Meet Julia VanderVeen

We’re excited to officially welcome Julia VanderVeen back to the ZCS Art Room this year! After spending three months last spring filling in for Mrs. Kelley during her maternity leave, Julia quickly fell in love with teaching art at ZCS. She loved seeing kids get excited about learning, trying new things, and helping each other along the way. So when her time in the Art Room came to an end, she was sad to leave.

Thankfully, God had other plans! Julia is returning this fall as a co-teacher with Mrs. Kelley, and she couldn’t be more excited to be creating with ZCS students again.

Outside of school, Julia enjoys spending time with her family and friends, homemaking, creative projects, traveling, learning new things, walking in the woods, and thrifting for treasures.

Julia and her husband, Greg, have been married for 27 years and have two children, Chloe and Ryan. Chloe is a floral designer in Grand Rapids and recently got engaged to her college sweetheart, while Ryan is a senior at Michigan Tech studying mechanical engineering.

When kids walk into the Art Room this year, Julia hopes they find a place where they have the freedom to be creative, experience the joy of artistic expression, and feel safe trying new things and making mistakes. She hopes that as kids learn to look at creation through an “artist’s lens,” they will also discover new and meaningful ways to connect with their Creator.

Of our three core values, Relentless Curiosity, Deep Joy, and Faithfully All-In, Julia connects most with Faithfully All-In. She loves delighting in God’s handiwork and sharing God with children and young families. She brings that same passion and dedication to her role as a teacher and is ready to be faithfully all-in with ZCS kids this year.

We’re so glad God brought Julia back to the Art Room and can’t wait to see what she and our students create together this year. Welcome back, Julia!