Meet the Staff
Our Certified Teachers
What truly sets your student’s learning experience apart is our exceptional teachers. Our Michigan-certified teachers and support staff are talented, passionate and patient. They are the backbone of our school and care deeply about helping each and every child succeed.
We follow a teacher-involved structure, meaning our educators take the lead in their teaching and make decisions about our school. Get to know them through their profiles below!
Jacoba Diekema-Mead
Elementary Teacher
Mrs. Mead is a veteran teacher who has taught every grade from Young Fives to 4th grade. Mrs. Mead loves teaching students the tools they need to be successful, life-long readers. Mrs. Mead also loves spirit days! If there is a dress-up day, she will be participating.
Email: jmead@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite color is pink! The pinker, the better!
Amanda Schurman
Elementary Teacher
Meet Ms. Amanda! She attended Grand Valley State University and has taught for 20+ years. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her husband and teenage children.
Email: aschurman@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite animal is an Okapi.
Ellery Templeton
Elementary Teacher
Ms. Templeton is excited to join our team this year! Her bio is coming soon!
Email: etemplton@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Coming Soon!
Courtney Smith
Elementary Teacher
Ms. Smith is excited to join our team this year. Her bio is coming soon!
Email: csmith@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Coming Soon!
Renee Frye
Elementary Teacher
Mrs. Frye has been with Innocademy since 2012, progressing from a parental role to that of a classroom teacher. In recent years, she has had the opportunity to work with numerous students across various levels as an Academic Interventionist, but is thrilled to be back in the classroom as a fourth grade teacher. Her passion lies in learning, and she takes great pleasure in supporting students at different stages of their educational journey. Outside of school, she dedicates time to her family, engages in outdoor activities, and practices tap dancing.
Email: rfrye@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She enjoys an amazing football game. Go Blue!
Carrie Pond
Middle School Teacher
Mrs. Pond has been teaching middle school science, math, and even 4th and 5th grade self-contained since 2005. She has taught in a few different states as her family has moved around, but now is permanently in West Michigan! She enjoys swimming, hiking, running, biking, and upholstering old furniture.
Email: cpond@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She is an honorary Boy Scout – she received this honor after serving as the Nature Director at camp Tapico in Kalkaska, MI.
Shelly Silva
Middle School Teacher
Meet Ms. Shelly! She has enjoyed being a part of Innocademy Allegan since 2015, sharing her love of learning with the students. She has a passion for getting kids outside and is dedicated to developing a growth mindset in her students. She encourages curiosity and taking chances in her classroom and loves the uniqueness every student brings to the table.
Email: ssilva@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves nature and hiking so much that she completed an Endurance Hike—22 miles in 8 hours!
Carol Woldring
Special Education Teacher
Ms. Carol has worked with IAC since 2021 and has loved connecting with each student who comes into the building! When not at work, she loves walking in the woods with her dog and two daughters and baking new things.
Email: cwoldring@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves iced coffee all year long—even in the winter!
Todd Norman
Reading Interventionist
Mr. Todd is a dedicated educator with a passion for helping young learners build strong reading skills. With experience working with students aged K-5, he creates engaging and supportive learning environments that foster confidence and literacy growth. His background in design and art education allows him to bring creativity into his teaching, making reading an interactive and enjoyable experience. Mr. Todd is committed to guiding students toward success by tailoring interventions to their unique needs and learning styles.
Email: tnorman@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Mr. Todd once dressed up as a zombie for his school’s Halloween festival. (age 8)
Rachel Warren
Specials Teacher
Ms. Warren is thrilled to be back working at Innocademy Allegan. Her bio will be posted soon.
Email: rwarren@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves to be outside!
Jessi Stainbrook
Paraprofessional
Ms. Jessi LOVES working with our students! Ms. Jessi enjoys encouraging them and helping them grow. She feels blessed to be here as they bring more joy into her life! When she’s not at school, she loves spending time with her family and worship leading. She’s passionate about singing, dancing, poetry, and art!
