Our Teachers and Staff
Meet Our Leadership Team
School Administration and Staff
We are proud to have a dedicated and experienced administrative team committed to supporting students, families, and staff. Our school administrators bring extensive expertise in education and leadership, ensuring a nurturing and effective learning environment.
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Eric Haan
Principal
bio
Mr. Haan has always wanted just one simple thing in life: Adventure. And he’s had a lot of them! Born in Michigan and raised in Colorado, Mr. Haan went to Lutheran schools a lot like (but not QUITE as amazing as) Bethlehem. He had every kind of small pet except snakes and spiders, logged a million miles on his bike, and did lots of other things. He was pretty good at school and liked it a lot – he got a business degree from Valparaiso University, then stayed to get a Masters degree in elementary education. He taught in inner-city Chicago for a couple years (that was a great adventure), then moved to Oregon and taught there for a while. During this time, he acquired several snakes and lots of spiders – big ones! Then he moved here and was the principal at Bethlehem from 2009-2017. During this period, he got another degree in administration; he also got rid of the snakes and most of the spiders. Then he decided to take a break and go on some different adventures. These included: more teaching, becoming a police officer, teaching middle school, and painting houses. Mr. Haan came back at Bethlehem in 2022 to be the principal again, because God reminded him that he was made for this most excellent adventure.
Mr. Haan is married to Amanda (a super-duper, award-winning, sometimes colorful hair having, extremely intelligent teacher) and has two children, Linnea and Ben, who went all the way through Bethlehem, preschool through 8th grade, and are now almost adults. He has two dogs and too many tarantulas to count. He enjoys writing (he has two published books and more on the way), riding his bike, working out, and making up goofy songs. He is secretly still eleven years old, but he plays an adult well enough.
Michele Jameson
Secretary
bio
Mrs. Jameson started working as secretary at Bethlehem Lutheran School in 1994. BLS has a special place in her heart because she not only works here but attended kindergarten through eighth grade as a student as well. She graduated from Kennewick High School where she took all the business classes she could find. After high school, she worked at GTE for 12 years where she received training in business and computers. She has also attended classes at Columbia Basin College and Washington State University throughout her career. In her spare time, Mrs. Jameson enjoys keeping busy with her four grown sons, reading, walking, and catching up with family and friends. She counts BLS as a huge blessing in her life and can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Alanna Lindblom
Admissions Director
bio
Mrs. Alanna Lindblom grew up in the Tri-Cities with her family and loves the community here. After graduating from Kennewick High School, she attended King’s Way Missionary Institute in McAllen Texas, focusing on Spanish Language and missions. At the end of her studies there, she felt called to return to the Tri-Cities area where she ended up raising her family. As a local business owner, she is passionate about working to answer the needs of our community members and building bridges to strengthen our support of each other.
In her spare time, she disappears into books, tries improving her green thumb, and cheers on her kids in their various activities! She loves to spend time outside, and travel to anywhere and everywhere
Jesse Youngstrom
Operations Manager
bio
Jesse Youngstrom grew up mostly (literally and figuratively) in Missouri around St. Louis. His family moved around a bit because reasons that have yet to be declassified. That being said, he had an opportunity to adjust to different locations, rural and urban. One of his favorite things to do as a kid was explore; always curious what was over the next hill or behind the next door. Or what that button did. This never ended poorly.
After high school Jesse decided to explore with the Army. He was stationed in Hawaii and ended up spending about 2 years in Iraq.
After the Army Jesse attended and graduated from Pacific Rim Christian University with B.A. in Bible and Christian Ministry.
In 2011, Jesse got hitched to the most beautiful, lovely, and caring, Hawaiian wahine. They have two daughters that are the best kids in the history of Creation (allowing for possible bias).
In 2016 they moved to Kennewick and they plan on not planning to go anywhere.
Tiffany Woodrich
Eagles' Nest Helper
Meet Our Teachers
School Teachers
We are very pleased to offer a comprehensive education led by well-educated and caring individuals. All of our teachers at Bethlehem Lutheran School have earned a minimum of a bachelor of science or arts degree in education, and some have earned a master of education degree. Additionally, all of our full-time teachers in kindergarten through eighth grade currently hold or are working toward Washington state certification.
