Faculty, board and committees
RHCS is a success based on the excellence of its faculty and many volunteers. Click the appropriate link in the submenu for easy navigation to learn more about a specific group.
Faculty
Reformed Heritage employs several full-time and part time teachers, whose bios have been included here for your information. These teachers love what they do: teaching standard curriculum to our covenant youth from a Reformed worldview.
Kari Collison, High School Teacher
I grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida. After graduating from high school, I attended Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia, where I studied engineering. During a semester abroad in China, I had the opportunity to teach English to a group of Chinese college professors. It was through that experience that I realized how much I enjoyed teaching.
After college, I moved to Kalamazoo. My husband Tony and I joined Covenant United Reformed Church and started our family. We have two daughters who are both students at Reformed Heritage Christian School. In 2003, I began teaching high school part-time at RHCS. I teach Spanish and science as well, but I particularly enjoy the opportunity to show students that math really can be fun!
Gayle Esman, 1st–3rd Grades Teacher
I am Gayle Esman, and I have been in teaching for thirty-plus years. Anyone who does something for that long must really love it and I do! God has given me the gift of loving other people’s children and, because of that, my life has been richly blessed.
As a child, I attended the Kalamazoo Christian Schools and went on to Calvin College. About ten years ago, I received my master’s degree in Religious Education at South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary. For the past thirty-seven years, I lived in south Florida where I met and married my first husband. He died seventeen years ago. Two years ago, I met and married my present husband, John Esman, and moved back to Michigan, the most beautiful state in the Union! In my spare time, I like to read and take pictures of this beautiful place.
A Bible verse that God has called my attention to in my teaching is Isaiah 30:23, “Then He will give you the seed which you will sow in the ground and bread from the yield of the ground and it will be rich and plenteous; on that day your livestock will graze in a roomy pasture.” May this be a rich and plenteous year for us all!!
Cassandra Haspas, 4th–6th Grades Teacher
I was born and raised in Kalamazoo and graduated from East Christian Elementary and Kalamazoo Christian High School. I received an Associate’s Degree from Kalamazoo Community College in 2006 and a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education with a major in English and a minor in Communication from Western Michigan University in 2008. I served my Pre-Internship at Portage North Middle School and my Internship at Comstock Alternative High School. Since college graduation, I have had multiple teaching experiences through substitute teaching and paraprofessional work in various school districts.
My husband, Jeff, works at PNC bank as a Client Satisfaction Specialist. We were married on October 16, 2010.
At RHCS, I teach 4th-6th grade Social Studies, Art, and Computer; 5th-6th Language Arts and Math; and 7th grade Art and Computer. I am excited to get to know my students and learn with them this school year.
“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” Deuteronomy 32:2
Gail Kloosterman, 3rd & 4th Grades Teacher and Head Librarian
My major at Calvin College was Elementary Education with a Language Arts group major. After finishing there I thankfully received a contract to teach first grade at South Christian School in Kalamazoo, MI. My fiancé, David Kloosterman, was already working at The UpJohn Company. I filled that position for 3 years before the first of our six children came into our family. In 2005 I began to teach at RHCS. I was recertified by the State of Michigan in 2007 to teach grades K–8 in all subjects and 9th grade Language Arts. I have taken graduate courses at Western Michigan University and Spring Arbor Univesity in Kalamazoo and online. Favorite things in our class include singing, earning pizza by passing our speed drills, and making art projects. I believe in the necessity of Christian Education for the children of believers and have been blessed to attend and work at Christian schools all my life.
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to yor children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up."
Eunice Kuiper, High School Teacher
I graduated from Calvin College in 1972 with a BA in secondary education with a major in English and a minor in Music. I finished my master's degree in Elementary Education at WMU in 1978.
Joy Mejeur, Kindergarten Teacher
Although Joy Mejeur has taught in four states, she is a native of Kalamazoo. Joy attended South Christian Grade School and Kalamazoo Christian High. She continued her education at Calvin College where she earned her degree in secondary education with a major in physical education.
Joy taught four years at Westminister Christian in Miami, Florida and two years in Jenison Christian Junior High in Michigan where she instructed girls' physical education classes and sports. A move was made to Inez, Kentucky where Joy volunteered at Appalachia - Reach Out and began teaching in the Martin County Public Schools. She spent one year teaching first grade and the next nine years teaching seventh grade life science. Then Joy went back to Miami for a year to teach sixth grade at Kendall Christian. Joy then moved to West Sayville Christian on Long Island, New York. Here she taught physical education, health, physical science, earth science, life science, Bible and home economics in the middle school.
