Winter Park Christian School
Love God. Love Others.
School Staff
Faculty
Doug Toller: Pastor
I attended Adams State College and Fort Wayne Bible College (now Taylor University). From 1978 to 1988, I served on the pastoral staff of Redeemer Temple, a non-denomination church in Denver, Colorado, where I was ordained in May of 1983. In October of 1988, I became the Senior Pastor of Winter Park Christian Church. I have a heart for people and a passion for teaching God’s Word and helping people apply it practically in their daily lives. I teach an 11-week Life and Legacy course each year to new members of the church. I also regularly teach a leadership course, Peace Under Pressure, at the Denver Youth With A Mission (YWAM) School of Ministry Development. I have a heart for men’s ministry and facilitate a weekly Bible study and participate each year in the Band of Brother’s retreat for men. I am a member of the Grand County Pastor’s Fellowship and serve on the Board of the Shekinah Ranch, a ministry to missionaries. I am passionate about classical Christian education and am honored to oversee Winter Park Christian School as a ministry of the church.
Jon Widdifield: Headmaster
I have been in Christian education for the past 20 years. I received my undergraduate degree from Oral Roberts University, with a degree in Business Education; and my Master’s Degree in Christian School Administration from Regent University. After receiving my undergraduate degree, I worked in our family business, and then taught at Faith Christian Academy for 9 years. After Faith Christian Academy, the Lord called me to International Christian School where I taught a number of subjects and was a university advisor. I helped students as they applied to schools in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and/or Hong Kong. After working in Hong Kong for 10 years, my wife and I moved back to the US in June of 2017. Hong Kong was a great experience for my wife and I, but we are excited to be back in Colorado. Being able to wake up each day and see the beauty of God’s creation is an incredible blessing for both of us. Prior to working at WPCS, I was a student advisor at Colorado Christian University. I am excited to start the new school year and see what the Lord has in store for WPCS.
The Lord’s blessing on this place is evident, and it is truly a gift to see what He has done with the new church and school building. We are committed to Classical Christian education and seeing the Lord work in the lives of our students as the learn, grow and share their faith with the people of Grand County and beyond.
Paula Sinclair: Administrative Assistant
I was born and raised in Southern and Northern California. In 1993 my father’s job moved us to Aurora, CO. I attended a few years of college at Arapaho Community and Abilene Christian University. After my first mission trip to the Dominican Republic I knew the Lord was leading me overseas. In 1999 while on an Asia campaign trip to the Philippines, and several other countries, David and I met. From 2002-2007 while in CO and TX I worked as a phlebotomist in local blood-donor centers. I then worked at the Seminary my husband attended as the office administrator to the Women’s Programs department at Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. In 2007 we embarked on our mission adventure to Costa Rica, Argentina, India and then Pakistan. During that time, Noah was born in Argentina and Ivy was born in Malaysia. We served for ten years overseas, and now have returned back to Colorado.
Stephanie Miller: Academic Director and High School Teacher
I earned my bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in English from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Go Huskers!). I recently earned my masters in Organizational Leadership from Colorado Christian University. I love learning AND teaching. In addition to my experience at Winter Park Christian School, I have tutored UNL football players, served as a teaching assistant to my undergrad professor, home-schooled my three children for five years, taught literature and drama to a homeschool co-op, recruited and trained volunteers as the executive director of a Court Appointed Special Advocates program, and worked as the board development and education director at Deborah's Legacy, a residential ministry for women facing homelessness. I joined WPCS in its infancy and helped develop the upper-level humanities program and enthusiastically pointed the school towards the classical Christian model of education. In addition to teaching, I have also served on WPCS's governing board and currently serve as the school's part-time academic director. I love students as well as great literature and believe a Gospel-rich, grace-infused classical education offers an amazing means to disciple the next generation and change lives for God’s glory and our good.
Rachel Beickman: Kindergarten Teacher
I have been a resident of Grand County for twenty-seven years. I attended East Grand Middle School as well as Middle Park High School growing up. I have been married to my wonderful husband for eighteen years. I spent about seven years as a stay home mom, raising our now teenage children. Since returning to the workforce, I have acquired a background in office/ administrative work. I also have teaching experience ranging from the Cubbies age group for AWANAS, a mixture of classes for third and fourth graders, to my current position as full-time kindergarten teacher. I have begun pursuing my teaching degree. I feel the Lord has led me to this position and am enjoying being a part of the Christ-centered education of our younger generations.
Katy Blaser: 1st-4th PE Teacher
Lyn Swope: 1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Home Economics from Seattle Pacific University in 1984 and obtained my teaching certification for K-8th grades. I continued my education at Central Washington University, pursuing a Master’s degree. I have been a teacher for over 20 years at a variety of schools including public, private Christian, home school, and here at our classical Christian school. In the middle of my teaching career, my husband and I served as missionaries with Campus Crusade for Christ for 13 years. As a teacher, my passion is to share Jesus in all that we do in the classroom and on the playground. My desire is to teach about who God is in science, how He created order and time in math, how He is the God of history, how He is a God who creates in art as the ultimate artist, how He put words together and scrambled languages in language arts and foreign language, and most of all how He created us to want to know Him.
