Staff & Faculty
- Administration
- K-5
- Jr. High
- Enrichment
- PLP
- Preschool
- Infant Toddler
- Aides / Day Care
Joel Phillips
Superintendent, Senior Pastor
Matt Conway
Principal
Mr. Conway is a native Escondidan. He attended Escondido public and private schools all the way through 12th grade. He graduated from Biola University with his B.A. in History and earned his M.A. from Talbot School of Theology. Prior to becoming the Principal, he taught History and Bible at ECS. He has been married to his wonderful wife, Jenni, for 21 years. They have four children, Macie (19), Avenleigh (16), Lily (14) and Blaise (10), who keep them very busy.
Mr. Conway’s passion is leading students and teachers toward a greater understanding of how God’s character is both a comfort and strength in the life of the Christian. Mr. Conway’s pastimes include disc golf, muscle cars, history, current events, home renovations and hanging out with his family. He can easily be bribed when offered anything with chocolate and peanut butter.
Martina Nielsen
Preschool Director
Mrs. Martina has been at ECP for over 10 years as a teacher, assistant director and now director. Before moving over to the preschool she was part of the support staff at ECS for three years. She has been an active member of our campus church, Escondido Christian Church for 26 years. Martina has been married for 35 years and has two adult children. Martina loves to see children learning, growing and experiencing God in their daily activities. When not working, she enjoys cycling, the ocean and being outdoors.
Acts 20:24...nor do I count my life dear to myself, so I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Jody Leduc
Admissions Director
‘Mrs. Jody’ has been at ECS since 1988 when her husband’s job moved them from Ventura County to San Diego County. Her children attended and graduated from ECS and now her grandchildren are at ECS. She taught our 3yr old preschool classes until 1994 and then was asked to become the Preschool Director. In 2016, she retired from that position and moved over to the front office at ECS as the Admissions Director. She loves ECS and enjoys giving tours of our campus to new families. She refers to her position more as a ‘grandma’ of the school and pitches in wherever she can to help.
Psalm 37:3 “Trust in the Lord and do good…”
Ginna Carroll
Student Services Coordinator
Mrs. Carroll previously worked at ECS for 9 years and is returning after 7 years of retirement. Both of her daughters are alumni and her grandson currently attends ECP. She enjoys reading, camping, hosting parties and spending time with family and friends.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13
Linda Wycinsky
Business Manager
Mrs. Wycinsky has been at ECS since 1987. Her two daughters attended ECS and now, so do her three grandchildren. She has been married to her husband for over 40 years. She has always been thankful to be able to serve our school community. In her spare time she enjoys reading, quilting and spending time with her family.
Phyllis Nichols
Jr. Kindergarten Teacher
Judy Collins
Older 3's-Young 4's teacher
Kalimah Devers
The Youngers 3’s Teacher
Karissa Grissom
Infants, Assistant Director & Teacher
Des Garcia
Toddlers Teacher
Rachael Jiles
Sprouts Teacher
Rufina Ruiz
Infant Support Teacher's Aide
Britani Drayson
Older 2's Teacher
Erin Algie
Support Teacher
Natasha Montoya
Yellow Room Support Teacher
Yvette Sanchez
Pre-K Lead Teacher
Diana Murcko
Head Aide, Day Care Director
Heather Mason
Aide
Marissa Ingram
Aide
Julie Mitchell
Amber Mitchell
English, 6th Grade Science, Photography Elective
Amber started teaching 6th grade at ECS in 2004. She has a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies and an MA in Cross-Cultural Teaching. She has a CA state multiple subject K-8 credential and is working on her single-subject credential in English. Her hope for her students is that they will gain a better understanding of the earth God has created for us. She wants them to know that God loves them and cares for each one equally. She also wants them to discover the talents God has placed within each of them and learn how to use those talents for His glory.
