Faculty

Mrs. Julie Bramos PK & 7th Language Arts		Mrs. Bramos came to ILS in 2004 as the Pre-K teacher. The previous year was spent substituting in the Hillside school district and at ILS. She graduated from Elmhurst College with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in History. She helps run the cooking club at school. She is also the teacher representative for the PTL. Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 -- is her favorite Bible verse.
Mrs. Lana Hahn Principal & 5th Grade Math		Mrs. Hahn became principal at ILS in 2004 after teaching 5th grade in Naperville for 13 years. She graduated from North Central College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has a M.A. in curriculum and instruction and has completed studies for school administration. Mrs. Hahn is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in educational leadership at Concordia University. Mrs. Hahn's favorite Bible verse is "I can do everything through him who gives me strength," Phillipians 4:13.
Mrs. Lucretia Hardy 1st & 2nd Grade		Mrs. Hardy came to ILS after teaching Kindergarten for two years and has been teaching First and Second Grades since 2003. She graduated from Concorcdia University, River Forest with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Mrs. Hardy's favorite Bible verse is "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlenss and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22.
Mrs. Dominga Heimsath Teaching Assistant PK		Mrs. Heimsath has been an teacher's aide at Immanuel since 2003. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Mrs. Heimsath worked for United Airlines. Mrs. Heimsath's favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 22:6, "Train the child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Mr. Donn Hempel 3rd & 4th Grade & Music Director		Mr. Hempel has been teacher/music director at Immanuel since 1988. Before that he served at Good Shepherd, Elgin, IL for twelve years. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL with a B.A. in elementary education. One of Mr. Hempel’s favorite Bible verses is “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Mr. John Kramer 5th & 6th Grade		Mr. Kramer became the 5/6 grade teacher at Immanuel in 2009 after teaching Special Education students in Chicago and the Western suburbs for 7 years. He has taught students from preschool through 9th grade during his career. He graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Geography. He has also taken some graduate level courses in the area of Special Education at Chicago State University. In the near future, Mr. Kramer plans to work on a Graduate degree in School Administration. He is very proud of being chosen as a 1996 Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois. Mr. Kramer's favorite Bible verse is "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31
Mrs. Rachel Kramer Kindergarten		Rachel Kramer will be going into her fourth year of teaching Kindergarten at Immanuel. Mrs. Kramer is also the junior high art teacher and the spirit squad coach. Along with those two programs she leads an after school cooking club with Julie Bramos. She graduated from Concordia University with two degrees. The first degree is in Elementary Education and the second degree is in Studio Art. She was recently married on September 13^th 2008 to Daniel Kramer. Currently, she is working towards a master’s degree as a reading specialist.
Mrs. Mary Lou Kroll 3rd/4th Math		Mary Lou Kroll and her husband John are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Hinsdale. She lives in Clarendon Hills and has three children that all went to Zion School (where she taught) and Hinsdale Central High School. She graduated from the University of Concordia Chicago with her teacher colloquy and has received her Masters in Education and Leadership degree in 2004. She has 19 years of teaching experience. In her spare time you will find her either gardening, riding her bike, jogging or watching her grandchildren!
Mr. John Kyanka Athletic Director & Teaching Assistant		Mr. Kyanka became a teaching assistant at ILS in 2001. He graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.S. in Accounting. In 2003, he became the Athletic Director for Immanuel and has been coaching at the school since 1998. Mr. Kyanka's favorite Bible verse is "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17
Mrs. Carol Northcutt Church & School Admiinistrative Assistant		Mrs. Carol Northcutt has worked as the school’s Administrative Assistant since January, 1987. Previously, beginning in 1982, she volunteered at the school running fundraisers, hot lunch programs, and served as officers on the PTL Board. In June of 2008, she took on the additional duties of church secretary. She also works part time at the Northern Illinois District office which is located directly next door to Immanuel Church. Her favorite Bible verse is: “ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16
Mrs. Gay Svec 1st/2nd Math 5th Language Arts		Mrs. Svec's education started at Concordia Ann Arbor. After completing two years, she attended a bible school for a year in England. She received her education degree from Concordia University River Forest. Following graduation, she married Dave. Mrs. Svec taught at Immanuel in grades 1-2 until her three boys were born. She home schooled for seven years. She substitute taught and came back to full time teaching in the spring of 2008 and is currently teaching grades 1-2 math and the Language Arts program for grade 5. She is also the facilitator of the math club at Immanuel for the younger grades. One of her favorite parts of scripture is the book of Ruth.
Mr. David Swasko Janitor		Mr. Swasko started working at Immanuel Lutheran School in 2006. He maintains the church and school buildings. He also helps maintain the computers at school. You may even see him working the sound board during church services. His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Ms. Margaret Ulrich 7th & 8th Grade		Miss Ulrich has been teaching at Immanuel for seven years. She graduated from Northern Illinois University while majoring in Elementary Education. She is currently getting her M.A. at Concordia University in River Forest in School Counseling. Her favorite bible verse is "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10
Pastor Ted Vratny 7th & 8th Grade Religion Topics		Prior to becoming a Pastor, Rev Vratny spent 25+ years in Government and private industry managing organizations associated with the Public Safety function especially in areas of computers and communications technology. Education: Bachelor of Science – Political Science – Regis University, Denver Colorado, Graduated Summa Cum Laude; Master of Arts – Theology: Major New Testament Exegesis, Minor, Homiletics and Worship, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” This verse is central to each and every one of us, for it is the Word of God that changes lives. This is also central to our Lutheran Theology which claims the Bible to be the rule and norm of our faith.

