High School

Lindsy Brownell
Secondary Principal
503.399.7360

Married to her husband Jason for 20 years. They have four sons- Brady (SA ‘23), Logan, Hayden, and Evan. She received a B.S. in Elementary Education from Corban University, Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from GCU, Masters Degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from Cairn University, and currently half way completed in earning PhD in Christian Education Leadership from Columbia International University.

I love our SA family! This community is not only about education, but also growing and serving the Lord. I love serving with a team that loves the Lord and loves teaching His truth. Our student body is priceless and such a special community of kids.

Serving SA Since: 2014

Sarah Adams
Secondary Choir
503.378.1211

Sarah holds a bachelors and masters degree in music, specializing in opera performance (with violin as a secondary instrument) from Western Oregon University. She has taught private voice and violin lessons for over 20 years. She is married with three children; Taylor, Emma, and Ethan. When she is not performing or teaching, She loves creating color pencil and watercolor art, knitting, reading, and playing video games with her kids.

Salem Academy is an amazing place where students get an amazing education, yet it is also wrapped the love of Christ. He moves mightily through this school. I felt God’s call to teach the glory of God’s creation and love in the way he created the human voice and his will in how we use it.

Serving SA Since: 2025

Jayden Crew
9th and 10 English

Jayden graduated from Pensacola Christian College in May of 2024. He has a Bachelor’s in English and History Education. He enjoys college football, cooking, studying literature, and good conversation with friends.

As a 2020 graduate of SA, I am beyond excited to join the teaching staff this year. I learned so much at Salem Academy and experienced true spiritual growth as a young man through class, small groups, and chapels. I cannot wait to see how the Lord uses this year in the lives of our students.

Serving SA Since: 2025

Summer Donily
JH/HS Yearbook, JH/HS Photography, Film Studies and Robotics
503.378.1211

Summer graduated George Fox University with a B.S. in Behavioral Studies. She loves being with her family. She and her husband Rob, have two children. Their son Brysen, a student at SA, and their daughter, Madelynn. She raises Maine Coons and enjoys wood working. She loves being in her garden and greenhouse; as well as camping, hiking, kayaking, and anything outdoors - from the ocean to the mountains. Volunteering is a great passion of hers; she loves serving in her church and in the community. She also loves road trips and seeing new things.

I homeschooled my son for 7 years. I felt God calling me to a new chapter. I wanted him in a safe, Christ centered school. There was no doubt SA was the school for him. I was given an opportunity to become staff and was eager to accept it. I love these students and am honored to be here. I am so grateful to be able to share the gospel every day. SA creates a place for students and staff to grow in their faith and become part of the body of Christ.

Serving SA Since: 2025

Joe Greenwood
Statistics & Engineering
503.378.1211

Joe earned a B.S. in Mathematics from Corban University and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oregon State University. He currently lives in Aumsville with his lovely wife and three amazing daughters. They enjoy spending time in the outdoors hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. He also enjoys spending time in his woodshop building furniture and other wood creations.

It has been a blessing over the past 15 years to be a part of the SA community in different capacities at different times. Knowledge apart from Christ is just knowledge. Knowledge with Christ is wisdom. It is a pleasure to be a part of a community that cares not just about knowledge but the pursuit of wisdom through our savior Jesus Christ.

Serving SA Since:

Pauline Hacke
CAD Design & 3D Printing, JH Technology, 2D Animation
503.378.1211

Pauline has a Master’s degree in Instructional Technology from San Jose State University. She has taught computers to students at all grade levels since 2007 and is thrilled to take on the challenge of teaching middle and high school students (which have been her focus since 2020). She is married and has a daughter. She enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking (especially her native Chinese cuisine), and walking her dog, Max.

God called me to Salem Academy in 2018, shortly after my family relocated to Oregon from California. I had never worked at a Christian school before. I’m truly amazed at how God has continually prepared me professionally and spiritually to help students build a solid foundation in computer science and technology here at SA.

Serving SA Since: 2018

Helena Hennigan
Secondary Art/Pottery & Bridge 56 Art
503.378.1211

Helena went to school at Indiana Wesleyan University where she received her undergraduate in Graphic Design and Illustration. She went on to receive a Masters of Teaching at Concordia University. She is married and they have two girls. She loves spending time on her family farm; gardening and playing with their girls.

The staff has been so welcoming. I had previously taught at in the public schools and then took a few years off to be a stay at home mom to my girls. It has been an amazing transition back into teaching. I was thinking about going back into teaching, and God knew where my family and I needed to go. It has been a wonderful experience.

Serving SA Since: 2021

Autumn Johnson
Educational Support Services Teacher
503.399.7360

Autumn graduated from Willamette University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Phoenix in 2024. Autumn and her husband, Sean, have 4 children together and a chocolate lab. She enjoys reading, gardening, watching her kids play sports, and movie nights with her family.

