Mount Ellis Staff

Dustin Schaber

Vice Principal for Finance

Emily Thomas

Administrative Assistant

Davin Hammond

Principal

Kirsten Balatgek

Registrar, Computer Teacher

Director for Development and Alumni Relations

Director for Development and Alumni Relations

James Stuart

Vice Principal for Academics, Science Teacher, and Yearbook

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 masters in Science Education from Montana State University.

Jennifer Frye

Strings Teacher

Jason Rogers

Athletic Director; Physical Education, and Bible 1

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 […]

Kirsten Balatgek

Registrar, Computer Teacher

James Stuart

Vice Principal for Academics, Science Teacher, and Yearbook

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 masters in Science Education from Montana State University.

Seth Ellis

Math and Wood Shop Teacher

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.

Angela Ellis

ESL, Home Economics, Personal Finance, and Art Teacher

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.

Briana Starkebaum

Women’s Dean

Briana Jenkins (’08) was born and raised in Montana. She graduated from Union College with her Bachelor of Science in Physical Education in 2013.

Matthew Lukens

English and Spanish Teacher

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

Jonathan Schwarz

Bible and History Teacher

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.

Corey Waller

HVAC Teacher

Paul Starkebaum

Men’s Dean

Leisel Rogers

Music Teacher

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.

Carmen Mathis

Librarian, Bible 2, Testing and Special Projects

Carmen was born and raised in NSW, Australia, with her sister and parents. She attended Avondale College where she followed in her father’s footsteps and studied PE teaching and graduated in 2007 with BA/BTEACH in Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education.

Casey Smith

Automotive Teacher

Randy Wright

HVAC Teacher

Rene Marquez

Pastor

Kendra Nystrom

Master Gardener

Paul Starkebaum

Men’s Dean

Leisel Rogers

Music Teacher

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.

Rachel Coleman

Cafeteria Assistant

Ben Dockter

Plant Services Director

Carmen Mathis

Librarian, Bible 2, Testing and Special Projects

Carmen was born and raised in NSW, Australia, with her sister and parents. She attended Avondale College where she followed in her father’s footsteps and studied PE teaching and graduated in 2007 with BA/BTEACH in Personal Development, Health, and Physical Education.

Norman Tagalog

Food Services Director

Markus Toppenberg

Taskforce Men’s Dean

Hope Nystrom

Taskforce Women’s Dean

Miriam Wright

Guest Services Director

Randy Wright

HVAC Teacher