Meet our Teachers
Great teachers are more important than great facilities. Please click on the photos below for a brief introduction from each teacher.
Darren Lawson
Principal
Mr Darren Lawson is the Principal of Australian Christian College Moreton. Darren started his teaching journey as an Economics teacher after first working in banking and as a full-time cyclist. He has worked in private and state schools as well as spent time overseas teaching in Bible Colleges, Drug and Alcohol Rehab centres and as Principal of a K-12 Christian International School in Asia. He comes to ACCM after 8 years as Principal of a large regional K-12 Christian school achieving excellent student outcomes. Darren believes wholeheartedly in the power of Christian education to help students see and reach their potential and find their purpose in life. On weekends or holidays he enjoys cycling, kayaking and spending time with his wife and family.
Kendal Slack
Deputy Principal On Campus
Kendal teaches Digital Solutions online. Prior to ACC, Kendal was deputy principal at another Christian school. Married for 14 years, Kendal and his wife have a 2-year old daughter who loves visiting the zoo. He has a science background, and recently completed his Masters of Educational Leadership. Kendal is passionate to see students know Jesus, succeed in whatever they pursue, and engage in connecting and helping their local and global communities.
Sarah Rowan
Head of Primary On Campus
Sarah has joined the team this year as the Head of Primary School On Campus. She has spent 25 years in educational leadership positions across Australia. As a passionate and committed leader Sarah aims for a consistent approach within the school, allowing all students to reach their God-given potential. Believing everyone is someone, Sarah likes to be present with her staff, students and parents. Sarah is married with a teenage daughter and dog.
Cameron Johnson
Secondary Teacher
Cameron is the on campus Senior School Coordinator at ACC Moreton and teaches Senior Physical Education and Sport & Recreation. He is passionate about sport and how physical activity can not only improve health outcomes but also increase academic performance. Outside work, Cameron loves spending time with his family and friends. On the weekends, when time permits, he loves to get out in nature and playing golf.
Chez Robins
Middle School Coordinator
Chez is a Middle School teacher and the Year 7-9 Coordinator at ACC Moreton On Campus. She began her career as a Youth pastor in Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney before re-training to move into Education where she could still have a positive influence on teenagers. Chez is passionate about doing life with students and investing energy to help them to grow in all areas of life. This passion has seen her over time design agile, flexible learning spaces, create integrated units of work giving students agency and promoting independent learning, and lead students on mission teams overseas. In her spare time, Chez loves to travel and enjoys snowboarding and SUP-ing. Weekends are typically spent at the beach, and brunching (never breakfast!) in a local café.
Karen Blackburn
Primary Teacher
Karen is a Year 6 teacher and the current Year 3-6 Coordinator. She has always has a passion for teaching and loves being able to impact the lives of the students in her care. She has five children of her own and really enjoys spending time with them. Karen spent time in Asia as a child and has a desire to travel again in the future. In her very limited spare time, she prefers to keep busy and active.
Michelle Tsui
Primary Teacher
Michelle started teaching Sunday school in her teenage years at her church. She loved seeing the children grow and unlock their God given talents. This started her passion for teaching. Michelle mainly teachers our younger students. She enjoys building relationship with the younger students and loves teaching them about God's wonderful world. In her free time, she enjoys family time, exploring new places, cruising and eating yummy food.
Katherine Vlaanderen
Secondary Teacher
Katherine is the English and Literacy Co-ordinator at ACCM and teaches English and Literature subjects in the Senior School. She is passionate about literature and seeks to help her students see the value in reading. Katherine chose to accept the gift of God’s salvation when she was in Year 10. From that moment onwards, she has had a heart for sharing the Gospel with young people and helping them prepare for a life in the wider world. In particular, she enjoys mountain climbing and beach walks with her puppy. Her superpower involves locating the nearest possible source of caffeine.
