Meet our new staff
& read our teacher updates!

We are Team Armstrong, Mark, Kristy, Halle, and Drew, and we’re super excited to be returning to the Vernon Christian School community to both work and learn. After several years of travelling and teaching overseas, we’re happy to settle back home. Mark is excited to teach grade 6, and Kristy can’t wait to teach PE and support wherever she’s needed. Halle will be in grade 5, and Drew will be in grade 2. Beyond education, Mark enjoys music, sports, and video games, while Kristy loves adventuring, sports, and coffee. Together, we cherish travelling and spending quality time with each other, often on the soccer pitch or in the gym with our kiddos. We can’t wait to reconnect with the VCS family!

 

 

Jocelyn Boonstra – SC Teacher 

I am excited to be a part of the Vernon Christian School community and am looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone. I grew up in Calgary and then Armstrong and am grateful I get to live and work in the Okanagan. In my free time, I love hiking and travelling where I can explore God’s beautiful creation. I also love learning languages and learning about languages and different cultures which I look forward to sharing that with the students this year. I am excited to teach in an environment where God is the centre and am looking forward to encouraging and supporting the students in their faith.

 

 

Jaide Vanderleest – SC Teacher 

Thank you for the opportunity to formally introduce myself to you. I’m so excited to join Vernon Christian School in the Secondary Campus as a humanities teacher! I’m counting down the days until being in the classroom. As some of you may know I substitute taught at VCS in 2024 and have missed being involved in your wonderful community while I’ve been completing my Bachelor of Education at UBCO.

I was born and raised in beautiful Vernon, attending VCS from Kindergarten to Grade 7. My mom, Becky Vanderleest, has worked at VCS for 20 years and inspired me to pursue a career in education. I’m grateful for the chance to give back to the school that provided me with a strong Christian upbringing. My deep hope is to cultivate Christ-centred, life-long learners.

My passions include coaching volleyball, swimming in lakes, spending time with friends, downhill biking and skiing, and enjoying the outdoors. If I’m not out and about, I might be reading a novel and sipping a coffee.

Thanks for welcoming me into VCS, I can’t wait for Semester 2, woohoo!!

 

Becky Enns – EC Teacher

My name is Becky Enns, and I’m excited to be joining the team and community at Vernon Christian School.  I grew up in Abbotsford, BC and did my teacher training at the King’s University College in Edmonton, AB. My first teaching job was at Cedars Christian School in Prince George, where I taught Grade 5 for 3 years. I then ventured off to teach in a BC school in China for a year. When I came back to Prince George, I taught Grade 7 for a few years before moving back down to Abbotsford. I taught Grade 7 at Abbotsford Christian School for a few years, got married to a Vernon guy and somehow God saw fit to make him move down to “the coast.” Once we started our family, I was mainly at home with our children but loved filling in here and there at ACS. A few years ago, I accepted a part-time position teaching Grade 5.

Now, after 13 years of marriage and life in Abbotsford, God is moving us from “the coast” to Vernon. We are glad to reconnect with our family and friends here, but also looking forward to getting to know our new community. My husband Jonas and I have 3 daughters, Gemma (11), Anna (9) and Sophie (7), so I’ll be both parent and teacher at the school. Some of my favourite things about teaching are finding ways to encourage kids to dig deep and grow, reading books aloud to the class, and exploring who God is together and why we can trust and follow him. In my “other life,” I love connecting with friends, mucking around in the garden, enjoying a great cup of coffee, baking, knitting semi-acceptable dishcloths and reading. I look forward to meeting you soon and working together to grow God’s kids!

Julia Strother – SC Teacher 

I’m delighted to join the Vernon Christian School community, teaching Grade 9 English for the upcoming semester. I look forward to getting to know all of you.

I recently completed my Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. I am now in my second year teaching, with experience teaching English, Careers, Math, and Science. I’m passionate about integrating biblical principles into learning and helping students see the world and their academic studies through a Christian lens. I believe education is more than academics—it’s about nurturing the whole person and helping each student discover their God-given gifts and potential.

When I’m not teaching, I enjoy spending time with family (husband Matthew and son Luka, age 2) and being outdoors in God’s beautiful creation! I’m grateful to be joining such a great community, and we’re looking forward to building relationships with students, families, and staff alike. I am excited about the year ahead and the opportunity to grow together in faith and learning!

Current staff in new roles

Shae Atwater who taught in our 6 class last year, has moved into an elementary campus resource teacher. We are excited to welcome Shae into this new role!

Stephanie Jooste who has been working as an EA at SC  will also be working at SC as a middle school resource teacher. We are excited to welcome Stephanie into this new role!

Rebecca Dickau has been subbing at VCS as an EA for a few years and now has moved into a full-time role at our elementary campus. We are excited to have her join our team full-time!

 

 

 

 

 

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