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Mrs. Amy Rush
Administrator Read Bio
Bio coming soon |
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Barb Block
Bookkeeper Read Bio
I grew up on a small farm in Dubuque, Iowa in a Catholic family of nine children. We regularly attended church; however, I grew to understand God as something powerful but distant, and that He would grant prayer requests only if I were behaving. Through turbulent teen years and early twenties, I distanced myself from God. After many selfish years, I began questioning the real purpose of my life and also God's existence. In 1990, a teacher at the local community college, where I worked, befriended me and started talking about Jesus as a friend and a personal Savior. She taught me John 3:16....about God's forgiveness and love, and the incredible sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, on the cross for me, personally. Early in 1991, when the U.S. entered a mid-East crisis, I thought to myself, "If the world were to end today, or if I were to die today, where would I end up? Would I perish in Hell or go to Heaven?" Understanding that Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6), I gave my life to the Lord! Though my Christian walk hasn't always been easy, I've learned that I grow the most in times of trial. Our God is an awesome God who can do incredible things in our lives if we trust and obey Him. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Our family attends Asbury Community Chapel in Dubuque, Iowa. |
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Christy Leverentz
Admissions Read Bio
I am so very grateful to have grown up in a Christian home where I was taught about the Lord Jesus at an early age. Both of my parents demonstrated a disciplined godly life, serving Him and others in ways that I still try to emulate today. I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was seven years old, but rededicated my life to Him as a freshman in high school. When I chose Emmaus Bible College, I had planned to only receive my one year Bible certificate. Thankfully, Emmaus had begun their Elementary Education Degree, which I graduated with three years later. My first teaching job was teaching second grade here at Tri-State Christian School. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here! I was grateful for the supportive families and close- knit faculty and staff. I married my best friend, KT Leverentz, after my first year of teaching and we both taught at TSCS for four more years. In 2002, I stayed home with our first born and have loved being a stay-at-home mom and homeschool parent for 15 years. We now have four wonderful children, who are all enrolled at Tri-State Christian School. I am excited to be back at Tri-State in a new capacity as the Admissions Director. Our family enthusiastically fellowships and serves at The Great Adventure Church in Dubuque, Iowa. Bible Certificate - Emmaus Bible College, Dubuque, Iowa B.S. Biblical Studies - Emmaus Bible College B.S. Elementary Education - Emmaus Bible College |
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Dana Koeller
Secretary Read Bio
Some people say they found Jesus, I like to say Jesus found me. I was 21 when I committed my life to our Lord and Savior. He has taken me on a fantastic ride; missions to Kenya, schooling in Oklahoma, pastoring in Toronto and now to TSCS. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and to see what miraculous things does here. |
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Receptionist READ BIO
Bio coming soon |
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Heather Taylor
Kindergarten Read Bio
I came to know the Lord at an early age through the godly influence of my teachers, my Sunday school teachers and my parents. They instructed me in God’s Word, but more importantly they set godly role models that I found consistent with the Scriptures as I began to explore myself. I am so excited to be part of that molding process as we strive to partner with parents here at Tri-State. My family and I have been involved with Galena Bible Church for over 20 years where we enjoy going to church with many from our student body. I began teaching full time in 2012 at Tri-State Christian School, but I have been associated with the school for many years, first by running the hot lunch program for the previous ten years and then by substitute teaching in all the different grades over the past years. When the oldest of our six children started his senior year in 2012, I felt the next natural step that the Lord had for me was to join all of my children here as a teacher. I graduated from Wheaton College, I am ACSI certified, and currently working on a master’s degree in elementary education from Grand Canyon University, a Christian College. B.A. Business-Wheaton College |
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Elissa Osworth
1st Grade READ BIO
Hello! It wasn’t until I was 26 years old that the Lord convicted me of sin and granted me the gifts of faith in Christ and repentance towards God. Soon after He saved me He granted me the blessing of marrying a godly man to whom I have been married 25 years. I have been teaching for 26 years, 13 of which have been in various Christian schools depending on where we were living. It is a joy to my heart to be once again teaching in a Christian school and I look forward to beholding all the wonderful things the Lord will do through the ministry of Tri-State Christian School. |