God’s plan is often not as straightforward as I would hope, but it’s always good. God called me to Salem Academy when I least expected it. Being part of this community is a huge blessing to our whole family.

Serving SA Since: 2024

Jeff Larson
World History, Geography, & Speech
503.378.1211

Jeff graduated from George Fox in 1992 and did graduate work at both Eastern Oregon University and Concordia University Irvine. He’s been married to Louise for over three decades. They have three kids and two grandkids. He enjoys coaching track and field (sprints and hurdles), and loves mountain biking, and growing beautiful flowers.

I have felt very welcome at SA from the moment I stepped on campus. It’s clear to me that sharing God’s grace is top priority here!

Serving SA Since: 2025

Stephanie Law
Secondary Office Manager
503.378.1211

Stephanie received her Associate of Arts degree from Rogue Community College. She married her husband Brandon in 2005 and they have two kids, Alysha and Kyler, who are here at Salem Academy. She loves baking, soccer, and going to the beach.

I love Salem Academy. I started out as a SA mom, and a few years later when my son started preschool, I was ready to start working again. I was blessed with an amazing opportunity to teach preschool for a few years. I am now excited for my new adventures in the middle school office. I am so thankful to be working at such a great school centered around God.

Serving SA Since: 2018

Kayla Miller
Algebra I & Algebra II
503.378.1211

Kayla graduated from Salem Academy in 2020 and attended Western Oregon University to get her degree in Secondary Mathematics Education. She married in the summer of 2022 to her high school sweetheart who works as an electrician. She loves coaching and playing basketball, as well as all things outdoors.

I love being a part of the SA family because of the tight knit community.

Serving SA Since: 2023

Arletta Narvaez
Spanish (I-II), Honors Spanish (III-IV), & NHS Advisor
503.378.1219

Arletta graduated from Murray State University with degree of Bachelor of Arts and Spanish major.  For graduate school, she attended Western Kentucky University for her Master of Arts in Education with Spanish major.  From Corban, she received her ESL/Bilingual certification.  She and her husband, Oscar, have two children. In her spare time, she loves to read.

I was looking for a change in my professional life as my children started school.  At that time, I had enrolled my youngest in kindergarten here.  God opened the door for me to come to Salem Academy at a time when other doors were closing.  Looking back, it is so easy to see why and where I was being led.  I am thankful to be part of the SA family.

Serving SA Since: 2014

Rachel Onstott
Educational Support Services Director
503.399.7360

After growing up in Portland, Rachel received her bachelors degree from Washington State University, her Masters degree in teaching from George Fox University, and an ESOL endorsement from Western Oregon University. She spent the first thirteen years of her teaching career in public schools in the Portland metro area teaching as a classroom teacher and as an English language development teacher. Both her family and herself felt moved to relocate to the Salem area in the summer of 2023, and have settled in Dallas. Rachel has been married since 2006 and they have been blessed with two beautiful daughters. When not teaching she enjoys spending time with her family and two Ragdoll cats, and traveling as much as possible!

I am so thankful the Lord has brought me to Salem Academy as both a faculty member and as a parent and I can’t wait to be able to serve the Lord and the school community.

Serving SA Since: 2024

Jeneé Orso

Jeneé Orso
Librarian (K-12)
503.378.1211

Jenee graduated from George Fox University with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Married to Andre’, they have three sons Gabe (SA ‘12) Elias (SA ‘19), and Noah (SA ‘22); and two granddaughters Audrey and Layla.

I love being a part of the Salem Academy family as a parent and as a staff member. It is an honor and privilege to pray for our students, staff, and their families each day. The Lord called me the the mission field of Christian education knowing that the mission field was going to continue to grow each year. It is important to me that our students know how much they are loved and valued not only by their teachers, but also their Heavenly Father. I am so blessed every single day that I can be a small piece of that solid foundation they can build while they are here at SA.

Serving SA Since: 2007

Brandi Price
Assistant Athletic Director
503.378.1211

Brandi grew up in Sisters, OR, playing sports for Sisters High School. She played basketball and ran track for Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR, and graduated with a BA in Education & Learning and minors in Coaching, Psychology, and Kinesiology. She met her husband at Pacific University; they married in 2014 and now have one son, a dog, and a cat.

Brandi has a passion for coaching and athletics; she began coaching in 2009 and hasn’t stopped since! The Prices’ lives are full and busy, as both Brandi and her husband work in local schools. They live in Salem and enjoy gardening, reading, volunteering, spending time with family, and supporting their respective school sporting events!

