School Board

Cary joined the Board at Ebenezer in 2020. He lives in Ellsworth with his wife, Nicole (Ebenezer Art
Teacher), and son Caleb (Ebenezer graduate). Cary retired from the US Coast Guard in 2018 after
more than 27 years of active duty service. He held multiple Command Executive positions aboard
ships and shore units including command of 2 icebreakers in the Great Lakes. He holds a BA from
Columbia College and is currently teaching at Northwestern Michigan College - Great Lakes Maritime
Academy in Traverse City.
After 11 cross-country moves, the Godwin’s chose to settle in Ellsworth, in no small part because of
Ebenezer and the surrounding community. They are members of the East Jordan United Methodist
Church where Nicole serves on the Board as the Education Director and Sunday School teacher and
Cary serves as Finance Committee Chair. Cary is also a Lions Club member in East Jordan. Caleb is a
student at North Michigan Community College in Petoskey. The Godwin’s love Ellsworth, Ebenezer,
the community, and most of all the great people.

John joined the Board at Ebenezer Christian School (ECS) in 2020, and is currently serving as Vice
President. John grew up in the Flint area, but now lives in Ellsworth and attends Harvest Barn Church,
where he met Samantha (Treasurer) in 2004, and married in 2008. John and Samantha have 2 sons,
Jesse and Joey, who have attended ECS since preschool.John graduated from Kettering University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering,
and has worked as a Product Design Engineer at Honeywell since 2006, developing sensors for
aerospace systems. He is also the head sound guy at Harvest Barn Church, and in his spare time enjoys
playing music (piano, bass, guitar, saxophone), as well as cooking.
As a parent, Christian, and community member, John is excited to help lead ECS, so that more children
can experience the God-centered, premier education that’s been offered here since 1945.

Erin is a stay at home mom, with a background in Early Childhood Education, as well as, Emergency Services. Her relationship with Ebenezer Christian School started when she was a college student doing student teaching in the Little Room, which led to substitute teaching and volunteering at the school. As a parent, she is thankful to now have 2 of her children enrolled in Ebenezer, with the 3rd starting preschool next year. Erin is also thankful for the opportunity to serve the Ebenezer Christian School Community as a member of the school board. 

Samantha joined the Board at Ebenezer in 2017, serving three active years and is now an advisory to
the Board. Samantha grew up in East Jordan and attends Harvest Barn Church, where she met her
husband, John (Vice President of Board) in 2004. They married in 2008 beginning a life together.
Once their eldest was of age, John and Samantha brought him to Ebenezer beginning in Preschool. As
a result, John and Samantha moved to Ellsworth in 2018 with their two sons Jesse & Joseph to be
closer to Ebenezer Christian School. Samantha has a passion for Ebenezer Christian School because
she believes a firm foundation in knowing God will give children a path to great success.
Samantha worked for a local Certified Public Accountant while she earned an Associate’s Degree of
Applied Science in Accounting with Distinction from North Central Michigan College. She continued to
work as a staff accountant until 2012 when she made the decision to become a stay at home mom
when her first child was born.

Brieann has been a member of the board since 2018.  Prior to that, she served as the school secretary.  Brieann has been a part of Ebenezer Christian School since 2007, when her oldest son started preschool.  Her two oldest children attended Ebenezer from preschool through 8th grade and her youngest is currently a 4th grader.  Brieann and her family attend Lighthouse Missionary Church in East Jordan.

Christine is a resident of Bellaire, MI and mom to Wyatt Bruce, currently enrolled in Ebenezer. Christine has a background in Marketing, and currently works in Technology as well as Strategic and Not-So-Strategic Planning. This is Christine’s first year serving on the board, and the first year she is serving within the Ways and Means Committee.