Staff

I’m so thankful to be part of the Westside Christian community as the 1st/2nd grade blend teacher. With over a decade of experience in education—including time teaching both elementary and middle school and serving as an instructional coach—I’ve found my greatest joy in helping students grow in both their academic abilities and their walk with Jesus.

I love creating a classroom where students feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. My passion is to help each child discover who they are in Christ and to guide them in reaching their full potential—spiritually, academically, and behaviorally.

Outside of school, I treasure time with my husband, Dan, and our two children, Hadley and Leo. Being a wife and mom is such a gift and helps shape my heart as a teacher as well.

One of the verses that guides me both in the classroom and at home is:
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6. It’s an honor to partner with families in helping raise children who love and follow Jesus.

Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift to God.        Author: Julia Cameron

Greetings! I am excited to be WCS’s new Art instructor! I am looking forward to involving your students in many and varied creative art experiences that will grow and enhance their art skills and uniquely creative self-expression/our God-given gift of creativity.

My professional background includes: a double major in Elementary Education and K-12th Art Education, experience teaching K-2 Classroom in a rural school, K-8th Classroom in a Hutterite school, followed by instructing Elementary Art in several school districts, parochial (Mitchell Catholic then), Mitchell Christian, and public districts in South Dakota. I retired in 2021.

On a personal note: I'm originally from Illinois.  I have two sons, both living with their families in the Sioux Falls area. Between them, I have a total of 6 grandchildren! Each of my sons attended Christian school during some of their education. I enjoy spending time with my grandchildren, designing and creating art/crafts, free-lance writing and reading.

I am grateful for being called to and blessed with the privilege of teaching your young artists!

Hello! My name is Danielle Goo. I am excited to be teaching 3rd and 4th grade this coming year! I graduated from Dordt University with a B.A. in Elementary Education. I have had a wide variety of teaching experience from preschool up to fourth grade.  I have been blessed to work primarily in Christian schools where I love being able to share God's word with my students each day and in all things.

I love spending time outdoors hiking, walking, and playing sports with my husband and our daughter. I also enjoy running and reading a good book!

I look forward to meeting you soon!  

My name is Brenda Hill. I am incredibly blessed to be a part of Westside Christian School. My experience working in education started at Hawthorne Elementary, followed by the Challenge Center before becoming an administrator in Sioux Falls-- at Hawthorne Elementary and Rosa Parks Elementary. Just as I felt called into public education, God clearly called me into Christian education.  First, by being a part of the Khor Wakow Project-- that allowed me to be a part of opening 7 Village schools in South Sudan.  Second, by calling me to show His love to the children in South Dakota and become a part of Westside Christian.  

I love being a part of Westside, because Jesus makes all the difference.  We get to talk to Him and learn about Him each and every day at school. We can pray for one another, learn what God says about His love for us and how we demonstrate our love for Him, and worship Him together. What a gift to be able to give children in a world that quickly brushes those things off.  

I'm married to Donn, the love of my lifetime. We are blessed with two incredible sons, two amazing daughter in-laws, and three of the sweetest grandchildren ever!  When I am not working, I treasure time with family and friends! My quiet time with Jesus is my favorite part of the day. Once in a great while I get to play around on the piano and lift up a song of praise. I love reading highly engaging books, walking and biking with friends, playing Scrabble, working on Sudoku and Wordle puzzles, and watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets with my sweet husband.

Hello!  My name is Amanda Oines and I have the dual role of office assistant and reading teacher here at Westside. I am a certified elementary teacher and I took time off from teaching when my 2 sons were little.   I am so excited to have the opportunity to work at this school and be back in the education world!  My role here at Westside encompasses everything from assisting in the office, helping with lunch and recess, and working with groups of students on reading intervention and small group reading instruction.  It brings me joy to support the amazing work that the teachers are doing here and build relationships with the students I see everyday.  

On a personal note, I love spending time with my husband, Andrew and our two boys, who also attend Westside.  We love to go on walks and bike rides, spend time at parks, and play backyard baseball.  I have a passion for music and also lead worship at my home church in Sioux Falls.  

God’s faithfulness and provision has connected my family to Westside, and I’m excited to be a part of the work that He does in the coming years!

Hello!  My name is Amber Purcell.  I am so excited to be part of Westside Christian School as the K/1 teacher!  I love children and I love teaching.  My favorite thing to do is plan engaging lessons for children that foster positive learning experiences for them. I'm excited to apply my years of experience in teaching interventions- both in math and reading within a regular classroom as well.  I have a B.A. in Psychology from Arizona State University, and a B.S. in Elementary Education from DSU. I have been teaching at Sioux Falls Christian while finishing my certificate in elementary education.  

I am originally from the Pacific Northwest. My husband serves our community as a Sioux Falls Police/SWAT officer.  We have two elementary aged children, Naomii(11) and Xander(8). I re-entered the workforce in childcare in 2017 and then began pursuing an education in teaching in 2018. My family moved in 2021 to South Dakota from Louisiana, where I held an Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate. 

Hello! My name is Tim Thomas, and I am excited to be teaching the upper elementary students at Westside.  I am passionate about teaching in ways that help students remember experiences.  I receive my BA and MA in Elementary Education at Warner Pacific College in Portland, OR.  I’ve taught both locally in public schools and also in China.

On a more personal note, I love spending time with my family, reading research studies on topics I am curious about, and building relationships with others.  I look forward to working with you and your children!

My name is Tristen Jackson and am the P.E. teacher here at Westside Christian. I grew up in Le Mars, Iowa– which is the ice cream capital of the world. Blue Bunny ice cream is our claim to fame! I attended the University of Sioux Falls where I majored in Exercise Science. While in college, I worked for the Kids, Inc. Afterschool Program for 4 years. I met many kids who impacted my life while working in that program.

From there I knew I wanted to pursue a career that involved fitness and children. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in 2018, I started working full-time for GreatLIFE as their PlayEVERYTHING Coordinator. I like to spend my spare time with the loves of my life– Kelli and our daughter Teagan and son . I have a passion for fitness, children and the community of Sioux Falls.

My name is Kristi Stelter and I am the music and band teacher at Westside Christian. I grew up in Lake Benton, MN and then attended Augustana University. I taught band and choir in SD and MN for several years before returning back to Sioux Falls to attend Sioux Falls Seminary.

I live with my two very furry Pomeranian pups, Francie and Graci.

In addition to teaching at Westside Christian, I am also on staff at West Nidaros Lutheran church in Crooks, SD as director of Worship and Music, and I also teach private piano and instrumental lessons. In my free time, I enjoy eating out with friends, playing cards, reading and having a nice ice cream treat from time to time. I also enjoy traveling to MN to see my extended family…”Auntie Kristi” is one of my most treasured titles and spending time with my many nieces and nephews is always a highlight for me.

I am so blessed to be a part of the Westside Christian family and easily claim that being at this school is indeed my happy place!