Our Teachers | Hope Christian Schoo

Our Team.

At Hope Christian School, we believe the foundation of exceptional education lies in the dedication of our staff. Our team of experienced and certified educators is the heart of our program, continually going above and beyond to create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment. Each teacher brings unique skills and a personal commitment to ensure every child is well-prepared for their educational journey. From shaping young minds to fostering the spirit of curiosity, our staff is committed to instilling Christian values and academic excellence, making Hope Christian not just an educational institution but a home away from home for your child.

Meet Our Staff

Judy Canfield

Director

I am proud to be the Director of Hope Christian School. I have been in the Early Childhood field as teacher and director in New Jersey for over 35 years. I have my Bachelor of Arts degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I have my Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and my New Jersey State School Supervisory Certificate. It is an honor to be part of this family of wonderful teachers and staff and in a school with a 57 year tradition of excellence in offering quality educational programs to the children of the community!

Jennifer Bandilla

Assistant Director

I have been in the Early Childhood Education Field for over 20 years as a Teacher, as well as an Assistant Director. I have my Teaching Certification through Rasmussen College. I believe that all children deserve to have a happy and safe Educational Environment in which they can learn and thrive! I am very happy to be a part of Hope Christian School! When I am not at school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 4 children.

Cheryl Hurd

Office Administrator

Cheryl started at Hope in 2017, taking over for the very well known and loved former Administrator, Wanda Nebiolo.

She lives in Freehold NJ with her daughter, Adalyn, and a few rescue animals. Outside of work, Cheryl has a huge passion for animals, tattoos and travel, a love for word games, puzzles, sunrises, waterfalls, the beach and spending time with family of course!

Cheryl plans to be part of the HLC team for a long time, so stop in and say "Hi" if you haven't already!

Ed Kropa

Pastor of Hope Lutheran Church

Pastor Edward Kropa (Pastor Ed) is the Leader of Hope Lutheran Church. Pastor was raised here in Freehold Township before moving out of state. The pastor has fond memories of Hope Christian School as his mother, Gloria Kropa, was the first-ever teacher of Hope Christian School! During his 32 years of pastoral leadership, Pastor Ed and his wife Jeanette have served 6 churches and raised 3 daughters. He is excited to be back in Freehold and to be helping keep Hope Christian school anchored in Faith!

Eileen Flohr

Teacher

I teach 3 year olds and 4 year olds at Hope Christian School. I graduated from Seton Hall University with a BS in Education. I am a NJ Certified Teacher with certification in Early Childhood (Pre-K) as well as Elementary Education (K-8). I am a certified Catechist and have been teaching CCD for over 30 years.

I am happily married with 3 children. I have taught primary grades in addition to teaching for over 20 years at HCS. My favorite color is RED and my favorite book is the Giving Tree. I love collecting sea glass at the beach and listening to Christian music. During the summer months, you can catch me reading, gardening and cuddling with my dog, Buttercup. Thank you, God for allowing me to joyfully teach children at Hope Christian School.

Kelly Stefanacci

Teacher

I teach 3 year olds and 4 year olds at Hope Christian School. I graduated from St.Peter's University with a BA in Elementary Education and a concentration in English Literature. I am a NJ certified teacher. I have previously taught 3rd grade, Pre-K, and more recently 1st grade at St. Jerome School in West Long Branch. I hope to instill a love of learning that will last through your child's years of schooling. I want to provide an atmosphere that enables every child to grow closer to Jesus and to live the Gospel values. I enjoy reading. I love to travel to Ireland to visit with my family. I reside in Freehold Township with my husband, our two children, and our dog Tara.

Melissa Tempest

Teacher

Mrs. Tempest teaches the 3 year olds at Hope Christian School. She has a Bachelor's Degree from the College of Staten Island in Psychology and her Master's Degree in Education. Mrs. Tempest and her husband have two daughters and a son. Mrs. Tempest has been with Hope Christian School as a parent since her daughter's Mommy & Me days over 10 years ago. Her classroom is full of her boundless energy and creativity!!

Rachel Colbert

Teacher

I am happy to be teaching at Hope Christian School. Prior to coming here, I taught Pre-K for the past 20 years and was also a tutorial Phonics Teacher. I have my teaching certification from Rasmussen College.

When not at school, I enjoy spending family time at home with my husband and 5 children.

Shannon Imregi

Teacher

I come to Hope Christian with a Master's of Arts in Teaching from Simmons University in Boston and almost 15 years of teaching experience specifically in early childhood and literacy development. I've served as a classroom and resource teacher, an adjunct professor, and most recently a literacy coach, working with teachers to implement Best Practices in K-3 classrooms. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, and spending time with my ten year old son, husband and very energetic dog, Maggie!

Erin Hydrusko
Teacher

I am excited to say that this will be my first year teaching at Hope Christian School in the Toddler 2 Room. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Special Education. Previously, I taught kindergarten for 11 years. While this is my first year teaching at Hope Christian, I am very familiar with the school. I have been a lunch volunteer for two years while my son was attending preschool here. I’ve also participated in the Mommy & Me program with my daughter, who is now currently enrolled. As your child’s teacher, I’m looking forward to creating a special love of learning where your child can feel safe, and happy each day they walk into our classroom.

Leslie Rifenburg

Teacher

Mrs. Rifenburg is a staple in the Hope Christian School Toddler 2's Class. She started as an assistant teacher and now is leading the FUN! She also works in the Before Care program, Summer Camp, VBS and was a Pre-K Sunday school teacher at Hope Lutheran Church for many years. Mrs. Rifenburg is married to her husband Rich for over 30 years and has three adult boys, all whom attended Hope Christian School! Mrs. Rifenburg treats her Toddlers as if they were her own, creating a warm, nurturing experience where our 2 year olds can learn and grow!

Dana Tabone

Teacher

Hope Christian School has a special place in my heart as both my children attended here and I

was very grateful when I was given the opportunity to also work here. I have my Bachelors from

Ramapo College and Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. I believe that the most

important thing I can do as a teacher is provide a safe and loving environment for the children

while also teaching them. In my free time you can catch my husband Joe and I at the soccer

fields cheering on my son or dance competitions cheering my daughter on

Christina Labrit

Teacher

I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Dance from The College of Staten Island. Afterwards, I received my Masters Degree in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. I am a New Jersey certified teacher originally from New York, where I taught for 9 years. I moved to Freehold a few years ago with my husband and three little girls. I am so excited for another great school year of fun and learning here at Hope Christian School, while making lasting memories!

Alyssa Bulk

Teacher

I am so excited for my 1st year teaching at Hope Christian School in the 4 year old class and am thrilled to join my 2 daughters who also attend Hope. I have a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Montclair State University with a specialization in Preschool to 3rd Grade. I have taught preschool to 1st grade for the last 10 years in the public school setting, where I was honored to be named "Teacher of the Year" in 2018. I have written and implemented developmentally appropriate curriculum and took a leadership role as Camp Director at EHTPAL Summer Camp in South Jersey for 13 years. I pride myself on creating a warm and loving classroom environment while emphasizing learning through play to best prepare our little learners for successful futures. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 3 daughters and visiting Disney World. I look forward to becoming an official part of the Hope Christian Family!