With both of her children recently graduated from Hillcrest, ANITA misses cheering for them on the sidelines but always is excited to support her classroom students in all their activities. In the winter, she enjoys cozying up with a good book or a puzzle and heading to Iowa Women’s Basketball games with her husband, Jon. When spring arrives, you can find her outdoors tending to her garden, which produces 12 to 15 different varieties of vegetables and fruits. She also loves to travel with family and friends, exploring new places, sampling local foods, and hiking or enjoying other outdoor adventures.

REBECCA is in her 7th year at Hillcrest Academy. She has enjoyed all the changes and challenges that have occurred at the school since she started, especially the addition of the middle school grades. Rebecca is looking forward to another year of fun filled events for the 4th-8th graders. In her free time, she enjoys attending her kids’ games and activities and spending time with family and friends.  

MARIA is the grandmama of Hillcrest. Not because of her age–she doesn’t look a day over 20–but because of her warm nature, patience, and tasty cinnamon rolls. She helps keep the school running by covering us with prayer and our tacos with spicy salsa (Taco Thursday is pretty much our favorite day of the week). A natural people person, Maria loves the “family-oriented” nature of Hillcrest and the “beautiful spirit of the kids.” Many students, especially those who work for her in the kitchen, come to see themselves as one of Maria’s kids. When they see her outside of school, she is more likely to hear, “Hi, mom” than “Hi, Maria.” She keeps our cafeteria seasonally decorated and our bellies eternally full. We love you, mom!

A proud mother of two Hillcrest alums, Laura ’14 and Amy ’18, and a devoted grandmother to Joseph (5) and Addison (4), TAMI brings her extensive experience and warm spirit to the Hillcrest community. Married to Jeremy ’85 for 37 years, Tami lives with her husband on their farm, where they raise pigs and row crops. While she’s a rural Iowa native, having lived outside of Oxford until she married in 1988—coincidentally this was also her first time flying in an airplane, traveling to Hawaii on their honeymoon. After spending 15 years in the public school system, Tami is excited to transition to private education and reconnect with friends she hasn’t seen since her daughters graduated. When she’s not at school, you can find her traveling with her family or spending time at The Ozarks.

JESS comes to Hillcrest after years of searching for a place to call home. She feels her eclectic experiences of working as a veterinary technician, museum and zoo educator, crisis counselor and social worker, and other odd career choices, has led her down a windy path in which she has learned a lot of things, but mostly about how her favorite Bible verse, Jeremiah 29:11 rings true – God has always has great plans for her when she just trusts in Him! Jess adds a laid-back feel to her classroom that is warm and inviting and she loves to share her unique experiences with her students. She loves to teach them Greek roots and new Scottish Gaelic phrases she learns, and watch their love of learning be even more energized when they experience art, music, animals, plants and nature within the classroom.  An avid traveler and consumer of all things Scottish and British, fiber arts, gardening, movies and history, she can always be counted on to share a trivia nugget of all things weird and odd in the world. She also brings WEASLEY, aka, The Beez, her deaf Australian Shepherd therapy dog for the students to love on. She hopes that he can show them that the Lord has a purpose for everything, and to turn what could be viewed as a tragedy into a blessing for others. She hopes that as she continues to roller skate down this new path in her life that she and Weasley can become a positive and fun addition to the amazing Hillcrest family, and finally have a place to call home.   

LAUREN believes every story ever told echoes the truth of the Gospel, and believes that everyday reading and writing exist to grow us as individuals and as followers of Jesus. As you would expect of any English teacher, Lauren loves reading and writing. She loves a good mystery novel, and it is her life goal to read everything ever written by C.S. Lewis. But aside from ELA, she hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is a committed Green Bay Packers fan. She spends her free time watching football, cooking good food, exercising, and drinking lots of coffee. 

Art Teacher BRYN brings such a thoughtful, kind presence to Hillcrest – you’d never know he was a secret rocker and Jim Gaffigan fan. If you see him in the Hillcrest hallways and strike up a chat about faith and art, go ahead and pull up a chair, and perhaps a coffee, because you’re about to have a stimulating conversation. An adventurer at heart, Bryn’s imagination is wide, his love for art is deep, and his ability to scale rocks in the southwest is something we’ll have to take his word for. He knows more about his personality than most people know about the back of their hand and believes eating injera with his family is about the best thing in the world . . . and he has the best high school photo of all our faculty and staff.

