Welcome!
Meet Our Teachers and Staff
Sheri DeGraaf - Administrator
In July of 2023, Sheri was hired to be the administrator. She was previously the 2nd grade teacher at OCS. Sheri and her husband Dave have been married for 34 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 excited to see how God is going to continue to work in the ministry of OCS. 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.
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Email Address: Administrator@OceanaChristianSchool.com
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 six kids, two daughters-in-love, and one grandson! Stacy has taught preschool at OCS for seven 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 - Administrative Assistant & 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 13 years and have three children. Sara loves to read, go on adventures with her family, listen to music, 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
Admin Email: office@oceanachristianschool.com
Marlies Bishop - Four Year Old Preschool
Marlies grew up on the southeast side of Michigan about 30 minutes from Ohio. She graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University with her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. She moved to Hart in 2021 because she wanted a change and loved everything that West Michigan had to offer. In July of 2022, she married her sweetheart Michael. Marlies longs for her students to know that they are loved by God and that they would know they were created for a great purpose.
Amy Ackley- Four Year Old Preschool- T/TH
Originally from Lansing, Amy graduated from Cornerstone University, married her best friend, and moved to the Upper Peninsula for two years. In 1998 they moved to Mears where her husband Calvin was from. Camping, gardening, running & breeding huskies are just a few of the things she enjoys. She & Calvin have six children from 13 to 24 and one son-in-law. Homeschooling her children through the sixth grade has kept her busy for the last several years. Now that they are older, she is excited to engage your preschoolers as they explore the world God has made! Her prayer for each one is that they would have a deep love for Jesus and make them the center of their lives starting at this very young age.
Rebecca Scott - Kindergarten and Art
Rebecca, and her husband Jeff, have three children and have lived in Hart for 19 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.
Laurie Hertzler - Kindergarten
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 Kindergarten 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.
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Lauren Rabe - 1st Grade
Lauren has been married for 17 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 17 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 - 2nd 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 six 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!
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 20 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 and 6th 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!
Mary Barnum- Intervention Specialist
Mary was born and raised on a dairy farm in Oceana County. As an adult she has lived in several different states but is very happy to be back home raising her kids on the farm. She has worked with children most of her life and is excited to be back at OCS and is eager to show Jesus to her students so they can grow up to serve Him.
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Laurie Rose - P.E.
Laurie and her husband Jason have six 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!
Laura Vander Kodde - Long Term P.E. Substitute
Laura grew up in Grand Rapids and after graduating from Calvin College was married to Ben Vander Kodde. After getting married they moved to Oceana County and landed at Grace Adventures. They have four children, two boys and two girls. They are entering new territory as their girls have just entered college this fall. Laura is looking forward to filling in as the P.E. teacher while Mrs. Rose is on maternity leave.
Marissa Snider - S.T.E.M.
Marissa grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She met her husband, Luke (a Hart, MI native), when she began to attend the same church in Ohio. Two months after getting married, they were asked to join a team that would be doing God’s work overseas and lived in the Middle East for five years. Luke and Marissa have been married for ten years and have two boys keeping them on their toes here in MI. Marissa graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Dayton in Ohio. She’s worked in soil labs, on construction sites, and with energy and water sustainability. Marissa hopes and prays that God would draw these students to Himself and that they'd get to learn together how to enjoy Him every day.
Becca Gale - Music Appreciation
Becca has been married for eight 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 six 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!
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
Sarah Riley - PreK Paraprofessional
Sarah was born and raised in Mears, MI and graduated from Hart High School in 2007. She attended Muskegon Community College and then married her high school sweetheart, Dave. They have been married for 14 years and have 4 children. Her hobbies include baking, listening to audio books, shopping, and she loves spending time with her kids and friends at the beach. This is her first year as a preschool parapro at OCS and she is hoping to help show the love of Jesus as we learn about the world God created.
Email Address: SRiley@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Krystal VanderGraaf - 1st Grade Classroom Aide
Krystal moved from Flint to Oceana County almost 20 years ago. She found her home in Hart with her husband Dave and four sons. Krystal is keeping busy in her spare time working towards a degree in Early Childhood Education and supporting her kids at their sports games. Whenever she can find a quiet moment she can be found with her nose in a good book. She’s excited for her first year at OCS and hopes to instill Jesus-like kindness in every child.
Email Address: KVanderGraaf@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Al Moul - PreK Paraprofessional
Al and his wife Dorothy have been married since May of 1979. Together they have 9 children and 11 grandchildren. Since his "retirement" Al has been busy as a watercolor artist, elder at First Baptist Church, and doing all of the "grandpa things". Al's hope for each OCS student is that they find a personal relationship with God and be able to filter knowledge of people, the world, and their struggles and beliefs through the Bible, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them. He hopes they will become good citizens who value integrity, honesty, work, patriotism, and volunteerism.
Email Address: AMoul@OceanaChristianSchool.com
Krista Moul - Lunch Aide
Krista has lived her whole life in Hart Michigan. She is married to the Associate Pastor of Worship and Outreach here at FBC, Pastor David Moul. They have two children with one more arriving in October, two dogs, one cat, and a horse. Krista spend the last 5.5 years nannying twin girls. She is no stranger to making sure those around her are fed. Krista looks forward to staying connected with different children from the area and getting to know others as well. She desires to be a light for Christ in their lives.
Email Address: KMoul@OceanaChristianSchool.com
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
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
