Faculty and Staff
PRINCIPAL
Bachelor of Arts, Math and Secondary Education, Coe College (1994); Master of Arts in Education, University of Northern Iowa (2002)
Jeff began teaching at Cedar Valley part-time in 1991. He moved to a full-time teaching position in 1994 and started administrative responsibilities in 1995. In 1997, Jeff became the Secondary Principal and in 2011 he became the Principal at CVCS. He and his wife Jennifer have four children. They attend Cedar Valley Bible Church and are actively involved in the church. Jeff and Jennifer coach the Varsity Volleyball team together.
Melanie Snodgrass
PRESCHOOL/PRE-K
Early Childhood Education, Kirkwood Community College
Melanie worked for McLeod Academy (Summit Schools) as a Preschool Para-Educator and Before/After School Director from 1995-2007. She married in 1999, and as their family grew, she was blessed to stay home with their children Baylea, Tyler, and Luke. During those years she served as a Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) Co-Coordinator for three years at New Covenant Bible Church. When her youngest started Kindergarten, her passion for working with children called her back into the public school setting working one-on-one with special education students. Melanie joined the Cedar Valley staff in 2016. Her favorite hobbies are gardening, crafting, and spending time with family.
Melanie Lynch
PRESCHOOL PARAEDUCATOR
Bachelors Degree in Child and Family Services, Iowa State University
Melanie has been working in the preschool room at Cedar Valley since 2019 and is also a Cedar Valley alumni. She has three children that attend Cedar Valley, and her husband is on the school board. Melanie devotes a lot of her time being involved in the ministry of both Cedar Valley Bible Church and the school. Besides her ministry at Cedar Valley, she also enjoys going on walks, playing games with her family, having coffee with friends, and shopping- especially at thrift stores. Melanie considers Cedar Valley her second family, and feels lucky to be a part of the staff.
Laura Wheat
PRESCHOOL PARAEDUCATOR
Bachelor of Arts, University of Northern Iowa
Laura has been working part-time in the preschool room at CVCS since 2017. Her husband, Jeremy, and their 3 children live in Marion. Laura enjoys spending time with her family, camping, crafting, being outdoors, and finding bargains at Daabin!
Jill Wilson
KINDERGARTEN
Bachelor of Arts in Education, University of Northern Iowa with certificates in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education as well as Basic Orton-Gillingham and Handwriting without Tears
Jill has invested many years as an educator in the Cedar Rapids area. She started the preschool program at McLeod Academy (now Summit Schools), taught K/1 and served as a 1-1 teacher for a special needs student for five years at All Saints and CV. For several years, she served as the Preschool Director at CVCS. She is now the kindergarten teacher which is her heart's passion! In her free time, she likes to spend time with her husband, her four children and son-in-law, as well as her church family. She enjoys scrapbooking with friends.
Chelsey Dixon
KINDERGARTEN ASSISTANT
Kelli Meyers
FIRST GRADE
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Special Education Birth - 3rd Grade, Mt. Mercy College (2000); Master of Arts in Teaching Special Education, MorningSide College (2018).
Kelli has been teaching since 2001. Prior to coming to the Cedar Rapids area, she taught kindergarten in both private and public schools for nine years. Within the Cedar Rapids Community School District, she has taught special education, preschool, first grade, and second grade. She is excited to start teaching this year as our first grade teacher at Cedar Valley Christian School.
Kelli lives in Cedar Rapids, IA with her husband Randy, their son Ethan, and a Miniature Goldendoodle named Violet. Kelli and her family have attended Calvary Community Church for the last three years and are actively finding places to use their spiritual gifts for God’s glory there.
Lisa Conn
SECOND GRADE
Lisa is married to Adam (CVCS Secondary Math Teacher). Lisa enjoys running, ultimate frisbee, reading, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. She and Adam have three sons and one daughter.
JoAnn Slee
THIRD GRADE
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Literacy Education, University of Northern Iowa
JoAnn is new to Cedar Valley in 2023. She has previously taught locally from preschool through first grade. She has also taught internationally, from student teaching at a military base in Heidelberg, Germany to Nagoya, Japan; which ranged from 1-2 year olds through second grade. Outside of the school walls, she loves reading, family bike rides, singing on her church's worship team, and knitting. She counts it a blessing to be added to Cedar Valley's staff and looks forward to all that God has for her and her students!