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Jamie Larsen
2nd Grade/Typing Read Bio
I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was six. I grew up being educated in the public school system, but knew I wanted to attend a small, private Christian College. When I graduated from high school, I went on to attend Emmaus Bible College where I studied the Bible for a year. After I graduated with my one-year certificate, I returned home to attend a small community college. I returned to Emmaus in the fall of 2006 to finish my degree in Elementary Education. Upon finishing my degree at Emmaus, I took a job as a teacher’s aide in the autism program at Eisenhower Elementary School in Dubuque, Iowa. I worked as an aid for four years, but felt like the Lord was calling me to serve somewhere else. In 2012, I accepted the Second Grade position as Tri-State Christian School. It was important to me that I be in an environment where academics and strong Biblical teaching were the foundations of a child's learning. I currently live in Dubuque where I attend Asbury Community Chapel. One year certificate Emmaus Bible College, Dubuque, IA. A.A. Clinton Community College, Clinton IA. B.S. Emmaus Bible College, Dubuque, IA. |
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Katelyn Hester
3rd Grade Read Bio
I was born and raised in a Christian family in North Carolina where I came to know the Lord as my Savior at a young age. I had the opportunity to experience public as well as Christian school education. Shortly after I graduated from high school, I realized that I wanted to become a teacher. I attended Emmaus Bible College where I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Bible/Theology and Elementary Education; I also completed a Biblical Counseling minor. After I graduated from Emmaus, I started teaching third grade in 2010 for Tri-State Christian School. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to teach students and watch them grow academically as well as spiritually. I currently live in Dubuque, Iowa, where I attend Asbury Community Chapel. B.S. Bible/Theology-Emmaus Bible College B.S. Elementary Education-Emmaus Bible College |
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Keri Keller
4th Grade Read Bio
For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be a school teacher when I grew up. I was raised in a Christian home in a suburb of Chicago. At an early age, I came to the realization that I was a sinner and that Christ had died on the cross for me. I put my trust in the Lord when I was five years old, and since that day I have had a strong desire to learn, grow, follow, and share Christ with others. After high school I attended Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa, where I received my bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Elementary Education. I began teaching at Tri-State Christian School after graduation and taught there for two years before my husband and I began our family. God has blessed us with three children, and it wasn’t until they were all in school that I went back to teaching at Tri-State in the fourth grade classroom. I am thankful to be teaching in a Christian school where I am able to share the love of Christ with my students. My husband and I are both teachers, and we enjoy traveling with our family during the summer as well as ministering at camp as counselors. We attend Asbury Community Chapel and are involved in our church as youth group leaders. B.S. Biblical Studies-Emmaus Bible College B.S. Elementary Education-Emmaus Bible College |
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Bethany Redmond
5th Grade READ BIO
By God’s grace, I was raised in a Christian home by parents who loved the Lord and shared the Gospel with me at a very young age. When I was six year old, I came to know Jesus as my personal Savior. I am so thankful that I was able to attend and graduate from Tri-State Christian School. During my high school years, my faith grew stronger and my relationship with Jesus became deeper through my biblical training and the godly examples of my teachers. After high school, I pursued an elementary education degree from the University of Dubuque knowing that God had given me a heart for teaching. Over the past ten years, I have worked as a church children’s director, held various substitute teaching roles, and taught first grade in Iowa City. I am so excited to be returning to Tri-State Christian School and am humbled that God has chosen to use me in the work He is doing here. |
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Kim England
6th Grade Read Bio
Bio coming soon |
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Mike Eells
Secondary Bible/ Dean of Spiritual Life Read Bio
Mike and Julie are both Iowa kids. Mike was raised in Solon Iowa and Julie in Council Bluffs. Julie was raised in a strong Christian home. To use Mike’s words, he was raised in a home and church that preached "good advice", but not the “good news” of God’s grace. However, when he was 17 years old, he trusted in Jesus as his personal savior. A friend from high school invited him to his youth group where he heard the gospel for the first time. Mike eventually made his decision for Christ at an annual youth conference in Des Moines, IA. After high school Mike attended Emmaus where he and Julie met. Mike and Julie have been married for 20 years this June and have been blessed with 7 children, ages 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14. About two years ago they were surprised with twin girls Lizzy and Gracie. After receiving his Bachelors degree in Bible and Theology from Emmaus, Mike attended Trinity Evangelical Divinity School where he received a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology in Systematic Theology. During Mike’s seminary years in Chicago, Julie taught 1st and 2nd grade at Heritage Christian Academy. Julie is a stay at home mom who has enjoyed homeschooling their children. Some of the Eells children will be attending Tri-State this year. For the last 12 years Mike has served full time as a pastor and youth pastor at the Atlantic Gospel Chapel in Atlantic Iowa. Mike is also going on his third year as an adjunct professor for Emmaus Distance Learning. |
