Position: Principal, Teacher (Grades 7 & 8)
Email: dvixie@mypae.net
Teaching Certificate, Professional (Elementary Education, Jr. Academy Biology, Jr. Academy Physical Education, Jr. Academy Religion), North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, Current
Highest Degree: Masters of Education
Major Field: Education
College Where Earned: Walla Walla College
Year Earned: 1983
David Vixie (Mr. Vixie) has been teaching since 1977 and has been teaching at our school in the Paradise community since 1986. Dave enjoys teaching, farming, camping, music, and the outdoors. He spends his free time planning ideas for school, being around mules, exploring the Oregon-California trails and grading papers - "it must be my favorite as I do it the most!" He also enjoys spending time with his wife, Karen, and their family.
Dave spends a lot of time preparing ways for students to benefit the most from their education and gain great life lessons both as the principal and as a teacher. He takes his students on a covered wagon trip experience that encompasses similarities of the 1800s including covered wagons pulled by his mules and clothing similar to what pioneers would wear.
Dave doesn't just teach from the textbook, you will find him with his students studying out in nature or somewhere beyond the physical textbook. He wants his students to learn and grow through their own trials, errors, and successes.
Position: Teacher (Grades K-2)
Email: mmuegge@mypae.net
Melissa is currently working on her Masters in Elementary Education.
Highest Degree: Bachelors of Liberal Arts
College Where Earned: Walla Walla University
Year Earned: 2021
Melissa (Miss Melissa) has been teaching Kindergarten-2nd Grade at Paradise Adventist Elementary since 2022. She enjoys getting her kids excited about learning and is dedicated to making school a fun and safe environment! Along side her, she has her companion and loyal dog Wally, who loves to be with the kids and supports their daily endeavors. He is training to become a therapy dog and is a great friend to everyone. In addition to the classroom, she has worked at Leoni Meadows Camp for three summers and enjoys helping the kids continue to learn and grow.
Position: Teacher (Grades 3 & 4)
Email: kbaumbach@mypae.net
Teaching Certificate, Standard (Elementary Education, Jr. Academy Religion), North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, Current
Highest Degree: Bachelors of Science
Major Field: Elementary Education, Psychology
College Where Earned: Atlantic Union College
Year Earned: 2000
Kimberly (Mrs. B) has been teaching since 2000. Since 2016, she has taught elementary students in Chico and Paradise on various campuses due to the Camp Fire in 2018 and the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been teaching the middle grades at our school since 2020 and she continues to be a blessing in her classroom everyday.
Kimberly finds the most fulfillment in watching her students grow to love learning. She works tirelessly to create activities and experiences that are personal and engaging, and which are tailored to the unique characteristics of each student.
Kimberly believes children learn best when they are in a stable, positive environment where they can feel safe and loved. Her approach to learning fosters connection and empathy for all people. She is always looking for opportunities for her students to help others, both in the classroom and in the greater community. Kimberly enjoys sharing the outdoors and nature with her students, and can frequently be found leading science or literature activities in the sun, rain, mud, along creeks, and in local parks.
Kimberly's favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11. She says, “This is a promise to me that God is with me always and I put my trust and hope in Him.”
Position: Teacher (Grades 5-6)
Continuing Education from Walla Walla University
Highest Degree: Bachelors of Arts
Major Field: Natural Science
College Where Earned: Weimar University
Year Earned: 2022
Lily (Miss Schultz) started teaching at PAE in 2024. She began in the field of education as a teacher's aide shortly after graduating from Weimar in 2022. This was at first intended to be a short-term arrangement as she prepared for medical school. As Lily spent more time with the students, she realized through God's leading that she had a desire to serve as an educator. During the 2023-2024 school year, she had the privilege of working with students at Shoreline Christian School as the homeroom teacher for grades 5-8. When Lily is not teaching, some of her hobbies include hiking, beach-combing, and writing.
Position: Teachers' Aide
Email: bselby@mypae.net
Ben has been assisting at our school since 2022. While in college, he spent a year teaching in the Marshall Islands as a student missionary. Outside of the classroom, Ben has worked at Leoni Meadows Camp, a summer youth camp, in various positions including counselor and director of the wilderness outpost camp. Ben grew up in Chico, attending the church and school there until graduating from Paradise Adventist Academy in 2014. At Walla Walla University he majored in math and secondary education.
Position: Teacher (grades 7 & 8 literature), Teachers' Aide
Mild to Moderate Special Education Certificate (California State University, Chico).
Highest Degree: Masters of Education
Major Field: Education
College Where Earned: Pacific Union College
Karen (Mrs. Vixie) has been teaching since 1977. She started teaching in Roseburg, Oregon from 1977-1979 while homeschooling her children until her youngest started second grade. From 1988-1993, she taught home economics at Paradise Adventist Academy. Karen taught various primary grades at our sister school, Chico Oaks Adventist School, from 1994-1998. Karen started teaching special education at Paradise Ponderosa Elementary in 1998, retiring in 2018. Since 2020, she has been supporting Paradise Adventist Elementary; teaching reading and math for the middle grades, literature for grades 7 and 8, and substitute teaching.
Position: School Therapy Dog (In Training)
Highest Degree: Companionship and Loyalty
College Where Earned: Your Heart
Wally is a great support to Melissa in her classroom and enjoys being with the kids.
