CLASSROOM PAGES / TEACHER SITES
Click on each teacher's name to visit her class website.
Kindergarten - Mrs. Saltzman
My full name is Andrea Saltzman, but I have always gone by 'Andie'. I have been married to Kurt, who's also a teacher, for almost 19 years and we have two boys. Keegan is a 16 year old high school junior and Micaiah is a 13 year old eighth grader. I have been teaching for 14 years. I received my Bachelors degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific and my teaching credential from Chapman University. I enjoy filing and sorting, as well as doing laundry. I know it's weird, but I have a type A personality! I thoroughly enjoy organization and keeping things in order!! I also like camping, traveling, shopping and scrapbooking.
My full name is Andrea Saltzman, but I have always gone by 'Andie'. I have been married to Kurt, who's also a teacher, for almost 19 years and we have two boys. Keegan is a 16 year old high school junior and Micaiah is a 13 year old eighth grader. I have been teaching for 14 years. I received my Bachelors degree in Psychology from Azusa Pacific and my teaching credential from Chapman University. I enjoy filing and sorting, as well as doing laundry. I know it's weird, but I have a type A personality! I thoroughly enjoy organization and keeping things in order!! I also like camping, traveling, shopping and scrapbooking.
First Grade - Mrs. Prull
I worked as a substitute and kindergarten aide for several years before I was able to realize my dream and become a full time teacher. I started teaching first grade at Grace Christian School in 2001 and have been here ever since. I love teaching first grade especially when I see the student’s excitement as they learn new things. My husband and I moved to Visalia from southern California in 1988. My three sons are Grace Alumni and afterwards graduated from California four year Universities. Two sons are married and one has given me an energetic grand daughter and grandson. I love being a grandma.
My husband and I are active members at Grace Lutheran Church. I sing in the traditional choir and occasionally sing with the worship team. It is such a blessing to work where I can share the grace and love of God. I learn so much from my students. They have wonderful insights. I am looking forward to an awesome year. Thank you for sharing your children with me.
I worked as a substitute and kindergarten aide for several years before I was able to realize my dream and become a full time teacher. I started teaching first grade at Grace Christian School in 2001 and have been here ever since. I love teaching first grade especially when I see the student’s excitement as they learn new things. My husband and I moved to Visalia from southern California in 1988. My three sons are Grace Alumni and afterwards graduated from California four year Universities. Two sons are married and one has given me an energetic grand daughter and grandson. I love being a grandma.
My husband and I are active members at Grace Lutheran Church. I sing in the traditional choir and occasionally sing with the worship team. It is such a blessing to work where I can share the grace and love of God. I learn so much from my students. They have wonderful insights. I am looking forward to an awesome year. Thank you for sharing your children with me.
Second Grade - Mrs. Gaffney
I have been at Grace since 1987! I started helping in the classroom when my oldest boy was in
kindergarten, then returned as a part-time aide and substitute, then started teaching second grade.
I taught second for several years before I was asked to become an Interim Principal (which lasted
for 6 years). I returned to the classroom in 2003 and retired from being Principal when Miss
Sandy Eitel took my place. I am a graduate of University of the Pacific in Stockton with a Master's Degree.
My husband is a retired pharmacist, and I have two boys who both attended Grace from kindergarten through sixth grade.
They both also graduated from Arizona State University. My oldest has recently married and lives in Southern California. My youngest son lives in Arizona and works for GoDaddy.com.
I love to make quilts, watch College Football, and visit my boys (and new DIL)!
I have been at Grace since 1987! I started helping in the classroom when my oldest boy was in
kindergarten, then returned as a part-time aide and substitute, then started teaching second grade.
I taught second for several years before I was asked to become an Interim Principal (which lasted
for 6 years). I returned to the classroom in 2003 and retired from being Principal when Miss
Sandy Eitel took my place. I am a graduate of University of the Pacific in Stockton with a Master's Degree.
My husband is a retired pharmacist, and I have two boys who both attended Grace from kindergarten through sixth grade.
They both also graduated from Arizona State University. My oldest has recently married and lives in Southern California. My youngest son lives in Arizona and works for GoDaddy.com.
I love to make quilts, watch College Football, and visit my boys (and new DIL)!
Third & Fourth Grade - Mrs. Cook
Mrs. Cook was called to serve at Grace Christian School in 1989. She is a graduate of Concordia College, Bronxville, NY where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music Education. She has taught Kindergarten, First, Second, and Third Grade self-contained classes, as well as K-6 classroom music, and 7-12 Drama elective over her past 29-year career. She has directed over 25 school musicals, both for Grace Christian and Visalia Christian Schools.
Mrs. Cook is also an active member of the community where she serves as secretary for the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company. She has also co-directed several plays for Enchanted including the award winning Charlotte's Web and The Adventures of Peter Cottontail. Most recently, she spent some time on the stage performing the roles of Charlotte, in Charlotte's Web, and mean, old Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach. Mrs. Cook teaches summer acting workshops annually for Enchanted Playhouse and Kids Edition.
