Congratulations to the 2023-24 DMC Teachers of the Year

Each year Des Moines Christian School teachers nominate their peers for the Teacher of the Year Award. The award recognizes teachers who live out DMC’s mission to equip minds and nurture hearts to impact the world for Christ.  Teachers nominate peers who demonstrate DMC’s Portrait of Professional Excellence. They are dynamic classroom teachers, passionate apprentices of Christ, lifelong learners, active partners with parents, and committed to positively cultivating community.

Early Education Teacher of the Year

Cristen Lykken, Interventionist and After the Bell Team Leader

Comments from Mrs. Lykken’s peers included:

• Cristen has an amazing gift in forming and growing relationships not only with the children that are in her care, but also with the staff that she works and partners with. 
• She finds solutions for kiddos who may need extra support and wants to see each child thrive and succeed here at DMC.
• Cristen has consistently provided support and assistance to learners who need it the most. She goes above and beyond to help our little ones achieve the greatness that is inside each child she interacts with on a one-on-one basis. 

Elementary Teacher of the Year
Erik Heard, Physical Education 

Comments from Mr. Heard’s peers included:

• Erik loves students and desires everyone to be included and involved in physical activity.  He links in real life examples of Christ followers and encourages Christian character in his teaching.
• I have never witnessed a PE teacher so wholeheartedly love the Lord, his students, and his job. His love and concern for students and his ability to encourage them to develop their gifts and abilities is evident on a daily basis.
• His unbelievably fun, creative, and uplifting PE activities instantly create a place where all students, regardless of ability, feel welcomed, find joy, and feel included.

Middle School Teacher of the Year

Hayley Vander Wal, Math

Comments from Mrs. Vander Wal’s peers included:

• Hayley sees students first as children of God, then as her students. She does this for all students. Whether she has a student in class or not, every student at DMC knows that they can go to Mrs. Vander Wal if they need anything and she will invest in them spiritually and physically be there for them. 
• She happily reads, researches, networks, and tries new things. She is excited to share what she is learning with colleagues, and I have seen what she is learning directly impact students.
• She is a master teacher who loves each child well and pushes them to be their very best. She is dynamic in the sense that she is engaged, energetic, and involved with all areas of instruction. Her instructional expertise is impressive, and she has a desire to use that for the good of the staff as a whole. 

High School Teacher of the Year

Amy Armistead, Math

Comments from Mrs. Armistead’s peers included:

• Amy is an incredible educator. She is humble, thoughtful, hardworking, caring, and funny. She is someone who gives her time and best efforts to care for the students God places in her classroom and heartily works unto the Lord in all she does. 
• Amy’s manner in communicating suggestions is always in a spirit of respect and from a heart of concern for what is best for students. I both value and seek out Amy's wisdom because I know her response will rise from a well of relationship with Jesus and a lifetime of following God's word.
• She is quick to hear and slow to speak, using thoughtful words and wisdom to speak to concerns and issues. She seeks to view her colleagues and students in the best light and to find opportunities to challenge them to reach new levels of growth as well as to celebrate successes.