Meet the Staff

Our Certified Teachers

What truly sets your student’s learning experience apart is our exceptional teachers.

Our Michigan-certified teachers and support staff are talented, passionate, patient, and specially trained to excel in all the subtleties of online teaching. They are the backbone of our operation and care deeply about helping each and every child succeed. iCademy teachers are drawn to virtual schools because they know all students learn in different and unique ways.

We follow a teacher-involved leadership structure, meaning our educators have autonomy, take the lead in their teaching and actively participate in making decisions about our school. Check out their profiles below to learn more about them!

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K5Middle School  |  High School  |  Electives Special Education

K-5 Team

Ms. Carolyn Tummel

Ms. Carolyn Tummel

English and Social Studies

Ms. Carolyn Graduated from Indiana University, Indianapolis with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She later added an endorsement in early childhood general and special education as well as a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. It is her passion to create life long learners in all her students.

Email: carolyn.tummel@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She loves exploring national parks and playing pickleball.

Ms. Rachel Heerspink

Ms. Rachel Heerspink

Math and Science

Ms. Rachel absolutely loves watching her students learn, explore, collaborate, and grow during live lessons. She enjoys supporting students and watching them shine in a non-traditional, virtual setting. In her free time, she enjoys playing board games, doing puzzles, and spending time with family.

Email: rachel.heerspink@icademyglobal.org 

Fun Fact: She studied abroad in Germany and Poland.

Middle School Team

Mr. Andy Meredith

Mr. Andy Meredith

Middle School Science Teacher

Mr. Meredith’s favorite part of teaching is seeing students uncover the world’s phenomenon that are all around us. He enjoys seeing students collaborate and connect in a virtual setting and discover science in their own setting. He is passionate about bringing a little bit of joy and laughter into learning.

Email: andy.meredith@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: He used to own a colony of Northern Brown Stick Bugs.

Ms. Bethany Derungs

Ms. Bethany Derungs

Middle School Language Arts Teacher

Ms. Derungs has loved connecting with students and teaching English Language Arts since 2017. Outside of school, she enjoys teaching tap and ballet, reading good stories, and spending quality time with family.

Email: bethany.derungs@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: After school, Ms. Derungs teaches tap and ballet.

Mr. Jacob Ferland

Mr. Jacob Ferland

Middle School Math Teacher

Mr. Ferland has really enjoyed his time at iCademy. Connecting with students on a personal level and having a positive impact on them has been so rewarding for him. When he’s not teaching, he can be found on the golf course, behind a drum set, or hanging out with his wife and kids.

Email: jacob.ferland@icademyglobal.org 

Fun Fact: He has been to five of the seven continents.

Mr. Joel Siemen

Mr. Joel Siemen

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Mr. Siemen has a passion for helping students expand their critical thinking skills and always strives to promote the natural curiosity that each child innately holds. He is a firm believer that a better understanding of our shared pasts gives us clarity on our present world, and is a safeguard to a better tomorrow.

Email: joel.siemen@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: One of his favorite hobbies is sailing! A dream of his is to sail solo all the way from Chicago to Mackinac Island.

High School Team

Ms. Pam Carpenter

Ms. Pam Carpenter

High School Math Teacher

Ms. Carpenter is married and has three adult children. She grew up in Southern California, moved to Colorado after college and met her husband there. They moved back to Michigan in 1999, started their family and have lived here since. She has been teaching math since 1995 with a large gap in between when they started their family and had young kids. She loves teaching math and is always looking for new and interesting ways for students to learn it and have the lightbulb turn on!

Email: pamela.carpenter@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She was born in Cambridge, MA. Her father was a Chemistry professor and was on a sabbatical at MIT. When she was 2, they also lived for 6 months in what is now Croatia for the same reason.

Ms. Amy Baragar

Ms. Amy Baragar

High School Language Arts Teacher

Mrs. Baragar has loved teaching students at iCademy Global since its opening. When she is not teaching she is spending time with her family enjoying the outdoors or getting lost in a good book.

Email: amy.baragar@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She loves to garden.

Ms. Cindy Beall

Ms. Cindy Beall

High School Science Teacher

Ms. Beall is the high school science teacher at iCademy, and has been with iCademy since 2023. Aside from teaching, she loves traveling and baking, but most of all spending time with her husband two boys.

Email: cindy.beall@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She lived and taught middle school in Namibia in 2017.

Ms. Mandy Guppy

Ms. Mandy Guppy

High School Social Studies Teacher

Ms. Guppy has loved every minute of teaching at iCademy since she first joined our teaching staff in 2017. If Ms. Guppy isn’t behind her computer she is probably reading, traveling, or finding new places to experience on her bike with family & friends.

