Our Faculty
Meet the dedicated educators who serve our students Coram Deo, fostering a love for God's Word and truth, goodness, and beauty through the classical Christian tradition.
Faculty & Staff
Elementary School Faculty
Elementary School Faculty
Nancy Apisa
KINDERGARTEN TEACHER
Mrs. Nancy Apisa is grateful that the Lord let her to serve at TCS where she partners with parents in educating and training up their children to become the next generation of Christian leaders who love God and serve others. Mrs. Apisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and early childhood education from Caldwell University. After a long career in private, public, and classical Christian schools, she joined the TCS faculty in 2018. She has taught students at every grade level from Pre-K through Grade 12, and her favorite grade is always the one she is currently teaching! At her church, she leads the GriefShare ministry. Mrs. Apisa enjoys watching college sports, walking, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her husband.
Sharon Carrione
MUSIC & CHORUS TEACHER
Mrs. Carrione has taught at TCS for over 30 years, spending the majority of her career teaching Fifth Grade. In 2021, she retired from teaching Fifth Grade and has since taught Music, leading our Upper Elementary, Middle School and High School choirs, as well as our Student Orchestra. Mrs. Carrione has a Bachelor's of Science degree in Elementary Education from Belhaven University.
Lisa Cunningham
MUSIC & BELLS
Mrs. Cunningham began working at TCS in 1998 by starting a school library, and later returned to college as well to earn an Associate's degree in Music. She has been teaching music at TCS for 24 years. Mrs. Cunningham raised four children and now has five grandchildren. She loves the classics of music and of literature, and is passionate about every aspect of school music!
INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT
Sara Driesse
Mrs. Nancy Apisa is grateful that the Lord let her to serve at TCS where she partners with parents in educating and training up their children to become the next generation of Christian leaders who love God and serve others. Mrs. Apisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and early childhood education from Caldwell University. After a long career in private, public, and classical Christian schools, she joined the TCS faculty in 2018. She has taught students at every grade level from Pre-K through Grade 12, and her favorite grade is always the one she is currently teaching! At her church, she leads the GriefShare ministry. Mrs. Apisa enjoys watching college sports, walking, reading, crocheting, and spending time with her husband.
Gwendolyn May
3RD GRADE TEACHER
Mrs. Gwen May is the third grade teacher at TCS. She enjoys sharing the love of Christ and the joy of learning with her students. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montclair State University in Family and Child Studies with a concentration in Early & Middle Childhood. She also holds a NJ State Standard Certification as an Elementary School Teacher. In addition to having over 12 years of experience teaching at multiple Christian schools, she has previously homeschooled her own children who now attend TCS. Mrs. May enjoys outdoor activities, spending time with her family, serving as the children’s ministry director at her church, and cheering on her 2 daughters during sporting events.
Kirsi Nunes
2ND GRADE TEACHER
Mrs. Kirsi Nunes teaches first grade at TCS, where she has the opportunity to instill in her students a love for God and to aspire for Christ-likeness. She holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree from Bob Jones University in Humanities. Before joining TCS, Mrs. Nunes spent many years homeschooling her three children with a classical Christian curriculum and also taught for several years at a Christian school in New York. Mrs. Nunes enjoys spending time with her husband and three children, volunteering at church, cooking, baking and painting.
Kristen Snow
4TH GRADE TEACHER
Mrs. Kristen Snow teaches fourth grade at TCS, where she is passionate about helping students grow in both wisdom and wonder through a classical Christian education. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English Literature, and before joining TCS, Mrs. Snow spent many years homeschooling her four children with a classical Christian curriculum, drawing their attention to the true, the good and the beautiful. She has also taught middle school Language Arts in public schools and most recently served as an academic advisor in higher education, where she enjoyed guiding college students toward their academic goals. Outside the classroom, Mrs. Snow enjoys spending time with her husband and children, reading, knitting, and exploring all that New Jersey has to offer after recently making the move from her home state of Florida.
