School Board
The Board of Trustees is a fiduciary board entrusted with preserving the philosophy of Christian education upon which Lansing Christian School was founded. It is the responsibility of the Board to approve long-term strategic plans and to hold the Head of School accountable for mission advancement and operational decisions. The Trustees come from a variety of backgrounds and are drawn together by a shared desire to use their gifts and abilities to glorify God through Christian education. Please pray regularly for the Board of Trustees and their leadership investment in the continued ministry of Lansing Christian School.
Board meeting minutes will be made available upon request for association members by emailing Crystal Gabrielse at cgabrielse@lansingchristianschool.org
Meet the Board
|
Rachel Cattron, Board Treasurer |
“Christian education reinforces the values and beliefs that we have at home. It’s important for Christ to be presented to children in many areas of their life so that they grow up to honor God in all that they do.” Term: 2018-2024 Education: BA in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting, Olivet College Rachel works as the Controller for Advance Employment Services. She is responsible for overseeing the Accounting Department, as well as providing payroll and benefits administration for internal staff. In her previous role, she oversaw the School Accounting division, which provided outsourced accounting services to charter schools. Rachel and her husband, John, have two children – one freshman at Lansing Christian School and one future Pilgrim. Rachel and her family are members of Liberty Christian Church in Lansing.
|
|
|
Casey Conklin, Board Secretary |
“It is important for our children to be brought up with faith and good moral character. This combination is hard, if not impossible, to find in other education venues. Giving our children a Christian education allows us the peace of mind knowing that they are being educated with beliefs that align with what we are sharing with them at home.” Term: 2020-2023 Education: B.A. in Advertising, Michigan State University; J.D. WMU-Cooley Law School Casey is the owner and manager of The Law Offices of Casey D. Conklin, PLC. He works with clients on legal issues, with a focus on estate planning, business planning and tax law. Casey and his wife, Amelia, have two children (3rd and 5th grade) at Lansing Christian School. Casey and his family are members of Faith Church in Lansing. |
|
|
Amy Cowper |
“We are currently raising our children in an ever-changing, fast-paced world. As a result, it is increasingly difficult to ensure our children have the opportunity to receive both the best educational opportunities, while also protecting them from a world full of messages and expectations that don’t align with our Christian perspective. I appreciate LCS as it provides a balance. The administrative, educational, and support staff at LCS care for the well-being of my children while consistently pursuing best educational practices for all students.” Term: 2020-2023 Education: M.A. in Social Work, Michigan State University Amy is a fully-licensed clinical social worker and certified by the state of Michigan as a Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. Amy works for the Clinton, Eaton, Ingham Community Mental Health Authority (CEI-CMHA) as the MDHHS Children’s State Wide Trauma Initiative Coordinator. She has over thirteen years of experience in various roles in the mental health field. Amy is an alumna of Lansing Christian School. She and her husband, Zachary, have two children (5th and 6th grade) at Lansing Christian School. Amy and her family attend Riverview Church. |
|
|
Rhonda Franck |
“The foundation of truth is critical to our kids being followers of Christ….Learning early that we can have a personal relationship with God and seeing that play out in others’ lives is so important…I want to be a part of continuing the rich tradition this school has given so many.” Term: 2022-2025 Education: B.A. in Accounting and Business Management, Northwood University Rhonda is a Project Manager for Wieland. In this role, manages the team, budget, scheduling, and resources for commercial construction projects. Rhonda also serves in the Women’s, Children’s, and Music Ministries at South Church. She leads the Parents in Prayer group at Lansing Christian School. Rhonda and her husband, Gary, have three children; two are graduates of Lansing Christian and one is currently a sophomore. Rhonda and her family are members of South Church in Lansing. 666 |
|
|
Chad Myers |
“LCS has a long history of standing for the Gospel and has educated several generations of strong Christian men and women. There is a sense of purpose and a willingness to sacrifice that is persistent across the parent body. This is an environment where kids can grow and explore their God-given talents. Our kids have been blessed by many teachers who have chosen to build into them in a Christian academic setting.” Term: 2022-2025 Education: B.A. in Economics, Claremont McKenna College; Chad is Vice Chairman at Jackson National where he is responsible for overseeing the investment activities, investor relations, and government relations of the company. He has been employed with Jackson National for over 25 years where he previously served as CFO. |
|
|
Jason Orton |
“The parents, faculty, staff, and donors all have a love for Jesus and are each dedicated to the education and growth of the children. I personally have been humbled by the servant attitude I see every day at LCS, and am privileged to be able to send my children to Lansing Christian School.” Term: 2022-2025 Jason manages the Municipal and Financial Institution Department for the David Chapman Agency. He maintains client relationships and helps place and assess coverages for each entity, and is also responsible for the marketing and solicitation of new clients. He previously worked for the Michigan Legislative Service Bureau. Jason serves on the West Lansing Church of Christ (WLCC) Missions and Steering Committees and is active at WLCC as Activities Coordinator, Security Team member, and Youth Ministry Sponsor. He is Chairman of the Youth Baseball Committee and a baseball coach at Lansing Christian School. Jason and his wife, Jennifer, have two children (5th grade and sophomore) at Lansing Christian School. They are members of West Lansing Church of Christ.
|
|
|
Brenda Resch |
“I am deeply grateful for the blessing of Christian education and an institution like Lansing Christian School that cultivates a vibrant, engaged educational community and actively partners with parents to nurture their children’s spiritual and intellectual growth.” Term: 2022-2024 Education: B.A. in History and English, Hillsdale College Brenda is a co-founder and partner at Compass Consultant Group, a Lansing-based consulting firm specializing in high-level policy research and public affairs project work. She has two decades of experience in public policy, state legislative affairs, and nonprofit administration. Brenda previously worked in alumni relations at a Big Ten university and held administrative positions with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. She has also served on the alumni board at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Brenda and her husband, Matt, have two children (6th and 10th grade) at Lansing Christian School. Brenda and her family are members of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids.
|
|
|
Andrea Tardino |
“Today, Christians are often made to feel that they should keep their faith quiet in order to avoid ridicule or backlash from certain groups of people. A Christian education provides an environment where students can profess their faith while learning. Parents can be assured that at Lansing Christian, school is an extension of the faith that is being taught at home and worship is not only allowed, but celebrated and encouraged.” Term: 2020-2023 Education: A.A. in Communications, Marshall University; B.A. in Criminal Justice, Marshall University; J.D., WMU-Thomas M. Cooley Law School Andrea works as a Medical Claims Unit Supervisor at Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. She also serves on the Village of Dimondale Board of Trustees. Andrea and her husband, Vince, have a freshman at Lansing Christian School. They are members of West Lansing Church of Christ. |
|
|
David Toy, Board President |
“Lansing Christian is the only school in the area of its unique size, Christian philosophy, and elevated academics. The school thrives from within by utilizing excellent teaching staff, dedicated leadership and close-knit community…As an LCS alumnus, I am grateful for the foundation Lansing Christian School provided.” Term: 2018-2024 Education: B.S. in Environmental Studies, Michigan State University; J.D., WMU-Cooley Law School David is currently an attorney in the Compliance Department at Jackson National. He previously worked as an attorney at Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services/Office of General Counsel. David was instrumental in starting and growing the youth soccer league at Lansing Christian School. David is an alumnus of Lansing Christian School. He and his wife, Amanda, have five children (1st, 3rd, 5th, and two in 7th grade) at Lansing Christian School. David and his family are members of University Reformed Church in East Lansing. |