Meet Our Faculty & Staff
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Psalm 32:8
The dedicated members of our Faculty and Staff are here to guide, inspire and support students. This makes each of us a Teacher.
Stephen Becker, Ph.D.
Church & School Pastor
Pastor Stephen Becker joined us here at Trinity Lutheran Church and School in February, 2021. A “second-career” Pastor, he was ordained in 2011 and served a congregation in Sacramento, California during that time. Pastor Becker also served the California Army National Guard as a Battalion Chaplain, but with his move to Hawaii, has transferred to the Hawaii Air National Guard as a Staff Chaplain with the 154th Fighter Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. He currently holds the rank of O3/Captain. Pastor Becker received his Ph.D. in Christian Education in 2010 and is very involved with our school. He and his wife Vanessa have been married for twenty-eight years and are parents to three adult children, Stephen, Ingrid and Ryan.
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Kyle D. Klemp
Principal
Mr. Klemp began his teaching ministry in 1999. He loves building relationships with his students and families through the many educational and extra-curricular activities he participates in. He has earned a BA in Secondary Education with a major in Broadfield Social Sciences and a minor in History. He has also earned an MA in Educational Leadership from Concordia University - Portland. As Principal, Mr. Klemp hopes to inspire his staff to be great educators and instill a love of learning in their students! And of course, being from Wisconsin, Mr. Klemp is a huge Green Bay Packer fan!
Alissa Baligad
Business Manager
Mrs. Baligad feels so very blessed to be a part of the Trinity ‘ohana once again. As a former student, she enjoyed her younger elementary years here at Trinity Lutheran School and has many fond memories. She enjoys hearing the students making memories of their own while they learn in a safe and nurturing environment. She and her husband are blessed with a daughter who loves attending Trinity as well. Mrs. Baligad enjoys quality family time while traveling, camping, relaxing during staycations, and playing taiko. She is grateful to be able to witness first hand all the wonderful things Trinity Lutheran Church and School has to offer our community and beyond!
Carol Flores
Office Manager
Mrs. Flores says one of the best parts of her role at Trinity is being able to connect with each family, as well as helping new families learn and get acquainted with our Crusader ʻohana. She and her husband are proud parents of two sons, who keep them busy with school and sports. As a family, they enjoy traveling, staycations, and trying to fish! Mrs. Floresʻ favorite treasures of Trinity are its warm ʻohana environment and seeing children deepen their relationship with Jesus.
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Maureen Tengbergen
Preschool Teacher
Mrs.Tengbergen (Mrs. Maureen) loves teaching Preschool because she enjoys seeing the children discover the world around them. She has earned a BA in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. This is her 25th year in education; Ms. Maureen has taught Preschool at TLS for the last 20 years. She loves Trinity Lutheran because of our Ohana feeling and most importantly sharing the love of Jesus with her students and their families.
Lani Carson
PreKindergarten Teacher
Dr. Carson has been teaching Prekindergarten at Trinity Lutheran for 18 years. Prior to that she taught with the Hawaii DOE for 11 years in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades, as well as for the University of Hawaii. She has earned a BA in Italian, PD in Elementary Education, MA in Elementary Ed Science, Colloquy in Lutheran Theology, and her PhD in Education with an emphasis in Learning. She loves the excitement the Prekindergarten children have for learning and enjoys learning new things too! She is thankful for the opportunity to be part of the Trinity Lutheran Ohana!
Kristina Everline
PreKindergarten Aide
Mrs. Kristina Everline grew up in Colorado and tries to go back as often as possible to visit her family. She & her husband moved to Hawaii 12 years ago. They love the ocean and the North Shore. Their two daughters, Ella and Alana, attend Trinity. Mrs. Kristina has worked with children in many different roles since she was young. She led kids camps, Vacation Bible School, Sunday School, tutored, and has been a professional nanny and pre-school teacher. When shes not at Trinity you can find her playing with her children at the beach & taking care of their dog Malia & the chickens. She’s very excited & feels blessed to be working with the little ones this year & to share God's word & love.
Evette Torres
PreKindergarten Aide
Mrs. Evette is grateful for the opportunity given to share God’s love and joy with the children. Mrs. Evette is a proud Army spouse and mother of one amazing son. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, going to the beach, and reading.
