Kindergarten
Terri Toback
Terri Toback received her credential from Illinois State University. After teaching for five years, she took time off to raise her three children. She began working at Baymonte almost twenty years ago! She helped with After School Care and was a kindergarten aide before finally finding her niche teaching the best people on earth-kindergarteners! In her free time she can be found taking beach walks with her adorable dog, Kale. She also loves hanging out with her family and her church “family.” She feels, “…thankful to have work that is so meaningful and satisfying!”
Shanna Murphy
Shanna Murphy was born in June, 1964, in Long Beach. She played on her high school JV tennis team. She never made it to Varsity, although she was voted Most Inspirational Player. She graduated from U. C. Santa Cruz in 1986 with a degree in Economics and promptly got a job at an insurance company. She returned to school to earn her teaching credential from San Jose State. She married her high school sweetheart, Todd, in 1990. She taught first grade for five years before having her daughters, Blake and Ellie. Once her girls were attending Baymonte she joined the faculty and now is in her fifth year teaching kindergarten. “In my free time I like to hike, walk on the beach, read, go to yoga classes, and cook.”
First Grade
Kim Thompson
Kim Thompson has enjoyed working at Baymonte for the past 28 years. She began teaching at the preschool level. When her own children were enrolled at Baymonte she started teaching kindergarten. After ten years in the kindergarten classroom, she trained to become the reading specialist at Baymonte. She headed the Independent Program of Instruction for five years where she developed a passion for teaching reading. Returning to the classroom teaching first grade, she was excited to integrate the Orton-Gillingham based reading program into the classroom. She truly feels teaching is her calling. She thanks the Lord every day for the children He has placed in her class. When she is not at school she enjoys being with her family. She loves to read, spend time with her grandkids, plant flowers in her yard, go antiquing and go on long walks. Her greatest blessing is looking forward to coming to school every day!
Lisa Poston
Lisa Poston jokes that she has been at Baymonte since kindergarten and has never really left! She attended Baymonte from kindergarten through her junior year. She returned to teach first grade in 1996 after receiving her B.A. in Psychology at U.C.S.C. and her teaching credential at San Jose State. She loves first grade and plans to teach until she’s old and gray! She lives with her husband, Ed, and her two girls, Maggie and Gracie, in Ben Lomond. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, swimming and going to flea markets.
Second Grade
Debi Wilcox
Debi Wilcox grew up in San Jose, and attended Point Loma Nazarene University before transferring to Northwest Nazarene University where she received her B.A. and M.A. in Education. She has 35 years of experience in public and private schools, teaching multiple grades, as well as being a reading specialist, Summer School Director, Vice Principal, and Principal. Her passion is teaching second graders which she considers “the BEST age group!” She has been teaching at Baymonte since 1998. In her spare time she loves to read, bake, develop new curricula, and buy complete, matching outfits (including shoes, hair accessories and purses) for her toddler granddaughter, Addison Joy! She is active in church where her husband, John, is the pastor. Her daughter, Kaitlin, and her husband also work in the education field. Her son, Grady, is a manager of a retail store and a great drummer. Both Kaitlin and Grady are graduates of Baymonte.
Heather Burke
Heather Burke joined us in 2007 having completed her liberal studies teacher preparation and California State Credential work at Bethany University. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Teaching from Bethany. Heather was a long-term kindergarten substitute at Baymonte before she started teaching second grade. She was recently married and she surprised the guests when her students arrived and performed a song as a part of the ceremony. She is a great volleyball player and coach.
Third Grade
Brittany Francis
Brittany Francis grew up in Ripon, California. She moved to Scotts Valley five years ago to attend Bethany University where she enjoyed competing on the volleyball team. While at Bethany she completed her B.A. in English and a Master’s Degree in Teaching. She joined the Baymonte faculty in Fall 2011. She enjoys being outdoors and reading. Miss Francis is passionate about teaching and is excited to see what God does in this new chapter in her life.
Cassy Hazen
Cassy Hazen was born in March of 1983, in West Covina, California. She accepted Christ into her life as a young girl and has experienced God in amazing ways, including mission trips around the western United States, Tijuana, Mexico, and all the way to Malawi, Africa. She received a Bachelors of Arts in Child Education and a California Teacher Credential at Point Loma University. Her first experience teaching was at Lanakila Baptist Elementary on the island of Oahu. She feels that God pointed her toward teaching at Baymonte (her husband Jeff attended Baymonte and actually had third grade in the room she now occupies). She and her husband were blessed with a beautiful baby boy in June 2010. She loves family time, the beach, movies, spending time with friends, and date nights.
Fourth Grade
Christie Olson
Christie Olson received her B.A. in music performance from George Fox University. She received her credential and her Master’s in Education from Vanguard University. She has taught at many levels from kindergarten to college, but finds fourth grade to be her “happy place.” She is a history nut and gets a kick out of turning kids on to California History. When she’s not grading papers, she likes to sing, act, or curl up under a blanket with a really good book. She also loves to watch her daughter sing and act and her husband and son play soccer. She joined the Baymonte staff full-time in 2003.
Courtney Grewohl
Courtney Grewohl was born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies and Master’s Degree/Credential in Teaching from Bethany University in 2008 and 2009 respectively. She discovered her passion for teaching while volunteering as a thirteen-year-old Junior Counselor at Kruz Kidz Day Camp in Aptos. She loves kids with all her heart and believes that this is truly the profession God has called her to. In her free time she enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and just enjoying the beautiful surroundings God has blessed us with. Currently most of her free time is spent planning her April 2012 wedding which she is very excited about! She feels extremely blessed to be at Baymonte.
