Teachers, Administration & Lesson Plans

"A Unique Combination of Classroom Instruction and Home-Based Learning"

Administration:

 

Barb Cummings - Principal

Barb Cummings has been the Administrator of CrossRoads Community School since its opening in 2000.  She is known as “Pastor Barb” because of her seven years as Children’s Pastor at CrossRoads Nazarene Church.  Barb has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Administration and is an ordained deacon in the Church of the Nazarene.

Prior to being the administrator at CRCS and Children’s Pastor at CrossRoads, Barb was a teacher and administrator in the public school system for 33 years.  Barb enjoys children, cats, scrap booking, card making, piano, and singing, but her greatest passion is reaching the hearts of kids for Jesus. Barb attends Crossroads Nazarene Church.

 

 



 
 

 

Kim Perkins - Assistant Principal

Kim joined the CrossRoads Community School staff in August 2004 after teaching 5th through 8th grade in the public schools for 12 years. Kim has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico.  Kim's energy and passion for her students was evident in her six years of teaching 7th and 8th grades at CRCS.  Her natural leadership qualities, as well as her commitment to the unique model offered by CrossRoads, were key factors in her decision to move into administration.

Kim and her family moved to Arizona from New Mexico in 1999,she has three sons, Jayden, Benjamin, and Trey, and a daughter, Sage.  In her spare time, Kim enjoys spending time with the family, especially playing in the pool, and decorating/organizing the house. Kim attends The Grove Bible Church.


 


Amanda Johnson - Office Manager

Amanda joined the CrossRoads family in 2000 when her daughters, Jasmine and Heidi, began attending the school in Kindergarten and the third grade.  She became an involved parent, assisting in classrooms and in the school office, and served as Parent Volunteer Coordinator for seven years.  With a history of more than 20 years in office environments, Amanda is enthusiastic about the opportunity to use her skills in organization and communication to serve the school as Office Manager. 

Amanda and her husband, Kurt, both originally from the Seattle area, have lived in Chandler since 1990.  Amanda loves spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing, walking, on-line scrapbooking, completing home decorating projects, and supporting her daughters in their many sporting and musical events.  Amanda attends Crossroads Nazarene Church.

 

 

Teachers:

 

Marcia Shelberg - Kindergarten

Marcia joined the CRCS staff in August of 2001 after 16 years of teaching in Arizona public schools.  She has a B.A. in Elementary Education from Arizona State University (ASU) and an Early Childhood Endorsement from the state of Arizona.    She loves teaching kindergarten!

Marcia and her husband, Scott, have two sons, Taylor and Wesley.  She enjoys reading cooking, and camping.  Marcia attends Cornerstone Church.

 

Teacher's Web site and Lesson Plans: Click HERE (will open in a new window)

 

Deb Gorla - First Grade

Deb became the first grade teacher at CRCS in August of 2008.  She earned a B.S. from the University of Northern Colorado, and has taught in the Chandler Unified School District for 8 years while homeschooling her own children through all grade levels. 

It is her desire to prepare the future generations “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, mind, and love your neighbor as yourself! Luke 10:7”.

She and her husband, Mark, have two sons, Jarod and Jordan.  They love spending time together vacationing, playing baseball and basketball, gardening and playing “Attack Uno”.  Deb attends Crossroads Nazarene Church.

Teacher's Web site and Lesson Plans: Click HERE (will open in a new window)

Trinka Henderson - Second Grade

Trinka has been teaching 2nd grade since 1985!  The first seventeen of those years were spent in public school at Hartford Elementary School in Chandler, AZ.  The most recent have been at Bethany Christian School and at Crossroads Community School where she currently leads a combination classroom.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Northern Arizona University in 1985 and her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction in 2001.  Teaching is definitely her passion!

She thanks the Lord for her husband, Mark, and their beautiful daughter, Mariah.  Trinka attends Chandler Christian Church.

 Teacher's Web site and Lesson Plans:  Click HERE (will open in a new window)

  
 
  

Angie Gillette - Third and Fourth Grade

After teaching for ten years at Kyrene de la Mariposa, Angie joined the teaching staff at Crossroads in August of 2009.  She earned her BS in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, and went on to the University of Texas at Austin, where she received her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction.

Angie grew up in Amarillo, Texas, but having lived in Arizona since 1987, she has lost most of her "twang"!  She has three children, Abby, and twins, Emma and Cal, as well as "the nicest Golden Retriever in the the world", Maggie.

Angie enjoys working out, interior decorating, reading, and hanging out with her family.  Angie's family attends St. Timothy's Catholic Church.

