“As an ILS teacher, I not only have the privilege of partnering with parents in loco parentis to educate their children; I also have the support and accountability of a Classical Lutheran community as I teach, learn, and grow along with my students and serve in my other vocations every day! The support of this community is what I think of when we pray that “the work of our calling begins anew” each morning.”
We are incredibly proud of our strong, professional faculty—the backbone of our community. Our teachers are skilled, dedicated, and always learning themselves. In the classroom, they emphasize academic excellence, the development of curiosity, consistency, perseverance, and discussion. They serve as mentors, building relationships with students and their families, and they are models for our students, demonstrating intellectual humility and servanthood.
Becca Benson, Aftercare
Anastasiya Camp, Art
Miss Camp grew up in Russia where her father served as a missionary of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. She is fluent in Russian and earned a double major in Biology and Art from the Concordia University Chicago with a minor in Graphic Arts. Miss Camp is a talented musician, member of her church choir, and enjoys photographing wildlife in her free time.
Diane Cursio, Physical Education
Ms. Cursio has served as Immanuel’s Physical Education teacher for several years, striving to impart to all ILS students a knowledge of sports and of their own bodies’ ability to perform basic athletic movements. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Louisiana Baptist University and is also a certified personal trainer. She has served in schools, camps, and churches for over 30 years.
Natasha DeFeo, Kindergarten Assistant
Genevieve Dewaele, 5th Grade
Mrs. DeWaele grew up in Belgium, where she followed a classical education that nurtured her love for languages, history, and critical thinking. She studied Law and practiced as a lawyer, earning a Master of Law in Belgium before completing a second Master of Law at Georgetown University. She is fluent in French and passionate about lifelong learning—whether through academic study, travel, or meaningful conversations. She also has a soft spot for dogs and loves spending time outdoors with her furry companion.
Katie DiMarino, Music
Katie DiMarino is Immanuel’s music teacher as well as a private violin and piano instructor. She holds a master’s degree in violin performance from Florida State University (2022) as well as a certificate in the Kodály approach to music education (Indiana University, 2023). Mrs. DiMarino has also earned a certification in Orton-Gillingham phonics instruction (Marian University, 2023) and offers private phonics tutoring. Before coming to Immanuel, she worked as a music teacher and academic interventionist in public and private schools in FL, SC, and IN. She is delighted by Immanuel’s deep love of music and hopes to instill that love in each student.
Semegne Dinku, School Assistant
Ms. Dinku, a parent of two Immanuel alumni, joined the Immanuel staff as a School Assistant in 2016. Before joining Immanuel, Ms. Dinku worked as a preschool teacher and a teacher assistant at The Campagna Center, a non-profit organization. Ms. Dinku also earned a Child Development Associate certificate, and she previously studied Early Childhood Education at University College London. In her free time, Ms. Dinku likes to cook, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
Katherine Dubke, Upper School Lead Teacher, 6th Grade Homeroom, English Literature, Writing
Miss Dubke is in her fourth year teaching at ILS. Well-loved as the Kindergarten teacher, this year Miss Dubke stepped into new roles in the Upper School, leading the 6th grade homeroom and teaching 6th–8th grade English and Writing. Miss Dubke earned her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Fine Arts from Concordia University Irvine and her Master of Arts in English Literature and Letters, with an emphasis in Children’s Literature, from Kansas State University. She is a published poet and hymn writer, she plays the flute, and she sings in her church choir. She belives that a classical education offers young people a strong foundation for cultivating their God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to serve His kingdom.
Tabitha Dubke, 1st Grade
Miss Tabitha Dubke graduated from Concordia Nebraska summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She joined the Immanuel faculty in the fall of 2024 after serving in a variety of educational roles over the past 12 years in California and Hawaii. She is thankful to be at a school where she can teach her students about Jesus along with sharing a love for learning about the true, good, and beautiful.
