meet our staff
Brenda Wilson
Principal
bwilson@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x104
A Saginaw native, Mrs. Wilson was raised from birth in the Lutheran faith. She graduated from Saginaw Valley State University, and also completed the Lutheran Teacher Colloquy Program at Concordia University, Ann Arbor. Mrs. Wilson faithfully taught Kindergarten at Bethlehem for over a decade before assuming the role of principal in 2020.
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Mrs. Wilson is married to her husband Scott and they have two children, Jacob and Katie, both of whom are Bethlehem graduates.
Angela Banda
Administrative Assistant
office@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989.755.1144x213
Angela is a Saginaw native. She is married to her husband, Rafael and is a dedicated mother of 3.​
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In her free time, Angela enjoys watching movies, shopping, and camping.
Lisa May
Preschool Administrator
lmay@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x209
Mrs. May's teaching journey began in 2005 when she began working in a Christian preschool. She obtained her Associates Degree in Child Development and Applied Science from Delta College and later, her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from Rochester Christian University. Mrs. May continues to learn through classes, workshops and conferences.
Mrs. May received the distinguished LCMS Michigan District Early Childhood Director of the Year Award in 2025!
She lives in St. Charles with her husband, Dave. She has 4 children, Jenna, Jake, Mackenzie, Olivia, and a crazy dog.
When not at school, Mrs. May enjoys crafting, reading, camping, and spending time with her family and friends.
Shawn Griffore
3-Year-Old Lead Teacher
sgriffore@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x210
Class Website
Mrs. Griffore has been serving at Bethlehem since 2011 in a variety of roles. She worked as a Paraprofessional and Preschool aide for 5 years and has been teaching 3 year old preschool since then. She obtained her credentials through Care Courses, an online program specializing in Early Childhood courses.
Mrs. Griffore and her husband, Darin, have been members of Bethlehem for over a decade. Mrs. Griffore has two sons, Ethan and Logan, who attended Bethlehem and graduated from Valley Lutheran.
Marena Weiler
4-Year-Old Lead Teacher
Miss Marena previously taught in our GSRP classroom and is now the lead teacher in our 4-year-old classroom! She has been a part of the Bethlehem family since 2022!
Miss Marena has two daughters, Annalynn and Leticia, who attend Bethlehem. ​She currently resides in Saginaw where she was born and raised. ​
She has been involved in church throughout her life, and now God has led her to serve at Bethlehem. She is currently working toward her CDA.​
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, volunteering at the school, and traveling. ​She is excited to see what this school year will bring!​
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Jenna Wittig Fauske
GSRP Lead Teacher
jwittig@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144 x220
Class Website
Miss Jenna previously spent five years in La Grande, Oregon teaching preschool at a Lutheran church there, but moved back home with her husband, Kiel, to raise their daughter closer to home. Miss Jenna worked as the afternoon lead 4-year-old teacher at Bethlehem before transitioning to being lead teacher all day in 2023. She is now a co-lead teacher in our GSRP classroom.
Miss Jenna attended Bethlehem from K-8th grade. She then moved on to graduate from Valley Lutheran and attended Concordia University in Ann Arbor.
Rebecca Smith
Kindergarten Teacher
rsmith@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x200
Class Website
Miss Rebecca Smith is a Bay City native and a graduate of Concordia University, Ann Arbor where she earned her BA in Elementary Education.
Having attended Lutheran schools from preschool through college, Miss Smith is passionate about Christian education.
Outside of the classroom, Miss Smith enjoys performing in community theatre, playing the ukulele, and riding roller coasters. She resides in Saginaw with her best four-legged friend, Rory, the Australian Cattle Dog.
Christine Engelhardt
1st Grade Teacher
cengelhardt@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x201
Mrs. Engelhardt obtained a teaching degree at Central Michigan University with an emphasis in early childhood development.
Mrs. Engelhardt is a member of Bethlehem along with her husband, Kurt, and their three daughters.
Mrs. Engelhardt enjoys camping, Pinterest, spending time with friends and family and coordinating events for Bethlehem's Children's Ministry.
