Principal
Craig Scanlon is the principal at St. Joan of Arc. A native of Columbus, Ohio, he graduated magna cum laude from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio with a degree in Political Science and Theology. In 2009, Mr. Scanlon entered the field of education as a Teach for America (TFA) corps member serving in low-income public schools in Chicago’s North Lawndale and Englewood neighborhoods. During the TFA program, he received his Master of Arts in Teaching from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. Mr. Scanlon also recently finished the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) leadership program and graduated with Master of Arts in Education Administration. He comes to SJA from St. Clement School in Lincoln Park where he taught 4th grade for the past four years. Mr. Scanlon lives in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago with his wife Krista. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, rollerblading, and traveling.
Email: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Jan Bolden has been a member of the SJA parish for over 20 years. She graduated with her BA from University of Michigan and attended graduate school at University of California, Santa Barbara. After a 19 year career in the financial services industry, she left to take care of her family. She later became a substitute teacher for the Archdiocese of Chicago. In October 2011, she joined St. Joan of Arc as the administrative assistant.
Email: [email protected]
Early Childhood
Molly Tyler is the 3-year old preschool teacher. Molly previously taught third grade at a Chicago Public School and has experience teaching in the lower grades during her student teaching experience in Ohio. She graduated from Miami University of Ohio with a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout her four years at Miami she was a varsity student athlete on the swim team.
Email: [email protected]
Kendra Dillon is a graduate of North Park University, where she received her BA in Elementary Education. Kendra brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our children through her years as an early childhood teacher. During her time at Saint Joan of Arc, Kendra has taught kindergarten, preschool and junior kindergarten. She is currently a teacher in one of our four year old, junior kindergarten classrooms.
Email: [email protected]
Keeley Barr is a graduate of Butler University where she recieved her BS in Elementary Education. Ms. Barr is partners with her classroom aides and Mrs. Dillon to create a wonderful preschool program and a place where each child loves to come and learn.
Email: [email protected]
Kathy Caplice is the third member of the preschool team. Her degree is a B.S. in Education earned from John Carroll University in Ohio. She taught for 10 years at St. Teresa of Avila before taking time to raise her family. Currently she is with our preschoolers 4 days a week.
Shannon Haughey has been a member of the St. Joan of Arc community since she was a child. She has a B.S. from Marquette University and has six children who have attended SJA. Mrs. Haughey currently works with the early childhood team as a classroom aide.
Elementary
Mariellen Hendricks is our kindergarten teacher. She earned a dual certification in Elementary and Special Education from John Carroll University. Prior to joining the SJA faculty, Mrs. Hendricks taught at St. Paul of the Cross School in Park Ridge before taking time off to raise her children. She has been a member of the St. Joan of Arc parish for over 30 years and is grateful for the supportive community and strong academic foundation that St. Joan of Arc provides for its students.
Email: [email protected]
Leah Mirabella is our first grade teacher. She earned a BA in Communication and Culture at Indiana University and a Masters in Elementary Education at Loyola University. She joined SJA in 2014 as a second grade teacher after spending the previous four years in K-2 classrooms at The Joseph Sears School in Kenilworth.
Email: [email protected]
Susanna Beien is our 2nd grade teacher. She graduated from DePauw University with a degree in Sociology before beginning the Teach for America program. Through Teach for America, she taught third grade in Colorado Springs before returning home to Chicago. She is pursuing a Masters in Elementary Education from Dominican University. She loves teaching second grade and preparing her students for their First Communion.
Email: [email protected]
Gary Ruske is the SJA School 3rd graders’ teacher. He holds a BA degree in education from National Louis University and has taught third grade as a lead teacher, long-term sub and a paraprofessional. It is his grade of choice. Mr. Ruske also enjoys coaching basketball and baseball. His volunteer work includes sitting on the board of Wilmette Community Nursery School and St. Francis Xavier Athletic Committee.
