Meet the Staff
Our Certified Teachers
What truly sets your student’s learning experience apart is our exceptional teachers. Our Michigan-certified teachers and support staff are talented, passionate and patient. They are the backbone of our operation and care deeply about helping each and every child succeed.
We follow a teacher-involved structure, meaning our educators take the lead in their teaching and make decisions about our school. Check out their profiles below!
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Precademy | Classic Elementary | Classic Middle School | Las Huellas | Specials & Electives | Staff | IES Administration
Precademy
Jamie Genzink
Precademy Director & Lead Teacher for Spanish Emphasis GSRP Class
Meet Ms. Jamie! She is the Director of Precademy and also teaches the Spanish Emphasis GSRP Pre-K class. She has a passion for early childhood education, and has been working in the field for over 15 years. Ms. Jamie enjoys cheering on her kids in their extracurricular activities, and loves traveling and boating with her family.
Email: jgenzink@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite traveling adventures are Belize, Turks and Caicos, St. Martin, and boating to Mackinac Island.
Gracyn Schut
Lead Teacher for Nature Emphasis GSRP Class
Meet Ms. Gracyn! She is the GSRP teacher for our nature emphasis Pre-K class. She has a passion for early childhood education and has been in the early education field since 2023. Ms. Gracyn enjoys reading a good book, being outside with her dog, and getting to enjoy time with her husband, family, and friends.
Email: gschut@innocademy.org
Michelle Ling
Precademy Assistant
Ms. Michelle has been working at Innocademy since 2022. She started her journey in daycare and moved to Precademy, obtained her CDA and loves where she is at! Her youngest daughter has attended Innocademy since 2nd grade. They love it here!
Email: mling@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has three kids and three granddaughters (two of them are twins!) Ms. Michelle has enjoyed having her oldest grand in Precademy and loves that she is attending our sister school, Innocademy Allegan!
Maria Torres
Precademy Assistant
Maestra Maria has been working with Inno since January 2020. She is from Colombia, South America. She has two kids and three grandkids. She has lived in Michigan since December 2019.
Email: mtorres@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She likes to spend time with her kids and grandkids. She loves to travel.
Stacey Van Valkenburg
Precademy Assistant
Ms. Stacy lives in Zeeland on a small hobby farm where she loves to take care of her animals and garden. She likes to read, cook/bake and spend time with her family.
Email: svanvalkenburg@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She is learning to speak Spanish.
Classic Elementary
Kayleigh Alger
Kindergarten Teacher
Meet Ms. Kayleigh, the kindergarten teacher here! She absolutely loves engaging with our youngest learners and creating lasting memories with them. She thinks watching them grow and discover new things is such a rewarding experience. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling and spending quality time with her family and friends. It’s always a joy to be part of such a special journey in these kids’ lives!
Email: kalger@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves Diet Coke.
Molli McHugh
1st Grade Teacher
Ms. Molli is thrilled to be teaching 1st grade! She loves helping her students learn and grow in a fun, caring classroom environment. When she’s not in the classroom, you can find her relaxing at the beach, spending time with friends, or enjoying a big scoop of her favorite ice cream. Ms. Molli is passionate about helping young learners grow and making each school day full of learning, laughter, and new adventures!
Email: mmchugh@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite vacation was snorkeling in Mexico.
Kaleigh Cope
2nd Grade Teacher
Meet Ms. Kaleigh! We are thrilled to have her teaching 2nd grade this year. More info coming soon!
Email: kcope@innocademy.org
Fun Fact:
Emma Kern
3rd Grade Teacher
Ms. Emma graduated from GVSU and joined Innocademy in 2026 and is so excited to be teaching here! Ms. Emma is passionate about teaching students all about the world around them; she loves to see the wonder and joy on a kid’s face when they learn something new. Outside of school, Ms. Emma loves to hike, run, go to the beach, and do anything outside. Ms. Emma’s goal is to make all students feel cared for, safe, and excited about the world around them!
Email:ekern@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: My favorite place I’ve ever visited is Glacier National Park. In college, I road-tripped there with some of my friends; it was almost a 40-hour drive!
Megan Anders
4th Grade Teacher
Meet Ms. Megan! She had the privilege of joining Innocademy in 2022, but has been teaching for around 10 years in all. She really enjoys this job because she knows it is a place where she can impact many. It brings her great joy to know that she has the opportunity to build connections with her students, while also helping them learn foundational skills that will assist them later in life.
Email: manders@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has a gray, satin rabbit named Flynn.
