Our GPCA Team
Tallie Hein - Principal
Tallie Hein believes that everyone has a divine appointment with the Lord. She accepted the gift of Jesus Christ on September 22, 2001 and has been a faithful member of Greater Portland Baptist Church ever since. She is dedicated to sharing the Gospel of the Lord with children and families, and believes that children enrolled at GPCA will reach their full potential through the teaching and atmosphere there.
Tallie and her husband Clint have two grown children, and two grandchildren. They are currently serving together in the Adult Sunday School department at GPBC.
K4 -
Bio coming soon!
K5 -
Bio coming soon!
1st - Brianna Petersen
Brianna Petersen has lived in Oregon her whole life. She has an associate in general studies along with an associate of science and is currently working towards her bachelor’s in education. Brianna was raised with a Christian childhood but has grown to having a personal, spiritual relationship with God. While attending Black Lake Bible Camp at the age of 15 she accepted Jesus Christ into her life as her personal Lord and Savior. Several years later, while going through some challenging times with her health, she completely surrendered her life over to The LORD and from that moment on Brianna put God first and trust him with everything. She knows that He will be with her to help guide, protect and walk with her throughout life.
After being led to bring her son to attend school at GPCA a few years ago and volunteering during school lunch times, she was able to get to know the staff at GPCA along with them getting to know her. God opened a door for Brianna to become a first grade teacher here at GPCA.
Brianna enjoys spending her free time outside of school with her son and family, outdoors in nature with their dogs Harley and Zoey. She also enjoys sitting on the beach listening to the waves and playing in the sand.
Brianna is gratefully blessed to have the opportunity to be able to help spiritually shape the minds and souls of her students in following and serving Our Savior, Jesus Christ with making moral and honest choices with their lives. As a parent herself, she knows and understands the importance of teaching good values along with instilling good Christian character traits to the children. She is excited for what God has planned for this year!
2nd - Wynae Hinton
Wynae Hinton is the second-grade teacher at GPCA. She enjoys working with children and pointing them to Christ. It is her desire to help the parents and staff of GPCA by giving her students the tools they need to be successful in life, which includes a love for the Lord and a willingness to serve Him.
She graduated from The College of the Ozarks in Pt. Lookout, Missouri with a major in family & consumer science and a minor in education. She trusted Jesus Christ as her personal Savior in August of 1990.
3rd - Laura Ann Donila -
Laura Ann Donila grew up at Greater Portland Baptist Church and accepted Christ as her Savior in the first grade Sunday School class. At 11 years old, her family moved to the Philippines where she completed her studies and developed a love for missions. She believes that she has been called to teach and is passionate about leading children and young people to know Christ. Laura Ann has a Masters Degree in Christian Education. This is her sixteenth year serving at GPBC.
5th - Pastor Bob Boyd
Bob Boyd was born in Portland, Oregon. His parents are deaf and because of that, he believes it gave him a unique childhood experience where he was exposed to a culture within a culture. The deaf community is a small one, but is very family oriented. He attended a deaf church growing up but had never trusted Christ as his savior. At the age of 26, a friend he worked with, invited him to visit Greater Portland Baptist Church. It was that day that he clearly heard the gospel presented. Bob trusted Christ as his personal savior December 5, 1991. A few years later, He surrendered his life to serve the Lord in whatever way He would see fit. He guided Bob to work in the deaf ministry and eventually to a position at GPBC where he has served and continues to serve as an Associate Pastor in the deaf ministry. He currently has a degree in Biblical studies and is furthering his education to include a degree in ministry. He has been married for 38 years to an amazing woman who was also raised in the deaf community. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren. Cheri and Bob have spent their entire lives right here in the northwest and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Spending time in the northwest wilderness areas camping is a favorite activity. Partner that with some fishing and there aren’t too many days that are better than that!
6th Homeroom - Canaan Staley
Canaan Staley was born and raised in Springfield, OR. In September 2017, after he started his first year of college, he started attending a local Baptist church. Upon hearing about an event called "Saturday Outreach", Canaan decided to go to see what it was about, not knowing it was a time when the church went into the community to share the Gospel. It was during that outreach, that Canaan received Jesus as his Lord and Saviour.
A couple years later, Canaan felt convicted by the Holy Spirit to put a pause on his college education to be a teacher, and instead be in full-time ministry. He wasn't sure what that would look like, but was willing to serve in any capacity the Lord chose (except for going to Oklahoma or Portland). After much prayer and counsel, God made it clear to Canaan to attend Heartland Baptist Bible College (HBBC) in Oklahoma City, OK.
During Canaan's time at HBBC, God burdened his heart for the people of Portland, and called him to go there in 2020. Around that same time, he met his (soon-to-be) wife, Hannah. Canaan and Hannah now have two beautiful children, Faith and Aaron. Canaan planted and pastors Lighthouse Baptist Church in Portland, OR.
4th - Cherie Boyd
CCherie Boyd was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. Her first language is American Sign Language due to her being the daughter of Deaf parents. Going to a Deaf church growing up, exposed her to the basics, but not a heart knowledge of Jesus Christ; that would come later.
The Deaf community is small and intimate. Knowing her husband since she was four, it was an easy decision later to marry Bob Boyd, the Pastor to the Deaf here at Greater Portland Baptist Church and a teacher at GPCA.
While working, a co-worker Gerry, shared the gospel answering so many questions and he invited her to his church. Thursday night, Dec 5, 1991, a soul winning team came to her house and shared the gospel and she accepted Jesus as her personal savior.
Bob & Cherie are blessed with three adult children and seven grand children. Enjoying trips to visit family, camping, and exploring the great outdoors keeps them busy in the summer months.
Cherie has 27 years in the public school system, working with students of all ages and helping them to become independent learners. Being able to share Christ with them is an amazing blessing she is looking forward to at GPCA.
7th & 8th Homeroom - Nikki Butcher-Duell
Nikki Butcher has been a teacher at GPCA since 2017. She accepted Jesus as her Savior at the age of 15 and has grown to see the value of Christ centered education, as well as the importance of taking care of the bodies that the Lord has provided. She is happily married and has three young children to keep her busy. She is currently working toward finishing her Bachelor’s in Agricultural Sciences at Oregon State University. She also serves in the youth and bus ministries at GPBC with her husband.
Alohalani Nolan - Admin. Assistant
Alohalani Nolan grew up in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. She is the second to the youngest of nine siblings. Going from foster home to foster home she came to a crossroad in her life that would later change her whole life for the better. Alohalani trusted Christ as her Savior at the age of 23 while living on the streets. After seeking much counsel and getting confirmation from God through prayer, preaching and bible reading, she felt the call to Bible College.
Proverbs 27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. While in Bible College she lost her younger brother in a tragic car accident. Apart from her salvation, he was the closest thing to her heart, as they stayed together in every foster home growing up while her other siblings were split into other homes. His passing has given her a greater burden for souls and has taught her to truly be thankful for salvation. She graduated from West Coast Baptist College in May of 2024 with a counseling women degree. She developed a heart for the ministry and believes God is calling her to teach 5th grade at GPCA.
Alohalani enjoys reading books that enhance spiritual growth. She takes pleasure in needed times of quiet and silent places. She enjoys things of creativity that can take the old and make it new. She enjoys talking to people on the streets that some are too frightened to talk to. The Lord has given a burden for missions and hopes to one day be called unto the mission field