For MARIAN, life is an adventure she’s always ready for. Having grown up in a hotel on a Florida beach, she’s perfectly content living out of a suitcase and exploring new places. While she can mix up complex solutions in the lab, she’d rather go out to eat than attempt a culinary creation in the kitchen. Her travels have taken her all over the world, from China and Europe to Israel and England. When she’s not exploring, she’s an avid fan of both the FSU Seminoles and, now, the Hillcrest Ravens. In the  classroom, she embraces the challenge of chemistry, believing that what first seems like a “chemystery” is simply a fun puzzle waiting to be solved.

SHERI‘s first experience leading a group of children came while breeding and raising Half-Arabian horses, when she co-led her daughter’s 4-H group. Fortunately for us, she stepped out of her comfort zone to attend a Richard Shrake horsemanship clinic, which taught her not only confidence as a rider but also crucial leadership skills. She now uses those same skills every day, providing learning support for our middle schoolers. That clinic also provided the most exciting experience of her life: performing a flying dismount from her horse while it was at a full gallop! While she’s no longer dismounting at full speed, you can still find her on the move. In the summer, she’s likely in her kayak on a lake or tending to her garden. In the fall—her favorite season—she hopes to see some of you exploring the nature trails she has yet to discover.

NATE came [back] to Hillcrest Academy with a boatload of teaching experience. The ’96 grad taught math at Ritenour High School in St. Louis from 2000-2004 and at Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids from 2004 to 2022. His return was to teach Math, but for the 2025-26 school year he will trade his classroom for the ‘big office’ as he serves as Interim Principal/Head of School. When he’s not on campus, he often works on home improvement projects with his dad on the farm he grew up on just a few miles north of campus. Nate is very involved in his church and also spends a lot of time watching OR coaching his 3 sons in the various sporting events they are participating in. His wife Stacy, is also an alumna and together they enjoy traveling as much as they can. Both are lifelong Iowa Hawkeye and St. Louis Cardinals fans and they feel fortunate to be able to attend several games each year. 

LEDRU married his high school sweetheart – both part of the Class of ’98. What’s the big deal with that, a lot of people do that? The difference here is that he and his wife, Annette were born on the same day, at the same hospital. His future father-in-law even noted in his journal that he saw Ledru’s parents heading into the hospital as he was going to get the rest of the family to meet Annette. Ledru loves history podcasts and audio books which he used to consume in larger quantities when he was a painter.  A member of the 1998 Fall Soccer State Championship team, he still loves to play soccer in various leagues, along with watching the English Premier League. And he’s not listening to a podcast or watching a soccer game, he’s tuned into Pat and Ron call a Cubs game.

ASHLEE grew up in the beautiful state of Colorado, where she developed a deep love for hiking and the outdoors. Nothing beats the feeling of fresh mountain air and stunning scenery! She’s lucky enough to be married, and she and her hubby recently moved to Iowa to be closer to family. It’s wonderful spending quality time with loved ones, but having the inch to travel, takes them away from the Midwest touring the globe. As a teacher, she loves expressing her personality through dressing up in cute outfits each day. When not teaching, she can often be found exploring her passion for interior design and home staging. She loves transforming spaces and making them feel welcoming and inviting. And last but not least, she’s a huge bookworm! To her, there’s nothing quite like getting lost in a good story.

If you see a bright, smiling face in the office with a look that says “I’d really like a good hug” you probably have just met our LAURIE. She is an alumna and is excited to return: “It is an amazing school and has not only impacted my life, but really has a positive impact on the students’ lives as well. I’m excited to get to know the students and staff at a deeper level!” she says. Although part-time at Hillcrest, Laurie is busy full-time raising three boys and breeding Goldendoodles on their farm. She experiences God in the beauty of nature and enjoys spending time outside with her family. We haven’t seen it in action yet, but we hear she can also talk with her mouth closed.

Like a boomerang, CHRIS has returned to the Ravens team after several years away. A people-oriented person, Chris loves connecting with people of all ages in conversations and on and off the court. As a father, coach, and part-timer remodeler,  Chris stays busy working and playing. It gives him joy to see others achieve success after he’s worked with them on something. From Chris’ perspective, sports, arts, and activities create those kinds of opportunities for success and life lessons. He sees Hillcrest as an opportunity to continue to keep Christ at the center of his career and life. We’re glad he circled back to our team!