I began working at Salem Academy as the middle school track & field coach, then a girls basketball coach for middle and high school, and eventually became a full-time employee in the high school office. God keeps calling me back to SA in various ways and departments, even after leaving to become a stay-at-home-mom after the birth of my son. I am excited to be working in the Athletics Department, and look forward to seeing how the Lord uses me in this next season of life.

Serving SA Since: 2015

Sarah Reed
U.S. History, Gov./Econ, H U.S. History, H Gov./Econ., & H European History
503.378.1219

Sarah was born and raised in Boise, ID, to parents Marvin and Debbie Merkel. She has one younger sister, Carly, who is a doctor in Falmouth, ME.  They grew up skiing at Bogus Basin on the weekends in the winter and rafting the Boise River in the summer.  It was an ideal place to grow up and she will always be a true Idahoan at heart. After graduation from Boise High School, she moved to Oregon to attend Corban Universtiy and study education.  Four years later, she graduated from Corban with a B.S. in Social Studies Education and then married her college sweetheart the following day.  She continued her education at Western Oregon University and graduated with a M.S. in Education. Today, she and Steve (an SA alumn) have three wonderful children; Emilie, Brandon, and Sydnie.  She has a passion for teaching young leaders to be difference makers in the world for Christ as well as traveling, running, skiing, and watching her kids play sports.

I have really enjoyed being a part of the Salem Academy family.  My husband, Steve is an SA graduate and he is the one who encouraged me to apply after we both graduated from Corban University. I am so grateful that he did; growing up at a large public high school allows me to be aware and appreciate the daily difference that SA provides to our students.

Serving SA Since: 2006

Brad Shimomura
IT Technical Support
503.378.1219

Brad was born and raised - and lived most of his life - in the Pacific Northwest. He is ordained with the Assemblies of God and has served as a Children’s Pastor in Washington and Oregon before being called to serve in Japan as a missionary. He is currently studying IT/Cybersecurity at Oregon Institute of Technology Portland-Metro Campus.

SA is a great community! God is truly doing something great on this campus!

Serving SA Since: 2023

Heidi Thurston
Music/Theatre
503.378.1211

Heidi went to George Fox University and received a BA in Theatre with a minor in Biblical Studies. She met her wonderful husband, Caleb, at George Fox. Caleb is a theatre teacher at Woodburn High School. They have three amazing daughters. Right out of college they founded their theatre company, Valley Repertory Theatre and Heidi helped run that for several years before she became a stay at home mom for 9 years. She then had the privilege of working in children’s ministry at Salem Alliance Church for a year and a half while also coaching, directing, and choreographing students at Woodburn High School Theatre.

I am overjoyed to be joining the Salem Academy team. Theatre was something that truly changed my life. The Lord used storytelling to empower me and heal broken parts of my life. I cannot wait to invite students to see how the Lord can use storytelling as a way to bring truth and love to the world around us.

Serving SA Since: 2024

Melissa Turner
College/Career Coach & Senior Seminar
503.378.1211

Melissa graduated from Boise State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology/Social Sciences with an emphasis in Education. She taught high school social studies for 12 years, and coached a variety of sports, before staying home to raise our two boys, who currently attend Salem Academy. She volunteered in their elementary classrooms, as well as with the ASPIRE program (college and career mentor) at West Salem HS. Their family loves golfing, hiking, crabbing - anything outdoors, and all sports.

I am so excited to be a part of the SA family! It’s an absolute pleasure to be able to come along side these students to help them grow, plan, and reach their goals and dreams. I’m looking forward to helping students be successful!

Serving SA Since: 2021

Nathan Vande Burgt
Health and Biology I

Nathan graduated from Calvin University in 2007 with a BS in Biology and Biochemistry. In 2015, he finished his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania studying interactions between tetherin and Ebola virus. Since then, he has completed two postdoctoral fellowships. The first at the University College Dublin studying pathogen survival in anaerobic digesters. The second, at the Oregon Health and Science University researching CMV vectors for HIV vaccines. He enjoys running with his wife and dog, hiking, commuting by bicycle, and board games.

I am excited to see how God will use me as I start a new career in teaching.

Serving SA Since: 2024

Jacob Wolbaum
Secondary Vice Principal
503.378.1211

I’m married to my amazing wife, Genna, and we share our home with two lovable pugs. I earned my undergraduate degree from Portland State University, completed my first master’s at Liberty University, and am currently pursuing a second master’s in Educational Leadership at the American College of Education. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with Genna, golfing, fly fishing, and watching sports.

Coming to Salem Academy has always been a dream of mine. It offers the perfect blend of academic excellence, athletic opportunity, and spiritual growth for students. I feel incredibly blessed to be part of a school whose mission is to pursue excellence in all areas.

Serving SA Since: 2025