Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Meet our team
Jenna Wertheimer, Head of School
Jenna is the mother to five children that currently span educational levels from middle school to college. Jenna attended the University of New Hampshire, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with minors in Political Science, Philosophy and Education. She began her journey in education as a teacher in the public schools and started homeschooling her children in 2002. She has had experience with her children in public and private settings and has been most impressed by the University Model® of education. Jenna joined Grace Prep in 2014 and has played many roles prior to taking on the position of Head of School including being a parent, teacher, and administrator.
Mrs. Wertheimer's favorite thing about leading Grace Prep is "praying with the children when resolving conflicts, seeking godly resolutions and seeing grace and forgiveness extended to each other. Seeing God’s work in these little lives is such a privilege."
Judith Reid, Kindergarten
Judi Reid has been a classroom teacher for 38 years, a literacy coach and has held several leadership roles as an educator. She has her Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education/Special Education and her Master's in Educational Administration from Wheelock College. Her family leads The Light of the World Empowerment Center in Dorchester. Her husband is the pastor and she and her adult children also serve the congregation. As a school teacher, Mrs. Reid believes that she is charged with living out her faith daily so that her light might shine before men so that they might see Christ through her. As a leader in her congregation, she also feels called upon to be an example for Christ. She believes that it is her duty to love, nurture, teach, and instill Christian values in everyone with whom she interacts.
Lara Kastelein, First Grade
Lara joined Grace Prep as the first grade teacher in 2022. She is enthusiastic about teaching and has taught in a variety of settings for over two decades including special-ed classrooms, after-school programs, tutoring for children on the spectrum, and church Sunday school. She is experienced in Classical Conversations and the Institute for Excellence in Writing and serves as Children's Ministry Coordinator at Christ the King Church in Cambridge. Lara received her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Clemson University. Mrs. Kastelein is mom to three daughters, two of whom attend Grace Prep.
Mrs. Kastelein's favorite thing about teaching at Grace Prep is
"working with families to support a home life filled with fascination, diligent study, and worship as they learn together and grow together as God's beloved people."
Deanne Taylor, Second Grade
Deanne has a well rounded portfolio in education including having homeschooled her five children as well teaching in Christian schools. She has also enjoyed using her gifts as an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher, educational tutor, worship band member and pastor’s wife. Deanne and her family lived cross-culturally as missionaries in Kiev, Ukraine for 8 1/2 years. She has a passion for teaching and discipling kids and her enthusiasm in the classroom has been enjoyed by all her students since she joined our school in 2019.
Mrs. Taylor's favorite thing about teaching at Grace Prep is "fostering a sense of awe and wonder about God and the amazing world He has made. I also love the delightful children and their families who make up the Grace Prep community!"
Yvette Enejo, Third Grade
Yvette loves working with children and has been involved in education for over fifteen years. She has taught children from 1st to 5th grade, as an elementary class teacher, substitute teacher and as a specialist French teacher. She has taken part in voluntary work with churches and christian charities in both the UK and in several countries across Africa, helping young people to grow in their faith and have fun in the process. She received her BA in History and Post Graduate Certificate in Education at the University of Warwick, England.
Yvette moved with her husband and two children from England to America in 2022 and began teaching math at Grace Prep in 2023. She is really looking forward to teaching the third grade class in the coming year!
Mrs. Enejo's favorite thing about teaching at Grace Prep is
reminding young people how they are uniquely created by our Father God and helping them to understand that they all have individual strengths and learning styles. She loves to help children unlock their learning potential and to see them thrive in doing so.
Moriah Fisher, 4th & 5th Grade
Moriah's dream of becoming a teacher began in her elementary years, when she ran her own summer school in her family's basement for her siblings and neighborhood kids. Needless to say, her youthful entrepreneurial endeavours led her to pursue a career in education. Following a summer of teaching English and Dance at a school in remote El Salvador, Moriah received her Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Elementary Education from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. This program included training in K-12 SPED Methodology and a certification to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students. Moriah began teaching 5th grade in a public school setting as a student teacher. Moriah then taught 12th grade World Literature for two years at her alum high school, a charter school in Colorado Springs. Moriah married the love of her life and moved to Massachusetts in 2022, joining the Grace Prep family. She's looking forward to another year!
Mrs. Fisher's favorite thing about Grace Prep is...
that the love that Jesus calls us to is not just taught . . . it is also lived out! This school is made up of a community of families and staff that deeply value kindness, compassion, and care for others!