Pastor Christopher Esget, Superintendent
Originally from Minnesota, Pastor Esget received his Bachelor’s degree in Music before attending Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he received the Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology degrees there. Pastor Esget has served as Immanuel's Pastor since 2001 and teaches Theology in the Upper School. He and his wife, Kassie, have one son, James.
Ian Flanders, 8th Grade Homeroom, Latin, Math & Science
Jane Frazer, Director of Operations
Mrs. Frazer joined ILS as our Manager of Operations in 2024. She holds a Bachelors of Arts from Smith College. Prior to ILS, she held various senior management positions at a national non-profit and later was a Managing Director at a D.C.-based public affairs firm.
Karen Gorr, 2nd Grade
Mrs. Gorr grew up in Michigan and has served at ILS as both 1st grade and 2nd grade teacher for many years. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Russian, then her Master of Arts in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages. Mrs. Gorr’s excels at teaching students to read and enjoys giving her students a love of learning through the gift of literacy.
Joseph Hageman, Interim Headmaster
Mr. Hageman formerly served as our 8th grade homeroom teacher and taught Upper School Latin, History, and Logic. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Classics, with a concentration in Latin, from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining the ILS faculty in 2021, Mr. Hageman was a full-time Latin teacher at another classical school in Phoenix, Arizona.
Laurie Honig, Lower School Lead Teacher, & Junior Kindergarten
Mrs. Honig brings years of experience teaching as well as motherly wisdom (she is the mother of four ILS graduates) to her leadership role at ILS. Truly a model of Christian virtue, Mrs. Honig is noted for her natural warmth and sincere love for her students, their families, and the school faculty—traits she nurtures in her students. She epitomizes the lifelong learner who never stops learning herself as she continues a course of self-study in classical education and continually strives to learn and grow. Mrs. Honig holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Accounting.
Joshua Pautz, Assistant Headmaster
Mr. Pautz supports our teachers in curriculum, culture, and classroom management while also teaching 3rd–5th grade Latin and assisting in 5th grade Math. Mr. Pautz has been a member of the ILS community for several years now, having previously taught 2nd grade, 6th grade homeroom, 6th–8th grade math and science, and serving as a substitute teacher. He is a graduate of Hillsdale College and a strong classicist with serious education in both Greek and Latin.
Anthony Kimbrough, 4th Grade
Fiona Lacey, 3rd Grade
Fiona Lacey joined the Immanuel faculty in the spring of 2023 as an Assistant Teacher and serves as Immanuel's 3rd grade teacher. She graduated from Grove City College with degrees in English and Political Science. While attending Grove City, Miss Lacey was involved with both The Collegian newspaper and the school's Cogitare Magazine. Additionally, she served as a Koch Marketing Fellow for the Institute for Faith and Freedom, a communications intern at Judicial Watch, and a summer intern at First Things Magazine. Miss Lacey has written for The American Conservative and Crisis Magazine.
Abby Leithart, Kindergarten
Abby Leithart is from Gahanna, Ohio and joined the Immanuel faculty in the fall of 2020 as a Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and now serves as Immanuel's lead kindergarten teacher. She graduated from Wright State University with a BFA in dance and afterwards was a member of dance companies where she was able to travel, teach, and perform throughout the world. She previously taught as lead kindergarten teacher at Peace Lutheran Academy in Sussex, Wisconsin and continues to share her love for dance by choreographing and teaching throughout the area and within the U.S. Miss Leithart is also a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and choir.
Emily Newman, 7th Grade Homeroom, History, Logic
Ashley Palmer, 1st Grade Assistant
Beth Warner, Junior Kindergarten Assistant
Beth Warner joined the Immanuel faculty in the fall of 2023 as the Junior Kindergarten Assistant Teacher and Theology teacher. She graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin and continued her education at theological Seminary Fort Wayne as a deaconess. The Navy moved her husband, four kids, and her to the DMV area in summer of 2023. Her family are members of Immanuel Lutheran Church.