Pastor
Richard A Heinz
The Rev. Rich Heinz has completed 16 years in the Office of the Holy Ministry, over two of which have been here at St. John’s. He graduated with a B.A. from Concordia University—River Forest (Chicago), majoring in theology and minoring in communication/theatre. After earning his M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis in 1995, he served Mt. Greenwood Ev. Lutheran in Chicago and St. John’s Lutheran in Lanesville, Indiana. His continuing education interests are in the areas of liturgics (worship) and catechesis (teaching the faith.)
Pastor Heinz is also involved with Higher Things, a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod that serves youth. He has served as site chaplain for two years, and is in his second year as Worship Coordinator for the annual conferences.
Pastor is an avid Disney and Star Wars fan. He enjoys theatre, film, music, and tea.
Administration
Principal
Douglas Markworth
Mr.Markworth has completed 34 years in the Christian Ministry, 14 of which were here at St. John's. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College in Seward, Nebraska with an emphasis in Religion, Math and Science. He has earned a Masters Degree in Elementary Administration from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. He has served as the Chair of Math & Science at Luther High School North, Teacher/Principal in Hannibal, Missouri and as a counselor at Lutheran Camps in Springfield, Illinois and Schyler, Nebraska.
Henry Knueppel, Teacher Emeritus
A native of Melrose Park, Illinois, Mr. Henry Knueppel attended high school at Concordia Teachers’ College in River Forest (now Concordia University – Chicago.) He then earned his Bachelor of Science in Education from Concordia Teachers’ College (now Concordia University) in Seward, Nebraska. During his tenure at St. John's, Mr. Knueppel also completed his Master of Arts at Concordia (Chicago.)
Mr. Knueppel accepted the call to teach at St. John’s in 1952. Teacher, coach, referee, Walther League director, and mentor, Mr. Knueppel has touched hundreds, if not thousands, of lives through St. John’s Lutheran Church and School.
Mr. Knueppel is married to Judy (nee Millies), who gave up teaching at Luther North to be a homemaker, and volunteer. They have been blessed with a daughter (Rebecca), a son (Paul), and five grandchildren.
After a blessed tenure of 42 years as teacher at St. John’s, Mr. Knueppel continued to serve as our director of parish care. Now, although officially retired, Mr. Knueppel stays active volunteering for St. John’s “behind the scenes.” In 2011, honoring this retired servant, St. John’s completed its plan of dedicating and renaming our gymnasium “The Henry P. Knueppel Gymnasium.”
Early Childhood
Pre School (3-year-olds)
JoAn Markworth
Mrs. Markworth has completed 27 years in the Christian teaching ministry, and this is her 4th year at St. John's. Her most recent teaching assignment was 11 years at Bethesda Lutheran School in Chicago. She is a graduate of Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, with emphasis on primary grades, music and math. The focus of her teaching experience has been in the primary grades, but JoAn has taught in all of the elementary grades as well as preschool and kindergarten. She now teaches preschool children and is the grades 1-5 computer instructor at St. John's.
Pre School News
Pre Kindergarten (4-year-olds)
Linda Spike
Mrs. Spike has completed 15 years of Christian teaching, 10 of which were here at St. John's. She has received her B. A. from DePaul University, and her Master of Early Childhood Education from National Lewis University. She has taught 1st through 4th grades at Prince of Peace and prior to that, Mrs. Spike has taught pre-school in Des Plaines and Park Ridge.
Pre Kindergarten News
Kindergarten
Leslee Johnson
Mrs. Johnson has completed 35 years of Christian teaching, 34 of which have been at St. John's. Mrs. Johnson graduated from Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She specialized in English, Speech and Drama and has a minor in Early Childhood Education. In addition to teaching Kindergarten, Mrs. Johnson is the coordinator for chapel families, the school yearbook, reading day, and the LWML Angel Tree. She is also a member of the church picnic committee and the Board of Christian Education. Mrs. Johnson was the 2001 recipient of the CLEF Good News Teacher Award in Early Childhood Education.
Kindergarten News
Early Childhood aids:
Erica Mackie, Laura Puenner, Barb Williams
Elementary School
1st Grade
Matthew Pahnke
Mr. Pahnke has completed one year of teaching serving as 1st Grade teacher here at St. John’s. He graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, IL with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education.
1st Grade News
2nd Grade
Debra Mackie
Mrs. Mackie has completed 30 years of Christian teaching, all here at St. John's. She graduated from Concordia Teacher's College, River Forest, Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Before teaching 2nd grade, she taught 1st grade for eight years and served as the reading teacher for one year. In addition to Mrs. Mackie’s teaching duties, she serves as the Athletic Director, Coach, Cheerleading Advisor, Jump Rope for Heart Coordinator, Clothing Coordinator and Church Coffee Hour Coordinator.
3rd Grade
Bonnie Mayrens
Mrs. Mayrens was born in Chicago, and in October of 1963 she was baptized into God's family at Our Lord's American Lutheran Church. She is a graduate of St. John's and Luther North. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in psychology and English literature, and Master's Degree in Reading Instruction from Concordia University, Chicago. She has been teaching since 1985. Before returning to St. John's in 2007, she taught at various Lutheran schools in Illinois and Indiana.