Shelley Biver
2nd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Biver earned her elementary teaching degree from Central Michigan University. Upon graduation she started teaching at a charter school here in Saginaw until God called her to join Bethlehem’s staff. Mrs. Biver has taught 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades prior to joining Bethlehem. She has a love for teaching math and science and watching God’s children grow and learn each day.
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Mrs. Biver has been an active member of Good Shepherd Lutheran in Saginaw for over 3 decades. She attended Good Shepherd Lutheran School and graduated from Valley Lutheran High School.
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Mrs. Biver and her husband live in Saginaw Township. When not teaching, Mrs. Biver enjoys bike riding, going on trips with her husband, and reading quietly in her backyard.
Adam Jezowski
3rd/4th Grade Teacher
ajezowski@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x224
Mr. Adam Jezowski, a lifelong Bay City native, comes to us after graduating from Saginaw Valley State University with a BA in Elementary Education in 2023. He attended parochial school at St. Paul Frankenlust and continued his high school education at Valley Lutheran.
Mr. Jezowski has spent his last ten summers working at Camp Lu Lay Lea. In his free time, he enjoys getting out and playing a quick round of golf and socializing with friends.
Julie Glumm
5th/6th Grade Teacher
jglumm@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x206
Mrs. Glumm has been teaching and playing school in her parents basement since she was a small girl. Mrs. Glumm became an official teacher in 1998, teaching fifth grade for twenty-one years and seventh and eighth grade for five more. All of Mrs. Glumm’s teaching experience has been in the Lutheran School setting. Mrs. Glumm’s favorite teaching strategy is laughter; school and learning should be fun!
Mrs. Glumm has been a mom for a bit longer, raising three boys; AJ, Charles, and Dan. Mrs. Glumm, her husband, ‘Mr. Tony’ and their daschund Maggie, spend their afterwork time and summers as doting grandparents, fishing, gardening, camping, and exploring new adventures in Michigan.
Matthew Deneen
7th/8th Grade Teacher
@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x203
Matthew is originally from Hemlock, where he attended St. Peter. He then went on to attend Valley Lutheran and Concordia University Ann Arbor, getting his degrees in secondary math and English education. He received his Masters in Math Education in 2022 from Western Governors University.
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He spent two years teaching in Defiance, OH, then eight at Christ the King in Sebewaing, before accepting the job at Bethlehem to be closer to friends and theatre.
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In his free time, Matthew enjoys reading, playing Dungeons and Dragons, working in community theatre, and hanging out with his cat, Angel.
Lily Reyes
Band Teacher
lreyes@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x
Mrs. Lily Reyes is the 5th-8th grade band director for Bethlehem Lutheran. She graduated from SVSU in 2021 with a degree in Music Education.
Mrs. Reyes has vast performing experience. These ensembles range from jazz ensembles and steel drum bands to full orchestras and brass quartets. Her primary instrument, the French horn, will always stay close to her heart.
Being a Saginaw native, Mrs. Reyes graduated from Carrollton High School before attending SVSU where she met her husband, Nick. Together they have two boys, Julius and August. In her free time, she enjoys practicing ukulele, hiking, cooking, and building Lego sets.
Kara Brown
Art Teacher
karaharrisbrown@aol.com
989-755-1144x221
Ms. Kara Brown has had a wide variety of artistic and teaching experiences including serving as the Curator of Education at the Saginaw Art Museum, creating Art Across the Curriculum, and working for the ArtSmart Youth Program of Saginaw and Bay Counties. Formerly the visual arts teacher at CAC Headstart in Saginaw, Mrs. Brown has fostered the artistic growth and education of thousands of youth through numerous collaborations.
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Ms. Brown focuses on art appreciation and gaining self-awareness and confidence in the classroom. She incorporates cross-curriculum strategies, techniques, media, and art history into many of her lessons.
Lisa Duclos
Physical Education Teacher
lduclos@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989-755-1144x225
Saginaw native and lifelong Bethlehem member, Mrs. Lisa Duclos has been serving as Physical Education teacher since 2005!
