Bethel's Teaching Staff

    • Proclaim God's Word as the source of wisdom and knowledge.
    • Portray teaching as a God given calling and ministry.
    • Promote educational excellence
         as an expression of Christian commitment.
    • Preserve our Christian heritage and values through education.
    • Partners with church and parents.

        ****************************************

Douglas Dast Principal

             6-8 Teacher

             Preschool Director 

Degrees/Education:  

• Bachelor of Science in Education, Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN
• 27 Graduate credit hours from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay and Central Michigan University
• Lifetime Teaching Certificate in the state of Wisconsin Grades K-8 all subjects
• Lifetime Teaching Certificate in the state of Michigan Grades K-8 all subjects   9^th grade in Social Studies and English
• Hold MTTC Highly Qualified teaching endorsements in English K-9, Social Studies K-9, Math K-8, Science K-8; Elementary Education, Middle School Education 

Teaching Experience: 

• 38 total years of teaching, all but two in the upper grades
• 36 years as principal 
• Taught 10 years at Zion Lutheran School in Morrison, Wisconsin (1972-82)  
• Grades 6-8 at Bethel in Bay City (1982 to present)
• 16 years Preschool Director/Administrator
• 38 years Athletic Director

Interests:

• Home repairs and remodeling
• Politics
• Physical fitness

Steven Thies 

3-5 Teacher

Degrees/Education: 

• Bachelor of Science in Education Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN    
• 11 credit hours Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, MI 
• Teaching Certificate state of  Minnesota, Grades K–6 All Subjects, Grades 5-8 Social Studies                      
• Provisional Teaching Certificate in the state of Michigan, K–5 All Subjects  

• 8 years at Bethel Lutheran School in Bay City, Michigan 
  (2002 to present) 
  
  Other Experience:
• 12 years of coaching in area Lutheran grade schools
• VBS Coordinator
• Youth Group Leader

Interests: 

• Coaching and Reffereeing
• Bowling 
• Camping, Hunting and Fishing 

• Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee, WI
• Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education, Dr. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, MN
• State of MI Professional Education Certificate with endorsements to teach
  • K-5 All Subjects
  • 6-8 Social Science and English
• Holds MTTC Highly Qualified teaching endorsement for Elementary Education,
  • K-5, All Subjects

Teaching Experience:

• 27 Years in Teaching Ministry
  • K-2 St. John's Lutheran, Wrightstown, WI, (1972-78)
  • K-2 St. John's Lutheran, Pigeon, MI (1989-97)
  • 1-2 Bethel Lutheran, Bay city, MI, (1997-present)

• American Red Cross Certification for
  • Instruction in Water Exercise
  • Babies/Children/Adult, Learn to Swim Classes
• Lifeguard and Water Safety Instructor
• 25 years teaching at Essexville Hampton Community Education - Pool Classes

• Church and family activities
• Swimming
• Community service
• Camping
• Physical fitness

  
                                       Sandy Mayhew 
                          Kindergarten Teacher


Degree/Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education From Dr. Martin Luther College New Ulm, MN 1989
   
• Currently working towards Michigan certification 

• 1st. Grade St. John's, Baraboo WI 1989-1990
• K-4 New Salem, Sebewaing, MI 1999-2002 
• Kindergarten, Bethel, Bay City, MI 2008 to present
   

• VBS and Sunday School teacher
• Substitute teaching in area Lutheran Elementary Schools 
  1990-1999 and 2002-2008
• 3 Years as a Nanny
• 10 Years as a test administrator for MTTC, LSAT, GMAT 
   

• Sewing
• Bowling
• Gardening

Karen Miller

Preschool Teacher and Director
 

Degree/Education:

• Bachelor of Arts from Saginaw Valley State University - Major: Elementary Education
• Early Childhood Education Degree
• Teaching Certificate in the state of Michigan - Grades Pre-8
• K-5 Teaching Certificate in Math, Science and Social Studies
• 28 Graduate credit hours from Saginaw State University

• 18 years teaching experience
• 15 years teaching Preschool at Bethel in Bay City
• 3 years substitute teaching in Special Education & Pre-Primary Impaired

• Gardening
• Watercolor painting and clay miniatures
• Fun stuff like tutoring algebra
• Learning new and creative things
• Animals/Music/Collecting rocks