Meet our new staff & read our teacher updates!
Sara Bienieada – SC Gr 9-12 Teacher
It is a joy to be returning to VCS as a teacher after graduating from the school. Vernon Christian played a very formative role in my faith journey, thus it is a great privilege to get to give back to this community. I look forward to re-settling in Vernon and getting to know you all.
I love anything that involves mountains. Although, if one wants to question whether or not one has any competency in outdoor sports whatsoever, try moving to Revelstoke! I had 11-year-old students who could do double backflips on skis and far outride me on mountain bikes. It was very impressive!
Prior to teaching, I served as a youth pastor to an amazing, diverse group of students who taught me much about God’s heart. I’ve also led the Servant Leadership Program at Eagle Bay Camp, taken teams of youth on international and local mission trips, supported teens with developmental delays, and worked alongside refugee families. I’m passionate about facilitating opportunities for students to connect with God in genuine, transformative ways. I believe the best way to do this is in the context of community. I am grateful for the chance to invest in and grow alongside the VCS family!
Nathan Willet- SC Middle School Teacher
Hiya! I am so excited to join the VCS community this year. My wife, young son and I have very recently relocated to Vernon from the UK where I taught for four years in a large British high school. Born in the UK, I earned Canadian citizenship as a child by living in Langley for elementary school. After some international travels for high school, I returned to Canada to attend UBC. It was there I met Monika, whom I married shortly after graduating. A brief stint in New Zealand later and we settled in Birmingham, England to pursue a teaching career. The Pandemic and the birth of our son in 2020 caused us to feel very far away from family, who were all located in BC, so we packed our bags to return to this beautiful country. While we have never lived in Vernon before, we are so excited about all the opportunities the region offers. We are avid climbers, lake-swimmers, kayakers, skiers, hikers and campers and feel like we will be able to fit into the dedicated Christ-centered community we have heard so much about very well.
I absolutely love teaching. I enjoy making learning fun, getting to know the individual traits of all my students, and watching them overcome challenges in the classroom. It is my passion to see young people equipped with the skills they need to succeed. As an educator, I am so looking forward to being a part of VCS students’ journey; to see them grow in confidence in their faith, in their knowledge, and in themselves.
Patience Meaker – Gr 5 teacher
I am excited for the opportunity to join the VCS community this year. I look forward to getting to know all of you. My husband Mike and I have been married for 11 years and have three beautiful girls. I completed my post-secondary education in Ontario where I was part of a Concurrent Education program. I completed my first four years at Trent University and my final year at Queens University. After completing my University, I moved to Australia for a year of travelling and teaching. Not long after that, I found myself here at Vernon Christian School. Life threw my family an unexpected opportunity after my first daughter was born and we moved to California for nearly four years. Our family has now been back in Vernon for five years, and I am thrilled to be coming back to VCS to teach with a community of believers focused on Christ-centered education.
My family loves the outdoors and in the summer you can find us at the beach swimming or camping with friends. I love to kayak, and I am thrilled that my middle daughter has decided she also loves it! In the winter, we are a skiing/snowboarding family. I spent all of my childhood figure skating and whenever I get a chance, I love to strap on my skates and teach my girls a spin or two.
I am passionate about reading, poetry and creative writing. My bookshelves are always overflowing and there are always scribbles in the margins of each book I read.
Over the past nine years, I have been so thankful for all the doors that God has opened for my family. I look forward to walking through this next door and seeing what amazing things God has planned.
Amanda Gaythorpe – EC – PE Teacher
I am so excited to be part of the VCS team this year. A little about myself, I was born and raised in Vernon. What a blessing to have been able to call this beautiful place home. Four distinct seasons with endless activities to participate in. My favourite seasons are summer and fall where you will find me on the road running, in the lake swimming or on the trails biking with my family.
I began my post-secondary education at Okanagan College and finished my Bachelors of Education at UBCO. Shortly after graduation my husband and I found out we were pregnant with our first child, Joshua. Now the question, “What to do?” With a lot of conversation and prayer, we decided that it would be best for us if I didn’t pursue teaching but rather stay at home to raise our children. A couple of years later we had our second child, Annabelle. The time I was able to spend with them watching their faith and curiosity for life grow has been an amazing joy and gift to me.
When the time came for our children to enter school the question was asked “Now what?’ Little did I know that VCS would be the place that my children would attend and I would work. Over the past 3 years, we have watched our kids’ faith and love for learning flourish in this environment. So to say I am excited to be a part of the Vernon Christian School team would be an understatement. I have experienced the fruit of what God is doing in this school and am thrilled to be part of this amazing team and furthermore community.
Current staff, in new roles
Nicole Stensrude who has team-shared teaching grade 5 with Joel Haberstock for a few years has moved into a full-time grade 2 class. We are excited to welcome Nicole to full-time teaching in our grade 2 class.
Marian Busfield has announced her retirement. We will miss having Mrs. Busfelid in our school and classrooms but we are excited for this next chapter as she and her husband look towards retirement and the new adventures that God will bring.