Meet our team
WE JUST WANT TO:
Drink coffee,
Teach stuff,
And bring hope to the world.
Cortnie Brooks
TESOL Director, YWAM Montana
Cortnie has been a professional tutor for elementary and high school students, and was an assistant teacher at an Alternative Education high school for students with behavioral and academic struggles. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, Anthropology, and Sociology from Washington State University, and a Master’s in Education and International Development from University College London. She is one of the directors of the TESOL program at YWAM Montana. Cortnie likes watching lightning and thunderstorms, walking on sandy beaches, and drinking coffee with friends. And she loves collating.
Andy Brooks
TESOL Director, YWAM Montana
Andy has trained English teachers from numerous locations and cultures around the world. He has years of experience as an Instructional Designer, crafting free-to-use curricula for teachers and students. He has led TESOL courses and workshops in the USA, Thailand, Cambodia, and Taiwan since 2009. He is based out of YWAM Montana where he is one of the directors of the TESOL program. Andy loves to spend time outdoors hiking and backpacking, watching movies with subtitles, and he makes a mean cappuccino.
Emily Burks
TESOL Director, YWAM Boston
Emily is most at home with foreign friends, copious coffee, and a cat curled up nearby. A New England native, she now works about 5 miles from the center of Boston. While serving overseas, she was trained in TESOL in 2011 and pioneered English classes shortly after. She's taught students both virtually and in person and her reach spans Central and South America, North Africa, and Asia. When moving back to the USA, she grew a heart for the local immigrant and refugee community. She now leads an English Department at a non-profit in Somerville, MA, which both trains teachers through TESOL and teaches ESL to neighbors. She lives in Boston with her husband Eric and cat Gracie.
Katrina Spainhour
TESOL Director, YWAM North Cascades
Katrina did her DTS in Italy in 2006, where she fell in love with teaching and serving through missions. She officially started her teaching career in 2007; teaching middle school Spanish at a private school in her hometown of Monterey, Ca. She moved to Kona, Hi to join YWAM staff full-time in 2011 where she continued to teach a variety of subjects on and off campus. She and her husband moved to Washington in January of 2023 to work with YWAM North Cascades. Katrina has been excited to teach English to the local community and help start the first TESOL school at the base. She is looking forward to seeing how this ministry grows and reaches those who are in need locally, and internationally.
Ethan Edwards
TESOL Staff, YWAM Montana
Ethan graduated from the TESOL program at YWAM Montana in 2023. He is currently working to obtain his bachelor's degree in Psychology from George Fox University. He is fascinated with theology, linguistics, and social sciences and would love to pursue graduate work in any and all of those disciplines. He enjoys spending time with family and friends in nature and, above all, over food. His favorite hobbies are enjoying and learning about local and foreign culture, dancing, board games, and reading whatever he can get his hands on. He is honored to serve the TESOL team in Montana and looks forward to working with and being there for you.
Rebekah Smisson
Project Staff, Urban Elementary Teacher
Bekah is a 2017 graduate of the TESOL Program in Lakeside, Montana. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Urban Elementary Education and has taught 4th and 5th grade in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bekah loves spending time in nature with family and friends. Her favorite outdoor activities include hiking, camping, and downhill skiing. Bekah likes to run and is currently training for the Twin Cities Marathon this fall.
Elise Perez
TESOL Director, YWAM Honolulu
Elise is a self-proclaimed bronzed goddess. She has served in Lesvos, Greece during the refugee crisis, which ultimately lead to her interest in teaching English as a second language. She has been leading TESOL schools with YWAM campuses in Hawaii and Montana since 2017. She now directs the TESOL program in Honolulu and is seriously hip.
Maureen Face
Director of Studies, Australian College of Career Development
Maureen lives “Down Under” and loves watching kangaroos and wallabies around her house each morning and evening. She trained as a primary school teacher and then completed a TESOL course in 2006 after traveling to Thailand on a missions trip. In 2008, Maureen opened a language school in her hometown and taught English and TESOL courses. After completing her Masters of Education—TESOL in 2013 she had a desire to travel the world, equip teachers, and support missionaries. She is now the Director of Studies for the Australian College of Career Development. Maureen enjoys spending time with family and friends, bushwalking, and Sudoku. She is a proud mother and grandmother.
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