Fifth Grade
Geoff Ward
Geoffrey Ward has his B.A. in Mass Media/Communications from California State University, Northridge. He holds a California CLAD Multi-Subject K-12 Teaching Credential earned at the University of Phoenix. He also holds an A.C.S.I. Credential and has his Master’s of Arts in Education with a specialization in Curriculum Design and Instruction. He loves theatre and acting. If you call his class his usual response is “Mr. Ward’s happy class!”
Terra Bliss
Terra Bliss grew up in Scotts Valley and with the exception of two years in college, has lived her whole life in the Santa Cruz mountains. She went to local schools and played on many sports teams growing up. After graduating from Harbor High School, she went to California State Hayward and then to Bethany University to earn her undergrad degree, teaching credential, and Master’s degree. She competed in college soccer and softball. She helped coach both of these sports at Bethany University. She has also been a coach for Scotts Valley High School and Baymonte. Terra worked as a recreation leader for the Parks and Recreation Department and as the co-director for the Baymonte Summer Quest program. She joined the staff at Baymonte in 2006 teaching third grade. After two years, she began teaching fifth grade where she has been enjoying teaching ever since. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, having game nights, being outdoors, and playing sports.
Specialists
Physical Education
Debbie Siemsen
Debbie Siemsen graduated from Biola University with a double major in Christian Education and Elementary Education. She holds a minor in Bible. She received her California teaching credential from Bethany University. Debbie joined the Baymonte faculty in 1994. She is behind the camera on many of our creative chapel videos. Debbie and her husband Kirk have two boys they love to spend time with, David and Jonathan. Along with teaching and coaching, their family enjoys making videos, exploring nature, and sharing game nights together.
Music
Craig Simmons
Craig Simmons attended Baymonte Christian School from 1971-1973. Craig has always excelled in the arts, giving him the opportunity to perform with the San Francisco Youth Orchestra. One of Craig’s fondest memories was to play the National Anthem on trumpet for the San Francisco Giants on Father’s Day in 1982. Craig continues to play the trumpet for shows, local companies, teach privately and perform with Cabrillo Stage. He holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts degrees from the California Institute of Arts. He has been teaching kindergarten through eighth grade music at Baymonte since 2000. Craig recently married a lovely lady, Stephanie, who also works in the field of education. Craig’s hobbies include swimming, reading, hiking, watching basketball, and most of all, watching the San Francisco Giants.
Spanish
Mike Lanham
Michael Lanham studied at Bethany University where he received his undergraduate degree in Biblical and Theological Studies with a minor in Biblical Languages. He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Education. He teaches Spanish and math, but Spanish is his passion. He travels to Pajaro Valley to teach as well, often taking Baymonte students to practice their Spanish skills and help others. He was born and raised in a “no-signal” small town in northern California.
Media Center Director
Catherine Upton
Catherine Upton earned her B.A. in Art History in 1991 from San Jose State. She received her Master’s degree in Library Science from San Jose State in 1993. Before joining the Baymonte staff in 2003, Catherine worked for the Santa Cruz Public Library system in several different positions including Children’s Librarian, Reference Librarian, and the Read to Me Project Coordinator. She has lived in Santa Cruz County for 22 years and has two children, Zachary and Rebecca, who have graduated from Baymonte and now attend Scotts Valley High School. In her free time Catherine enjoys reading, hiking, cycling, geo-caching, walking along West Cliff, going to the beach, and she is an avid skier.
Independent Program of Instruction (IPI)
Martha Stow
Martha Stow earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies from San Jose State. She has a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential with a supplementary authorization to teach English up to 8th grade. Martha has been in education for many years as a classroom aide and in Special Education. While working full time, raising a family, and commuting over the hill for four years, and with the Lord’s help, she was able to reach her goal of completing her teaching credential. Martha joined the Baymonte faculty in 1994, teaching second grade. She is now in her sixth year teaching IPI. She says, “There is no place that I would rather be. For the past 18 years I have been able to live my dream which is teaching children.” She has been married for 42 years and has two daughters and five grandchildren.
Ellen Arzouni
Ellen Arzouni is an Academic Support Specialist. She is trained in the Barton System of Instruction for children with learning disabilities. Her passion is keeping current and updated on student learning issues, attending workshops and clinics. She has worked in a variety of capacities at Baymonte since 1994. Her two daughters, Jenny and Mandy graduated from Baymonte. In addition to helping students learn to love learning, she enjoys reading , studying the Bible, and going for walks with her friends.
Roberta Handley
Roberta Handley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Chico State University. She had a career in the computer industry for over ten years as a marketing program manager. In time, Roberta realized computers were not her passion and that children were! She went back to school to become a preschool teacher. She knows that working with children is where God wants her to be. Roberta is the head teacher of the Sunshine preschool class at Baymonte Preschool Too. She also tutors reading for elementary students. Roberta and her husband have three children who all enjoy attending Baymonte. In her free time Roberta loves to swim, run, play racquetball and go to the beach.
Administration
Steve Patterson
Principal Steve Patterson graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with a B.A. in Liberal Studies and received a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from United States International University. He has a California Multiple Subject Life Credential and has been at Baymonte since 1980. Mr. Patterson has served as principal since 1991. In his free time he enjoys home building projects, spending time with his family including his two beautiful granddaughters and listening to great blues and jazz music.
Jody Jones
Vice Principal Jody Jones graduated from Southern California College with a B.A. in Social Science and a minor in P.E. and History. She loved playing intramural sports (no intercollegiate women’s teams back then) and was the MVP volleyball player all four years. She holds a California Life Teaching Credential. She joined the staff at Baymonte in 1988 after teaching in public and private schools for fifteen years. Mrs. Jones also teaches middle school classes. She loves sports and has coached and been on the board of Scotts Valley Girl’s Softball for over 20 years. She loves spending time with her family.
