Mrs. Binkley earned her Masters Degree in Education with an Administration and
Leadership degree from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. She also has a Masters Degree in
Education with a Reading Specialist Endorsement from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.
As well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
Mrs. Binkley began her career in 2001 and has a wide range of teaching experience in both
public and private schools. She was born and raised in western Iowa where she met her
husband, they have two sons. Mrs. Binkley was born and raised in the church family of St. John’s
Lutheran Church in Honey Creek, Iowa. In 2011, the Binkleys moved to Florida and spent nine
years there until moving to New Orleans in the fall of 2020. Mrs. Binkley has loved diving into
the culture that is New Orleans!
Tonya is the face and the voice of St. John whenever you stop by the office or call on the phone. She is a valuable link between church and school and we are pleased that she came to serve with us in the summer of 2020. If you ever have any question about St. John, Tonya will either know the answer or will find it very quickly and let you know what you need to know.
Mrs. Forest graduated from the University of New Orleans with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has taught in other schools in the area but is happy here at St. John. This will be her 5th year as part of the St. John family. She was the previous 4th grade teacher, all-grade substitute, and Kindergarten Assistant. She and her husband are local to the area and have two adult daughters. They also have one grandson. Mrs. Forest is looking forward to a “bright and colorful” year!
Ms. Watson received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education: PK-Third grade from Louisiana State University. She also has a Certification in Early Intervention: Birth-Five from Southeastern Louisiana University. Ms. Watson has taught in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish School Systems. She has also taught at Trinity Lutheran Preschool in Baton Rouge. Ms. Watson feels God has called her to teach at St. John Lutheran.
Ms. Steele grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education (PK-4th) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition to teaching elementary school, Ms. Steele has taught GED & computer skills to adults, middle school subjects to troubled teens and English to elementary students in Taiwan. She moved to New Orleans 11 years ago after returning from Taiwan. She has an adult daughter that lives close by and loves spending time with her dog, Kovy; as well as volunteering with many different local organizations. You can catch her around town as a Pixie with the Crescent City Fae.
Ms. Fontenette graduated with a degree in Elementary Education from Southern University New Orleans. She has over 30 years of teaching in the New Orleans area. She retired from the Orleans Parish Public School system in July 2023. St. John was lucky to have to Ms. Fontenette as a substitute for the 2023-2024 school year. Ms Fontenette is the mother of 4 college graduates. A fun fact about Ms. Fontenette is that she adores dogs and turtles.
Ms. Beard joins us with two years of teaching experience.
Mrs.Tregle is a New Orleans native and loves everything about the BIG EASY. She grew up in Metairie and was the last of five kids. She attended U.N.O. and then went on to earn a Master's Degree from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in School Counseling. After two years of counseling high school student, Hurricane Katrina, and Covid, Mrs. Tregle returned to the classroom to work with kids. Mrs. Tregle loves children and has a wide range of experience teaching in both public and private schools.
Mrs.Tregle's passion and love of learning has encouraged her to think outside the box when it comes to teaching. "I love seeing students excited about learning." Mrs.Tregle is married with two teenagers. She understands firsthand the culture and climate of New Orleans and how valuable a good education is. "Our children are the future and everything we do shapes and influences who they become."
Ms. Lauricella grew up in a large Italian family from Harahan, Louisiana. Her dad was the minister of the Harahan Christian Church. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. In addition, she received a Master of Educational Leadership from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. She has taught in both the Jefferson and Orleans parish public schools, as well as private schools. Before teaching, Ms. Lauricella worked at the Jefferson Parish Coroners Office as Director of Sexual Assault Services. She initiated the "Empathy and Awareness" program, a court-ordered one-day program for at-risk youth. After Katrina, she left the coroner's office and pursued a new career focused on children's advocacy. What better way than to become a teacher? Ms. Lauricella has two grown sons and six grandchildren.
Mr. Lopez received his Bachelor's degree in History from the University of New Orleans. He has a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in K-12 leadership, both from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. This is his 45th year in teaching. Mr. Lopez's last assignment was at St. Paul Lutheran. Mr. Lopez is currently the Athletic Director, basketball coach, extended care coordinator, and a middle school social studies and science teacher at St. John Lutheran.
Mr. Henschen is beginning his fifteenth year of teaching at St. John. After graduating from Concordia University, Nebraska, Mr. Henschen obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Level Education. Prior to that, he completed his student-teaching in Shanghai, China! He continues to teach math, religion, English, and serves as the technology coordinator.
Growing up in Iowa, Ms. Bowman attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa attaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees; she received one degree in Elementary Education (K-6) with an endorsement in Language Arts and another degree in English with an endorsement in Secondary Education (6-12). In 1994, this was Ms. Bowman's way of specializing in middle school when there were no middle school credentials. Ms. Bowman has taught mostly middle school English/language arts in several Chicago Lutheran, parochial, and private schools. In 2009, Ms. Bowman earned her colloquy from CUEnet, and in December of 2021, Ms. Bowman earned her master's degree in Education from North Park University with endorsements in middle school social studies and Learning Behavior Specialist I (Mild to Moderate 5-21 YO). In Ms. Bowman's 30 years of teaching, she has taught many other subjects and grades including math, social studies, science, conversational Spanish, art, music, PE, computers, and religion including confirmation. Ms. Bowman also directs the adult handbell choir at St. John and is looking forward to getting to know and serving all of St. John Lutherans' students and families while teaching Music, Musical Movement, and Computers. Ms. Bowman has two grown children, Rebecca and Aaron; a rascally Siamese cat named Clark, and a fiancé. Ms. Bowman's favorite Bible verses are Joshua 1:9, Jeremiah 29:11, and Acts 20:24.
Miss Koester graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After teaching for two years in Okarche, Oklahoma, she accepted a position at St. Paul-First English Lutheran School in New Orleans where she taught for 37 years. She has taught various grade levels ranging from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade. She is delighted to be a part of the St. John family.
Mrs. Stibrich grew up in Chester, Illinois, where she attended St. John Lutheran School and Chester High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University) in Seward, Nebraska, and her Masters of Education Degree with an emphasis in Reading Education from Loyola University in New Orleans. She has taught in Lutheran Schools in Kansas, Texas, and in the New Orleans area for over forty years. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She has a Christian puppet ministry, for which she writes and directs puppet skits that are performed in some of the Lutheran churches in the New Orleans area as well as at chapels for St. John Lutheran School. She loves being part of St. John Lutheran School's Christian family, substituting in the various grades from Kindergarten through Seventh Grade, organizing "Lutheran Group Nights" for Pelicans games, and working with the Sixth and Seventh graders to present puppet skits for chapels twice a year.