St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School

History

Mission Statement

Philosophy

St. Elizabeth

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School
Personnel
2007-2008

Position	Name	Email Address	Introduction
Principal	Thomas Troness	ttroness@stelizabethannseton.net	I am excited to be in my first year as principal of St. Elizabeth's! My wife, Arlene, and I have four sons and three grandsons. My experience in education includes 30 years as a teacher in the public school system of Sisseton, SD and four years as the principal of Holy Trinity School in Pierz. My hobbies include golfing and working in the garden and yard.
St. Anthony Parish	Rev. Thomas Knoblach, Pastor	osapientia@juno.com	I thank God daily for the call to priestly ministry in the Church. I was ordained for the Diocese of Saint Cloud in 1987, the last priest Bishop Speltz ordained upon his retirement. I have served parishes in St. Cloud, Sauk Rapids, Milaca, Houston, St. Louis, Wadena, Bertha, Henning, Herman, Chokio, Luxembourg, Kimball, and since July, 2007, the parishes in the Lumen Christi cluster: Saint John Cantius, Saint Anthony’s, and Holy Spirit. I have also taught at Cathedral High School and St. Louis University. I am a product of Catholic schools from first grade through earning a PhD, so I have great esteem and support for Catholic education. Since 1999, I have also enjoyed working as the Consultant for Healthcare Ethics for the Diocese. This gives me lots of opportunities for speaking, research, writing, and involvement in the important work of Catholic healthcare. For balance in life, I enjoy working on cars, woodworking, reading, biking, and walking.
Holy Spirit Parish	Rev. Peter VanderWeyst, Assoc Pastor	frpeter@stanthonys.net	Hey there!! Fr. Peter VanderWeyst here. I am the Associate Pastor of the parishes of St. Anthony, Holy Spirit and St. John Cantius. I first thought about the priesthood in the 4th grade when my pastor asked all of us boys if we had ever thought about being a priest. As a Mass server I thought: “this would be great!” I then lost track of being a priest in high school and went on to study architectural construction, working as an estimator in a lumber yard before going on to study for the priesthood. I was ordained June 16, 2007 and I love being a priest. We all need to listen to the call of God in our lives and encourage others to listen to that same call. Maybe you know someone interested in being a priest or have thought about it yourself. We know that priests preside at Mass and the other sacraments, work in parishes and pray, but we also like to have fun. Some other ministries that I enjoy include but are not limited to: golf, disc golf, horseshoe pitching, fishing, volley ball, basketball, softball, football, drawing, painting, sculpting, juggling, walking, ping pong, darts pool and some card games.
Kindergarten	Mrs. Kathy Krebsbach	kkrebsbach@stelizabethannseton.net	I have been at St. Elizabeth School for four years. I have a total of 15 years as a kindergarten teacher. I have an amazing husband, Mark, and we have three terrific sons, John, Brett, and Patrick. I feel very lucky and fortunate to teach here at St. Elizabeth's. My current students are called "The Lucky Ducks". I love being a mom and a wife. My family and I enjoy traveling and spending quality time together. We especially enjoy spending a lot of time attending our boys' sporting events.
Kindergarten	Mrs. Mary Niehoff	mniehoff@stelizabethannseton.net	I am so happy to be a kindergarten teacher at St. Elizabeth's! I have a special place in my heart for this school, because I also attended this school during my elementary years. It is my hope that your child's experience is as happy as mine. Ten of my sixteen years as a teacher in Catholic schools have been at St. Elizabeth's. I live in the St. Cloud area with my husband, Tom. We have three adult chidren; Kari, Joe, and Bob. They are all attending college. They are my pride and joy. My hobbies include watching and particpating in sports and traveling all over the world. My classroom is always open and I hope you stop by to see all that we are learning.
Grade 1	Mrs. Addie Olmschenk	aolmschenk@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my 27th years teaching first grade at SEAS. My husband and I have two grown daughters and a wonderful son-in-law. We belong to St. John Cantius parish and participate in many activites there. I enjoy sewing, quilting, reading, playing cards, and visiting with my friends and family. Teaching is my love!
Grade 2	Mrs. Nancy Stellmach	nstellmach@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my 20th year of teaching in this building! I love being part of the St. Elizabeth family. I am excited to once again be in a second grade classroom. I have been married for 21 years to my husband, Jim. We have two boys; Andrew and Ryan, and we also have our lovable puppy girl, Emma. In my spare time, our family loves to go camping. My favorite activity is to curl up on the couch with a hot cup of flavored coffee and read a thrilling mystery!
Grade 2	Mrs. Mary Ley	mley@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my 12th year teaching at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School. I feel very blessed to be part of this great school! My husband, Mark, and I have been married for almost 20 years and have three children; Zach, Katelyn, and Allyssa. All three of our children have attended or are presently attending SEAS, so I know first hand as a parent what a great school we are! In my spare time, you can usually find me cheering on my children at a running event, or on the soccer fields.
Grade 3	Mrs. Rose Osgood	rosgood@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my 27th year of teaching; two years teaching second and third grade at St. Michael's in Buckman and 25 years at SEAS teaching kindergarten and 3rd grade here at SEAS. I am married to my husband, Duane. He is a "famous" fisherman and insurance businessman. We have three lovely daughters; Allison and Margaret, our twins, and Kathy. We also have a dog, Mocha. I enjoy the outdoors, walking, hiking, sports, reading, and teaching. Come and visit my classroom sometime, you will easily become engrossed in a book of some kind.
Grade 4	Mrs. Ann Scott	ascott@stelizabethannseton.net	I have been in Catholic education for many years. My husband, Darrell, and I have lived in Sauk Rapids for over 30 years. We have two married daughters and one grand daughter. I enjoy gardening, going for walks, and spending time with family and friends.
