Faculty / Board

“I like all my subjects and all the teachers that go with them!”—5th grade Trinitas student

Head of School

Michele Hinthorne (BA, Indiana Wesleyan University)

Mrs. Hinthorne is deeply committed to Classical Christian Education and pursuing Godly excellence in designing, developing, and implementing Classical Christian programs. After earning a BA in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement, she devoted the next thirty-three years to educating children of all ages, finding a special passion for dialectic and rhetoric stage English grammar, writing, and literature. Mrs. Hinthorne’s vast professional experience also includes student/parent counseling, teacher training, curriculum development, program implementation, and school administration. She has an extensive knowledge of and delights in the study and implementation of Classical Christian philosophy, curricula, and pedagogy. Above all else, she desires for each student to grow in Biblical wisdom and virtue, recognizing the roles of the triune God in their lives and preparing them to make a difference for Him in the world.  

Fun Fact: Mrs. Hinthorne was the shepherdess of a beautiful flock of fifty-five Icelandic sheep. “This experience,” she says, “taught me more about Jesus, my Good Shepherd, than any other in my life (John 10:1-18).” We’re grateful to have her shepherd our school!

Kindergarten Teacher

Megan Gilbert (BFA, Point Loma Nazarene University)

Mrs. Gilbert was raised in Arizona and completed her BFA in Fine Arts with a special emphasis in Education at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. She received her early childhood Montessori teaching credential in 2012 while living in Victoria, BC. In addition to teaching art at all levels, from kindergarten through university, Mrs. Gilbert has taught in Montessori classrooms and directed a Christian Montessori parochial school. For the past few years, she has been homeschooling her children with a classical curriculum and enjoying the rich harmony between the Montessori and classical approaches. We are eager for Mrs. Gilbert to bring the best of both worlds to our kindergarten classroom!

A life-long learner and a teacher of many subjects, Mrs. Gilbert has a special love for teaching children how to read, to delight in nature, to write, and to draw. Her other joys include illustrating children’s books, painting Christian icons in the traditional Byzantine method, gardening, walking, and traveling.

Mrs. Gilbert is humbled to join the team of teachers at Trinitas and to be part of an educational community which fosters godly virtues, upholds excellence in character, and pursues the good, the true, and the beautiful. It is her hope for her students that they will learn to seek Christ in all things, and that He, the True Teacher, will illumine their hearts and minds and direct their steps in His service.

Fun Fact: Mrs. Gilbert has illustrated seven published children’s books.

1st Grade Teacher

Ginnie Stawicki (BS and MAT, James Madison University)

Mrs. Stawicki has a BS in Elementary Education and Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) with Honors from James Madison University. She is an experienced elementary educator, having previously taught for seven years in Northern Virginia in Grades 2 and 4. She specialized in curriculum development while also assisting English as a Second Language (ESL) students. Before teaching, Mrs. Stawicki served in various part-time roles at Trinitas, helping with office duties and providing pull-out support for math to our Grade 4 class. Outside of school, she has served as a volunteer to supplement Children’s Ministry curriculum materials at her church. Mrs. Stawicki engages our Grade 1 students in academic studies and character development with her animated and energetic teaching style. 

Fun Fact: Mrs. Stawicki attended elementary school in Japan, and as a result, learned Japanese.  She continued her studies in Japanese language throughout high school and college.

2nd Grade Teacher

Susan Mehari (BA, Hillsdale College; M Ed, Cornerstone University)

Miss Mehari has been an invaluable member of the Trinitas community since our founding in 2006. She received her BA from Hillsdale College with Honors in History. Classically educated herself, she is a teacher who has both an extensive knowledge of classical education and an excellent rapport with children. She has received Orton Gillingham-based Specific Learning Disability (SLD) training as well as Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) training, and she brings a wealth of ideas, energy, and expertise to our school. Miss Mehari masterfully prepares her Grade 2 students for the responsibilities of Grade 3. 

Fun Fact: Miss Mehari enjoys baking and is famous among students and families for her fudge and cinnamon rolls. She also loves to read, often reading close to 200 books per year. 

3rd Grade Teacher

Jill Hultink (BS, Cornerstone University)

Mrs. Hultink studied elementary education and received her BS in psychology at Cornerstone University. She has worked in a variety of educational and administrative settings, which include aiding in preschool, developing a catechesis curriculum and program for school-age children, and managing the office of her family’s business. Mrs. Hultink began working at Trinitas in 2007 as a classroom aide and administrative assistant. She became our kindergarten teacher in 2008 and became our grade 3 teacher in 2025. She has received Orton Gillingham-based Specific Learning Disability (SLD) training and has experience as an SLD Read tutor. Students in Mrs. Hultink’s classroom cultivate excellent foundational learning habits and delight in each other and God’s world. 

