Educational Team

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Mrs. Karine Veldhoen, Chief Learning Officer (Maternity Leave)

Mrs. Karine Veldhoen has a variety of teaching experience in private schools, public schools and music studios.  She has taught in two Canadian provinces and two U.S. states.  In 2005, Mrs. Veldhoen moved to Kelowna and joined the First Lutheran Christian School team, serving as a teacher and music specialist.  She presently holds two positions on the FLCS staff: Case Manager for Student Services, and Chief Learning Officer (principal) of the daycare, preschool, and K-7 school.

In 2009, Mrs. Veldhoen graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Master of Education degree.  She appreciates her specialized professional development training in early literacy, science, music, English as a Second Language, writing, and SmartBoard.  Mrs. Veldhoen is passionate about FLCS and believes in it’s vision of being a school of excellence and distinction founded in faith.  She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve children through education.

When not at school, Mrs. Veldhoen leads Niteo Africa, a humanitarian organization that sponsors education projects in Uganda, Africa.  Her greatest treasures are her faith, her husband, and her children.

Mrs. Treena Krupka

Mrs. Treena Krupka graduated from the University of Alberta in 1994 with a Visual Arts Diploma and a degree in Education.  Over the years, she has taught a variety of subjects and grades, primarily kindergarten and grade one.  In the summer of 2008, Mrs. Krupka moved to Kelowna to enjoy the sunny, warm weather with her husband and three daughters.

Mrs. Krupka has a love for literacy and teaching art.  She also LOVES her job as a primary teacher at FLCS. 

In her spare time, Mrs. Krupka enjoys watching her girls play hockey and soccer, being a mom, reading, golfing and scrapbooking.  She also loves to bake yummy treats for her class!

Mrs. Norma Merrifield

Mrs. Norma Merrifield graduated from the University of Alberta and began her teaching career in Devon, Alberta.  Having four children, two girls and two boys, put her teaching career on hold for a few years.  The family moved to Costa Mesa, California in 1984.  Once all the Merrifield children were in elementary school, Mrs. Merrifield quickly found her way back into the classroom teaching second grade at Prince of Peace Lutheran School.  She taught there for eight years, then decided to go back to University, while continuing to teach in private schools.  She graduated with a Master’s Degree in Education from California State University of Fullerton in 2001.  This led her into the public school system in California.  She has taught most elementary grades, including kindergarten. 

Mrs. Merrifield moved to Kelowna in 2006 and began teaching kindergarten at FLCS in 2007.  Mrs. Merrifield has a love for math and science.  Teaching younger children has also given her a love for early literacy and the excitement of helping children learn to read.

When not at school, Mrs. Merrifield enjoys being with her husband, children and grandchildren.  She also loves to cook, bake, and entertain friends and family.  During vacations, Mrs. Merrifield enjoys travelling and going on cruises.

Ms. Sherry Parker, Interim Chief Learning Officer

Ms. Sherry Parker began her career as a grade two teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School in West Kelowna.  She graduated with distinction from the University of Victoria with a Bachelor of Education.  She later received a Master of Education from Gonzaga University, Washington. 

Ms. Parker loves being a part of the positive and student-centered environment of FLCS, where students have the opportunity to grow both academically and socially in a Christian-based environment.  She hopes to empower her students to become confident, life-long learners who strive toward achieving their potential.

Away from school, Ms. Parker enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and spoiling her Persian cat, Cleo.

Mrs. Melissa Wiens

Mrs. Melissa Wiens recently graduated from the University of British Columbia Okanagan with a Bachelor of Education, focusing on critical thinking and assessment.  Her passion for children has guided her work pursuits as a Behavior Interventionalist, Children’s Pastor Intern, and Teachers Assistant.

She began working at FLCS as the Summer Day Camp Director in 2011.  Her missionary experiences equip her with a global perspective to education.  As a result, Mrs. Wiens fosters social responsibility and biblical values in her teaching practice, empowering students to make a difference in their world.

In her spare time, Mrs. Wiens and her husband, Kris, enjoy biking, camping, and working with their church’s youth group.  She also enjoys gardening, baking, and spending time with her extended family and friends.

