Our Team

Ms. Nelson joined the FCS faculty in 2012 as a middle school science and 5th grade classroom teacher. She then transitioned to a position as Assistant Head of School in 2020 before assuming responsibilities as the Head of School in 2021. For her, the best part of school is undoubtedly spending time with the children. She also loves spending time with her four zany older siblings as much as possible.

Mrs. Katelynn Martinez and her family moved to Queens in the fall of 2021 with a burden for the next generation. Katelynn is the Assistant Head of School at Flushing Christian School and is currently pursuing her master's degree in school building leadership. Alongside her husband, Juan, they serve as lead pastors at Hempstead Assembly of God. Katelynn is a dedicated mother of three, all of whom have thrived at Flushing Christian School. Passionate about her community, she enjoys being a sports mom and actively participates in service projects with her family. 

Ms. Melissa Miller comes with several years’ experience working with young children. She is our warm and encouraging kindergarten assistant. If she is not hiking with her family, she is likely playing ultimate frisbee barefoot.

With a passion to serve, Margalie has worn several hats during her time at FCS.  She began as a volunteer in the school library in the Fall of 2015. She was subsequently asked to come on as a substitute and after-school assistant, then Kindergarten Assistant. After serving as an assistant in kindergarten for 6 years, she was hired as lead Kindergarten Teacher in 2022.  With her passion for public service, education, and children, she earned her degree in Political Science with a minor in Education at Florida A&M University. Throughout her years here, she has dedicated herself to FCS’s mission of working to transform young minds through sound academic education with a distinctively Christian worldview.

Natalia Ortiz has been teaching for 6 years with a passion for helping children grow both spiritually and academically. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Western Governors University. She is a member of an Assembly of God church in Amityville, where she serves on the worship team. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and doing photography.

Ms. Lucy Calma has been teaching at FCS since 2020, following over 20 years' experience in the education field. Born in Italy ("My name could be pronounced LuCHEEa"), Ms. Calma exhibits the dynamic personality needed to connect with lively students, if only they can keep up!

Ms. Debbie Boodram joined the FCS faculty in the fall of 2020 and has lived in the classroom in Trinidad and here in Queens for over 20 years. She is actively involved with her family in a local church ministry. Since she loves rearranging her house, her students should be prepared for interior design changes in their classrooms!

Arriving in Spring 2024, Ms. Dixon started out assisting with the 2nd grade class for a few months and is now serving as our 5th grade teacher. Ms. Dixon studied Bible and Theology at Alliance University (Nyack College) and loves incorporating biblical truths throughout each lesson taught, pointing her class to hear and know God's voice. Fun fact, her dad attended FCS way back in the 70s. Outside of being in the classroom, she enjoys going on bike riding adventures and playing her guitar. 

Ms. Kimberly James is a dedicated educator with 13 years of experience in the field of education, including 6 years as a NYC E.L.A. teacher. With a strong Christian faith that has guided her since her teen years, Ms. James integrates values of compassion and integrity into her teaching. Passionate about literacy, she strives to instill a love of reading and writing in her students, believing that literacy is key to unlocking a world of possibilities. Through engaging lessons and a supportive classroom environment, Ms. James aims to inspire a passionate pursuit of discipleship of Jesus Christ and a lifelong appreciation for literature and learning in every student.

Arriving in fall 2022, Mr. Vallejo brings a variety of talents to our school. He teaches music to the whole school and leads chapel worship. Additionally, he will be teaching the hand chimes and Japanese Culture electives this year. His relaxed personality and high expectations make him a perfect fit for the middle school classroom.

Mr. Tom joined the school in 2024. He is a lifelong New Yorker with over seven years of teaching experience. He is married with two daughters and two beautiful grandchildren. He attends First Baptist Church of Flushing. He is our social studies teacher from middle school, and he also teaches the film and financial literacy electives. His goal is to teach social studies from a Christian worldview. 

As memorable as her math lessons are, Mrs. Feld is probably best known for modeling the gentleness of God. She has been teaching at FCS for decades, sandwiched around a hiatus of a few years. God has used her gracious wisdom to pour into students as our middle school math teacher. "But I don't teach math," she says. "I teach children using the tools of math." She certainly teaches more than math.

Mrs. Salas joined the FCS team in the fall of 2021 after teaching in the public school classroom for 14 years. As a deep thinker and avid blogger, she is thrilled to teach in a Christian environment. She grew up in Ecuador, and she brings her rich cultural background into the Spanish classroom.

