Lisa Grover, PhD - Head of School

 

As Co-Founder of LWCA, Dr. Lisa Grover applies her background in business administration, change management, and academia to meet the need for Christian education in the U.P.  Her energetic and cognitively engaging spirit create opportunities for high student achievement and an organized, well-run learning environment.  Her commitment to well-grounded Biblical study, sincere living, critical thinking, and student engagement drive the LWCA curriculum and atmosphere.

For the 26-27 academic year, Dr. Grover will continue functioning in the Head of School role, teach Science and History, and mentor student leaders for Houses Athens, Brendlen, and Cunningham.

Katie Maloney - English Language Arts Teacher and Latin Assistant

 

As a student at Pensacola Christian College in Florida, Katie began her formal training as an English and music teacher.  She will continue her education online while investing her experience and training in classical Christian curriculum into our students.  LWCA will forever be grateful that Mrs. Maloney moved to the U.P. to be married, live, and work here!  With a heart for connecting students, she brings enthusiasm, innovative thinking, and strong communication skills to the classroom.  Katie empowers her students to always seek truth, goodness, and beauty while growing academically and spiritually.

Chuck Tooman - Mentor to All Students and Faculty

Chuck Tooman comes to LWCA with more than 20 years experience teaching English to middle schoolers, high schoolers, and university students.  He has published five books and more than 200 magazine and journal articles.  Many residents of Marquette County know Mr. Tooman as a result of his role as Chaplain with Lake Superior Hospice.  For more than twenty years serving in this capacity, the number of people Chuck has prayed with are too many to count!  He is currently serving as the Chaplain to the Viet Nam Veteran Support/Recovery Groups, on the Spiritual Care Team for the Great Lakes Recovery Centers, and the Leadership Team of New Life Church.  LWCA students and teachers are honored to receive all the benefits of Mr. Tooman’s wisdom and experience.  If you don’t know this truth yet, you will soon learn it.  To know Chuck Tooman is to love Chuck Tooman.

 

Justina Hautamaki, MA Ed - Math Teacher

 

In order to bring the very best of homeschool, progressive classroom, classical pedagogy, and literacy to LWCA, there is no better educator than Justina Hautamaki!  With a Master’s in Education from Northern, she has taught all ages and learning styles.  For the past decade, she has been the key educational partner/consultant for many homeschooling families.  Justina is dedicated to the continued service of that community, but was among the very first to give full support to the building of Living Water Christian Academy in Marquette County.

Vince Pierce - Latin Instructor

LWCA is honored to have the wise and seasoned Vince Pierce as its Latin Instructor.  He is a member of CrossBridge Church in Ishpeming and the owner of a comprehensive linguistic library. Latin is a fundamental subject in all classical schools. It is one of the “paradigm disciplines” of grammar school, through which students learn the rudiments and structure of language—the Latin language, the English language, and through them the structure of all language. Latin is the mother tongue for over 50% of all English words, so the study of Latin greatly enhances one’s English vocabulary.   Vince eagerly looks forward to training young minds in Latin as they pursue their LWCA education in HOW to think, not just WHAT to think.  He confesses that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of the Father – verbum Christi libertatem in veritate dat!

 

Laura Songer - Fine Arts Instructor

As we continue to hear of budget cuts to fine art programs across the country, classical Christian schools recognize that students cannot be properly educated without learning to have appreciation and skill in the arts. Living Water Christian Academy is thrilled and honored that illustrator, muralist, and fine arts painter Laura Songer will be instructing our students. In addition to being a skilled artist, teacher, and art curator, Mrs. Songer is also a talented entrepreneur. She is the owner of Marquette’s stunning Wintergreen Hill Gallery.  Laura studied drawing and watercolor at Michigan Tech and botanical illustration at the Chicago Botanical Garden. With a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Plant Ecology, Laura’s artwork has been published in several medical journals, publications, and a textbook. LWCA students are honored and blessed by Mrs. Songer’s tutelage.

 

Valerie Olson - BS Music Education

 

Most people in our county know Valerie as the dedicated and skilled owner of the Wellness Center in downtown Marquette.  In addition to serving the health needs of our community, she is a passionate supporter of Christian education.  Mrs. Olson received her teacher preparation from Wheaton College in Illinois and has kindly volunteered to teach our students music one afternoon each week.

We sing HALLELUJAH for bringing Mrs. Olson for our students!!!!

 

Laura Baesel - Registrar

 

Laura brings clarity of thought, accurate documentation, and disciplined organization as the registrar.  In case you wonder why you don’t SEE Laura very often, it is because she lives in the great state of Texas with her fabulous family.  She and Lisa met when they were in high school and attended the same Christian political camp in Sacramento, California called “City on a Hill.”  Laura and Lisa have always enjoyed working to bring God’s Kingdom to earth, and Laura’s role as school registrar is the next step in their journey together.