Meet Our Caring, Dedicated Staff
SPCA Founders:
Pastors Matthew & Deborah Mallek
Pastor Matt's heart to establish a Christian school was part of the vision of Refuge from the beginning. To have a school where God's word is the foundation of each subject taught and students are able to freely share their faith and struggles that go along with it, were important to him from the inception of the school in 1985 and still is. He loves teaching the students Bible and helping God's word come alive in their lives.
Pastors Matt and Deb are married with four children, their spouses and eight grandchildren and counting! Their four children and one of their daughter-in-laws, are all graduates of SPCA.
Pastor Deb is the founding Director of Canaland Early Learning and was instrumental in the founding of Stevens Point Christian Academy. Administration is her forte and encouraging students to be all that they can with the help of Jesus and positive peer support with God-loving teachers, is her heartbeat for SPCA.
Principal & Administrator
Heidi Uitenbroek
Mrs. Uitenbroek graduated from Oral Roberts University with a M.A. in Education and from UW-River Falls with a B.S. in Business Communications with an emphasis in Communication Disabilities/Differences. Mrs. U has been serving at SPCA since 2006. Mrs. U. enjoys spending time with her husband and four children kayaking, biking and other outdoor activities. They also raise chickens, garden and have two dogs Basil and Tilly. One of her favorite things to do is cheer on the WARRIORS basketball and volleyball teams!
Director of Development & Music education
Rena Brown
Rena and her family recently moved from AZ, then to CA, and they bring so much warmth to the atmosphere! Rena specializes in music, so the fine arts dept. at Refuge is expanding in vision, she is also stepping into our Director of Development as we acclimate new famiiles, staff and the community to all SPCA has to offer! A former Bible College Head of the Worship Dept., she comes to us with so much vision, passion and life! There’s no doubt God is her core strength and our students will benefit so much!
Kindergarten Homeroom:
Traci Fuehrer
Miss Fuehrer graduated with her Associate of Arts and Science degree from UW-Marshfield/Wood County in 2018 and a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education with a minor in Early Childhood Special Education from UW-Stevens Point in 2020. She enjoys spending time with family, making and enjoying music, and painting.
1st & 2nd
Homeroom Teacher:
Alysha duzell
Mrs. Duzell graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Early Childhood Special Education. She has been in dance for seven years and taught dance for three years. Mrs. Duzell has taught Early Childhood for twelve years. Miss Beckman loves dance, swimming, and tennis. Mrs. Duzell will also teach K-2 music.
3rd & 4th Homeroom
Teacher:
Lauren tracy-Stearns
Mrs. Stearns graduated from Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota with a degree in Elementary Education. She is passionate about Christian Education, social emotional-based learning, nature exploration, and desires to create a community of kindness and growth connected to God’s truth. Mrs. Stearns is married and has a daughter. She enjoys iced coffee, movie nights, traveling, and taking photos.
5th & 6th Homeroom teacher:
Tiffany Taylor
Mrs. Taylor has a B.S. in psychology and master’s degree in education from Valparaiso University. Mrs. Taylor has taught in a variety of schools and classrooms including 5 years of homeschooling, 2 years of middle school language arts and math, physical education, 2 years of 1st and 2nd grade, and 6 years in kindergarten. She enjoys crocheting, hammocking, and loves reading.
7th & 8th
Homeroom Teacher:
Alice Herrick
Mrs. Herrick graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA with a B.S. in education and earned her master’s in theology from Mon Valley Bible Institute. Mrs. Herrick has four children, a dog, a cat and five birds. She teaches 5-9th grade math, and 7-8th grade Bible, science, and health, and the consumer science/fiber arts elective.
9-12 Homeroom Teacher, K-12 Special Education/High School Math/Science:
Beth Malik
Mrs. Malik graduated from UW—Stevens Point with a B.S. in Biology. Before coming to SPCA in 2012, she served in the Peace Corps and in the AmeriCorps. When not teaching, Mrs. Malik enjoys being outside and spending time with her four amazing children.
Career Planning, Health and Wellness, Physical Ed, Teacher:
David Guerrero
Mr. David Guerrero graduated from Liberty University 2005 with a MAR Religion/Theology. In 2009 Mr. Guerrero went on to become a professional life coach. In 2015 He received a Master of Divinity from The School of Hospice Chaplaincy in Chicago Illinois. From 2015-2022 he completed a Doctorate degree in holistic health and health and wellness coaching from IIOM as well as a professional certification as a Brain Health Coach from the Amen Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. He has enjoyed being a pastor, Christian counselor, life coach and health and wellness coach for over the past 15 years and will be teaching Career Planning, 9-12, Health 9-12 and K-12 PE.
K-12 Special Education Teacher:
Marie Whitemarsh
Mrs. Whitemarsh graduated from UW-Madison with a B.A. in Social Work. She is also certified in Orton-Gillingham Phonics. Before coming to SPCA, Mrs. Whitemarsh worked as a special education assistant. She has six children, and four grandchildren. Mrs. Whitemarsh enjoys painting and spending time outside.
Education Assistant:
jesse brown
First year with Refuge, SPCA is blessed to welcome Jesse Brown! He’ll have his hand in a lot of areas this year as he assists with Phy Ed, Tech, Production Electives just to name a few! His assistance will come in handy in so many ways and we are so grateful for his years of experience, wisdom and strength in Jesus that he brings to the table! Mr. Brown loves his Brownies!! Especially the four he calls his own! We are thankful for Mr. Brown and can’t wait for year 10!
education assistant:
matthew duzell
Mr. Matthew Duzell is a new staff member at SPCA. He is an educational assistant along with teaching History and Science. Ask Mr. Duzell anything you want to know about the over 50 varieties of mosquitos in WI and he’ll have an answer for you, because it was one of his UWSP college projects! We welcome you to the Refuge staff Mr. Duzell, teaching at SPCA! Welcome aboard!
art teacher:
sarena vandermuss
Miss Sarena VanderMuss is our Art Teacher! She is a graduate from UWSP and comes with gifts that students will be able to learn from as they tap into their creative side! Miss VanderMuss has severed as the Carlsten Gallery Mngr at UWSP and taught summer art courses in Door Co.! Serena also serves at Canaland as the 2K Lead Teacher, so she’s proven to love children of all ages!
substitute Teacher:
Richard Dow
Mr. Dow earned his Wildlife Management/Biology degree from the UW-Stevens Point in 1980. He served in the Peace Corps in Swaziland (Eswatini) Southern Africa from 1980-1983. In 1985 he finished his Secondary Education degree (Natural Science and Biology) from UWSP. He completed a minor in chemistry at UW-Parkside in 1986. He earned his Master's of Education degree from National Louis University in 2004. He taught science at Verona Area High School for over 30 years. Mr. Dow enjoys spending time outside and adventures with his grandchildren. His hobbies include fishing, hiking and gardening.
Other staff:
Administrative Assistant:
Tia Drifka
Mrs. Drifka graduated from the Ultimate Medical Academy-Clearwater with an Associate’s Degree in Medical Coding and Billing in 2015. She comes with lots of administrative experience and is excited for her first time on staff at a ministry. Tia is married, has two boys, and four cats. She enjoys camping, singing, puzzles, and playing video games with her boys. Mrs. Drifka will be available to serve you in the school office.
executive pastor:
Tim Kleiner
Food Service Director:
Jennifer Kleiner
Food Service Assistant:
Peggy Brummund
Food Service Assistant:
Chris Wahl
behavioral specialst:
Miranda Winter