Heather Thomas
FOURTH GRADE
Bachelor of Arts in Education, University of Northern Iowa
Heather has been working at Cedar Valley since 2016 and has enjoyed teaching the third, fourth, and fifth grades. Heather loves everyone at Cedar Valley, especially her students! In her free time, Heather enjoys reading, baking, volunteering at her church, spending time with family and friends, and coming up with fun, educational activities for her students. Heather counts it a privilege to partner with parents in educating future generations.
Esther Pate
FIFTH GRADE
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Liberty University.
I am passionate about integrating a Biblical worldview in every subject that I teach. Every day is different, and every student is unique, so every day our learning looks different, but I want my students to leave every day knowing that they are loved and cared for in my classroom and knowing more about Jesus. A lot of changes and growing takes place in 5th grade, and I hope to provide a fun and safe place for my students to grow and learn. In my free time I like to read, cook, play video games and watch movies with my friends, and travel whenever I can. I enjoy going to bookstores and finding new books to read, or for my students to read. I love learning even more about history and any chance I get I like to see historic sights.
Amanda Baugh
SIXTH GRADE
Bachelor of Arts, English as a Secondary Language, K-12 Education, Intercultural Studies. Emphasis in TESOl and Bible Studies. -Emmaus Bible College 2020.
Amanda is born and raised in Iowa. She is originally from Des Moines. She attended college at Emmaus Bible College. Shortly after graduating, the Lord led her to missionary work in Wichita, Kansas. She taught 6-8th grade English and worked full time as a houseparent for international students at Sunrise Christian Academy. Amanda met her husband Sage Baugh in 2022 and has been happily married since tying the knot in July 2023. After the Lord pressed on Amanda's and Sage's heart, He open the door to Cedar Rapids where they hope to live for a while and hopefully settle down. Amanda is excited to become part of the CVCS family! Her hobbies are reading, crocheting, drinking coffee, finding random animals on the street and trying to make Sage let her keep them, and eating sushi/Korean food.
Drew Kayser
K-12 PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Youth Ministry and Bible, Emmaus Bible College
Drew is the PE teacher. Drew was a substitute teacher at Cedar Valley for the last two years. This is Drew's first year teaching full time. He loves all kinds of sports (especially Baseball.) Drew enjoys playing fantasy sports such as fantasy football, hockey, and baseball, getting outside to walk or swim, and he cherishes getting together with his father on Sundays after church to watch football.
Samantha Ulmer
VOCAL MUSIC GRADES K-12
Bachelor of Science in Education, Arizona State University (1969)
Samantha began teaching music at CV in 2009. Before that, she taught in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools for several years. Samantha was married for 35 years to her husband, Bill, who went to be with the Lord in 2002. She is blessed to have two children, Darin and Daphne, and 13 grandchildren. Her grandson, Jordan, graduated from CVCS in 2011. Samantha has always been very involved in church music and serves as Music Director at Community Baptist Church in Marion, leading choirs for first graders through adults. One of her favorite ministries is taking her teen choir, REDEMPTION, on a choir/ministry tour each summer. Besides music related activities, Samantha loves spending lots of time with her grandchildren, watching sports, and cheering for the Huskies! She is very thankful for the opportunity to teach music at Cedar Valley and share her love for praising God through song!
Carrie Lane
ART GRADES PreK-6
Bachelor of Arts Elementary Education, The University of Iowa
Carrie grew up on a farm near Cascade and started her teaching career in Boone, Iowa. She and her husband moved to Denver, Colorado for eleven years, where she taught for a few years and then stayed home with their two children. They moved back to Iowa in 2014. Carrie has most recently taught in the Cedar Rapids Community School District. She enjoys Hawkeye sports, gardening, biking, being in nature, and cheering for her children's sports teams, especially baseball and softball.
Laurie Sloterdyk
PRIVATE PIANO
Bachelor of Music Education, University of Northern Iowa
Laurie taught vocal music in public schools for five years. She has provided private piano for 30 years with 17 of that being at CVCS. Laurie has been blessed to be at CVCS since 2004. She and her husband, Aric, have two amazing sons and daughters-in-law, Aaron (Claire) and Luke (Ally). In her free time she loves to sing, read, walk with her dog, Jaz, and go boating with the family.