Grade 4	Mrs. Eilleene Stawarski	estawarski@stelizabethannseton.net	I have been teaching fourth grade in Minnesota Catholic schools for 30 years. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to help so many children develop their faith as they grow closer to God and each other. I enjoy having fun in my classroom. Telling jokes and surprises are a guarantee! You might also be surprised to know that children are not the only living creatures within my four walls. Anoles, crickets, a snake, fire-bellied frogs, salamanders, worms, and baby turtles also live in this educational setting!
Grade 5	Mrs. Susan Jackson	sjackson@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my fourth year at St. Elizabeth's, however all of our four children have attended this school. This is the first time in 17 years that I do not have a child enrolled here! Ms. Maiers and I coach the Knowledge Bowl team. This is our second year and the program has been a lot of fun. In the past, I have coached our volleyball team also. Teaching is my second career path. My first degree was in Marketing, but eight years ago I followed my true passion, teaching. I attended graduate school at SCSU to receive my teaching degree. My outside interests include: reading, playing volleyball, hanging out at the lake, and watching my kids extracurricular activities.
Grade 5	Ms. Laura Maiers	lmaiers@stelizabethannseton.net	Catholic Schools have always been a part of my life. I attended Catholic grade school and graduated from Cathedral High School. I've been teaching in the Catholic schools in the St. Cloud area since graduating fromm SCSU in 1985. I am married and have a son, who are also products of Catholic education! I enjoy reading, baking, biking, and being outdoors in the summer.
Grade 6	Ms. Rachel Gapinski	rgapinski@stelizabethannseton.net	I began teaching at St. Elizabeth's in 2005. My previous experience includes teaching Title 1 for District 742 and teaching grade three and grades five through eight at a Catholic school near the Twin Cities. I enjoy playing games, walking, kayaking, playing volleyball and tennis, and reading good books!
Music	Mrs. Jana Graves	jgraves@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my second year here at St. Elizabeth's School. I teach K-6th grade Music and really enjoy it! I am married and have one daughter in elementary school. I have also taught in my home town in Michigan and in Chicago. I love all kinds of music and enjoy going to various concerts and musicals. I also enjoy hiking, canoeing, traveling, gardening, and riding roller coasters!
Phy Ed	Ms. Michelle Haglin	mhaglin@stelizabethannseton.net	I have been teaching for over 25 years. In addition to physical education, I have taught second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. I am originally from Brainerd and love spending time there on the family farm with my eight siblings and their families. My hobbies and interests include traveling, hiking, swimming, canoeing, woodworking, reading and doing crossword puzzles.
Librarian	Mrs. Kathy Schlueter	kschlueter@stelizabethannseton.net	My husband, Al, and I have three married children; Jeff, Jennifer, and Julie, We have five grandchildren; Christian, Cole Creed, Aubrey, and Aidah. My interests include; reading, sewing, writing, and baking with my grandchildren. I also enjoy stamp and spoon collecting, but my favorite hobby is my Christmas Stocking mission. I make 2000 stockings a year, and fill and distribute them throughout the four state area. I have been doing this for 15 years. Now, even my grandchildren help when we fill them after Thanksgiving!
Librarian/Computer	Mrs. Kaye Sauer	ksauer@stelizabethannseton.net	My husband and I, along with our two dogs, live in Sauk Rapids. We have three adult children and one grandchild. My favorite thing to do is to spend time with my grandson. I love to read and do not remember a day that I have not spent some time reading! I also enjoy cooking, baking, and my involvement with liturgy as the chair of the Liturgy Committee at my parish.
Preschool Director	Mrs. Sue Hiltner		I have been a part of the staff at Holy Spirit since 1992. Now that our preschool is joining St. Elizabeth's, this begins my 16th year in the same classroom! I grew up in nearby Watkins and graduated from St. Cloud State University. I began my teaching career in Long Prairie, teaching kindergarten there for two years, before moving back to St. Cloud. Currently, I also teach part time in Becker's Early Childhood Program. In the summer you may find me working at Boulder Ridge or golfing in my spare time. My husband, Keith, and I have two children; Isaac and Ian, one large cat, Harry Potter, and one new small dog, Cooper.
Preschool Teacher	Mrs. Cindy Kunkel		I have been a preschool teacher for 13 years. I have been a life-long member of Holy Spirit Parish and attended the school myself for eight years. You will be suprised to know that I teach in my former 7th grade classroom! It's been a pleasure to come full circle teaching in such a great school. I live in south St. Cloud with my husband, Don. We have two children in college; Cassie and Cory. Some of my hobbies include reading, traveling, golfing, and playing the piano/organ for the parish Masses. During the summer, I work at boulder Ridge Golf Course, where I get to indulge in my passion for golf as I continue to work on my game, just in case the LPGA ever calls!
Preschool Teacher	Mrs. Nancy Street		I am beginning my 12th year as a preschool teacher. I have been married for 28 years to my husband, Glenn, who is a professor at SCSU. We have two adult sons; Daniel and Michael. I grew up in Rochester and attended Rochester Community College for two years before transferring and graduating from SCSU. We lived in Cleveland, Ohio for three years, followed by three years in Pennsylvania, and then returned to St. Cloud. My hobbies include; spending time with family and friends, home decorating, sewing, golfing and watching live and on television.
Secretary/Bookkeeper	Mrs. Theresa Theisen	ttheisen@stelizabethannseton.net	This is my 37th year at St. Elizabeth School. My husband and I have eight children, all of whom attended St. Anthony School. We also have 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Our children are spread all across the country. For fun, I love to read, one or two books every week. I also quilt, knit, work crossword puzzles and attend theaters as often as I can.
Secretary	Mrs. Sandra Kalla	skalla@stelizabethannseton.net	I have been the primary school secretary for many years. Prior to working at St. Elizabeth's, I worked as a dental assistant/receptionist for over 12 years. I am married to Dave and I have two children; Ryan and Katelyn. We also have two spoiled kitty cats; Sassy and Molly. In my spare time, I love spending time with my family and friends, shopping with my mom, scrap booking, biking and camping.
Custodian	Mr. David Ertl