Joe Varadi
Bible, Guitar, DIY Electives
Mr. Varadi grew up in the backwoods of Oregon and was 17 years old before he was first introduced to electricity. Prior to being the Jr. High Bible teacher, Mr. Varadi taught music and played trombone professionally for 10 years. After being trained in Bible and Theology by the local church and Multnomah University he became the Bible teacher at Escondido Christian School. Apart from sonship in Christ Mr. Varadi’s greatest joy is being married to his wife, who is also an educator, and his 2 kids. Mr. Varadi’s greatest desire for his students is stated in Colossians 1:9b-12, “that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light”.
Susie Shuster
PLP Director
Mrs. Shuster has been married for 39 years. Her son attended ECS form Kindergarten through 8th grade and is a graduate of UC Irvine. Mrs. Shuster has been with ECS for 20 and has been a part of the PLP since its inception. She has taught math grades 1-8, in PLP and through private tutoring for the past 17. Mrs. Shuster loves working with children and watching them gain success in math. She enjoys gardening, reading and camping.
Tonya Pinkerton
P.E & After School Sports
Tonya is in her third year at ECS as a PE teacher and after school sports coordinator. She graduated from Barclay College in Haviland, KS with a degree in Christian Ministries where she met her husband of 23 years. They have four wonderful kids all who have attended ECS at one time or another. During her college years, she played varsity volleyball and basketball. After college, she was hired as the Children's Ministry Director for pre-k through 5th grade at a church in Farmland, Indiana for three years. While in Indiana, she and her husband felt God's call to plant a church in Escondido. During that time, she had the opportunity to be the Director of Children's Ministries for another church here in Escondido for three years where she started a sports outreach program. Tonya is blessed to be at ECS where she can point kids to Jesus as well as promote health and physical fitness. She loves living in California where she can be near the ocean and mountains. Her favorite activities are baking, reading, watching movies, and spending time with family.
Denisse Gushwa
Spanish Teacher, Aide
Mrs. Gushwa was born and raised in Baja California, Mexico where she graduated from college and became a 2nd grade teacher before meeting her husband Nate and immigrating to the United States. Nate was the Spanish Pastor at Escondido Christian Church and Denisse partners with him in missions. The Gushwas have two young boys that attend ECS and ECP.
Jenni Conway
Art & Musical Theatre/Drama Teacher
Mrs. Conway attended Clearwater Christian College in Florida and graduated from a prestigious performing arts high school where she did intensive study in theater and art with an emphasis in set-design. She worked at Disney World as a performer and photographer. Jenni has traveled extensively, been a missionary and is fluent in Spanish. She has four fun-loving children who have all attended ECS and she is married to Matt Conway, who is our Principal. Her favorite Bible verse Matthew 6:33.
Kate Canady
School Counselor
Mrs. Canady came to us in 2018 from Indiana, where she was certified as a school counselor. She graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelors in Child Development and Family Studies and a Masters in School Counseling. She oversees our school wide assessments and facilitates referrals for academic assistance. Kate also works weekly with individual students who have been referred for one-on-one counseling services. Please email her to inquire about beginning counseling services with your child. She is married and has two sons who attend ECS. Mrs. Canady enjoys spending time with family, baking and exploring the great outdoors.
Justine Chavez
Math, Science, American Sign Language Elective
Justine was born in Maine and raised in Oregon and California. She earned her bachelor’s degree at California State University, Northridge in 2000 and in the same year starting her teaching career by accepting a junior high position. In addition, Justine has served as a department supervisor in the elementary level. She currently holds an ACSI teaching certification. She has been married to her husband Carlos for over nineteen years and they have three fantastic children. They delight in spending time together and exploring the beaches and museums of San Diego. She has a huge passion for teaching and she finds joy in encouraging her students to have the same. She also teaches American Sign Language and enjoys learning about the Deaf Culture. One of her favorite Bible verses is John 3:30.
Peter McKinlay
History, Social Studies, Geography, PE Coach
Peter is a loving husband and father of three girls all who have attended or are currently attending ECS. Peter attended ECS himself, graduating in 1988. After finishing at San Pasqual High School, he graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Business Administration. Peter also played tennis for the University of Oregon for a brief stint. He worked as a business manager for 7 years prior to a career as a regional field sales manager for another 5 years. Peter is very excited to help jr. high students grow in Christ and become strong young minds.
