“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
Katie DiMarino, Music
Semegne Dinku, School Assistant
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
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
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
Emily Newman, 7th Grade Homeroom, History, Logic
Ashley Palmer, 1st Grade Assistant
Beth Warner
Junior Kindergarten Assistant