Elizabeth Brose
Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Brose became a teacher because it is the Calling that's been on her heart from a very young age. She has earned a BA and Lutheran Teaching Credential from Concordia College, NY and has 10 years of experience teaching in early childhood, including Prekindergarten through 2nd grades. She loves to share Christ, make crafts, and bake treats, and takes special requests for uniquely decorated cupcakes. This will be Ms. Brose's 3rd year at Trinity. She's excited about the adventures that await her at Trinity Lutheran and on the islands! Ms. Brose is also our Early Learning Program Director at Trinity.
Morgan Clifford
First Grade Teacher
Mrs. Clifford decided to become a teacher because she loves being inspired by the energy, creativity, and imagination of children. She has a BA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and received her Lutheran Teaching Diploma from Concordia University Texas. As a Called church worker, her goal is that every student that walks into her classroom would know and experience the love of Jesus Christ. This is her seventh year of teaching and her fifth year at Trinity. She and her husband have a toddler son and on the baby girl on the way. As a family they love being outside, enjoying nature and exercise. Mrs. Clifford loves Trinity because of the amazing Ohana and the support in Christ that she receives daily from the administration, staff, and church and school families!
Blythe Harlan
Second Grade Teacher
Mrs. Harlan is an enthusiastic educator driven by her Christian values and a passion for teaching. Graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology, concentrating in Neuropsychology, and a minor in Criminal Justice, she brings a unique understanding of cognitive development to her classroom. Her drive for education led her to also earn a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, again graduating with a 4.0 GPA. With over 100 hours of training in Orton Gillingham literacy instruction and 30 hours of training in Multi-sensory Math instruction, she strives to ensure every child's learning needs are addressed. Grounded in her Christian faith, Mrs. Harlan finds her calling and joy in fostering a nurturing environment where children thrive spiritually, academically, and emotionally.
Shannon Lynn
Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Lynn is most passionate about developing the minds and hearts of her students. She is entering her
14th year of teaching and has taught elementary and middle school. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry
from Cameron University and her M.A.T from Armstrong Atlantic State University. Mrs. Lynn is an Army
wife, and she and her husband have three daughters and two pets. When she is not at school, she loves
to explore the beautiful outdoors of Hawaii with her family. She is very excited to be a part of the Trinity Lutheran 'Ohana and to develop her 3rd graders while walking alongside of them on their journeys of
faith through the mountains and valleys of life.
Erica Harbison
Fourth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Erica Harbison became a teacher because of the wonderful blessing it is to help mold young minds and the excitement of their new discoveries. She has her BS in Psychology and her MA in Education from Virginia Tech. She loves praising God through music. She is a proud Navy wife and loves all the opportunities it has brought her family to grow in God's word. She is excited to be a part of the Trinity Lutheran 'Ohana.
Heather Klemp
Fifth Grade Teacher
Mrs. Klemp has been teaching for 16 years. She is passionate about teaching because she loves learning and hopes to share that love with others. She especially enjoys teaching 5th graders because of their enthusiasm for school. Wednesday chapel is her favorite at TLS because she loves hearing the promises of God's Word. Trinity Lutheran is a special place to her because everyone looks out for one another. Mrs. Klemp holds a BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Adaptive Education, and has also earned an MA in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Biblical Literacy.
Carissa Wittig
Sixth Grade Homeroom & Middle School Social Studies Teacher
Ms. Wittig is so excited to join the Trinity Lutheran School 'Ohana. After attending Trinity from 3rd to 8th grade, she is thrilled to be back as a teacher! Ms. Wittig earned her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and completed her Master’s Degree in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University. She has spent the last six years teaching in Las Vegas, NV. Growing up in a home where both parents were teachers, she has always had a passion for teaching. In her free time, Ms. Wittig loves traveling, hiking, and backpacking. Ms. Wittig is most excited to share the love of Jesus with each of her students and for the opportunity to watch them grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually throughout the school year!
