Our Staff
Hanna Grishkevich
Superintendent, Ph.D.
Principal Grades 6-12
Has been with the school since its first day.
Fun facts: Has two golden doodles: Vincent and Pablo. Loves coffee, Mexican food, sushi, Oregon coast, Lost Lake, Hawaii. Enjoys classical music, gardening, reading, and learning.
Irina Tishchenko, B.S.
VP of Operations, School Registrar & Secretary.
B.S. Biology, Kyrgyzstan
Has been with the school since its beginning.
Fun facts: spends the most time in traffic out of all teachers. Strict and fair. The rock of this school.
Loves dark chocolate and plants (house plants, flowers, shrubs). Loves Oregon coast and dreams to live by the coast.
Evelyna Ravlo
Yearbook Production
Fun Facts: I’m married to my best friend Alex and we have 3 beautiful children! I love Holland lop bunnies. I love anything crafty or artsy: I love drawing in my Bible journal, baking, sewing, crocheting, and painting! I work in the teens ministry at my church. My favorite tv show is The Chosen. I love to read and listen to audiobooks. (One year I read over 65 books! If you ever need a book recommendation, just ask.)
Favorite Bible Verse:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24
Larissa Dorokhov
Russian Language Teacher, Eastridge Campus
B.S. Social Sciences/ Psychology, Warner Pacific College
M.A. Ministry and Leadership, Western Seminary
Has been with the school since its beginning.
Fun facts: all four children are SMCA students, loves Bible and music.
Michelle Thomason
Eastridge Campus Fitness Instructor
A.C.E. Certified Fitness Instructor
ISSA Certified Personal Trainer
MUV Certified Tribe Coach
Hobbies- all things fitness, reading, hiking, building homes, skydiving
Nannette Miller
Principal-Elementary campus.
1st Grade Teacher.
B.S. Elementary Education, Oregon State University
Serving at SMBC since 2010
Fun Facts: Loves Gospel and Bethel worship music, Children’s Ministries and going on adventures with the family, went ziplining over the summer outside Yellowstone National Park.
Life Verse: Colossians 3:23-24 "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
Evan Chandler
6th Grade Teacher
B.A. in Elementary Education from Wheaton College
Fun facts: has been through 6th grade 11 times already, married a former SMCA teacher in October 2018, has lived in the Portland area his whole life except for when he was in college, serves as a part-time staff member at The Chapel, a foursquare church in Troutdale.
Dylan Sobey
Eastridge campus, History, English, Bible
M.A. Biblical Studies- Hebrew Scriptures, Multnomah University
M.A. Biblical Studies- Old Testament, Multnomah University
B.S. Psychology w/ minor in Music, Western Oregon University
"Mr. Sobes" has been an instructor at SMCA since 2017. When he is not teaching, Mr. Sobes may be found reading and writing, playing guitar, or cheering on the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Broncos.
Keri Ortmayer
Elementary Campus PE Coach
Master’s in Education
B.A. in Health Education and PE
Has three children, loves camping, coffee, tacos. Loves making fun memories with family and doing spontaneous things. Favorite summer activity – rodeo.
Life verse:
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
Anna Henderson
B.A. Foreign Language Training and Early Childhood Education, from The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia
A.A. Christian Ministry, from College for Officers Training, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Fun Facts:
Loves watching sunset, long conversation with friends, hikes in the nature; spent 11 years in the mission field; enjoys learning, reading, family adventures, painting, decorating and creating memories.
Favorite Verse: If you remain in Me and I remain in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Daniel Henderson
B.S Biochemistry and Cell Biology (UC San Diego)
AA Christian Ministry (Crestmont College).
26 years of church planting and growing, half of these years spent in Estonia, Republic of Georgia, and Russia.
Enjoys the great outdoors, hiking, camping, and sailing. He is currently the Pastor of English Ministries at Revival Baptist Church in Vancouver, WA. He and his wife, Anya, have been married for 22 years, and are the parents of six bilingual children.
Lina Vechtomova
Pre-K Teacher
Fun facts: Greatest joy is spending time with family, husband, daughter and son. Trips to the coast, fishing, kayaking, hiking.
Has a tiny teacup yorkie, named Daisy. Volunteers as a volleyball coach for local volleyball kids league. Enjoys being around kids. Loves to travel, take pictures, play volleyball, listen to music, listen to audio books, passionate about fashion and being creative. Chocolate mousse over any other desert. Fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian.
