Teacher Bios

I choose to work at Christian Unified because the Lord placed a call on my life to minister to the next generation. I love seeing the Lord transform the lives of middle and high school students for His Kingdom. It has been so encouraging seeing the movement of God within our next generation!
I have been married to Pete for twenty-five years. We both grew up on the East coast. We have been blessed with a daughter, Hannah, and three sons; Eliott, Joshua, and Joseph. I love spending time by the ocean, the lake, or the pool. I like listening to books while taking care of household chores. I do not enjoy cooking. I like chocolate, peanut butter, and coffee. I like paddle boarding on the bay.
I work for Christian Unified because I am able to share my love for Jesus with my students.
The reason I wanted to teach at Christian Unified is to help students learn the importance of physical activity and how it contributes to their overall health and wellness for God’s glory and honor.
To be able to share both my faith and my love for literature freely with students is an inexpressible blessing!
Teaching at a Christian Unified allows me to teach my students about Christian faith and Jesus. Sharing a common faith builds connection and forms solid relationships with others. Surrounded in our school I cherish the strong community, parental involvement, and opportunities that have opened doors.
I chose to work for Christian because I have heard about the amazing ways that God has been working at this school for the past 60 years, and I wanted to jump in. I want to share the gospel with my students and help disciple them as they grow in their knowledge of who He is.
I love the Word of God and have a passion to disciple the youth.
I love watching movies with my family, reading God's Word, watching sports especially soccer (go Barcelona!) and the UFC, listening to music, and working out. I was going to be an F-16 fighter pilot, marine biologist, or a lawyer before I became a teacher. Christian and K-pop music artists are my favorites and athletes such as Cris Cyborg and Lionel Messi.
Christian Unified is a school District centered around Jesus. It gives me great joy to educate students and teach them the Gospel.
It is a joy to talk about Jesus everyday, here at Christian Unified, and incorporate that throughout all that we learn! I love the connection of great academics and a Biblical Worldview!
Because I have a counseling background as well, I find teaching incorporates many of my skills and gifts. One of the beauties of teaching literature is in the ability to provoke thoughts about beliefs, evaluate decisions by characters, and value objective truth.
An education without knowing our Savior is of very little value. I believe that education must be grounded in Truth and teaching at Christian Unified allows us that opportunity.
Interesting facts: I went to Christian High School, and four different family members have taught at CHS. I've coached and played basketball for CHS. I have 5 kids that attend Christian Unified.
I have loved being part of the Christian Unified Family as a parent and volunteer for the last 11 years. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work at a place that has invested so much in our family.

A NOTE FROM OUR SUPERINTENDENT

Dear Parents and Students of Christian High School and Junior High School,

I am very pleased to announce that Mrs. Betsy Saffer has been named the new Principal of Christian High School and Junior High. Mrs. Saffer’s service and leadership at Christian Unified Schools of San Diego has been one marked by dedication, excellence and a clear commitment to Christ-centered education.

Mrs. Saffer has deep roots at Christian, beginning her teaching career in 2004 at what is now the CUSSD South Campus, teaching grades 2-6. Over the years she has taken on various roles across our district, transitioning to Christian Junior High and High School in 2019 to teach math when her daughter, Mia, became a high school student at CHS. Since then, she has served as Department Chair, organized our 1:1 Chromebook program, and most recently, served as Academic Dean. Mrs. Saffer says, “Teaching at Christian Elementary, Junior High, and High School has allowed me to see the full spectrum of Christian education at CUSSD and what it takes to help students prepare for the next level. I am excited and trust where the Lord continues to lead.”

Mrs. Saffer is passionate about fostering an environment that emphasizes the importance of Christ in all endeavors. Her life verse, Philippians 4:6-7, encapsulates her commitment to faith in both her personal and professional life: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Sue Lanz, former Principal and current CUSSD Academic Consultant, shares these words about Mrs. Saffer: “I’ve worked with Betsy since she came to Christian many years ago, and she has always stood out as an excellent Christian educator that loves our kids, loves the Lord, and is solution-oriented. This past year, as we’ve worked together in a leadership coaching capacity, I have seen her step up to meet challenges, lean into her gifts, and already have a significant positive impact on our school.”

As Mrs. Saffer steps into this leadership role, we are also pleased that our superb Vice Principal and Athletic Director, Mr. Jeff Briggs, will continue in his critical leadership role at Christian High School and Junior High. Mr. Briggs has been instrumental in shaping the campus culture, overseeing discipline, and guiding our athletic programs; all areas that are so vital to our to the rich heritage of our Christian school community. Mr. Briggs will partner with Mrs. Saffer, along with our dedicated staff and coaches, in fulfilling our school’s mission of “teaching students to think, learn, and live from a Biblical worldview.”

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Mrs. Saffer enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and traveling. She also has a background in martial arts, with eight years of training in Jiu Jitsu and two years in Karate. Betsy and her husband, Neil, who met as students at Christian Heritage College, have been married for 22 years. They are proud parents to their daughter, Mia, a sophomore at Biola University studying Speech Therapy.

In light of our school district’s growth and increased enrollment, we are planning Lord willing, to backfill additional administrative support in the 2025-2026 school year. This plan includes hiring a Junior High Principal to lead our thriving students and staff at that level. At that time, Mrs. Saffer will assume the position of Principal of Christian High School, allowing us to better serve the unique needs of both the High School and Junior High while ensuring leadership continuity and excellence across all levels.

Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Saffer as Principal of Christian High School and Junior High. We have confidence that God has uniquely prepared her for this calling and will guide her with wisdom and grace in the days ahead. Also, please join me in praying for Betsy, Jeff and all of our teachers and staff as we continue the eternal work of Christian education.

For Christ & Christian Unified,

Bob Ruhlman
Superintendent

LIPSYNC 2025

Lipsync will be streamed on the evening of Friday, September 26.
Start time is based on a variety of factors.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY MINIMUMS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

GradeTOEFL JrTOEFLiTEPDuolingo
6700NA3NA
7750NA3NA
8800503.380-85
985050-603.385-90
10NA60-703.590-95
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research links & INformation

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EBSCO Host Research Databases – Full-text Periodical and Reference Articles Online
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