Meet Our Faculty & Staff
Kyle Klemp
Principal/Athletics Director
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!
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Stephen Becker
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.
Carol Flores
Office Manager
Mrs. Flores works as our school Office Manager. She enjoys being able to know each member of our Trinity 'ohana and helping new families get acquainted with our school. She and her husband are proud parents of two sons, who keep busy with school, scouting and sports. As a family, they enjoy traveling and staycations. Mrs. Flores' favorite treasures of Trinity are its warm 'ohana environment and seeing children deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
The dedicated members of our Faculty and Staff are here to guide, inspire and support students.
This makes each of us a Teacher.
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
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!
Maureen Tengbergen
Beehive (Preschool)
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
Honu Room (Prekindergarten)
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!
Elizabeth Brose
Kindergarten
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.
Kelli Taylor
Kindergarten
Mrs. Taylor is very excited to be joining theTrinity Ohana as the new kindergarten teacher. She graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas earning a BA in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Taylor has been teaching for nine years and is most excited about sharing God’s love and his promises with her students. Mrs. Taylor is a proud Army wife and a mother of two beautiful daughters. Outside of school she loves spending time with her friends and family, cooking, relaxing at the beach, and cheering on the Kansas Jayhawks as well as the Kansas City Chiefs. Mrs. Taylor is looking forward to building relationships with her students and hopes to instill a lifelong love for learning.
Morgan Clifford
First Grade
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
Mrs. Harlan has over ten years of experience working with children. She decided to become a teacher because she absolutely loves to witness and foster learning and growth in her students academically, as individuals, and in their faith collectively. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cleveland State University. In her free time she loves reading books, doing arts and crafts, photography, and graphic design. We are thrilled to welcome her into our Trinity 'Ohana.
Kristen Hutchings
Third Grade
Mrs. Hutchings has been in the education field for 11 years. She received her BA in Early Childhood/Childhood Education, and her MA in Literacy Education from Niagara University in New York. She decided to become a teacher because she wanted to make a difference in students' lives and show them that they can achieve any goal. Mrs. Hutchings loves that Trinity Lutheran has a strong family-oriented environment and is excited to share her love for Jesus with her students and families.
Erica Harbison
Fourth Grade
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.
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Heather Klemp
Fifth Grade
Mrs. Klemp has been teaching for 12 years. She is passionate about teaching because she loves learning and hopes to share that love with others. She especially enjoys teaching 5th grade because of their enthusiasm for school. Wednesday chapel is her favorite at TLS because she loves hearing the promises of God's Word. 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. Trinity Lutheran is a special place to her because everyone looks out for one another.
Carissa Wittig
Sixth Grade Homeroom
Middle School Social Studies
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
Tiffany feels incredibly blessed to be able to serve the Trinity Ohana as a long term sub during the first half of the school year and now as a classroom aide for preK-2nd grade. She has a BA in Elementary Education and MA in Elementary Reading and Literacy. She has experience being a full time classroom teacher in 1st and 3rd grade, and she has several years experience as a substitute teacher. Her husband is in the Army and they are currently stationed at Schofield Barracks. She has two boys and a dog. Tiffany enjoys just about anything outdoors, cheering on her boys in sports, praising the Lord through song, and working with children.
Elizabeth Hoffman
Eighth Grade Homeroom
Middle School Science
Ms. Hoffman is excited to begin her 2nd year with middle school at Trinity this year. She is a graduate of Concordia University Texas with a degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, and she joined the Crusader family in 2019 as a long-term sub for 1st grade. Ms. Hoffman loves working with kids and watching them discover the many joys of life. She is very passionate about learning, adventure, and living in the joy of Jesus. Above all, Miss Hoffman wants every child to leave the classroom knowing and believing in how exceptionally loved they are by Jesus Christ! She is ready to see what God does in and through her and her students at Trinity Lutheran School!
Renae Hopkins
Art, Lower School PE, School Counselor
Mrs. Hopkins fuses social-emotional learning with physical activity with the goal to increase student self-efficacy. Mrs. Hopkins is a Licensed Professional School Counselor. She holds a BA in Social Work and Human Services with a concentration in Crisis Intervention from Lewis University and a Masters in Education, Guidance and Counseling from American Military University. In her spare time, Mrs. Hopkins loves exercising, going on adventures with her family, preferably adventures that end with eating Shave Ice, and baking custom cakes for her family, friends and community. She is a military spouse, mother of 2 Crusaders and loves the Chicago Blackhawks hockey team. Mrs. Hopkins loves being a part of the Trinity community. She believes TLS has provided her family with a place to call home.
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.
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.
Caroline Batule
Preschool Teacher
Caroline (Ms Car) Batule comes from a military family and even attended Trinity for sixth and seventh grade. Ms Car graduated from Clemson University with a bachelors in nursing and was a nurse at Tripler for four years before getting out of the Army to raise her three daughters. Ms Car and her family are so happy to be back in Hawaii and consider themselves lucky to be members of Trinity’s community.
