Our faculty and staff are the foundation of our school's success. All are dedicated Christians who value children and the need for them to be educated in a Godly manner. Because of our small size, there is a high level of interaction between the faculty and staff, and both faculty and staff take an active role in the educational, spiritual, and character development of each and every student.
	Susan Adams: Susan is our administrative aide and school monitor. She joined our staff in 2007 when her oldest son, now a graduate, became a CLCS student. When she is not answering the phone, supervising children out on the playground or organizing a school event, she enjoys knitting, training her horse and dog, and camping. Susan is married with two children and loves having her younger son here with her at CLCS.
	Pam Bateman: Pam is the Principal at CLCS. She became involved with CLCS in 1978 as a student teacher and, after teaching for several years in public schools, joined the faculty as the second grade teacher. When her children were born, she took a sabbatical from full-time teaching but still remained active in the school as a volunteer. Pam participated in teacher training, classroom instruction, tutoring, and administration, and was instrumental in curriculum and policy development. As an administrator, Pam served as Assistant Principal for three years, then became principal in 1997. Pam loves working with the extremely committed group of people at CLCS. She has carried the vision for the school for many years and has a passion for children, families and education. Pam is married, with three children, all of whom attended CLCS. She is an avid reader and has been building the school library for several years.
	Carol Becker: Carol is our Primary B (older primary) classroom teacher. Carol has been a part of our staff since 2008, and comes to us with seventeen years of experience teaching her children at home. She is a graduate of Cornell University and was the Christian Education coordinator for her church for ten years. Carol loves being around children, and finds it a joy to have a part in training and educating them. She is grateful for the privilege of seeing the Lord at work in the students’ lives. Carol and her husband have five children. In her spare time, Carol enjoys quilting, reading, and going for bike rides or long walks outdoors.
	Larry Cleek: Larry is our 7th/8th grade homeroom teacher. He currently teaches Bible, US History, Life and Physical Science, Health, and Physical Education. He enjoys the freedom to teach a Biblical worldview in a school setting, and the opportunity to share the life of God in every subject. Larry has been a pastor for many years, and has been teaching for over 20 years, 7 in Primary and Elementary grades, and the remainder in Junior High. He received his BS from Creighton College, and attended Westminster Theological Seminary. He is married with four children, and in his spare time enjoys calligraphy, woodworking and camping.
	Sue Crawford: Sue joined our staff in 2001, and is our bookkeeper and librarian. She is a graduate of Cornell University, and has worked as an administrator in the software consulting industry and for Cornell. She loves the relaxed yet professional working atmosphere at CLCS, and is thankful to be a part of its Christ-centered educational program. She also enjoys interacting with students and hand-picking books with them. Sue is married, and her daughter is a graduate of CLCS. Her pastimes include quilting, reading, gardening, and visiting fabric stores.
	Kathryn Hamilton: Kathryn teaches 5th grade Math and 7th/8th grade Technology. She has a BA in Adolescent Education/Math from Houghton College and her NYS teaching certification in Math. She is currently pursuing her masters in birth-12th grade Literacy. Kathryn feels honored to come back to CLCS as a staff member, after graduating from CLCS several years ago. She appreciates teaching in a school where Christ is the center and focus. Kathryn is married and is expecting her first child. Her hobbies include sewing, reading and cake decorating.
	Jennifer Hutchinson: Jennifer teaches Music to grades PreK-7, is a school monitor and provides office support. She started volunteering at CLCS when her three children enrolled in 2004, and became part of the staff in 2007. She has a degree in nursing from Roberts Wesleyan College. Jennifer grew up in a Salvation Army family, and learned to play a brass instrument when she was very young. She is accomplished on several instruments and continues to enjoy music. She also enjoys reading, cleaning (sometimes), playing games and watching movies with her family, eating chocolate and being outside on sunny days.
	Mary Johnson: Mary currently teaches Math 6 and 8. She was a volunteer Math teacher for many years and also served as the school bookkeeper for 4 years. She enjoys both being in the classrooms with her students and working with the teachers and staff. During her time at CLCS, she has continually seen the faithfulness of the Lord in new ways. Mary graduated from Cornell University with a BS in Agricultural Economics. She is married, with four children, all of whom have attended CLCS. Mary’s pastimes include hiking, biking, cooking and cross stitch.
	Tonika Jones: Tonika is our 5th/6th grade homeroom teacher, and our 5th-8th grade Spanish teacher. She graduated from SUNY Cortland with a B.A. in English Literature and Spanish Language, and remained with the college as a residence hall director and interim coordinator of multicultural affairs for 3 years. She also assisted adults with developmental disabilities at the Franziska Racker Center and was an ESL tutor. Tonika greatly appreciates that at CLCS the leading of the Holy Spirit and the centrality of Christ is the focus. Tonika enjoys crafting, worshipping, singing, and spending time with people who are precious to her.