Ky Lacy
5th Grade Teacher
Meet Mr. Ky! He is the 5th grade teacher at Innocademy Zeeland and is a GVSU graduate. Mr. Ky has been at Innocademy since 2022 and he learns more and more every year. He lives in Zeeland with his family. He enjoys exploring used bookstores, hiking the many parks around West Michigan, and spending time with his cat!
Email: klacy@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: He takes nature photos as a hobby, and has pictures from almost every park in our county!
Carlie Rozema
Elementary Special Education Teacher
Deissy Silvas
Special Education Paraprofessional
Since joining the Innocademy family in 2024, Mrs. Deissy loved every minute of connecting with our amazing school community! This year, she’s thrilled to step into a new position as a special education paraprofessional to help our students shine bright and reach their goals! She truly believes that big achievements go hand-in-hand with having fun! Outside of the classroom, she loves making balloon projects, reading and coloring!
Email: dsanchez@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She enjoys going to concerts and traveling with her husband and 3 children. She also loves coloring and currently has over 300 markers!
Hollie Manifold
Special Education Paraprofessional
Maddi Coulson
Academic Interventionist
Jen Kahwa
Behavior Interventionist
Ms. Jen loves supporting students at Innocademy and has been part of this community for several years. She loves traveling and spending time outside with her husband and three boys.
Email: jkahwa@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite place she’s traveled to is Cape Town.
Joelle Vruggink
Behavioral Paraprofessional
Meet Ms. Joelle! She has been part of Innocademy since 2019. She is married with four boys. She loves working alongside the kids, watching them grow and learn every day.
Email: jvruggink@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has a salon in her home and does hair part-time.
Anne Gardner
Paraprofessional
Meet Ms. Gardner! She loves to be outdoors gardening, hiking and playing tennis. She loves to cook and create art to relax. Anne and her husband have two dogs who keep them quite busy since their three kids are out on their own starting their new lives.
Email: agardner@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has fun with kids because they remind her that she has a part of her who is still a kid!
Max Luciano
Paraprofessional
Mr. Max is a passionate educator who enjoys teaching all things in life. Whether it is video games, sports, academics or life lessons; Mr. Max enjoys helping everyone succeed at whatever they strive to do. Mr. Max also loves getting to know people, and takes a genuine interest in their hobbies. In his free time Mr. Max enjoys reading, learning, playing video games and anime.
Email: mluciano@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: In Final Fantasy XIV, Mr. Max is ranked within the top 10 North American players and within the top 300 globally.
Darlene Salas
Paraprofessional
Ms. Darlene is passionate about working with kids and helping them grow. She has enjoyed getting to know many of the kids at Innocademy since 2024. During Ms. Darlene’s free time, she loves to read books and travel to new places with her family.
Email: dsalas@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite food is sushi.
Classic Middle School
Jacob Alger
Middle School Science Teacher
Meet Mr. Jacob! He is from from Boyne City, MI and loves to spend time with his dog and cat while rooting for local sports teams. He graduated from Grand Valley State University with an education degree for both physics and mathematics.
Email: jalger@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: His favorite movie is The Princess Bride.
Jessie Webb
Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Ms. Jessie joined the Innocademy family in 2023, and has loved being a part of the middle school team. She is a big fan of immersive learning, and engaging with the community as much as possible. When she is not teaching she is enjoying hiking and traveling with her family, or a good day at the beach under the sun.
Email: jwebb@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has 7 siblings and more than 20 nieces and nephews.
Maggie Hartman
Middle School Social Studies Teacher
She is so excited to be teaching Social Studies at Innocademy! She is a Hope College graduate and is originally from the Zeeland area. When she’s not at school, you can find her in the garden or reading a good book.
Email: mhartman@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite pop is a ginger ale that isn’t sold in Michigan, so she has to drive to a different state to get it every year!
Andréa Vegter
Middle School Math Teacher
Ms. Andréa is originally from Mecosta, MI and graduated from Northern Michigan University with an education degree in mathematics. She has been teaching math since 2015 in Kansas, but is happy to be closer to family once again. She love spending time with her family and her cats. When she is not teaching, she loves to read a good book or do something creative.
Email: avegter@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She love dinosaurs! Her favorite movie is Jurassic Park.
Erin Beyer
Middle School Special Education Teacher
While Ms. Erin has been around Innocademy for many years, we are thrilled to have her join our middle school team, permanently!
Email: ebeyer@innocademy.org
Las Huellas
Natalia Pánuco
Las huellas Kindergarten Teacher
Meet Maestra Natalia! She is from Mexico and has four grandchildren, all boys. She has been working at Innocademy since 2012.
