Grammar School Faculty
Renee Hart is the Kindergarten Teacher at TPS. She has skillfully served as a preschool and Kindergarten teacher here at TPS and at Stratford Classical Christian Academy for the past ten years and loves teaching young children to begin to read, and to love Jesus and each other. Miss Hart is a member of Immanuel Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Medford.
Kary Hasbun is the First Grade Teacher at TPS. She has a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Studies, Education and Psychology. She has taught and worked in multiple teaching environments with students with special needs . Kary strives to teach others in a way that stimulates learning while applying God’s Word. She plans to be married in November and is an active member at Grace Presbyterian Church in Mount Laurel.
Elina Gavras is the Second Grade Teacher at TPS. She has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Social Work from Georgian Court University and Rutgers University respectively. Her experience includes work with children at The Bancroft School, teaching Preschool, serving as a social worker with at risk families, and as a Sunday School teacher. She and her husband are active at St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Cherry Hill, and have three young children in their family, two of which attend TPS.
Shaun Snethen is the Third Grade Teacher at TPS. She earned a bachelors degree in psychology from Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. Shaun has spent the last five years homeschooling her two boys and has taught many homeschool co-op classes. Shaun and her husband Aaron are members of Grace Presbyterian Church in Mt. Laurel.
Melanie Machowski is the Grammar School Director and Fourth Grade Teacher. She has a B.S. in Music Education from West Chester University, is a certified teacher in NJ and PA, and has six years of experience teaching in public schools. Melanie also spent nine years homeschooling her children and has taught many homeschool co-op classes, including Classical Conversations. She has also co-directed several musicals for homeschoolers. She and her husband have three children and are members of Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton.
Barbara Soffer is a 5-6th Grade Humanities Teacher. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from State University of NY, Oneonta, and an MBA from Pace University in New York City. She is a certified teacher in NJ and has 3 years of experience teaching in the public schools. In addition, Barbara has homeschooled her 3 children for the past 22 years including her twin sons who have autism. During those years, she has served actively as a teacher for homeschool co-op classes from preschool to the upper high school level. She has a great love for IEW and writing and loves to share this with her students. As director, she initiated and developed a Classical Conversations community for three years. During that time she instructed grammar and logic level students. Barbara lives with her husband Lou, her 3 children, and the family dog, Maisie. She is an active member at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton where she enjoys teaching Sunday School.
Upper School Faculty
Brett Page is an Upper School Humanities Teacher. He teaches Greek and Omnibus for 11th & 12th grades. In his classes, Brett seeks to build students who will see and pursue the glory of God in all things. He has a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Wheaton College and a M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He has served the local church for eight years in the areas of youth and young adult education and as a pastoral intern at Mercy Hill Presbyterian Church in Sewell.
Doreen DeLoach is an Upper School Humanities Teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Education from Rowan University, holds a minor in Child Drama and Speech, and is a certified Reading Specialist. Her experience includes working both in public and private Christian schools where she served as a middle school/high school English teacher, first-grade teacher, Public Speaking instructor and Reading Specialist. In addition to her classroom experience, Doreen served as a Standardized Testing Coordinator, Curriculum Writing Committee member, and a Homeschool Educator. Doreen, her husband, son, and daughter are all involved in their church, where they are part of the Worship Ministry. When not teaching, Doreen enjoys walking, singing, and educational research.
Chris Fischer has been teaching upper school science and math at Trinity Prep. since its inception in 2015. He received his Masters Degree in Microbiology from Thomas Jefferson University and has also been teaching biology courses as an adjunct professor at Rowan College South Jersey for over 10 years. Chris’ wife Jennifer also serves on the Trinity school board and their 3 sons attend Trinity Prep.
Kathy Francis is the Upper School Math Teacher. She has a B.A. in Business Administration from Cedarville University and extensive college coursework and educational enrichment in advanced mathematics. She has taught Algebra through AP Calculus courses at Christian schools for over ten years and even longer through private tutoring and in SAT prep work. She is an AP Calculus Reader with the College Board and a Senior Adjunct Math Instructor with Rowan College at Burlington County. She holds teacher certifications in the state of NJ and through the ACSI in Mathematics.