	Andrea Lamb: Andrea is currently our Primary A (younger primary) classroom teacher, and our 5th/6th grade Science teacher. Andrea joined us as a volunteer in 2006, and began teaching full-time in 2009. She loves the freedom to encourage a child’s wonder at God’s marvelous creation. She also likes the one-on-one attention she is able to give students, due to CLCS’s small class size. Andrea has a BS in Education, a background in restaurant management, and a six year stint running a lively home day care. Andrea plays in a local flute choir, enjoys reading and gardening, and is married with three children, all attending CLCS.
	Kathy Mead: Kathy is our PreK-8th grade Art teacher, and has been teaching art at CLCS since 1995. She loves the school’s joyful family atmosphere, as well as the enthusiastic students and staff. Kathy has a degree in Elementary Education and Psychology from Mt. Holyoke College and enjoys having small classes with very creative children. She is married with three children, all graduates of CLCS, and spends her out-of-school leisure time painting, gardening, sewing, camping and reading.
	Ken Negvesky: As CLCS's Pastoral Overseer, Ken has been a leader at Covenant Love Community Church since 1981. For the first 15 years he served as Associate Pastor and then became Senior Pastor in 1996. He attended the University of Scranton and Zion Bible Institute, where he met his wife Faith. As a pastoral leader, Ken has a piece of Father God's heart for training and equipping each generation, and has also been involved as a father whose children have greatly benefited from their years of education at CLCS. He relaxes with reading, fishing, and hunting, and jogs to keep up with his flock.
	Barb Phelps: Barb is our Administrator. Barb was a parent volunteer for ten years before officially joining our staff in 1989. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Barb teaches 9th grade Math and is the Ski Club Advisor. She interacts daily with students, parents, faculty and staff, who benefit from her compassion and wise counsel. She feels called to CLCS, and has a strong desire to support others. She has received training as a Biblical counselor, and is a volunteer with Cornell Companions Pet Therapy program, where she and her dog, Lucy, visit patients at Cayuga Medical Center. Barb is married, with four children, all of whom are CLCS graduates. Two of her ten grandchildren currently attend CLCS. She enjoys reading, camping, sewing, and spending time with her family.
	Cindi Simonet: Cindi joined our staff in 2003. She teaches English to grades 5-8, leads our grade 8 Writing Lab, and is a private tutor. She is a graduate of Youngstown State University, and is enrolled in the Master’s teaching program at SUNY Cortland. Cindi finds it a joy to wake up each day and be excited about going to work with wonderful students and an incredibly talented staff. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, walking her golden Retriever, and drinking a good cup of coffee on the beach. Cindi is married with four children, all of whom attend or have attended CLCS.
	Mark Stupke: Mark teaches Physical Education to grades 3 and 4. He is also the church Business and Property Manager, and the school’s financial overseer. He joined the church staff in 1988, with eight years prior experience in accounting. He loves the interaction between staff, students, and volunteers, who are all working together to help parents educate their children. Mark is married, with three grown children who are CLCS alumni, and four grandchildren. He enjoys hunting, fishing, boating, and spending time with his family.
	Anita Wasson: Anita is our 3rd and 4th grade teacher, who also teaches PE to our Primary B students. She has taught a variety of age groups and subjects, including 5th grade Science and 2nd grade Language Arts. Anita has a B.S. in Elementary Education from SUNY Cortland, an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Scranton and her NYS permanent teaching certification. Prior to joining our staff in 1990, Anita spent several years in public education and also worked at the J.M. Murray Center as a vocational counselor. Anita loves the freedom to pray, worship and talk about the Lord with her students and colleagues. She appreciates the family atmosphere and the support offered to one another. Anita has a background in ethnic and folk dance and she belongs to several performance groups. Her activities also include biking, swimming, running, walking, and reading good books. Anita is married, with an adult son, a grandson and an adult stepson.
	Esther Zimmerman: Esther has been teaching Spanish to grades K-4 since 2002 and now includes Pre-K in her introductory program. She is a native of Argentina, and prior to teaching was an involved parent volunteer in her children’s classes. Her passion is that all of her life would be spent for God’s glory, and she invests herself in the school’s mission so that she can bless other families as hers has been blessed. Esther’s background is in nursing, and she especially loves working with infants and children. During her (rare) spare time, she reads, corresponds with friends, and enjoys good movies. Esther is married, and has three wonderful children, all of whom attended CLCS.
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