Jack Hummel | Head of School
Jack grew up in the Lansing area with his three siblings. He and his wife, Caroline, have four children. He has a B.S. in Economics with a minor in Mathematics from Hillsdale College and is currently pursuing a Master of Classical Education Leadership at Hillsdale College. His favorite books are The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. His hobbies include hunting and sailing. He is a member of University Reformed Church. Jack teaches Upper School history, logic, and economics. Jack has taught and staffed at Cedar since its founding year in 2019.
Lower School
Mikhaeli Connell | Kindergarten | Lower School Teaching Assistant
Mikhaeli grew up in Bloomington, IN in a family of eight. She has a B.A. in English literature from Hillsdale College, where she also took classes in art and Spanish, both of which she hopes to continue mastering for the rest of her life. Her favorite books include Les Misérables by Victor Hugo and Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milnes. Her hobbies include reading, painting, and hiking. She is a member of University Reformed Church. This is her third year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Natalie Ault | 1st & 2nd
Natalie has six siblings and has spent most of her life in Lansing, MI. She and her husband Ben live in Lansing. She has a B.A. in History with minors in Classical Studies and Classical Christian Education. She loves to run, play sports, sew, hike, write, and read good books. Some of her favorite books include Till We Have Faces, Dune, Unbroken, and Stepping Heavenward. She is a member of University Reformed Church. This is her second year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
3rd & 4th Grade Homeroom Teacher - Open Position
Isaac Wilhelm | 5th & 6th
Isaac has five siblings and is from Angola, IN. He has a B.A. in History from Hillsdale College. His favorite books in the Cedar curriculum are The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald and The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis. He enjoys playing sports, investing in friends, reading, and playing piano. He attends New Hope Church. This is his third year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Stefan Hull | Humanities | Dean of Lower School Faculty
Stefan is from Grand Haven, MI and has five siblings. She and her husband, Josh, have five children. Stefan has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Michigan. Her hobbies include baking, curriculum development, and leading Cedar Classical Academy's Latin program. She is a member of University Reformed Church. Stefan has taught and staffed at Cedar since its founding year in 2019.
Kim Sukta | Physical Education & Mathematics
Kim has two siblings and grew up in Wyoming, MI. She and her husband, Matt, have two children. She has a B.S. in Special Education and Elementary Education from Central Michigan University. Kim loves to read children's books to her daughters, run, and play lawn games. She is a member of South Church. This is her fifth year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Sarah DeGoffau | Lower School Teaching Assistant
Sarah has four siblings and is from Holland, MI. She and her husband, Corey, have four sons, two of whom attend Cedar and one of whom teaches at Cedar. Sarah has a B.A. from Hillsdale College with an emphasis in Elementary Education and triple minors in English, Science, and Music. Sarah's favorite books include Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp and Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. Her hobbies include camping and running (especially on trails). She is a member of University Reformed Church. This is her fourth year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Emery Dingee | Lower School Teaching Assistant
Emery has two siblings and is from Eagle, MI. She and her husband, Matthew, have two daughters, both of whom attend Cedar Classical. She has a B.A. in Advertising from Michigan State University. Emery's favorite books include The Mortification of Sin, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, Phantom of the Opera, and The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs. Her hobbies include animal husbandry, weaving, painting, and thrifting. She is a member of University Reformed Church. After joining the Cedar community during its founding year and substitute teaching here since then, this is Emery's second year on staff as a regular TA.
Upper School
JR Snow | Upper School Humanities
JR Snow, the oldest of five kids, grew up close to Charleston, SC. He and his wife, Katie, have four children. JR has a B.A. in Classical Education from Whitefield College, a Master of Humanities from the University of Dallas, and has studied at Reformed Theological Seminary. His favorite books are The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis and The Consolation of Philosophy by Boethius. His hobbies include taking long walks and going to concerts. He is a member of University Reformed Church. JR has worked in education since 2016 and has taught at Cedar since 2022.
Amber Knapp | Upper School Math | Registrar
Amber is from Canton, MI and has seven siblings. She and her husband, Jesse, have seven children. Amber has a B.A. in Secondary Education, Mathematics, and English from Spring Arbor University, an M.A. in Education from Marygrove College, and 18+ credits of graduate mathematics courses from Western Governors University and Maranatha Baptist University. Her favorite books include The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald and The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis. Her current hobbies include breadmaking and basement organization. Amber is a member of University Reformed Church. This is her 19th year working in education and her fifth year staffing at Cedar.