Jennifer Evans
Secondary Teacher
Jenny teaches OC Art and Design. She began her working career as a graphic designer, later becoming full time mother a role that she cherishes. Jenny taught art privately through her art studio, teaching pre-schoolers through to the elderly. Jenny has led the Northside branch of Visionaries; a Christian art group which exhibits mostly at ACU. Jenny is passionate about teaching art and about encouraging students to develop their own creative abilities. Jenny and Steve have adult children and five gorgeous grandchildren.
Kirsty Symington
Secondary Teacher
Kirsty has always been passionate about teaching since her Year 10 work experience. She has a passion for ensuring all of her students feel seen and are positioned to thrive. Kirsty teaches Years 7 to 9 Drama, Year 8 to 9 English and business. She heads up drama performances which gives students a creative outlet, and always loves participating in Students vs Staff matches!
Mark Hodges
Primary Teacher
Mark is a Year 6 Primary Teacher and also supports First Year Teachers and Pre-service Teachers from Universities at ACCM. Mark has extensive experience including Principalship positions in both State and Christian Schools. He is passionate about seeing children develop their God given gifts and potential. He loves children’s books and storytelling, beekeeping, tennis, golf, movies, bushwalking, and gardening. He is married and especially loves connecting with his family and many grandchildren. Mark joined the staff at ACCM in 2019 and is committed to helping other staff grow professionally.
Mark Swadling
Secondary Teacher
Mark teaches STEAM (STEM) at ACC Moreton. His passion is seeing his students become tomorrow’s designers/problem solvers of the world by using their developed 21st Century skills in both practical and technological ways. He enjoys travelling with his wife where they have visited many places around the world, as well as at home in Australia, and riding his Jet Ski in his down time.
Alisa Jordan
Secondary Teacher
Alisa teaches Year 8 and 9 Health and Physical Education and Year 11 Sport and Recreation. She has a real passion for health and fitness and teaching students how to steward their body the way God intended. She also has a background in dance and loves to worship through this. Outside of work she loves drinking coffee with her friends and spending time outdoors, whether that’s swimming at the beach or climbing a mountain.
Joyce Hres
Secondary Teacher
Joyce teaches Maths and SCS at ACC Moreton. She majored in Early Childhood to help children develop a solid foundation. Joyce furthered her studies and taught in Middle and Senior schools. She is passionate about life-long learning and hopes that students value education. Joyce desires that her students choose to have a personal relationship with Jesus and for them to desire that others know Jesus too. Joyce married her childhood sweetheart and they have 5 children.
Joan Pavey
Student Services
Joan works in Student Service for ACC Moreton. She has loved Jesus all her life and is blessed by working with wonderful Christian staff to support amazing young people, both on campus and online. She gets a thrill seeing the next generation thriving. Joan is a mum of five and has four grandchildren with another one on the way. Outside work, she enjoys the simply pleasures associated with owning two cats, a foxy and a pug.
Karen Gaffney
Secondary Teacher
Karen teaches Senior English at ACC Moreton. Karen brings rich and diverse educational experience to ACC Moreton, including working for many years overseas. She has a passion for students to learn the skills of critical literacy in all forms of media and literature. She is a wife, mother and grandmother of two whose greatest passion is to see those in her care, including her students, come to know the love of Christ in their lives.
Nina Johnson
Secondary Teacher
Nina teaches English and Humanities at ACC Moreton. Apart from witnessing the power of knowledge and seeing those ‘Aha!’ moments (indisputably teaching’s most rewarding experience), Nina loves the vast world of experience teaching opens up – literally. Nina has had the privilege to teach in a number of countries and her CV reads like the League of Nations. Nina, a self-confessed ‘crazy cat lady’, could be persuaded to swap teaching to be a lion-tamer or tiger-handler.
Tiffany Gale
Youth Worker
Tif works as the Youth Support Worker. She loves chatting, laughing, and encouraging others. At school, her days are spent talking with students, encouraging them and finding practical ways to support them to reach their goals. Tif always finds it a real privilege to hear to their personal stories. Her great passions are loving Jesus and caring for others. Outside work, Tif’s days are spent enjoying quality time with her family and friends. She also loves travelling, reading, colouring, movies and chai lattes.
