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!
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