The Reverend Christopher S. Esget has served as Immanuel's Pastor since 2001. He is married to Kassie, and they have one son, James.

Before coming to Immanuel, Pastor Esget served at Bethel Lutheran Church, DuQuoin, IL, where he was ordained in 1998. He attended Concordia Theological Seminary (Fort Wayne, IN) where he earned the Master of Divinity degree (1997) and the Master of Sacred Theology degree (2005). His STM thesis was a comparison of the doctrine of original sin in Patristic and contemporary Eastern Orthodox theology.

Pastor Esget is the Fifth Vice-President (East-Southeast Region) of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He also currently serves on the Missouri Synod's Sanctity of Human Life commission and is the District Life Coordinator for the Southeastern District of the LCMS. He has presented papers at Concordia Theological Seminary's Good Shepherd Institute, the Concordia Catechetical Academy's annual symposium, the Rocky Mountain District's convocation on woship, the Higher Things youth organization, the St. Michael Liturgical Conference, the LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching, and Church Music, and the Infertility Ethics Symposium at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has served as chaplain/worship leader for the LCMS Life Conferences, Lutherans for Life annual March for Life events, Higher Things, and the LCMS Worship institute. His sermons and exegetical work have been published in several periodicals. He is a 2015 Washington Fellow of the National Review Institute.

Born and raised near Minneapolis, MN, Pastor Esget pursued his love of music with classical piano studies at Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota, acquiring his undergraduate degree (Bachelor of Music, summa cum laude) from the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA) in 1993. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and playing the piano.

Email: pastor.esget@immanuelalexandria.org

Anastasiya Camp teaches Art to students in Jr. Kindergarten through 8th grades at Immanuel. Miss Camp previously served as Immanuel’s 2nd grade teacher.

Miss Camp earned a double major in Biology and Art from Concordia University Chicago with a minor in Graphic Arts. She was a recipient of the Steinbeck Scholarship and served as an Art Department Student Assistant. Miss Camp has served as an Advantage Leader and Program Instructor at YMCA Camp Bernie, a Marine and Media Conservation Intern at the Archipelagos Institute of Marine Conservation in Greece, and a Wildlife Conservation Intern at Aquila Private Game Reserve in South Africa.

The daughter of a Lutheran Pastor, Miss Camp grew up in Russia where her father served (and currently serves) as an LCMS missionary and then directly under the partner church of the LCMS, the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia. Being fluent in Russian allowed Miss Camp to assist in translating during English Bible Camps as well as help with English language services at St. Anne's in St. Petersburg.

At Concordia University, Miss Camp enjoyed attending chapel and participating in a number of school clubs. She shared her musical talents with the community as a part of the University's distinguished musical ensembles, including the Wind Symphony.

Outside of the classroom, Miss Camp is an artist who loves photographing wildlife.

Email: anastasiya.camp@immanuelalexandria.org

Ms. Diane Curcio serves as Immanuel's PE teacher, teaching students in Kindergarten through 8th grade, with a focus on helping students develop a beginning knowledge of sports and an understanding of their body in the context of their ability to perform basic athletic movements. With both a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Louisiana Baptist University and certification as a personal trainer through the National Federation of Personal Trainers, Ms. Curcio has applied her knowledge and experience in health, fitness and wellness in education for 30 years, serving in schools and church programs as a Physical Education Teacher, Summer Camp Director and Assistant Director of After School Programs. Additionally, Ms. Curcio serves as a personal trainer, counseling clients on their fitness goals and developing exercise and nutrition guidelines to help clients achieve their wellness goals.

Katherine Dubke serves as Immanuel's 6th Grade Homeroom Teacher and 6-8th Literature and Writing Teacher. Miss Dubke earned her Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Fine Arts from Concordia University Irvine, and was awarded her Masters of Arts in English Literature and Letters, with an emphasis in Children's Literature from Kansas State University.

As an undergraduate, Miss Dubke served as the literary editor for The Aerie and as a consultant at the Concordia Writing Center. In addition to her studies, she sang with the Concordia Choir and played flute for the Concordia Wind Orchestra. While completing her Master's Degree, Miss Dubke was a graduate teaching assistant and served as an intern for The Alcott Society. Miss Dubke is both a published poet and hymn writer.

