Primary School Staff

Jennifer Harkleroad

Kindergarten

jharkleroad@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Atlanta, GA, USA

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Endorsement from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Years in Teaching:

Favorite Scripture: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18. 

Gretchen Drisenga

Kindergarten

gdriesenga@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Anderson University, Master’s degree in Educational Ministry from Calvin Theological Seminary. 

Years in Children’s Ministry: 12, 2nd at KICS 

Favorite Scripture: “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9.

Christina Horton

1st Grade

chorton@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Lowell, Michigan, USA 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute

Years in Teaching: 2, all at KICS

Favorite Scripture: “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast in my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Peggy Raji

2nd Grade

praji@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Bradford, UK

Education: BSc in Health Wellbeing and Social Care and Post-graduate Certificate in Education from Bradford University and Sheffield Hallam University.

Years in Teaching: 3, 2nd at KICS 

Favorite Scripture: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

Michele Black

2nd Grade

mblack@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Sydney, Australia 

Highest Education: Bachelor of Teaching Early Childhood 

Name of University/College: Charles Sturt University

Years in Teaching: Since 1990 

Favorite Scripture: Many are the plans in a Man’s heart, but it’s God’s plans that will prevail. Proverbs 16:9.

Natasha Carlson

3rd Grade

ncarlson@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Minnesota, USA 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in  Bible from the University of Northwestern, St. Paul, Master’s of teaching with endorsements in Elementary Education, Middle School Social Studies and Middle School Language Arts from Trinity International University.

Years in Education: 5, 2nd at KICS 

Favorite Quote: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” -William Butler Yeats.

Douglas Bryan

3rd Grade

dbryan@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Berne, IN, USA 

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University.

Years in Teaching: 11, 10th at KICS 

Favorite Scripture: “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6.

Vicki Leatherwood

4th Grade

vleatherwood@kicsrw.org 

Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario, Canada 

Education: Bachelor of Christian Education from Redeemer University College.

Years in Teaching: 8, 2nd at KICS 

Favorite Scripture: Psalm 103

Jordan Mbaraga

4th Grade

jmbaraga@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Landstuhl, Germany

Education: Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico.

Years in Teaching: 6, 4th at KICS 

Favorite Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will not forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Susie Thomas

5th Grade

sthomas@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Fairborn, OH, USA

Education: Bachelor's in Biblical Studies & Communication from Taylor University.

Years in Teaching: 3, all at KICS

Favorite Scripture: "

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works." 

Psalm 73:28

Francis Sims

Primary P.E

fsims@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Bucks County, PA, USA

Education: Bachelor's degree in Health and Physical Education.

Years in Teaching: 2, all at KICS

Favorite Scripture: "But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?" Romans 10:14.

Efua Hagan

Primary Art

ehagan@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Accra, Ghana

Education: Art & Design Diploma from University College for the Creative Arts; Textile Design Diploma from Nottingham Trent University.

Years in Teaching: 3 at KICS

Favorite Quote: "We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated." - Maya Angelou

Eunsook Lee

Primary Music

elee@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Deajeon, South Korea

Education: Master of Music, and Master of Music and Piano from the National Academy of Music in Bulgaria.

Years in Teaching: 25, 5th at KICS

Favorite Scripture: "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live." Psalm 104:33.

Jean Claude Mbarushimana

Primary Kinyarwanda

jclaude@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Kigali, Rwanda

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Rwanda, College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Years in Teaching: 5, all at KICS

Favorite Scripture: “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands.” Revelation 7:9

Lauren Hakizimana

Primary French

lhakizimana@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Schaumburg, Illinois USA

Education: Bachelors degrees in French Language, Broadcast Journalism from University of Missouri - Columbia.

Years in Teaching: 5, 1st at KICS

Favorite Scripture: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

George Omondi

Primary Computers

gomondi@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Bondo, Kenya

Education: Bachelor's in Education and Advanced Certificate in Computer Applications Repair and Maintenance from Moi University in Kenya, Postgraduate Diploma in Information Communication Technology from St. Anthony Institute of Technology in Kenya

Years in Teaching: 11, 2nd at KICS

Favorite Scripture: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13

Adam Koelling

Primary Bible Teacher

a2koelling@kicsrw.org

Hometown: Longview, Texas

Highest Education: Master of Communication Disorders (Speech Pathology) - 2004 (LSU HSC)

Master of Arts in Theological Studies - 2019 (Liberty University).

Years in teaching: 1st

Favorite Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:21 “For our sake he made him to be sin, who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."