Rebekah Alexander
Secondary Teacher
Rebekah teaches secondary Mathematics and Science at Australian Christian College Moreton. Her love of teaching was born through home schooling her oldest children whilst living in the USA. Rebekah has a passion for helping students to overcome their fear of maths and to grow a confidence and understanding of how numbers work. She loves teaching Science and guiding students as they grow in awe and wonder of how our amazing Creator masterminded the world around us. Rebekah loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, travelling and sharing the goodness of God with others.
Karen Timmins
Secondary Teacher
Karen teaches in the primary years within Distance Education at ACC Moreton. She has always had a passion for reading and loves English and Humanities in particular. Karen is an advocate to incorporating digital technologies into lessons. She also loves travelling and has lived in many different states in Australia. She also loves encouraging students in their work. Karen is married and has four sons who are all married with young families.
Shannon Roediger
Secondary Teacher
Shannon teaches Secondary Psychology at ACC. She has spent the last 10 years raising her 3 children, 8 years living in remote Australia and 7 years in serving in missions with MAF in Arnhemland, NT. Her passions in teaching include building relationships, resilience and well-being, and takes joy in seeing students smile. Outside of school, Shannon loves spending time with her family, exploring the outdoors, and spending time doing photography.
Jayden McDonald
Primary Teacher
Jayden has studied a Bachelor of Primary & Physical Education. He is passionate about seeing students discover their identity in God and learning who they are. As a teacher, he values the potential of each student and the calling that God has placed on each of their lives. His heart is to see young people learn their calling, their gifts/ talents, to enable them to thrive both in their learning and their lives. Jayden lives and breathes sport each and every day. He is happily married to his wife who is also a teacher. Jesus has impacted his life and he is excited to see how God moves in the lives of those at ACC Moreton.
Bruce Vaschina
Secondary Teacher
Bruce teaches Secondary Maths & Science via Distance Education at ACC Moreton. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering and started full time teaching in 2014 after 24 years working for Brisbane City Council. He considers it a great privilege to help students along in their educational life while also bringing a little of God's Word into their lives as well. Outside of school Bruce is interested in tennis, cricket, theology and politics. He is married with 4 children.
James Smith
Secondary Teacher
James is a Year 7 teacher who teaches PE/Health, Mathematics and English at ACC. He feels super blessed to be back living in Australia having spent the last 15 years in NZ. He is married to Carolyn and they have 6 children, 4 of which are at the school with James. He enjoys watching students come to life as they discover the gifts and talents God has given them and loves learning outside of the classroom through sport, camps and trips. On the weekend you will find him with his kids at sport, in the bush or swimming at the beach or in a river.
Martin North
Secondary Teacher
Martin currently teaches secondary school Maths, Science and Business at ACC Moreton. Prior to being a teacher he worked in various roles in the finance industry and enjoys being able to bring these practical insights into his teaching. Martin is passionate about seeing young people develop to their full potential. He is married with two children and enjoys spending time with family, friends and loves being active at the beach and in the outdoors.
Katrina Martin
Pathways Officer
Katrina works with our on campus students to help them plan for their pathway beyond school. She supports students through subject choices, Tafe courses, apprenticeships, traineeships and work experience. The biggest excitement of her job is seeing students in work experience and connecting with real employers and the world around them which helps them discover new things about themselves and their future pathway. In her spare time Katrina loves coffee, building bonfires and watching them burn, camping and travelling to new places in Australia, sewing and her family.
Alysia Scott
Primary Teacher
Alysia is a primary school teacher at ACC Moreton. She realised her passion for teaching back when babysitting family and friends. She moved into early childhood learning and found her love for helping students to grow spiritually and academically. Her favourite subjects to teach are Mathematics, HASS and Sport. Alysia enjoys making memories with her loved ones, going to the beach and going on adventures.
Anthony Dullroy
Secondary Teacher
Tony has had the blesssing of two wonderful careers in his life - hospitality, and teaching. His job here at ACCM is a fitting blend of both, as he teaches Food Technology and Hospitality classes. Tony worked in his own catering business for 9 years prior to becoming a teacher. Tony loves cooking up a storm at home, walking along the beaches hand in hand with Wendy his wife and anything to do with flying, and here he is enjoying a hot air balloon flight!