Sara Nieuwenhuis
Math
Mrs. Nieuwenhuis was born and raised in a small town in Ohio, into a “running family.” Mrs. Nieuwenhuis loved running so much, she continued competing all the way through college. She earned her bachelor’s degree and Teaching Credential from Calvin College in Michigan in 1999. She and her husband met in college, and God has blessed them with 20 amazing years of marriage together so far. After moving to California in 2004, Mrs. Nieuwenhuis taught at Calvin Christian School in Escondido, worked as a Construction Project Accountant, stayed home to care for her young children, then returned to the professional world by tutoring and teaching math, history, and Spanish at The Classical Academies High School in 2015. She is thrilled to now be teaching math at ECS, where her children also attend. It is her heart’s desire to help students to know and understand that the God of all creation loves them uniquely and calls them by name. And she prays that God will help her inspire students to use the incredible minds God has given them to honor their Savior.
Diane Pombert
Kindergarten
Mrs. Pombert graduated from Illinois State University with a BS in Education and has a Kindergarten-9th Grade teaching credential. She has been teaching at ECS school for over 30 years! She has always taught Kindergarten in the same classroom. Her daughter, Tricia, attended ECS from Kindergarten through eighth grade, and is now our other kindergarten teacher as well as the summer program director. Diane loves reading, giraffes, the Padres and Disneyland. Mostly she loves teaching children about Jesus.
Tricia Pombert
Kindergarten
Ms. Tricia attended ECS as a student from kindergarten through 8th grade and has been on staff since 1998 in various capacities. Tricia has now come full circle and is teaching kindergarten. Tricia has her BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from Western Governors University. She enjoys reading, movies, the Padres, Disneyland and spending time with family and friends.
Heidi Stock
1st Grade
Mrs. Stock has been at ECS since 2007. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Cal State San Marcos, CA Multiple Subject K-8 State Credential, CLAD certified, and a Masters in Education from WGU. She has been married to her wonderful husband, Jeremiah, since 2012 and has three precious children. She enjoys cooking, doing crafts, and swimming. Heidi has always wanted to teach our lower elementary students ever since she began at ECS as a Summer in the Son staffer at the age of 17. Her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 5:16.
Celeste Carney
1st Grade
Mrs. Carney has taught at ECS for 17 years. She holds a lifetime California Teaching Credential and graduated from the University of San Diego. She has a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology with a Reading Specialist Credential. She took 20 years off in the middle of her teaching career to raise three daughters. Celeste loves teaching because she knows that all she invests into each day is invested in God’s greatest treasure, His children!
Ruth Valdez
2nd Grade
Mrs. Valdez attended CSUSM where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing Studies. She also received her teaching credential from CSUSM, as well as a Bilingual and English Learner’s authorization. She has been connected with the ECS family since 2013 when she began as a teacher’s aide and daycare staff. Aside from academic instruction, she has also ministered to children and high school students through her church. She is thrilled that ECS is a place where she can do both. God has blessed her with her husband Eduardo and two children, Jaretzy and Josman. Her past times are singing, reading, writing, and currently raising chickens, a dog, and a piggy!
Marissa Carney
2nd Grade
mcarney@ecslions.org
Ms. C earned her Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies at LIFE Pacific College and her teaching credential through California State University San Marcos. She taught as the Junior High Bible teacher at ECS for 5 years and is excited to return as the 2nd Grade teacher this year!
Gina Guerrieri
3rd Grade
Gina’s alma maters are SDSU and CSUSM. She started teaching in ECS’s third grade in 1991. Before that, she worked for Migrant Education as the coordinating teacher. Her favorite pastimes, when she is not teaching are swimming, shopping, and loving on her granddaughters. Gina feels blessed to be able to share Jesus with her class. Her husband, John, is a retired, beloved public school counselor, who leads the Learning to Love program at Escondido Christian Church and now has an office on campus for our families to access for counseling.