Jackie Davis
RESOURCE TEACHER
Currently working on completing Masters in Reading Education, Liberty University
Jackie focuses on individual and small group resource work at CVCS. She collaborates with classroom teachers to provide supplemental, individualized instruction for students as needed. Jackie also teaches our elementary students social skill lessons tied to our school mission statement. This is Jackie's 12th year in formal education. Prior to teaching, Jackie was a therapist for an autism program in Wisconsin. She has a deep love for teaching people of all ages and ability levels.
Mrs. Davis and her husband James have two daughters who both attend CVCS. Jackie enjoys reading, decorating cakes and talking with friends. As a family, the Davis' enjoy special family traditions such as Friday Night Movie night (complete with pizza and popcorn), donuts after church, and reading aloud together.
Wendy Cronbaugh
SCHOOL COUNSELOR / MIDDLE SCHOOL LANGUAGE ARTS
Wendy taught at CVCS 21 years before moving to Arizona. Her last two years of teaching at CVCS, she was a part-time counselor and part-time sixth grade teacher. Now back in Iowa, Wendy is available for counseling on Thursday mornings.
"I love spending time with the kids in this manner and know the Lord has really blessed me with the ability to hear the heart of these kids. And getting to share Christ’s love with them is first and foremost the most important part of this. I’m so excited to be back in the building with these kids even if it’s only for a few hours."
Sue Menken
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION COORDINATOR
Bachelor of Arts in Education, University of Northern Iowa; Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a concentration in Reading, Mount Mercy University; certifications at the Associate and Certified Levels at the Orton-Gillingham Academy.
Sue has worked at Cedar Valley for 14 years as a first and fourth grade teacher; she retired and has rejoined the staff as the Elementary Education Coordinator. In her free time, Sue enjoys hiking with her husband, Roger, traveling to see her children, playing at the beach with her grandchildren, going out for breakfast with friends, quiet times with her Savior, and reading. Sue loves being back “home” to Cedar Valley as she walks alongside and encourages the talented, creative and capable elementary teachers!
Jennifer Spurrell
RESOURCE PARA / AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Adam Conn
MATH FUNDAMENTALS, PRE-ALGEBRA, GEOMETRY, ALGEBRA II, FUNCTIONS STATISTICS AND TRIGONOMETRY, 6TH GRADE MATH / ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Bachelor of Arts in Education K-8, Iowa State University
Adam is married to Lisa (CVCS' 2nd grade teacher). Adam enjoys spending time with friends and family. He enjoys playing games and playing sports like ultimate frisbee and soccer.
Sarah Davis
HIGH SCHOOL LITERATURE, AP LANGUAGE, AP LIT, CREATIVE WRITING
Bachelor of Education, University of Northern Iowa
Advanced Placement Institutes at the University of Iowa
Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, watching racing (all kinds), and sledding with her dogs. In her spare time, she reads and scrapbooks.
Tom Fogle
7-9 ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION
Bachelor of Arts in English Education, Lenoir-Rhyne College, Hickory, NC (1968)
Master of Theology in Bible Exposition, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX (1978)
Tom has been teaching at CVCS since 1978. He also coaches 5/6th Girls’ Basketball.
Craig Foote
AMERICAN HISTORY, WORLD HISTORY, WORLD CULTURE AND GEOGRAPHY, AMERICAN GOVERNMENT, PSYCHOLOGY, PERSONAL FINANCE
Bachelor of Science in Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Iowa (1987)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Iowa (1991)
Secondary Teaching Endorsement, Social Studies, University of Iowa (1991)
Master of Education, Graceland University (2006)
Teaching Certifications: World History, American History, American Government, Psychology (University of Iowa) Driver and Safety Education (University of Northern Iowa) Coaching Certification (Kirkwood Community College)
Craig has been a teacher at Cedar Valley Christian School since 1993. He also teaches driver's education at Kirkwood Community College. He has coached students in basketball, tennis, soccer, and weight training for a number of years. His interests include attending concerts with family and friends, reading (history, mystery, and politics), and sports (basketball, softball, biking, swimming, tennis and weight training). His wife Dawn has taught at Cedar Valley for many years, and all three of their adult children graduated from Cedar Valley.
