ISJ Faculty and Staff
Matthew Pifer
Principal
Mr. Pifer has experience working in a variety of church settings - from being a Youth Pastor, to being an Associate Pastor, to being the Supervisor of the YouthBuild Program at Bethany Christian Services. In addition, Mr. Pifer has served our country as a member of the Marine Corps Infantry. Mr. Pifer has a passion for being a lifelong learner. He has Bachelor of Science from Cornerstone University; a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling; and is working on a Doctor of Education at Liberty University. Additionally, he loves to connect with people of all ages and walks of life so that he can share with them the love of Christ. Mr. Pifer and his wife and two children live in Grand Haven.
Jennifer Welch
Pre-K Teacher and Early Childhood Center Director
Ms. Welch has been serving as a Lutheran early childhood educator for over 20 years. She has a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction. During her career she has taught children from the ages of six weeks to six years old, coached middle school basketball and volleyball. She serves on the Lutheran Education Association's Early Childhood Educators Network Leadership Team and is currently serving the Michigan District as an Early Childhood Consultant and a member of the Early Childhood Cabinet. Ms. Welch is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Lori Spletzer
Early Childhood Aide
Mrs. Spletzer lives in Belmont with her husband, Bruce, and two boys, Nathan and Owen. She is a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and has worked in ISJ's Early Childhood Program since 2013. She enjoys books and the Detroit Tigers, and hopes to visit every MLB ballpark.
Faith Morgan
Early Childhood Aide/Aftercare
Ms. Faith lives in Grand Rapids. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Broadcast Communications from Cornerstone University in 2020. She primarily works as an early childhood aide and aftercare teacher at ISJ, but also wears the hats of occasional substitute teacher and content creator for ISJ’s social media pages. When she’s not a ISJ, she has her own photography business and volunteers with Frontline Community Church’s children’s ministry. She loves all things cow related and driving down to Ohio to spend time with family.
Tony Blando
Early Childhood Aide
Tony Blando has spent most of his life in the greater Grand Rapids area where he met his wife of 6 years. He has worked in health-care, warehouse management, technology, and been a stay at home dad to his two children since his oldest was born. He has assisted during the Summer Camp with the K-8 class and is assisting with the Pre-K and T-K as an aid.
He enjoys the outdoors, reading, amateur radio, gaming, and fixing electronics in his free time.
Abby Hochthanner
Aftercare Aid
Miss Abby is starting her path to becoming a teacher. She is an honors student at Grand Valley State University, majoring in Birth to Kindergarten Education. Her hometown is in Westland, Michigan. While home for the summers, she holds a position at another Lutheran school in Ann Arbor. During the school year she works in the aftercare room for the older grades and aids in the pre–K rooms when available. She has been enjoying exploring the West side of Michigan and hopes to eventually see all 50 states.
Jen Laban
Early Childhood Teacher
Ms. Jen is our Preschool Teacher. She has been teaching at ISJ since 2017, and teaching overall since 2004. She has 2 wonderful children, Matthew and LilyAnn. In her free time, she enjoys doing puzzles, running, going on hikes with with her boyfriend, traveling and recently, doing home remodeling. Ms. Jen loves being silly and sharing God's love with her class each and every day!
Amy Door
Student Support Specialist
Ms. Door is excited to be joining ISJ Academy this year as a student support specialist. She has degrees and work experience in social work and discovered a passion for teaching while serving for 6 months in Guatemala as a short-term missionary. After earning a Masters of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from Cornerstone University, Ms. Door worked with English Learners in two area school districts. She obtained her teaching certificate in elementary education from Aquinas College in 2022 while working in Educational Support Services at Grandville Christian School. She is passionate about inclusive education, language, literacy, and helping students succeed not only academically, but also socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Outside of the classroom Ms. Door enjoys spending time with her family, exploring area parks, reading, and doing craft projects.
Ellen Godbold
Pre-K Teacher
Mrs. Godbold has always had a heart for Lutheran schools. She comes from a family with over 100 years of service in Lutheran schools and congregations. She followed in her parents’ and three sisters’ footsteps by receiving a degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University Chicago. Mrs. Godbold isn’t new to the ISJ family as she taught 2nd grade 24 years ago before taking a pause to raise her three daughters. Throughout the years she has been privileged to serve children from age 3 to grade 8, but for the past 10 years her passion has been sharing the love of Jesus with preschoolers and their families at Saint Mark Lutheran in Kentwood.
