Michiana Covenant Academy Instructors
Mrs. Stephanie Bahus
Enrichment, Writing
After years of watching my children thrive at MCA, Mrs. Stephanie Bahus is excited to join the faculty! She has experience in education (B.A. in Education from Saint Mary’s College), children and youth ministries (M. Div from Princeton Theological Seminary), and higher education (Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Education and Human Development).
Mrs. Bahus left the classroom in order to homeschool her three boys, but most recently she spent time teaching 4th Grade Math and Science and Middle School Language Arts. She continues to pursue her love of teaching by tutoring students after school to boost their math, reading, writing, and organization skills. She is also fortunate to work with many homeschool students during the day! She is looking forward to sharing her love of reading and learning in the K-2nd grade Enrichment Class, and we are all going to find our voice as writers in the 3-5th grade Writing Class! Most of all, we are going to have fun and build our confidence as learners!
Mrs. Susan Daniels
English, Spanish
lighthouseteacherservices@gmail.com
Mrs. Susan Daniels graduated from Kent State University (Ohio), and taught 9th through 11th grades English and Spanish in a public high school. Since that time, she and her husband Bob have raised and homeschooled their 5 children, all of whom are now homeschool graduates. Along with homeschooling, Mrs. Daniels has been teaching Spanish language and English composition and literature in the homeschooling community. She enjoys teaching and helping parents fulfill their calling as home educators.
Mrs. Cassandra French
Art
Mrs. Cassandra French is a homeschooling mother of three who has taught art classes in a broad range of settings, including private Christian schools as well as public/community school settings. She has curated and taught art classes to students from second grade to adult, directed the challenge B program for Classical Conversations of South Bend, and currently provides art instruction for students ranging in age from second grade to adult. Cassandra has also written and illustrated a number of children’s books for publication. She studied portraiture under Master Artist Nicole Troup, and is passionate about sharing her experiences with other growing artists.
Mr. Michael Frost
Ancient Languages
Mr. Michael Frost is a teacher of classical languages and scholar of early Christianity. He grew up in Iowa, where he was homeschooled through high school. In 2023, he graduated summa cum laude from Hillsdale College with a major in Latin and a minor in Greek. At the University of Notre Dame in 2025, he completed his MA in Early Christian Studies (a joint program between the Theology and Classics departments). Two major subjects of his research have been the history of biblical interpretation and the relationship of early Christianity to pagan Greco-Roman culture. He has several years of teaching and tutoring experience across elementary, undergraduate, and graduate levels. He enjoys leading students to grasp new ideas, whether regarding the mechanics of syntax or the foreign worlds of the past. Other historical languages he has studied include Old English, Syriac, and Coptic.
Mr. Mark Hanson
Computers & Programming
Mr. Mark Hanson has been an electrical and software engineer since he graduated from Michigan State University in 1978. He has worked in aerospace and automotive industries designing and programming microchip circuits for intelligent motors and braking systems, and is currently employed at CTS Automotive. Mark is co-inventor on three U. S. patents involving electronics and software. He and his wife Sally homeschooled their daughter, now a successful Medical Technologist, from 8th through 12th grades.
Mrs. Sally Hanson
Science
hansonsci@yahoo.com | sallyannehan@aol.com
Mrs. Sally Hanson graduated from Bethel College in 1978 with a BA in biology, minoring in Chemistry, and from the South Bend Medical Foundation School of Medical Technology the same year. She and her husband, Mark, homeschooled their daughter from 8th through 12th grade. Sally is a retired medical laboratory supervisor and has taught Sunday School for many years. Sally is also a member of the Piecemakers Quilt Guild in Niles, and loves gardening, walking, and birding.
Mrs. Kristina Kain
Literature, Speech, Acting
OvertheRainbow.Enterprises@gmail.com
Kristina Kain graduated with a BA in English and secondary education in 2003 from Northern Illinois University. She then earned her Master’s in Communications in 2005. She taught in the public schools and community college for a short time, and then joined her husband in starting their own small business in real estate investing from 2006 to 2012. She began home schooling her own four children in 2013, and she has facilitated their daily violin practicing since 2012. She and her husband Justin graduated two sons in 2026, and they are attending Wheaton College. She has taught home school classes from 1997-2001 and 2017 to the present. She loves bringing literature to life with her students through study in the classroom and productions on the stage. She and her husband Justin were both home schooled as well. Through the rearing of children, she became an avid seeker of knowledge in natural medicine and healthy food. She has kept a daily journal since she was 14 years old, and she enjoys coffee and walking with her husband.
Mrs. Chrissie Kaufmann
French
Mrs. Chrissie Kaufmann (known to her students as “Madame Kaufmann”) holds BAs in French and English Literature, summa cum laude from Taylor University (1997), as well as a Diploma of French Studies from L’Institut de Touraine, Tours, France (1995). She has a personal passion for the French language and francophone cultures that she enjoys sharing with Academy students through a multi-sensory, integrated approach. In addition to benefiting from traditional classroom instruction, students can sample French food during parties, play “pétanque” (French lawn bowling) together outdoors, listen to French music, participate in French field trip opportunities and more! As a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), Madame Kaufmann has administered the National French Contest to her MCA high school students during class time, and they have excelled, earning national gold, silver and bronze medals.
Mrs. Rebecca Pinegar
Music
Mrs. Rebecca Pinegar holds a B.M.Ed. from Taylor University (2007). She has taught elementary and middle school music in public schools, directed church vocal and handbell/chime choirs, and taught private instrumental and piano lessons. She plays the oboe, flute, and piano and loves singing and learning new instruments. She and her husband, Elliott, homeschool their two older daughters.
Mrs. Fiona Swerbensky
Science
Mrs. Fiona Swerbensky is a graduate of Michiana Covenant Academy, class of 2022. Fiona spent the following four years working in food service, two of those years in a management position, and currently works at a local business selling green coffee beans. She has long desired to follow in the footsteps of her teacher and mentor Mrs. Hanson by teaching science classes and sharing her love of the subject with the students. She plans to continue in her own higher education while teaching beginning science classes.
Fiona is the middle child of seven children, and enjoys interacting with children and sharing with them the joy of learning about Gods amazing creation. Fiona and her husband Ross look forward to sending their own children to MCA one day!
Dr. Peter J. Wallace
History
Dr. Peter J. Wallace graduated from the University of Notre Dame (Ph.D. American History, 2004), Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div., 1996), and Wheaton College (B.A. History of Christian Thought, 1993). He has served as pastor of Michiana Covenant PCA since 2001. He is an adjunct professor at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, and has conducted numerous church history seminars in churches around the United States. Both he and his wife, Ginger, are second generation home schoolers.
Mrs. Virginia Wallace
Administrator
Mrs. Virginia Wallace graduated as a homeschool highschooler and went directly to work at Good Shepherd School and Daycare, Harrisonburg VA, as the Director of the Infant Care. She currently chairs the Women’s Ministry Team at MCPC, caring for the needs of the church and serves on the board of South Bend TradeWorks, a local non-profit which promotes education in the historic trades.
Mrs. Wallace has spent her entire life caring for children, both for others as well as her own! Mrs. and Dr. Wallace have graduated five of their seven children, all of whom have attended MCA. Their graduated children have
gone on to work in the service industry, tutored other homeschool children, worked in historic restoration, and one is entering Graduate School in the fall. After all their children became old enough to attend Academy, Virginia became the assistant to the MCA Administrator. She also monitors Study Hall students, answers questions and generally keeps the day running smoothly.