Laura Coors: Grammar School Teacher
I was born in China and grew up in Evergreen, Colorado from the time I was two. I grew up in a family of ten kids, six of whom were adopted from all around the world. I attended Christian school kindergarten through high school and I graduated in May 2018 from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California with a degree in Liberal Studies (Elementary Education) and a minor in Spanish. I love to read (historical fiction is my favorite) and music. I played the violin for 10 years and have been singing in choirs for the past 10 years. I am looking forward to this opportunity to teach at Winter Park Christian School and learning alongside each student.
Jolene Linke: 1st Grade, 5th and 6th Grade English
After graduating second in my class at Steamboat Springs High School, I attended college at Baylor University, graduating with honors with a major in Business and a minor in Information Systems (Math). Then I attended Colorado University Law School and received my Juris Doctorate. After law school, I married Trey and practiced law in Hot Sulphur Springs. We attended church in Hot Sulphur during those years, and I was baptized in the Colorado River at the Sheriff Ranch having received Christ as my Savior when I was 4 years old. Trey and I were blessed with 3 children which changed my priorities, and I started teaching school in 2009 at WPCS. I have taught math, science, logic and English at various grade levels off and on since that time. I have continued my education most recently by attending classes for IEW, Shirley Grammar and SWR in the summer of 2016. I enjoy teaching at WPCS--especially working with the little ones.
Cindy Newberry: 3rd and 4th Grade Teacher
I graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 1975. After teaching in Indiana, I moved to Colorado, earned my Colorado Teaching License, and began substitute teaching in the public schools. Upon discovering that the special education positions in Grand County were filled with long-term teachers, I began a career at Winter Park Resort - first as a Lift Department Supervisor and then as the Human Resources Director for the resort. In 2007, I returned to my first career, as the 3rd and 4th grade teacher at WPCS. Teaching has always been my ministry niche, and I am grateful for the opportunity to pour into the students and learn a great deal from them in the process. Outside of the classroom, I am an avid gardener, reader, and knitter, and I love spending time in God’s creation hiking and skiing.
Sarah Carlson: 5th and 6th Grade, Music, Latin
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in K-12 Music Education with a minor in Piano Performance from Colorado Christian University in 2011. Following graduation, I taught preschool and substituted for all grade levels in the public school system. This experience led to the discovery that I have a passion for middle school students. I love their zest for life, and I am thrilled to be teaching the 5th and 6th grade class at WPCS. To share my life-long love of music, I also developed and now teach and direct music at the school including two chimes choirs. Outside of the classroom, I have been involved with camp and international ministries and currently serve as a leader in the middle school youth group and AWANA clubs at our church.
Richard Moren: 7th/8th Grade Math, High School Algebra
I am originally from Dallas, Texas. After earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Baylor University, I went on to receive a Masters of Arts in Christian Education from the Seminary at Oral Roberts University where I taught Christian Faith and Ministry to undergraduate students while attending school. I was a Youth Director at a United Methodist Church in a small town in East Texas for four years, and I was a substitute teacher in school districts in Tulsa and East Texas. I started working at the YMCA of the Rockies in 2000 and have been attending Winter Park Christian Church during that time. I taught Spanish for Winter Park Christian School as a volunteer teacher from 2006 – 2008. I enjoy reading, hiking, church activities and being in the great outdoors. I have also earned several IT Certifications during the past five years. I feel the Lord has called me back to teaching at Winter Park Christian School, and I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the students in a Christian setting.
Colby Painter: 7th & 8th Grade English, Literature, Logic
Mr. Colby Painter is a 2012 graduate of Westminster Seminary California (M.Div). He is a 2008 graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, with a major in history and minors in Christian Tradition and Thought and Classical Humanities. He is licensed in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and has been preaching and teaching in churches regularly since 2012, most recently serving as pastor of Strasburg Union Church in Strasburg, Missouri.
Dan McGrail: High School Physics
I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Math and Physics from Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa, in May of 1972. I received my Masters degree in Physics from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls in August of 1985. I obtained my teaching certification in K-14 math, physics, and chemistry. Following graduation, I taught physics, chemistry, electronics, and senior mathematics in Carlisle, Iowa. I won the State and National Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching in 1992, and I both authored and presented authentic assessment tasks for Connecticut Common Core of Learning, National Science Foundation. I also received the Iowa Academy of Science Excellence in Physics Teaching Award, the Golden Apple Award, and the University of Northern Iowa Distinguished Iowa Physics Teachers Award. I was a major contributor and author for the Physics text book, Prisms. Outside of the physics arena, I am an accomplished auto-body repair and salvage builder. I teach play-by-ear guitar classes to students, ages 7 to 60, and I am a master of unusual musical instruments. I love cross-country, unsupported bike travel, and one day plan to take a group of students on a supported transcontinental bike trip along the continental divide from Canada to Mexico. I have a passion for education, and I love the Lord.