Here at Black Forest Academy, our staff are educators, teachers, athletic coaches, advisers, counselors, resident assistants, dorm parents, and mentors. We have a passion for bringing excellence into all areas of a student’s experience here at BFA. There are currently 165 staff members with over 1,000 years experience combined. They come from all over the world: the United States of America, Canada, Australia, UK, Europe, and more.
Our Staff
Katrina Custer
(email)
Teacher, M.S. Vice-Principal, M.S. Social StudiesKatrina has taught all ages from Kindergarten to adult on at least 4 continents. Some of her favorite work experiences included teaching ESL at a small Christian communications college in Quito, Ecuador and supervising a college Tutor Center back home in Minnesota. Her background also includes ministry at her home church in leading Sunday school and in serving on a leadership team. While working for Northwestern College, she co-lead a short-term missions trip to Guyana and spent a summer running a debriefing program for MK's at her mission's headquarters.
Home Base:
St. Paul, Minnesota
Colleges/Universities Attended:
Colleges/Universities: B.A. in ESL Education from Northwestern College, MN
M.Ed. (in process) in Social Studies Education from University of Minnesota
Other Background:
Katrina grew up as an MK in Austria, and her family has been connected with BFA since 1999. Like any good, rootless MK, she loves to travel and has a collection of eclectic stories. She's fluent in German but has also dabbled with Chinese, French, and Spanish. Mainly, she lives for relationships and longs to see her students challenged and growing, both as a person and in their faith. Her other interests include archaeology, learning how to make (or buying) pottery, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen.
Roy Fortune
(email)
H.S. French/History, TeacherPrior Work Experience
Roy taught elementary and secondary school in Ontario, Canada for 35 years. In 1977-78, he taught English at Lyon, France. He has always been involved with his local church.
Home Base
Ottawa, Canada
Colleges/Universities Attended
BA French and history, McMaster University, 1967
MA (French) Carleton University, 1985
MA (history) Carleton University, 1999
Other Background Information
Roy has published two books. He and his wife have three children and seven grandchildren.
Elizabeth Gross
(email)
H.S. History, TeacherHome Base
Columbia, SC
Colleges/Universities Attended
Bible Certificate from Capernwray Hall, 2004
B.A. in Bible and Humanities, Columbia International University, 2008
M.A. in Theological Studies, Columbia International University, 2011
Anthony Olson
(email)
H.S. - History, TeacherThe Olsons joined the BFA staff in 1992 and 1993. Melody came to teach piano and accompany choirs and Tony served as a cook and Resident Assistant in the HBR and Maugenhard dorms (from 1993-1999). After taking a year furlough to further his education they returned in 2000. Since then, Tony has been teaching science and history. Now that their 4 children are all in school, Melody is back to teaching piano for BFA. They are missionaries with TeachBeyond.
Degrees and Certificates:
BA, Cultural Anthropology and Biblical/Theological Studies, Bethel College, St. Paul, MN
Minnesota Secondary Social Studies Certification, Bethel College
M. S. in Education, Philidephia Biblical University
David Weinman
(email)
H.S. Bible/History, TeacherIn 2012, David returned to teaching High School after a number of years in an executive role with an international mission agency. A good part of his life and ministry has been with high school students – as a teacher in a national school in East Africa, and with Young Life and church youth groups in the States. Believing that we are to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, David is passionate about the promise of liberal arts education. Privileged to have seen the face of Christ on people in the church worldwide, David brings a perspective to his teaching that fits well with students who have grown up all around the globe. David is a Whitworth University graduate and has a Masters of Divinity from Fuller seminary.