Christine Barden is the 7th grade math teacher. She is a math educator with 20 years of experience teaching mathematics in public schools, providing professional development, consulting with school districts throughout New Jersey, tutoring students K thru college and teaching at the university level. She has her masters in Math Education and is a Math Education Lecturer at Rowan University for preservice elementary school teachers. Her passion is for students to understand and gain a conceptual understanding of math as math is everywhere and created by God.
Merylin Maldonado is the Upper School Spanish Teacher. She has a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in International Studies from Rowan University, is a certified teacher in NJ, and has fifteen years of teaching experience. She has taught in both public schools and within homeschool communities, and is an active member at Grace Presbyterian Church in Mount Laurel.
Andrew Kalvelage is the Upper School Bible Teacher. He earned his BA in Biblical Studies from Life Pacific College in San Dimas, CA. Andrew also serves as a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, NJ, where one of his responsibilities is to lead the parent/youth ministry. Most importantly, Andrew has a love for Christ, and for the Scriptures (in which Christ is the grand object). Along with this, he has a driving desire to see that learning is lived out in trust and obedience to Christ in everyday life.
Pastor Ron Burrows is the TPS Upper School Director. Ron was born and raised in Lindenwold and has served as a bi-vocational pastor at Garden Lake Bible church for forty-four years. He is also a retired Lieutenant serving on the Cherry Hill Police Department for thirty years. Though he loves shepherding God’s people and teaching the Bible, he is also active in his community where he has served on the town council, Land Use Board, Environmental Commission, and Police-Faith Leaders Coalition. Ron attended Florida Bible College and Liberty University. He is married to his wife Terry and has raised four children. Ron has supported Trinity Preparatory School since its founding and is excited to encourage students and staff to encounter God in their lives.
Michael Mall is the Personal Finance Teacher. Mike has been counseling individuals and families on wise financial decision-making for over twenty years. He started in the Financial Services Industry in 1999 and began his own independent financial planning firm, Mall Retirement Group, in 2010. He is passionate about helping people make great financial decisions. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and member of the Financial Planning Association of New Jersey. Mike's four daughters attend Trinity and his family are members of Sovereign Grace Church.
Music and Art Faculty
Christine Bass is the Upper School Music and Choir Teacher at TPS. Christine has recently retired from the full time faculty at Temple University where she was the Director of Temple University Men’s and Women’s Choruses and Assistant Professor of Music Education. Prior to Temple, she taught at Cherry Hill West high school for 22 years where her program grew from 60 to over 320 students in seven choirs. Christine earned her degrees from Westminster Choir College, and was a member of the Westminster Choir. She has conducted numerous All State and Honors Choirs, is a guest conductor, an adjudicator, and clinician presenting workshops across the country and internationally. Christine is delighted to be able to work with the young people at TPS as she seeks to serve the Lord through music.
Matthew Byrd is the Grammar Music and Latin Teacher at TPS. He has a B.S. in Music Education from The College of New Jersey. His music teaching experience includes private guitar, voice and beginner piano lessons, and local church music and choir for younger children. His broader teaching experience includes 6th Grade core subjects at Inheritance Christian Academy in Brooklyn. He is a lover of language and has taught ESL in a variety of contexts to students of all ages. He loves leading others in exploring God's world and helping them see and know the glory of Christ, the One by whom and for whom all things were created.
Tim Carroll is an Instrumental Music Teacher at TPS. He has a B.A. in Music Education and an earned degree in violin performance from Temple University. At TPS, and three other Christian schools, he teaches strings (violin, viola, cello, & double bass), keyboard, and piano, and leads its three ensembles (beginner, junior, and senior groups). He has over a decade of experience playing violin, fiddle, and viola in many settings throughout the Tri-State area, including weddings,
funerals, concerts, square dances, parties, restaurants, and more.
Lydia Bissett is the Art Teacher at TPS. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis in Art Therapy from Burlington College in Vermont. She has spent the last three years teaching art classes at Sovereign Grace Church's Homeschooling Co-op and is excited to bring her experience to TPS. Lydia believes exposure to art enriches our lives and that all students have potential to create beauty through the arts.