Meet Our Staff!

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah! Praise the LORD! I’ve been chosen for the high privilege of daily sharing the love of God with young hearts and minds in need!

As the first of three children born to Carl and Marla Wellborn Sr. in Detroit, MI, I was raised to pursue excellence in service toward all people by the gracious power received through faith in Jesus Christ! Through years of faith-filled service as a husband, father, pastor, coach, and educator I’ve confirmed that God loves and justifies ungodly people to include them in His life-giving work!

Our outstanding team and I passionately labor in love to royally equip every one of our students with the skills of reading, writing, fathoming, and reasoning, so that they may confidently examine the Word and world so as to identify the abundant evidence of God’s astounding love for all people!

In addition to enjoying the wonders of my family, I devote time to sharing my experience of knowing—my best friend and King—Jesus Christ with people in Kalamazoo, MI and Kodumonai, Tamil Nadu (India). Hiking, Judo, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are some of my favorite activities.

Hi! I am Ms. Olson, I am an advisor at Path of Life High School, where I’ve had the privilege of serving since graduating college in 2023. When I was ten years old, I felt called to ministry while serving on the grounds of Children of the Promise in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. I never envisioned that calling would lead me to teaching in the Edison neighborhood, but the Lord loves to work in unexpected ways!

Throughout my time at Path of Life, the Lord has continually spoken two words to my heart: “Be constant.” This means remaining a constant presence in the classroom and in my students’ lives and, above all, staying rooted in the Word and in Jesus, who is our ultimate constant. As Mr. Adam Sterenberg often says, “It is a long game.” That reminder stays with me daily: my role isn’t just teaching academics, but walking alongside students as the Lord directs each of our paths.

Though I teach ELA, Bible, and Science, my primary focus is modeling how Christ transforms lives. When we walk with Him, He makes our path straight and steady.

Hello, I’m Noah Albers, an Advisor at Path of Life. I currently teach U.S. History, Algebra, and Old Testament. I attended Calvin University, where I earned my degree in Secondary Education with a focus on Social Studies. Before coming to Path of Life, I taught in Rehoboth, New Mexico, and served as a Youth Director at a local church.

I love Path of Life because it gives our students a unique opportunity to succeed beyond the classroom. I believe that every student has the potential to do something great beyond high school. As an Advisor, my role is to help students recognize their gifts, develop those gifts, and connect them to tangible opportunities and careers outside of the classroom. I am excited to walk alongside our students as they discover who they are in Christ, what they are capable of, and how they can use their gifts to make a positive impact in the Edison Community.

Praise God! My name is Talanja Steele, and I am blessed to serve as the Administrative Assistant at Path of Life High School and as Support Staff at Tree of Life School. I have been part of the Tree of Life family since 2012 and joined Path of Life in 2025. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in many different roles from recess monitor and substitute teacher to various support positions. Our Head of School, Adam, once affectionately called me, “the face of the school,” and I am grateful for every opportunity God has given me to serve our students, families, and staff.

Through these years of service, I have had the privilege of seeing God move in miraculous ways in the lives of our students and throughout our school community. One of the gifts I believe God has given me is the ability to recognize the gifts in others, encourage them, and help them see what God has placed inside of them.

My own story connects deeply with the community we serve. I moved into the Edison neighborhood as a low-income single mother raising three children. As I learned to hear God, trust Him, and put Him first, I experienced Him transforming my mind, my life, and my future. Today, I am a happily married grandmother and homeowner, still living in the same neighborhood where my story began. It is a tremendous blessing to now pour into the children and families of the Edison community.

I wholeheartedly love the mission of Tree of Life and Path of Life and the opportunity to share God’s love through education, meaningful relationships, and genuine care for each student. I am grateful that God has allowed me to be part of these schools and to walk in the purpose He has given me.

I truly feel blessed and chosen to serve in this community, and Lord willing, they won’t be getting rid of me anytime soon. I plan to be here until my grandchildren graduate!