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
Rachel Bertschi
(email)
M.S. - Science and Math, TeacherA Midwest girl, Rachel was born in Indiana, raised in Ohio, attended college in Illinois, and accepted her first teaching job in Indiana. Children have always been dear to her heart, and while on a brief missions trip to Costa Rica in 2003 Rachel realized the possibility of combining her love for children with her heart for missions. She attended Moody Bible Institute (MBI) with the intention of serving the greater missionary community through education. During her time at MBI she enjoyed teaching pre-k Sunday School as well as tutoring middle school students at Humboldt Community Christian School. After graduation she taught for one year at Peace Lutheran School in Greencastle, Indiana while raising the necessary support to serve at BFA.
Rachel has been on staff at BFA since 2009. Though she came to BFA to teach math, she's since discovered her true love: science! Rachel teaches Math 6 as well as Science 7 (Life Science) and Science 8 (Earth Science).
Colleges/Universities Attended:
Moody Bible Institute, Elementary Education
Gregg Grano
(email)
H.S. Math, TeacherGregg and his wife, Myriam, have lived in Minnesota and in Germany. They call Albert Lea, MN, home, as well as Kandern. Gregg has taught mathematics 30 years in public and Christian schools, at every level from middle school to college. He loves to travel, draw, build with Legos, but most of all, spend time with family.
Colleges/Universities Attended
B.A. Secondary Math Education from Bethel University
Capernwray Bible School - England/Sweden
M.S. Curriculum and Instruction from Minnesota State University/Mankato
Peter Olson
(email)
Teacher, Department Head, H.S. MathPeter grew up as an MK in Portugal and Denmark. He graduated from BFA in 1993. Prior to arriving at BFA, he worked at the Center for Initiatives in Pre-College Education (CIPCE) at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. His work at CIPCE involved integrating interactive media and LEGO Mindstorm robotics into mathematics and science curriculum. Peter has taught mathematics at the high school and college levels. Peter is Chair of the Math Department at BFA and also serves as Head Track Coach for the BFA Falcons.
Peter and his wife, Laurel, have two sons, Jonah & Caleb.
Degrees and Certificates
B.S., Mathematics, University of Sioux Falls
M.S., Applied Mathematics, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
