Meet our team!
Teachers can be reached out to through the Brightwheel app.
Kim Valinsky
Nursery School Director
Paula Cattell
3 Year old Teacher
Paula has been with the Nursery School for 23 years. She looks forward to taking young students and stretching them into confident friends achieving a sense of independence and self control. She enjoy helping them to learn how much the Lord loves, cares for and protects each friend here.
Dawn Harrison
4 Year old Teacher
Dawn has been working at St. John's since 2009 and absolutely loves being a teacher! Her passion for teaching comes from the love of Jesus that she hopes to share with the children every day they enter the classroom. She wants each child to know their life matters and they're very special. Dawn and her husband have 3 children and a sweet dog, Lincoln. When school's not in session, you can catch her vacationing in Eastern Tennesee with her family where she also hopes to retire some day.
Lauren Morales
4 year old Teacher
Lauren is a St. John’s Nursery School alumni, turned parent, turned teacher! She graduated from Rowan University in 2008 with a BA in Elementary Education. After marrying her high school sweetheart, she taught for 3 years, then took a break to be home with her children. Eventually, she found her way back to teaching at St. John’s. She adores her students and prays they always feel loved by her and most importantly, Jesus!
Lindsey Imperato
4 Year old Teacher
Lindsey is excited to start her 2nd year teaching at St. John's. She is the mother of 3 boys and her children attended St. John's. Lindsey loved the school so much she decided to join the staff of wonderful teachers that helped shape her children's faith and education. Miss Lindsey is looking forward to a new year of friends to help nurture and guide on their path of learning and faith.
Jeanine Gogoj
3 Year old Teacher
Jeanine is one of the newest members to join the St. John's family. Her 2 sons, Hunter and Matthew, both attended St. John's Nursery School in their youth. Jeanine is excited to lend a helping hand to the children at St. John's as they did with her children those years ago.
Amy Karl
4 Year old Teacher
After two years as an assistant here at St. John’s Nursery School, Amy is excited to be teaching!
Amy has spent many years in education and ministry, first as a Director of Children’s Ministries and most recently as a homeschool mom and a co-op drama teacher. Amy loves to crochet, travel, theatre, and being a mom. God has created each one of us in his image and Amy hopes to use her talents to help every child in her care know just how much God loves and cherishes them.
Amy has spent many years in education and ministry, first as a Director of Children’s Ministries and most recently as a homeschool mom and a co-op drama teacher. Amy loves to crochet, travel, theatre, and being a mom. God has created each one of us in his image and Amy hopes to use her talents to help every child in her care know just how much God loves and cherishes them.
Kathy Filipek
Bible Teacher
Miss Kathy is so honored that God is using her in this season of life to minister to His sweet children. In her second year as the Bible teacher, she is excited to teach about Jesus and His love that lasts forever.
Kathy is blessed to be the mother of two beautiful daughters and grandmother to Charlotte and Caroline. Kathy has been walking with the Lord for over 50 years and is grateful to pass on His promises that last forever. Philippians 4:4
Kathy is blessed to be the mother of two beautiful daughters and grandmother to Charlotte and Caroline. Kathy has been walking with the Lord for over 50 years and is grateful to pass on His promises that last forever. Philippians 4:4
Anne Marie Behlau
Art Teacher
Ms. Anne Marie will bring art class to the young artists at St. John's. She has been involved in early childhood education for many years as an art teacher, substitute teacher , and teacher assistant. We will explore how artists use line, shape, color, texture and patterns.
"Every child is an artist. " Picasso
"For we are God's masterpiece."
Ephesians 2:10
"Every child is an artist. " Picasso
"For we are God's masterpiece."
Ephesians 2:10
Liz Dronne
3 Year old Teacher
Liz is so excited to be teaching this year at St. John’s. She is a mom to two boys Calvin and Jack. Liz began as a classroom assistant when her oldest was attending. Liz has a passion for gardening and started a gardening unit at St. John’s last year
Niki Beerman
3 and 4 Year old Teacher
Niki has been with St. John’s for 4 years now. St. John’s Church and school has given so much to her family, including growing their faith! Her younger son attended school here and her and her family loved it so much, she joined the staff as a Teachers Assistant. She has worked with young children since high school, and before coming to St. John’s, she worked at other centers, and ran a program out of her home for a few years. Her favorite thing about working with children is watching them learn and grow from the beginning to the end of the school year. When she's not working she loves spending time with family, especially her two boys!