Faculty/Staff

Our faculty and staff are dedicated to providing an environment where your student can thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. We do this through low student/teacher ratios, educational approaches that honor student strengths and individuality, and a commitment to Christian education. 

We are also of the belief that a collaborative relationship with our parents will lead to student success. We welcome conversations about your student on how we can help to provide the best learning opportunities and outcomes. 

Kathy Jefferson, kindergarten, first, and second grades

Email: kjefferson@k8puce.org

Mrs. Jefferson has been involved in education for over 30 years. She has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Columbia Union College and a master’s degree in special education from Johns Hopkins University. She has taught various grades and subjects throughout her career including teaching college students to be teachers. She loves helping students grow in all aspects of their lives - spiritually, socially, emotionally, and academically, including watching their confidence soar as they grow into readers and young mathematicians! When she’s not at school she enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, and reading. 

Tania Duncan, third and fourth grades

Email: tduncan@k8puce.org

Mrs. Duncan has been involved in education since 1989, starting her career as a teaching principal. She is an experienced and perceptive teacher who excels in capitalizing on strengths and takes pride in identifying areas of challenge to help students overcome difficulties in their learning.  She finds that systematic, sequential, explicit instruction with practical and fun practice provides a strong foundation on which all students can build.  She has taught all grades 1-8 in many combinations in Michigan, Delaware, and both southern and northern California.  She has also worked in higher education at Pacific Union College.  Mrs. Duncan has a bachelor's and master's degree from Central Michigan University and an education specialist (Ed.S.) degree from La Sierra University. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Duncan also enjoys traveling, scuba diving, reading, practicing cello, and helping with Pathfinders; nothing brings her more joy that seeing her students or Pathfinders be baptized. She is an avid lover of animals and owns dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, a guinea pig, and two miniature horses. 

"As a teacher, it is my goal to meet my students where they are and take each as far as he or she can go."

Jennie Furness, fifth and sixth grades

jfurness@k8puce.org

Mrs. Furness is a dedicated educator, mentor, and leader with a commitment to nurturing the hearts and minds of her students. With more than 13 years of classroom teaching experience, including years of multi-grade teaching, and seven years as a small school principal, Mrs. Furness brings expertise and insight to the fifth and sixth grades at PUCE. She is passionate about inspiring children to discover the joy of reading, cultivating a lifelong love for stories and literature that expands their imaginations and critical thinking skills. Mrs. Furness has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Walla Walla University and a Master’s Degree in Administration and Leadership from La Sierra University. Alongside academic growth, Mrs. Furness focuses deeply on spiritual development, teaching students to love God and others while creating a classroom culture centered on grace, compassion, and respect. Outside of her school ministry, she is fully invested in her family and local community, sharing her life as the wife of Pastor Nate Furness of the PUC Church and as the proud mother of three amazing teenagers. 

Kristy Kyle, principal, seventh and eighth grades

Email: kkyle@k8puce.org

After earning a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Pacific Union College, Mrs. Kyle began teaching grades 7 and 8 at Oceanside Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School in southern California. In 2012, Mrs. Kyle’s family moved to Angwin; the following year, she began teaching at PUC Elementary. Her hobbies include spending time with her family, reading, and doing puzzles.

"I strive to create a classroom that is a place where students feel safe and are valued, can be creative, learn about the world God has created, mature and grow in God, are surrounded by and immersed in books, can make mistakes and try again, and have fun."

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