David Lou joined us in 2024. He graduated from Hunter College with a degree in Mathematics and a minor in Sociology. He currently teaches Physical Education to all grades. He is a member of First Baptist Church of Flushing and serves as a youth leader and on the worship team. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball. 

With over five years of teaching experience in both North Carolina and New York, she has served students across a wide range of grade levels in elementary and middle school. Her teaching journey has included social studies, sixth-grade self-contained classrooms, middle school science, and Bible instruction. She currently teaches 7th and 8th grade Bible, where her passion for God’s Word shines through. Her heart is deeply committed to helping students grow in their love for the Lord and learn how to live out their faith with purpose and joy.

Her husband serves as a youth and young adults pastor at their church, and together they find great joy in investing spiritually in the lives of those seeking to know God and grow as followers of Christ.

Outside the classroom, she enjoys coffee, hiking, animals, reading, and discovering the vibrant food and culture of New York City.
 

Mrs. Sager leads our art classes and contributes to our seasonal concerts. Beginning in 2007, she served as both a kindergarten teacher and our music/art teacher. She also taught 2nd grade for a year. Currently, she is focused on teaching our middle school students about the beauty of art and how to hone in those God-given art skills. She and her husband (the pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Franklin Square) have been blessed with four children and a growing number of grandchildren. If she is not actively involved in church, school, or family activities, she can be found relaxing along the south shore of Long Island.

 Mrs. Rosemarie Rodriguez is a warm and welcoming presence at Flushing Christian School, where she has been an integral part of the community since 2014. As one of the first smiling faces you’ll encounter upon arrival, she helps create a friendly and supportive atmosphere for students, families, and staff alike. Outside of school, Mrs. Rodriguez has been happily married for 30 years and cherishes spending time with her husband, daughter, and son-in-law. Her dedication to her family and her school community reflects her nurturing spirit and caring nature.  

Janet Garcia is a dedicated Admissions Coordinator with a strong background in the educational sector. Since joining FCS in 2021, she has been instrumental in streamlining the admissions process, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and welcoming experience for prospective students and their families. Her attention to detail, organizational expertise, and commitment to excellence have made her a valuable asset to the team. In addition to her main role, she also leads the Yearbook elective class for Middle School.

Passionate about supporting students on their educational journeys, Janet works closely with families, guiding them through each stage of the admissions process, from initial inquiry to final enrollment. Her excellent communication skills, coupled with her deep understanding of FCS's values and culture, allow her to build strong relationships with both prospective students and colleagues, creating a positive and collaborative environment.

Outside of her professional role, Mrs. Garcia is a proud mother to six children and a grandmother to six grandchildren. Her nurturing and caring nature extends beyond the classroom, making her a beloved figure within the school community.

Nimisha Baball served as the Development Coordinator during the 2018-2019 school year and graciously re-joined in the same position in October 2024.  In the interim, she was the PTFA President for 6 years and served at the school where needed. She is mom to an 8th grader who will be graduating at the end of the year. If she isn't working, showing houses, taking care of her parents, or shuffling between her sons' soccer practices and games, you will find her reading or painting. 

Sandra Payne started serving at FCS as a volunteer in 2012. She later started subbing in the elementary grades. She has been with our after school program since 2019. She has extensive experience working with kids. She attends First Baptist Church of Flushing and Chinese Evangelical Missions Church in Bayside. She was married for 20 years and has been widowed for 7 years. She adores her 10 year old cat Moses.

Pastor Michael was born in London, England of Barbadian and Trinidadian parents and is a citizen of three countries (Barbados, England and USA). Personally, he is committed to equipping Christians to live out their faith vibrantly in contemporary cross cultural church communities (Ephesians 2:10,14-18).

He became the lead English pastor of Chinese Evangel Mission Church of Queens in March 2018 after serving for 10 years as pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Cambria Heights. More importantly, he attended and served with FBCF for seven years and continues to maintain close ties with FBCF members and leadership including living with his cousin. He is also the former Dean of New York School of the Bible, former New York Center Director for Bethel Seminary of the East and is currently the Vice President of the Trustee board of Flushing Christian School in Queens.

Pastor Mike graduated from Texas A&M University-Commerce in 1990 with a BBA in Accounting and Bethel University & Seminary of the East in 2007 with a Master of Divinity. He began  orking on his Ed.D. in Organizational Leadership in 2016 at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona but is on leave from studies at this time.

