Mrs. Binkley earned her Masters Degree in Education with an Administration and
Leadership degree from the University of Nebraska in Omaha. She also has a Masters Degree in
Education with a Reading Specialist Endorsement from Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska.
As well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska in Omaha.
Mrs. Binkley began her career in 2001 and has a wide range of teaching experience in both
public and private schools. She was born and raised in western Iowa where she met her
husband, they have two sons. Mrs. Binkley was born and raised in the church family of St. John’s
Lutheran Church in Honey Creek, Iowa. In 2011, the Binkleys moved to Florida and spent nine
years there until moving to New Orleans in the fall of 2020. Mrs. Binkley has loved diving into
the culture that is New Orleans!
Tonya is the face and the voice of St. John whenever you stop by the office or call on the phone. She is a valuable link between church and school and we are pleased that she came to serve with us in the summer of 2020. If you ever have any question about St. John, Tonya will either know the answer or will find it very quickly and let you know what you need to know.
Mrs. Davis received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. She also has a Certification in Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Davis has taught for over 30 years in Kindergarten to Eighth grade in the Baton Rouge Archdiocese, Orleans Parish, Ascension Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, and Iberville Parishes. Her family says Teaching is her "Super Power."
Ms. Watson received her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education: PK-Third grade from Louisiana State University. She also has a Certification in Early Intervention: Birth-Five from Southeastern Louisiana University. Ms. Watson has taught in East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parish School Systems. She has also taught at Trinity Lutheran Preschool in Baton Rouge. Ms. Watson feels God has called her to teach at St. John Lutheran.
Ms. Steele grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education: PK-4th grade from University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In addition to teaching elementary school, Ms. Steele has taught English to elementary school students in Taiwan, a variety of subjects to troubled teens, as well as GED courses and computer skills to adults. She moved to New Orleans 8 years ago because of her love of the history and culture of the area. She has an adult daughter that lives close by. Ms. Steele loves spending time with her dog, Kovy, and volunteering with many different organizations.
Ms. Theibert graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Elementary Education. She grew up in a large family and was always "The designated teacher". She knew from a young age that she was going to be a teacher, and here she is many years later, teaching at St. John Lutheran School in a third grade classroom.
Ms. Theibert is looking forward to the new school year and meeting her new students!!!
Ms. Lauricella grew up in a large Italian family from Harahan, Louisiana. Her dad was the minister of the Harahan Christian Church. She received her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. In addition, she received a Master of Educational Leadership from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. She has taught in both the Jefferson and Orleans parish public schools, as well as private schools. Before teaching, Ms. Lauricella worked at the Jefferson Parish Coroners Office as Director of Sexual Assault Services. She initiated the "Empathy and Awareness" program, a court-ordered one-day program for at-risk youth. After Katrina, she left the coroner's office and pursued a new career focused on children's advocacy. What better way than to become a teacher? Ms. Lauricella has two grown sons and six grandchildren.
Growing up in Iowa, Ms. Bowman attended Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa attaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees; she received one degree in Elementary Education (K-6) with an endorsement in Language Arts and another degree in English with an endorsement in Secondary Education (6-12). In 1994, this was Ms. Bowman's way of specializing in middle school when there were no middle school credentials. Ms. Bowman has taught mostly middle school English/language arts in several Chicago Lutheran, parochial, and private schools. In 2009, Ms. Bowman earned her colloquy from CUEnet, and in December of 2021, Ms. Bowman earned her master's degree in Education from North Park University with endorsements in middle school social studies and Learning Behavior Specialist I (Mild to Moderate 5-21 YO). This will be Ms. Bowman's 29th year teaching and is looking forward to getting to know and serving all of St. John Lutherans' students and families. Ms. Bowman has two grown children, Rebecca and Aaron, and her favorite Bible verses are Joshua 1:9, Jeremiah 29:11, and Acts 20:24.
Mr. Lopez received his Bachelor's degree in History from the University of New Orleans. He has a Master's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in K-12 leadership, both from Grand Canyon University in Arizona. This is his 15th year in teaching. Mr. Lopez's last assignment was at St. Paul Lutheran. Mr. Lopez is currently the Athletic Director, basketball coach, football coach, and a middle school teacher at St. John Lutheran.
Mr. Henschen is beginning his eleventh year of teaching at St. John. After graduating from Concordia University, Nebraska, Mr. Henschen obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Level Education. Prior to that, he completed his student-teaching in Shanghai, China! He continues to teach math, religion, English, and serves as the technology coordinator.
Mrs. Forest graduated from The University of New Orleans with a B.A. in Elementary Education and is certified in grades First through Eighth. This will be her eighth year teaching but her first year at St. John Lutheran. Her first teaching job was at Faith Lutheran in Harahan, so she is thrilled to be back in the Lutheran School System. She and her husband reside in New Orleans and have 2 grown daughters. Mrs. Forest is looking forward to a magical year here at St. John Lutheran.
Miss Koester graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. After teaching for two years in Okarche, Oklahoma, she accepted a position at St. Paul-First English Lutheran School in New Orleans where she taught for 37 years. She has taught various grade levels ranging from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade. She is delighted to be a part of the St. John family.
Mrs. Stibrich grew up in Chester, Illinois, where she attended St. John Lutheran School and Chester High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Concordia Teachers College (now Concordia University) in Seward, Nebraska, and her Masters of Education Degree with an emphasis in Reading Education from Loyola University in New Orleans. She has taught in Lutheran Schools in Kansas, Texas, and in the New Orleans area for over forty years. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She has a Christian puppet ministry, for which she writes and directs puppet skits that are performed in some of the Lutheran churches in the New Orleans area as well as at chapels for St. John Lutheran School. She loves being part of St. John Lutheran School's Christian family, substituting in the various grades from Kindergarten through Seventh Grade, organizing "Lutheran Group Nights" for Pelicans games, and working with the Sixth and Seventh graders to present puppet skits for chapels twice a year.