Ms. Hannah Ritta
K-1st Grade Teacher
Miss Ritta grew up on a farm between Central City and Chapman. She attended Nebraska Christian from preschool to high school graduation. After high school she attended the University of Nebraska Kearney majoring in Elementary Education with an ELL (English Language Learners) endorsement. At UNK, she was very active in Navigators which involved Bible Studies and evangelism training that strengthened her faith and relationship with God. After her college graduation in December 2019, she spent time as a substitute teacher in Grand Island. This time in public schools made her realize that something was missing and she wanted to teach in a school where Christ could be at the center of the classroom! Fun facts about Hannah….she loves reading and crocheting and has read the Chronicles of Narnia series several times!
Mrs. Rebeeca Geren
2nd-3rd Grade Teacher
Mrs. Geren lives in Central City with her husband. They have three grown daughters and a one son. She taught at Grand Island Christian School for four years. While there, she taught a variety of first through fifth grades until it closed in 2019. Before joining our staff, she had been substitute teaching at Grand Island Public. She is thankful to God who has given her the gift of being able to be a part of New Hope. She enjoys being able to share about Jesus while also challenging students academically and sharing verses in class. This is where her heart is and is the most important job ever.
Mrs. Cara Francl
6th Grade Teacher
Cara is a ‘99 high school graduate of Nebraska Christian and graduated from Sterling College with an elementary education degree in 2003. She began her teaching career for Grand Island Public Schools, and 2021-2022 will be her 18th year teaching at New Hope. She and her husband Russ have 3 kids – two of which attend New Hope. She loves having the privilege of teaching kids at New Hope – to be able to share Christ’s love and Biblical truth alongside reading, writing, and math makes it all come together. Sharing the salvation message with her students is the greatest privilege of all!
Ms. Taryn Wright
6th Grade Teacher
Ms. Taryn Wright, daughter of Pastor Brian and Lisa Wright, is currently pursuing her teaching degree in elementary education. She teaches 9-12 grade English at Heartland Lutheran High School in the mornings and spends the afternoons at New Hope. She is the VBS director at Christ Lutheran Church in Cairo. She has a fur (cat) baby Clementine and loves spending free time playing games and hanging out with family and friends.
Ms. Jayden Leonard
4th-5th Grade Teacher
Ms. Leonard grew up in eastern Nebraska, spending 6 years of her education at Nebraska Christian before graduating from Thayer Central in Hebron. She attended Colorado Christian University for her undergraduate, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in English and Associate’s in Music in December of 2023. During her summers she worked with kids as a camp counselor and director, and she spent the first half of 2024 as a nanny. She is the eldest daughter of Mark and Deana Leonard and has 3 younger siblings. In her spare time Jayden enjoys grabbing coffee with friends, watching her favorite shows and sports, and listening to good music. She is grateful to God for leading her to New Hope and to the school for embracing her and giving her the opportunity to teach!
Mrs. Bobbi Kaczor
Para-Professional Teacher
We are so grateful for our paras who have joined our staff! Bobbi and her husband Aaron have sent their four children to New Hope Christian School over the years. They both have contributed so much to our school and we are so blessed to have Bobbi on staff!
Mrs. Randi Hopkins
Para-Professional Teacher
We are so grateful for our paras who have joined our staff! Randi and her husband Caleb have sent both of their girls to New Hope. She is such a helpful addition to our staff!