Our board of directors

Mr. Jake Thompson has taken the role as Valor's Academic Dean. Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theology and Biblical Studies from Bethlehem College and Seminary. He is well-learned in the classical liberal arts tradition and has profound passion for the retrieval of classical education in the life of the Church. He sees this noble work as one of the most essential and effective means of raising up the next generation of wise and virtuous Christians. His vision for cultivating the virtuous life and the life of the mind resonates with the words of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: "If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." 

Mr. Thompson is an aspiring academic and theologian with a passion for classical theism, Thomistic philosophy, and the Reformed Protestant tradition. He is also passionate about Christian culture, the role of liturgy in the life of the classroom, and classical pedagogy. It is his joy and privilege to participate in the great calling of Christian classical education and help students see and savor God's truth, goodness, and beauty in every sphere of life.

He lives with his wife and daughter in St. Paul and is an active member of the North Church in Mounds View.

Mr. Matteo Unger is Valor's Director of Advancement and will be working alongside other leadership to continue growing our school through admissions and fundraising. He is very excited to work for His God in this new role and see how he will multiply the talents at Valor. Mr. Unger also teaches secondary prep humanities. 

Mr. Unger is also an avid learner. He can often be found in his library reading through the classics of the Western Canon. He wholly agrees with Cicero when he writes that “a room without books is like a body without a soul.” He is always eager to share knowledge with students and to encourage others that all learning finds its end in the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus. His passion is to see the next generation of Christians equipped with the truths from the Liberal Arts and the Holy Scriptures necessary to flourish spiritually and to combat Satan during their pilgrimage through this present world, while always leaning on the precious blood of Christ. He loves the Reformed church tradition, Thomistic philosophy, Reformation/Early modern English Literature, and is an active student of ancient and modern languages.

Mr. Unger is from Canada, but lives in Minneapolis with His wife Laurel and attends Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Mrs. Olsen holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Loyola Marymount University and has taught students of all ages over the last 15 years. Through educating secondary English speakers in Southeast Asia, teaching middle schoolers at Classical Conversations homeschool co-op, coaching figure skating, and homeschooling her own children, a love for teaching runs deep in her life. She considers it a joy to watch students grow in all areas of their development—academically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. 

Her passion is seeing children mature in wisdom, skill and love for the Lord as they study how He created the world. She loves to foster a learning environment that nurtures growth through a challenging atmosphere of hard work harmonized with fun. 

Mrs. Olsen lives in Roseville with her husband Ben and five children, ages 12, 10, 6, 3 and 1. She loves to spend any spare time she has (which is none) gardening, traveling, cooking, and playing with her littles. She attends Beacon of Hope church in St. Paul.

 Mrs. Michelle Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology from Angelo State University where she double minored in Biology and Chemistry. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in various contexts, to include professional vocational education, a private Christian school, homeschool, and Classical Conversations communities.  

Michelle is passionate about using science and mathematics instruction as a tool to help students grow in a deeper knowledge of God and the world He created. As a former collegiate athlete and coach, she also finds joy in equipping students to glorify God in both academic and athletic pursuits.

Mrs. Ryan and her husband, Jodie, live in Oakdale and are members of Cities church in St. Paul. They have four children (two of whom still live at home and attend school at Valor), and five grandchildren. 

 Emily Steffen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from the University of Northwestern, St Paul and has a humongous passion for encouraging creativity and teaching students all about the world of visual arts. As an accomplished artist herself, she is always aiming to provide students a positive environment where students can get messy, try new things and make mistakes all while building their knowledge of art history and art vocabulary. She LOVES teaching a variety of ages from kindergarten to adult and has taught in a private school, at church and at many camps. 

Emily and her husband, Aaron, started a church in Hudson, WI where he currently is the lead pastor, and they live in Roberts, WI with their two children.

 Mr. Nathan Colestock holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biblical Exposition and Exegesis from Emmaus Bible College and a Master of Divinity from Bethlehem Seminary. He is a pastor at Christ the King Church in Stillwater. He has many years experience teaching Bible and theology to high school students and is a curious student of history, theology, philosophy, ethics, leadership, and culture.

Mr. Colestock’s mission is to glorify God in all of life. His role is to shepherd, teach, and organize the charge to make disciples who glorify God in all of life. He wants to see all of Stillwater honor Christ as Lord and is passionate about seeing Christian culture grow and flourish in his community. Toward this end, he is passionate about Christian education and pressing theology into every corner of creation and life so that “in all things [Christ] might be preeminent” (Col 1:18).