Email: npanuco@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She doesn’t like to swim in the ocean (because of the sticky feeling)!
Marisol Arvizu
Las huellas 1st Grade Teacher
Maestra Marisol comes from the warm state of Texas. She has dreamed of becoming a teacher since she was a little girl wishing to help students whose first language is not English. She believes any child can learn and knows from the bottom of her heart that they can given all of the right tools.
Email: marvizu@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She LOVES frogs (not the real ones), strawberries and sunflowers.
Rachel Potter
Las huellas 2nd Grade Teacher
Meet Maestra Rachel, the gardening, bike-riding, Broadway-musical-loving teacher who’s been a part of the Innocademy family since 2015! When she’s not in the classroom, you’ll find Ms. Rachel either soaking up the sun at the beach, tending to her garden, or cruising around on her bike. She’s a Broadway show tunes enthusiast and loves to travel to new places. But when she’s home, she enjoys cozying up with her husband, Matt, her playful pup Luna, and a good board game. Whether it’s nurturing her students, her plants, or her beachside adventures, Ms. Rachel is all about growth, exploration, and fun!
Email: rpotter@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Although Maestra Rachel isn’t typically a thrill seeker, she has been zip-lining in the mountains of Costa Rica… TWICE!
Elisabeth Van Wolde
Las huellas 3rd Grade Teacher
Maestra Elisabeth has been teaching at Innocademy since 2022 in the Spanish immersion program and is loving it! She was a part of immersion as a child and was excited to get the opportunity to teach students the way that she was taught. She hopes to inspire her students to use their Spanish frequently to foster relationships and build empathy.
Email: evanwolde@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Maestra Elisabeth loves her dog Kuzco, baking, and taking naps.
Morgan Cummings
Las huellas 4th Grade Teacher
Maestra Morgan has been a member of the Innocademy Las Huellas team since 2019. If you can’t find her, look a little closer– at a whopping 5’1″, she often blends in with her fourth grade students! Lovingly dubbed “A Library of Useless Knowledge” by former and current students, Ms. Morgan is always ready with a random fact you may or may not have asked for. When she’s not in the classroom, you can probably find her belting out Taylor Swift’s full discography like it’s a competitive sport.
Email: mcummings@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: One of Maestra Morgan’s life ambitions is to become a polyglot! Aside from Spanish and English (which she already speaks), she would like to learn Italian, German, and Norwegian.
Liliana Jogerst
Las huellas Middle School Teacher
Meet Maestra Liliana! She was born in Mexico City, graduated as a journalist, and worked at the National Polytechnic Institute. In 2015, she decided to live in the United States and started working at Innocademy, her first and only job here. She loves traveling and learning about new cultures. She loves sharing and honoring the Mexican culture where she comes from.
Email: ljogerst@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She likes to dance, sing and take pictures (mainly of things).
Alondra Orta
Las huellas Paraprofessional
Ms. Alondra is a Leukemia survivor since 2024. When she’s not chasing her daughter and dog around, she is learning new hobbies or watching medical drama shows. She loves to cook and bake for her family.
Email: aorta@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She runs one mile every day before work.
Debbie Duran
Las huellas Paraprofessional
Meet Ms. Debbie! She is excited to be serving as one of our Special Education Paraprofessionals this year.
Email: dduran@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Ms. Debbie loves gardening, doing crafts, thrifting, and most of all, spending time with family.
Jailin Morales
Las huellas Paraprofessional
Meet Mrs. Jailin! She has had the privilege to work at Inno as a paraprofessional since 2025 with many amazing kiddos & teachers! She loves to spend time with her husband at different local coffee & record shops! And cuddling with her 4 dogs!
Email: jmorales@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She’s worked with little humans for 11 years and never wanted to do anything different.
Specials & Electives
Kim Looman
TK-5th Spanish
Since 2023, Ms. Kim has loved teaching TK-5 Spanish language and culture. She has been teaching in West Michigan since 1995. She has 3 kids, her son and daughter in law live in Grand Rapids. Her youngest son still lives at home and attends Hope.
Email: klooman@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She grew up in a resort town in northwest Iowa – Okoboji.
Hillary Schmidt
TK-8th Grade Music Teacher
Ms. Hillary has been sharing her love of music with students since 2008. She loves getting to see students grow in their musical abilities throughout the grade levels. When Ms. Hillary isn’t teaching, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Email: hschmidt@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She is a classically trained singer.
