Faculty
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Mrs. Wendy Tamminga (Principal, English) earned a B.A. with an endorsement to teach kindergarten through twelfth grade from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. She has over eighteen years of teaching experience and homeschooled her four children prior to joining the Covenant faculty in 2015. “I love my job because I get to discuss great literature and the implications of God’s truth in the world and in our lives,” Mrs. Tamminga says. She has the privilege of seeing students develop and hone their writing skills throughout their four years at Covenant while getting to pursue her passion for teaching. She has a special love for Shakespeare, which was developed by directing students in plays and taking them to Ashland, Oregon to see live performances. Outside of the classroom, she loves spending time with her family, sailing, reading, drawing, playing piano, and singing.
Principal Wendy Tamminga
Mrs. Rachael Shelden (College & Career, College Advisor) earned a B.A. and Master's in Teaching in Secondary Social Studies and English from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Prior to Covenant, she worked in higher education for eight years where she taught classes on reading and composition, trained peer tutors, assisted students writing scholarship and graduate school application essays, and helped students develop the academic skills needed for college success. Mrs. Shelden is passionate about helping young adults develop the reflective skills needed to find their voice and tell their stories persuasively.
Mrs. Rachael Shelden
Mr. Pedro Moura (Science) holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master’s Degree of Science in Biology from State University of Sao Paulo, and he is completing a Master’s Degree of Divinity in Theological Studies from Mackenzie Presbyterian University. Mr. Moura has been pursuing additional professional development through the Discovery Institute in Seattle and has taught several courses to high school and college students in chemistry and biology. He is married to his wife, Marina, and enjoys running, playing chess, and reading books about science and faith.
Mr. Pedro Moura
Mr. Andrew Welch (History, Civics, Etymology, Yearbook, Advanced Speech) holds a B.A. in History and English Literature in addition to a Master of Arts in Education, both from Pacific Lutheran University. After graduating, he worked in the Puyallup School District, including a stint at Puyallup High School teaching social studies. As an alum of Covenant High School, Mr. Welch is excited to teach history with a Christian worldview that helps students grow in their faith. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar, staying active by playing disc golf, and spending time with friends and family. He also enjoys serving at Edgewood Bible Church by being on the worship team, and by sharing fellowship with a care group.
Mr. Andrew Welch
Mr. Jonathan Anderson (9th Grade English, Rhetoric) holds a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University and a M.A. in Teaching from Seattle Pacific University. For 9 years, he taught at North Mason High School in Belfair, WA, teaching classes in AP Language and Literature, as well as creative writing. He also led the Philosophy Club after school. Before that, he worked as a substitute in several different schools in the Tacoma area. He’s tutored all ages and owns his own tutoring business. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys reading, music, philosophy, cooking, chess, and spending time with his wife, Andrea, and two kids, Dahlia and Solomon. His favorite part about teaching is being part of students’ journey into adulthood, introducing them to great literature, and giving them the tools for critical thought.
Mr. Jonathan Anderson
Mrs. Melissa McMillan (Music, Choir) holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s in Creative Arts Education from Lesley University. She has been involved in church music for over 25 years as both a pianist and a director, taught in the Puyallup School District for 6 years, and has taught private piano and voice, independently. She has sung in many community choirs including the Tacoma Symphony Voices and PLU’s Choral Union. She also composes and arranges for piano and voice. On top of all these things, she has four incredible boys and her hobbies include walking, baking, listening to music, and a love of the outdoors.
Mrs. Melissa McMillan
Miss Eva Battle (Art, Honor Society Advisor) graduated from the University of Washington with an art major and a minor in art history and holds a Master’s in Education from Seattle Pacific University. She is an award-winning professional artist and joined the Covenant faculty as an art teacher in 2004. “I love the students and getting to teach them to use their creativity given by God to glorify Him,” Miss Battle says. “It’s a privilege to be able to work with teens, art, and in a Christian setting.”
Miss Eva Battle
Mrs. Mary White (Spanish I & II) holds a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Alabama, with a minor in Biology. She has previously taught high school Spanish for three years in Mississippi. She also has homeschooled and taught at Classical Conversations Co-Op for several years. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, painting and making things, exploring nature and learning new things. Mrs. White loves teaching Spanish because it unlocks so many new ways of experiencing the world and connecting with others. She volunteers at Faith Presbyterian Church with their ESL ministry leading the level one English class.
Mrs. Mary White
Mrs. Cindy Johndrow (Spanish III & IV) was born in Colombia and Spanish is her first language. She taught Spanish for eleven years at a homeschool co-op for both elementary and high school classes. She has also tutored students individually in past years. “I enjoy seeing my students actively working hard and witnessing their progress in learning Spanish, my first language,” Mrs. Johndrow says. Engaging in a conversation in Spanish with a student is the highlight of her day. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, biking, and boating with her family. She also loves to sew. Mrs. Johndrow volunteers for the Spanish ministry at her church, translating the service into Spanish.
Mrs. Cindy Johndrow
Mrs. Amy Wood (Assistant to the Principal, Speech) holds a B.S. in Humanities from Corban University. She manages our front desk reception, oversees attendance, RenWeb management, substitute coordinating, record keeping, and assists Principal Tamminga in the day-to-day operations at Covenant. She additionally teaches yearbook as well as freshman and sophomore speech. Mrs. Wood has ten years of teaching experience at Springfield Classical and Classical Conversations, while also serving as a substitute at Covenant for over two years. Students are blessed by her steady leadership. She and her husband Ryan have two children: Rylie and Anna.
Mrs. Amy Wood
Mr. Karl Kvale (Bible, Latin) holds a B.A. from New St. Andrews College in Liberal Arts and Culture. A Covenant alum, he enjoys any opportunity to research the historical and literary background of the New Testament and get students excited about engaging those subjects in class. Outside of class, Mr. Kvale plays guitar, is an avid reader, and likes to hike, hence he willingly leads one of Covenant's most popular clubs, the Hiking Club. He also assists with Faith Presbyterian Church’s junior high youth group and their ESL ministry as an English Partner, tutoring students one-on-one.
Mr. Karl Kvale
Mrs. Tess Reed (Math, Home Management) earned a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis on Mathematics from Texas A&M University and earned a Washington State teacher certificate for upper school mathematics. She has eight years of experience in full-time math teaching. Most recently she has taught online at Connections Academy and prior to that, taught in-person at Haller Middle School. She is heavily involved in children's ministry at her church. Mrs. Reed enjoys building relationships with students and families at Covenant.
Mrs. Tess Reed
Mr. Oskar Agustsson (Physics) earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State and is a Professionally Licensed Engineer in California, Nevada, and Washington. His fascination with electricity and utilizing math to understand the world began in his high school physics class. He loves the opportunity to teach physics and use God’s language of mathematics to explain the world around us, and inspire future engineers along the way. Outside of class he is the father of two and a full-time electrical, instrumentation, and controls engineer working as a project manager for municipal water and wastewater treatment projects.