Meet Our Staff

Alan Freudigmann, Instructor

I am originally from Australia and have lived in the U.S. since 2002 and have been married to my wonderful wife Megan since 2002. We have 4 kids (Kirra-16, Eliana-13, Quinn-11, Niyah-8) who love to travel, play sports (especially soccer, track, skiing and volleyball), and enjoying the great outdoors.

Professionally, this is my first year at KCTC's Teacher Academy, but prior to being here I was a teacher at East Kentwood (EK) High School for most of the last 15 years teaching students' biology, environmental science, health and physical education. In addition to my time at EK, I have taught at an international private school in Australia for a short stint in 2017-2018 where I worked with students on short-term visas to experience education in Australia. I also have a strong passion for teen leaders and spend a lot of my spare time coaching soccer, and teaching (coaching) at Grand Valley State University for their Education programs where I work with students on academic probation/jeopardy of dismissal to get them back on track with their academics and personal lives.

Melissa Pierczynski, Instructor

Bio to come...

Lisa Rilley, Instructor

Lisa Rilley is a dedicated educator with over 18 years of experience spanning pre-kindergarten through post-secondary education. Her passion for teaching and mentoring over the years has led her to guide numerous pre-service and student teachers in their professional journeys. In addition to her role as an instructor for the KCTC teacher academy, she also teaches Art Education Methods courses at Hope College, where she also contributes to curriculum development.

Her career has included working with students from diverse economic and cultural backgrounds in rural, urban, gifted, and at-risk settings. This versatility informs her inclusive and student-centered teaching philosophy. In addition to her classroom work, she has served as a college recruiter and remains active in programs like FuturePrep’d, which bridges classroom learning with real-world experiences.

A strong believer in reflective practice and continuous improvement, Mrs. Rilley is committed to equipping the next generation of educators with the skills, adaptability, and mindset needed to thrive in today’s classrooms.

Lisa Rilley - Instructor
Teacher Academy
lisarilley@kentist.net

Toni Verburg, Career Tech Education Specialist

Bio to come...