Tanner Stewart
2nd Grade Teacher
B.S. Education (in progress)
Fun facts: Spent years working with children, worked at state day care, then began working with youth as a youth leader. Loves sports. Play five different sports throughout high school. Coaches junior high track at Portland Christian School.
Samantha Kussat
Middle school and high school teacher, humanities
B.A. in History and English from George Fox University
M.Ed. in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University.
Fun Facts: Loves exploring new places and has been to seven countries. Loves to read and is currently reading a thousand-page unabridged version of The Count of Monte Cristo. In high school enjoyed listening to film and videogame soundtracks while working. Finds joy in expressing her musical side while play the alto saxophone.
Kate Ledington
Music and Performance Arts Teacher - Eastridge Campus
B.A. Music, Concordia University
M.Ed. Portland State University
M. Music – TBA.
Fun facts: Kate is from Idaho, plays violin on her worship team, and sings in choir. She hopes to get her Master’s in Conducting — less like trains, more like choir/orchestra— this school year. Although she won’t actually be conducting any trains, Kate does have a brother that drives one!
“…the gift of language combined with the gift of song was given to man[kind] that [we] should proclaim the Word of God through music.”
Taken from a quote by Martin Luther (1483-1546)
Randy Miller
3rd Grade Teacher
A.A. Fire Science, Mt. Hood Community College
Volunteering/Serving at SMBC since 2011
Fun Facts: Retired fire fighter. Actively serving in children's ministries since 1996. There is no greater joy than seeing children come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior! Lover of football, how "bout dem" Cowboys? Building projects are a great adventure with his family.
Life Verse: Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."
Jackie Bonelli
Kindergarten
Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential SB2042 ELA/CLAD embedded, NCATE
Has 1 child and 2 rambunctious corgis. Loves spending time with family and friends, making food, enjoying morning coffee, and getting as much Vitamin D as possible!
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Tyler Swinford
PE Coach, Eastridge
Elementary campus - staff assistant
Married, with two kids. Has a golden doodle Zuma. Loves spending time outdoors, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking with family. Excited to be on both campuses this year.
Anna Trofimchuk
4th Grade Teacher
Loves spending time with friends and family, doing anything outside or sitting around a table with people enjoying a cup of tea. Has served on several mission trips to Mexico and Ukraine working with orphanages, camps, and teens ministries. Enjoys sports, reading and art. Dreams to swim with whales one day.
Andy Keene
B.A. Oregon State
World History, American Government, Physical Science, Spanish
Has lived for 30 years in an orthodox Christian learning community; member of a non-denominational Bible church that focuses on Bible study (using Greek and Hebrew) and having a direct and personal relationship with God.
Has worked with kids of all ages in church, and has great interaction with them.
Enjoys learning and studies how to learn. His goal is to teach kids how to learn and be self-motivated.
For fun, Andy paints portraits (art) and read Philosophy, History, and Theology.
Andrey Serkov
Lilybelle Moir
5th Grade Teacher
B.S. Elementary Education, Western Governors University (In Progress)
TEFL Endorsement
A.A. Theology, Portland Bible College
Fun facts: Bilingual in Spanish. Has a heart for the mission field and the desire to continue to work in bilingual education. Loves to travel and hopes to teach in the mission field. Lilybelle is the oldest of four kids and an Oregon native. Loves Oregon summers spent hiking, paddleboarding, and time with friends and family. Loves performing arts and musical theatre, and grew up in performing arts. Some of her favorite musicals include Shrek and High School Musical.
Life Verse: Matthew 7:7-8: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
Ana Ionesi
Eastridge Campus Electives teacher
M.A. - TESOL
B.S. - Healthcare Administration
A.S. - Small Business Administration
Christian Education Certification from AG (Assemblies of God)
Fun Facts: “As a wife, mother, and grandmother, my whole adult life has been based on the commandment in Proverbs 22:6 ‘Teach a child the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’" (KJV)
Ana volunteer as a Sunday School and Romanian Heritage Language teacher at the Philadelphia Romanian Pentecostal church in Portland, Oregon. She is also an Oregon principal broker with Pioneer Real Estate.
Catherine Tkachuk
1st Grade Teacher
B.S. in Child, Youth and Family Studies, Portland State University
Fun Facts: The coast is one of Cathrine’s favorite places to be, especially with close friends and family. She enjoys walking, hiking, and singing. Loves visiting different coffee shops and trying different coffee. Favorite so far is Kona Coffee Purveyors in Hawaii. Locally, her favorite is Good Coffee.
Life Verse: Romans 15:13
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”