Teaching children to know and serve God with excellence for over 25 years

• Parents and students will find that each staff member is not only well qualified for his or her position, but genuinely committed to Biblical values and teaching in a Christ-like and God-honoring manner. Each one is a faithful member of either Faith Baptist Church or another supporting church and is active in the local church ministry.

• The average tenure of our teaching staff at FBCS is over 10 years and the average teaching experience is over 20 years.

Theresa Justus - K3, 1st Grade

Mrs. Justus is a 1984 graduate of Faith Baptist Christian School.  She graduated from Fellowship Baptist College in 1987 with a degree in Christian Education.  Theresa is teaching 1st Grade in the afternoons as well as K3.  She and her husband, Pastor Randy Justus spent the next 3 years working with the Tohono O'odham Nation in Arizona.  She moved back to Pekin and is now teaching K3 / K4 again.  Her Life's verse:  Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." - Because it reminds her that God has chosen a path for her and she can trust Him completely with the "expected end."   Her children attend FBCS because "I know that the people with whom they are spending 35  hours a week hold the same values and beliefs that I do."

Amber Seest - K4

Amber Seest graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with a major in Elementary Education and Bible and a minor in Broad Field of Education.  Amber has been teaching K4 at Faith Baptist Christian School for the past two years.  She has also taught 2 years of Kindergarten at Chicago Lakes Baptist Christian School, 2 years of 2nd Grade at Calvary Baptist Christian School in Pennsylvania, as well as 15 years of substitute teaching on all grade levels.  Amber's life verse is Isaiah 41:10.

Leslie Smalley - K5

Mrs. Smalley graduated from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College with a B.S. in Bible with minors in Christian Education and English.  She  has taught in Christian schools for 16 years.  Leslie believes the K-5 students at Faith Baptist Christian School should receive a thorough and well-rounded education including Bible, Phonics, Reading, Mathematics, Science, and Music.  Mrs. Smalley's life verse is Philippians 3:14.

Carol Fryman - 1st, 2nd Grade

Carol currently teaches 1st and 2nd grades. Carol has been teaching one or both of those grades for over 24 years! Carol has also coached cheerleading, and produced the yearbook "The Sword" during that time. Prior to coming to Faith Baptist Christian School, Carol has also taught in Indiana and South Carolina. Carol received her degree from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, Minnesota. Carol says she believes children should attend Faith Baptist Christian School because she wants to prepare the child physically, academically, mentally, and spiritually. The only place outside the Christian home is in a Christian School like FBCS.

Shirley Pirece - 3rd, 4th Grade

Shirley Pierce is currently teaching 3rd and 4th grades at Faith Baptist
Christian School.  She has been teaching at FBCS since 2006.  Mrs. Pierce
has a BA in Guidance/Counseling from Bob Jones University in 
Greenville, South Carolina.  She has taught on the elementary, jr. 
high, and high school levels.  She coaches jr. high speech for the 
IACS academic tournament held each year.




Diane Freeman - 5th, 6th Grade

Diane currently teaches 5th and 6th grades. She also helps out with music class for the 1st - 4th grades. In the past, Diane has taught every grade level from 3rd to 12th. Diane taught Junior High for 8 years which included math, science, English, history and PE. Diane also taught High School history for more than 10 years. Diane has also coached volleyball as well as produced the famous "President's Day Celebration" for over 11 years. Diane has a Bachelor of Science degree from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Elementary Education with a History minor. Diane came to Faith Baptist Christian School in 1980 after teaching 2 years in Indiana, 1 year in Charleston, South Carolina and 1 year in Walterboro, South Carolina. Combined, that is more than 28 years of Christian service!