Mary Rogers
LATIN
After many years of classically homeschooling her own children in the lower grades, Mrs. Mary Rogers has returned to teach at TCS part-time in the Kindergarten Enrichment program. She holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University and has taught in several Christian schools, including TCS, before becoming a mother. She is kept blessedly busy raising her six children and serving in various ministries alongside her husband.
Selah Rogers
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mrs. Cunningham began working at TCS in 1998 by starting a school library, and later returned to college as well to earn an Associate's degree in Music. She has been teaching music at TCS for 24 years. Mrs. Cunningham raised four children and now has five grandchildren. She loves the classics of music and of literature, and is passionate about every aspect of school music!
Esther Rosario
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEAD & STUDENT LIFE COORDINATOR
Mrs. Esther Rosario is the Lead for our Elementary School and our Student Life Coordinator at TCS. An alumnus of TCS, she pursued a bachelor's degree in History and Education at the College of St. Elizabeth, where she also played college soccer. After graduating, she returned to TCS and taught Second Grade for 5 years. All four of Esther's children attend TCS as second generation students. Esther has a passion and love for TCS and is so grateful for the role that TCS has had in her life.
Donna Stempert
ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION LEAD
Mrs. Donna Stempert has been teaching at TCS for over ten years, where she taught first grade for many years and more recently second grade. She is now serving as our Elementary Curriculum & Instruction Lead, where she reviews and develops our curriculum and works with our teachers to optimize the classroom experience. In the past she also taught sixth grade and homeschooled her four sons for many years before coming to Trinity. Mrs. Stempert holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Ramapo College. She endeavors to pass on a love of learning, a sense of wonder at the world, and an awe of our Creator each day in her classroom.
Jim Van Riper
5TH GRADE TEACHER
Mr. Jim Van Riper teaches fifth grade at TCS, where he integrates God's design and influence into each subject. He holds an M.A. Master of Arts from Pensacola Christian College. Mr. Van Riper has been a Christian educator for many years since graduating from college. He spent the majority of those years teaching at Parsippany Christian School in Parsippany, NJ. Mr. Van Riper enjoys reading historical biographies and spending time with his wife and adult children.
Jennifer Vigario
ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY
ART & HISTORY
StaceyAnn Lutchman
2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Staceyann Lutchman is the second-grade teacher at TCS. She brings nearly ten years of experience teaching first and second grade at a private elementary school in Trinidad. Prior to joining TCS, she dedicated 14 years to homeschooling her four children. As a Christian, Mrs. Lutchman considers it a privilege to teach in a Christian school, where she has the opportunity to partner with parents in nurturing both the hearts and minds of children. Her desire is to help students grow academically while pointing them to Christ and encouraging them to develop a biblical worldview. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Mrs. Lutchman serves as a Sunday school teacher at her church. Mrs Lutchman enjoys cooking, painting and spending quality time with her husband and four children.
Secondary School Faculty
Secondary School Faculty
Bart Carlson
BIBLE TEACHER
Pastor Bart Carlson teaches Comparative Worldviews to seniors, helping them develop a thoroughly Christian worldview so they can think critically and biblically about themselves and the world around them. He earned a B.S. in Computer Science from Colorado State University and completed his theological education at the Trinity Ministerial Academy in 1992. In addition to serving as a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church since 1995, Pastor Carlson has taught a wide variety of Bible courses at Trinity Christian School since the fall of 1993. For over 25 years, he has utilized the Understanding the Times curriculum to teach worldview classes in both a homeschool co-op and at Trinity Christian School. He thoroughly enjoys spending time with his wife, his three married children and their spouses, and his grandchildren, as well as studying and preaching from the Old Testament.
Shezhad Khan
BIBLE TEACHER
Pastor Shehzad Khan teaches New Testament Survey to 8th graders at TCS, where he has also served as a coach for various TCS sports teams for several years and as a TCS board member for 10 years. He holds degrees in Engineering Technology and Business Management from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and has worked for various companies, including PSE&G and Madison Square Garden. Shehzad was called to be a pastor by Trinity Baptist Church of Montville in 2013. He and his wife (a TCS alumnus) have been blessed with five boys, all of which have attended or are attending TCS.