Email: jstainbrook@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She loves being silly, so being with the kids is her “jam”!
Mitchell Dorn
School Lead
Mr. Dorn is excited to join us this year. His bio is coming soon.
Email: mdorn@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: He was a professional musician before becoming a teacher.
Julie Sopko
Office Coordinator
Ms. Julie has been a part of the Innocademy Allegan family (in one form or another!) since 2018. She loves to interact with families and support the students and staff in any way she can. When she’s not at school, she loves to spend time with her family and pets, hang out on the water, rock hunt, read, and work on her favorite project – her old house!
Email: jsopko@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Ms. Julie not-so-secretly wishes she had a pet opossum.
Ms. Kristin Frederick
McKinney Vento Coordinator
Meet Ms. Kristin! She supports our students as our McKinney Vento Coordinator.
Email: kfrederick@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: She has gone scuba diving with sharks!
Renae Van Ast
School Social Worker
Ms. Renae helps our students navigate big emotions, build positive peer relationships, and overcome barriers to learning. She works closely with teachers and parents to provide a strong support system for our students
Email: rvanast@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Coming Soon
Abby Devries
Occupational Therapist
Ms. Abby loves working as an occupational therapist to support students in their ability to learn. She especially loves finding opportunities to think outside of the box in fun and creative ways to promote student success. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, biking, and traveling.
Email: adevries@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She’s been sky diving twice!
Marissa Lanning
Speech Language Pathologist
Ms. Marissa works closely with our students to develop essential communication skills like articulation, fluency, and social language. I want every child to feel confident finding their voice and connecting with others.
Email: mlanning@innocademy.org
Fun Fact: Coming Soon
Dave Zimmer
Chief Financial & Operating Officer
Mr. Dave has been with IES since 2010 and brings over 40 years of experience supporting area schools in finance, support services, and various administrative roles. He values the opportunity to serve students, families, and the broader community through his work. Outside the office, Mr. Dave enjoys quality time with his grandchildren and relaxing in sunny Florida.
Email: dave.zimmer@iesschools.org
Jamison Andrus
Human Resources
Mr. Jamison manages all Human Resources responsibilities at Innovative Education Services (IES), overseeing HR operations across four schools. Committed to navigating school compliance, he ensures HR practices remain fair, ethical, and efficient. He is passionate about talent acquisition and retention, working to attract and retain top educators and staff to support our schools’ success.
Email: jamison.andrus@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: He considers Tuesday to be the most productive day of the week.
Kate Mathe
Pupil Accountant
Ms. Kate has been a Pupil Accountant since 2016 and is excited to be part of IES, serving Innocademy Allegan, iCademy Global, and Innocademy Zeeland. She loves spending time outdoors—whether it’s hiking, kayaking, camping, or simply soaking up the sun with family and friends. She’s also a proud mother of two and a pet parent to two dogs and a cat.
Email: kathryn.mathe@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She once met Justin Long!
Austin Shumaker
Facilities Coordinator
Being part of IES is such a rewarding experience! Mr. Austin’s role is all about making sure the school is running smoothly and always looks its best for everyone who comes through our doors. With 10+ years of construction know-how under his belt, he gets to dive into exciting projects and help bring new ideas to life. The best part? Being part of a team that truly values making a positive impact!
Email: austin.shumaker@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: His favorite color is orange and he is a proud dog dad to his labradoodle, Harley, who is 12 years old.
Melissa Meyer
Technology & Testing Coordinator
Ms. Melissa has loved working with students, staff and families since she started with us in 2015. She has bounced around assisting in all areas of our buildings and has focused solely on technology and testing since 2021.
Email: melissa.meyer@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: Her favorite way to recharge is with a good book, great food and her snuggly cats.
Lisa Runyon
School Psychologist
Ms. Lisa has been practicing as a school psychologist since 2006. She really loves working for Precademy, Innocademy, Innocademy Allegan, and iCademy. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband, their two kids, and their two dogs.
Email: lrunyon@iesschools.org
Fun Fact: She loves going for early morning runs with her German Shepard, Roxy!
