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​Laurie-Anne Wieringa

Kindergarten Teacher // Elementary Lead

B.A. Elementary Education
ACSI Certified

Personal message

With Grace since 2003

"I am a P.K. (Preacher’s Kid) so I attended church and Sunday school regularly all of my life, but it ...was not until I was a young adult that I began to have a personal relationship with Jesus. My faith has deepened and matured over the years as the Lord continues to mold me into the person He wants me to be. Through times of trial and loss in my life, I have learned that the Lord is my strength and His Grace is sufficient. After many summers volunteering as a church camp counselor and helping with VBS at my church as a teenager and young adult, I felt the Lord calling me to teach children about God. Teaching at Grace is so much more than a job: it is a ministry to which I am called and I am so thankful that I am able to serve the Lord in this way."

Mrs. Wieringa's education philosophy: "God has given us the gift of learning. Because God has created all things, every subject we learn draws us closer to Him. The more we learn about His creation, the more we stand in awe of His majesty. I believe that true education cannot happen separate from God for all knowledge and truth comes from God. I believe that each child is a unique creation, formed by the hand of God for His purposes, and I am humbled to be called by God to teach the wonderful children that He has trusted in my care." She and her husband, Rob, have three children, all three are GCA graduates.  Mrs. Wieringa enjoys gardening, photography (and sharing her photos with us!), spending time outdoors enjoying the beauty of God’s creation, and spending time with her grandchildren. Mrs. Wieringa and her husband attend Grace Baptist Church.

 Kim Dandurand

First Grade Teacher

B.A. Elementary Education
ACSI Certified

Personal message

With Grace since 2016
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Testimony: Born and raised in Overland Park, Kansas where I met and married my husband in 2016. He attended ONY while I was at MNU. After school, he got a job here in Illinois where I followed him. I was invited to apply by Hollie Erickson to work while I completed my Illinois Teaching License. Since then, the GCA students and God have called me back.

Carol Gross

Second Grade Teacher

B.S. in Elementary Education
ACSI & State Certified 

Personal message

With Grace since 1999
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In 1999, two weeks before school opened, I heard there was a teaching position available. I applied and was hired. I love teaching here at Grace and pray that the Lord allows me to stay here and minister.

Lori Caswell

Third Grade Teacher

B.A. Elementary Education
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ACSI & State Certified

Personal message

With Grace since 2010

Testimony:  I grew up in church and accepted Jesus as my Savior at an early age.  While in Jr. High, I accepted a call into ministry while at a youth convention.  I knew that God wanted me to be a pastor's wife.  After graduating high school, I attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO.  I met my husband, Randy, at Bible college.  We were married in 1993.  We were youth pastors in Oklahoma and Texas before coming to pastor at First Assembly of God in Limestone.
     We have three children, Matthew, Bethany, and Jonathan. Bethany is a graduate of Oral Robert's University and Matthew is a Specialist in the U.S. Army. When not in the classroom or at church, I enjoy running, camping and shopping. 
The thing I enjoy the most about teaching is watching the students learn and apply it in their lives.  Being at a Christian school has enabled me to connect learning to faith.  It is neat to show that everything is connected to our Creator. Faith does not have a filter on it at GCA.  Jesus is where I find my identity.  Jesus is who I point my students to on a daily basis.​ After graduating with my teaching degree, I sent out several resumes. I didn’t hear much of a response due to a flooded market. I was praying about where God wanted me, asking Him to open doors. I was willing to substitute in schools if that was His will. Within days of praying for direction, I received a call from Grace. The door was opened for me to walk through. 

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Jennifer Ponce

Fourth Grade Teacher

B.A. Elementary Education with Endorsements in Middle School Science, Language Arts, and Social Sciences
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ACSI Certified 

Personal Message

With Grace since 2015

​Jennifer first came to Grace in 6th grade and that is when she decided she wanted to be a teacher. From that point on God used the teachers at Grace to influence and guide her throughout junior high and high school. During college, Jennifer was unsure of where she wanted to teach, but God made it clear to her that she was being called to a Christian school and more importantly to Grace. Jennifer loves being able to openly talk about her faith and share God's love with her students. She sees working at Grace as more than just a job, it is a calling and a ministry. 

Jennifer married her high school sweetheart in October of 2016 and they have three children, Benjamin, Bailey, and Beckett. She loves to read and spend time with family and friends. She is entering her 7th year of teaching, but has been actively involved at Grace for 18 years!

Courtney Johnson

Fifth Grade Teacher

B.A. Psychology with minor in Education

ACSI Certification

Personal message

With Grace since 2020

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