Rondi Aastrup

Writer

Rondi Aastrup has been teaching English and Journalism since 1978.  A graduate of Atlantic Union College (B.A. ’77) and Andrews University (M.A. ’83), she has traveled extensively around the world with family, friends, and students.  She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, photography, listening to and playing music, and hanging out with family and friends.  Her blog (www.raastrup.blogspot.com) touches on all of those topics as well as her love for nature.
Formerly principal and English teacher at Greater Boston Academy, Rondi is the English teacher at Thunderbird Adventist Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, doing what she loves best: connecting with young people through reading, writing, and learning. Collaborating with her colleagues is also a special joy, especially when that collaboration results in a journey to discovery and excellence with their students.

Isabelle Bagassien

Writer

Isabelle is married and has two young daughters, Anais and Séphora. She is in her third year at Canadian University College in Lacombe where she is studying Elementary Education. She was born in Paris, France but her family is originally from Guadeloupe, a small French island in the West Indies. Her desire is to share her culture and knowledge with her students and help them achieve their dreams and goals in life. She enjoys music and is the director for a children’s choir at her church as well as the music coordinator for her church’s Sabbath School.

Christine Gillan Byrne

Writer

Christine holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in special education from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) from La Sierra University, Riverside, CA and is completing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in Educational Administration and Leadership also from La Sierra University.

Her undergraduate degree in early childhood was earned at Pacific Union College. From 1993-2001 she was the administrator for Kiddie Kollege, the child development center on the campus of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska and lead consultant for Child Care Problems and Solutions. During this time she was also president of the Nebraska Association for the Advancement of Child Care Services (NAACCS), a non-profit training and certification organization.

She is a member in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the editor for the Adventist Child Care Network (ACCN) Newsletter as well as the category editor for Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center Linking Educators (CIRCLE) which is the on-line Seventh-day Adventist clearinghouse for curriculum and other instructional resources.

Pauline Evans

Writer

Pauline is a highly motivated educational professional with diverse experiences in education and a drive for excellence. She is committed to professional and personal development as well as cultural diversity.

Pauline hails from the beautiful island of Jamaica. She has been a teacher since September 1994. A graduate of the University of the West Indies with a Bachelor Degree in Education (1999), and, Andrews University with a Masters in Educational Administration and Leadership (2003). Presently, she serves as the Assistant Principal of the Brooklyn Temple SDA Elementary School, Brooklyn, New York. She also teaches  third and fourth grades. Her deepest desire is to positively impact the lives of the students who are entrusted to her care each year.

Gavin Gaynair

Writer

Gavin, a graduate of Oakwood University, holds a B.A. in Biology Education. He has spent two years overseas teaching as a volunteer missionary in Karnataka, India. Currently, he heads the science department at Greater Boston Academy. To Mr. Gaynair, true education is the harmonious development of mind, body, and spirit. His desire is to see his students grow not only in knowledge of subject content, but to see the subject content lead his students into a deeper understanding of and relationship with their Creator.

Kim Kaiser

Writer

Kim Kaiser has taught a variety of grades in church schools as well as students with special needs in public middle and high schools. Currently she is serving as the associate superintendent for the New York Conference, responsible for elementary education. Kim enjoys writing multi-grade curricular materials for small schools, finding creative solutions to meet individual student needs and supporting teachers. In her spare time she enjoys knitting socks and loves to read children’s literature.

Rebecca F. Kinley Fraker

Writer

Rebecca K. Fraker lives at Union Springs Academy in NY with her husband Steven Fraker.  She has three children and one grandchild. Most of her career has been spent with multi-grade education and she has taught every age through 12th grade.  She is greatly interested in everything and is always eager to learn new things.  This past year she has explored the world of bones and has started a collection of animal skulls, bones, and teeth to examine with her eager, enthusiastic students.

