Zion Lutheran Christian School

Educational Excellence in a Christ-Centered Family

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The (K-8) School Office Hours:  Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:00pm

Early Learning Center Office Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30am- 3:30pm

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You are here: Home / Why Zion? / Our Teachers & Staff

Our Teachers & Staff

Jonathan Schultz
Principal

Email: administrator@zioncorvallis.com

Jon has been at Zion since 2007. He has served as a teacher, coach and administrator since 1982, working in Indiana, Missouri and Arizona before arriving at Zion. Jon graduated from Concordia University in Nebraska with a BS in Education and received his MS in Education from Indiana University. He enjoys getting to know the students and families at Zion each year and appreciates the high standards that make Zion an awesome school. Jon enjoys most sports, but his favorites are basketball and football. He also loves to spend time with his family and friends.

Noelle Arnold
Early Learning Center Director

Email: elcoffice@zioncorvallis.com

Noelle has been at Zion since 2021. She graduated from Southern Oregon University with a bachelors degree in Early Elementary Education.

 

Sabrina Fox
Adminsitrative Assistant

Charlotte Bohlmann
Admission Director

Email: char.bohlmann@zioncorvallis.com

Charlotte has been with Zion’s staff since 2019.  She graduated from Concordia University-Portland in 2005 with a BA in Christian Education. After many years working in higher education admissions Charlotte has brought her energy to Zion. She works primarily with families looking at enrolling in our Kindergarten-8th grade.  Charlotte schedules tours, organizes our Annual Fund campaign, and assists new & returning families during the enrollment process.  She is a mom of 2 Zion students, coaches Zion’s Dance/Cheer team, and loves to sing while working in the school office.  Feel free to reach out to her via email if you have any questions about enrollment at Zion or wish to schedule a tour.

Kelsey McElfresh
Pre-K Teacher

Email: kelsey.mcelfresh@zioncorvallis.com

Kelsey has been at Zion since 2009, working with infants and toddlers as well as in the after school program before joining Pre-K in 2014. She has a BS in Human Development and Family Science: Child Development, as well as a BS in History and a minor in Music Education from Oregon State University. Kelsey loves working at Zion because she gets to know her students and their families. Kelsey’s goal is for her Pre-K students’ first school experience to be positive and exciting! She enjoys hiking with her husband and their rescue dog, being a mom to two adorable children, playing board games, watching all kinds of sports, and singing as often as possible.

 

Caroline Moses
Kindergarten

Email: caroline.moses@zioncorvallis.com

Caroline started at Zion in July of 2024. She has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art, with a minor in Art History from Oregon State University. She formerly worked as an Educational Assistant in special education for the Corvallis School District for the last five years. She has enjoyed learning and teaching in Spanish working for Lincoln Elementary. She has two sons attending Zion, who attended the Early Learning Center and are now coming back for middle school. Her family is very happy to be part of the Zion community. She enjoys camping, fishing, gardening, art making, hiking, swimming and spending time with friends and family. She has been active in the Corvallis arts community and has contributed to several murals around town. She has two cats and two rabbits and has adopted some cute fish in her new classroom. She likes good coffee and chamomile tea.

 

Bridgette Payne
3rd grade

Email: bridgette.payne@zioncorvallis.com

Bridgette started at Zion in August of 2023.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Louisiana Baptist University.  She has taught 3rd/4th grade, substituted in the Corvallis School District, and homeschooled her oldest child K-4th grade. She has a senior in high school at Crescent Valley and has three children attending Zion. She enjoys being outside, walking, hiking, gardening, cooking, reading and hanging out with her family and friends. Coffee and chocolate are a few of her favorite things!

Nancy Schaefer
1st/2nd Grade

Email: nancy.schaefer@zioncorvallis.com

Nancy has been teaching at Zion since 2011. She graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Sociology and went on to Concordia University Irvine to earn her teaching credential and master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  Nancy has two children who graduated from Zion. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, attending baseball games and crafting. She loves teaching and being able to share God’s love with her students.