Cindey Fikse
3rd Grade
Cindey Fikse has taught a total of 34 years. Twenty-five of those years were in the 3rd grade at Light and Life Christian School. She loves sharing her faith in Jesus with her students, and her favorite subject is mathematics. Her hobbies include singing in the choir, walking two miles every day, swimming laps in the pool, reading Christian fiction, and playing (or "hanging out") with her 17 grandchildren!! Cindey has a B.A. in mathematics, an M.A. in Education, a California state elementary credential, and a Lifetime ACSI credential. She wholeheartedly and enthusiastically enjoys being in the classroom with her students.
Tamara Beatty
4th Grade
Tamara Beatty
https://tbeatty0.wixsite.com/msbeatty4thgrade
Ms. Beatty loves teaching 4th grade at ECS. She is grateful that she has been at ECS since 1994. She has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education from Taylor University in Indiana. She has been blessed with two wonderful children and a terrific son-in-law. Both her son and daughter attended ECS, she even had her son in her 4th grade class! Ms. Beatty loves being a grandmother to her three beautiful granddaughters and travels to Philadelphia as much as possible to see them. She enjoys singing, shopping, dining out, reading and playing golf. Her favorite Bible verse is Phillippians 4:4-9.
Lauren Henderson
4th Grade
Mrs. Henderson attended Biola University for a degree in social work, then National University for an elementary education credential. The last 12 years she’s lead ministries at local churches alongside her husband, Eric. All the while, she loved the adventure and creativity of homeschooling their 9 and 11 year old. She teaches with a passion for encouraging and challenging students to become well-rounded disciples.
Kayla George
5th Grade
Kayla George
Kayla began teaching at ECS in 2006. She graduated from Cal State San Marcos University. In her spare time, she enjoys working as the choreographer for our school drama department. Her two children are students here at ECS and Kayla is an ECS alumni also. Kayla has a passion for teaching and encouraging her students to be the unique men and women God designed them to be. She creates her classroom environment through the idea that education should be individualized, structured, and fun.
Bethany Otto
5th Grade
Mrs. Otto has been teaching in various forms since 1991. She has her B.A. in education from Wheaton College and her M.A in education from SDSU, as well as a California teaching credential. She has taught first grade, jr. high language arts, been a reading specialist and a substitute teacher, with a twelve year break as a stay-home mom to her four kids who are now mostly grown up. She spends most of her time outside of school attending her high school childrens’ sporting events, practicing the violin, reading, and thrifting/antiquing. She has been married for 27 years and attends Journey Church in Escondido where she participates in the music ministry.
Chris Grissom
School Secretary
Mrs. Grissom has been at ECS since 1993. She has enjoyed watching her 3 kids thrive and graduate ECS along with lots of nieces and nephews. Now she gets to watch her 2 youngest granddaughters do the same. She loves working in the office and interacting with staff, students and parents.
Audra Preston
Librarian, PLP English Teacher
Mrs. Preston has been working at ECS since 2015. She is a PLP English teacher and our school librarian. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science from National University. She has been working with children of all ages for much of her adult life and she delights in helping children learn to love reading. Mrs. Preston has been married for 24 years and is the proud mother of two sons, one of which is a graduate of ECS. In her spare time, she enjoys camping and hiking, the beach, gardening, and spending time with friends and family.
Erin Peet
PLP Teacher
Mrs. Peet attended California State University, San Marcos and has a Bachelor's Degree in Literature and Writing Studies. She received her teaching credential from CSUSM. Mrs. Peet attended Escondido Christian School through eighth grade and loves that her two children attend ECS as well! She has been married to her highschool sweetheart Mr. Peet for 17 years. Mrs. Peet loves teaching phonics and reading! She also loves walking her two dogs, spending time with friends and family, and camping.
Danielle Gibbs
PLP Teacher
Jose Sanchez
Facilities
Mr. Sanchez is new to ECS. He previously worked at the Rancho Bernardo Inn in their maintenance department. He is excited to be a part of ECS. When not fixing things, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, especially his four-month-old son and watching his 2 daughters play softball.
Lauren Crane
Aide
Abigail Salazar
Martha Grangetto
Brian Richardson
Roxanna Lopez
Aide
Sidney Pinkerton
Sandra Suitor
Aide