About Bethel

Bethel Community Education is a Christ-centered Preschool–8th grade school guiding learners on a journey of discipleship and discovery.

We empower learners to advance the Kingdom using the gifts God has given them.

Our Distinctives

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Bethel Community Education infographic: individualized growth plans—educators craft personalized growth plans in partnership with families
Bethel Community Education partnership program graphic describing bridging the gap between home and school to support learners with one-on-one meetings
Bethel Community Education vision statement graphic on green background with text seeking a world with equipped disciples who seek God's leading in advancing His kingdom for His glory at the Rockford, MI campus

Our Daily Rhythm

In the mornings, learners are given freedom to grow academically at their own pace. In the afternoons, learners deepen their knowledge of the world by embarking on collaborative explorations, which are demonstrations within real-world experiences which are hands on, engaging, experiential learning opportunities.

Now Enrolling

Preschool + K-8th Grade

Grow in wonder and curiosity at Bethel Community Education
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Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Amy Karel

Preschool Guide
Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Elizabeth Lindhout

3rd - 5th Grade Guide
Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Jamie O'Connell

School Director
Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Anne Vanderwell

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Guide
Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Femke Veldhuijzen

6th - 8th Grade Guide
Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Amy Zwiep

Executive Director

Meet the Board

Mary Broene

Board Chair

Previous superintendent, administrator, and educator for 30+ years

Sal Zwiep

Board Vice Chair

Retired educator and board president of a local NHA school

Tim Ofield

Treasurer

Bethel Parents, Business Owner, and Entrepreneur

Katie Mulder

Secretary

Bethel Parent and advocate for learners of all abilities 

Serving Members

Bethany Love

Preschool Educator

Kevin Eastway

Senior Consultant and Author

Ruth Skidmore

Attorney

Peyton DeRuiter

High School Educator

Andrew Vanden Heuvel

Educational Entrepreneur and College Professor

Danielle Landis

Bethel Parent and Realtor

Chuck Swanson

Pastor and High School Educator

Our World
Belongs to God.

Learners at Bethel seek out and bring the hope of Christ to those they encounter in a broken world.
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Our Mission: Empowering learners to use their God-given talents to join in Christ's work.

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Amy Karel

Preschool Guide

Amy has been a preschool teacher at a small private preschool for the past 16 years, as well as the preschool director there for over 5 years.

Amy met her husband, Bob, while they were both serving children at an inner-city ministry in Grand Rapids in the mid-1980s, and they were married in 1989. It was during her time serving at that ministry that God guided her to get her elementary education degree from what was then Calvin College. Her husband went on to become a youth pastor in several churches across the country for over 20 years and is now the Lead Pastor at Orchard Hill Church in Walker, MI. Amy has spent all of her adult life serving alongside her husband in ministry, and she loves God’s church!

Amy and her husband have two married children (but no grandkids yet!). When Amy is not enjoying the company of preschoolers, she loves traveling, spending time outdoors, and reading.

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Elizabeth Lindhout

3rd - 5th Grade Guide

Elizabeth Lindhout is passionate about cultivating an environment where learners feel known, loved, and empowered to grow both academically and in their identity as children of God.

She graduated from Calvin University in May 2025 with a degree in Elementary Education. Her experiences through student teaching, Sunday school teaching, and summer church camp leader deeply shaped her approach to education—centered on relationship, creativity, and faith.

After recently moving to Michigan from her home state of Illinois—and celebrating marriage soon after graduation—she is excited to put down roots and invest in her new community. Her desire to love and serve others flows from her heart for ministry and mission. Whether in a school setting or beyond, she sees each day as an opportunity to reflect Christ’s light and invite learners into God’s unfolding story!

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Jamie O'Connell

School Director
Rockford Campus

Jamie O’Connell has known Bethel from its beginnings. She has been Bethel’s photographer for school pictures each year and is now working with Bethel’s learners, families and staff.

Her background goes beyond photography and includes special education, personalized tutoring and behavioral therapy. She has a passion for Bethel’s nontraditional approach to providing an education rooted in Christ, bridging the gap between home life and school life and loves being a part of such a unique learning model that is desperately needed for learners and families. 

Jamie graduated from Biola University in La Mirada, CA in 2011, which is also where she met her husband, Arek. Arek and Jamie moved from California to Michigan in 2013 where Arek accepted his job at Hillside Community Church. He is now the Young Adult Pastor and one of the teaching pastors. Arek and Jamie have been blessed with two precious daughters, Kaia and Leighton, and love to spend as much time with them as they can.

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Anne Vanderwell

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade Guide
Rockford Campus

Anne is eager to encourage and empower all kinds of students to grow as learners and as Christ’s disciples at Bethel Community Education.

Anne graduated from Calvin University in 2021 with a degree in Elementary Education and Language Arts. Along with her student teacher internship and Calvin education, her background as a summer camp counselor and special program coordinator, her experience mentoring spiritual leaders with Calvin’s Campus Ministries program, and her role as her church’s GEMS Girls’ Club Director shape her as an educator. 