Kathy Moll - Fifth Grade

Kathy was one of the original staff when CrossRoads Community School opened in the fall of 2000.  She began as the teacher for a 3rd/4th combination classroom, and as the school  grew she taught several years in 4th grade, and spent one year as the 5th grade teacher.   Kathy has also coordinated and served as staff sponsor for the CRCS Student Council. 

Kathy received her B.A. in Elementary Education from San Diego State University.

Kathy and her family have lived in the valley since 1993 and have attended Crossroads Nazarene Church since 1994.  She is married to Bert, they have two children, Josh and Danielle, and she enjoys spending time with her family, scrapbooking, swimming and walking.

 

Andrea Triano - Sixth Grade

Andrea joined CRCS in 2008. In 1998 she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley. She has 7 years previous teaching experience in Christian education. She has enjoyed teaching various Middle School subjects during that time including History, Math, Bible and various electives.

Andrea and her husband, Marco, have two children who attend CRCS. Their family recently moved from California to plant a new church in Tempe, Freedom City Church, where they all currently attend. In Andrea's free time, she likes to be with her family and is very blessed to be living in Arizona.

 

Teacher's Website and Lesson Plans: Click HERE (will open in a new window)

 

 

 


 

Cheri Graham - Seventh and Eighth Grade

 

Bio coming soon

 

 

 

 

Teacher's Web site and Lesson Plans: Click HERE (will open in a new window)

Enrichment Teachers:

Margie Glenn - Spanish Teacher

Grades: Fifth - Eighth 

Margie joined the Crossroads staff in August 2006.  She has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from A.S.U.  She also has a reading endorsement and is C.L.I.P. trained.  She taught for nine years in the Tempe School District.
 
Margie enjoys being a stay at home mom and taking care of her family.  She has three children Alex , Kaylee, and David.  One of Margie's greatest joys is teaching children’s ministry at her church.  She enjoys swimming, biking, running, hiking and skiing with her family. Margie attends Mountain Park Community Church.

Liz Griggs - Music Teacher

Grades: First - Fourth

Liz joined CrossRoads Community School in 2008.  She has a passion and love for teaching music to children. She taught in the public school system after finishing her Bachelor of Music Education degree from NAU.  Since becoming a mom, she has been blessed to stay at home to raise her daughters.

In her spare time, Liz enjoys spending time with her family as well as singing, dancing, acting, reading, and cooking.  Liz is really looking forward to the blessings of teaching music again, "especially at such a great place like CrossRoads!" Liz attends Faith Church of the Valley.

Julie Kenzler - Art Teacher

Grades: First - Fourth

 

Julie's family joined CrossRoads Community School in 2001. After teaching Spanish for three years at CrossRoads, she made a creative switch to Art in 2008. Julie has an accounting degree from Arizona State University and Teacher Certification through Ottawa University.

She has a passion for the Lord and for His great children. Julie and her husband, Kurt, grew up in Indiana, but call Arizona home after 20+ years. They have four children attending CRCS. Julie enjoys hiking, biking, ice skating, reading, and fun game nights with her family. Julie attends ChristLife Church.

Sherry McCarville - Art Teacher

Grades: Fifth - Eighth

Sherry has been at CrossRoads Community School since August 2007. She has a Fine Arts degree from ASU in Drawing. She has dabbled in many roles in the art world, including, children's book illustrations, and painting murals in schools, nurseries and homes. Prior to CRCS, Sherry worked with grade school children for more than 12 years teaching Art Masterpiece classes.

Sherry loves teaching Art to the CrossRoads kids, helping them to develop their unique gifts and talents. Her goal is to expose the children to as many art mediums as possible and to be an encouragement to each one. Sherry with her husband, Matt, have 5 children, the youngest attending CRCS. Finding CrossRoads was a blessing for them and Sherry is thrilled to be working in such a loving and faith-filled community. Sherry attends St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Lance McClure - Physical Education Coach

Lance McClure joined CrossRoads as P.E. Coach in August 2004. Coach McClure retired in 2003 from public school where he taught 6th grade for 30 years. For the past several years he has coached “In His Courts” (a summer youth basketball camp) at CrossRoads Nazarene Church.

Lance strives to incorporate Biblical lessons and character development into his P.E. classes as a way of building both healthy bodies and hearts for Jesus.

He is married to Ellen McClure, also a P.E. teacher in the Kyrene District.  His oldest daughter Carrie lives with her husband and daughter in Christchurch, New Zealand.  His son Andy is on staff as one of the Youth Pastors at Crossroads Church, and his other daughter, Marcie, works for the Humane Society. Lance attends Crossroads Nazarene Church.