Stephen Knowles | Upper School Humanities
Stephen Knowles, one of four children, grew up in Anderson, SC. He and his wife, Abigail, have two children. Stephen studied Systematic Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary and History of Philosophy at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. His favorite book is City of God by Augustine. Stephen is a lifelong student, and in his spare time enjoys film, walking his dog, and college sports—particularly the Auburn Tigers. He is a member of Reformation OPC where he serves as a deacon. This is his first year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Upper School Science
Bio coming soon!
Lewis DeGoffau | Upper School Math, Logic, Latin, & Greek
Lewis is the oldest of four boys. He has a B.A. in Mathematics from Hillsdale College with a minor in Ancient Greek. Some of his favorite authors are Joe Rigney, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald, R. C. Sproul, and Blaise Pascal. He is a philomath whose hobbies and interests include theology, physics, mathematics, ancient language, music, computer programming, writing, and running. He is a member of University Reformed Church. This is his third year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Ben Falconer | Upper School Humanities
Ben hails from Traverse City and is the middle of three sons. He is married to Kim and they have six children. Ben studied voice performance and music theater at Northwestern University and received his MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America, has pastored in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and currently attends University Reformed Church. His favorite books are David Copperfield by Charles Dickens, The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin, and Holiness by JC Ryle. Ben loves walking with Kim, playing games with his kids, gardening, biking, singing, and exploring national parks.
Applied Arts
Christin Peng | Music
Christin was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia and has two brothers. She and her husband, Timothy, have three children. Christin has a B.A. and M.A. in Music from Pensacola Christian College and a Kodály certification in Musicianship. Her favorite books include Emma by Jane Austen, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, and The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Christin's hobbies includes gardening and walking in the woods. She is a member of Lansing Chinese Christian Church. Christin has taught at Cedar since its founding year in 2019.
Amy Moll | Art
Amy was raised in Vermontville, MI (home of the Maple Syrup Festival) and has two siblings. She and her husband, Josh, have five children. Amy has a B.F.A. in Art, with a concentration in graphic design and photography, from Eastern Michigan University. Her hobbies include painting, gardening, sewing, and reading to her children with a pot of tea. Amy is a member of University Reformed Church. This is her fourth year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Taylor Colby | Upper School Physical Education
Taylor Colby is from Flushing, MI. She has a B.S. in Sport Management from Olivet Nazarene University. She loves to bake, do CrossFit, and try new coffee shops with her family. She has been married for five years and has two children. She is a member of University Reformed Church. She previously taught elementary physical education. This is her second year teaching at Cedar Classical Academy.
Support Staff
Emily Zuiderveen | Office Administrator
Emily and her husband, Shane, have five children. She has a B.A. in Communications from Grand Valley State University. Emily enjoys cooking, baking, planning events, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is a member of University Reformed Church. Emily has worked at Cedar since its founding year in 2019.
Kate Sova | Building Manager
Kate and her husband, Keith, have two children. She has a B.A. in Professional Writing from Michigan State University. Kate enjoys reading, baking, taking walks with her family, and welcoming people into their home. Her favorite books are ones read aloud as a family, including The Wind in the Willows and Winnie-the-Pooh. Kate is a member of South Church. This is her second year working at Cedar Classical Academy.
Sydney Ackerman | Director of Admissions
Sydney and her husband, Christopher, have three kids. She has a B.S. in Psychology with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Hillsdale College, where she played softball and fell in love with classical education. Her favorite books are The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald and The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. Her hobbies include reading and cooking. She is a member of Community Bible Church. This is her sixth year working at Cedar Classical Academy.
Maria Berggren | Student Affairs Coordinator
Maria is the youngest of five daughters and grew up near Chicago, IL. She and her husband Vins have two sons. She has a B.A. in English with a minor in Spanish from Hillsdale College, where she took part in the Teacher Apprenticeship Program. Her favorite books are Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery and everything by Charles Dickens. Her hobbies include traveling, gardening, and cooking and trying new foods. She is a member of Covenant Life Community Church. After teaching in the 1-2 classroom for four years, this is her sixth year working at Cedar Classical Academy.
Caroline Hummel | Director of Advancement
Caroline grew up near Chicago, IL and has four sisters. She and her husband Jack have four children. Caroline has a B.A. in Politics from Hillsdale College. Her favorite books include That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis, Sick Heart River by John Buchan, and Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne. Her hobbies include hunting, fishing, gardening, and baking. Caroline is a member of University Reformed Church. She has staffed at Cedar since its founding years, beginning in 2016.
