Early Grade Teachers
Why I teach: I teach because it is what God wants me to do! I love watching the “light bulb moments” when my kids discover something new. It is a challenging and rewarding job, different every day. I want to help children love learning, gain confidence in their abilities, and learn about Jesus and His love and forgiveness. I am blessed to teach at a Christian school.
Personality of my classroom: My classroom is full of Jesus, love, and laughter. We support, encourage, and pray for each other. We quickly become a family who enjoys spending time together and learning together.
Memorable teaching experience: My most memorable teaching experience has just recently happened — distance learning during the coronavirus pandemic is something I’ll never forget. The willingness of teachers, students, and parents to change everything they knew about school and do it a completely new way was amazing. We all adjusted and thrived.
Why I chose Immanuel: First and foremost I chose Immanuel because it is a Christian school. I am able to teach about Jesus and share my faith, which is of utmost importance to me. I also love the closeness of the staff and students — one big, happy family!
Experience: In December of 1986 I began teaching at St. Philip, Chicago., where I taught for four years before moving to Immanuel Palatine for two years. I took nine years off to stay home with my kids and have been teaching here at Immanuel since 2003.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education
Outside of class: I love spending time with family, reading, baking, and taking long walks.
Why I teach: I teach because it is what God has called me to do. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was in second grade. My teachers have always inspired me and made me who I am today.
Personality of my classroom: Family and Fun! We learn together, pray together and share Jesus with each other. My classroom is a place where we can all support and love each other during the great times and the difficult ones as well.
Memorable teaching experience: It is hard to pick just one, but recently as I taught middle school one of my students that I also had in kindergarten wrote me a letter about how much I have helped her and what it meant to her that I was able to be such a great friend and role model for her in school.
Why I chose Immanuel: I get to share Jesus and his amazing grace with my students every single day.
Experience: I have taught early childhood through middle school for the past 18 years with different schools. My most recent position was the past 12 years at Kenosha Lutheran Academy.
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Education
Outside of class: Spending time with my two teenage kids, going to the beach, traveling, and going for walks with my two dogs.
Why I teach: I love seeing children grow spiritually, academically, socially, and emotionally. I enjoy mentoring children and helping them establish their self-esteem and leadership abilities.
Personality of my classroom: My classroom is a fun, safe, and positive community where we become a family. All students are treated with love and respect, and their unique gifts from God are celebrated.
Memorable teaching experience: The most memorable teaching experiences for me are the AH HA!!! moments. It brings my heart pure joy when a student makes a learning connection. The excitement on their faces is priceless and I treasure being a part of the process.
Why I chose Immanuel: I believe God always has the plan. He led me back to teaching in a Christian environment with a wonderful staff and a very welcoming church family. I am so thankful that God has brought me here.
Experience: I have been teaching since 1997 in a variety of classroom settings ranging from infants to third grade.
Education: I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Concordia University River Forest.
Outside of class: When I am not in my classroom, I enjoy hanging out with my husband and my family. I like to work out, take walks, go shopping, and go to craft fairs, and watch tv -- especially football!
Why I teach: I teach because I love watching children blossom in the school setting. Building community in the classroom through finding value in each member provides a safe and comfortable setting for academic growth and learning on many levels. I love the uniqueness of each child and the challenge of helping them find their confidence as they learn and grow as people, as students, and as amazing children of God.
Personality of my classroom: My classroom is a happy, welcoming place where everyone is celebrated for who they are. We are all unique children of God with individual gifts, talents, life experiences, and ideas to share. A positive, safe & joyful space gives my students the best environment in which to learn and grow.
Memorable teaching experience: My most memorable teaching experiences all have one thing in common...they are moments or seasons of great learning. When a child’s face lights up in the moment a concept makes sense, my heart dances! When a child has a spurt of growth in reading or with a difficult math concept, my heart jumps for joy! When a child looks up with confidence and raises her hand to answer the tough question that she never thought she would answer, my heart sings! When a child smiles with pride after finishing a difficult task or writing assignment, my heart celebrates! My memories of my students are full of these precious teaching moments. When they come back as teenagers and adults and their faces light up when they come into the classroom, my heart thanks God for this wonderful job called teaching.
Why I chose Immanuel: When it was time for our oldest son to start Kindergarten, we came to Immanuel for a tour and fell in love with the school. Three years later a 2nd grade position was open and I felt God nudging me to apply. Although I came from the world of public school, I knew that teaching at Immanuel was my calling.
Experience: Resource Aide, Urbana, IL, 1987 - 1989
1st Grade Teacher, Azle ISD, Azle, TX, 1989 - 1991
2nd Grade Teacher, Immanuel Lutheran, Crystal Lake, IL, 2000 - Present
Education: University of Illinois, B.S. in Elementary Education
Outside of class: When I’m not in the classroom or thinking about the classroom, I like to read, putter in the yard, and spend time with my family in the great outdoors. We enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and exploring together. We also share a great love of music! My yard, garden, and violin are my happy places or catharsis. My husband, Kurt, and I also enjoy playing with the Praise Team in church. Together we have three adult sons who all attended Immanuel.