Tammi White
Preschool
bio
Mrs. Tammi White grew up in Kennewick, Washington and spent a few years in Lubbock, Texas. She graduated from South Plains College in Lubbock, Texas with an associate’s degree in child development. Mrs. White has worked in the field of child development and early learning for over 30 years in many different settings and environments. Most recently, she operated Buddy Bear’s Child Care, a family child care in her home. She and her husband Loran have a son, Weston. Weston is a Bethlehem Lutheran alumni. Fun facts: Before Weston, she collected over 300 stuffed teddy bears. She has given away a few but still has plenty!
Angela Reynolds
Preschool Assistant
Olivia Anderson
Pre-Kindergarten
bio
Mrs. Olivia Anderson was born and raised on Kodiak Island, Alaska. She moved to Washington with her husband and children in 2006. She has worked as a pre-k teacher for the past 10 years and has spent over 15 years volunteering as a Sunday school teacher and VBS leader. In her free time, Mrs. Anderson enjoys reading, hiking and camping with her husband and 3 children.
Fun fact: Mrs. Anderson worked as a real estate broker before she discovered her love for early childhood education.
Nicole Ebert
Pre-Kindergarten Assistant
bio
Mrs. Nicole Ebert is originally from California but moved to Washington with her husband soon after college. She spent a decade working in government before God showed her that she’d much rather hang out with kids all day. Though it’s her first year at BL, she’s spent the last two years working in the Pasco School District. She has a wonderful husband and two beautiful daughters, who also attend BLS.
Fun fact: her very first job was as a mascot for a Minor League Baseball team.
Arianna Arnold
Kindergarten
bio
Mrs. Arnold grew up right here in Kennewick, Washington. She moved to Bellingham, Washington, to be a nanny, and while there, she attended Whatcom Community College and graduated with an AA in Early Childhood Education. Her love for children allowed her to teach ages birth-5 at a local daycare in Bellingham, where she later became the director for three years. After moving back to Kennewick, she spent six years working for DSHS. While she enjoyed her time there, she felt it was time to return to working with children in the classroom. In August 2022, she started as the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher at BLS and remained the assistant for two years while completing her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from WGU. Mrs. Arnold loves spending time with her husband and two children, baking, and learning new recipes as a family. They also enjoy traveling to Disney parks any chance they get.
Daycia Heck
Kindergarten Assistant
bio
I am thrilled to join BLS as the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher this year! I have been married for 13 years and have two daughters, Lyla 6th grade, and Lauren 2nd grade. I love spending time with my family, camping, going to the beach, and reading! For the last 14 years, I have worked as a Medical Assistant, and although I loved my job, I wanted to explore other career interests. Teaching has always been something that I have been passionate about, and I’m excited I get the opportunity to be part of BLS. I have volunteered in Sunday School and VBS here at Bethlehem Lutheran Church for several years and have enjoyed my time working with the young children of our congregation. I can’t wait to jump in this year and get to know each student, along with their families, and be part of their growth in faith and academics.
Kim Closner
1st Grade
bio
Miss Closner grew up just up the road in Yakima, Washington. She graduated from Concordia University Portland with a bachelor’s in Christian Education. She worked as a Director of Christian Education until the fall of 2015, when she returned to school to earn her master’s degree. Miss Closner completed her master’s in education from Heritage University in 2016. Miss Closner loves to bake, spend time with her family, watch sporting events, and attend concerts.
Rebekah Picker
2nd Grade
bio
Mrs. Rebekah Picker grew up just across the river in Hermiston, Oregon. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Concordia University in Portland with a degree in early childhood/elementary education with a minor in professional church work. Mrs. Picker earned her master’s in education from Heritage University in May 2014. Mrs. Picker is married to David, who works as a sales manager in the Tri-Cities area, and she has three children. Mrs. Picker began teaching at BL in 2010. A fun fact is that Mrs. Picker is a mirror-image twin; this means that she is right-handed, and her identical twin is left-handed.
Jon Blank
3rd Grade
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Mr. Jon Blank graduated with a B.S. degree in elementary education from Concordia University in Chicago. He earned a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Northwest Nazarene in Nampa, Idaho, in 1992. Mr. Blank holds a current Washington teaching certificate and has teaching experience in grades 3-5. Mr. Blank is married to Traci and has two college-aged daughters. He enjoys camping and staying at the ocean with his family, woodworking, working in the yard, and remodeling projects. He also loves sharing the gospel with his students every day at Bethlehem.
Laura Lanning
4th Grade
bio
Mrs. Lanning is a native to Washington State. She grew up in various locations all around the Spokane area. After high school, she joined the U.S. Army and served for four years traveling to Korea and Ft. Knox, Kentucky. While serving Mrs. Lanning had the opportunity to participate in an outreach program working with young students as they strengthened their reading skills. This ignited a passion to want to serve in education so, after her military service she earned her degree to become a teacher while working in both public and private schools.
