Havrilla began teaching at VCS in 2017. She received a bachelor's in Science in Elementary Education at Bowling Green State University in Ohio with a minor in Early Childhood in 1975. She received her master’s degree in Special Needs from Seattle Pacific University. She says it's a joy to teach biblical worldviews in all subjects here.
Sadie Pringle | 5th Grade Teacher
mersadies.pringle@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Pringle has been teaching upper elementary and junior high grades for four years. She is accredited as a teacher through ACSI, the Association of Christian Schools International, the same organization that accredits our school. She is currently continuing her ongoing journey in education through WGU. Mrs. Pringle is a member of our chaplain team at school. She is also a worship leader and youth pastor at a local church.
Alexis Carter | PE Teacher & ELC Team member
Ms. Carter brings her love of the outdoors and fitness to our students at VCS. This is her second year leading our Physical Education program.
Jenelle Jones | 1st Grade Teacher
jenelle.jones@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Jones earned a BA from Western Washington University. She has taught in both the public and private school environments. Her 12 years of teaching experience have led her to be very effective in reaching our students.
Rashika Charles | 3rd Grade Teacher
rashika.charles@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Charles has two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree. She has worked in schools for several years from preschool to grade six. She speaks Spanish as well as English and Hindi. This is her second year at Valley Christian School.
Sanda Mitchell | 6th Grade Teacher
sanda.mitchell@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Mitchell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Washington in 2007, and a master's degree in 2021 from Western Governors University. She spent 7 years in Early Childhood Education and 7 years in Special Education in the Federal Way Public Schools. She was born and raised in Romania and moved to the United States in 2001. She was on Romania's Olympic team for rowing and earned many medals at national and international competitions. Her teaching philosophy is that every child can achieve if provided with the right tools and resources to meet his/her learning needs.
Indy Brother| PE Teacher
Ms. Brother is a former alumni of VCS and we are so happy to have her join our Physical Education team.
Rachel Surinov | ELC Assistant Director
rachel.surinov@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Surinov has been at VCS for two years. She has served as a lead teacher in the ELC classrooms and is currently the assistant director for our Early Learning Care Program.
Penny VanVleet | ELC Teacher 18-36 months
penny.vanvleet@valley-christian.com
Mrs. VanVleet has been a lead teacher in the ELC for many years. Her warm personality and excellent classroom management skills are a gift to everyone.
Veronika Harmon | Pre-K & Preschool Teacher
veronika.harmon@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Harmon has a bachelor's degree from the University of Washington and a teaching certificate from ACSI. She began teaching in 1997 in the Federal Way School District working with ELL students and those in the LAP program. She began working at VCS in 2010 as our Preschool and Pre-K teacher.
JanaLe Taylor| Pre-K Teacher
janale.taylor@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Taylor is one of our Pre-Kindergarten teachers. Her creativity and enthusiasm in the classroom is such a gift.
Betsy Hart | Birth - 18 months
betsy.hart@valley-christian.com
Mrs. Hart has been a lead teacher in the ELC since 2022. Her kind and caring personality makes her one of a kind.
Liliya | ELC
Joined our team in 2023 and helps support our teachers, administration and classrooms in the day to day operations of our school.
Board of Leadership: Pastor Henriet Schapelhouman, Larry Almaas, Dave Clark, Kathy Foster, Gayle Kroke and Dan Vetters.