Email: [email protected]
Lauren Bonick teaches 4th grade. Lauren is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and also attended National-Louis University to receive her Masters of Arts in Teaching (MAT). Lauren has previously taught 3rd, 4th, and 6th grade at Seventh Avenue School in LaGrange, Illinois. Lauren has a passion for teaching students to be the best versions of themselves and lead healthy lives.
Email: lbonick@sjasaints.org
Kirsten Beihl is another 4th grade teacher. She is a graduate of Indiana University with her BS in Elementary Education and a concentration in math. Kirsten began her teaching career as a long term substitute for Parkway School District in St. Louis, MO. Kirsten was previously the 2nd grade teacher at St. Francis Xavier in Wilmette. Kirsten is excited to join SJA as one of the new 4th grade teachers.
Email: kbiehl@sjasaints.org
Diana Tang teaches fifth grade. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern and worked in publishing for eight years with a focus on educational publishing. She is an St. Joan of Arc alum and attended the school along with her brothers. She recently earned her master’s degree in education from Northwestern and this is her second year as a teacher. She enjoys music, writing, reading, and spending time with her family.
Email: [email protected]
Middle School
Emma Lodesky teaches math to our middle school students. She graduated Summa cum Laude from University of Illinois at Chicago with a BS in teaching Mathematics. Since graduating, Ms. Lodesky has worked with Chicago youth as they prepare for the transition into high school math. Ms. Lodesky loves to share her knowledge and excitement for math education with our students.
Email: [email protected]
Angie Buis is the assistant principal and teaches science to our middle school students. She is also our 8th grade homeroom and religion teacher. Mrs. Buis is a graduate of Western Illinois University and Olivet Nazarene University with her master’s in Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Buis joined the SJA faculty in 2005 after teaching in Catholic grade schools in both Illinois and Missouri. Some of the awards Mrs. Buis has earned include the All-American Scholar Collegiate Award and the National College Education Award. Mrs. Buis is the head coach of the Science Olympiad team. She is also a certified catechist.
Email: [email protected]
Diane McKee is one of the members of our middle school team. Ms. McKee teaches Language Arts to grades 6 through 8, an integrated Lang. Arts/Soc. Studies program to our 7th and 8th graders and religion and homeroom to our 7th graders. Ms. McKee joins us with many years of experience in MI teaching LA, acting as chair of the LA dept. and serving on a variety of committees. She holds a BA degree from Western IL and master’s credits from Oakland Univ. and SIU. Among many professional associations, Ms. McKee is a member of the Oakland County Writing Project.
Email: [email protected]
Laura Egan is the junior high social studies and English teacher. Mrs. Egan earned her BA in Communications from DePaul and her Master’s in Education from Northeastern Illinois University and has earned endorsements in Language Arts and social studies. Her time spent teaching in the upper elementary classroom focuses on developing students’ literacy skills while incorporating technology into the curriculum.
Email: [email protected]
Specials
Eleanor Reiff is the SJA art teacher. Her presence has brought out the artist in students here for eight years. Her degrees include a BA in Studio Arts and a M.Ed. from UIC. She made the move from classroom teacher to art teacher when she joined the SJA team. Her prior work includes integrating art into curriculum areas.
Email: [email protected]
Maria Muñoz is our K-8 Spanish teacher. She graduated cum laude from Northeastern Illinois University with her BA in Spanish education. Before beginning at SJA, she worked as a catechist at St. Alexis’ and St. Bartholomew’s parishes and completed her student teaching at Wildwood IB World Magnet in Chicago. Señorita Muñoz has a native command of Spanish which was enhanced by two years spent abroad, most recently teaching in Guanajuato, Mexico.
Email: [email protected]
Carl Zumbahlen is the physical education teacher and athletic director. Carl has over ten years of teaching and coaching experience at a variety of levels. He has a Bachelor’s of Science in Physical Education from Eastern Illinois University and a Masters of Management in Sports Administration from Robert Morris University. He has also worked in athletics at Depaul College Prep, where he most recently coached the Freshman boy’s basketball team.
Email: [email protected]