If you see something hopping in a classroom at Hillcrest Academy, don’t worry. It’s nothing abnormal, just one of our English teachers, BRYAN, jumping with excitement for his content. Bryan is chock full of passion for Jesus, books, and student “aha” moments. His faith is why he chose Hillcrest: “Jesus intrigues me,” he says.. “His teachings both challenge and invite. His way of life is startlingly vibrant. . . . I love that we seek to follow him together at Hillcrest Academy.” A writer at heart, Bryan observes the world carefully and so discovers beauty in small moments from a sip of fresh coffee to a quiet conversation with God to a well-phrased sentence that a student just wrote. And if the internet were to crash tomorrow? No problem! Bryan would find a good book or shoot some hoops or play with his kids and be content.

With an old soul and the spirit of a Renaissance Man, JEREMY lives by the mantra, “early to bed and early to rise.” A daily dose of The Andy Griffith Show helps keep his life in perspective, much like the vintage Land Cruiser he drives. A natural go-getter, Jeremy is an INTJ who applies his proactive attitude to everything he does. He’s a communicator, a bookworm, a designer, a cyclist, and above all a husband and father—just don’t ask him to play a board game. He brings energy to his role and loves being part of Hillcrest’s long history, tradition, and culture—so much so that he married a 1993 graduate.

BEAU loves to try new things, especially when it comes to food. An avid traveler, his favorite trip so far was to Puerto Rico. When he’s not jet-setting around the globe, he enjoys spending his time playing board games and video games. He loves professional sports of all kinds, but nothing compares to routing for his favorite team, the Illinois Fighting Illini. 

If you see a high school-looking Asian girl walking around campus, that’s probably our FCS teacher ANN from the Philippines. She loves traveling and exploring new places, with Switzerland being a dream destination. Ann is a foodie and enjoys trying exotic cuisine from different cultures. Her passion for working with children led her to consider a career in education. To gain new experiences and broaden her horizons, she decided to move to the United States to seek new opportunities and we are thankful she traveled halfway across the globe to join our Hillcrest team. On top of all that, Ann is a creative person who enjoys expressing herself through crafts and painting, just ask her students.

If you were stranded on an island and could choose only one Hillcrest faculty to be with you, you would want Biology MIKE for three reasons: he’d help you avoid poisonous plants, is “pretty good with a machete” (we think he’s being modest here), and is just a really nice guy. A nature enthusiast, Mike and his classes can be found outside more often than inside a classroom. He loves “exploring the beauty and complexity of God’s creation with students” and spending time with his wife and two daughters. He and his family spend summers in Ecuador where his wife’s family lives and where he learned to speak Spanish and Kichwa. When back in the states, he keeps our campus greenhouse, compost system, and FFA club running.

It’s a beautiful morning at Hillcrest: the birds are chirping, the sun is rising over the low fog of the Joetown hills, and Custodian MIKE (not to be confused with Biology Mike or Chemistry Mike) is already hard at work. Mike is our house morning person; while some of us might require coffee before perking up, Mike is not one of those folks. He feels that every day is lucky because “God has given it to me.” With a cheery smile, he will always ask you how your day is going or how your weekend was. We love it when he has a birthday or anniversary because he frequently brings in treats for the whole staff. We’ve learned a lot about Ukranian culture and food (yummy!) from Mike. He’s crazy about his kids, wife, and landscaping and keeps things running smoothly at Hillcrest. He loves that we have chapel every day and can talk about the Bible in every class. We couldn’t do it without him!

NATALIE is a dynamic individual with a deep passion for good music and teaching. A devoted collector of vinyl records, she proudly owns just about every Beatles albums, reflecting her love for the classic band. Teaching and karaoke are her main sources of energy, fueling her enthusiasm, while she tends to be quite relaxed and chill otherwise. Balancing her vibrant career, Natalie is a dedicated mother of three and has been happily married for eight years. Interestingly, she’s the only one in her family of five who attended M-P instead of Hillcrest, but she eventually found her way here and is thriving. Her favorite class to teach is Psychology, where her passion for the subject shines through, making a lasting impact on her students.