Brian Doolan
Secondary Teacher
Brian Doolan is a maths and Year 9 form teacher who got into teaching to make a positive difference, to allow students to learn and encourage them to make a difference in the world around them. He loves each day as it is another chance for young people to grow in their love of learning. Brian is thankful for the opportunities that teaching offers to impact on the future in the most positive and inspiring ways.
Chantelle van Rooyen
Secondary Teacher
Chantelle is a middle school science and senior Biology teacher who loves building relationships in the classroom and helping students develop their strengths and gifts. Chantelle feels priveledged to teach in a Christian school where she is able to share God’s word with students and help and support them on their life journey. Chantelle came to Australia in 2018 with my husband and we are blessed with 2 children. She enjoys playing tennis, cooking, baking and arts and craft.
Daniel Scarbrough
Secondary Teacher
Daniel is passionate about helping young people learn about the world around them and who God has made them to be. His desire is for students to develop and practice skills that will help them discover their gifts and talents; so that they are successful in the workplace, their families and the community throughout life. Hopefully, students will graduate from ACC knowing that they are loved and blessed. They will in turn be a blessing to society, showing the goodness of God in all that they do.
Eunice Collins
Psychologist
Eunice has been working as a Psychologist at ACC Moreton since 2020. She has a passion for helping children and young people grow in their unique God given gifts by building on their skills and resilience. Believing that it takes a community to raise a child, she loves working alongside and supporting families and educators. When she gets time to herself, she enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her husband and two sons and is hoping to develop a green thumb one day!
Rebecca Bunston
Primary Teacher
Rebecca felt called by God to become a teacher after volunteering in a childcare centre following her graduation from year 12. Throughout her journey to become a teacher, Rebecca worked in childcare for 10 years before ultimately becoming a teacher at Australian Christian College. To better understand how to help students achieve greatness, she completed a Masters in Inclusive Education. Every day, Rebecca feels excited to teach and witness the amazing adventure God has in store for each of her students. She also feels privileged to be able to impart a love for God to her students and help them realise that He is always there to support them on their journey to achieve the dreams that God has set for them.
Liana Hnialum
Primary Teacher
Liana did a year of volunteer teacher in Myanmar and developed a passion for working with children. Since then he has taught in Bangladesh for 5 years before moving to Australia. As an educator, Liana wants students to be successful lifelong learners, as well as grow in the confidence and understanding that they are cherished by a loving God. Outside work he enjoys fishing and spending time with his family.
Lucy Wells
Secondary Teacher
Lucy teaches Secondary Science and Mathematics. Lucy’s education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Science majoring in Biology and completed her Master of Teaching in 2020. In her teaching she is passionate about helping students see God’s handiwork in the living world around them. Lucy is a passionate marine advocate, being involved with Reef Check Australia as a part of the survey team on the Sunshine Coast. Lucy enjoys travelling the globe and hiking in her spare time.
Margaret Simpson
Primary Teacher
Margaret has been teaching since 1982 and with ACC since 2005. She is married to Jock and they have 3 sons who have grown into amazing young men. As a family they love and serve God in the workplace and in their local church. To Margaret, teaching is a blessing. She truly believes it is a calling and so much more than just “a job”, she couldnt' imagine doing anything else. She loves that there is always something going on. It’s a busy place!
Marianne Edwards
Primary Teacher
Marianne's drive for teaching young children is to assist them in building a joy of learning right from the foundation level. Over the years she has assisted in leading children's church, youth groups, co-ordinating play groups and teaching within the Kindergarten and Primary school Early years level with the purpose of developing young lives through the lens of the grace and love of God. She adores spending time with her family, reading, going to the beach and trying out new restaurants and food experiences.
Nathan Sheumack
Secondary Teacher
Nathan has been Sports Coordinating and HPE for 4 years and now feels blessed to be able to also teach in Film and Television which is an area that he is passionate about. Nathan is a self-professed geek, film-lover and Rugby League tragic.
