Children of Light
Christian Montessori
Executive Director and Head Educator
Shane Auten
The Lord has gifted me with a passion for Christian education. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Education in Missions at Bethany Global University, then went on to earn my Elementary Montessori Teaching Certification at the Christian Montessori Training Center. It is my joy to bring all that I've learned and serve the Homeschool families in Michigan's Thumb region.
Administrative Assistant and Assistant Educator
Debra Auten
I have always had a heart for children, watching them grow and learn along the way. I homeschooled our four, now grown children, and have a total of 25 years in doing so. My husband and I farm, which has given me the experience of operating a business for more than 35 years. The Lord once again has opened a door for me to be a part of a great community of homeschooling families. I feel honored to be serving the Thumb area in this capacity.
Assistant Educator
Lisa Geiger
With over 18 years of experience as an occupational therapist, I have worked with people of all ages. With a specialty in pediatrics and as a homeschooling mom of six children (two currently graduated), I have a special place in my heart for young people. I firmly believe that God has created each person as His "workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10). The goal of Christian education is to prepare each individual child to understand their need for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, to know and follow God, and to encourage them (with the help of His Spirit) to overcome challenges and use their unique God-given talents and abilities for good works for His Glory.
Our Story
In the summer of 2023, Shane laid out the idea of starting a Christian Montessori Homeschool Hybrid in Michigan's Thumb. This was a dream that had been circulating in his mind for some months, and although the idea seemed wonderful, the steps to get there seemed daunting. So when his mother, Debra, asked if she could do some research on starting a hybrid, Shane was more than thrilled. It really never stopped from that moment on; each week, another door would open, and we just kept walking forward in faith. Today, we continue to walk on this rock-solid faith, and we are excited for what the Lord will do through Children of Light Christian Montessori.