Meet our Staff

Mrs. Melanie Adams joined Sunrise in 2001.  She has been in the education field for 33 years.  Melanie enjoys her job, both as a classroom teacher and as Elementary Principal.  She received her Education Degree from Fort Hays State University.  She enjoys spending time with her family, loves babysitting her granddaughter, working outside, and walking her dogs.  She also enjoys volunteering in Assisted Living Facilities where she can serve and minister to the elderly.  

Her favorite verse is Psalm 19:14.

Mrs. Barton has been teaching since 1978 and has been teaching 1st grade at Sunrise since 1993. Both her Bachelors Degree and Masters Degree come from Wichita State University.  She loves being "nana" to three beautiful little boys and enjoys gardening, reading and going on long walks. 

Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.

Mrs. Bauer graduated from Kansas Newman University with a degree in Education and has been teaching since 1996.  She has been at Sunrise since 2013 and has taught Science, Math, Bible, and her very favorite PE.  Mrs. Bauer has been blessed to teach PE for 16 yrs.   She loves spending time with her students especially during  Summer Advantage. Her teaching philosophy is based on 1 Timothy 4:8 and Philippians  2:15. 

Ms. Chen teaches Chinese to K-5 students and EPP(English proficiency program) for international students. She loves spending time with her family traveling, tasting new food, and doing creative things. If she could start all over, she thinks she might become a PE teacher, an art teacher, or a music teacher rather than a language teacher. She is passionate to teach students to see God’s handiwork in all cultures and use all languages to proclaim God’s words near and far.

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Her favorite verse is Psalm 27:4.

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Mrs. Cowel started working at Sunrise in 2008 as an accompanist in the Music Department.  Currently, she is working as a Teacher's Aid for our Elementary and she loves her job! 

Mrs. Fuller graduated in 2002 with her Bachelor's Degree in both Music Education and Bible. After teaching private piano and voice lessons for about a decade, she began teaching vocal music at SCA in 2017. She is married and has five children (including triplets). She enjoys puzzles, traveling, and spending time with her family. 

Her favorite passage of Scripture is currently Psalm 121. 

Mrs. Henry has been at Sunrise since 2012 and has taught 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, Elementary Computer, JH Computer, SH Word Processing, Computer 1, and Web/Graphic Design. She has a Bachelor's in Elementary Education from Southwestern University.  She is originally from Iowa, loves spending time with family, reading, playing games, and kayaking.

Her favorite verse is Psalm 31:3, "For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me."

Mrs. Hofer began teaching in 1987 and taught for 4 years before leaving for Thailand. While in Thailand, Mrs. Hofer had the privilege of serving as a missionary to the Khmu people for 8 years. She also taught in an International school for 2 years in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In 2006 Mrs. Hofer began teaching Kindergarten for Sunrise. She has a BA Liberal Arts with Elementary Certification. She says, "Everything you need to know you learn in Kindergarten." 

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Her favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 3:20.

Mrs. Keller joined the Sunrise team in 2020.  She came with 18 years of Elementary teaching experience.  She received a Bachelor’s degree from Wichita State University and a Master’s degree from Emporia State University.  Mrs. Keller loves spending time with her family.  Whether it be enjoying nature during family walks, or cheering on their favorite sports teams. 

Her favorite verse is Philippians 4:6-9.

Miss Kelley is a 2017 alumni of Sunrise. She joined the elementary teaching staff for the 2021-2022 school year and was so excited to get to teach Kindergarten.  She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Pensacola Christian College.  Miss Kelley loves to sing and she frequently references Veggie Tales songs and movies in her classroom.  She also loves getting to teach Bible stories to her kids.  

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Miss Kelley's favorite verses are Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:6-7.

Mrs. Kiser has been a part of the elementary team since 2007.  She currently teaches Kindergarten but has also taught PreK and 1st Grade.  She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Emporia State University.  She once worked as a cake Decorator. 

Mrs. Kiser's favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6.

Donisha Krumme joined the Sunrise team in 2013. She earned her Elementary Education degree at Emporia State University in 2001 and was a stay-at-home mom for nine years.  She enjoys spending time with her four children, reading, baking, and crafting.

Her favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Mrs. McDonald has been teaching since 1993 and teaches 4th grade.  She loves love riding on the motorcycle with her husband and participates in Zumba and indoor cycling.  Her degrees include an Associates degree from Cowley County Community College and a BA from Southwestern College. 

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Her Favorite Bible Verse is Isaiah 41:10.

Mrs. Meier has taught various elementary classes at Sunrise since 2002 and has been in the 5th grade classroom for the last few years.  She has a Bachelor of Science in  Elementary Education.  She is married to a Canadian and has four children who have attended Sunrise. 

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Her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 41:13.  

Katie O’Donnell joined the Sunrise team in August of 2021. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Wichita State University, and has worked as an elementary teacher and as a reading and language therapist since 2011. Katie loves spending time with her husband and 3 little girls. They love to travel and make memories with family and friends whenever they have the opportunity! 

Mrs. Perkins is teaching 5th grade at Sunrise and has been working in schools since 2005.  Her Elementary Education degree is from Tabor College, and she also has a Masters degree in Library Science from Emporia State University.  She loves reading and has been a Librarian as well as a teacher. 

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Her favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 44:22.

Mrs. Scholtz began teaching at Sunrise in 2011. She is a graduate of Appalachian Bible College in West Virginia with a Bachelors in Theology and Elementary Education. Mrs. Scholtz has 2 boys under the age of  2 that keep her busy. She enjoys playing hot wheels with her boys, playing Mario Kart with her husband, going to Dunkin‘ Donuts, and going to the park in her free time. 

Her favorite Bible verse is Psalm 73:25-26. 

Mrs. Schwab began teaching at Sunrise in 2018.  She has a Bachelor's Degree from Arizona State University and has 25 years of teaching experience.  She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Biblical Counseling.  She loves being involved with her six children and their many activities.  She is very excited to be here and teach about the love God has for us and how Jesus transforms peoples' lives.  One of her favorite Bible verses is 1 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Mrs. Smith teaches Pre-Kindergarten and is in her sixth year at Sunrise.  She graduated from Allen County Community College with an Associate's Degree in General Studies and then went to Sterling College where she graduated with a Bachelor's in Science in Elementary Education.  She and her husband have two beautiful daughters, Lauren is seven and Katherine is four. 

Mrs. Smith's favorite Bible verse is Psalm 100:5.

Mrs. Van Dellen joined the Sunrise team in 2018. She came with 12 years of Elementary teaching experience and a bachelor's degree from Calvin College.  She loves spending time with her family experiencing the outdoors as well as watching and playing sports. 

Her favorite verse is Ephesians 3: 14-21 

Vanessa White has been involved with Sunrise since 2005, primarily as a 4th Grade teacher. In the last 5 years, she has started the Student Services Program for elementary kids in need of extra services. She is a Certified Academic Language Therapist, focusing on dyslexia and other language learning disabilities. 

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Her favorite verse is 2 Timothy 1:7.