Mrs. Cook has been married for 28 years and lives in Visalia. She has three children and spent many years serving as Soccer-Mom, Football-Mom, Dance-Mom, Track-Mom, and Baseball-Mom. Many long hours were spent in the stands and in auditoriums cheering on her kids! Each one has filled her life with adventure and joy! She is truly blessed!
Mrs. Cook was called to serve at Grace Christian School in 1989. She is a graduate of Concordia College, Bronxville, NY where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music Education. She has taught Kindergarten, First, Second, and Third Grade self-contained classes, as well as K-6 classroom music, and 7-12 Drama elective over her past 29-year career. She has directed over 25 school musicals, both for Grace Christian and Visalia Christian Schools.
Mrs. Cook is also an active member of the community where she serves as secretary for the Enchanted Playhouse Theatre Company. She has also co-directed several plays for Enchanted including the award winning Charlotte's Web and The Adventures of Peter Cottontail. Most recently, she spent some time on the stage performing the roles of Charlotte, in Charlotte's Web, and mean, old Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach. Mrs. Cook teaches summer acting workshops annually for Enchanted Playhouse and Kids Edition.
Mrs. Cook has been married for 28 years and lives in Visalia. She has three children and spent many years serving as Soccer-Mom, Football-Mom, Dance-Mom, Track-Mom, and Baseball-Mom. Many long hours were spent in the stands and in auditoriums cheering on her kids! Each one has filled her life with adventure and joy! She is truly blessed!
Fifth & Sixth Grade - Ms. Golden
Ms. Golden has been teaching at Grace Christian School since 1988. She is a lifelong resident of Tulare County, having been born and raised in the Porterville/Terra Bella area. Tami attended Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music. She received her teaching diploma in May of 1988, and was called to serve in ministry here at Grace, Visalia. She is excited to begin her 32nd year in the classroom here at Grace. In addition to serving as a classroom teacher, Tami is also the Director of Music for Grace Lutheran Church, serving as organist, choir director, handbell director, and worship leader. She has two college age sons who are attending Boise State University. Ms. Golden likes traveling, watching Star Wars and Marvel movies, the color turquoise, Boise State Football (Go Broncos!), and anything from Starbucks that doesn't taste like it has coffee in it. She feels very blessed to be part of the ministry team at Grace!
Ms. Golden has been teaching at Grace Christian School since 1988. She is a lifelong resident of Tulare County, having been born and raised in the Porterville/Terra Bella area. Tami attended Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, where she majored in Elementary Education with a concentration in Music. She received her teaching diploma in May of 1988, and was called to serve in ministry here at Grace, Visalia. She is excited to begin her 32nd year in the classroom here at Grace. In addition to serving as a classroom teacher, Tami is also the Director of Music for Grace Lutheran Church, serving as organist, choir director, handbell director, and worship leader. She has two college age sons who are attending Boise State University. Ms. Golden likes traveling, watching Star Wars and Marvel movies, the color turquoise, Boise State Football (Go Broncos!), and anything from Starbucks that doesn't taste like it has coffee in it. She feels very blessed to be part of the ministry team at Grace!
Seventh & Eighth Grades - Mrs. Neipp
I have been honored and blessed to teach at Grace Christian School since 2007, and in 2015, I was excited to be able to start up a junior high program at Grace. I started my career in 1991 teaching high school biology and AP chemistry and am excited to bring some of the lab experiences there into my current classroom. The 7th and 8th grades are exciting ages to teach! Students in this season of life are truly beginning to find their place in the world and are trying to define who they are. Therefore, I consider it my responsibility and joy to not only impart academic knowledge to them, and to challenge their intellectual capacity, but to also nurture and solidify character traits such as integrity, work-ethic, passion for setting goals and reaching them, compassion and other-centeredness, and, most importantly, an underlying foundation of faith in God. All three of my own children have attended Grace and are now on their way to young adulthood. One is married, one is attending college, and one is still in high school. Grace laid a fantastic foundation for them! As for me, I enjoy hiking the High Sierras, music, scrapbooking, and being a mom.
I have been honored and blessed to teach at Grace Christian School since 2007, and in 2015, I was excited to be able to start up a junior high program at Grace. I started my career in 1991 teaching high school biology and AP chemistry and am excited to bring some of the lab experiences there into my current classroom. The 7th and 8th grades are exciting ages to teach! Students in this season of life are truly beginning to find their place in the world and are trying to define who they are. Therefore, I consider it my responsibility and joy to not only impart academic knowledge to them, and to challenge their intellectual capacity, but to also nurture and solidify character traits such as integrity, work-ethic, passion for setting goals and reaching them, compassion and other-centeredness, and, most importantly, an underlying foundation of faith in God. All three of my own children have attended Grace and are now on their way to young adulthood. One is married, one is attending college, and one is still in high school. Grace laid a fantastic foundation for them! As for me, I enjoy hiking the High Sierras, music, scrapbooking, and being a mom.