Harley Rusk, Middle School
Harley has dreamed of being a teacher since she was in middle school, and she is thrilled to be beginning her career at Grace Prep! Harley recently completed her degree in secondary English education at Liberty University. During her time there, she worked in grades K-9, including a semester of student teaching in 6th grade. She also served as co-president of Liberty's Urban Education Club and as a community group leader for two years. She spent one summer in Ecuador and another in Pittsburgh teaching inner city students. Harley absolutely loves the energy, creativity, and depth that middle school students bring to the classroom, and she is so excited to teach and disciple the middle schoolers at Grace Prep!
Welcome to Grace Prep Ms. Rusk!
Amanda Holley, Music & Art
Amanda has the privilege of participating in the Grace Prep community as both a parent and a teacher. The arts have been an integral part of Amanda's life for as long as she can remember; from piano lessons to art club to marching band and musical theatre, she has enjoyed a variety of experiences along the way! Amanda holds a Masters in music and has taught classroom music and private music instruction. She is also on staff as the music director at Christ the King Presbyterian Church, where she has served for almost 16 years. Amanda loves revealing connections between the arts and other areas of study and life.
Mrs. Holley's favorite thing about teaching the arts is
"helping kids (and adults!) see the beauty and creativity of God and the things he has made, and then giving them the tools to respond and express themselves in beautiful, creative ways."
Nicole Croak, P.L.A.Y. & Classroom OT
Nicole Croak is a certified Pediatric Occupational Therapist who has a passion for seeing children thrive. She founded the REACH Program - a service that supports families with children birth-age 3, through developmental play groups. She worked in a level III NICU as an OT and was owner and operator of Cobblestones - a resource for families to address questions about their child's development, and make social connections with others. When you meet Nicole, it’s easy to see her joy and passion for children. On Mondays, each grade joins her for our extracurricular class called P.L.A.Y. This uniquely crafted classes draws upon her OT knowledge to engage students with Play that produces Leadership skills And Youth with character. By combining physical activites with problem solving games, students develop social skills with peers, including how to use their God-given bodies to win and lose well, be a team player, and lead with strength and compassion. On Wednesdays Mrs. Croak visits our classrooms to assist students and teachers with OT support.
Kelly Ladd Bishop, Phonics & Writing, Grades 1& 5
Kelly is an ordained pastor and a homeschool mom. She graduated from Boston University with a degree in biology, then went on to receive her MDiv from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She has worked in vocational ministry for nearly two decades, and has homeschooled her three kids through Grace Prep for the past seven years! Kelly is passionate about helping people love Scripture and theology, and finds joy in a well crafted story or sermon. She writes for several websites and magazines exploring issues of faith and culture, and is the author of dozens of books yet to be written. She is also passionate about learning, teaching, and teaching kids to love learning! Currently Kelly serves as the Associate Pastor at Newton Covenant Church. She is so excited to be teaching kids about reading, writing, and creating with the written word at Grace Prep this year!
Lacey Baron, Administrative Assistant & Bookkeeping
Lacey attended the University of Oklahoma, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Zoology. She moved to Boston in 2002 and worked in the biotech industry until meeting her husband at church and having their first child. They now have 2 elementary-aged children. Prior to coming to Grace Prep she worked part-time at a Christian preschool in Newton. She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work in another Christian school that values instilling a love for God and His Word in its students.
One thing Mrs. Baron loves about Grace Prep is
"being a part of such a unique Christian community."
Pam Marando, Marketing
Pam has been a part of Grace Prep as a teaching parent since 2017 and has 3 children who are all students at GPA. She has a bachelor's degree in Business Entrepreneurship and co-owns Salted Family, a business that creates resources for churches and families to make memories as they make disciples. She serves in ministry at Charles River Church Boston, where her husband serves as the Pastor of Discipleship. Since 2020, Pam has enjoyed the role of Marketing Coordinator at GPA and loves to share all the Lord is doing at our school through social media and our website. Previously, she taught in the 3rd grade classroom, as well as summer camp, and continues to engage with students by conducting reading assessments throughout the school year.
Mrs. Marando's favorite thing about Grace Prep is
"seeing students being encouraged in their studies and their faith at the same time. Having teachers who will pray with our kids and remind them of scripture as they engage in their studies is a blessing and a beautiful reflection of Christ."