Doug Prol
BIBLE TEACHER
Mr. Douglas Prol has served in Christian education settings since 1980 as teacher, guidance counselor, and administrator. He started at TCS in 1986 as the school’s first Head of School. His classroom teaching experience has been at all grade levels, 3rd to 12th, with the last few years of semi-retirement teaching Bible classes at the high school level. His goal in teaching is to help students see their place in God’s world, understand their need for the Gospel, and be faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Doug has a MRE (Religious Education) from Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary (now Cornerstone). He is married to Lynn, also an educator, has five children who all graduated from TCS, and has ten grandchildren –some who also attend TCS. Doug has too many interests to list, but especially enjoys reading and singing the Psalms he grew up on.
Jeff Smith
BIBLE TEACHER
Pastor Jeff Smith teaches Church History to the 9th grade students at TCS where he has the opportunity to stir up a sincere interest in this vast subject encouraging students to learn vital lessons from the lives of key figures in Church history as well as from significant events underscoring the truth that the Lord Jesus Christ is building His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. He has been a pastor in Trinity Baptist Church since 1990, is happily married, has three adult children and enjoys working with missionaries in different countries as well as hiking with his wife and family.
Jonathan Weinrich
BIBLE TEACHER
ENGLISH TEACHER
Marya Mendelsohn
Sue Rumeau
6TH GRADE / HISTORY /
SCIENCE TEACHER
Peter Slomski
GREAT BOOKS & RHETORICAL SKILLS TEACHER
Mr. Peter Slomski serves as our Great Books and Rhetorical Skills teacher. Prior to joining TCS, Mr. Slomski served as an Associate Pastor at Christ Church Deeside in Wales, United Kingdom, where he taught the Bible and theology to adults, teens and children for almost 10 years. Prior to entering ministry, Pastor Slomski was also a solicitor practicing municipal law for many years. Educated in England, he received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Staffordshire University and earned a Diploma in Theology and Pastoral Studies from The London Reformed Baptist Seminary in London. With a deep love for language, literature, and truth, Mr. Slomski brings his passion for words and clear thinking to the classroom at TCS. He also serves as our Chapel Coordinator. Mr. Slomski and his wife have two young children and enjoy serving in church, reading (of course!) and hiking.
Christian Stempert
HISTORY & RHETORIC
Mr. Christian Stempert (‘10) teaches History for grades 9-12, and also teaches Rhetoric II (Senior Thesis). He is a proud alumnus of TCS and brings with him a wealth of academic and professional experience. He earned his B.A. in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King’s College, followed by a B.A. in History from Rutgers University. He also pursued graduate work in Medieval Studies at Fordham University. Before returning to TCS, Mr. Stempert served in academic administration at The King’s College, where he contributed to the life of the college and supported its mission.
Joy Yany
MATH TEACHER
Mrs. Yany is entering her twelveth year at TCS. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics from The Kings College as well as a Master of Science in Education from Queens College. Mrs. Yany holds permanent teaching certification in New York and New Jersey. Before joining TCS, Mrs. Yany worked for Monroe-Woodbury School District in Monroe, NY as well as taught in a public junior high school in Queens, New York. Mrs. Yany loves going to the beach, ice skating, gardening and reading books.
Taline Campbell
MATH TEACHER
Mrs. Taline Campbell is a veteran of TCS, bringing 21 years of God-centric education in science and math into the equation (math joke, get it!). She has a deep passion for teaching young minds about the fabric of the beautiful world that God has created. After moving from Lebanon as a teenager, Mrs. Campbell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology and later spent 15 years as a Digital Design Engineer for several defense and technology companies. Outside of teaching, Mrs. Campbell enjoys spending time with her three children in Hoboken, Miami, and London.
