My name is Karissa Guillen and I grew up in Boone, Iowa in a Christian family. For most of my childhood I was a “rule follower” and didn’t understand the grace of God until I was a teenager. One Sunday my Sunday school teacher taught a lesson on Ephesians 2:8-9 and for the first time I understood the idea of being “saved by grace through faith” and “not as a result of works.” This started the process of turning over every area of my life to the Lord and seeking his guidance. I have seen his goodness time and again through all circumstances in my life.
After graduating from high school I went on to study at Central College where I was involved in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I went on two mission trips while in college and also spent two semesters studying in Mexico where I attended a local church and was involved in the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology in 2005.
A few months after graduating from college I started sensing that God was calling me to teaching, so I decided to attend Simpson College where I earned my Master of Arts in Teaching. I then taught in Des Moines Public Schools for eight years and at Saydel High School for one year. In my years as a public school teacher I had some students that I was able to bring to youth group or have my church adopt for Christmas, but I love the idea of being able to share my faith with all my students every day by teaching at a Christian school. Spanish has always been interwoven with my faith, whether using that abroad on mission trips or here in the Des Moines area to reach out to Hispanics. I love that I would be able to share such a practical application of my content area to our Christian faith with my students.
I have lived in Ankeny for the last six years with my husband, Jose, and our twins, Anthony and Aryanna. We enjoy cooking and all things music and look forward to traveling more as our kids get older.