Rondi Aastrup

Writer

Rondi Aastrup has been teaching English and Journalism since 1978.  A graduate of Atlantic Union College (B.A. ’77) and Andrews University (M.A. ’83), she has traveled extensively around the world with family, friends, and students.  She enjoys reading, writing, traveling, photography, listening to and playing music, and hanging out with family and friends.  Her blog (www.raastrup.blogspot.com) touches on all of those topics as well as her love for nature.
Formerly principal and English teacher at Greater Boston Academy, Rondi is the English teacher at Thunderbird Adventist Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, doing what she loves best: connecting with young people through reading, writing, and learning. Collaborating with her colleagues is also a special joy, especially when that collaboration results in a journey to discovery and excellence with their students.

Christine Gillan Byrne

Writer

Christine holds a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in special education from the University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) from La Sierra University, Riverside, CA and is completing a Doctor of Education (Ed.D) degree in Educational Administration and Leadership also from La Sierra University.

Her undergraduate degree in early childhood was earned at Pacific Union College. From 1993-2001 she was the administrator for Kiddie Kollege, the child development center on the campus of Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska and lead consultant for Child Care Problems and Solutions. During this time she was also president of the Nebraska Association for the Advancement of Child Care Services (NAACCS), a non-profit training and certification organization.

She is a member in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the editor for the Adventist Child Care Network (ACCN) Newsletter as well as the category editor for Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center Linking Educators (CIRCLE) which is the on-line Seventh-day Adventist clearinghouse for curriculum and other instructional resources.

Gavin Gaynair

Writer

Gavin, a graduate of Oakwood University, holds a B.A. in Biology Education. He has spent two years overseas teaching as a volunteer missionary in Karnataka, India. Currently, he heads the science department at Greater Boston Academy. To Mr. Gaynair, true education is the harmonious development of mind, body, and spirit. His desire is to see his students grow not only in knowledge of subject content, but to see the subject content lead his students into a deeper understanding of and relationship with their Creator.

Rebecca F. Kinley Fraker

Writer

Rebecca K. Fraker lives at Union Springs Academy in NY with her husband Steven Fraker.  She has three children and one grandchild. Most of her career has been spent with multi-grade education and she has taught every age through 12th grade.  She is greatly interested in everything and is always eager to learn new things.  This past year she has explored the world of bones and has started a collection of animal skulls, bones, and teeth to examine with her eager, enthusiastic students.

Davenia Lea Jones

North American Division

Associate Director of Early Childhood Education

Davenia Jones Lea, Ph.D. is currently the Associate Director of Early Childhood Education for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, North American Division, Office of Education. She has over 20 years of experience as an early interventionist where she provided services to children with disabilities and their families as well as experience in higher education. Additionally, she has worked substantially in the field of culturally responsive teaching practices as well as effective programming for adolescent parents and their children.

She is a graduate of University of Maryland at College Park and her research expertise includes building effective relationships within families, culturally responsive practices, and effective communication and collaboration strategies. She is published in the Journal of Early Intervention, she is a contributing author to Culture in Special Education by Maya Kalyanpur and Beth Harry (2012) and has made extensive presentations at local, national, and international professional conferences such as the Association for Educational Research and (AERA), The Division of Early Childhood (DEC) and the International Conference on Education. She has also been an invited participant in the Seventh-day Adventist Integration of Faith and Learning Seminar in Thailand, a presenter for the promotion of Multicultural Education in Capetown, South Africa and for the promotion of inclusion for the SDA North Caribbean Teacher Conference in the Dominican Republic.

Davenia is very active in her church and community as well. Davenia is the wife of Derrick Lea and they have been married for seventeen years and they have two children, Jonathan and Morgan. Next to her relationship with God, her family is her greatest joy.

Laura Mayne

Writer

Laura Mayne is a highly motivated educator who is currently employed by the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as the principal of the Brooklyn Seventh-day Adventist School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics and Family Studies from Andrews University and a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from Hunter College, CUNY.Laura is an excellent teacher and administrator. She is a recipient of the Zappara Excellence in Teaching Award and a multiple recipient of the Who’s Who Among American Teachers Award. Laura has served on numerous boards and professional committees including the 2001 Language Arts, North American Division Summer Committee, the Grades 5 – 8, Bible Steering Textbook Committee and the Atlantic Union Technology Committee. She currently serves on the Greater New York conference K -12 Board of Education and the Atlantic Union Teacher Bulletin Committee. She is an advocate for Adventist Christian Education and believes that every child should be taught of God. Laura is married to Albert. They have three adult children, Boyd, Raquel and Geneva and two grandsons, Matthew and Justin.

Edwin Silié

Writer

Edwin Silié was born in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico however his deep roots are found in the Dominican Republic where his parents are from and where he was raised. Arriving in the United States in the mid 90s he decided to learn English and study Mathematics. Edwin Silié is currently the Mathematics Teacher at Greater Boston Academy. Before arriving at GBA Edwin Silié worked at Mount Vernon Academy in Ohio, in Guam Adventist Academy in the beautiful Island of Guam, and as a missionary teaching a variety of subjects from Mathematics to Physical Education in the island of Majuro.His Educational career was enhanced at Columbia Union College, now known as Washington Adventist University. There he earned a Bachelors of Science in Mathematics and studied Secondary Education to improve his teaching experience.Edwin Silié is currently working on his Master degree in School Administration at Atlantic Union College. Always finding away to motivate and help youth in Mathematics but also in helping others and missionary work.

John Skrzypaszek

Writer

John Skrzypaszek, holds a BA and MA degree in Theology from Avondale College and a DMin degree in Religious Studies from Australian College of Theology. He served the church as a pastor, district director, Personal Ministries Director and Ministerial Secretary. Currently, he is the director of Ellen G. White/SDA Research Centre at Avondale College and a member of the theology faculty. He lectures in church history and Christian studies. John has a keen interest in spirituality, church history and he explores issues such as relevance of Christian faith for life in 21st century.