Email: mandy.guppy@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. Guppy has been known to have pet Guppy Fish named after US Presidents. The most recent? Millard & Filmore 

Electives Team

Ms. Tori Banas

Ms. Tori Banas

K-12 Physical Education and Art Teacher

Ms. Banas loves that she can combine her passions as the K-12 PE and Art Teacher at iCademy Global and has been with us since 2021. With a dedication to promoting healthy living and creative expression, she inspires students to embrace active, imaginative lifestyles. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Banas enjoys golfing, playing beach volleyball, and taking her dog, Harley, for hikes by the water. She believes that fostering a love for movement and creativity is important for the overall health and wellness of her students.

Email: tori.banas@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Her claim to fame is that she has run a half-marathon at Disney World!

Ms. Josefina Guillen-Henders

Ms. Josefina Guillen-Henders

K-12 Spanish Teacher

Ms. Guillen-Henders is a native Spanish speaker. She is passionate about teaching her language and Hispanic culture. She is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. She thinks it is interesting to be part of both cultures (USA and MEX).

Email: josefina.guillen-henders@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She teaches Spanish from Mexico!

Ms. Hillary Schmidt

Ms. Hillary Schmidt

K-12 Music Teacher

Ms. Hillary has been sharing her love of music with students since 2008. She loves getting to see students grow in their musical abilities throughout the grade levels. When Ms. Hillary isn’t teaching, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Email: hillary.schmidt@innocademy.com

Fun Fact: She is a classically trained singer. 

Special Education Team

Ms. Maria Merriman

Ms. Maria Merriman

K-6 Special Education Teacher

Ms. Maria loves being able to make a difference in the lives of children, as a Special Educator, supporting K-6th graders, here at iCademy. In her role, she is able to guide her students to reach their potential, learning and growing to the best of their ability, in the ways that work best for them. All the while celebrating the exciting differences, individuality and gifts they bring! One of her favorite quotes is: The best thing you can do for a child is to believe in them!

Email: maria.merriman@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: The beach is one of her favorite places to be with friends and family. Early one summer morning, at Padre Island National Sea Shore she joyfully experienced a newly released sea turtle hatchling making their determined pathway to the sea and forever home! It was a magical treat for all the senses!

Ms. Becky Bierma

Ms. Becky Bierma

Middle School Special Education Resource Teacher

Ms. Bierma (or Ms. B as most of her students call her) has a passion for connecting with her students and helping them be successful in school and life. She loves that her role at iCademy allows her to give students 1:1 support in a unique setting supported by parents and guardians. Ms. B’s philosophy is that authenticity is the key to success in relationships and life, and she encourages her students to be honest and true to themselves in all that they do.

Email: rebecca.bierma@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. B has been a musician basically her whole life and you might find her singing and/or playing her guitar in her free time.

Ms. Megan Shriver

Ms. Megan Shriver

9-12 Special Education Teacher

Ms. Megan has a deep passion for exploring different cultures and has been fortunate to travel to Australia, Costa Rica, Hawaii and Europe. Sports have always been a significant part of Ms. Megan’s life, and she enjoys rooting for the Lions and Michigan State Spartans (Go Green!). Ms. Megan believes that these experiences enrich her teaching and allow her to connect with students on a more personal level.

Email: megan.shriver@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Recently, Megan has discovered the fun and competitive world of pickleball, which has quickly become a favorite hobby. 

Ms. Lauren DeRoo

Ms. Lauren DeRoo

K-8 Social Worker and Behavior Specialist

Ms. DeRoo has worked with children, families and students in many capacities over her career, but working in a school setting has been her favorite! She is a licensed social worker, and very passionate about her job! When she is not at work, she loves playing with her kids at the pool, taking her dog on a walk, skiing or going on an adventure!

Email: lauren.deroo@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She has climbed the Eiffel Tower, but the top viewing area was closed to guests because Tom Cruise was proposing to Katie Holms that day and reserved it! 

Ms. Lindsay Light

Ms. Lindsay Light

Engagement Interventionist

Ms. Lindsay absolutely loves being on the iCademy team and supporting the amazing students and families. One of the best parts of her job is building relationships with students, celebrating their unique qualities and gifts, as well as finding out what motivates them to succeed! 

Email: lindsay.light@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: In her junior year of high school, she had the opportunity to live in Uruguay for 5 months as an exchange student.