Mrs. Julie Bramos PK & 7th Language Arts		Mrs. Bramos came to ILS in 2004 as the Pre-K teacher. The previous year was spent substituting in the Hillside school district and at ILS. She graduated from Elmhurst College with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in History. She helps run the cooking club at school. She is also the teacher representative for the PTL. Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 -- is her favorite Bible verse.
Mrs. Lana Hahn Principal & 5th Grade Math		Mrs. Hahn became principal at ILS in 2004 after teaching 5th grade in Naperville for 13 years. She graduated from North Central College with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has a M.A. in curriculum and instruction and has completed studies for school administration. Mrs. Hahn is currently enrolled in a doctoral program in educational leadership at Concordia University. Mrs. Hahn's favorite Bible verse is "I can do everything through him who gives me strength," Phillipians 4:13.
Mrs. Lucretia Hardy 1st & 2nd Grade		Mrs. Hardy came to ILS after teaching Kindergarten for two years and has been teaching First and Second Grades since 2003. She graduated from Concorcdia University, River Forest with a B.A. in Elementary Education. Mrs. Hardy's favorite Bible verse is "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentlenss and self-control. Against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22.
Mrs. Dominga Heimsath Teaching Assistant PK		Mrs. Heimsath has been an teacher's aide at Immanuel since 2003. Prior to coming to Immanuel, Mrs. Heimsath worked for United Airlines. Mrs. Heimsath's favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 22:6, "Train the child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Mr. Donn Hempel 3rd & 4th Grade & Music Director		Mr. Hempel has been teacher/music director at Immanuel since 1988. Before that he served at Good Shepherd, Elgin, IL for twelve years. He graduated from Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL with a B.A. in elementary education. One of Mr. Hempel’s favorite Bible verses is “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Mr. John Kramer 5th & 6th Grade		Mr. Kramer became the 5/6 grade teacher at Immanuel in 2009 after teaching Special Education students in Chicago and the Western suburbs for 7 years. He has taught students from preschool through 9th grade during his career. He graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a minor in Geography. He has also taken some graduate level courses in the area of Special Education at Chicago State University. In the near future, Mr. Kramer plans to work on a Graduate degree in School Administration. He is very proud of being chosen as a 1996 Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois. Mr. Kramer's favorite Bible verse is "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Luke 6:31
Mrs. Rachel Kramer Kindergarten		Rachel Kramer will be going into her fourth year of teaching Kindergarten at Immanuel. Mrs. Kramer is also the junior high art teacher and the spirit squad coach. Along with those two programs she leads an after school cooking club with Julie Bramos. She graduated from Concordia University with two degrees. The first degree is in Elementary Education and the second degree is in Studio Art. She was recently married on September 13^th 2008 to Daniel Kramer. Currently, she is working towards a master’s degree as a reading specialist.
Mrs. Mary Lou Kroll 3rd/4th Math		Mary Lou Kroll and her husband John are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Hinsdale. She lives in Clarendon Hills and has three children that all went to Zion School (where she taught) and Hinsdale Central High School. She graduated from the University of Concordia Chicago with her teacher colloquy and has received her Masters in Education and Leadership degree in 2004. She has 19 years of teaching experience. In her spare time you will find her either gardening, riding her bike, jogging or watching her grandchildren!
Mr. John Kyanka Athletic Director & Teaching Assistant		Mr. Kyanka became a teaching assistant at ILS in 2001. He graduated from Elmhurst College with a B.S. in Accounting. In 2003, he became the Athletic Director for Immanuel and has been coaching at the school since 1998. Mr. Kyanka's favorite Bible verse is "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" James 1:17
Mrs. Carol Northcutt Church & School Admiinistrative Assistant		Mrs. Carol Northcutt has worked as the school’s Administrative Assistant since January, 1987. Previously, beginning in 1982, she volunteered at the school running fundraisers, hot lunch programs, and served as officers on the PTL Board. In June of 2008, she took on the additional duties of church secretary. She also works part time at the Northern Illinois District office which is located directly next door to Immanuel Church. Her favorite Bible verse is: “ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” Mark 16:16
Mrs. Gay Svec 1st/2nd Math 5th Language Arts		Mrs. Svec's education started at Concordia Ann Arbor. After completing two years, she attended a bible school for a year in England. She received her education degree from Concordia University River Forest. Following graduation, she married Dave. Mrs. Svec taught at Immanuel in grades 1-2 until her three boys were born. She home schooled for seven years. She substitute taught and came back to full time teaching in the spring of 2008 and is currently teaching grades 1-2 math and the Language Arts program for grade 5. She is also the facilitator of the math club at Immanuel for the younger grades. One of her favorite parts of scripture is the book of Ruth.
Mr. David Swasko Janitor		Mr. Swasko started working at Immanuel Lutheran School in 2006. He maintains the church and school buildings. He also helps maintain the computers at school. You may even see him working the sound board during church services. His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."
Ms. Margaret Ulrich 7th & 8th Grade		Miss Ulrich has been teaching at Immanuel for seven years. She graduated from Northern Illinois University while majoring in Elementary Education. She is currently getting her M.A. at Concordia University in River Forest in School Counseling. Her favorite bible verse is "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10
Pastor Ted Vratny 7th & 8th Grade Religion Topics		Prior to becoming a Pastor, Rev Vratny spent 25+ years in Government and private industry managing organizations associated with the Public Safety function especially in areas of computers and communications technology. Education: Bachelor of Science – Political Science – Regis University, Denver Colorado, Graduated Summa Cum Laude; Master of Arts – Theology: Major New Testament Exegesis, Minor, Homiletics and Worship, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Favorite Bible Verse: Romans 1:16 “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” This verse is central to each and every one of us, for it is the Word of God that changes lives. This is also central to our Lutheran Theology which claims the Bible to be the rule and norm of our faith.