Faculty and Staff
Members of the Pen Bay Christian School faculty and staff have been selected on the basis of academic credentials, as well as their dedication to the goals of Christian education. All of our teachers have completed a college or graduate level teacher preparation program and are State of Maine Certified as well as being active members of a bible-believing church.
Lynette Robertson, Preschool
Olivia Finnemore, Preschool Aide
Trudy Heanssler, Kindergarten & 1st Grade
Mrs. Heanssler earned her Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education from Pensacola Christian College in Pensacola, FL. She has taught at every level from K-8 as well as freshman science. She enjoys helping students to read and meet individual goals. Her love of teaching started in high school as she worked in the various ministries of her church.
Mrs. Heanssler previously taught at Temple Christian Academy in Ellsworth, ME. Her years at Temple were a blessing as she worked with students, parents, and staff. The Lord continues to bless as she serves Him at Pen Bay Christian School working with the students, parents, and staff. She is passionate about Christian education.
One of her favorite verses is “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Karen Wheelis, 2nd & 3rd Grade
Mrs. Wheelis holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies PK-8. She also holds a Professional Teaching Certification K-8 through the state of Maine. She has taught most grade levels K-6, including special education and intervention classes. Her background includes studies in early literacy and special education, at the graduate level.
Mrs. Wheelis lives in Union, ME. Her husband teaches at Medomak Valley High School and is also a local pastor.
Beccy Chamberlain, 4th & 5th Grade
Rebecca Martz, 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade
Mrs. Martz earned her Bachelor of Arts in social sciences at the University of Maine.
Mrs. Martz previously taught at Hurricane Island Outward Bound School for twelve years and at South Hope Christian School for six years. She is now part of the teaching family at Pen Bay Christian School, where she enjoys teaching the middle school students.
Her favorite verse is “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)
Rebecca Anderson, School Aide & Office
Mrs. Anderson grew up locally and started her education right here at Pen Bay Christian School, where she attended both years of the preschool program. She and her husband have three daughters, all of whom have attended PBCS since preschool and are currently in elementary through junior high.
Mrs. Anderson holds an accounting degree from Husson University. She enjoys her duties in the office such as coordinating fundraising and other daily tasks that help support the school. She also enjoys her time spent in the classrooms. Mrs. Anderson started by substituting in the different grade levels and is now an aide for two of the classes. She considers herself a lifelong learner and really appreciates the opportunity to learn from the children each day. Watching the students grow in knowledge and confidence is what inspires her passion for working with the teachers and connecting with the children.
The verse she holds closest to her heart is “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6)
Cynthia Wallace, Administrator
Born in Chicago, Cindy attended a Christian school from grade three through grade eight. She has always had a deep appreciation for what she learned about the Lord during that period and most of her Bible memorization is from that period of her life. She moved to Maine just prior to her twentieth birthday. She transferred from the University of Illinois to the University of Maine in Orono, eventually earning a B.A. in English.
David and Cindy have been married for more than forty-nine years and live in the home they built in Friendship. As David and Cindy were not blessed with a family, she made the decision to spend her life with children in an elementary classroom. To obtain her K-8 teaching certification, she took the required teaching courses in the evening while working in classrooms as an associate teacher. In 1992, she earned her Master’s degree in Education, also through Orono. She loved being a teacher but retired in 2013 after thirty-five plus years. As she looks back on her life, she can now see how everything in her life has led her to this position. In March of 2014, she was serving on the Pen Bay Christian School Board and found herself being asked to become the school’s administrator.
David and Cindy attend the Friendship Advent Christian Church. She attends a weekly women’s Bible study there and sings in their choir. As you can see, her life was not planned by her but has been well-planned by the Lord. Her favorite Bible verse is “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Charlie Shaw, Administrative Assistant
Originally from PG County, MD, Charlie is the wife of James Shaw and the mother of four children; JJ, Isaac, Jazzy, and Nico. She has been working with children in one form or another since she was twelve years old. She has been involved with youth ministries with her husband for the last fifteen years.
Charlie has joined the Pen Bay Christian School family where she has served in several areas such as art, gym, library, and substituting when needed. The Lord has given her a love for Himself, people and a passion to show Christ’s love to others. She is very much enjoying her new position as administrative assistant and prays the Lord will use her to bless the families here at the school.
Words she is inspired to live by are “By God’s grace and His grace alone we can accomplish great things. For His glory is how we should aim to live our lives. I find rest in the fact that God is in control. Nothing can defeat Him and I have no need to worry.” One of her favorite verses is “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
Ashley Dudley, Nurse
Sarah Robertson, Music
Sarah spent most of her growing up years in Wisconsin. Her dad is the pastor of a small church, and early on she learned the importance of music. Her parents invested in music lessons for her, and she took nine years of piano lessons and several years of voice lessons. She continued to take music lessons throughout her college years. She has also taught piano lessons in the past. God continues to give her opportunities to learn and stretches her in ways that cause her to grow in her walk with the Lord.
Music holds a special place in her heart as she enjoys it so much. Her desire is to teach the students the value of Godly music, different composers in history, and making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
“I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” (Psalm 104:33)
River Radley, Art
River has always had a passion for art and has been drawing and creating for as long as she can remember. She loves painting and photography and spent many years as a portrait and wedding photographer. River studied art, art history, and photography through the Art Institute of Pittsburg and also elementary education through Liberty University. River has taught high school level photography, fine arts, and art history at Midcoast Christian Academy as well as working as the high school administrator there. She also worked for the YMCA in the after school program in which she focused on daily art and art history projects for the elementary grades at South School in Rockland. River loves to incorporate art history into her lessons and uses a variety of mediums to explore famous and historic works of art. She truly enjoys seeing the students take an idea and really make it their own.
River homeschools her four children in grades K-5 and runs a youth ministry with her husband at Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church.
One of her favorite verses is “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10) She feels this is a great reminder that we are the masterpiece of an almighty and creative God and if our Lord was creative in His making of us we should also use our creativity to serve him.
