OUR STAFF
Tri-City Adventist School has an outstanding Christian teaching staff of committed, fully qualified, and certificated teachers. The teachers have made a personal and spiritual commitment to serve our children and assist our families in developing the life of each child. Our teachers bring many years of experience with them to enrich the educational development of our children. They are focused on providing a safe and nurturing environment where your child can grow educationally, spiritually, socially, and emotionally.
Gayle Norton
Principal
Richard Laubach
Biology
Jessica Davies
Mathematics
Joelle Worf
Language Arts
Melissa Beedle
5th and 6th Grades
Karen Birney
3rd and 4th Grades
B. Ed. Elementary Education
Our 3rd and 4th grade classroom is under the direction of Karen Birney. She loves the moments in teaching when students are enthused about something they are learning or when they are in the process of conquering their challenges.
Mrs. Birney graduated from the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Education. She began her teaching experience with four years spent in Canada, followed by 12 years in California. She has been teaching at Tri-City Adventist School since 2004. Her experience includes being a classroom teacher in the elementary grades, and teaching music to grades 1-10.
Karen loves camping, hiking, and sight-seeing with her family (husband and two adult children and their families). In her leisure, she enjoys doing puzzles, cooking, and reading.
Jessica Davidson
2nd Grade
Betty Villarreal
1st Grade
MA Elementary Reading
Our 1st and 2nd grade classroom is taught by Betty Villarreal, affectionately known as Teacher Betty. She began her teaching career here at TCAS immediately after graduating from Walla Walla University with a BS degree. She continued her learning with a Masters of Education in Reading from Eastern Washington University and later obtained an Early Childhood Endorsement.
She has been teaching in grades K-4 for over 25 years and has also spent a year substitute teaching in the Pasco School District. When she has some time to call her own she loves reading, music, hiking, experimental cooking, and any activity to do with her family (two adult sons and husband, Rick). She also enjoys sewing, needlepoint, and quilting!
Teacher Betty loves watching children learn and develop their God-given potential. She also enjoys seeing children succeed as they work together and accomplish their goals.
Jessica Smith
Kindergarten
BA Elementary Education
Jessica Smith is our lead Kindergarten teacher. Jessica holds a BA in Elementary Education from Walla Walla University. Her experience includes teaching in the Touchet and Walla Walla public school systems as well as teaching Kindergarten at Palau SDA Elementary School. We are excited to have Jessica as part of our team of dedicated teachers at TCAS!
Jennica Showalter
Office Administrator
Celeste Graves
Treasurer
TESTIMONIALS
"This is a Christian school. It is clear that there is a rapport among the faculty and students. The sense of community is wonderful.
Older students help younger students. Younger students look up to the older ones. The students know that the principal and teachers care about them. Students are respectful of the teachers and leadership."
~ TCAS Parent