Welcome!
Meet Our Teachers and Staff
Jacinda Bitely - Administrator
Jacinda is a native of Oceana County. She attended Cornerstone University and then taught at The Potter’s House in Grand Rapids until she and her husband Scott started their family. Later, they moved back to the area and she began teaching at OCS. In June of 2020, Jacinda was hired to be the administrator. She loves being involved in Christian education and is grateful to be part of a ministry that equips students to grow spiritually and academically for a life of service. Her deep hope for OCS is that the families who call this place home will know and understand the deep, deep love of Jesus and that they will learn to share that love wherever God leads them.
Email Address: Administrator@OceanaChristianSchool.com
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Stacy Vander Zwaag - Three Year Old Preschool
Stacy was born and raised in Zeeland, MI, and lived there until her husband and family moved to Hart 15 years ago. She is married to Ryan, the Senior Pastor here at First Baptist Church of Hart. They have seven kids, two daughters-in-love, and one sweet grandbaby on the way! Stacy has taught preschool at OCS for six years, and she has a deep love for children. Above all, she hopes her students will develop a love for learning and will find their hope in Jesus!
Email Address: SVanderzwaag@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Sara Boring - 3's PreK Paraprofessional
Sara was born and raised in Mears, MI. She graduated from Hart High School and went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Cornerstone University, where she graduated in 2007. In 2009, Sara adventured to California where she met her husband, Grant. They have been married for 12 years and have three children. Sara loves to read, go on adventures with her family, listen to music, paint furniture, and shop. Sara is an alumni of OCS. She started at Preschool in 1989 and attended all the way through 6th grade! Sara’s deep hope is that each child feels loved, and that they come to know God’s love for them.
Email Address: SBoring@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Julie Arnone - Four Year Old Preschool
Julie is a middle child of ten children who grew up in Grand Rapids, MI. She is proud to be a PK (preacher’s kid) who teaches PreK! Julie has her CDA and has worked in the preschool setting for 15 years. Prior to that, she worked in youth ministry and considers herself blessed to have a career that lines up with her heart’s desire to minister to young hearts and minds. Julie longs for her students to know the truth of their identity as a child of God and to treasure the goodness of God in their lives.
Rebecca Scott - Kindergarten and Art
Rebecca, and her husband Jeff, have three children and have lived in Hart for 17 years. She loves to work on home projects, go for walks and enjoy the outdoors. Rebecca is a graduate of Concordia University and has a double major in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a minor in Art Education. She later went on to get her master’s from Western Michigan University. Rebecca has had experience teaching Pre-K through 1st grade and looks forward to leading her students and watching them grow as learners. Rebecca hopes her students will be able to see Jesus throughout the day and will learn to also share His love.
Lauren Rabe - Kindergarten
Lauren has been married for 15 years and has five children. Lauren loves the outdoors and has gone on many many adventures with her family. She loves to camp, hike, swim, and travel. Lauren isn’t afraid to tackle anything on her own, which came in handy when she and her husband decided to build their house together (it is beautiful by the way)! Lauren has been teaching for 16 years. She hopes that her students will come to know Christ and have so much fun at school that they forget they are learning!
Nikki Stamas - 1st Grade
Nikki grew up in Grand Rapids and has since moved to Oceana County. She has loved getting the chance to live in a small town. In her free time, her favorite thing to do is go hiking with her two dogs. Nikki has been teaching for five years. Prior to teaching at OCS, Nikki taught English online to students in China. Nikki has a deep passion for teaching and has a wonderful ability to meet each of her students right where they are. She hopes that each one will live their life for Christ and boldly go wherever He calls them!
Sheri DeGraaf - 2nd Grade
Sheri and her husband Dave have been married for 33 years. They have five sons, two daughters-in-law and one granddaughter. Sheri loves looking for deals at garage sales, kayaking, camping and spending time with friends and family. Sheri graduated from Rockford High School and then began attending Grace Bible College. After raising her children, she continued her education at Cornerstone University. Sheri loves learning and is currently pursuing a degree in Ministry Leadership. She hopes that each student will also develop a love for learning, that they will discover their unique giftedness from God, and that they will delight in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jodi Guikema - 3rd and 4th Grade
An alumni of Shelby High School and Cornerstone University, Jodi began her teaching career at OCS in 2003. She had been teaching here for several years when she met her husband, John, on a blind date. Before long, they were married, starting a family and beginning their own hobby farm (Lost Creek Farm). Jodi is a mom to 5 children, 1 dog, several barn cats and many head of beef cattle. After accepting a long-term sub position at OCS in the winter of 2022, Jodi decided to return full time to the school she began teaching at 19 years ago. Her hope is that the students will grow in their love and knowledge of God and that they will be lifelong thinkers and learners.