Mrs. Lanning is married to Roger Lanning and has two daughters, Serena and Lorelai. She has a special connection to BL as her husband and his siblings attended BL years ago. More recently her youngest daughter, Lorelai, also graduated from BL in 2019. Completing the BL family circle of learning, Mrs. Lanning completed her student teaching last year with the fourth-grade class. Mrs. Lanning loves animals, reading, playing beach volleyball, traveling, hiking, eating tacos, and spending time with her family and friends. She loves having fun while learning, especially when she can participate in games and hands-on activities.
Kelly Bame
5th Grade
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Miss Bame grew up outside of Portland in Beaverton, Oregon with her parents and older brother. She attended a Lutheran school there for nine years (kindergarten through 8th grade). In the spring of 2018, Miss Bame graduated from Concordia University in Portland, Oregon with a degree in elementary education, as well as a minor in professional church work. In 2021 she earned her master’s in education: Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University.
Outside of school, Miss Bame loves spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys going for walks, playing games, the color blue, traveling, and eating cheese.
Lynsey Pelletier
6th Grade
bio
Miss Pelletier grew up on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Following in her parents’ and older sister’s footsteps, Miss Pelletier studied to become a Lutheran school teacher. After five years at Concordia University Irvine, she completed her coursework and graduated summa cum laude, receiving her degree in liberal studies, with a minor in music and a Lutheran teaching certificate.
Outside of teaching, Miss Pelletier enjoys playing handbells with the Tri Cities’ “Bells of the Desert,” relaxing with family and friends, playing board games, completing escape rooms, thrifting, and participating in other musical activities.
Cheyenne Kane
7th Grade
bio
Miss Kane grew up here in the Tri-Cities and discovered her love of teaching after completing a 1st-grade teaching internship with the Richland School District in high school. After falling in love with the profession, she continued her education at Eastern Washington University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Literacy, Reading, and Writing Education with a concentration in Elementary and graduated cum laude. While attending college, Miss Kane was also an ABA therapist (Applied Behavior Analysis) working with children across the autistic spectrum. She also served as the Superior Court Chief Justice with the Associated Students of Eastern Washington University. When she’s not teaching, Miss Kane enjoys taking her standard Doodle Leia to the dog park, going on Target or Ulta runs, and spending time with her family.
Susannah Luttman
8th Grade
bio
After receiving her B.S. in Elementary Education with emphases in History and English at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota, Mrs. Luttman began her teaching career in the Czech Republic, where she taught English to 5th and 9th grade students. After returning to the U.S., she moved to Minnesota, spending a year teaching early childhood special education and English as a Second Language to African refugees, then a year teaching kindergarten at Risen Savior Lutheran School. Mrs. Luttman continued her education in New York, earning an M.S. in Literacy Education from the State University of New York College at Potsdam, where she also taught 5th grade in the local public school district. She has lived in West Richland for just over a year and spent the 2019-2020 school year as a reading specialist at Westgate Elementary School in Kennewick.
Mrs. Luttman has three children attending Bethlehem Lutheran School, and her husband is a Mathematician who works at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. In their free time, the Luttmans enjoy traveling to national parks and hiking. Mrs. Luttman has personally traveled to five of the seven continents and has visited over two dozen countries. One of her favorite trips was participating in an archaeological excavation in Israel.
Michelle Youngstrom
Science & PE
bio
Hi there! I’m Michelle Youngstrom, and I have a passion for teaching middle school science and physical education to K-8 students. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness and a Master’s degree in Special Education, which helps me create engaging and inclusive learning experiences for all my students.
I’m happily married to my husband, Jesse, and we have two wonderful daughters, Leia and Annabelle. When I’m not in the classroom, you can find me spending quality time with my family, planning our next vacation, or simply relaxing at home. I believe in fostering a love for learning and encouraging my students to explore the world around them. Looking forward to connecting!
Erika Hokanson
Language Lab Coordinator
bio
Mrs. Erika Hokanson was born and raised in Kennewick and remains local with her family. Mrs. Hokanson has been married to Eric for eighteen years and has three children. All her children have or are attending Bethlehem Lutheran School. Mrs. Hokanson enjoys camping, planting flowers and watching her three children in their various activities. Mrs. Hokanson loved volunteering at Bethlehem Lutheran School in previous years and now loves teaching and coordinating the Language Lab.
