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.

Elvis Agard

Elvis Agard currently is a Grade 5 Homeroom teacher and grades 5 through 8
Mathematics teacher at Oakview Preparatory School in New York.  Born and raised in Barbados, he acquired a B.S in Mathematics and Computer Science from The University of the West Indies. Since then he accrued Music and Education credits at Atlantic Union College.  Having taught teenagers at two secondary public schools in Barbados, this is his 5th year teaching elementary school students within the NAD and enjoys every moment of the
experience.

When not playing the trumpet Elvis is spending time with Lafane, his wonderful wife of 5 years.  He also enjoys reading, exploring history, traveling, hiking and just about anything that captures his varied interest.  Currently enrolled in the Masters in Leadership program at Andrews University, he eagerly looks forward for how God will use him in the future.  “Knowing God”, he says, “and fulfilling His purpose for your life is what ultimately matters.”

Bradley Booth

Bradley has taught in Adventist schools in the United States, West Africa, and Russia, and is currently Chair and Professor of Education & Psychology at Atlantic Union College. He enjoys sports of all kinds, writing, and singing with ONE VOICE, a men’s a cappella evangelistic group. His mission in life is to help young people get to know Jesus fully.

Helen Hovanic

Writer

Helen Hovanic has been in the teaching profession for 25 years. During those years she has taught Spanish at various Academies as well as Atlantic Union College. Her teaching has covered grades K-12 and college level. In addition to authoring the Spanish units for the Teacher Bulletin, she has authored Spanish Study Guides for grades 7-12 for Home Study International.

She is married to Dr. Gregory Allen Hovanic. She has two married daughters and two granddaughters. She enjoys traveling, gourmet cooking, and reading. She’s still active in the classroom, teaching Spanish for grades 9-12 and enjoying every bit of it.

Mark Ishikawa

Mark Ishikawa was raised in Oakhurst, CA, a small town near Yosemite National Park.  He went to Pacific Union College and majored in Religion.  Following graduation, he worked as a youth pastor in Loma Linda for 3 years.  Andrews University Theological Seminary was next -  studying for a Masters in Youth Ministry.  He currently is finishing his second year as chaplain and religion teacher at Greater Boston Academy.

Mark enjoys family, friends, food, and fun.  He likes to watch and play most sports. His dream vacation is to portage along the boundary waters in Minnesota.  “There has not been one day of my life where I have regretted my choice of career in youth ministry.  I encourage everyone to realize how easy it is to make a big difference in the lives of our youth.”

Lillian Mitchell

Writer

Lillian is the principal of Greater New York Academy, located in Woodside, Queens, New York. Prior to this assignment, she served as the principal of Whispering Pines Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School. She graduated form Andrews University with a Master of Arts degree in Education. Her interests include reading, sewing, crocheting and traveling. Lillian is married to Orette Mitchell who pastors in the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. They are the proud parents of three children, Henry, a graduate of Andrews univeristy; Charisse, a graduate of Loma Linda University School of Mediine who is married to Maxwell Branadon; and Joy-Anne, a graduate of Pacific Union College. Henry is married to the former Gyssel Cruz who is the daughter of Jose Cruz who also pastors in Greater New York Conference. Henry and Gyssel have made Lillian and Orette doting grandparents of Henry-Jose and Liliana. Lillian has been listed in Who's Who Among Americas Teachers and Who's Who Among American Women. She has also been the recipient of the Zapara Excellence in Teaching Award. Lillian enjoys teaching - especially young children, but is now really fascinated with the teenagers of Greater New York Academy.

Lamont Plowden

Lamont Plowden teaches social studies, religion and physical education at Greater Boston Academy.  He graduated from Atlantic Union Conference with a history major. While at AUC, he was the top scoring member of the Flames basketball team, breaking the previous record held by a former GBA physical education teacher.

Larry Robbins

Writer

Larry Robbins is a teacher at A.W. Spalding Elementary School in Collegedale, Tennessee.  He teaches a combination class of Language Arts/History to the 8th grade.  He has been teaching for 31 years and has a BA in History from Atlantic Union College.

Larry has been married for over 37 years to his wife Martha and they have three grown sons and three grandchildren who all live in the Collegedale area.  Larry states that humor plays a big part in his everyday life and work.

Laura Smith

Laura Smith is a native of New York and attended the University of New York. She is a graduate of Nyack College in Nyack, New York. While living in New York she taught for one Year at Andrew Jackson High School.

For the past three years Laura has been teaching at Lincoln Seventh-day Adventist School and feels that she is so privileged to be working for the Lord. She teaches grades two to four and enjoys interacting with the children. Laura says that working with a wonderful group of women is the icing on the cake.

Laura’s family consists of her daughter Laurie and her husband Dan and their children, Christopher, Allura and Aidan. Laura’s younger daughter serves as an attorney in Mansfield, Ma.   Laura’s has three step children left by her late husband. They are Jeff Smith, his wife Twyla, Jennifer Smith, Jacob and his wife Wendi, and their children Elizabeth and Jacob.

Dana Waterman

Writer

Dana is currently raising her two girls, tutoring students, writing curriculum for North American Division Teacher Bulletin, and substitute teaching. Dana received her B.S. degree in Elementary Education from Atlantic Union College and her M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership with an emphasis in Curriculum from the University of Southern Maine. She taught grades five and six for six years at Pine Tree Academy and was a student elementary teacher in the Marshall Islands. She enjoys reading, writing, researching, and spending summers on the lake swimming and boating with her husband and two daughters.