Faculty - Elementary

My years in education have taught me that truly great teachers are technically sound while also warm, enthusiastic and encouraging. They seek to motivate all students and employ differentiated instruction. Since becoming principal at Holy Family Academy, I often receive compliments about our innovative and welcoming school. Although I am very proud to be a part of this special school, the true recipients of these compliments are the amazing teachers we have at Holy Family. Our elementary teachers are skilled at engaging the whole class. They keep students motivated with varied and creative approaches. They also embrace best practice instructional strategies like inquiry learning and reading and writing workshops which they learn from ongoing training, mentoring and coaching from Curriculum Consultant, Dr. Emily Alford, Ed D. and Mrs. Julie Hoeper, Curriculum Resource Support. Dr. Gretchen Ludwig
	Kindergarten Teacher -- Mrs. Cheryl Russo has taught full day kindergarten for 6 years in St. Louis before teachng preschool for 12 years at Prince of Peace in Schaumburg. She started both the St. Theresa Preschool - Holy Family Site in 2000 and the Holy Family Academy Kindergarten in 2002. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Certification from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Mrs. Russo is a parishioner of Holy Family and a Eucharistic and Neighborhood Minister.
	Kindergarten Teacher -- Mrs. Amy Fritz holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in musicfrom DePaul University. Mrs.Fritz comes to Holy Family Catholic Academy after having been at Immaculate Conception School in Chicago for the pastsix years. She has experience teaching preschool, kindergarten and 2nd grade. Mrs. Fritz and her family are Holy Family Parishoners.
	Teacher Assistant for full-day Kindergarten program -- Mrs. Kristie Carlsonholds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Early Childhood. She has helped with physical education classes at Holy Family Academy before becoming a Teacher Assistant in kindergarten. Her previous teaching experience included working as a pre-kindergarten teacher in a suburban school.
	1st Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Mona Connelly has her Associates from Harper College and working towards a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education at Northeastern Illinois University. She is the 4th Grade Teacher Assistant in the morning and the Kindergarten Teacher Assistant for Mrs. Russo in the afternoon. Mona has 12 years experience as a Teacher Assistant for Catholic Schools. She is a volunteer for Misericordia and its various fundraisers.
	Teacher Assistant for full-day Kindergarten program -- Mrs. Diana Myers holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with a Minor in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. Previously, Mrs. Myers has taught 1st, 2nd and 4th Grades and is a certified Substitute Teacher for all grade levels.
Too often we give our children answers to remember rather than problems to solve. Author Unknown.
	1st Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Jeanne Henry has 26 years experience in the Archdiocese of Chicago's schools. Mrs. Henry has taught 3rd Grade, 1st Grade and Kindergarten at St. Hubert's school in Hoffman Estates. For 9 years she was Principal at Transfiguration School in Wauconda after which she returned to St. Hubert's to be the Resource Teacher. Mrs. Henry holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Special Education.
	1st Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Laura Moynihanholds a Bachelors degree in elementary education from the University of Illinois--Champaign. Mrs. Moynihan has spent her entire career in Catholic education. She was chair of a middle school math department in North Carolina and has spent the bulk of her career in the Northwest Suburban area teaching first grade.
	1st Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Kristen Gaeding holds a Bachelors in Elementary Education/Social Sciences from Northeastern Illinois University, and an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Parkland Junior College in Champaign, Illinois. Mrs. G brings previous teaching experience to the Academy as a Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Teacher and has worked as Head Preschool Teacher in a nearby suburban school. Mrs. G is also a Certified Aerobic and Exercise Instructor, a Mom/Tot Preschool Instructor, a Pee-Wee Baseball and Girls Softball Coach and a Day Camp Counselor. Mrs. "G" also is the Academy lunchroom / recess coordinator.
	2nd Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Carlotta Lencioni graduated from DePaul University with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and Sociology and a Master Degree in Reading. Mrs. Lencioni has taught in parochial and public schools and most recently taught in Schaumburg District 54 for 22 years. Mrs. Lencioni and her familiy are Holy Family parishioners.
	2nd Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Marilyn Brinckerhoff holds a Bachelors Degree in English/Secondary Education from Clarke College. She is an Illinois certified Substitute Teacher. Mrs. Brinckerhoff brings a variety of teaching experiences to the Academy having previously taught high-school English, 8th Grade at St. Francis Xavier School in Wilmette, and Teacher Assistant at a nearby parochial school.
	3rd Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Becky Sponseller graduated from Augustana College with a degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Sponseller is a Holy Family parishioner and Spirit Camp leader. She volunteers for Habitat for Humanity.
	Third Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Jane Buckstaff earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from The University of Iowa. She also has a Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University. Mrs. Buckstaff spent four years teaching fifth grade in Lake Villa followed by teaching second and third grades in an inner city school for two years. Upon returning to the suburbs, she taught fourth and fifth grades in District 15 for seven years. Mrs. Buckstaff is a parishioner of Holy Family and is currently teaching a first grade FAITH class.
	3rd Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Donna Dincher holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorder Endorsements from Eastern Illinois University. She holds a Masters of Arts - School of Education from Saint Xavier University. Mrs. Dincher has previously taught students in District 211 (9th - 12th grade) and District 15 (4th - 6th grade). She was then employed in District 21 (1st - 6th grade), working with special needs students in the area of Learning Disabilities and Behavior Disorders. She has also worked part-time at Northwest Community Hospital in the Psychiatric ward with students in grades 5 - 12. Mrs. Dincher is a Holy Family parishioner and she has taught in the Faith program at Holy Family from 1993 - present.
	4th Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Colleen Biere graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Mrs. Biere holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and minors in Language Arts and English. During her studies, Mrs. Biere taught at three public schools in the Champaign area. She is a Holy Family parishioner. She previously was the teaching assistant in 4th and 5th grade.
	Fourth Grade Teaching Assistant -- Mrs. Nell Schatz holds a Bachelors Degree in Education from Illinois State University and completed Graduate School at the National College of Education. She brings extensive teaching experience to Holy Family Academy having taught in Catholic schools since 1970 and teaching everything from Kindergarten to 8th Grade. Her subject specialties include; religion and history. Mrs. Schatz is also a Hospice volunteer, literacy volunteer, and Minister of Communion.
	4th Grade Teacher Assistant -- Miss Lindsay Lazarus holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration with minors in Marketing and Human Resources, from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois and a Teaching Certificate from Roosevelt University. Miss Lazarus is in the process of completing her Masters Degree in Secondary Education with emphasis in Business and Math also at Roosevelt University.
	5th Grade Teacher -- Mrs. Lauren Kaminsky holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and Special Education with an emphasis in reading from Clarke College. Prior to joining the Academy faculty in 2007, Mrs. Kamnsky has worked at Holy Family Parish in a multitude of ways over the years. She has taught Spirit Camp and was also a peer minister in Youth Ministry.
	5th Grade Teacher Assistant -- Mrs. Laurie Poelking holds a degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and a Master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University. After a career in public accounting and private industry, Mrs. Poelking earned a Master’s in Teaching Degree from National Louis University. She has previously taught 5th grade and also has experience as a reading intervention instructor.
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