Our Leadership

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Brandon Johnston grew up in Bremerton and has always had a deep love for both learning and leading. After earning his degree in Business Information Systems from Ashford University, he spent eight years working in the IT world before God called him into full-time ministry. For the past 13 years, he has served as a pastor of Coram Deo Church, where he has had the joy of shepherding people, overseeing staff and ministries, and helping build a strong, Christ-centered community. He is currently enrolled in the 25'-26' ACCS Doctorum program.

As Head of School, he brings together his love for the Lord, classical Christian education, and the next generation. He is passionate about helping students grow in wisdom and virtue, and considers it a great privilege to walk alongside families in that journey.

He has been married to his wife, Crystal, for 17 years. Crystal also teaches Music and Latin III at the school. Together, they are raising two energetic little boys—ages four and two—who keep them laughing and on their toes every day.

When he's not working, Mr. Johnston can usually be found roughhousing with his boys, enjoying a good meal with Crystal, reading old theologians, playing guitar, building something in the wood shop, tending the garden, or firing up the grill for a backyard BBQ with friends.

The Johnstons are grateful to be part of this community and excited to see what God continues to do in and through the life of the school.

Chelsie Determan joined CDA as Secretary in July 2025. Born and raised in Moscow, Idaho, she moved to Mountlake Terrace, Washington, after high school, where she earned an Associate Degree in Biblical Theology from Calvary Chapel Bible College. While there, she directed children's ministry and met her husband. After marriage, they relocated to his hometown of Shelton, Washington, and in 2024 moved to Bremerton for a new job. Together, they have four children -- two boys and two girls. 

For 11 years, Mrs. Determan has worked as a birth doula, birth assistant, and childbirth educator. Additionally, she has homeschooled her children, taught at homeschool co-ops, managed a chicken farm, learned to crochet, and held various positions in administration and education. Driven by God's grace and deep gratitude for what He has done, she is excited to contribute her skills and talents at CDA, where she looks forward to supporting operations, serving others, and nurturing the growth of each child. 

Born and raised in Auburn, Washington, Stacey Goodnough moved to Silverdale with her husband in 2010. She studied at Green River Community College before transferring to the University of Washington where she earned her B.A. in Spanish. During her senior year, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Spain at the Universidad de Cádiz. Her family has attended Coram Deo Church for 15 years and have been members since 2017. She is the wife to an amazing husband and mother of three awesome kids. She loves reading, camping and is trying to foster a love of gardening!

Brooke Zylstra holds a B.A. in Buisiness Management and Technical Communications from Arizona State University. She has pursued and completed theological studies in York, England, and Jerusalem, Israel. Prior to her role as a Primary teacher at CDA, she was a supervisor, trainer, and coffee master at Starbucks Coffee Company, and become a homemaker and mom in 2019. 

Mrs. Zylstra has been joyfully married to her husband, Mark, since 2018 and they are blessed with a jolly, spunky daughter. She and her family have been members at Coram Deo Church since 2021. Children are a blessing and heritage from the Lord, and Mrs. Zylstra is excited to partner with parents in guiding their children toward Christ and the gospel. 

When she's not in the classroom, you will find Mrs. Zylstra baking, spending time with her family, hosting friends, planning next year's garden, hiking, reading, and drinking lots of coffee. 

With a degree in elementary education, time teaching at a Christian school, homeschooling her three children, and helping start a co-op at her church, Julie Bartels has over 15 years of experience teaching. She loves to watch as a child’s light bulb clicks on and understanding is gained. Born and raised in Oklahoma, Mrs. Bartels and her husband Josh, a pastor at Westside Baptist Church, are now happy to call Washington their home. When she’s not in the classroom, you can find her knitting, crocheting, baking, reading (mostly historical fiction), and spending time with her family.

Katie McClelland fell in love with classical education in 2017 and has been helping other people fall in love with it ever since. She spent four years classically educating her three children at home, and is now in her third year teaching Primary C. Mrs. McClelland believes the Trivium is how God designed all people to naturally learn, and loves that Christian classical education trains our affections so we will know what is true, beautiful and good. She can often be found swimming and camping with her family. She also loves road trips, knitting, sewing, and quilting, all with one airpod in, while listening to a book or podcast.

Kimberly Gallaway is excited to be starting her second year teaching primary at Coram Deo Academy. She’s a wife and mom who’s spent the last 12 years classical educating her five kids. Mrs. Gallaway loves learning and has a never-ending curiosity about life and how God has put it all together. She enjoys sharing that excitement with others! When she’s not reading, you’ll usually find her hiking, camping, or exploring outdoors with her favorite people. She’s really looking forward to continuing at Coram Deo, where she can teach with Christ at the center and help students grow with a Biblical worldview.

Andrea Lee graduated from Trinity Western University with a B.A. in General Studies (English/ Education/ Music) and from Whitworth College with a Master's in Teaching. She holds a teaching certificate with endorsements in K-8 Elementary Education and 4-12 English/ Language Arts. Prior to teaching at Coram Deo Academy, she homeschooled her children and taught for 19 years at a public elementary school. Mrs. Lee loves being part of the Coram Deo Academy faculty, where she can teach Christ at the center of everything and equip students with a Biblical worldview. She is a wife to a wonderful husband and mom to two great kids. She loves reading, gardening, hiking, and inspiring wonder for God's creation in her students.a

A loving wife to her husband, Michael, and mom to four kids, Stephanie Palmer has been teaching for over a decade, first in the public school system and then in private Christian schools and homeschool co-ops. Mrs. Palmer and her family are Washington transplants and are finding new things to love about the PNW every day. She is excited to be a part of the Coram Deo Academy family and to partner with parents in the education of their children. 

Rhiannon Petrick holds a B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature from Washington State University. She taught at a private school in Bellevue, Washington, before moving to Kitsap County in 2009. Mrs. Petrick was a homeschool mom for eight years before joining the staff at CDA. She enjoys gardening, reading, baking, tromping around the woods and beach, watching her kids play sports, and road trips to visit extended family in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. She lives in North Kitsap with her husband and five children.

Madeline Doornink holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from New Saint Andrew’s College. She fell in love with classical education as a middle schooler and is blessed to have the opportunity to pass on that love to her students. Mrs. Doornink is passionate about helping students grow in virtue, wisdom, and love through wrestling with big ideas, reading great books, participating in deep discussions and stepping out of their comfort zone with public speaking.

Mrs. Doornink and her husband Andrew have five boys, three of whom will be students at Coram Deo Academy this year. At home you can usually find her chasing around her children, taking care of their home, and somehow finding spare time to bake, embroider, and read. 

Crystal has been teaching for over 20 years and has 36 years experience as a classically-trained pianist, as well as being fluent in Spanish. She received her B.A. in Music Education (K-12) and Piano Performance and Pedagogy in 2007 from Seattle Pacific University, and also took several upper-level Latin American and Spanish studies courses. Mrs. Johnston has a passion for learning and is excited to continue on her journey teaching in the classical tradition. She loves to help students make connections both with their faith and the world around them, to spot the counterfeits of the world and remind them of the good, beautiful, and true that is found in Christ. She finds tremendous joy as a wife and mother of two rambunctious boys, dabbling in gardening and sourdough, and filling her home with music, friends, and good food and drink.