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Mrs. Godbold lives in Caledonia with her husband, Paul, and three daughters. She enjoys summers with her family at her in-laws’ cottage. Besides teaching Jesus’ little lambs, reading, taking walks, and baking goodies bring her much joy. She and her family are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
Kelly Banister
Kindergarten and First Grade
Kelly Banister lives in Grand Rapids and has been married to her husband, Bob, for 17 years. Together they have four children, and two of them will be attending ISJ starting in the fall. Kelly received her degree in Elementary Education with a ZA endorsement for Early Childhood Education from Western Michigan University and taught several years at Wayland Public Schools before accepting her call to stay home and raise her own children. During this time she was active in teaching Kindergarten age students at her weekly Bible study, and teaching the 4/5’s Sunday school class at her church. She is excited to work with the Kindergarten and First grade students at ISJ, and is passionate about teaching students to see the beauty of God’s creation through the various subjects. She enjoys spending time with her family, being involved at her church and traveling.
Sandra Schaeffer
Second and Third Grade Teacher
Mrs. Schaeffer has worked in the field of education for over twenty years, first as a homeschooler and then as a teacher for the Edmonton Public School Board in Alberta, Canada. Mrs. Schaeffer's strengths as an educator are working with students with behavioral challenges, classroom management, project based learning, meaningful assessment, and literacy. And, if you are wondering, yes, Mrs. Schaeffer is related to Pastor Glenn Schaeffer. They have been married for forty years and have four children, a son-in-law and two grandchildren.
Kelsey Butler
Assistant Principal/Fourth and Fifth Grade Teacher
Ms. Butler teaches 5th- 6th grade Reading and Language Arts classes at ISJ. She completed her degree in Special Education and Elementary Education at Aquinas College. Prior to becoming a teacher, Ms. Butler worked at ISJ Academy as an Early Childhood Aide. She is an alumnus of West Michigan Lutheran High and ISJ Academy. Ms. Butler is a member of St. James Lutheran Church. She enjoys cooking and spending time with her family and friends. She loves being a part of the ISJ family.
SungHyun Lee
Middle School Math Teacher
Mr. Lee was born in Australia, but lived in South Korea until he was 13. As the child of missionaries, he moved around quite a bit and spent his teenage years in the Philippines and in Ethiopia. After high school, he came to the United States and attended Calvin University, as well as having spent two years of military service in Korea. From Calvin University, Mr. Lee graduated with a major in elementary education and math.
Mr. Lee is a sports fanatic who loves all sports, but especially soccer and badminton. He currently attends Korean Grace Church on Burton Street and plays guitar and sings with the worship team while also teaching Korean children the Korean language at his church.
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Emily Gustafson
Secretary
Mrs. Gustafson lives in Grand Rapids with her husband and three children. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction from Peru State College. Before staying home with her children, she taught middle school math for several years. She is excited to step back into education, serving the students and staff from the front office at ISJ Academy! When she's not at school, she enjoys spending time with her family and being involved at Immanuel Lutheran
Pastor Glenn Schaeffer
Pastor of St. James Lutheran Church
Pastor Glenn Schaeffer was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada and has spent most of his ministry serving God’s church in Canada. Pastor Schaeffer has been a child of God since June 18, 1961, when he was baptized as a three-month-old infant in the name of the triune God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. During Pastor Schaeffer’s years as a missionary, pastor, or District leader, he has been involved in establishing several churches, shepherding two congregations, and serving as the Mission Executive and District President of the Alberta-British Columbia District (ABC District) of Lutheran Church – Canada. He is thrilled to be serving as pastor at St. James church and ISJ Academy. Pastor Schaeffer enjoys developing, training, and sending Jesus’ followers as God’s missionary people into their communities.
Pastor Craig Bickel
Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church
Pastor Craig Bickel was born and raised in Frankenmuth, Michigan. He has served churches in Pensacola FL, Shelby Twp., MI and currently in Grand Rapids. He and his wife Sharon, have been blessed with three children. Pastor Craig wakes up every morning new, forgiven, and loved by Jesus. When asked what Immanuel is to him, he says, "Immanuel is an amazing family of faith, people who want to serve our city in sacrificial ways, and a congregation that want to see 'God's Kingdom grow' among us. Immanuel is wonderful also because of the partnership with St. James in sharing God's word, truth and love through ISJ Academy." Pastor Craig dreams to one day meditate on scripture in the ancient churches of Ethiopia, to sing praise to God in Taize, France, and to see his children committing to love and cherish their spouses.
Pastor Thomas Gustafson
Discipleship Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church
Pastor Thomas Gustafson is the Discipleship Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church. He is passionate about God’s people being life-long learners of the Word of God. Pastor Thomas loves seeing other people get excited talking and hearing about Jesus, especially when people learn what Jesus and the Word of God really teach! When he is not teaching Christian Doctrine at ISJ, you can find him at a local coffee shop discipling and mentoring other Christians, spending time with his wonderful family, or checking out one of Grand Rapid’s professional sports teams (Go Whitecaps!). He has many, but one of his favorite bible verses comes from 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 – “One God and One Lord.” He can’t wait to see you at ISJ!