Fun Fact: Mrs. Hultink loves animals and outdoor adventures, including hiking in bear and moose country.

4th Grade Teacher

Samantha Bodine (BS, Pennsylvania State University; M Ed, Gratz College)

Prior to joining the Trinitas faculty in the fall of 2010, Mrs. Bodine taught Grades 7 and 8 history and geography for eight years in a suburban Philadelphia public school and spent summers teaching English in China, Romania, and Bolivia. She helped launch a new Classical Conversations homeschool program in her area and served as Children’s Ministry Director for Grades K-12 at her church in Pennsylvania. She has a deep passion for classical education and pursues ongoing training in classical philosophy and methodology. She is also a registered Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW) instructor. With over two decades of experience in education, Mrs. Bodine brings maturity, creativity, and energy to the classroom and the Trinitas community.

Fun Fact: Mrs. Bodine likes to play easy-level piano music and bring sad plants back to life.

Math/Bible/Greek/Dean of Academics and Admissions

Peter Marth (BA, Concordia College; M Div, Concordia Theological Seminary)

Before joining Trinitas for its inaugural year in 2006 as both teacher and Head of School, Mr. Marth was senior pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Hilbert, Wisconsin. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he taught 5th and 6th grade at St. Peter’s Lutheran school, where he designed and implemented a classically based religion curriculum. Mr. Marth also taught Greek at Concordia College and 7th and 8th grade courses at Zion Lutheran Academy, a classical school. A 2011 graduate of the St. Stephen’s Course in Orthodox Theology, he serves as a subdeacon in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Mr. Marth brings to Trinitas a rare blend of administrative, pastoral, and academic experience in a classical setting. We remain grateful for his sixteen years of faithful service as Head of School, and we continue to be blessed by his dedication to excellence in teaching, administration, and community-building. 

Fun Fact: Mr. Marth enjoys hiking, hunting, fishing, and outdoor adventures with his family, and he believes that chocolate is one of the most important foods for survival in any weather. 

Literature/Writing

Michael Stevens (BS, Baptist Bible College, MA, St. John’s College, PhD, University of Dallas)

Dr. Stevens has a BS in Bible from Baptist Bible College (Clarks Summit, PA), an MA in Liberal Arts Education from St. John’s College (Annapolis, MD), and a PhD in Literature from the University of Dallas (Irving, TX). He has taught literature and writing for thirty years in various settings, twenty-seven of those years were at Cornerstone University, where he also founded the Great Books Honors Program and co-founded CIHI (Creativity and Innovation Honors Institute). Alongside interdisciplinary Great Books seminars, he has taught primarily American Literature, but also created courses in Russian Literature, Creative Writing, and a number of Christian Worldview topics. With his colleague and friend Matt Bonzo, he is the author of Wendell Berry and the Cultivation of Life, and he has contributed chapters to books on Berry’s vision for sustainable communities and lectured on Berry’s ideas for formation of the whole person. For several years he has worked with author Gary Schmidt and poet Lew Klatt on Scriptoria: A Workshop for Writers. He and his wife Linda were inspired to homeschool their own children upon reading Susan Wise Bauer’s The Well-Trained Mind. We are grateful for Dr. Stevens’ enthusiasm for classical education, for Great Books, and for sharing his expansive knowledge with our students! 

Fun Fact: Dr. Stevens is writing a book about Wally Pipp, Grand Rapids’ greatest baseball player, who one hundred years ago was a teammate of Babe Ruth and a mentor to a young player named Lou Gehrig, to whom he lost his starting position because of an untimely headache.   

Literature/Writing/Grammar

Janna Wiersma

Mrs. Wiersma taught with Classical Conversations for eight years and homeschooled her own children in kindergarten through grade 12. She is a Journeyman in the Circe Classical Apprenticeship program and will graduate next summer as a Circe Certified Classical Teacher. Mrs. Wiersma is passionate about education and helping students grow in their understanding of truth, goodness, and beauty. She’s also an avid reader and enjoys sharing her love of literature, writing, and grammar with the students under her care. 

Fun Fact: Mrs. Wiersma loves traveling with her family and hosting their bi-annual version of a Georgian “Supra” feast, complete with speeches, poetry, and song. It’s a fun night of hospitality, laughter, and reveling in their cultural heritage.  