Mrs. Duclos is married to her husband, John, and has three sons, Hayden, Will and Colten. All 3 of her sons attend Bethlehem and Valley Lutheran!
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Mrs. Duclos loves getting to know Bethlehem students and values the family atmosphere of the school. In her free time she enjoys doing anything active - water-skiing and snow-skiing to name a few.
Diane Gallegos
Teacher's Aide
Mrs. Gallegos has been working at Bethlehem since 2000. She serves as a paraprofessional for grades K-3 and assists in many other capacities around the school. Mrs. Gallegos earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Delta College.
Mrs. Gallegos is a former Bethlehem student and a lifelong member of the church. She is married to her husband, Ricardo, and they have three daughters who also attended Bethlehem and Valley Lutheran.
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Ginny Sowatsky
Preschool Teacher's Aide
Mrs. Ginny graduated from Michigan State with a degree in kinesiology and worked as an exercise physiologist in the Detroit area before moving back home. She has led various groups including Mothers of Preschooler’s, Community Bible Study, and coached at Bethlehem for many years.
Being a mom has taught her many lessons and has grown her faith in so many ways. She loves to encourage and remind kids of all ages that God lavishly loves each of them.
Mrs. Ginny is married to Eric who has been a lifelong member at Bethlehem. Their four kids have attended Bethlehem and Valley Lutheran!
Debi Hahn
Preschool Teacher's Aide
Debi has been a member of Bethlehem for forty years. She is the mother of three grown children and has seven grandchildren. Working with the preschoolers has brought her so much joy.
Debi enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, doing word puzzles, scrapbooking, and NASCAR.
Skyler Cox
Preschool Teacher's Aide
Miss Skyler is a 2025 graduate of Valley Lutheran High School. A Bethlehem Lutheran graduate, Skyler has been part of our school family since the first grade.
Outside of the classroom, she enjoys bowling, creating art, and playing video games.
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Colleen Brandimore
Director of Food Services
With nearly 40 years of dedication in food service, our beloved Mrs. Brandimore brings joy and care to every meal she serves. Always wearing a smile, Mrs. Brandimore finds true happiness in nourishing our students and being a part of their daily lives.
LouAnne Yurgens
Food Service
Sharon Wehner
Librarian & Food Service
Delanie Plamondon
Business Manager
dplamondon@bethlehemsaginaw.org
989.755.1144x108
LouAnne is a cherished member of our food service team who brings kindness and care to the lunchroom every day.
All four of her children graduated from Bethlehem and Valley Lutheran.
Her love for our students and community shines through in everything she does!
Sharon is a beloved member of the Bethlehem team, serving both as our librarian and a dedicated member of the food service staff.
With a warm smile and a heart for students, she helps create a welcoming environment whether she’s serving lunch or sharing a good book.
Sharon is also a proud Bethlehem parent—both of her children are graduates of our school!
Delanie is a native Michigander who has lived all over the mitten, but she loves the Great Lakes Bay Region most of all.
Delanie graduated from Valley Lutheran in 2016. She then went on to study at Northwood University, where she received her BBA with concentrations in management and accounting.
In her free time, Delanie enjoys Crossfit, crocheting, and hanging out with her husband, Daniel, her daughter Edith, and their pets.
Paul Wagner
Maintenance
A Saginaw native, Paul has lived in the Saginaw area his whole life. He attended school at Bethlehem K-8th grade and graduated from Bethlehem in 1980! He has also been a member of Bethlehem for most of his life.
In his free time, Paul enjoys camping and working on his yard. Paul is married to his wife, Andrea; their daughter Ashlie is a Bethlehem grad.
When not working at Bethlehem, Paul details automobiles and drives for DOW employees.
Elizabeth Wagner
School-Based Therapist
Elizabeth serves as our school-based therapist through a partnership with Wellspring Lutheran Services.
She provides caring, compassionate support to students and families, helping them navigate challenges and build emotional well-being.