Patrick Flaherty
Secondary Teacher
Patrick has been teaching for almost a decade in a variety of teaching roles including specialist Secondary Music Teacher and Special Education. Patrick has a passion for music, especially performing live around the Moreton Bay region and worshipping at Bridgeman Downs Community Church. Patrick has a love for travelling, and in 2018/2019 he completed an epic 7 week road trip through 26 states in the USA with his wife and young children.
Rebekah Rhys-Jones
Primary Teacher
Rebekah completed a Bachelor of Education (Primary) at the Australian Catholic University. She is passionate about working with young children to motivate, support and cheer them on as they achieve personal growth in many ways. Rebekah enjoys investing back into her church community by serving on the welcome team, the youth group and leading a young adult life group. She is very creative and likes to attend theatre shows, explore rainforests and spend time with her family and loved ones.
Samare Scarbrough
Secondary Teacher
Samare teaches Legal Studies and Middle School Maths at ACC Moreton. She initially heard God’s call to become a teacher when she was training new processors at a large mortgage company. While raising her family, she embarked on the journey to earn her Masters in Teaching (Secondary). Graduating in 2020, she is passionate about impacting the lives of young people from all walks of life and encouraging them to develop a deep and meaningful relationship with their creator, God.
Sharryn Viney
Primary Teacher
Sharryn is a Primary Teacher in the on-campus team at ACC Moreton Campus. She is passionate about inclusive education and encouraging all her students to achieve their goals and use their talents to succeed. Sharryn loves to travel and spend time with her family. Driven by her faith she loves to encourage her students to open their hearts to God and embrace the journey He has set them on. The best moments of teaching for Sharryn is the looks on students' faces when they realise they can do it.
Sonja Potgieter
Librarian
Sonja has worked as librarian in a variety of sectors and for the last eight years in school libraries. She is passionate about reading and aspires to make reading fun. One of her greatest pleasures is to match the right book with a reader. She loves working with teachers to develop the God-given talents of the students and to influence the world for Christ. When not reading, Sonja loves walking with her dog and friends, listening to classical music and spending time in nature.
Tonya Groeneweg
Primary Teacher
Tonya is passionate about lower primary teaching and has a post-graduate qualifications in Early Childhood. She likes to create a learning environment that encourages children to be lifelong learners and reach their potential. Encouraging children to grow a love of books and progress in literacy she finds very rewarding. Tonya loves nothing more than spending time with her husband and three wonderful sons. She also loves being in nature, travelling or bike riding.
Ann Burns
Primary Teacher
Ann is originally from Sydney but now lives on the Sunshine Coast with her husband Chris, together they have three lovely young sons, Mitch, Lachie and Will. She has always worked in education, starting out in Early childhood and then headed back to university to compete her Bachelor of Primary Education. Ann loves bush walking, hiking and hanging out with her family.
Elenoa Taukolo
Secondary Teacher
Elenoa is a passionate Secondary School Teacher who thrives on seeing young people learn and grow. Elenoa completed her Bachelor of Secondary Education (majoring in English & Music) at Griffith University. At ACC Moreton, She currently teaches Middle School English and enjoys every moment in the classroom. Outside of the classroom, Elenoa is devoted to serving the community by leading others in worship and connecting others to Jesus. Her goal is to educate and inspire the next generation to reach their full potential in school and as lifelong learners.
Alan Barrie
Seconday Teacher
Alan is teaching Secondary History and English. He has extensive experience in Queensland Education, having been a teacher for 23 years, Chief Examiner, Syllabus and textbook writer for Senior Ancient History. He has also been involved with teacher training as a University Tutor. Alan is passionate about all things to do with History but also loves exploring and experiencing life's many adventures with friends and family.
Erin White
Secondary Teacher
Erin is a middle school teacher for Form, Maths, Science and Christian living and comes to ACC with 16 years’ experience. She is passionate about teaching and is blessed to be able to do that in a Christian setting. Outside of the classroom, Erin loves the outdoors, hiking, camping, paddle boarding and spending time with her family. Her favourite place is the beach.
