Meet our teachers
Keiko Nagasawa-Breese was born in Japan and was educated in both Japan and the United States. She has a BA in English from a Japanese university and taught children (grades Pre-K to 6) English in Japan for 20 years. She also has a certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language from Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Keiko has a teaching certificate in Elementary Education and an MA in Education from Montana State University – Billings. She has been teaching elementary school children in the United States for 16 years.
She started her teaching career in Japan as a Kindergarten teacher in a bilingual school and was responsible for organizing the bilingual curriculum for grades Pre-K through 6 and served as the head teacher and school administrator. She also taught elementary school students English at the YMCA English School in Yokohama and served as the curriculum coordinator for grades K-9 and teacher trainer for the children’s English program. She has published three English and Phonics textbooks for Japanese students and held seminars for teachers throughout Japan.
Since 2002, Keiko has been teaching the K-4 multi-grade class at Beebe Christian School and has served as the principal. At graduate school she did extensive research on “Teaching Math in Japanese/Asian Ways – Visual Math.” She loves math and uses a variety of hands-on approaches to teach her students, such as the systematic use of math manipulatives, teaching geometry and fractions using origami (the Japanese art of folding paper), and teaching multiplication and division using a horizontal abacus.
Keiko says, “Teaching is her life.” She loves children very much and truly believes that teaching is a very important profession because she can impact and make a difference in the lives of her students. She desires to help her students develop the power to think reflectively and make meaningful decisions and right choices, to learn self-control, to be responsible and considerate, and to love Jesus and rely on Him. She wants to create a lifelong desire to learn in each of her students.
She started her teaching career in Japan as a Kindergarten teacher in a bilingual school and was responsible for organizing the bilingual curriculum for grades Pre-K through 6 and served as the head teacher and school administrator. She also taught elementary school students English at the YMCA English School in Yokohama and served as the curriculum coordinator for grades K-9 and teacher trainer for the children’s English program. She has published three English and Phonics textbooks for Japanese students and held seminars for teachers throughout Japan.
Since 2002, Keiko has been teaching the K-4 multi-grade class at Beebe Christian School and has served as the principal. At graduate school she did extensive research on “Teaching Math in Japanese/Asian Ways – Visual Math.” She loves math and uses a variety of hands-on approaches to teach her students, such as the systematic use of math manipulatives, teaching geometry and fractions using origami (the Japanese art of folding paper), and teaching multiplication and division using a horizontal abacus.
Keiko says, “Teaching is her life.” She loves children very much and truly believes that teaching is a very important profession because she can impact and make a difference in the lives of her students. She desires to help her students develop the power to think reflectively and make meaningful decisions and right choices, to learn self-control, to be responsible and considerate, and to love Jesus and rely on Him. She wants to create a lifelong desire to learn in each of her students.
Jessica Reeder was born in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in Loveland, Colorado at Campion Academy, where her parents work. She attended Union College, where she majored in Elementary Education, with a minor in English, which has always been a passion of hers.
Jessica considers herself blessed to have obtained a job in Colorado right out of college. She taught at the middle school and elementary levels in Denver from 2013-2018. She immensely enjoyed the time she taught in Denver, and the relationships she formed with the students and school community there, but is excited to begin teaching closer to “home.” “Northern Colorado is home,” she says, “and my heart is so happy to be moving back, and to have the opportunity to impact the lives of the children at this school for Jesus.”
Being a product of Adventist education herself, Jessica sees teaching as a way to pay forward what she received growing up. She strongly believes that having Christ at the center of education enhances the educational experience, creating a foundation for students to grow not only academically, but in the knowledge of who they are, and to Whom they belong. Jessica teaches the upper grade class and also serves as preschool director.
Jessica considers herself blessed to have obtained a job in Colorado right out of college. She taught at the middle school and elementary levels in Denver from 2013-2018. She immensely enjoyed the time she taught in Denver, and the relationships she formed with the students and school community there, but is excited to begin teaching closer to “home.” “Northern Colorado is home,” she says, “and my heart is so happy to be moving back, and to have the opportunity to impact the lives of the children at this school for Jesus.”
Being a product of Adventist education herself, Jessica sees teaching as a way to pay forward what she received growing up. She strongly believes that having Christ at the center of education enhances the educational experience, creating a foundation for students to grow not only academically, but in the knowledge of who they are, and to Whom they belong. Jessica teaches the upper grade class and also serves as preschool director.
Yesenia Martinez attained a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in Early Childhood Education, from Colorado State University (CSU). Yesenia feels immensely blessed with the opportunity to have completed an internship, followed by an assistant teaching opportunity, at CSU's Early Childhood Center, where she fostered meaningful relationships. At the Early Childhood Center, she discovered an approach to learning based on principles of respect, responsibility, and community through exploration and play. Witnessing little hands at work in the classroom has inspired her to continue furthering her education. She hopes to pursue a Master of Arts in Innovative Early Childhood Education.
Working in early childhood education is a conviction that Yesenia shares with many other teachers. She looks forward to implementing a warm, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. She is excited to create meaningful experiences that begin with a spiritually oriented education. The greatest lesson Yesenia believes she can pass on to every little one is to love and follow Jesus. She hopes to plant the seed for them to strive for a personal, growing relationship with Jesus.
Working in early childhood education is a conviction that Yesenia shares with many other teachers. She looks forward to implementing a warm, nurturing, and developmentally appropriate environment for children. She is excited to create meaningful experiences that begin with a spiritually oriented education. The greatest lesson Yesenia believes she can pass on to every little one is to love and follow Jesus. She hopes to plant the seed for them to strive for a personal, growing relationship with Jesus.
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Heather Colburn grew up in California and Arizona before attending Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska where she earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education. After finishing school, Heather taught 3rd & 4th grades in California before moving to the Seattle area with her husband to begin raising their family. She and her family relocated to Colorado in 2012.
During the years that she stayed home to raise her three children, Heather taught in a variety of part-time positions, including online, while also obtaining a Master’s Degree from Colorado State University Global Campus in Teaching & Learning, with an |
emphasis on English Language Learners. She has been teaching since 2004 in many different roles where God has led her to share with students her love for Jesus and excitement in learning new things.
In 2019, Heather went back to the in-person classroom setting and discovered the joy of teaching Kindergarten aged students in a Christian environment. Her passion is early literacy, giving students a strong start on many of the skills that prepare them to be excellent readers and to enjoy being lifelong learners. One of her favorite parts about teaching is building relationships with students and their families. She wants each student to know how much God loves them and wants to be their very best friend. He has great plans for each of their lives!
In 2019, Heather went back to the in-person classroom setting and discovered the joy of teaching Kindergarten aged students in a Christian environment. Her passion is early literacy, giving students a strong start on many of the skills that prepare them to be excellent readers and to enjoy being lifelong learners. One of her favorite parts about teaching is building relationships with students and their families. She wants each student to know how much God loves them and wants to be their very best friend. He has great plans for each of their lives!