RCS Welcomes New Teachers As Staff Prepares for 2021-22 School Year

Submitted by Teresa Hendren in RCS Highlights on August 04, 2021

A new perspective: Redwood Christian Schools Welcomes New Teachers as staff prepares for year

Redwood Christian Schools welcomed faculty back to campuses Aug. 2. The school welcomed nine new teachers. From left, top row: First grade teacher Katelyn Wolfe, MSHS Art teacher Carly Pratt, Kindergarten teacher Heather Mitchell. Middle row: Second grade teacher Victoria Langseth, fourth grade teacher Mebrat Hill, fifth grade teacher Jessie Pangelina, transitional Kindergarten teacher Ashley Moog. Bottom row: Second grade teacher, Nick Meyer, middle school teacher, Julia Redemer.

After a challenging year for many educators in 2020, the faculty are excited to be back in the classroom with students.  There’s also some new faces at Redwood Christian Schools, including nine teachers.

Returning to the Bay Area after six years of teaching in New Jersey and Florida is Ashley Moog (RCS Class of 2011) who will teach both TK and elementary art.   “I have always loved the redwood community and all that the school represents for the bay area,” she said. “I am looking forward to working in a faith-based work environment with other Christian employees.”

Due to an enrollment increase, an additional Kindergarten teacher was added to the RCE faculty.  A familiar face was a perfect fit! Heather Mitchell applied for the position after working as an instructional aide the past two years.  Mrs. Mitchell has worked with children from infants through school age. “A few years ago the Lord opened the door for me to return to teaching which is my true passion,” she said.

Teaching first grade is Katelyn Wolfe who shared the school’s core values motivated her to apply. “The motivation behind my becoming an RCS teacher is the school’s core values and what they stand for,” she said. “As a Christian, I do not want to compromise my beliefs to fit into a school that rejects God.”

Victoria Langseth will teach second grade. She has worked with children her whole life including professionally at a preschool, elementary, and a high school.   “I love kids because of their joy for life,” she said.  “They are silly, goofy, and say what’s on their minds.” 

Also teaching second grade and joining RCS from a public elementary school is Nick Meyer. “I want to inspire 2nd grade students by being enthusiastic about what I am teaching, helping them to see that learning can be fun, that it is worthwhile and useful in everyday life, and that we can glorify God as teacher and students,” he said. 

Mebrat Hill will join Dr. Francis in fourth grade, and brings a passion for sharing the gospel and was motivated to be a teacher at RCS to give God praise.  “I was born in a remote village in Eritrea with no access to schools.  This is a unique experience I want to use to help the students to have an appreciation for their educational opportunities,” she said.

In fifth grade, Jessie Pangelina will join Mrs. Neal.  She has experience creating safe and healthy environments for children. “I aimed to teach children valuable social and emotional skills through play,” she said.

Carly Platt will be teaching middle school and high school art classes and said she found RCS when seeking to make a career move from a public school (in the Central Coast) to a private Christian School.  “My newlywed husband and I decided to take a huge leap of faith by moving to the Bay Area to pursue better job opportunities for us both,” she said. “I am now so glad to say that God’s plan for me is to be able to inspire students to creatively express their faith through their own art.”

Also joining the middle school and high school campus is Julia Redemer whose husband is also an English teacher.  “I have been married to my husband, Justin, for 16 years. He is a English teacher at Hayward High School and the Men’s Director at 3 Crosses Church, and we have four kids,” she said. “My family is excited that I will be a teacher again like their father (even those who are going to be on campus with me)!”

The first day of school is August 16th.  Said Superintendent, Dr. Al Hearne, II. “This (year) includes working to meet students’ unique learning needs, providing live instruction, and developing social-emotional health through the development of positive relationships.”  The school theme for the 2021-22 school year is “God’s Calling” from Ephesians 4:1-3 (ESV), “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the CALLING to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

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