Meet the Team
Passionate for our children finding their identity in Christ
Our team is made up of dedicated educators, mentors, and leaders who share a deep calling to nurture each child’s faith journey. With diverse backgrounds and a shared commitment to Christ-centered teaching, we work together to create a safe, inspiring environment where children are seen, known, and encouraged to embrace their God-given identity.
Teresa Laher - Director
Teresa comes to Equip 210 with a strong background in education. God called her out of the public schools in 2022. She welcomed this change after realizing the school system was deeply flawed and she could not affect change to impact lives to the degree she was called to. With over 30 years as a teacher and administrator, Teresa deeply understands what children need to flourish and fulfill their God-given potential. Teresa is a staunch advocate for children and their ability to become creative thinkers, problem solvers and world changers. Now, more than ever, she believes students need to know their identity found in none other than Jesus Christ; creating the bedrock for the rest of their lives.
Mrs. Laher believes that children hold the very seed of God inside of them! With this seed they have a great call on their life! They have a greater chance of becoming all that God created them – as His masterpiece – in a nurturing environment, held to account with high standards and strong partnership with parents.
Director: Spokane Campus
Having witnessed firsthand the challenges within a system that sidelined faith, Teresa is dedicated to being part of the solution by centering education on the Author of Life. Teresa strengths continue to be on creating systems and building relationships to influence and affect change. She continues to believe that parents are the primary stakeholder in their child’s education and contends that parents are a key ingredient in their child’s learning. Teresa and her husband Doug have been married for over 20 years and have two adult children.
Doug Laher - CFO
Dr. Doug Laher’s professional experience includes teaching financial planning, wealth management, corporate finance, entrepreneurship, business strategy, management, leadership, and economics for 38+ years, through his business advisory/ coaching practice and University teaching, human-resource development in the banking industry, and financial management in the high-tech and healthcare industries.
Professor Laher began teaching at Whitworth University, in 2000. More recently, Doug and his wife, Teresa created Kingdom Impact, LLC. They train, coach, and equip businesses, organizations, and individuals to make a Kingdom impact. Doug also assists business owners in planning for the single, most critically important financial event of their lives – the transition out of their business. Dr. Laher’s education and experience have uniquely positioned him to help business owners in this capacity.
CFO: Spokane Campus
Doug’s mission/vision is to guide individuals in making smart financial decisions through education and coaching – to provide the kind of service and value that alleviates their financial stress, allowing them to focus on what is truly important in life.
Natalie Poulson-Simbe - Teacher
Natalie Poulson-Simbe is one of our Equip 210 Spokane teachers with 21 years of experience in education, including special education, 4th and 6th grade, and educational support roles. A Spokane native and graduate of both Gonzaga and Whitworth, she loves local sports, sharing stories about her three children—Malesha, Isaiah, and Vella—and celebrated her first year of marriage to her husband, Jereme. At the heart of her teaching is her deep faith in Christ, which guides her work and passion for helping students grow.
Teacher: Spokane Campus
Lanette Mellott - Teacher
Lanette Mellott, a teacher at Equip 210 Spokane, brings 25 years of educational experience as a paraeducator, interventionist, and primary grade teacher. Originally from South Dakota, she earned her teaching degree from Whitworth University. Lanette enjoys reading, riding four-wheelers, and spending time with her family, including her husband of 37 years, Will. Together they have three adult children, and three grandchildren. Her teaching philosophy centers on helping students reach their full potential and fostering a personal connection with their Savior, viewing Him as a close friend rather than a distant, impersonal God.
Teacher: Spokane Campus
Elective Teachers
At Equip 210, we’re grateful for our rotating team of passionate educators who bring fresh perspectives and specialized skills to our students. These teachers, who love God and love children, join us throughout the year to lead electives in areas of their gifting and passion that create hands-on experiences and learning for children. Classes like art, gardening, culinary, knitting, sewing, technology, leadership, play lab, and hands-on trades and entrepreneurism are just a few. These are taught through the lens of uncovering who God is in all they learn. We enrich our learning environment through helping students discover new interests and talents while seeing the Author of Life in everything they learn.
Teachers: Spokane Campus