Karen Carlson
SCIENCE TEACHER
Mrs. Karen Carlson is entering her eighth year at TCS teaching Anatomy & Physiology (12th grade) and Health (7th and 8th grades). She holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Nursing from University of Northern Colorado. Mrs. Carlson worked as a registered nurse for nine years, mostly in pediatrics. She then homeschooled her three children (K-12) and also taught science including Anatomy & Physiology at a classical homeschooling co-op for many years. Besides teaching, Mrs. Carlson loves spending time with her family (five grandchildren!) and friends, cooking, and hiking.
Jinshan Gao
CHEMISTRY TEACHER
Dr. Jinshan Gao teaches Honors Chemistry at Trinity Christian School, in additional to serving as a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at a local university. He holds a B.S. in Chemistry from China Agricultural University and earned his Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Purdue University. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Gao advanced his expertise as a postdoctoral scholar at Caltech, launching a research career focused on innovative approaches in proteomics and glycomics. Most importantly, Dr. Gao is a husband and father of 3 boys, as well as a deacon at his church.
Jessica Kaiser
SCIENCE TEACHER
Mrs. Jessica Kaiser is an alumnus of Trinity Christian School. She began teaching at TCS in 1999. Prior to that, she received her B.A. in secondary education from Grove City College. She taught at TCS for six years before leaving to raise her babies. When the youngest of her three children started kindergarten in 2014, she returned to teach at TCS. She has taught middle school and high school science, health, Innovation and Tech as well as serving as the secondary academic guidance counselor. She loves seeing the hand of the Creator in all His creation and has a passion for sharing that with her students. Outside of school she and her husband cheer on their three children on the baseball diamond, the track and the soccer field. Mrs Kaiser is also active in her church, serving in the worship ministry and in women’s ministry.
Justin Lai
MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHER
Mr. Justin Lai teaches advanced Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science at TCS. Prior to joining TCS, he taught science at a charter school in New York City. He earned is B.S. in Computer Science (Highest Honors), along with a minor in Pure and Applied Math, from Steven Institute of Technology. Mr. Lai is an active member of his church, loves to study apologetics and is an avid pickleball player.
Glinys Mateo
SPANISH TEACHER
Mrs. Glinys Mateo teaches Spanish at the secondary level at TCS. She loves being on the TCS faculty and working alongside beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. She is passionate about sharing the Spanish language and the rich traditions of Hispanic culture with her students. Through engaging lessons and meaningful cultural experiences, she strives to inspire students to develop confidence in their language skills and a lifelong appreciation for the Spanish-speaking world. Mrs. Mateo holds a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science with a minor in Music from Mercy College. Before pursuing her passion for teaching, she worked as a social worker. Mrs. Mateo enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children, who also attend TCS. Outside the classroom, she loves cooking, baking, hiking, and visiting Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is grateful for the opportunity to invest in her students' lives and looks forward to helping them grow academically, culturally, and personally.
Cynthia Adamo
SPANISH TEACHER
Mrs. Cynthia Adamo holds a Bachelor's of Science degree in Accounting from Messiah University. She grew up in Puerto Rico to missionary parents, who loved languages. She taught English writing for 8 years in a classical homeschool co-op and has been teaching Spanish at TCS for the past 5 years. She labors to help her students gain an understanding of the topics being taught, while modeling Christ for them. Her prayer is to see young men and women loving and serving the Lord Jesus Christ in their various callings in life. She enjoys discipling younger ladies at church, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Leslie Folkerts
MIDDLE SCHOOL LATIN & COMPOSITION TEACHER
Mrs. Leslie Folkerts teaches 6th through 8th grade Latin and 7th through 10th grade Composition at TCS, where she has the opportunity to instill in students the importance of language to bring glory to God, communicate effectively, and impact the culture. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Secondary English Education from Boston University. Before joining TCS, Mrs Folkerts spent many years teaching her children at home as well as teaching Latin, Literature, Writing, and Geography in their homeschool co-op. Mrs. Folkerts also enjoys spending time with her family, being involved in the life of her church, reading, knitting, and traveling.