Staff (page 5)

Sarah VanderBaan

Department: Executive Leadership, Special Education
Position: Chief of Specially Designed Instruction and Student Services
Sarah VanderBaan started with Choice as the Special Education Supervisor and is now the Chief of Specially Designed Instruction and Student Services. Previously, Sarah was at National Heritage Academies as a middle school Resource Program Teacher and West Michigan Special Education Content Leader. She also worked for Benton Harbor Area Schools and Wyoming Public Schools. Her teaching experience includes early childhood through high school general education and special education. Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from Aquinas College in Learning Disabilities and Early Childhood Education. Sarah received her Master’s degree in Specific Learning Disabilities from Grand Valley State University. Sarah also received her Educational Leadership-Special Education Administrator endorsement from Grand Valley State University. Sarah lived in Hong Kong for three years and taught at The American School there. She has traveled all over Asia, including Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
Free time for Sarah includes traveling, yoga, and spending time with her family relaxing in Northern Michigan. West Michigan is where Sarah calls home. Volunteering is important to Sarah as she serves on the Executive Board of Family Hope Foundation.

Sarah is excited to work at Choice and collaborate with general education and special education staff to meet the needs of all students.

Nicole Tuinstra

Department: Special Education
Position: Special Education Supervisor
Nicole Tuinstra started with Choice Schools as the Elementary Special Education teacher at West Michigan Academy of Environmental Science and is now the Special Education Supervisor at Choice Schools Associates. Nicole received her bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in Group Social Studies and Elementary Education and also received her Master’s degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Learning Disabilities and Cognitive Impairments. Nicole also has approval to be a Teacher Consultant.

Nicole likes to bowl in her spare time with her family. She also has participated in the Shadblow Theater summer concert for the past 2 years. Nicole also likes to spend time with her husband and 2 daughters as well as her extended family.

Nicole is excited to make the transition to Choice Schools Central Office. “I am excited to work with the Curriculum and Instruction team and the Special Education team. My new role will allow me to work with both general education and special education teachers, which will benefit all of our students.”

Sarah K. Wildey

Department: Executive Leadership
Position: Chief Executive Officer
Sarah joined Choice Schools Associates in 2001 as the Director of Human Resources and transitioned to the executive leadership team as Vice President in 2013. Sarah stepped into the role of CEO in 2017 where her main role is to keep the company focused on the culture and values that have given Choice Schools a strong track record of success.

Sarah received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the School of Education and Human Development at Brenau University and completed her Master’s degree from the School of Business at Michigan State University.

Banner image for Tiffany Wilhelms, Executive Assistant at Choice Schools Associates

Tiffany Wilhelm

Department: Finance & Operations
Position: Director of School Safety & Operations
Tiffany Wilhelm has a bachelor’s degree in communications from San Francisco State University. She previously served as an Executive Assistant and Special Projects Manager at a public school district in California. She also hold a California multiple subject (K-8) teaching credential, and renewed it during the pandemic to help with the teacher shortages when needed. Education for all is important to her, and she love connecting with students and find that she serves their success best from the central office. Outside of school she enjoys traveling the world, hiking, kayaking, yoga and axe throwing. She just moved to Michigan in March and is especially excited to explore the Great Lakes area and experience the four seasons!

Matt Witkowski

Department: Communications
Position: Director of Marketing and Communications
Matt works at Choice Schools Associates as the Director of Marketing and Communications. Matt has years of communications and marketing experience, including crisis management, media relations and integrated marketing strategy. He is responsible for developing and executing communications strategies to ensure that the schools Choice serves exceed all its communications and enrollment objectives. Prior to Choice, Matt worked at Lambert and Co. where he served as a senior manager providing strategic support to an array of clients across the nation.