Mr. Phil Lundquist is in his third year as principal of CCS. He has previously experience in both Christian and public schools. Mr. Lundquist attended Moody Bible Institute with a major in Communications, graduated from Loyola University with a B.A. in English, from Northern Illinois University with a Master’s degree in Special Education, and Aurora University with a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. He is married to Stella and they have two wonderful children, Nicholas and Christina. Galatians 2:20 is his life’s verse. It speaks of a new life in Christ, which is lived out by faith in the One who unconditionally loves each one of us and gave His own self for us. It is Christ’s life and faith that has given us the grace and capacity to live for God and serve Him with our gifts, time and talents. His passion is to see each child encounter a life transforming relationship with their creator in their early years and to teach them to go on to fulfill their life’s destiny as God’s beloved sons and daughters.

Debbie Nelsen is new to Covenant Christian preschool this year, but has been working with children even before her first job at Kay Nelson’s Children’s World in 1982. She is director qualified with 40 college credit hours, 17 of them in Early and Elementary education classes. Debbie is a mother of 3 wonderful children ages 28, 20, and 15. Her youngest son is a sophomore at Yorkville Christian High School. For the past 20 years Debbie has been providing childcare and preschool from her home in Yorkville with the help of a number of partners and aides through the years. With all of her experience and education Debbie has learned that the best things to do when presented with a situation that requires a solution is to press into the Lord. Through prayer she is guided in the care for the children in her class. Debbie is extremely excited to be a part of the wonderful Covenant Christian teaching team and looks forward to serving the families as if serving the lord. 

Mrs. Stella Lundquist was born and raised in Athens, Greece. She earned an Associates in Bible from the Greek Bible Institute, a Certificate in English from Cambridge England, and a B.A. in French from the French Academy of Athens. She moved to the United States in 1989 and met her husband at Moody Bible Institute a few years later where she studied Communications. After working for several years at Greek schools and Parkview Christian Academy, she joined Covenant Christian School. She has two children: one attends CCS and the other is a senior in Wheaton Academy. Her passion for Christ, dedication and enthusiasm are a few characteristics of her teaching style.

I feel so excited, honored and blessed to be teaching 1st and 2nd grade at Covenant Christian School. Teaching is my passion! I love being a part of leading and guiding students on the path to learn all the things that they are setting out to do! And to be able to do that in a Christian school is the best because I can share the love of Jesus and be able to help them become all God wants them to be. God truly places each of us in that classroom together for a reason. In my room, I strive to have a positive learning environment that will encourage students to do their best at ALL times! There are so many major milestones that students reach at these precious ages and truly what a gift it is to be there to walk them through it! 

Mrs. Alyce Bakker has been teaching for 17 years. She taught at Calvary Christian School for 16 years and the public school for 1 year. She has experience in both traditional education and special education. She has an Associates of Science, with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, and has an endorsement as a Learning Behavioral Specialist (LBS1). Alyce is currently completing classwork for her certification as an Autism Specialist and her international certification to teach English as a second language. She is excited that God has led her to join the team of teachers at Covenant Christian School. Mrs. Bakker is married to Geart; the two met while missionaries to the Netherlands. They have 7 grown children, 2 grandsons, and over the years have fostered 73 children.  All of her children attended Christian School K-12. She is looking forward to teaching and sharing Christ’s love with her students.

Mrs. Justine Hasulube began teaching music and band at CCS in the fall of 2007. She taught for 6 years at CCS and is returning to start her 7th year in music and band this fall 2014. Raised in North Dakota and Minnesota by her father (a retired Lutheran minister) and her mother, she is one of 5 children.  From the age of 3 and on she began singing in ensembles, choirs, duets, trios, quartets, and was frequently a soloist.  She began leading children’s choir at her church when she was in Junior High.  She also plays the piano and flute. Mrs. Hasulube was a music major for 2 years at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN and then obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, in December 1995.  She continues to work in Occupational Therapy in Early Intervention on her non-teaching days.  She has led the children’s choir for the previous Huntley Brown concerts and Tommy Walker concert and has taken members of the CCS choir to perform at various churches, annual performance events, and the Wayside Cross fundraiser event.  She has trained and taken Junior High CCS students to the annual ACSI Music Festival as well.  Mrs. Hasulube also sings and plays keyboard for the worship team at her church.  She is married and has 6 children, 3 of whom currently will attend CCS. Her 2 high school students have also attended CCS previously.  Mrs. Hasulube shared that Christ is her all in all and is everything to her. She stated that Christ has met her every need and gives her strength and wisdom for each new day and circumstance.  Without Christ, she stated she can do nothing. Everything good that happens is because of His grace. She is excited to return to CCS and be part of what The Lord has planned for this precious school!