Mrs. Mayrens lives in Franklin Park with her husband Mike and their two cats, Smoky and Spice. In her spare time she enjoys reading (favorite authors are Jane Austen, E. A. Poe, and Brian Jacques) and experimenting with different kinds of coffee.
3rd Grade News
4th Grade
Deborah Callaghan
Mrs. Callaghan has completed 15 years of teaching, 9 of which were here at St. John's. She graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Secondary Education. Mrs. Callaghan's family have been members here for 28 years. Mrs. Callaghan is excited about implementing strategies she learned in workshops she has taken throughout the year and this summer that were sponsored by CLEF.
5th Grade
Robin Rocans
Mrs. Rocans has been teaching in Lutheran schools for the past eighteen years. She has taught combined 3rd & 4th grade, 5th grade, and junior high physical education. In addition, she coached various sports and served as the athletic director. She is a graduate of Concordia University in River Forest with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. Mrs. Rocans has been married for thirty five years and is blessed to have a daughter, son-in-law, and twin grandchildren.
5th Grade News
High School Preparatory Program
Social Studies, Geography, and Computer (6th-8th), Religion and Science (6th), Art (6th & 7th)
Holly Borrasso (6th Grade Homeroom)
This is Mrs. Borrasso’s first year teaching at St. John's. She graduated from Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with a concentration in Lutheran Theology. Previously, Mrs. Borrasso taught 5th grade and was a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher. At St. Johns, she will teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade Social Studies, Geography and Technology, 6th grade Religion and Science, and 6th and 7th grade Art.
6th Grade News
English and Reading (6th, 7th, 8th), Physical Education (6-8th boys), Religion (7th)
Jeremy Benedict (7th Grade Homeroom)
Mr. Benedict has completed his 1st year of Christian teaching here at St. John's and 2nd year overall. He graduated from Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. His area of concentration was English. Last year Mr. Benedict taught 5th grade and this year he will be teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade English and Reading as well as 7th grade Religion and boys P.E.
Math (6th, 7th, 8th) Science (7th, 8th), Physical Education (6-8th girls), Art (8th), Religion (8th)
Michelle Bahr (8th Grade Homeroom)
Miss Bahr has completed her 7th year of Christian teaching here at St. John's. She graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education. Her area of concentration was Psychology. She has her Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Miss Bahr will continue to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Math and Girl's Physical Education,7th and 8th grade Science, and 8th grade Art and Religion.
8th Grade News
Enrichment
Band
Ben Kinzie
Ben Kinzie joined the faculty of Luther North College Prep in 1990 to teach in the Luther North Elementary Band Program. Among his other responsibilities he has been the band director at St John’s for the past 13 years. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and his Master’s Degree in Music Performance at DePaul University in Chicago. Mr. Kinzie is very active in his church, The Salvation Army Norridge Citadel, where he serves as principal cornet with the Norridge Citadel Band. He is also the assistant principal cornet with the Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band. His involvement with this group has literally taken him across the country and around the world. Mr. Kinzie and his wife Beth, live in Streamwood.
Languages
German
Karin Fiedler, M.D.
Spanish
Marjorie Perez-Rodriguez
Library
Carol Cowie
Mrs. Carol Cowie has completed 21 years as the Librarian of St. John's. She graduated from the University of Illinois - Chicago Circle Campus with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology. The Accelerated Reader program has been implemented and many new tests have been purchased this year. This program is a computer based reading program that the children and teachers use for part of their Reading classes. The entire library has been automated on the computer, and all library functions are handled by the computer system.
Music
Kristi Heinz
Mrs. Kristi Heinz has completed 16 years of teaching in Lutheran education. She graduated from Concordia University in River Forest in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with concentrations in reading and music. She began work on her Master's Degree at Indiana University Southeast. She has spent time in 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms at St. John's, Algonquin, Illinois, and St. John's, Lanesville, Indiana. While teaching in mainstream classrooms, she has also taught music from preschool through senior high school. She is enjoying the opportunity to focus completely on music education. In addition to teaching music at St. John's, Kristi also directs "The Luther Singers" at Luther High School North and teaches private piano lessons.
Resource Teacher
Karen Buhler
Mrs. Karen Buhler has completed 36 years of teaching. She was graduated from Northeastern Illinois University earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education with an area of concentration in Psychology. She began teaching 4th grade and math lab. Having developed a strong interest in Special Education, she completed the coursework necessary for additional state certification in that area, serving students with disabilities for 8 years. After a maternity leave, she returned to teaching and taught 7th and 8th grade reading, language arts and social studies for 2 years. She then returned to teaching special needs students for 20 more years. She currently holds a Learning/Behavior Specialist teaching certificate in the State of Illinois. This is her third year as a resource teacher at St. John’s Lutheran School. This year she will continue to collaborate with the classroom teachers and will give extra support to students in need.
