Faculty & Staff

I graduated from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and a Secondary Teaching Credential. During the early years of my teaching career, when my children were young, I spent time as a substitute teacher for grades seven through twelve. During this time I also had the opportunity to volunteer at my children’s school, both in the classroom and as a librarian. As my children got older, I made the decision to go back to teaching full time and spent twenty-seven years teaching English at the high school level.

After retiring as a high school English teacher I wanted to do more in the field of education. As an educator in the public school system, I recognized the need for equipping children with a strong academic foundation, but more importantly, the need for equipping children with a strong spiritual foundation. For this reason, I was drawn to the work being done at Hillside Christian Academy where the needs of the whole child are met. I strongly believe that each child is special and a unique gift from God and as educators we have been called to help children develop the necessary skills needed to grow both academically and spiritually.

This is my fourth year teaching at Hillside Christian Academy. I began my education career in a private Christian School in the Bay Area, teaching a 3rd/4th grade combined classroom. I had been praying for an oppurtunity to work closer to home, and God answered my prayers by bringing me to Hillside Christian Academy in 2007.

I believe that each child is a unique individual who needs a secure, caring and stimulating atmosphere to grow and mature. It is my desire to help students meet their greatest potential in these areas by providing a safe, structured and exciting learning environment. There are three elements that I believe are conducive to establishing such an environment: first, making God the center of every aspect of learning, second, allowing the child’s natural curiosity to direct his/her learning, and third, promoting respect for all of God’s creation.

Teaching provides me the opportunity for continual learning and growth. As I share my own passion for learning and my love for God, I hope to instill a  love of learning in my students and a spiritual foundation that will draw the child closer to Christ.

 Mrs. Rebecca Smethurst, Second Grade

Teaching in a Christian School is such a blessing! I graduated from Cal State Northridge in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater Arts and Music. Believing God was leading me into the field of education, I went back to school more than 10 years later and earned a California Teaching Credential from Patton University in 1997. I believe in Christian character training, and love to read and sing, so I am able to apply the gifts God has given me in the classroom.

I began my teaching career in another Bay Area Christian school where I had a wonderful experience and received a strong foundation in the field of education. Working both there and here at Hillside Christian Academy have been answers to prayer. I am truly blessed to show the love of our Savior, Christ Jesus, to my students. It is my hope that my students will each come to know the love of Christ, and that it will carry them through life no matter what comes their way.

I graduated from Pensacola Christian College in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. This is my fifteenth year of teaching, and my fourth year at Hillside Christian Academy.

My philosophy of education and purpose for teaching is to lead the student to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to equip them with the necessary tools to effectively serve Jesus in the world; these tools being a solid and applicable knowledge of Scripture, a solid academic foundation, and strong moral character.

I graduated from Biola University in 2008, and I earned by California Teaching Credential in 2009. I began my teaching career by substituting in various school districts on the Peninsula. I longed for the perfect place to start my career in teaching, and I know that God has led me to Hillside Christian Academy. I am so blessed to be able to start my teaching career at this school, and I know that God has placed me here for a reason.

I love children, and I have a passion for helping them learn and grow academically. At Hillside Christian Academy I am able to inspire my students with Christ’s love and am able to be a light for Jesus Christ. In my classroom I desire to motivate and help grow and develop the whole student, intellectually as well as socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. In this school I am able to do this while seeing the students as God sees each student — with great love and uniqueness.

I believe education is vital to a successful and fulfilled life, and I want my students to have a passion for learning. I strive to create a classroom culture that is safe, inspiring, motivating, rigorous and Christ-centered. In this environment my students are able to reach high standards as I facilitate, guide and direct their educational development, while being able to show them God’s love and sovereignty. As I work towards this goal I will continue to be compassionate and dedicated to my students, to my career as an educator, and to Hillside Christian Academy.