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.
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Karen Wheelis, Kindergarten

Mrs. Wheelis holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies PK-8. She holds a Professional Teaching Certification K-8 through the State of Maine. She has teaching experience at several grade levels including Kindergarten. 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. One of her children has also attended our Pen Bay Christian Nursery School.

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Trudy Heanssler, 1st Grade & 2nd Grade

I graduated from Pensacola Christian College with a degree in Elementary Education.  I have been teaching a total of 21 1/2 years of which 15 1/2 years is here at Pen Bay Christian School.

 

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Beccy Chamberlain, 3rd & 4th Grade

 

 

 

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Ellen Stanclift, 5th, 6th & 7th Grade

Moses Brown School,Prep/High school
Wheaton College,
BA, Elementary Education and Developmental Psychology
University of the South, Sewanee
MA, Theology

I became a teacher because I struggled in math and science throughout school. My reading ability, however, was unusually strong. Unfortunately, this dichotomy set up many teachers to belittle me…telling me that either I was not trying, or was lazy, when it came to math. I finally had a teacher, in time, who was able to teach in a way I understood. This experience of being emotionally beaten down for years made me want to become the kind who teacher who would inspire a love of learning in every child. I’m proud to say that I ended up earning a 98 in pre-calculus in college because one teacher believed in me years before. Because of that, I was encouraged to reach for the stars. I hope to encourage my own students in the same way.

Outside of school some things that I love are animals! I have three rescue dogs and enjoy taking them for long walks all over the midcoast. I’m active in my home church in Camden, and am chair of the Christian education committee there. I love to read, to cook, to ride horses, to travel and to write.

My favorite Bible verses are John 10:10 and Psalm 23

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Rick Wehnke, Art Teacher

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Madison Imus, Gym Teacher

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Cynthia Wallace, Administrator

Born in Chicago, Illinois and raised by two wonderful Christian parents, I moved to Maine just prior to my 20th birthday. I transferred from the University of Illinois to the University of Maine in Orono eventually earning a B.A. in English. As David and I were not blessed with a family, I made the decision to spend my life with children in an elementary classroom. To obtain my K-8 teaching certification I took the required teaching courses in the evening while working in classrooms as an Associate Teacher. In 1992, I earned my Masters degree in Education also through Orono. I loved being a teacher but retired in 2013 after thirty five plus years. Because of my love for American History, I taught guided reading using in my classroom using history. My students entered as Pilgrims, moved through the colonial period eventually fighting the American Revolution as Patriots. They traveled West as Pioneers but also learned about the Civil War, and slavery. They finished up their year as citizens as we discussed government and civil rights. It has been a desire of mine to write a Muscongus Bay history for children.
My husband and I both enjoy travel and history. I thought we would do both after my retirement. We began an all too brief involvement on the board of the Friendship Museum. During the winter and summer of 2014, I wrote articles for their newsletter and enjoyed putting two museum exhibits together covering the museum’s history and biographies of some of their founders. The high point was re-enacting a day in a one room schoolhouse in the 1850s. My students were all former students of mine. I read the opening Bible lesson from my grandfather’s Bible, a gift from his first class as he was a teacher in a one room school house still standing in Martinsville, Maine.
David and I have been fortunate to travel to the UK on several occasions as he has family living in London. We thought we would be doing some home remodeling and more traveling but I soon discovered that the Lord had other plans for me. In March of 2014 I was serving on the Pen Bay Christian School Board and found myself being asked to become the school’s administrator. I am still a certified classroom teacher but I had never held any administrative positions. I attended a Chicago Christian school from grade 3 through grade 8 and have always had a deep appreciation for what I learned about the Lord during that period. Most of my Bible memorization is from that period of my life. Eventually I did agree to take on the position as an Interim thinking I would be done at the end of the school year in June. As I look back on my life, I can now see how everything in my life has led me to this position.
David and I have been married for more than 46 years and live in the home we built in Friendship. He is a retired lobster fisherman and now works part time at the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County. We attend the Friendship Advent Christian Church. I attend a weekly women’s Bible study there and also sing in their choir. My husband and I sponsor 4 children through Compassion International, two in Tanzania and two in Ecuador. In 2010, I went on a mission trip to Quito and met Nancy. We have three cats Percy, Hester, and Arabella that we dearly love!
As you can see my life was not planned by me but has been well-planned by the Lord! My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5 and 6. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct thy paths.”

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Kristin Lappin, Office Assistant

I received my Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from University of Maine at Augusta. I have had the honor of serving Pen Bay Christian School in both the preschool classroom and in the school office for the past 3 years. God has drawn me back to where my own education started, right here at Pen Bay Christian School.

Outside of school hours, I enjoy sculpting with sheep wool. I enjoy reading a good book and am currently working my way through the church library’s excellent selection.

My favorite verse from the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.”

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Lynette Robertson, Preschool Teacher

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Sharon Shaw, Preschool and Elementary School Teacher Aide

Education-Extension Courses on Early Childhood from Lancaster Bible College
Bible classes throughout the years my life at churches & conferences.
I have always been drawn to work with children since an early age. I began teaching Sunday School & Children’s church when I was in 4th grade. This has continued throughout my life. My dad was a pastor so there were many opportunities to serve in children’s ministries. I continue to read and advance my education so I may better serve and teach the children.

My hobbies outside of school are cooking, gardening, photography and crafts.

One of my favorite Bible verses is Isaiah 40:39.
“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. (ESV)