Lindsay Williamson
Primary Teacher
Lindsay is married and has three children. She has taught many different year levels both in Canada and Australia. Lindsay teaches year one at ACC and always been passionate about early primary education. She loves establishing relationships in a classroom where students feel loved, safe and happy to share ideas and support each other. Lindsay feels priveledged to see students develop their God given talents and get excited about learning.
Rachel Lewis
Primary Teacher
Mrs Rachel Lewis is a Christian and a Primary Educator at Australian Christian College Moreton. Rachel started her teaching journey in 2009 as a trained Special Education Teacher in the Primary sector. She has worked in both private and state schools across Australia. Rachel is passionate about students growing in their understanding of and faith in Jesus Christ. She is committed to challenging and equipping students to do their best according to the gifts that God has given them.
Simone Wilcox
Secondary Teacher
Simone currently teaches Senior Mathematics and Science at ACC Moreton. She is married, and she and her husband have one adult daughter and two dogs. Simone's love of science began in her early teens and has been nurtured through the reading of the Bible, Creation magazines and the study of God's creation. Simone loves being able to bring the things of God into her classroom and enjoys encouraging students to critically think about facts and interpretations.
Peter Dell
Secondary Teacher
Peter cherishes every moment with his family, his church, his beloved Cavoodle, and his ever-evolving technology. Over the last 12 years, he has passionately taught technology across various educational levels, from prep to university and everything in between. Peter not only enjoys playing games in his free time but also immerses himself in programming them, aiming to bring new ideas to life. A fervent fan of everything pop-culture, he often dreams of visiting Japan and experiencing its vibrant culture firsthand. Above all, Peter holds onto his favourite saying, “I have been to the moon and back, because my imagination is a powerful, boundless entity.”
Jason Todio
Secondary Teacher
Jason Todio is our Secondary HPE and Sports Coordinator at ACC Moreton. He recently moved to Queensland, bringing a passion for educating and sharing his love for Christ. Jason's desire is to see students lives changed, reach their potential, and discover their identity in the Creator. With a passion for sports, he is dedicated to instilling a love for physical activity and healthy living. Jason is happily married to his wife Danielle, and they love serving others and spending time with family and friends.
Jen Neish
Secondary Teacher
Jen is a Hospitality teacher at ACC Moreton who loves seeing students conquer previously difficult concepts or skills, witnessing their excitement for future opportunities, and helping them uncover their talents through vocational courses. She has held positions such as Vocational Education Coordinator and Careers Adviser at her previous school in Canberra. Jen's experience in education spans from Kindergarten to Year 12 in Australia and the US. Jen enjoys traveling, leading worship, embarking on missions trips, discovering new foodie adventures, and spending weekends with loved ones.
Nathan Searle
Year 12 Coordinator
Nathan is a passionate teacher who specialises in Chemistry and Technologies. He has a deep love for all things nerdy, including board games, video games, and science fiction movies. However, his greatest passion is for his young family, whom he adores and cherishes. Nathan is committed to equipping his students with the tools that can help them succeed, and also in demonstrating the joy that Jesus can bring to their lives.
Melody Gong
Chinese Teacher
Melody teaches Chinese to Prep-Year 8 students both on-campus and through distance education at ACC. Despite having taught for four years, she still feels that teaching is a profound and constantly evolving experience. She is particularly passionate about introducing her students to the richness of ancient Chinese culture, believing that language was created by God to connect us all. Melody also enjoys chatting with her students and hearing their interesting Australian stories, which help her become more familiar with this wonderful country. When not teaching, she likes to unwind by having coffee with friends or visiting her loved ones back in China whom she dearly misses.
Candice Menezes
Primary Teacher
Candice has over 15 years of teaching experience, ranging from Kindy to Year 7, and absolutely loves what she does. With a passion particularly for the lower grades, she enjoys seeing each child grow academically, emotionally and spiritually, and loves their joy and wonderment when learning new ideas. Candice spends her free time out in nature with family- hiking, exploring new places, or relaxing at the beach. She also loves reading and writing, and can often be found curled up with a good book.