Mrs. Janine Draper

Mrs. Janine Draper was born and raised in Manitoba.  She received her Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Manitoba, and began her teaching career in a small, rural multi-grade classroom (grades four to six) in her home province.  She married her husband, Kevin, in 1990, and decided to take a break from teaching to work alongside him in full-time ministry.  In 1994, their home was blessed with a son, Robert, and in 1996, they were blessed again with a daughter, Jacquelyn.

Mrs. Draper joined the FLCS staff in 2005, working in the intermediate grades, primarily grade four.  She loves themes and is energized by planning thematic units across the curriculum.  Mrs. Draper brings with her an excitement for learning and a passion to model that enthusiasm to her students.  She carefully tailors her instructional methods to meet the needs of the individuals in her class.  Her desire is to inspire her students to embrace their education and to become life-long learners.

When not at school, Mrs. Draper enjoys hanging out with her family, being involved at her church, entertaining friends and family at home, and finding reasons to smile each day!

Mrs. Jill McIntyre

Mrs. Jill McIntyre graduated from the University of Winnipeg in 1992 with an Education degree.  She continued her studies, earning a post-baccalaureate degree in Counselling in 1995.  Throughout her 18-year career, she has gained diverse teaching and couselling experience.  Mrs. McIntyre moved to Kelowna in 2004 to be closer to family.  Her three children keep her and her husband both entertained and very busy.

Mrs. McIntyre has a passion for teaching math and science.  She loves working with children to help them grow and succeed.

In her spare time, Mrs. McIntyre enjoys the outdoors, running and swimming.  She has recently taken up cycling to round out her triathlon training.  In the winter, she enjoys curling and cross-country skiing with her family.

Mrs. Susan Noble

Mrs. Susan Noble began her career in the Lower Mainland as a grade six teacher at St. Anthony’s School in West Vancouver, and later teaching grade three at St. George’s School in Vancouver.  In 1997, Mrs. Noble and her husband, Murray, moved to Kelowna, where she joined School District 23 as an elementary school teacher-librarian.  In 1997, Susan and Murray welcomed their son Evan into the world, followed by their second son, Cameron, in 1999.

Mrs. Noble brings her love for learning and literacy to her position with the intermediate grades at FLCS.

When not at school, Mrs. Noble enjoys reading, camping, gardening, and spending time with her family.  An avid hockey fan, she loves to cheer on her favourite team: the Vancouver Canucks!

Mrs. Tamara Priebe

Mrs. Tamara Priebe was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta.  After graduating with a B.Ed. from the University of Alberta, she taught in Catholic Schools for nine years.  She loves to share her love for Jesus and music with her students while singing and playing the piano and guitar.

After Mrs. Priebe lost her first husband of nearly eight years to cancer in 2007, the Lord opened a new chapter in her life where she began writing songs for her church and for her school.  After several years, Jesus answered her prayers; she met and fell in love with Mr. Kendall Priebe and they married in July of 2010.  He also loves God wholeheartedly, and is a musician too, playing the bass and guitar.  They have been able to serve togther in the worship ministries at their church in Kelowna.

When Mrs. Priebe isn’t thinking about a concert or arranging, teaching, writing or practicing music, she likes to cook and bake, and spend time with family and friends, especially her husband.  She has eight nieces and nephews in Alberta that she visits whenever she can, and she also loves going for walks by the creek with her adorable dog, Skippy.

Mrs. Stephanie Spies (Maternity Leave)

Mrs. Stephanie Spies started teaching in the Calgary area in 1999 after graduating with her Bachelor of Education degree.  She taught sixth grade there for several years before moving to Kelowna in 2002, where she taught grade four at Penticton’s Holy Cross Elementary.  In 2007, Mrs. Spies completed her Master’s degree from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.

Mrs. Spies joined the FLCS teaching staff in 2009.  She is thrilled to be a part of such an incredible team of dedicated professionals.  Mrs. Spies believes in having high expectations for students, delivered in a fun, fair, consistent classroom environment.

Mrs. Spies is married and has two children.