Jeff Pospisil
PRINCIPAL, AUTOMECHANICS, CALCULUS
Bachelor of Arts, Math and Secondary Education, Coe College (1994)
Master of Arts in Education, University of Northern Iowa (2002)
Jeff began teaching at Cedar Valley part-time in 1991 and then moved to a full-time position in 1994. He and his wife Jennifer have four children. They attend Cedar Valley Bible Church and are very involved in the church and school.
Joshua Schramm
7TH-12TH GRADE BIBLE, FAMILY LIVING
Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, Moody Bible Institute
My background in ministry varies from serving at camp ministries, being a missionary in South Africa, and working as a Youth Pastor. My heart is to encourage youth to own their faith and live it out. It is an awesome privilege to get to teach, while also an immense amount of responsibility (Jam 3:1). I ask that you pray along with me that as we study Scripture, we would "be transformed by the renewal of your mind" (Rom 12:3a). In my free time, I enjoy one thing the most - family. The Lord has blessed me with a wife, and four beautiful children. Thank you for the opportunity to teach your loved ones, and I look forward to partnering with you and your family!
Dawn Foote
HS SPANISH, 7TH GRADE LANGUAGE ARTS
Bachelor of Arts in History with Secondary Teaching Endorsement, University of Iowa (1990)
Spanish Endorsement, University of Iowa (1993)
Dawn is married to Craig, another CVCS teacher, and we have 3 grown children. She taught at CVCS from 1991-1999, took time off as she raised their children, and returned in 2018. In my free time, I like to read about language, history, and the lives of interesting people.
Rick Long
JUNIOR HIGH SCIENCE
BSE Biology, Mount Mercy College
Earth Science, University of Northern Iowa
Rick was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. He and his wife Sarah have six children and 13 grandchildren. He worked in business for 25 years and as a science teacher in the Cedar Rapids School District for 15 years. Rick and Sarah attend Maranatha Bible Church and are involved in their Sunday school program.
Evan Mills
HIGH SCHOOL SCIENCE, ALGEBRA I
Evan was born in Kathmandu, Nepal and spent most of his childhood in Mongolia as a missionary kid. When he was fourteen, his family moved to Orange City, Iowa. At Cornell, he ran cross country and track & field and was active in campus ministry. Evan loves experiencing God's glory through His creation and His word and sharing it with others.
Robin Crow
SECONDARY ACADEMIC COACH
Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Certificate in School Aged Care, University of Northern Iowa
Bachelor of Arts English and Secondary Education, University of Iowa
Speech, Communications, & Theater Endorsement, World History Endorsement
Masters of Theological Studies, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Robin spent 22 years in the classroom at Cedar Valley before transitioning to be the Secondary Academic Coach in the fall of 2023. She loves supporting the teachers, praying with and for them, helping them find new ideas and teaching techniques, and encouraging them to meet their professional goals. Robin is also the speech and drama coach at CVCS, and works as the women's ministry coordinator for Cedar Valley Bible Church. Robin spends her free time cooking with her husband, reading, camping, and acting in local theater productions.
Michelle Fields
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Graduate of Triway High School and two years at Malone College in Ohio.
Before coming to Cedar Valley in 2006, Michelle worked for Redwood Arms as a manager, starting in 1991. Michelle is married to Travis and they have four children: Brandon, Taylor, David and Elisabeth.
Lynette Nugent
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Graduated from Northwestern Bible College and Kirkwood.
Lynette was a stay-at-home mom whose son, Michael, attended CVCS from kindergarten until his graduation in 2013. During that time, she volunteered whenever she could (including organizing the hot lunch program). Lynette came to work in the office part-time in 2012. She has been married to her husband Tom for over 30 years.
Amy Fulkerson
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Iowa State University
Amy is married to Dennis and has 3 daughters. She attended CVCS from Preschool through 8th grade. She worked at CV from 2000-2005, took time off to raise their daughters, and returned in 2017 to work in the office. She enjoys watching football and volleyball, playing with her dog and ministering with her husband.