Four words that describe ANGELA are caring, crafty, clever, and cheap. This alliteration dives to the core of who she is. A devoted mother and wife, Angela still finds time to give her very best to Hillcrest. Whether working with her flowers in the garden, sewing, joking or bargain hunting,  Angela gives her all to everything she does. Angela is also quite the world traveler.  Her adventures have taken her across all 50 states, through Europe and to Thailand. She also has an awesome husband who is super cool, smart, and handsome. He also definitely did not write this bio.

A familiar face and dedicated leader, BETH was a teacher for 35 years – first 4th graders, then teaching other teachers, and now our Middle School Director. A Hillcrest alumna herself, Beth married her high school sweetheart and their family’s legacy with the school is strong—both they and their children are all graduates. They live at in the little white house with their little dog, Penny. When she’s not at school, you’ll likely find her being called “Nana” by her three grandkids, including her youngest grandson, Remington (Remy for short), who shares his name with our school’s mascot. While Beth may not speak Spanish, French, or German, she is fluent in sign language and loves to teach it to her students. She also has a unique musical background, having played the alto recorder in a recorder quartet at West Union Mennonite Church for several years.

With the motto of “Life is no dress rehearsal,” so make each day count!  MIKAYLA is a music and drama enthusiast who does a lot of singing but also does some talking on the side. Her goal as a music teacher is for her students to feel confident in themselves through music and be confident in the music they produce. She aspires for a classroom of connection and fellowship through praising God with music making. Her energetic and positive mindset keeps her going throughout the day . . . plus her three daily cups of coffee. When she’s not in the classroom she’s spending time with her family, including her mom who’s a 1988 grad and trying (what else) new coffee shops.

AMY and her husband Jeff, have three daughters Jenna, Mikayla (yes that Mikayla, our music teacher), and Haley, but maybe the favorite (and definitely the most) adorable is their 18-month-old grandson, Emery. All passionate sports fans, the family is a loud and crazy bunch who love spending time together cheering on the Chicago Cubs, Bears, and Hawkeyes. When they’re not attending Hawkeye men’s basketball games, you might find them playing games, laughing, making fun of each other, or roasting marshmallows on our deck. Who doesn’t love a good s’more?! Semi-professional campers, they even been known to pull out a big-screen TV from the camper to watch “the big game” in the middle of the campsite! Every winter, they have a “Christmas Eve Spectacular” where everyone in our family has to plan a solo, skit, instrumental piece, dance, hula hoop routine . . . anything Christmasy to share with the rest of the family! It’s always a hilarious and heartwarming tradition.

MEGAN is half of the sixth grade teaching team, trailblazing the way in 2023 as Hillcrest opened it’s doors to the new Middle School. She’s a huge Swiftie and seeing Taylor Swift in concert was an INCREDIBLE experience. Unlike rooting for the Minnesota Twins, in a town she lived and worked in while in college. But one team she is looking forward to rooting for is the Iowa Hawkeyes at Kinnick stadium as a season ticket holder. When she’s not listening to music or cheering from the stands, you’ll find her hanging out with her best friend, a three year old Lhasa Apso named Wilson or in the kitchen. She’s a very amateur chef and baker and says, ⅔ of the time, her food is great 100% of the time.

Originally from Wichita, Kansas, ADAM is a passionate fan of live music, with a wide-ranging taste that spans from small local bands to stadium-filling legends like Billy Joel, Elton John, and Taylor Swift. He’s also a devoted Kansas City Chiefs fan, having attended at least one game every year since 2000. While he has cherished his time as a stay-at-home dad, Adam is excited to join the Hillcrest school community and looks forward to spending time on our campus full-time.

After fifteen years of wandering across North America, CORBEN has discovered that there’s just no place quite like Iowa . . . and no school quite like Hillcrest. With an exuberant teaching style and a penchant for quiet contemplation, Corben brings a unique pastoral background to his role as our Bible teacher. He’s not just about teaching scripture; he’s about nurturing spiritual growth in our students, helping them find patterns and themes in scripture, and forming biblically rooted disciples. When he’s not leading engaging discussions in the classroom, you can often find him on the soccer field, where his love for the game shines as brightly as his passion for teaching.

When HEIDI is not at school serving lunch to all our kiddos, she loves to spend time with her family and friends. She is passionate about traveling, with a special fondness for the western states. She also enjoys a variety of hobbies, including gardening, hiking, and cooking, and she’s an avid reader. Most of all, Heidi loves supporting her kids by attending all of their events.