Gayle Miller - 5th Grade
Gayle attended Christian schools growing up and knows first hand the blessings that come from a solid, Biblical education! She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and she has a huge heart for kids! Mrs. Miller is an energetic and outgoing team player who loves teaching and wants kids to know Jesus and to learn about the amazing world God created for them. Her deep hope is that her students would go on to impact the world to the glory of God!
Hannah Falk - PreK - gr 5 Paraprofessional
Hannah is a “Jill of all Trades” with a passion for reading, writing, discipleship and teaching people anything they are willing to learn. She loves camp ministry but is also an author, editor, photographer, videographer and more! Miss Hannah’s deep hope is that our OCS students will recognize the world and its order as fully compatible with Scripture, that they will seek to learn more about both, and that in the process they will fall in love with the LORD and His creation.
Email Address: HFalk@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Laurie Hertzler - P.E.
Raising a large unique family has special joys and special challenges, and Laurie knows all about that! Her heart is to empower individuals to see and embrace the special way God has made them. And while her life story looks different than she’d planned, it is just the way her big God has written it for her. Laurie has a degree in American sign language which she uses to teach classes and interpret for the deaf community. She has taught everything from preschool to high school, regular classrooms to special education to camp kids. And this year, she will be teaching PE at OCS. Laurie’s deep hope is that through physical activity, her students will see the character of Christ displayed in those around them and that they step into the opportunities available to show Christ’s love to others as well.
Email Address: LHertzler@OceanaChristianSchool.com
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Laurie Rose - S.T.E.M.
Laurie and her husband Jason have five children. In her free time, Laurie loves to run, paddleboard, and spend time adventuring and exploring with her family. She graduated from Western Michigan University in 2007. Before having children, she taught science in North Carolina and in Michigan. She then stayed at home teaching her own children until she was given the opportunity to join the OCS team. She is excited to be back in the classroom and hopes that her students can develop a deep wonder and amazement of our Lord God and His great creation!
Becca Gale - Music Appreciation
Becca has been married for seven years to a lifelong Hart resident (and OCS graduate) Nate. They have three little busy kiddos who make their hearts large. Becca loves to run, bike, and learn new instruments in her free time. Becca previously worked in accounting and has been on staff at OCS for five years. Becca hopes and prays her students will feel Jesus’ love through the Biblical truths taught and that these truths will inspire them to show God’s love to others!
Barb Vanderhoof - Secretary
Barb and her husband Bruce moved from the Chicago area to Oceana Country 25 years ago. Barb has 6 adult children, 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandbaby. Prior to working at OCS, Barb managed the Vintage Rose Resale Shoppe in Hart for 14 years. Her deep hope is that students will learn about Jesus in a safe, loving Christian environment and that they will hear the news of Christ’s salvation. She is thankful to be working at her “best job ever” and sharing God’s love to the kids at OCS.
Email Address: office@GoFBCHart.org
Olivia Mitteer - 4s PreK Paraprofessional
Olivia is a lifetime Oceana County resident who grew up attending OCS! She is happily married to her husband, Travis, and they have two young children that attend OCS as well. Olivia loves helping kids grow and learn. She finds joy in guiding children on their educational journey and desires for our students to find joy in the love of God as they walk through each day.
Email Address: omitteer@oceanachristianschool.com
Ryan Vander Zwaag- Recess Staff and Senior Pastor
Email Address: RyanVZ@GoFBCHart.org
FBC Ryan Stuckey- Bible Teacher, Recess Staff, and Associate Pastor
Email Address: RyanS@GoFBCHart.org
FBC Dave Moul- Recess Staff and Worship Pastor
Email Address: DaveM@GoFBCHart.org
Cassie
