Staff | SCS

Our Teachers

Kali Osinga

Pre-K3

Mrs. Kali is the PreK-3 teacher at SCS with a passion for being a part of the beginning years of their education. She is born and raised in Stephenville and loves being a part of the community. Mrs. Kali is a member of Stephenville Christian Reformed Church which her husband has attended his entire life. They have a precious daughter together who also goes to SCS. “I can’t wait to watch your child grow and learn about God, academics, and everyday life. Thank you for choosing SCS to be a part of their education.”

Joy Osinga

Pre-K4

Miss Joy is the Pre-K 4 teacher at SCS. She is a member of Stephenville Christian Reformed Church and enjoys being a part of the church family. She is also a member of her church’s social and fellowship committee. Miss Joy received the Jack Harvey Fellow Exemplary Teacher Award this past school year for her love and dedication to being a teacher. “I am looking forward to working with your child(ren) and teaching them the Christian values to last a lifetime.”

Emma Blackburn

Kindergarten

Ms. Emma is the kindergarten teacher at SCS. She graduated from Ohio Northern University where she studied early elementary education. Emma moved to Stephenville last summer. She is excited to watch her students grow and develop as learners throughout the year. “I love working at SCS and enjoy teaching Christian values to your children.” This will be her second year teaching at SCS and she can’t wait to see what the 2024-2025 school year has in store!

Denise Garner

1st & 2nd Grade

Mrs. Garner is an alumnus of Tarleton State University. She has taught at several levels, ranging from High School Home Economics to Pre-K. She has been with SCS for 12 years and currently teaches the 1st and 2nd-grade classes. She has 3 adult married children and 3 granddaughters. Mrs. Garner attends First Baptist Church where she loves being involved in their fellowship. “It is a joy and privilege to teach at SCS where I can freely teach God’s Word in every aspect of learning.”

Renae Hawkins

3rd - 8th Science and History

Miss Renae is the 3rd–5th-grade homeroom/Bible teacher and also teaches 3-8th grade science and social studies. She is a graduate of Tarleton State University, College of Education with a Bachelor of Science in Family and Consumer Sciences with an emphasis on Child and Family Studies. Renae is the mother of 2, an active member of Harvey Baptist Church, and is involved with Children’s Ministry programs and Women’s Ministry.

Jennifer Fails

3rd - 8th Math

Jennifer Fails is a Tarleton State University graduate, and this will be her 6th year in the classroom. Most recently, she taught 4th and 5th grade at Sidney ISD. Before that, she taught at SCS as the 4th/5th-grade homeroom teacher, teaching all 2nd – 5th-grade students science, history, and math. She is originally from Stephenville but has lived in Comanche with her family for 15 years. She has been married to her husband, Joe Fails, for 21 years and they have 3 daughters, Paisley 16, Parker 11, and Lennox 9, and one son Conner, 19, who was just married this past spring to his high school sweetheart, Alissta. Jennifer and her husband own an HVAC business and she is also a real estate agent. They also help operate a mission organization (Devoted to Christ Ministries) that serves the people of Cap-Haitien, Haiti. “I love Jesus and I love math and am excited for another year at SCS!”

Wendy Cockerell

3rd - 8th English Language Arts

We are thrilled to introduce Wendy Cockerell as our new 3-8th grade English Language Arts teacher! Wendy brings over 30 years of experience in education and is excited to share her passion and expertise with our students. Wendy is married to Buster and together they have three sons and two grandchildren.

We feel incredibly blessed to have her join our school family. As we welcome Wendy, we are reminded of the verse from Colossians 3:16: “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.” We look forward to the many blessings and positive contributions Wendy will bring to our school.

Robin Anderson

Music

Robin Anderson is a local guitar teacher with a passion for the art form and her students. She has served on the worship team at Cottonwood Baptist Church since 2015 in both musical and technology roles. She studied recording audio at Dark Horse Institute in Franklin, TN. With a focus on nurturing children’s curiosities for music, she aims to point every student toward our infinitely creative God.

Johnny Cravey

Johnny Cravey is a Howard Payne University Alumni and serves alongside his Wife Audrey Cravey as the College Pastor at the Cowboy Church of Erath County. He Coaches football with the Stephenville Faith Knights. He loves to serve God and show His love through physical activity and athletics.

Heidi Velsen

Director, Stephenville Christian School

Heidi Velsen was born in Vermont. At the tender age of four, she and her family immigrated to the Netherlands, where she received her schooling and developed a deep appreciation for different cultures and educational systems. In 1995, she returned to Texas with her husband Bert to start a dairy farm, where they planted roots, started a family, and became an integral part of the Stephenville community. Heidi and her husband are blessed with a wonderful daughter, Esmae, who is a great joy and inspiration.

For the past 15 years, Heidi has faithfully served Stephenville ISD, with the last eight years dedicated to her role as secretary. Her commitment to the community, love for the students, and unwavering faith have been the driving forces behind her work. Heidi is now stepping into a new chapter as the Director, where she looks forward to furthering the mission of the school: to cultivate an environment of academic excellence, spiritual growth, and community engagement.

Heidi’s vision for Stephenville Christian School is firmly rooted in her faith. She believes that education is not just about imparting knowledge but about shaping hearts and minds for Christ. She is dedicated to fostering a Christ-centered environment where students can grow academically, spiritually, and emotionally. Heidi is passionate about creating a community where faith is integrated into every aspect of learning, and where students are encouraged to develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Heidi and her family are active members of the Stephenville Christian Reformed Church, where they find spiritual nourishment and fellowship. Their involvement in the church community strengthens their faith and commitment to serving others.

Heidi is excited about this new journey and is eager to see where the Lord takes her and the school. She is committed to leading with humility, integrity, and a servant’s heart, always seeking God’s guidance in her decisions. Heidi believes that through Christ, all things are possible, and she is dedicated to helping each student discover their God-given potential.

In her spare time, Heidi enjoys tending to her beloved plants, which she considers a testament to God’s creation and beauty. She also treasures spending quality time with her family and friends, whether visiting her daughter or traveling together. Her family remains her steadfast support and inspiration in her educational and spiritual journey.

Heidi is excited to continue serving the Stephenville community and is looking forward to the incredible things God has in store for Stephenville Christian School. She invites everyone to join her in this journey, as together, we strive to build a school where Christ is at the center of everything we do. She is particularly excited to implement the new mission, “United We Learn,” as a guiding principle for the school’s future.