Logic/Math/Science

Robb Fynewever-Muyskens (BS and BA, Calvin University)

Mr. Fynewever-Muyskens (Mr. F) 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. He has also instructed science exploration classes for later elementary and middle school students, including rocketry courses. In addition, he has prepared teams of students for the Michigan Aerospace Challenge and Davenport University’s Tivitz math game competition. However, his talents are not limited to the science classroom. He has also served as a teacher-liaison to the West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology and has coached baseball and soccer players ranging in age from 5-14 years old. Mr. F joined our staff in 2011, and we are grateful for the myriad ways he continues to share his gifts and experiences with our students. 

Fun Fact: At one point in his life, Mr. F was a professional clown, twisting animal balloons and performing magic tricks at carnivals and festivals.   

History/Bible/Logic/Math

Caleb Gemmen (BA, Calvin University)

General Music/Choir

Andrea Boyd (BA, Indiana University; MA, Western Michigan University)

Mrs. Boyd received her BA in Choral and General Music Education with a concentration in voice from Indiana University and her MA in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University. She is trained in the Orff Schulwerk philosophy of music education and traditional music education. Mrs. Boyd has over twenty-five years of experience teaching music, developing curriculum, and directing performances. She also has a home studio where she teaches voice, piano, guitar, and ukulele to children and adults. She has served as a tutor for Classical Conversations and as an administrator, teacher, and curriculum consultant for a classical homeschool cooperative. Mrs. Boyd loves to help children make music, and her education, experience, and creative energy make her an excellent fit for our community. 

Fun Fact: Mrs. Boyd enjoys making charcuterie boards.

Art/Latin

Natalie Mouw (BA, Calvin University)

We are pleased to have Mrs. Mouw as our all-school art teacher and upper school Latin teacher. Mrs. Mouw graduated from Calvin University with a BA in classical studies and English literature and previously taught Latin to students in kindergarten through grade 8 before coming to Trinitas. She is also an artist and proficient in drawing, painting, and calligraphy and has enjoyed sharing these skills with students teaching in various art camps. Her additional professional experience includes working at Calvin University’s Center Art Gallery (architectural research and gallery exhibitions). Having been educated in a classical school, she knows the fruit of classical education firsthand and enjoys being part of the Trinitas community. We’re glad to have Mrs. Mouw carry on the Trinitas tradition of both vigor and fun in our art and Latin classrooms!

Fun Fact: Mrs. Mouw spent a year living in the Netherlands, where spent most of her time painting cows.

Physical Education/Health

Ben Ziegelbaur (BA, Calvin University)

Mr. Zielgelbaur (or Coach Z) grew up as a missionary kid in Cameroon, Africa, where he was blessed with PE for every grade, played soccer and volleyball, and had the privilege of participating in running club and climbing Mount Cameroon! He later attended Calvin University where he earned a degree in Kinesiology: K-12 Education. He met his lovely wife, Mikayla, a fellow Calvin student, on a semester abroad trip. During his sophomore year, he began his soccer coaching career at Michigan Futbol Academy, where he currently coaches two teams. Coach Z is a lifelong learner, enthusiast of games, and enjoys almost anything that involves the outdoors and being active. He even likes to dance! Coach Z’s recreational hobbies are cycling, canoeing, and camping. 

Fun Fact: Coach Z’s high school soccer team played against the Cameroon professional women’s soccer team (for fun). He’s run 2 marathons, and he’s never broken a bone yet.

Christian School Consultant

Mark Wagner (BS, University of Michigan; MBA Baker College)

Mr. Wagner earned his BS in Chemistry from the University of Michigan and his MBA in Leadership Studies from Baker College. He began his career at DuPont as a research chemist and has held various senior leadership positions with the company throughout the United States and Japan. Most recently, he has served as President of Coastal Training Technologies and Regional President of Sustainable Solutions. In addition to his experience in business and development, Mr. Wagner served as School Board Chairman and President at Wilmington Christian School in Hockessin, Delaware for ten years and served as interim Head of School for one year. He currently works with Black Barn Solutions and Imago Dei Group. Mr. Wagner served Trinitas as Head of School for two years, bringing energy, enthusiasm, and excellence to the role. We are grateful that he continues to be a member of our executive leadership team.  

Fun fact: Mr. Wagner is a certified Six Sigma/Lean Blackbelt and Six Sigma Champion.

