Zion Lutheran Christian School

Educational Excellence in a Christ-Centered Family

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You are here: Home / About Us / Our Teachers & Staff

Our Teachers & Staff

Jonathan Schultz

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.

Jacque Ruth, Early Learning Center Director at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

Jacque Ruth
Early Learning Center Director

Email: handinhandelc@gmail.com

Jacque has been at Zion since 2016. She graduated from Portland State University with a double major in Human Resources Management and Business Management. Jacque has a passion to work with children and has been a substitute teacher at the ELC. She enjoys running a company with her husband and traveling. She is also involved in the India Evangelic Mission and has traveled to India to spend time with Bible college students and abandoned children at their children’s home.

Kelsey McElfresh, Pre-K Teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

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, playing board games, watching all kinds of sports, and singing as often as possible.

Deborah Kontra, Kindergarten teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

Deborah Kontra
Kindergarten

Email: deborah.kontra@zioncorvallis.com

Deborah has been at Zion since 2017. She has more than 20 years of experience working with children. She holds a Masters of Public Health from Loma Linda University. Deborah likes working with our fun and inquisitive kindergartners and getting to know all of Zion’s families. Her goal is for students to enjoy learning, become confident readers and to get to know Jesus as both their friend and their Savior. Deborah enjoys water activities, swimming, traveling and watching her sons’ sporting events.

Nancy Schaefer
1st and 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.

Robert Walz, 3rd and 4th Grade Teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

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.

Jonathan Schultz

Jonathan Schultz
5th and 6th 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.

Adam Reed, 7th and 8th Grade Teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

Adam Reed
7th and 8th Grade

Email: adam.reed@zioncorvallis.com

Adam has been teaching since 1995 and began his ministry at Zion in 1996. He has a BA in History and a BS in Political Science from Arizona State. He also holds a teaching certificate from Concordia University Portland. His teaching emphasis in the middle school is history and physical education. He is also the drama coach. Adam likes being at Zion because he likes to help serve others. He enjoys learning new things.

Kelly Peterson, Middle School Math Teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

Kelly Peterson
Middle School Math

Email: kelly.peterson@zioncorvallis.com

Kelly has been teaching at Zion since 2015. She graduated from Concordia University Nebraska with a BS in Secondary Education and Mathematics. She previously taught full time in Houston, Texas. Kelly loves math and shares her excitement about math with her students. Her hobbies include cooking, playing family games, and reading.

Robin Rybarczyk, Middle School Science Teacher at Zion Lutheran Christian School in Corvallis, Oregon.

Robin Rybarczyk
Middle School Science

Email: robin.rybarczyk@zioncorvallis.com

Robin has been teaching in Corvallis for almost 20 years and joined the staff at Zion in 2015. She has taught at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in both private and public schools. Before that, she was a Peace Corps volunteer for 4 years. She has a BS in Biology and Chemistry from UCSC and a MS in Information Technology from Western Oregon University. She enjoys teaching and being part of a Christ-centered community. Her hobbies are reading, walking, playing pickle ball, swimming and traveling.

Shane Denning
PE teacher

Coach Shane is the PE teacher for K-4th grade. He comes every Tuesday and Thursday to teach our students. He has engaging activities to get students moving and having fun. Coach Shane has been here for four years and we are grateful to have him!

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Nothing from January 24, 2021 to January 31, 2021.

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Zion Lutheran School
2800 NW Tyler Avenue
Corvallis, Oregon 97330

541-753-7503

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