 

Miss Tori
1st/2nd Grade

Robert Walz
3rd and 4th Grade

Email: robert.walz@zioncorvallis.com

Robert has been teaching since 1992 and has been at Zion since 2002. He has a BS in Education and a MA in Education from Concordia University Nebraska. Robert loves the family atmosphere at the school and is excited to tell students about Jesus every day. Highlights from third and fourth grade at Zion are a class trip to Salem to study Oregon history, making egg protectors for the Egg Drop and Magic Scrap. Robert enjoys spending time with his extended family, going on walks, playing pinochle, and watching the Oregon State Beavers compete in sporting events.

 

Julie Castillo
5th and 6th Grade

Email: julie.castillo@zioncorvallis.com

Mrs. Julie Castillo is our teacher for grade 5/6 homeroom.  She teaches Language Arts, History/Geography, and is our Student Academic Support teacher.  She has a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Oregon State University and a Legacy K-12 Oregon Teaching Credential.
She has worked with and taught students from preschool age to older adults and has also managed grants and community education programs.  She has a special interest in experiential learning, service learning, cross-disciplinary curriculum and theatre arts.  Julie and her husband have one daughter who is a graduate of Zion. Julie created/taught electives at Zion and served as a substitute teacher.  In her spare time, she enjoys family time, sewing, reading about history, visiting new towns and museums, camping, and volunteering at her church.  Her family has two cats and welcomed two new bunnies this summer!  Her favorite thing about Zion is the warm Christian family atmosphere.  She looks forward to discovering the God-given gifts and talents of each student and being a part of the Zion School ministry.

Jonathan Schultz
7th & 8th Grade

Email: administrator@zioncorvallis.com

Jon has been at Zion since 2007. He has served as a teacher, coach and administrator since 1982, working in Indiana, Missouri and Arizona before arriving at Zion. Jon graduated from Concordia University in Nebraska with a BS in Education and received his MS in Education from Indiana University. He enjoys getting to know the students and families at Zion each year and appreciates the high standards that make Zion an awesome school. Jon enjoys most sports, but his favorites are basketball and football. He also loves to spend time with his family and friends.

Lisa Forkner
Middle School Science

Email: lisa.forkner@zioncorvallis.com

Lisa has been teaching at Zion since 2019. She graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Biochemistry and loves leading our middle schoolers in their exploration of our natural world. Lisa has three children who have graduated from Zion and one child currently attending. She is grateful for the amazing education and supportive environment that Zion has provided for her family. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling, and camping with her family. She is slightly obsessed with her pet snails.

Upcoming Events

May 9, 2025
  • Teacher appreciation week

May 12, 2025
  • School Board

    Time: 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

May 13, 2025
  • PTL meeting

    Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

May 15, 2025
  • Spring Science Fair&Concert

    Time: 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Make a Donation

We appreciate our families and our alumni. Every dollar you contribute strengthens our school and enhances our resources for teaching. Giving large or small is appreciated in the biggest way. Donating is simple using our online form.

Click here to learn more »

“They’ll be there for you… because they alwa “They’ll be there for you… because they always are!”
This week, we’re saying a big THANK YOU to our incredible teachers — the real-life heroes who deserve their own Central Perk couch and bottomless coffee mugs!

From explaining long division like Ross explains dinosaurs, to keeping classrooms running smoother than Monica’s kitchen, they do it all with heart, humor, and endless patience.

Their classrooms aren’t just places of learning — they’re places where Christ’s love is shared daily.
Could we BE any more blessed?

#zioncorvallis #zionfamily #zionteachersrule
#TeacherAppreciationWeek #ThankYouTeachers #TheyWereThereForYou #FriendsTheme #TheOneWithTheAmazingTeachers
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Zion Lutheran School
2800 NW Tyler Avenue
Corvallis, Oregon 97330

541-753-7503

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