Mrs. Karen Featheringill grew up in Joliet, Illinois and accepted Christ at the age of 13. She studied Elementary Education at Concordia University in River Forest, later returning for a Masters degree as a Reading Specialist. Her experiences include teaching kindergarten, fourth grade, art, library, and Montessori. She has worked with many tutoring and homeschool students. For the past 12 years, she has been working for Follett School Solutions as a content specialist for an Internet search engine for students.

She is eager to help students grow in their relationship with God, discover the unique gifts He has given them, and set goals for their future. From phonics to critical thinking, beginning and struggling readers need help to build their decoding and comprehension skills. Ms. Featheringill has worked with students just beginning their reading journey, and also with those challenged in areas of vocabulary and fluency. Her desire is to find what each student needs to move beyond their struggles and learn to love reading, math, history, and science. Tapping into a student’s interests can help them discover the possibilities of lifelong learning.  

Mr. Clifford Hoper is a volunteer retired pastor who loves the Lord and has a heart to serve our youth through the school.

Mrs. Kathy Thomas became born-again in July of 1972. After working at a secular job for about a year, and feeling the need to spend more time with her children, Mrs. Thomas began working at CCS. She has been at CCS for 25 years.

Mrs. Peterson has been in Early Childhood Education for 24 years.

Her first job in education was at CCS as a preschool aide in the morning and teaching music with Kindergarten-6th grade students in the afternoon.

She came to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior just a year after her wedding day, and became involved in children’s ministry at First Presbyterian Church here in Aurora where she taught Sunday School and directed two Children’s Choirs. ‘We had the privilege at that time to do Christmas and Easter at the ParamountArt Center. I was part of the adult choir, sang solo and led the children in the worship of our Savior. I told the children that when they were up front singing, That they were ministers of Jesus, leading God’s people in His worship and praise!

While she was whittling away on a degree in Early Childhood Ed, Mrs Peterson with great joy also taught at Aurora Christian Preschool for 5 years, at Ginger Care Christian Academy as a lead teacher in the 4yr old department and Christmas program director, and finally at Parkview Christian Academy where she had the privilege to teach kindergarten and prepare students for the annual Christmas concert.

‘Being in so many different learning environments has exposed me to many different curricula…I am always thinking…What parts…. would be best for this student in front of me?’

Mrs. Peterson is glad to be back at CCS where it all began! She is the mother of 6 sons, the grandmother of 11 and happily married and empty nesting with her husband, Dan of 45 years.  🙂

Mrs. Pam Hapner went forward in an evening service at age 17, and at the prompting of the Holy Spirit she committed her life to becoming a Christian School teacher. Upon graduating High School, Pam went to Crown Point, Indiana, and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education from Hyles-Anderson Bible College. She has taught for 25 years, with 20 of those years being at Covenant Christian School. After taking a year off, it is with great joy and humility that she returns to Covenant Christian School. During that year, she went to India to teach English Phonics to teachers in a Missionary school, and has watched how God guided her steps back to His work that He wants to complete in and through her at Covenant Christian School.

“Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work in us. to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

Mrs. Monica Kanai holds a degree in education with a minor in early childhood and child and family studies from Southwest Baptist University having graduated magna cum laude. She has taught in both public and Christian school settings since 1993, and has homeschooled her own three children through eighth grade with the youngest starting high school at Aurora Christian School (ACS) last fall.  Her oldest daughter Aleece graduated salutatorian from Mt. Vernon, MO in 2013.  Her other daughter Anna received the ACS Christian Character Award and A honor roll for 9^th and 10^th grades.  Mrs. Kanai grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ at age 5.

Mrs. Holly Baker has taught Pre-K-12 Physical Education in Christian Schools for 20 years. She graduated from North central College in Naperville, IL with a BA in Health, Physical Education and Recreation and a minor in Psychology and was a 3X All-American sprinter and captain on the track team and President of FCA. She has worked as an exercise physiologist, personal trainer, coached High School track, and elementary soccer and basketball, taught in Kids Gym etc. She is CPR, 1st Aid and ASEP certified and also teaches K-8 at St. Peter Catholic School in Aurora. She is a member of the Compass Church in Naperville and enjoys running, biking, working out, sports, volunteering with P.A.D.S, and spending time with her boys and family. She has a son at Indiana Wesleyan University and another son serving in the US Army. She strives to impress upon her students the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to glorify God.

Mrs. Heidi Angelo is a former CCS parent and has taught CCS art and art history to our students. Mrs. Angelo holds a Master’s Degree in Education from Aurora University and has taught for over ten years in both Christian and public schools—including kindergarten, Spanish, and art.  She has a pure love for the students reflected in her Christ-like personality.  Her love for Jesus, family and teaching is evidenced by the fruit in her life and the lives of her students.