Mrs. Ryder

Mrs. Ryder has been a teacher since 1991 when she graduated from Indiana University.  She taught in Edwardsburg, Michigan for 14 years teaching Kindergarten-5th, and multiage K-2 & 3-5.  She has also taught a profoundly autistic classroom for two years in Birmingham, Alabama and regular education in Alabama 3rd and 5th grade. She joined the G-A staff nearly seven years ago and loves it here.  She also owned and operated a preschool, Alphabet Academy in Birmingham, Alabama.  

She has been married for 28 years and has two wonderful children.  Her husband is part-owner of a heat-control system company called Die Therm. Her daughter will be a senior in college this year and is studying nursing and her son is a junior in college studying business finance and commercial law.  She has a cat named Toulouse (she didn't name him... LOL) and a Golden Retriever named Marshall.  She is proud to live in the Galesburg-Augusta area.

Mrs. Palmer

​After graduating from Centreville High School, I attended Western Michigan University and pursued a Bachelor of Science degree with minors in elementary education, science, English, and early childhood.  I completed my internship in first grade with Mrs. Mary Sullivan at Galesburg-Augusta Primary! Following graduation I taught first grade in Saranac, Michigan. After a successful first year, I decided to make a big change and moved to southern California.  While in California, I taught for the Corona-Unified School District.  My experience there includes: second, third, and fifth grade. I earned my Masters of Science degree in educational leadership/administration from California State University, Fullerton.  In 2007, I returned to Kalamazoo, Michigan.  I spent five years teaching middle school language arts for the Battle Creek Area Catholic Schools.

I currently live in Portage, Michigan with my two beautiful children...Hayden and Hannah.  I am thrilled to be teaching at the G-A Primary School!

Mr. VanDyk
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Hello and welcome to another school year. I was first introduced to the Galesburg Augusta Schools during my undergraduate work at Western Michigan University. From that point on I fell in love with the district and was fortunate enough to intern in a 2/3 multiage class. Then six short months after graduating  on, and am now in my 23rd year.  I am married to my lovely wife, Kathy, who also works in our district as a paraprofessional.  I have two wonderful girls, one who just graduated from HS and cosmetology school, and another who is in ninth grade, both of whom keep me on my toes.  
Education
Bachelors of Science from Western Michigan University 1995
K-5 all subjects self-contained classroom
6-8 Science
 Experience
1996-Present Galesburg-Augusta Community Schools
​1996-1997 K-1 multiage
1997-1998 3rd Grade
1998-2007 2-3 multiage
2008-Present 3rd Grade