Joy had taken summer classes at Western Michigan University and finished her Master's Degree at Morehead State University in Kentucky. This degree certified her to teach all subjects in kindergarten through eighth grade.
After twelve years in New York, Joy moved back to Kalamazoo to assist her parents. She has been teaching kindergarten at RHCS for nine years. It will be exciting to see her first kindergarten students graduate from eighth grade this year (2008). It is good to see the students grow in wisdom having the security of a Christian family and school.
Laura Moes, 7th & 8th Grades and High School Teacher
I graduated from Calvin College in 2008 with a B.A. in English along with a Secondary Education endorsement. I also minored in Communication Arts and Sciences. I spent the last year substitute teaching for Kent County public schools as well as a few Grand Rapids area Christian schools.
I currently live in Wyoming, Michigan with my husband, Thom, and daughter, Cadence. I am a GEMS counselor at Pathway Church in Byron Center, as well as a member of the Calvin College Alumni Choir.
Julie VandeGiessen, School Secretary
“Trust in Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5, 6
I am very blessed to be a part of the faculty here at RHCS. I enjoy my job and I love the students!
My husband, John, and I were married in 1995, and have been blessed with two children!
Our son and daughter are both students here at RHCS!
I am a graduate of North Christian Grade School, attended Kalamazoo Christian High School, and graduated from Gull Lake Christian School in 1991. I received an Associates Degree from Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
I am a member at Second Christian Reformed Church. I am/have been involved in Children’s Sunday School, Choir, Song Service, Women’s Bible Study, Vacation Bible School, and Library.
I enjoy reading, gardening, baking, camping, playing games, and being organized.
David Vander Meer, Administrator
I was raised in South Holland, Illinois where I was the youngest of 9. I attended Calvin Christian grade school and Illiana Christian high school. I then attended Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, IL. After graduation I started my calling by working with young people as a physical education teacher in Homewood, Ill. The fall after graduation from Trinity I met my wife, Julie, who was a student at Trinity.
While I was teaching in Homewood I was coaching both girls’ and boys’ volleyball at Illiana while taking masters courses at Chicago State University. After teaching for six years the Lord called me to be a youth director. I served at Cornerstone United Reformed Church (Hudsonville, Mi.) for 11 years. During those years I was able to be on the steering committee to form a youth organization called, Reformed Youth Services, and also to be on the steering committee to start Zion Christian School (Byron Center, MI). Currently, I am working on a Masters degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. I believe that the Lord used these experiences in my life to help prepare me for my current calling as Administrator of Reformed Heritage Christian School where I have been serving since 2007.
The Lord has blessed Julie and me with three children. It has been a blessing to serve at Reformed Heritage.
B.A. Trinity Christian College, 1990; M.S. Chicago State University, 1994
Julie Vander Meer, 1st & 2nd Grades Teacher
I graduated from Trinity Christian College with a major in Elementary Education and minors in Special Education and Theology. I also received two approvals in Special Education: One was for learning disabilities and the other was for Social Emotional Disorders. In the fall of 2008, I completed my Masters in Education from the University of Phoenix in Curriculum and Instruction.
I taught Special Education for three years and Art for a year. When my children were born I took several years off from the classroom. I did however have many opportunities to continue teaching in other areas. I was a youth group leader for about 12 years. I taught a 3-6 year old class for my church's Wednesday night program and also taught and organized Vacation Bible School. Also, for a few years I also taught Sunday school.
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan attending both a Christian grade school and high school. I moved to Illinois to attend college and ended up living there for 6 years. I then moved to Hudsonville, Michigan and lived there for 12 years. I now live in Kalamazoo. I have been married to Dave, for 17 years and have been blessed with 3 children with ages ranging from 7-12. I am looking forward to a wonderful school year!
Back to top2011-2012 School Board
Dave Pryor - President
Dan Kiel - Treasurer
Tony Collison - Secretary
Kevin Martin - Vice-All
Tim Kloosterman
Education Committee
Information to come!
Fundraising Committee
Information to come!
Promotions Committee
Present Projects
- Quarterly School Newsleter (RHCS Review)
- Web Site Content Maintenance
- Creation of School Informational DVD - Launch Plan February 2010
Other Committees
RHCS has many behind-the-scenes helpers to make the school a special place to be. Volunteer committees include Moms-At-Work, Room Moms, Library, Yearbook, Hot Lunch, Field Day, and Graduation.
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