Meet our incredible teachers
Dearborn Christian has a staff full of highly dedicated and professional teachers. Their main focus is connecting with each child, fostering a love of God and Jesus Christ while striving for academic excellence. Each DCS teacher is a Christian who teaches from a biblical world-view, demonstrating that God is in all areas of learning.
Our consistently outstanding Iowa Basic Skills Test and MEAP scores only begin to tell the whole story. Speaking of stories, take a quick peek at the biographies of each of our dynamic teachers at Dearborn Christian School:
Preschool
Dee Wesseling: I have been married for 26 years and have three children. When my youngest was three years old, I began teaching at Community Christian School. While working, I attended night school at Pinellas Technical Institute, in Pinellas Park, Florida. I received my child Development Associates Degree October of 1998. After receiving my degree I continued to teach the three year old class at Community Christian School for three more years. In 2001 we moved to Taylor and I began co-directing at Taylor Tots Preschool within Light and Life Christian School. Due to the changes within the school, I taught Kindergarten, first and second grades before the school closed in 2008. I made the transition into Dearborn Christian Preschool in August 2008 and have been happily teaching the preschool class ever since. God has richly blessed my life while here and I am praying for continued blessing for our school as we seek to serve this community.
Kindergarten and Art
Sue Brodbeck: I first discovered my love for small children during college, teaching in various church school activities. The children absorbed so much and loved to sing and move and listen to stories and talk to Jesus. My heart was captured and I went on to get my teaching degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids. After teaching for three years I went back to U of M to work on my masters in Child Psychology with an early learning emphasis. When my own children started school at Dearborn Christian School, I started teaching at DCS as the Preschool teacher. For the past eight years I have been teaching Kindergarten.
For eighteen years I have also been able to use my love of art to teach grades 1-8 art. During that time I have been privileged to explore art through art classes at Henry Ford Community College and Birmingham/Bloomfield Hills Art Center. Oil painting and knitting are my favorite forms of art. Paul Gauguin is my favorite artist. Watching children imagine, create and solve problems is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Shaping the future of my students by being a loving and inspiring teacher has been my goal.
First and second grade
Heidi Usewicz: I am a graduate of Rochester College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I have spent many years being involved in children’s lives and in their education as both a volunteer and a professional. I was a lead teacher in a pre-K half day program at Woodland Elementary School in the Avondale school district. Following my passion for early elementary, the Lord blessed me with a teaching position at Dearborn Christian School. My husband and I are actively involved in our church in Warren,MI. This is currently my second year teaching 1st and 2nd grade at Dearborn Christian School. Our classroom is full of life and energy as we pursue a love for learning, others and God.
Third and fourth grade
Michael Folkema: I teach the combined third and fourth grades, and I also direct the Dearborn Christian School Band for students in grades five through eight. I have been at DCS since 1996. I received my training in elementary education and educational leadership from Calvin College and Central Michigan University, and it has been a blessing to teach at Dearborn Christian School. I enjoy sharing the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ while exploring the unique and wonderful creation God has given. It has truly been a joy to see each student, as well as my own children, grow while at DCS. The words of 3 John 4 are special to me: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
Fifth and sixth grade
Rachel Arnold: Mrs. Arnold is in her second year teaching 5th and 6th grade at Dearborn Christian School. She grew up in Grand Rapids attending Christian school throughout college when she graduated from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She received her certification in secondary education from Calvin College. She is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Educational leadership from Concordia University in Ann Arbor.
Prior to coming to DCS, she taught in Christian schools in North Carolina, Canton and Brighton. She has also worked as a missionary teaching English in Japan and at Black Forest Academy in Germany. Mrs. Arnold enjoys scrapbooking, knitting, reading, traveling and going to baseball games with her husband.
Seventh and eighth grade
Kristi Poll: is our new teacher for all subjects except language arts for grades seven and eight. She adds a new dimension to each class at DCS with her passion for Spanish as our Spanish language teacher.
Mary Folkema: I’ve been teaching seventh and eighth grade language arts here at DCS for 15 years. I delight in sharing books and language with my students! Reading and writing are marvelous gifts from God, and it is a pleasure to work with my students in studying and using the written word. I attended Dearborn Christian School as a child, went on to public high school, and graduated from Calvin College. I now send my own children to DCS. I am thrilled to have been involved with DCS as a student, parent, and teacher!
Music arts
Ron Houser: In the summer of 2006 I was interim organist at First Baptist of Dearborn and happened to see a notice on the bulletin board advertizing for a music teacher at Dearborn Christian. My first thought was “I could do that!” For I had spent 42 years in public school, teaching music before I retired in 2000. My second thought was, “They probably want a young lady not an old man!” However, after interviewing with Mr. DeRoo and the board, I was hired. Every year since then, my work at DCS has been a blessing to me and I hope to all the students. My other part time work is as organist and choir accompanist at Highland Park Baptist of Southfield where I have played since August of 2007. I have four children and six grandchildren. My wife, June, has been with the Lord for 12 years. My life has always revolved around school and church and God has allowed me to allow me to use my gifts for His glory.
Physical education
Amina Guvetis: I am 34 years old, mother of two boys (Julian 8 & Alex 6), and wife of 10 years to Rory Guvetis. I grew up in Southwest Detroit and graduated from Cass Technical High School. I am the first in my family to go to college and receive my Bachelor's degree, which is in Physical Education from Wayne State University. In 2005, when I completed my Bachelor's degree I chose to stay home with my children and work on my Master's degree in Educational Leadership. I currently teach part time at Dearborn Christian School and substitute in the Dearborn Public School System. I attend Detroit World Outreach and am involved with many ministries. I am currently the PTA President at Duvall Elementary, active with the Dearborn PTSA Council and Boy Scouts Pack 1117. I also have a business that specializes in personalized music for children known as Hidden Treasures Cd's. I am so thankful for Dearborn Christian School and consider it an honor to teach there as well.
Computers
We welcome Samantha Pelt, new this year to DCS.