Support Services

Storyline: Reflect Christ/ Reflejar a Cristo

Deep Hope: Recognize and reflect God’s nature and the fact that he created us in his likeness.

Belkys Gil serves as a Spanish Immersion Teacher at Pella Christian High School, specializing in Bilingualism in the Workplace, Life Skills, Health, and History. She is also a K-4 Learning Resource Teacher at Pella Christian Grade School. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Belkys holds a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s in Educational Management. She has been married to her husband, Damaso Urena, since January 2016.

Storyline: Trusting God. Acknowledging Him. Allowing Him to direct our paths. Proverbs 3: 5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

My Deep Hope is that students will allow God to awaken the strengths that He has created within them that students may glorify Him with their lives.

I am beginning my 12th year of teaching, 9th as a certified teacher. Mike and I met in Bible college and have been married for 39 years. We have 3 children, two daughters by marriage to our sons, and nine grandchildren. We are so thankful for God’s leading us to a life in Christ as teenagers! We love serving in our Oskaloosa church with children, teens, and as helpers with Celebrate Recovery! We are abundantly blessed!

Storyline: Pathways to Wisdom

My deep hope is that students will discover the transformative power of God’s wisdom by trusting in Him with all of their hearts, experience academic and spiritual growth, and demonstrate how biblical principles guide and improve their educational journey.

Entering my 11th year of teaching. I have a B.A. from William Penn in Business Management and a B.A. in education from Buena Vista University. Graduated from Albia High School in 1983. Enjoy shopping, ministry, and fishing.

Storyline: Play Your Part in God’s Story

Deep Hope: My deep hope is to be the peculiar person God calls you to be and to Play Your Part in God’s story.

Lisa Schelhaas serves as the K-5 Title 1 Reading/Math Support at Pella Christian Grade School. This is her 18th year here at PCGS and her 33rd year in Christian education. She has a Masters in Educational Leadership. She is a certified Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner. Lisa and her husband, Jay, enjoy their walks, biking, hiking, traveling, and spending quality time with their family and friends

See you how God sees you.

My deep hope is that we will: Know we are loved and created in God’s image, See ourselves as part of God’s wonderful creation, Try to see others through God’s eyes.

Dana Sims is a Learning Support Teacher at PCGS. This is her 14th year of teaching. Dana has taught in this role for all those year serving a wide range of different students needs as well as ages from pre k to 8th grade. Dana and her husband Cory are the parents Will, Riley and Kasey. They enjoy doing anything outdoors! Outside of school, Dana enjoys reading, trying new recipes, baking, and working in her garden!

Loved by God

My deep hope is that we will know we are loved by God and will respond by loving Him and loving others.

Sara Runner serves as the K-2 learning resource teacher. This is her fifth year in this position and eleventh year Christian education.
Sara enjoys spending time with her husband Steve and 4 children, Devan, Brynn, Kyla and Sydney.

Storyline: Deeper

Deep Hope: My Deep Hope is that people will be more fully formed to embody God’s collective and individual call for their lives.

Craig Juffer serves as the Director of Learning for Pella Christian Schools. Prior to his current role he served as the Head of Teaching and Learning at Pella Christian Grade School, as a teacher in classrooms ranging from second grade through middle school for fifteen years and as a principal for four years. Outside of his schoolwork, Craig enjoys spending time attending his three children’s music, sports, and other activities with his wife, Amy.

Storyline: Brave-Kind-Love

My deep hope is that we will be… brave as we meet challenges, kind as we recognize brokenness, and love God, ourselves, and others as we seek to understand the world around us.

Amanda Johnston is the Middle School Learning Support Teacher at PCGS. This is her 23rd year of teaching. Previously, Amanda has served as a middle school language arts teacher, Pre-K teacher, and as a learning specialist with students ranging from 2nd through 12th grades. Amanda and her husband Dan are the parents/step-parents to 8 adult children ages 18-28, 1 daughter-in-law, and grandparents to 2 little ones with #3 on the way this fall! Spending time with those people is what they enjoy the most. Outside of school, Amanda enjoys movies, traveling, cooking, puzzles, biking, and home decorating.

I am God’s Masterpiece

Together, we will see ourselves as God’s masterpiece, designed to love God and love others.

Jodi De Reus serves as the 3rd-5th grade Learning Resource Teacher at Pella Christian Grade School. This is Jodi’s 4th year at PCGS . Jodi enjoys spending time with her family, reading a good book, and having lunch with friends. Jodi is married to her husband, Kevin and have raised 5 children and are now enjoying the grandparent stage.

Be transformed by His love.

My deep hope is that my preschoolers recognize that they are God’s special creation made to be transformed by His love.

I was born in El Salvador and attended a Christian school from elementary to high school. I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 4 years old. However, I dedicated my life to Him when I turned 24 years old. I married my father’s favorite student and had two beautiful children who graduated from Pella Christian. My children met their spouses in high school. Pella Christian has been a place where my dream to become a teacher was fulfilled. God opened a door for my children to have a Christian education and use God’s gifts to serve His Kingdom. This place has also provided an opportunity for me to share my language and culture.