Director of Classical Christian Education

Anne Poortenga (BA, Calvin University; PhD University of Notre Dame)

Mrs. Poortenga earned her BA from Calvin College in Philosophy and Business and a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Notre Dame. She is a co-founder of Trinitas and has served in various volunteer administrative, curricular, and extra-curricular roles since 2006. She currently serves as a member of our executive leadership team. She is co-author of The Story of Ethics: Fulfilling Our Human Nature and a coordinator of Teaching as Formation: Faith, Virtue, and Story, a workshop for classical school educators at Calvin University. She previously taught college philosophy classes and also taught in and coordinated her church’s K-2 Worship Center for twenty-five years. Mrs. Poortenga loves classical education, and she delights in her time spent with the students, staff, and families of Trinitas. She and her husband have five children who have graduated from Trinitas and remember their time here fondly.  

Fun Fact: Mrs. Poortenga and her sister and their husbands completed the Haute Route, crossing the Alps on skis from Chamonix, France to Zermatt, Switzerland.

Director of Marketing

Stephanie Sneller

Mrs. Sneller studied Youth Ministry at Cairn University in Langhorne, PA while serving as a lead volunteer of junior and senior high ministries at Grace Point (Newtown, PA). Professionally, she has held positions ranging from Docent at Pennsbury Manor to Production Manager and Data Analyst at Collages.net (now N-Vu) to feature writer for Grand Rapids Kids. In addition to volunteering in children and youth ministries, Mrs. Sneller has also served in various roles within US Army Family Readiness Groups (FRG/GSAS). She has been a deacon at her church and chair of the Parent Service Fellowship at Trinitas Classical School. Her varied experiences, enthusiasm for classical education, and desire for creative excellence and beauty have uniquely equipped Mrs. Sneller to greatly enrich our community and advance Trinitas through her role as Marketing Director. 

Fun Fact: In college, Mrs. Sneller interviewed what was then (and continues to be) her favorite band— Relient K— for her school’s newspaper. 

Office Manager

Jonathan Buisch (BA, Roberts Wesleyan College, M Div Redeemer Theological Seminary)

Mr. Jonathan Buisch holds a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Roberts Wesleyan College and an M.Div. from Redeemer Theological Seminary. He served for twelve years as a pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and has been a Senior Pastor of churches in Arkansas and Ohio and a hospital chaplain in Indiana. With this experience in ministry, Jonathan brings a hospitality and warmth to his role at Trinitas that is paired with his gifts in leadership and administration. Mr. Buisch is a strong proponent of classical education and is excited to participate in the ongoing success of Trinitas. We are glad he is part of our administrative team and are grateful for his excellent support of the students, staff, faculty, and families of Trinitas. 

Fun Fact: Born and raised in Connecticut, Jonathan has also lived in Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Texas, and New York. He is looking forward to a long stay in Michigan! He is also well-known amongst five-year-olds for his excellent narration of all the Frog & Toad stories.

Administrative Assistant

Barb Hedges (BA, Northland Baptist Bible College)

Mrs. Hedges grew up in Ohio and trusted Christ as her Savior when she was ten years old. She traveled and worked in a French Bible camp during high school and graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College in Dunbar, Wisconsin with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. While in college, she worked in both the finance and student life offices. After graduation, she and her husband, Joshua, were married, and they moved to Minnesota for his seminary training. Having joined Baptist Mid-Missions in 2001, the Hedges have traveled extensively through the US and Canada to raise funds for their work as full-time missionaries in Chad, Africa. They moved to the Grand Rapids area in 2013, where Joshua continues in his role as a Bible translation consultant, frequently traveling overseas to work with national translation teams primarily located in Africa. In addition to her experience as a missionary, Mrs. Hedges has also studied literacy, linguistics, and ethnography. She earned her “Certificat de Base en Francais Langue Etrangere ou seconde” from Laval University in Quebec, Canada. Mrs. Hedges home schooled their six daughters from 2002-2024. Having taught and participated in a classical home school cooperative, they were delighted to find Trinitas and enroll their youngest daughter in 2024. Mrs. Hedges enjoys traveling with her family, both domestically and internationally, and she loves organizing. She has enjoyed getting to know Trinitas students, families, and faculty through substitute teaching and is glad to expand her role with us. We’re grateful that the Lord sent Barb and her family to our community! 

Fun Fact: Mrs. Hedges and her husband have lived in eighteen different places in three countries, seventeen of those in seventeen years.

Board of Trustees

Mike Garabelli

Austin Hakes

Jeff Kirkpatrick

Robert Lough

Doug Poortenga

Becca Stam