The Nittany Christian middle school teaching team is perfectly suited for helping students as they grow in their own abilities and identity. These teachers love the subjects they teach, but also love each student and above all, love the Lord. The Nittany Christian middle school teachers help students learn to joke and have fun when it’s appropriate and to focus on learning when that is what’s called for. Every day the teachers show their students that they are unique people, designed and loved by God. The teachers help students excel as they prepare for further responsibility and independence. But most importantly, students learn that their identity is found not in their performance or in the opinions of their peers, but in the Lord.
Mr. Dylan Lucas teaches History at Nittany Christian School. He is a graduate of Cairn University, where h earned his B.S. and M.S. in Education as well as a B.S. in Bible. His focus for study was on curriculum design, social studies, and English as a second language. During his time at Cairn University he achieved the Alpha Chi Epsilon Merit Teacher award for pre-professional excellence in teaching. Prior joining Nittany Christian School Dylan worked with the NHS Human Services school of State College and he currently also serves as the youth director at First Baptist Church in Philipsburg. When not teaching or ministering, Dylan enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, reading, hiking, and playing disc golf.
Ms. Sarah Stevens has been a teacher in Texas and Pennsylvania for both public and private schools, for more than ten years. She has loved being a part of the Nittany Christian School family where she teaches middle school math. God led Sarah to go into the education field following her term in the United States military, where she served in Germany, Kuwait, and Iraq. Sarah received her Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a major in “middle school general education” from the University of Texas at El Paso, and also holds a Master’s degree in “mathematics curriculum.” Sarah has a passion for dance and loves spending time with her two beautiful children.
Mrs. Marci Bidelspach is new to NCS this year. She graduated from Penn State University with a B.A. in English. For many years she utilized her English knowledge in the software industry, then left the workforce to raise her two daughters. She lives on a small farm that has been home to many pigs, chickens, dogs, cats, guinea hens and fainting goats! She is passionate about reading as well as connecting stories and life to the truth of God’s word. She attends Penns Valley Community Church and is active in their missions team with her husband, Ben. Some of her favorite things are coffee, reading, gardening, being outside, and spending time with her family.
Mr. Ryan Shreckengast (Mr. Shreck) has been at Nittany Christian School since 2014 and absolutely loves his role as both the 2nd – 8th Grade technology teacher and the middle school science teacher. Ryan graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Biology focusing on communicating research science to policy makers. He has seen first hand the impact that a Godly understanding and application of science can have on communities around the world through his work with International Public Health. Ryan is a self-proclaimed “Excel nerd” and enjoys curling up on a winter weekend evening with a good spreadsheet. He also enjoys reading, woodworking, PC gaming, and most of all, spending time with his wife and kids.
Mr. Matthew Turay teaches Bible and Elementary Chapel at NCS. Matt graduated from Penn State with a B.S. in Recreation and Parks Management and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary with an M. Div. in Christian Ministry, but don't ask him to translate any Greek or Hebrew on the spot. Before joining the NCS team, Matt served as a teacher's aide in first grade for several years and before that spent many years as a stay-at-home dad to his two children.
When Matt isn't grading papers or prepping for the next class, he enjoys backpacking with his family, the shooting sports, and not folding laundry.