Category: Teachers

James Stuart grew up in Walla Walla and spent his high school years at Walla Walla Valley Academy. After graduating, he attended Walla Walla University where he got his degree in Biology, Chemistry, and Spanish. Later on, he completed his Master of Science Education from Montana State University.

Prior to teaching here at Mount Ellis Academy, he taught at Tulsa Adventist Academy, and Spencerville Adventist Academy. He does his best to make sure that all of his students reach their potential in his classes and makes himself available to students if they feel the need for individual attention from him.

He has a passion for outdoor education. His hobbies are mountain biking and rock climbing. He’s married to Ingrid and has two children, Isaiah and Tavi.

He is also the Vice Principal for Academics, Yearbook Advisor, and Soccer Coach.

Seth was smitten by the wild west while working at Glacier View Ranch in Colorado. The leadership at camp was profound, focused and inspiring, the adventure sports thrilling, and the energy of the young people contagious. Seth saw God working more clearly than he had ever seen before because of the special bond of purpose they shared. He appeared in the wild untamed beauty of nature while remaining close and companionable in the company of God-seeking friends. This experience helped ignite his passion for working with young people and for spending time in nature.

Seth first met his wife, Angela, on a snowboarding trip in Colorado when they were attending Union College. It wasn’t until six years later that they reconnected on the coast of Oregon and started dating. They were married in 2008, and moved to Hagerstown, Maryland, where they spent six years teaching at Highland View Academy. While there, they met Seth’s leadership mentor, Sergio Manente, who further kindled his passion for leadership and ministry. Maryland is also the birthplace of their two amazing kids.

Seth and Angela are so excited to be working at Mount Ellis Academy. God miraculously opened the door for them to be here and they are thankful every day for the grace He continues to show them. Seth loves his classes and teaching students math, computers, and leadership.

Seth and Angela believe God has granted this school and church His Spirit to accomplish a special purpose in the lives of the kids He sends the academy. Praise to Jesus and His glorious plan.

Angela is privileged enough to call MEA her first home, as her parents, Gary & Marirose Force, taught here in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s. She’s lived all over the country, from Oregon to Massachusetts and several places in between. In 2014, she and her family were able to move back to Bozeman. She is grateful to be able to see the Montana mountains every day.

Angela earned a B.S. in Elementary Education from Union College. While her primary field of study and work is elementary school, she has always had a love for learning and teaching languages. Angela has taught English as a Foreign Language overseas and English as a Second Language at several schools here in the States. She loves working with the international students and experiencing their different perspectives. Most recently, Angela has been thrilled to reignite the Fine Art and Home Art Departments. Both these areas have been long time passions for her. It is her belief that these departments can offer new ways for our students to experience the world around them.

In her free time, Angela can be found pursuing many different hobbies: reading, running, baking, art, children’s ministries, and language learning. Mostly though, she’s taking care of her family. She has two kids with Seth, our math teacher: Enoch and Gwendolen.

Matthew Lukens grew up in southern Africa, the son of medical missionaries.  When he was thirteen his family moved to northern California.

In college, Mr. Lukens earned two bachelors degrees, graduating from Newbold College with a B.A. in Literature and from Pacific Union College with a B.A in Spanish.

After earning his teaching credentials at Sacramento State University in California, he moved to the Midwest and began working for the Illinois Conference as an English teacher at Broadview Academy. After Broadview, Mr. Lukens moved into the city of Chicago to finish his Masters in Literature at Northwestern University and to teach at North Shore Adventist Academy. Upon completion of his Masters, he moved to the beautiful state of Montana where he currently teaches English and Spanish at Mount Ellis Academy.

Jonathan was born into a family with deep roots in service to the church and Mount Ellis Academy. Even as a potential fourth-generation teacher, he wasn’t sure that teaching was the profession for him. However, after serving as taskforce dean and chaplain at Mount Ellis Academy in 1999-2000, he saw that academy life was in his future.

After completing his degree in Religion/Religious Education at Union College in 2001, Jonathan spent a year at Broadview Academy in Illinois, 10 years teaching religion and social studies at Redwood Adventist Academy in Santa Rosa, California, and two years at Dakota Adventist Academy.

Jonathan is married to Lauren, and the two have a dog, Eva Peace, and two cats, Bartholomew and Ophelia. He likes to read, hike, fish, camp, and spend time outdoors. Every year and each day bring new challenges and ideas for enhancing what Jonathan does in his classroom. He believes in being a student of perspectives and events of history, instead of merely teaching it. Being back at Mount Ellis Academy is a dream come true.

Jason grew up in the small rural town of Parry Sound located in northern Ontario.  After graduating from Parry Sound High School in 1992 he attended Andrews University, and graduated with honors in Psychology.

Jason has been a dean/teacher in the Adventist system for twelve years.  The last eleven of those years have been at Mount Ellis Academy.  He shows great interest in facilitating the growth of all dorm students in regards to the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life.

He enjoys ice hockey, reading, and researching cars.  He is married to our music teacher and fellow dean Leisel and they have two children, Lucas and Ava.

Leisel Rogers graduated from Andrews University in 1999 with a B.A. in music and a minor in biology. She married her college sweetheart in 1996. She has been blessed with two wonderful children. Mrs. Rogers began teaching music at MEA in the fall of 2001 and became a dean in the fall of 2009.

Mrs. Rogers loves making music, reading, coloring, and spending time with people. She also enjoys cross country skiing, being outdoors, and gardening. If that wasn’t enough, she also really likes cooking, baking, and food information.