Ms. Kate Meengs

Ms. Kate Meengs

K-12 Social Worker

Ms. Kate is iCademy’s K-12 school social worker. She loves her team and working with students to help them grow as students and humans. When she’s not at work you’ll most likely find her outside hiking, camping, running, or playing golf with her friends and family.

Email: kate.meengs@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. Kate once lived out of a backpack for 6 months and walked over 2,000 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail!

Counseling Team

Ms. Haley Prins

Ms. Haley Prins

K-12 School Counselor

Ms. Haley has loved building relationships with iCademy students and families since 2022. She loves spending time outside with her family. Ms. Haley also loves to be near the water, whether on a boat, the beach, or swimming in a pool.

Email: haley.prins@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. Haley has never been stung by a bee! And she hopes she never will!

Ms. Sherri Wheeldon

Ms. Sherri Wheeldon

School Counselor and Technology Assistant

Ms Sherri joined the IES family in January 2022, and is dedicated to organizing and maintaining the student information and curriculum databases. She enjoys meeting and getting to know iCademy students and their families. When not working, she spends as much time as possible doing various indoor and outdoor activities with her grandkids.

Email: sherri.wheeldon@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She has a competitive nature—basketball, euchre, cribbage, etc.

MTSS Team

Ms. Katelyn VanDyke

Ms. Katelyn VanDyke

K-8 Reading Interventionist

Ms. Katelyn loves having the privilege of supporting students in Kindergarten- 8th grade on their journey to become skilled readers. One of the things she loves most about her job is being able to meet students where they are at while helping them reach their full potential. She values the relationships that are able to be developed by working in a 1:1 setting.

Email: katelyn.vandyke@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She won the school spelling bee in 5th grade.

Ms. Lisa Haven

Ms. Lisa Haven

Math Interventionist

Math is Ms. Lisa’s favorite subject to teach and she loves seeing students learn math, from explaining a triangle and making 10, to calculating with the Pythagorean Theorem and trigonometry. Ms. Lisa also loves witnessing students make their own understanding and stories with math concepts. When not teaching, she loves hanging out with her family and walking their big dogs.

Email: lisa.haven@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: She can teach President Garfield’s proof of the Pythagorean Theorem from memory, and she has Saint Bernards. 

Ms. Lyndi Roush

Ms. Lyndi Roush

High School Mentor and RE:Fuel Coordinator

Ms. Lyndi has been working with students and families at iCademy since 2021. When she isn’t on campus, she loves spending time in her community—talking with neighbors, walking to the library, or trying a new coffee at her favorite local coffee shop!

Email: lyndi.roush@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: In high school, she did Dutch Dance for four years. She even still has her wooden shoes and all 8 pairs of socks!

Whole-School Supports

Mr. Reid Nicholson

Mr. Reid Nicholson

School Lead

Mr. Reid considers partnering with families in their educational adventures a great honor and privilege! He loves seeing students engage in a wide variety of opportunities to discover their talents and passions. Since 2017, he has been committed to uncovering and encouraging wonder and curiosity within all students at iCademy.

Email: reid.nicholson@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Outside of school, Mr. Reid enjoys being active in nature with his family through hunting, fishing, playing beach volleyball, or any other excuse to be outside.

Ms. Leisa Lobbezoo

Ms. Leisa Lobbezoo

Enrollment, Communications & Marketing Director

Ms. Leisa is our enrollment and communications person at iCademy. She loves meeting new families, learning their stories, and helping them find the right school and program for their kiddos. Helping kiddos land in their just right spot and getting a chance to cheer them on as they find success is one of her favorite things!

Email: leisa.lobbezoo@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. Leisa spent the first two years of her college education as an Aviation major at Western Michigan University where she intended to be a pilot.

Ms. Jody Voss

Ms. Jody Voss

Community Programs Director

Ms. Jody loves that she gets to combine her passions of connecting learning in the classroom with opportunities for learning outside the classroom in her job as Community Programs Director. Community Passport, Synergy Sessions and Capstone opportunities are three great ways students at iCademy can take advantage of learning outside the classroom and she loves that she can be involved in helping make these connections for students! Ms. Jody loves reading, traveling and spending time with her family and friends.

Email: jody.voss@icademyglobal.org

Fun Fact: Ms. Jody and her family are the 4th & 5th generations to live in the same house.

Ms. Kristin Frederick

Ms. Kristin Frederick

McKinney Vento Coordinator

Meet Ms. Kristin! She supports our students as our McKinney Vento Coordinator.

Email: kristin.frederick@innocademy.com

Fun Fact: She has gone scuba diving with sharks!

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