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Londie Grothjan
Secondary English Read Bio
I began a relationship with Christ at a young age, by God's grace, with my beautiful praying mother by my side. Although I physically kneeled at five years old, I surrendered my whole heart in middle school to Jesus. I grew up on the rocky coast of Barrington, Rhode Island, and went to Barrington Christian Academy from K-8th grade-- the Lord used those godly, caring Christian teachers in my life to help me see Jesus, and know why He mattered in every aspect of my life. My preparation from a godly mother, Christ honoring church, and caring teachers prepared me for public high school. Being in a public high school was not easy, but the Lord used my experiences there to grow me into the person I am today. Throughout my childhood, I always had a sense from the Lord that I would teach, and the Lord used and affirmed that gift as I taught Sunday School, VBS, participated in high school mission trips to the inner city, led Kid's Club in college, worked with orphanage children in Romania, taught in a Christian school in Massachusetts, and taught Essentials at Classical Conversations. I have also had the privilege of previously homeschooling my children and I believe the Lord led us to Tri State Christian School in 2016. My desire is to be in a school that partners with parents to honor Christ and stirs children to grow academically and spiritually. We are thrilled to be a part of this community! B.A. English-Eastern Nazarene College |
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Alli Hertz
Secondary History Read Bio
My name is Alli Hertz, and I am going to be the new 7-12 history teacher at Tri-State. I am a recent graduate of Emmaus Bible College, and I majored in Bible Theology and Secondary Education with endorsements in World History and Psychology. I am very excited to kick off my teaching career at Tri-State. I am looking forward to using my passion for history to influence a greater appreciation of history in my students. I am also excited to be able to teach history through a biblical lens, and evaluate the past through our biblical worldview. I am excited for the upcoming school year, and look forward to meeting you all! |
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Tracey Kosin
Secondary Math Read Bio
Bio coming soon |
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Spanish/International Student Director Read Bio
Bio coming soon |
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Suzi Sulzer
JH/HS Art Read Bio
I grew up knowing who Jesus was, but I never understood what it meant to give my life to Christ. At the end of my third year of college, I was at a personal low. My best friend and a classmate teamed up and made me go to The Salt Company, a Christian group. I went, and the fourth week the leader spoke on Psalm 23 "the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want..." He said that "God will give you what you truly need and what your heart longs for even without you asking." The next evening I thought about what was said and made a list of all that was bad in my life and all the things I had truly been longing for. Then it struck me, in the four weeks that I had gone to The Salt Company and was hearing His Word, God had gotten rid of everything bad on my list, and He had given me everything good on my list. Who could argue with that? My husband and I attend Christ Church in Dubuque, Iowa. |
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Tracey Rush
Music Read Bio
Bio coming soon |
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Chris Fransman
PE/Athletic Director/Math Read Bio
I grew up in a Christian home and attended a small Christian elementary school. I proceeded to attend a public high school where I made a commitment to serve Jesus Christ my junior year. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes played a crucial role in me developing a Faith in Jesus Christ. I started attending while in high school, went on their mission’s trips during my college years, and am still active with it today as I have started a huddle here at Tri-State Christian School. I attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, where I studied Health/Physical Education/Recreation. I graduated in 2005 and took my first, full-time teaching job here at TSCS in 2008 where I teach PE and serve as the athletic director. My wife and I serve and worship at Galena Bible Church in Galena, Illinois. BA in Secondary Education-Dordt College Physical Education K-12 Minor in Health |
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Custodian Read Bio
coming soon |
We partner with parents to educate students from a biblical worldview for excellence in lifelong learning and Christ-like character.
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