Anne’s passion for Bethel’s mission to empower learners to use their God-given talents to join in Christ’s work is supported by her personal mission of loving people in all circumstances in order to build relationships and evoke questions providing opportunities to share God’s love story. She eagerly lives into the beautiful overlap of these callings each day at Bethel and is always excited to celebrate the ways God is working in and through each person in this community. 

Anne gets excited about lots of things including, but not limited to, good books, exploring with her friends, learning more about outer space, any kind of celebration, and all things yellow.

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Femke Veldhuijzen

6th - 8th Grade Guide
Rockford Campus

Femke grew up traveling often with her family on mission trips, mostly visiting Nigeria. From these unique experiences, she felt a call to teaching. She studied education in college at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. In 2020, Femke graduated with a degree in Teaching and Learning, along with Interdisciplinary Studies.

For the past two years, Femke has taught middle school learners in Jos, Nigeria at a Christian school, Hillcrest International Schools. It brings her great joy to see kids engaged and empowered in their learning as they broaden their understanding of the world and discover their call as disciples to actively participate in it.

Femke is thrilled to move back to Michigan and work in the middle school program at Bethel! She looks forward to working with other staff and members of Bethel’s community in encouraging all learners to use their gifts to be disciples of Christ in their own communities and around the world. It is her desire to serve other and love one another as Christ has done for us, and help all of her learners to the same.

Bethel Community Education team member smiling at the Rockford, MI campus

Amy Zwiep

Executive Director

Over thirteen years ago, God placed a call on Amy’s life to start a school. She did not know where, how, or when. All she knew was that it would look different from a traditional school, and more importantly, each facet of it would be rooted in Christ!

Amy experienced the power of Christian education for the first time as a Kindergarten student teacher at Dutton Christian School (DCS). Since then, she fell in love with Christian education and served in that environment as a classroom teacher, curriculum developer for early childhood, paraeducator, lead teacher, discipleship leader, and Assistant Principal. She has worked with a wide range of learners both in age and ability from preschool through eighth grade. In 2019, Amy felt called to return to Calvin University where she earned her Masters in Educational Leadership. 

In May of 2016 and November of 2020, God stopped Amy in her tracks when she experienced a spontaneous carotid artery dissection – left side in 2016 and right side in 2020. These experiences have been life transforming for her, her husband, Matt, and her children. God continues to teach them to trust Him daily and often, moment by moment. It is her deep desire in life and at Bethel to follow God’s will in bold faith and obedience for His glory. 

Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, Matt, and their children, Micah, Kylie, and Ellie. One of their favorite things to do as a family is explore God’s creation.

About
Meet the Team
Academics
Preschool
Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
3rd - 5th Grade
6th - 8th Grade
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Bethel Community Education staff member smiling outdoors at the Rockford, MI campus

Julie Donegan

Preschool Guide
Rockford Campus

Julie has years of experience working with young learners as a mother, a volunteer at her church, and in her previous work experiences. She is thrilled to use her love for God and his children each day she comes to guide her preschool learners. She loves coming to know each preschool learner as she shares God’s love with them.

Away from school, Julie enjoys spending time with her two amazing children, Melanie and Carter, alongside her husband, Jeff. They attend Hillside Community Church where Julie regularly volunteers in their children’s ministry. It is a joy to serve at Bethel and watch these learners grow in awe of our God as they learn more about themselves, each other, and the world around them.

Bethel Community Education staff member smiling outdoors at the Rockford, MI campus

Kate Jackson

3rd - 5th Grade Guide
Rockford Campus

Kate has a lot of experience in the corporate marketing world, yet where she has seen the Lord grow her skills and abilities most has been as a mother and through ministry locally and globally.

Jakob and Kate spent time in Zambia equipping young adults to be independent business owners. They are active members of their church, which they helped plant over 5 years ago. Ever since Kate learned about Bethel, she said “I know something special is happening in the learning at this school and would love to be a part of it.” We are excited to welcome her as our newest team member!

Kate and her husband, Jakob, have three children and live in Grand Rapids.

Bethel Community Education staff member smiling outdoors at the Rockford, MI campus

Maria Klompmaker

School Director
Holland Campus

Maria was drawn to the mission of Bethel after spending time wrestling with ways to help more students feel encouraged about the gifts they have been given by God and empowered to take ownership of their own learning. As she read through Bethel’s website, the mission, vision, and focus on discipleship, lifelong skills, and individualized learning really resonated with her hopes for kids.

Maria met her husband, Dan, at Camp Roger when they were both working there after college. Maria attended Calvin University for a bachelors in elementary education and a Masters in Educational Leadership. She has spent 16 years at local Christian schools in a number of positions including 5th grade teacher, middle school math teacher, and support services teacher. She loves coming alongside students both inside and outside of the classroom to encourage them to grow the gifts God has given them and empower them to take ownership of their own learning.

The Klompmaker family is excited to join the Bethel community. Their two sons, Everett and Alden, will be learners at Bethel in the fall. As a family, they enjoy traveling, camping, backpacking, and spending time outside.