Portland Adventist Academy (PAA) is proud of their newest staff and faculty members for the 2006–07 school year.
Greg Phillips brings his wife Sandi and his two daughters Keeley and McKenna from Michigan where he has been a seminary student. Greg teaches several Bible classes and helps plan spiritual events for the school. When Phillips isn’t gallantly protecting his girls from spiders, he loves to sail, especially in the San Juan Islands and at Big Lake Youth Camp.
Heading up the drama class and club is Laura Chambers, a PAA graduate. Laura has traveled extensively throughout Europe and has just returned from a short stay in Costa Rica. She loves young people and has a passion for drama. The combination makes her a perfect fit.
Dorothy Pearson joined the English department with high recommendations from College View Academy in Lincoln, Neb. She teaches a number of literature and writing classes. The students seem especially amused that Pearson was born in Kansas and calls her car “Toto."
Terry Lee teaches Earth science, marine biology and spends a good portion of his time tutoring. Lee came from Skagit Adventist School in northern Washington. He has already taken his students on a trek through a cave, and we understand there is a lot more hands-on learning planned for this year. Lee loves the outdoors, and kayaking tends to be his most exercised hobby.
Liesl Vistaunet has filled a vacant public relations position. She has a special appreciation for teachers and sees the need to promote education. Vistaunet enjoys her walk to school each morning and says she feels right at home in the school environment because six members of her family are teachers. She and her husband recently moved from Caldwell, Idaho, where she was an announcer at the local Christian radio station.
Dawn Baltazar and her husband Terrance are drawing attention to the cafeteria. They not only serve up a fantastic lunch each day, but they also get up extra early to make sure the students have a hot breakfast. The two chefs feel a special connection to PAA because their son and daughter are students there. But Dawn perhaps feels it more as she is a full-blown PAA cougar! She graduated from PAA in 1985.
With the school year well on its way, the new staff members have proven to be a positive addition to the academy. “I’ve been impressed by them all,” said Gale Crosby, PAA principal. “They each match the passion that our current staff shares for young people, and it’s been an easy process of transition.”
Dorothy Pearson, an English teacher from Kansas, calls her car Toto.
Terrance and Dawn Baltazar not only make a hot lunch, but a hot breakfast for the students as well.
Liesl Vistaunet, public relations, has a special appreciation for teachers.
Greg Phillips, Bible teacher, with his daughter McKenna.
