Meet the Teachers

2023-2024 SJLS Teaching Staff

Katie Green - Kindergarten

kgreen@sjlschool.org
Ms. Green enters her 6th year teaching Kindergarten, after 4 years serving in the Children's Center. You'll be able to spot her as one of our most spirited on dress up days.  She loves coffee and spending time with her family.  She lives with her two dogs, Willow and Ellie.

Debi Swenson  - Kindergarten

dswenson@sjlschool.org
Teaching young children has been my dream and calling as long as I can remember. I have had the joy and privilege to be in ministry to young children at St. John’s for over 40 years.  When not in the classroom, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I have two adult children who live in different parts of the state.  My constant companion is my “fur baby”, Milo.
Kylee Ursery - Kindergarten
kursery@sjlschool.org
This is my first year teaching! I have always wanted to be a teacher, and I am very passionate about providing a positive and caring environment for students. I grew up in Bakersfield and received my degree in Multiple Subject Education from Cal State University Bakersfield. I intend to also get my Masters in Education as well in the near future. I love spending time with my family and friends, going on walks, and pilates! I have a passion for Jesus and wanted to join St. John's so that I could provide a Christian education to my future students. I am super excited to join the team!   

Sutton Coffey - 1st Grade

scoffey@sjlschool.org
Sutton Coffey is excited to join the teaching team as a first-grade teacher! She recently graduated from Fresno State and has a passion for coaching, currently serve as a volleyball coach at Bakersfield Christian High School. I look forward to bringing my enthusiasm for education and love for children to the classroom!

Amanda Green - 1st Grade

agreen@sjlschool.org
This is Mrs. Green's 14th year at SJLS.  After spending 11 years  as a 3rd  grade teacher and 2 years teaching Physical Education, she is back in the classroom for our lucky 1st graders. She has a lovely family, of which her two sons attend SJLS.

Katie Weiss - 2nd Grade

sweiss@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Weiss currently serves St. John’s as a second grade teacher. She has been teaching for twelve years. She is married to Jason Weiss, who also teaches at St. John’s. They have two kids- Hudson and Harper. She loves teaching because everyday is new, she gets to share the love of Jesus with her students daily, and it is incredible to see how much her students grow in a year. 

Shalynn Ouellette - 2nd Grade

souellette@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Ouellette enters her sixth year teaching at St. John's. She was born and raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She and her husband moved here about 15 years ago and we have three girls, Kaylee, Kylie, and Kennedy, two of which attend this school. She has been teaching for a total of about 16 years. She taught in New Hampshire as a seventh and eighth grade Math and Science teacher, and a special education assistant. She taught second grade prior to St Johns  and now our second graders at St Johns are lucky to have her!

Sara Ablin - 3rd Grade

sablin@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Ablin enters her 15th year at SJLS.  Teaching our amazing third graders is an absolute privilege. She and Mr. Ablin are also blessed with two grown sons, Bennington and Gabriel. When she's not teaching, she enjoys time outside in her garden.

Heather Peyton - 3rd Grade

hpeyton@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Peyton starts her third year teaching at St. John's after many years teaching in Tehachapi. She coaches football, track and enjoys running. She and her husband have three beautiful children, two of which attend SJLS. 

Kelly Williams - 4th Grade

kwilliams@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Williams enters her 11th year teaching at St. John's. She and her husband are amazing parents to their amazing son Colby and their two dogs Clyde and Maci. She is well known for her fun sense of humor and light pranks. 

Sara Armstrong 4th Grade

sarmstrong@sjlschool.org
Mrs. Armstrong is in her second year at St. John's as a teacher, after being a St. John's parent for many years. She has 7 years experience teaching public school in Oklahoma. She and her husband have three children that keep them busy with sports, activities, traveling and playing. 

SJLS Staff

Kylee Ursery - Kindergarten

Debi Swenson - Kindergarten

kursery@sjlschool.org

Katie Green - Kindergarten 

kgreen@sjlschool.org

Sutton Coffey - 1st Grade

scoffey@sjlschool.org



dswenson@sjlschool.org

Amanda Green - 1st Grade

agreen@sjlschool.org



Katie Weiss - 2nd Grade

Shalynn Ouellette - 2nd Grade

kweiss@sjlschool.org
souellette@sjlschool.org

Sara Ablin - 3rd Grade

Heather Peyton - 3rd Grade

sablin@sjlschool.org
hpeyton@sjlschool.org

Kelly Williams - 4th Grade

Sara Armstrong - 4th Grade

kwilliams@sjlschool.org
sarmstrong@sjlschool.org

Susan Crutcher - 5th Grade

scrutcher@sjlschool.org

Emily Wren - 6th Grade

ewren@sjlschool.org

Ashley Allio - 5th Grade

aallio@sjlschool.org

Lynn Wheeler - 6th Grade

lwheeler@sjlschool.org
 

Amy Hoffman - Junior High

ahoffman@sjlschool.org
 

Elizabeth Paulk - Junior High 

epaulk@sjlschool.org

Eric Hoffman - Junior High/Athletic Director

ehoffman@sjlschool.org

Paul Rodriguez - Math/PE

prodriguez@sjlschool.org

Jason Weiss - Technology/VE-JV Teacher

jweiss@sjlschool.org

Patrice Appold  - ASL/Math/Tanzania

pappold@sjlschool.org

Brent Williams - Band Director 

bwilliams@sjlschool.org

Shay Cawthon - Music 

scawthon@sjlschool.org

Deborah Baraibar - Art

dbaraibar@sjlschool.org

Pam Schrank - Resource/School Counselor

pschrank@sjlschool.org

Jamie Quintana - Resource 

jquintana@sjlschool.org

Claire Pratt - PE / 8th Grade Advisory

cpratt@@sjlschool.org

Serenity Destefani - Librarian

sdestefani@sjlschool.org

Katie Kamper - Resource

kkamper@sjlschool.org

Salome Mora - Spanish 2-6

smora@sjlschool.org

Nurse Julie Jeffries

jjeffries@sjlschool.org

William Hollar - Program Support Specialist

whollar@sjlschool.org

Cody Wren - Head of Security 

cwren@sjlchurch.org