Natalia Belsan
TK-8th Grade Health & Physical Education
Meet Ms. Natalia, our Physical Education and Health teacher! As a first-year teacher and a Hope College graduate, she is excited to help students discover the joy of movement and healthy living. Her goal is for every student to leave her class with a love for movement and the confidence to stay active in ways that fit their interests for years to come. When Ms. Natalia’s not at school, she enjoys golfing with her husband or trying out new recipes!
Email: nbelsan@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She always has a DIY project in the works!
Andrea Basulto
6th -8th Spanish and Las huellas Academic Interventionist
Meet Andrea! She is excited to be teaching 6th–8th grade Spanish and serving as the Educational Interventionist at Innocademy this year. She graduated from Grand Valley State University in December of this year. One of her favorite experiences during college was studying abroad in Spain for a semester. Outside of school, she enjoys spending time with my roommates at their apartment in Grand Rapids, visiting her family in Ann Arbor, playing pickleball and golf in the summer, skiing in the winter, and traveling. She is looking forward to a great year!
Email: abasulto@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She studied French in college.
Emily VanDam
TK -8th Art Teacher
Meet Ms. Emily! Ms. Emily has been teaching Art at Innocademy since 2017. When she isn’t teaching art, she loves to spend time with her 2 daughters, husband and dog, and going to the beach.
Email: evandam@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has never had a cavity!
Chad Zuber
TK - 8th Connections Teacher
Mr. Chad has been teaching since 2000 at nearly every level from Kindergarten to Pre-college. He feels strongly about connecting kids to the community and world around them. Our classes provide opportunities for students to see how the things they learn in class are reflected in their community.
Email: czuber@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: His dream vacation would be to visit the giant redwood trees.
IES Administration
Dave Zimmer
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Mr. Dave has been with IES since 2010 and brings over 40 years of experience supporting area schools in finance, support services, and various administrative roles. He values the opportunity to serve students, families, and the broader community through his work. Outside the office, Mr. Dave enjoys quality time with his grandchildren and relaxing in sunny Florida.
Email: dave.zimmer@iesschools.org
Jamison Andrus
Human Resources
Mr. Jamison manages all Human Resources responsibilities at Innovative Education Services (IES), overseeing HR operations across four schools. Committed to navigating school compliance, he ensures HR practices remain fair, ethical, and efficient. He is passionate about talent acquisition and retention, working to attract and retain top educators and staff to support our schools’ success.
Email: jamison.andrus@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: He considers Tuesday to be the most productive day of the week.
Kate Mathe
Pupil Accountant
Ms. Kate has been a Pupil Accountant since 2016 and is excited to be part of IES, serving Innocademy Allegan, iCademy Global, and Innocademy Zeeland. She loves spending time outdoors—whether it’s hiking, kayaking, camping, or simply soaking up the sun with family and friends. She’s also a proud mother of two and a pet parent to two dogs and a cat.
Email: kathryn.mathe@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She once met Justin Long!
Austin Shumaker
Facilities Coordinator
Being part of IES is such a rewarding experience! Mr. Austin’s role is all about making sure the school is running smoothly and always looks its best for everyone who comes through our doors. With 10+ years of construction know-how under his belt, he gets to dive into exciting projects and help bring new ideas to life. The best part? Being part of a team that truly values making a positive impact!
Email: austin.shumaker@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: His favorite color is orange and he is a proud dog dad to his labradoodle, Harley, who is 12 years old.
Melissa Meyer
Technology & Testing Coordinator
Ms. Melissa has loved working with students, staff and families since she started with us in 2015. She has bounced around assisting in all areas of our buildings and has focused solely on technology and testing since 2021.
Email: melissa.meyer@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite way to recharge is with a good book, great food and her snuggly cats.
Lisa Runyon
School Psychologist
Ms. Lisa has been practicing as a school psychologist since 2006. She really loves working for Precademy, Innocademy, Innocademy Allegan, and iCademy. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two kids, and their two dogs.
Email: lrunyon@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She loves going for early morning runs with her German Shepard, Roxy!
Robyn Kepplinger
Special Education Coordinator
Meet Ms. Robyn! She has taught special education since 2019, with grades spanning Kindergarten to 8th grade. She’s thrilled to step into her new role as our IES Special Education Coordinator. When she’s not at work, you can catch her spending time outdoors! She loves to ski in the winter, kayak in the summer and hike year-round!
Email: rkepplinger@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: Bees scare her a bit, but she dreams of having an apiary one day!
Raquel Hulst
Front Desk Receptionist
Ms. Raquel enjoys being one of the first smiling faces you see as you enter Homestead Campus any Monday, Wednesday or Friday! She’s always eager to offer a willing hand to students, staff and families.