Before joining the Immanuel faculty, Miss Dubke served as an undergraduate admissions counselor for Concordia University Irvine, and worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Kansas State University teaching English composition.

Miss Dubke is excited to share her deep love of the learning journey with her students and the Immanuel community. She enjoys discovering the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary and seeks to guide her students toward a life-long love of learning and a love of our Lord. She believes that a classical education can offer young people a strong foundation for cultivating their God-given gifts, talents, and abilities to serve His kingdom.

Email: katherine.dubke@immanuelalexandria.org

Karen Gorr returns to ILS to serve as the 2nd grade teacher. Mrs. Gorr grew up in Michigan.

After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Russian, she went on to complete a Master of Arts in Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages at American University and an Education Specialist Degree in Reading Education at the University of Virginia. Along the way, she taught in Prince William County Public Schools as an English as a Second Language teacher for a couple of years before teaching at Immanuel from fall 2008 to spring 2016. In 2011, Mrs. Gorr completed the LCMS teacher colloquy program. After teaching at ILS for 8 school years, she left to stay home with her children for several years.

Mrs. Gorr is thrilled to be returning to Immanuel this school year and to have the opportunity to experience the wonders of learning with the 2nd grade class.

Mrs. Laurie Honig is Immanuel's Junior Kindergarten teacher and serves as the Lower School Lead Teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accounting from Longwood College. With previous experience as a preschool teacher, Mrs. Honig is noted for her natural warmth and sincere care for the students, staff and families of Immanuel. She is known for daily encouraging young minds and strong collaboration with parents. Mrs. Honig and her husband are the proud parents of four children, all of whom are ILS graduates.

Mrs. Honig consistently enjoys a course of self-study in classical education, and excels at helping students love their neighbors.

Email: laurie.honig@immanuelalexandria.org

Fiona Lacey serves as Immanuel’s 3rd grade teacher. Miss Lacey joined the Immanuel faculty in the spring of 2023 as an Assistant Teacher.

Miss Lacey 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 joins the Immanuel staff following substitute teaching in the Frederick County Public Schools, including teaching 9th grade English. Miss Lacey has been published in The American Conservative and Crisis Magazine.

Abby Leithart returns to the ILS faculty after serving from 2020 -2022 as Kindergarten Assistant Teacher, and then teaching Kindergarten at Peace Academy in Sussex, Wisconsin for the 2022-2023 school year.

Miss Leithart brings to the classroom five years teaching and ten years of professional dance company experience. Miss Leithart has taught youth and adults at City Dance Conservatory (Rockville, MD), Ballet Nova Center for Dance (Arlington, VA), Joy of Motion Dance Center (Washington, DC) and Born2Dance Studio (Vienna, VA).

Miss Leithart received her BFA in dance from Wright State University and has continued her training with additional summer intensives. She was recognized with the Regional Dance America's Northeast Josephine Schwartz Award for best emerging choreographer (RDA) in 2015, and has choreographed a variety of solos and group performances. She has performed around the world, including in Azerbaijan, England, Cuba, Russia, and Ukraine, as well as locally at the Kennedy Center in DC.

Ashley Palmer serves on the Immanuel faculty as our 1st Grade Assistant Teacher. She previously served as Jr. Kindergarten Assistant Teacher.

Mrs. Palmer graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Eastern University (Pennsylvania), where she also served as a Teacher's Assistant and interned at a foster family care agency. She was a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate for a number of years, handling energy, environmental and financial issues for Senators Rick Santorum and Bob Corker.

Mrs. Palmer has been an active volunteer at ILS since 2014. She is also an active member of Cherrydale Baptist Church, where she assists with various children and youth activities.

Mrs. Palmer and her husband have two children currently enrolled at Immanuel. She is excited to provide instruction and guidance to Immanuel's youngest students and finds great joy in this age group's eagerness for learning and their developing desire for purpose and independence.

Mrs. Beth Warner joins the Immanuel faculty serving as Jr. Kindergarten Assistant Teacher.

Mrs. Warner earned her Bachelor of Arts in Lay Ministry from Concordia University Wisconsin and her Master of Arts: Deaconess, from Concordia Theological Seminary - Fort Wayne. Mrs. Warner has been teaching at Hope Academy in Virginia Beach since 2020.