Custodian/Supervisor	Mrs. Linda Buckentine		I have been a lunchroom/playground supervisor at the intermediate building for the past five years. My husband, Joe, and I have three great children and a cute-as-a -button chihuahua. When I'm not at work, I enjoy listening to music, especially the Beatles, spending time with my family and cooking has become less of a chore and more of an adventure! A am very happy to be able to work with the children and staff at SEAS and truly feel blessed to be here!
Custodian	Mr. Dave Bohlig		I have worked in the primary building as Head Engineer since 1981. I have two children: Kristin, who is married, and Brian, who is a senior at Sauk Rapids HS. My wife, Rose, and I have been married for 34 years. My hobbies are hunting, fishing, camping and woodworking.
Custodian	Mr. Henry Hess		I was born and raised in the St. Cloud area. I am a member of Holy Spirit Church. I really like working with the children and the teachers!
Food Service Director	Mrs. Mary Herkenhoff		This is my 7th year as Food Service Director. I really enjoy cooking for the students. My hobbies are reading, watching sporting events, biking, and golfing. I also enjoy traveling, especially our yearly trip to Mexico!
Food Service	Mrs. Mary Blenkush		I have been assistant cook in the kitchen of the primary building for four years and I enjoy it. I have two kids: a daughter, named Angie, and a son, named Max. I like fishing in the summer. I also enjoy vacationing with my family. I am an animal lover. I especially like cats!
Food Service	Mrs. Eden Dufek
Food Service	Mrs. Sandy Lanz		My husband, Tom, and I have five children and one grandson. I sing in the Holy Spirit Church choir and volunteer for therapeutic horseback riding. I enjoy sewing, camping, an d cooking. I especially love being a "Lunch Lady"!
Supervisor/Kid-Kare	Mrs. Sue Iten		While Kid-Kare is my main focus, I also help supervise lunch and recess. I have worked at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School for eight years. I am certified in Child Care Technology and Radiologic Technology. My husband, Mike, and I have three adult sons: Adam, Josh, and Sam, as well as a daughter-in-law, Laura. We are also a surrogate family to Miguel and Nicole Iriarte and their sons, Christian, Anthony and Zachary.
Supervisor	Mrs. Chris Neu
Kid-Kare	Ms. Kari Niehoff
Kid-Kare	Ms. Tera Franzwa
Kid-Kare	Ms. Kayla Smith
Kid-Kare	Ms. Tina Schneider
Kid-Kare	Ms. Kristie Ludwig
Foster Grandparent	Sr. Lucia Aschenbrener		I grew up in Idaho. I moved to Spokane, WA and finished high school there. Following my graduation, I entered the of the Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato, MN. I have been in education ever since. My teaching experience has included schools in the states of Minnesota, Washington, Iowa, and now I work as a Foster Grandparent at St. Elizabeth's. I enjoy doing pencil sketches of children from photos, biking, walking and reading.
Duplicating Aide	Mrs. Melissa Toenjes