Our people make Spring Valley Academy special. We are blessed with talented, caring, compassionate individuals in our administration, faculty, and staff. From the best classroom instruction possible to focusing on the importance of Christ’s influence in academics and beyond, the SVA administration and staff are intent on delivering the best education possible to our students.
Jr. High and High School Vice Principal
Peter Cousins, Principal
Peter Cousins joins Spring Valley Academy to start the 2025-2026 school year. He holds a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from Central Michigan University, and Bachelor’s from the University of Michigan in Secondary Education with a minor in Math Education, and a Administrator’s Certificate with a Principal’s Endorsement from Andrews University. He has over 25 years of experience in education as both a math and science teacher and as a principal. His career has largely been spent in Adventist schools in Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina. His accomplishments include guiding a growing school through a building project, introducing new programs and even starting an online school in his most recent position as the Superintendent of Education for the Indiana Conference.
Mr. Cousin’s goal has always been to guide schools in a way that honors God and helps students grow closer to Christ to prepare for His soon return. One of his favorite Bible verses is Hebrews 8:10-12 as the promises of the new covenant shape his expectations for what Christ desires to do in him, for him, and through him.
Karin Lebo, Elementary Vice Principal
Karin Lebo joined the Spring Valley Academy family in 2019, happily returning to the classroom to teach a combined 5-6 grade class. She holds a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with double minors in Art and Language Arts, both from Andrews University.
During more than 30 years in Christian education, Mrs. Lebo has taught multi-grade classrooms from kindergarten through eighth grade in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Her leadership experience as both a principal and vice principal has always been rooted in the classroom, balancing administrative responsibilities with the daily privilege of teaching students. She has also served on numerous North American Division curriculum committees, including Math, Language Arts, and Reading Steering. One of the professional and spiritual highlights of her career was establishing and leading the first Urban Mission School for the Pennsylvania Conference in Allentown.
Mrs. Lebo believes Christians have countless reasons to be joyful. Throughout her life, she has experienced God’s faithful guidance time and again, and through His leading, she has come to know His deep, abiding peace and joy. In addition to teaching, she considers it a privilege to serve the teachers, students, and families of Spring Valley Academy as the Elementary Vice Principal. Whether in the classroom or alongside parents and colleagues, her desire is to encourage a love of learning, nurture a growing relationship with God, and support each child as they discover the unique gifts God has given them to serve Him and others.
Trevor Ross, High School Vice Principal
Mr. Ross is no stranger to SVA having served as a teacher here for 20 years. During his long tenure, he has taught classes from Biology and Environmental Science to Bible and Health. He’s also been the driving force behind SVA’s strong participation in four yearly Blood Drives as coordinator of that initiative.
Prior to coming to SVA, Mr. Ross spent four years at Garden State Academy, serving as Assistant Boys Dean and Science Teacher and three years at Holmwood Technical High School in Jamaica. He holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) and an MA in Education from Nova Southeastern University.
“This is the best job I’ve ever had,” says Mr. Ross. “I love witnessing the ‘magic’ of learning as it happens, and most importantly helping students along in their journey of knowing, following, and sharing Jesus.”
Andrew Reed, Assistant Principal Junior High School
Andrew Reed is a Kansas City, Kansas native (Go Chiefs!). He is a graduate of Union Adventist University, formerly Union College. Originally starting as a Computer Science Major, Mr. Reed instead found his passion in Math Education at the start of his junior year. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics with a Minor in Computer Science in December of 2018. With his graduation landing at the end of the fall semester, he was able to accept the opportunity to fill Spring Valley Academy’s need for a High School Technology teacher. Spring Valley Academy has been his home ever since. From Graphic Design, to Photography, to Coding, to Algebra 1, and even Yearbook, Mr. Reed has continued to teach at Spring Valley Academy. Over the last three years, Mr. Reed has once again used his passion for mathematics to teach 7th and 8th grade students. He has also had the pleasure of coaching several of Spring Valley’s middle school girls’ teams. In 2020 Andrew met his now wife, Elise, with the two of them getting married three years later in 2023. In 2022, Mr. Reed took on a new challenge: getting his Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Instructional Leadership from Southern Adventist University, a goal he would achieve just two years later in 2024. In December of 2025, Andrew and his wife Elise would welcome their first child, a beautiful baby boy named Jasper. When he is not working at Spring Valley, Mr. Reed enjoys playing video games, hanging out with his siblings, weightlifting, and caring for his young son.
Colleen Hardy, Business Manager
Colleen G. Hardy has served as the Business Manager for Spring Valley Academy since 2014. She has over 22 years of experience working in Accounting and Finance in an academic institution at the University level. Colleen began her service at her Alma mater Caribbean Union College (Trinidad), currently known as the University of Southern Caribbean. She worked in the Business Office as a student worker for three years and after graduating was hired as a Junior Accountant. Between 1990 and 2012 she worked as Accountant, Chief Accountant at the College Press, Senior Accountant, Financial Controller and Vice President for Financial Administration. Prior to joining the team at Spring Valley Academy she lived and worked for two years in Houston, Texas as a Tax Professional.
She was born in Georgetown, Guyana and is a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago where she lived most of her life. She has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Caribbean Union College (Trinidad) and an MBA in Finance from Andrews University (Michigan).
Colleen has 26 years of experience in finance-related denomination service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She is a product of Christian Education and is a strong advocate for Christian Education.