Laura Smith Kryger

Writer

For many years Laura’s desire has been to work with youngsters. She has had that opportunity not only to teach in an Adventist Christian school, but to be involved with Lincoln School from its inception. Laura states brainstorming with God and teachers last summer on a brand new Christ centered curriculum has been a blessing to her and will be a blessing to those who will use it. Laura’s educational journey began in New York. She attended Queens College and graduated from Nyack College in Nyack, New York in the spring of 1992. Since 2003 Laura has attended Atlantic Union College working on various courses of study. Besides her role as teacher she takes pride in being married to her husband Paul, and mother to two daughters and their husbands, and grandmother to eight wonderful grandchildren.

Laura Mayne

Writer

Laura Mayne is a highly motivated educator who is currently employed by the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as the principal of the Brooklyn Seventh-day Adventist School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and Family Studies from Andrews University and a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College, CUNY.Laura is an excellent teacher and administrator. She is a recipient of the Zappara Excellence in Teaching Award and a multiple recipient of the Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award. Laura has served on numerous boards and professional committees including the 2001 Language Arts, North American Division Summer Committee, the Grades 5 – 8, Bible Steering Textbook Committee and the Atlantic Union Technology Committee. She currently serves on the Greater New York conference K -12 Board of Education and the Atlantic Union Teacher Bulletin Committee. She is an advocate for Adventist Christian Education and believes that every child should be taught of God. Laura is married to Albert. They have three adult children, Boyd, Raquel and Geneva and two grandsons, Matthew and Justin.

Ena Richards

Writers

Dr. Ena Richards, is a retired teacher/administrator with a wealth of educational experience from pre-school to the university level. She is an author, with special interest and credentials in Deaf Education. Dr. Richards taught hearing-impaired students at several schools in the West Indies, as well as the Lexington School for the Deaf here New York City.

Karma Roberts

Writer

Karma Roberts has taught at the R T Hudson Elementary School in Bronx, New York for almost twenty years. She has the distinct privilege of organizing and teaching the first pre-kindergarten and kindergarten class at R T Hudson.  After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree from Iona College she obtained her Master’s of Science (Early Childhood Education) degree from the College of New Rochelle in New York. Being a member of the Bronx SDA Church she had held many offices including Clerk, organist, Sabbath School Assistant Leader and Beginners Leader.  Her greatest accomplishment is her marriage of 30 years to her husband Marvin and her utmost delight is being mother of three children: Amanda (deceased), Joseph and Lydia. Recently she moved home to Iowa to relax and spend time with her family.  Karma has dedicated her life to the education of children and anxiously awaits the soon return of her Lord.

Edwin Silié

Writer

Edwin Silié was born in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico however his deep roots are found in the Dominican Republic where his parents are from and where he was raised. Arriving in the United States in the mid 90s he decided to learn English and study Mathematics. Edwin Silié is currently the Mathematics Teacher at Greater Boston Academy. Before arriving at GBA Edwin Silié worked at Mount Vernon Academy in Ohio, in Guam Adventist Academy in the beautiful Island of Guam, and as a missionary teaching a variety of subjects from Mathematics to Physical Education in the island of Majuro.His Educational career was enhanced at Columbia Union College, now known as Washington Adventist University. There he earned a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and studied Secondary Education to improve his teaching experience.Edwin Silié is currently working on his Master degree in School Administration at Atlantic Union College. Always finding away to motivate and help youth in Mathematics but also in helping others and missionary work.

John Skrzypaszek

Writer

John Skrzypaszek, holds a BA and MA degree in Theology from Avondale College and a DMin degree in Religious Studies from Australian College of Theology. He served the church as a pastor, district director, Personal Ministries Director and Ministerial Secretary. Currently, he is the director of Ellen G. White/SDA Research Centre at Avondale College and a member of the theology faculty. He lectures in church history and Christian studies. John has a keen interest in spirituality, church history and he explores issues such as relevance of Christian faith for life in 21st century.