Carol Cole - English, Speech

Mrs. Cole currently teaches English and Speech at Faith Baptist Christian School. She also works with the Yearbook, Bible Quiz Team, and the Academic / Fine Arts Competition.  She holds a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Bob Jones University.  Prior to coming to Faith Baptist Christian School in August 2001, Mrs. Cole had previously taught at Bob Jones University and Christian Day Schools in Illinois and Indiana.  Mrs. Cole believes Faith Baptist Christian School gives parents a place where the teaching they are doing at home can be enhanced by others who love both God and their children. Faith Baptist Christian School allows children to hear "another voice" encouraging them to see the world from God's perspective and cooperate with Him and His plans for it and for them.




Bill Cole - Algebra, Biology, Geometry, Physics, Pre Calculus, Computer Applications

Mr. Cole teaches upper level math and all the science and computer classes.  In the past he has also taught Bible, German, P.E., Choir, and Consumer Math. Mr. Cole started teaching at Faith Baptist Christian School in August 2001. Previously he has taught at Bob Jones University, Grace Baptist Academy in Springfield, Illinois, Emmanuel Christian School in Hinsdale, Illinois, Eagledale Christian School and Suburban Baptist School in Indianapolis. Mr. Cole has a BS and a MA degree from Bob Jones University.

He enjoys playing golf, bowling, softball, basketball, and volleyball.  He enjoys keeping in contact with relatives and friends on the internet.  His favorite activity is to spend time with grandchildren.  Singing and playing the trombone are also enjoyable activities.

Mr. Cole believes parents should send their children to Faith Baptist Christian School because students are taught in a God-honoring environment with Bible-based principles used in both the educational activities as well in the extra-curricular areas. Students are taught to put God first in their lives and to honor Him in all their speech and actions. The teachers attempt to teach the students lovingly in and out of the classroom to work hard, to obey their parents and to honor God in all they do. Every attempt is made to help students gain the tools they need to be able to stand for Christ in the midst of the world's sinful philosophies and practices.

Joe Pluth - Elementary Music, Choirs, and Band.  Secondary Choir, Band, Band, Bible, 7th Grade English, and Spanish.  Private lessons for voice and most band instruments.

Joe teaches Elementary music, choirs, and Band for the Elementary students.  He also teaches Secondary Choir, Band, Bible, 7th Grade English, and Spanish.  Joe teaches private lessons for voice and most band instruments as well.  Joe is also the volleyball coach.   Joe attended Northland Baptist Bible College where he graduated with a B.A. in Sacred Music in May, 2000.   While at Northland he traveled on three music ensembles; Pioneers of Praise (mixed octet), Northern Brass (brass quintet), and Northern Lights (16 member choir).  Joe also attended VanderCook College of Music from 2001 - 2003 where he graduated with a M. M. ed in Music Education.  Joe is listed in Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2004 - 2005 edition, Who's Who Among America's Teachers, 2005 - 2006 edition, Marquis Who’s Who in America, 2006 edition and 2007 edition, Marquis Who’s Who in American Education, 2006-2007 edition, Marquis Who’s Who in American Education, 2007-2008 edition, and Marquis Who’s Who of Emerging Leaders, 2007 edition.  Joe's life verses are;  Cor. 14:8; Ps. 37:3-5; Phil. 1:9-11

Joe's current professional memberships include:

- MENC (Music Educator's National Convention

- IMEA (Illinois Music Educator's Association)

- NBA (National Band Association)

- NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing)

- ITG (International Trumpet Guild)

- AGEHR (American Guild of English Handbell Ringers)

- AFM, Local 301 (American Federation of Musicians, Pekin chapter)

Joe has performed with a variety of community musical organizations:

- Des Plaines Community Concert Band, Des Plaines, IL

- Northwest Choral Society, Des Plaines, IL

- Northern Colorado Community Band, Windsor, CO

- Opera Ft. Collins, Ft. Collins, CO

- Loveland Opera Theatre, Loveland, CO

- Ft. Collins Children’s Theatre, Ft. Collins, CO

-  Front Range Music Theatre, Ft. Collins, CO

- Pekin Community Band, Pekin, IL

- Peoria Players Theatre, Peoria, IL

E-mail Faith Baptist Christian School- 1501 Howard Ct.  Pekin, Illinois  61554  (309) 347-6178