He has been happily married to Mirna Sambula- Herbert, LMSW since 2016 and is the proud father of Rebecca Herbert, 29 and Jeremy Herbert, 23. Pastor Mike and Mirna have been blessed with their first child together in November 2022.

Anli grew up in a Christian home in Kyoto Japan to Taiwanese parents. Her family immigrated to NY when she was 8.5 years old. She grew up attending public schools. She earned her B.A., and an M. A. in Linguistics and Social Sciences and Education specializing in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

Throughout her life, she has attended several churches and First Baptist Church of Flushing is current home church where she met her husband who is an ordained pastor.

She came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior in a gradual process. She has learned to serve in different capacities, such as leading Bible studies, teaching Sunday school, discipling  and mentoring others.

The majority of her teaching career was spent in a middle school in Queens, as an ESL teacher/coordinator. She has also taught at Grace Christian Academy for a couple of years, and tutors periodically.

In terms of ministry, she is currently involved in co-directing a Summer Day Camp, coordinator/advisor of yearbook, co-facilitator of GriefShare Ministry, volunteering for Pastoral Counseling Center, and a Board member at Flushing Christian School, serving as a secretary. She continues to disciple and mentor younger women as well.

Tom Murray was born in Flushing, but grew up in Rockville Centre, Long Island. After graduating from Oceanside High School, he attended Manhattan College for his undergraduate studies in Mathematics. His first full time job was teaching Algebra and Geometry at LaSalle Academy, in Manhattan. He received his Masters degree in Secondary Education from Queens College, and taught math for 16 more years at the Robert F Wagner, Jr. Secondary School in Long Island City, Queens. He recently has started a second career, working on the trains, and in the train yards, of the New York City Transit Subway System, as a conductor.

He has two sons, John, age 28, and Liam, age 26. They have gone on retreats with him to Spruce Lake and Tuscarora in recent years, He also enjoys taking them to Mets games, and to pitch-and-putt golf in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. John lives in Harlem, while Liam lives in Sunnyside, Queens.

Tom’s faith journey was strongly influenced by a Bible/Prayer group that met on Friday’s at Robert F Wagner, Jr., and by a Billy Graham Crusade in Flushing in 2005.  He received the new waters of Christian baptism in 2008 at First Baptist Church of Flushing, where he has been attending for roughly the past 15 years. He gratefully serves at FBC Flushing as a Sunday school teacher and usher.

Alexandra Potes (Sasha) was born into a working Christian family of four in the former Soviet Union. She was baptized at a  young age, attended a local church and became part of the professional choir, which travelled locally and abroad in Europe singing Christian chorales. God blessed her with a talent of learning different languages (English, German, Italian, and French) and she continued developing her gift through State University education earning double major - one in Translation and one in Economics. It is then when for the first time she attended a non-denominational Christian service in the basement of an apartment building, where a fellow musician from the school band invited her to pray and hear the Word. It was full of friendly young people and pastor was not afraid to be funny and discuss the Word of God with them not only as a wisdom from God, but also as an actionable life instruction manual.

In 2005 she participated in an international exchange program, which for the first time brought her to MA, USA on J1 visa. The Spirit of the Lord protected her as she was exposed to different people and experiences being away from home. Upon graduating with the Masters (with honors), she secured her first internship at GE in Shelton, CT, which turned into a longer term assignment and so she moved to the US. After a couple of years of acclimation, learning, volunteering and looking for church home, she became a part of a small non-denominational Christian church in Bridgeport, CT, where she soon was ordained as a minister and became a worship leader.

God moved again in her life when she received a job offer from Citibank in Manhattan, NY, where she just celebrated 11 years of service as Senior Business Risk Manager and Vice President. Sasha is a certified compliance specialist. She is happily married to Rafael Alejandro Potes since 2016 with two beautiful daughters - Valentina (4) and Natalia (1). Since 2019, the Potes family has returned to the First Baptist Church of Flushing (FBCF) membership again - after having served there since early 90’s till approximately 2005. Sasha serves at FBCF in both English and Spanish congregations as a teacher and as a worship leader. 
 

Edward Dhanpat Jr. is a 2nd generation American. His parents immigrated from Guyana in South America. Being a native New Yorker, he understands the complexity of ministry in a difficult city.
He attended NYC public schools most of his life. He completed his undergraduate work (B.A. in Psychology) at CUNY Queens College, and his graduate work (M. Div.) at Bethel Seminary of the East.
He is an ordained minister in full-time ministry since 2008.  He's been planting churches since 2015.