Meet our Middle School Staff!

 I would love to introduce you to our amazing middle school staff! I am going to share a few short introductions from our staff and a photo so you can see them. I did not get responses from everyone so will add to this post as more teachers respond. It has been a crazy semester and everyone has been very busy but we still love what we do and are so glad to be here serving our students! 

First, we have Rachel Means! 

"I'm Rachel Means from Whidbey Island, Washington and I teach music here at BFA. God led me to BFA during my last year of grad school when a series of unlikely emails, visitors and conversations made me aware of BFA and led me to consider the possibility of serving here. I'm now in my fifth year teaching here, and every year I find new reasons to be glad God brought me here! This semester I'm teaching Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced string orchestra classes for middle school students, Intro to Music Theory for high school, and private string lessons for middle and high school students. It's so much fun trying to answer all the questions the students have, especially when the questions make me have to research for good answers. 

My name is Dawn LaRiccia. I am from Youngstown, Ohio and this is my second year at Black Forest Academy. I graduated from Liberty University in 2015 with an education major. After teaching three years in the States, I heard about BFA from my church and have loved my experience here so far! I teach Middle School English for grades 6, 7, and 8. I have loved building relationships with my students and also get to know the older students through small groups and coaching volleyball. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work here! 

Bonjour, je m'appelle Sarah. My journey to Black Forest Academy began in September 2018. After over a decade teaching contentedly at a Christian school in Toronto, I had a surprising thought. This will be my final year. The perfect peace that followed assured me God had a plan. I just didn't know what it was yet. So I started praying. One of my prayer partners suggested I consider Black Forest Academy. After some research and a conversation with my sister, I submitted my resume. Black Forest Academy replied. The only position posted for the middle school? A German teacher. Did I even speak German? Nein. But within the week, a new email informed me of a sudden opening. The former French teacher was getting married, leaving that position available. I applied and was accepted for the 2019-2020 academic year. God's timing and provision at work! I'm glad to be teaching here because I believe Christian education deeply impacts students, transforming each community one child at a time. As Paul reminds, "we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image" (2 Cor. 3:18).

My name is Karen Ramse and I am from Fort Collins, Colorado. After graduating with my bachelor's degree, I was praying and searching for an overseas teaching opportunity. I was working in an early childhood center located in a church that was pastored by Brian and Bonnie Post. Brian and Bonnie served in Switzerland for three years and then at BFA for three years before God called them back to Colorado. They shared their heart for the students at BFA and God just opened the doors from there! Currently, I am teaching Math 8, Science 7, Art for 5th and 6th graders, and an art elective for 6th to 8th graders. A highlight from this year would be my students sharing prayer requests at the start of class. I am loving watching God answer student prayers and even they are noticing and remembering to thank and praise God for his goodness!