Tiffany Wingeart
Seventh Grade Homeroom & Middle School Language Arts Teacher
Mrs. Wingeart feels incredibly blessed to be able to serve the Trinity 'Ohana in her second year as the Middle School Language Arts teacher. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Elementary Reading and Literacy. Her husband is in the Army and they are currently stationed at Schofield Barracks. She has two boys and a dog. Mrs. Wingeart enjoys just about anything outdoors, cheering on her boys in sports, praising the Lord through song, and working with children. She is so happy to be a part of this school community because of the immense amount of love she feels every time she sets foot on campus.
Delaney Lynn
Eighth Grade Homeroom & Middle School Science Teacher
Ms. Lynn feels incredibly blessed to be starting her first year at Trinity. She hopes to share her love for science and exploring God’s creation with her students each and every day. Ms. Lynn earned her B.S. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in biology, chemistry, and psychology at the University of Alabama, ROLL TIDE! As a military kid, her family moved here in the summer of 2021 while she was in her senior year of college. She is very happy to be reunited with her family in Hawaii after graduating. In her spare time, Ms. Lynn enjoys surfing, playing sports, and spending time with her family, including her dog! She is so excited to walk hand-in-hand with the middle school students as they continue their academic and faith journey!
Justice Lee
Middle School Electives
An alumnus of Trinity Lutheran, Mr. Lee now returns to campus as a teacher for the Debate and Esports electives. He graduated from Concordia University-Irvine with a B.A. in English and is currently working on an M.A. degree at Arizona State University. Mr. Lee has worked for the last four and a half years in the esports industry as a coach and general manager for various teams and organizations, while occasionally teaching on the side. In his free time, he enjoys for weight lifting, video game playing and reading. He is excited to make teaching a bigger part of his life and spend more time working with students.
Simona Gronic
Music Director
Simona Gronic has been playing violin since she was 5. A native of Moldova, Simona has traveled to Europe, Russia, Middle East, and the United States of America, performing solo and in orchestras.
Simona holds a Bachelor degree in Violin Performance from the Academy of Music in Moldova, and a Master degree in Violin Performance from Southeastern Louisiana University. She has played with the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra (Biloxi MS), Chamber Orchestra of the Springs (Colorado Springs, CO), currently Simona plays with Symphonies from the neighbor islands and subs for the Hawaii Symphony as well; Simona is also a freelance musician while maintaining a private studio.
Kahlee Mattos
Office Assistant/Classroom Aide/ASC Provider
This is Kahlee's first year with the Trinity 'Ohana. She is excited to get to know all the families in our community. She is a mother of two wonderful and wacky boys, who also attend Trinity Lutheran School. Her husband is in the military and they have lived abroad, as well as, in multiple locations around the United States. She has a passion for photography and is truly grateful to live in Hawaii.
Melissa Matter
Classroom Aide
Melissa Matter is a dedicated professional with over 15 years of experience in learning & development in addition to business development. Prior to joining Trinity, she worked within the semiconductor industry in corporate training and human resources. She also served as the past PTT President for the ''22-'23 school year. She holds an M.B.A. in International Business and marketing degrees from St. Edward's University. Outside of her professional pursuits, Mrs. Matter finds joy as a mother of four (2 girls and 2 boys) and is deeply passionate about volunteering in the literacy arena.
Kylie Olsen
Art Teacher, K-8
Ms. Kylie is excited to join the Trinity 'Ohana as the Art teacher for grades K-8. She has a BA in psychology with a minor in studio art from State University of New York at Potsdam. Ms. Kylie has been teaching for 4 years in various roles and is looking forward to focusing her teaching on art, an area of passion. She has experience with various art mediums including oil painting, drawing, stained glass, acrylic painting, ceramics and currently focuses on pottery in her home studio. Ms. Kylie finds joy in fostering the budding artist in all the students she works with.
Molly Serrano
Physical Education Teacher, K-8
My name is Molly Serrano. I’m married to Derick, an Army soldier at Schofield. I’m the mother of three boys, Brock (9), Ridge (6), and Crew (2). I have 2 bachelor’s degrees, one in kinesiology and the other in nursing. I’ve worked as a labor and delivery nurse for 15 years. As the new PE teacher, I’m going back to my roots as an athlete. I grew up playing sports and went to college on a full ride athletic scholarship for volleyball. My team came to O'ahu to play the University of Hawaii in a tournament; I’m now thrilled to be back 20 years later! I’m excited to teach the students to honor God through physical education. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
— 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV)