Staff
Karen Sawusch
Elementary Principal
ksawusch@victorycs.org
Mrs. Karen Sawusch has been a vital part of our ministry for many years. Mrs. Sawusch spent ten of her fifteen years teaching at Victory’s previous campus in Fair Oaks. There she taught a variety of levels: fourth grade, sixth grade, and Junior High.
Mrs. Sawusch is a graduate of San Diego Christian College and has received her masters in teaching degree from the University of San Francisco. Mrs. Sawusch brings with her a wide variety of teaching experience including instruction in early reading intervention. She has also spent time offering supplemental classes to elementary level home schooled students.
Mrs. Sawusch’s greatest desire is to allow the Lord to work in and through her. She has a passion to see that her students know and walk with the Lord. Mrs. Sawusch attends Arcade Church with her family and participates in the choir and sign language ministries. Karen and her husband have four children.
Feeling God’s call to teach at a young age, Mrs. Sawusch has always leaned on Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart: and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”
Tami Gower
Elementary Administrative Assistant
tgower@victorycs.org
Mrs. Gower is the Administrative Assistant for the Elementary. She started at Victory January 2020. Mrs. Gower enjoys worship and taking hikes. Both at the same time on any given day.
Mrs. Gower and her husband met at Arcade Baptist Church in 1985. They will celebrate 34 years of marriage this year. They have 2 adult children. Mrs. Gower and her husband live in Carmichael and she is often seen walking to work. Her father, who is in his 80’s, lives with them as does their son and 2 dogs.
Mrs. Gower’s favorite thing about working at Victory is she loves to be of help to the students, parents and staff in whatever capacity is needed.
Her favorite verse is Zephaniah 3: 17~The Lord you God is in your midst, A Warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love {making no mention of your past sins}, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy. (AMP)
Jody Seiler
Kindergarten
jseiler@victorycs.org
Mrs. Jody Seiler began teaching at Victory in the fall of 2017. She has a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Liberal Studies from San Diego Christian College. Mrs. Seiler, her husband, and daughter moved to the Sacramento area from San Diego where she taught third grade for 17 years. She knew about VCS from her father, Tim Smithers, who was VCS Athletic Director for 20 years.
In her free time, Mrs. Seiler enjoys spending time with her family, watching sports, and going to the beach.
Her favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Amy Swan
First Grade
aswan@victorycs.org
Mrs. Amy Swan has a Bachelor’s of Arts degree with a major in Elementary Education from Grove City College. Before coming to VCS in the fall of 2017, she taught fourth grade at an international school in Singapore, homeschooled her four children, and taught third grade at another Christian school in the Sacramento area.
Mrs. Swan, her husband, and four daughters had the privilege of living in Singapore for eight years. Three of her daughters are currently attending VCS. In her free time, she likes to spend time with her family, read, bake, and walk.
Her favorite verse is 1 Timothy 15-16, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life.”
Jill Tanis
Second Grade
jill.tanis@victorycs.org
Mrs. Tanis enjoys painting, singing, and experiencing the beauty of God’s creation. She has been married for over 25 years and has three grown children. Mrs. Tanis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Arts degree in Education from California State University, Sacramento. She has experience working in business and technology but found her calling in teaching. Mrs. Tanis home-educated her children, has taught for Amador County Unified School District, and taught 1st Grade at John Adams Academy before joining the Victory team.
Mrs. Tanis strives to make a positive impact on future generations by equipping children for their God-given callings and nurturing the good desires of their hearts. In this vein she embraces Colossians 2:2-3, “My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Angela Kimminau
Third Grade
angela.kimminau@victorycs.org
Mrs. Kimminau grew up in Denver, Colorado and has a degree in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado. She felt God’s call to homeschool her children and enjoyed close to 20 years teaching all subjects as well as many extra-curricular subjects, completing approximately 500 book reviews, and planning many, many events for her homeschool group. Her husband and two children had the pleasure of living in Hawaii for 8 years and then God brought them to California in 2012. After her children graduated, she returned to the accounting field but didn’t feel that was truly where God wanted her. She felt His tug to use the 20 years of teaching experience in a way to help others. She started teaching 3 rd grade at VCS in 2022.
Mrs. Kimminau enjoys studying Biblical Worldview which leads to 2 Corinthians 10:5 being her favorite verse. It says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Stacey Weller
Fourth Grade
sweller@victorycs.org
Mrs. Stacey Weller is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College. There she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration on Early Childhood Development. She also has a Speech minor. Mrs. Weller has been teaching at a private school for the last 16 years. She has taught Pre-K, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, and 4th grade at her last school. Mrs. Weller is an alumni of VCS and is excited to return as an elementary teacher.
Mrs. Weller enjoys reading, writing, and playing with her dog in her free time. She is looking forward to bringing fun, creative, and new ideas to the upcoming school year! She loves teaching and making her classroom into a family that loves one another. She is excited to see what God will do this year in her life.
Her favorite verse is Psalms 19:14, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
Whitney White
Fifth Grade
wwhite@victorycs.org
Miss White attended LeTourneau University where she received her BS degree in interdisciplinary studies and teaching credential. She taught fifth grade at a Christian school in Seoul, Korea, and was a substitute teacher at Victory before joining the elementary staff in 2012. Miss White is a VCS graduate.
Her favorite verse is Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.”
Susanne Kwon
Sixth Grade
skwon@victorycs.org
Miss Susanne Kwon is a graduate of Pensacola Christian College. Prior to coming to VCS, she taught overseas in China and did mission work in Africa. She has taught 5 years at VCS previously.
She loves teaching in an environment where she can be involved with students that share the same joy of being in Christ. She enjoys traveling around the world, eating ethnic foods, and learning different languages.
Her favorite verse is Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
Belle Cuneo
Sixth Grade
belle.cuneo@victorycs.org
Mrs. Cuneo is currently finishing up her B.A. in liberal studies with a concentration in early childhood education at California Baptist University in Riverside, CA. She is a former graduate of Victory, class of 2019. Before becoming a teacher at Victory, Mrs. Cuneo was a substitute teacher for the highschool and elementary school. She has a passion for students learning scholastically and biblically. Mrs. Cuneo also serves in the children’s ministry at her church, Doxa. She enjoys spending time with her husband who she married in 2023, and going to the beach or park with friends to play games. She also enjoys coffee dates, shopping, sports and being with family.
Mrs. Cuneo’s favorite Bible Verse is: James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.”
Lydia Jones
Music
lnolandjones@victorycs.org
Raised by musical parents, Mrs. Lydia Jones grew up in Sacramento, and graduated from Del Campo High School. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Vocal Performance at Converse Women’s College, Spartanburg, SC, followed by a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, Boston, MA. Mrs. Jones has performed with companies such as Shreveport Opera, Ashlawn Opera, and the Sacramento Opera. After becoming a mother, Mrs. Jones knew God was leading her away from performing and into teaching as a way to use the gifts God has given her. In addition to teaching at Victory, she maintains a private voice studio, and leads worship and directs the children’s choir at Christ Community Church in Carmichael.
Mrs. Jones loves spending time with her husband and children, enjoys cooking, dancing, and experiencing new things!
Her favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
Katie Davis
Physical Education
Mrs. Katie Davis grew up in the Arden/Arcade area of Sacramento and lives in Carmichael with her husband and 2 children. She has a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies from Sacramento State. This is her first teaching job although she has run many camps and recreation programs in the past for different organizations. Mrs. Davis has loved being a stay-at-home mom for the last 12 years and is very excited about teaching PE here at Victory. In her free time, she likes to read and play games with her family.
Her favorite verses are:
Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a – Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
Tami Scott
Teacher’s Aid
Mrs. Scott graduated from Rio Americano High School in 1991. She went to American River College for 3 years before marrying her husband Randy in 1994. She has 8 beautiful children and 3 pets.
In her free time, she enjoys watching British TV with her family and making soap. She is also an amateur gardener.
Mrs. Scott’s favorite verse is Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
Lynn Kennedy
Teachers’ Aide
Mrs. Kennedy has enjoyed serving in the Elementary classrooms for 10 years. When her two boys were in Elementary, Mrs. Kennedy served in both of their classrooms as a teacher’s aide throughout their elementary years. She taught Respect in First Grade for six years and also served as a before–school yard duty for three years.
Mrs. Kennedy is married and her two boys are in High School at Victory. She loves spending time with her family, watching her boys in their extracurricular activities and being Team Mom for her younger son’s soccer team.
Mrs. Kennedy’s favorite Bible passage is Philippians 4-8: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Cheryl Little
Extended Care