Board of Trustees

• Robert Lough (Micro Visions Inc.)
• Doug Poortenga (Progressive Technologies)
• Tom Seven (Seven's Paint & Wallpaper Company)
• John Weeber (Facilities Resource Group)

"I like all my subjects and all the teachers that go with them!" --5th grade Trinitas student

Kindergarten Teacher

Jill Hultink

Jill studied elementary education at Cornerstone College and has worked in a variety of educational and administrative settings aiding in preschool, developing a catechesis curriculum and program for school-age children, and managing the office of her family’s business. Jill previously assisted with office responsibilities and was a classroom aide at Trinitas. We are pleased to expand her responsibilities and welcome her as our kindergarten teacher. She is well-suited for this position and is a warm and welcoming presence for all who come to the school, including our youngest students.

1st/2nd Grade Teacher

Susan Mehari (B.A., Hillsdale College; M. Ed., Cornerstone University)

Both a National Merit Scholar and honors student at Hillsdale, Susie majored in history and minored in Spanish. Classically educated herself, Susie is a teacher who has both an excellent rapport with children and extensive knowledge of classical education. Susie is an invaluable member of the Trinitas community, as she brings a wealth of ideas, energy, and educational expertise to our school.

3rd/4th Grade Teacher

Samantha Bodine (B.S., Pennsylvania State University ; M. Ed., Gratz College )

Samantha taught 7th and 8th grade history/geography for eight years in a suburban Philadelphia public school and spent summers teaching English in China, Romania and Bolivia. She recently helped launch a new Classical Conversations home school program in her area and served as Children's Ministry Director, K-12, at her church in Pennsylvania. She has received ongoing training in classical philosophy and methodology and has a passion for classical education. With her sixteen years of experience in education, Sam brings maturity, creativity, and energy to the classroom and the Trinitas community.

Fifth/Sixth Grade Teacher and Headmaster

Peter Marth (B.A., Concordia College; M. Div., Concordia Theological Seminary)

Most recently, Peter was senior pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hilbert, Wisconsin. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Peter taught 5th and 6th grade at St. Peter's Lutheran school, where he designed and implemented a classically-based religion curriculum. Peter has also taught Greek at Concordia College and 7th and 8th grade at Zion Lutheran Academy, a classical school. Peter brings to Trinitas a rare blend of administrative, pastoral, and academic experience in a classical setting. He has an excellent rapport with students, teachers, and parents alike. We are delighted to have a man of so many talents with us.

Art

Allison Nix (B.A., Aquinas College)

Ms. Nix grew up surrounded by the arts as a child and comes from a family of artists and art advocates. She will receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education from Aquinas this year and has a rich tapestry of teaching experience working with diverse groups of students in several school districts in Michigan, Indiana, and Ireland. Ms. Nix has also enjoyed teaching, curating, and communicating with student and professional artists while working for summer art camps, after school art programs, and ArtPrize. She enjoys creating 3-Dimensional art in clay and plaster, painting, traveling, and fashion design. Ms. Nix has a passion for making a difference in the lives of children through art, and we are pleased to have her guide Trinitas students on a journey of discovery and creativity as they explore art history, appreciation, and expression while employing a wide variety of techniques and media.  Trinitas students love art, and Ms. Nix is one reason why.

Art/Administrative Assistant

Marie Couretas (B.F.A., Kendall College of Art and Design)

Marie brings a breadth of perspective, having travelled through Greece and South Korea and having formally studied stone carving in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and painting conservation in Florence, Italy. She is a contracting artist with Very Special Arts of Grand Rapids, a freelance fine artist with the Free Hand Studios, and a Continuing Studies Youth Art Instructor at Kendall College of Art and Design.

Music

Elizabeth Hamm (B.M.E., Cedarville University)

Elizabeth has seven years of teaching experience in vocal music grades K-8. She previously taught both general music and choir at Pinewood Middle School in Kentwood and Vanguard Charter Academy in Wyoming . Elizabeth has performed with Opera Grand Rapids as a member of the chorus and with the Evangelical Choral Society. Her strong background in vocal training and choral education will serve the students of Trinitas well.

Logic

Dr. Charles Hogg (B.A., Grove City College; M.Div., Concordia Theological Seminary; Ph.D., Indiana University)

Dr. Hogg (aka Fr. Gregory Hogg) was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1956. He received his B.A. in religion and went on to receive his M.Div. and Ph.D. in philosophy. He is married to Cindy, and they are blessed with five children. Dr. Hogg also teaches philosophy at Grand Valley State University and serves as the priest of Holy Cross Orthodox Church. Dr. Hogg says he loves to teach logic because he gets to be a kid again: "It's like playing with blocks." His delight in the subject is greatly valued by Trinitas students and parents alike.

Grammar/Literature/Writing

Maureen Richards (B.S., Central Michigan University; M.A., Aquinas College)

Maureen Richards teaches seventh and eighth grade grammar and fifth through eighth grade literature and composition classes at Trinitas. She retired from the United States Army Reserve at the rank of lieutenant colonel after twenty four years of service, the last seven as a history and leadership adjunct instructor for the Army’s Command and General Staff College. Maureen spent four years teaching eleventh grade English and twelfth grade Rhetoric at a Christian K-12 school where she developed a love for the classical and a passion for joining “The Great Conversation.” Although her master's degree is in education and her bachelor's degree is in English and Psychology, she believes that her real education did not begin until she started studying logic, rhetoric, history, and English through a biblical worldview and discovered God’s thumbprint in literature as man’s restless soul cries out for the rest that is only found in his Creator. Maureen brings to Trinitas a wealth of knowledge and experience and a tireless commitment to classical education and our students.

Latin

Susan Miller (B.A. Aquinas College; M.A. Grand Valley State University)

Having taught English and Latin to middle school, high school, and college students in Catholic and public school settings for twenty six years, Susan brings a wealth of experience to Trinitas. Throughout her teaching career, Susan has been an active member of a number of classical leagues including the American Classical League, the National Junior Classical League, and the Michigan World Languages Association. She has served as secretary for the Michigan Classical Conference and as chairperson for the Michigan Junior Classical League. Susan has also been the recipient of the Walmart Teacher of the Year award and the University of Michigan's Outstanding Latin Teacher Award. Numerous Latin teachers have benefited from her mentoring and very many students from her inspiration; we are pleased Trinitas students will have the opportunity to benefit from her teaching as well.

Science/Math/Physical Education

Robb Fynewever-Muyskens (B.S. and B.A., Calvin College)

Robb earned degrees in both geology and philosophy and has taught high school math, chemistry, physical science, geophysical science, biology, and honors physics as well as environmental sustainability classes. Robb has also taught science exploration classes for later elementary and middle school students as well as a rocketry course and prepared 6th-8th grade teams for the Michigan Aerospace Challenge and Davenport University's Tivitz math game competition. In addition to his science teaching, Robb has served as a teacher-liaison to the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology and coaches baseball and soccer for players ranging in age from 5-14 years old.