Email: rhulst@iesschools.org
Jane Lanser
Front Desk Receptionist
Meet Ms. Jane! You will find her at the front desk on most Tuesdays and Thursdays. Ms. Jane has enjoyed lending her time and talents to our IES schools for many years and loves watching our schools continue to grow! She loves being at the front desk supporting all of our students, staff and families.
Email: jlanser@iesschools.org
Jozlyn Mathe
Custodian
Jozlyn began working here as a custodian at the end of 2024. She is responsible for maintaining a clean, safe and organized environment for students and staff. She takes pride in ensuring that every space is well cared for and consistently maintained to high standards. In addition to keeping the building clean, Jozlyn follows health and safety procedures that support the well-being of the children in our care. Outside of work, she enjoys thrifting, reading, making crafts, and spending time with family, friends and her pets.
Email: jmathe@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves to surf!
Oscar Rodriguez
Custodian
Oscar started working for IES in 2021. He is a huge fan of Barcelona and Manchester United. He also loves to travel around the world.
Email: orodriguez@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: He met Christian Pulisic in Chicago!
Jessenia Olmeda
School Lead
Meet Ms. Jessenia! She has been teaching since 2010 and has taught high school Spanish and ELA, middle school Spanish and ELA, and Spanish Immersion third through eighth grade. She has two children, Di and JC, who are 15 years apart. She has been at Inno as a parent since 2012 and has been at Inno as a staff member since 2014. She enjoys reading, dancing, and talking with friends and family. She also likes to cook in her free time.
Email: jolmeda@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She didn’t speak English until she was 12 years old.
Leisa Lobbezoo
Enrollment, Marketing & Communications
Ms. Leisa has been lucky enough to have been meeting our new students and families since 2008! She loves helping connect them with the IES school that’s the best fit for them. When she’s not chatting with families, Ms. Leisa loves trying new recipes and spending time with family and friends.
Email: leisa.lobbezoo@icademyglobal.org
Fun Fact: Ms. Leisa spent the first two years of her college education as an Aviation major at Western Michigan University where she intended to be a pilot.
Kristin Frederick
McKinney Vento Coordinator and Social Worker
Meet Ms. Kristin! She supports our students as our School Social Worker. She also serves as Innocademy Zeeland’s McKinney Vento Coordinator.
Email: kfrederick@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has gone scuba diving with sharks!
Lauren Green
School Social Worker
Ms. Lauren first began working as a school social worker in 2010. She has worked with all grade levels and is excited to work with both Innocademy and iCademy students. She loves working in the school setting, as school is such a large part of childhood. She hopes to help students make their schooling as successful and enjoyable as possible!
Email: lgreen@igschool.org
Fun Fact: She is always on the hunt for the latest and greatest gluten free food items. Her world was changed for the better when gluten free Cheez-Its finally came out!
Marissa Lanning
Speech Language Pathologist
Ms. Marissa works closely with our students to develop essential communication skills like articulation, fluency, and social language. I want every child to feel confident finding their voice and connecting with others.
Email: mlanning@innocademy.org
Fun Fact:
Jillian Falzone
Speech-Language Pathologist
Ms. Jillian is excited to join IES as a Speech-Language Pathologist serving students at Innocademy Zeeland and iCademy Global. She earned my Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Grand Valley State University, and is passionate about helping students develop the communication skills they need to succeed academically, socially, and beyond. She looks forward to building meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff while supporting each student’s growth throughout the school year. When not at school, Ms. Jillian enjoys staying active, being outdoors, and spending time with her family, friends, and her golden retriever-husky mix.
Email: jfalzone@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She is a triplet!
Abby DeVries
Occupational Therapist
Ms. Abby loves working as an occupational therapist to support students in their ability to learn. She especially loves finding opportunities to think outside of the box in fun and creative ways to promote student success. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, biking, and traveling.
Email: adevries@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She’s been sky diving twice!
Sarah McKay
Food Service Coordinator
Ms. Sarah enjoyed serving students and staff at Homestead Campus for several years.
Email: hot.lunch@iesschools.org
Ruth Valdez
Food Service Assistant
Meet Ms. Ruth! She loves supporting our staff and students in our food services department.
Email: hot.lunch@iesschools.org
Claudia Rieder
Just Right Library Coordinator
Meet Ms. Claudia! She has enjoyed building and curating our Innocademy classic, Las Huellas and Middle School libraries since we first moved into the building in 2012! She loves helping students find a book that they love at their just right reading level!
Staff Directory
View our Family Resource Guide for a printable directory of school teachers and staff.
