Faculty and Staff - Elementary - St. Isaac Jogues School

Faculty & Staff - Elementary

Ms. Laura payne | first grade teacher

Ms. Payne joined the St. Isaac's faculty this year as a first year teacher. She is so excited to start her journey as an educator in a Catholic school. She attended Catholic schools starting in kindergarten through her undergraduate degree. Ms. Payne studied Early Childhood Education with an endorsement in fourth and fifth grade general studies at the University of Dayton. Ms. Payne cannot wait to share her faith and enthusiasm for Catholic education with her first graders.

Ms. Katie del mastro | first Grade Teacher

Ms. DelMastro holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Early Childhood, Special Education, and Reading from Loras College. After graduating, she received her Master's degree in Early Childhood Education with a focus on Teaching and Diversity. Ms. DelMastro has been teaching first grade in the Joliet Diocese for six years. She is eager to be a part of the St. Isaac's community and looks forwar to watching her students learn and grow, academically, socially, and spiritually.

Mrs. olivia louwagie | Kindergarten Teacher

This is Mrs. Louwagie's fifth year teaching at Saint Issac’s and she feels so blessed to be a part of the SIJ community. Mrs. Louwagie graduated from Marquette University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and Communication Studies. Prior to attending Marquette University, she attended a Catholic grade school and high school in the Chicagoland area. It was through her own Catholic education that Mrs. Louwagie’s passion to teach in a Catholic school was fostered. Mrs. Louwagie is excited to have the opportunity to watch her students learn and grow this year!

Mrs. Meg Nelson/Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Nelson joins St. Isaac Jogues School in Kindergarten this year. Mrs. Nelson is a former parishioner at St. Isaac’s church where she made her First Holy Communion, First Reconciliation and Confirmation. She is beyond thrilled to be part of such a wonderful school. Mrs. Nelson graduated from St. Mary’s College in South Bend, IN and received her Master’s Degree and a Reading Endorsement from National-Louis University. She taught in Second Grade at The Latin School of Chicago and Kindergarten at The Catherine Cook School in Chicago for a combined 10 years. Mrs. Nelson lives in Western Springs with her husband and three children who attend St. John of the Cross Parish School. She is looking forward to a wonderful year!

Mrs. Anne Lapinski | kindergarten Instructional Assistant

Mrs. Lapinski has worked as an Instructional Assistant at St. Isaac’s for 16 years. She has a BA in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Prior to staying home to raise her three sons, she taught students in first, second and fourth grades. She and her husband have been parishioners of St. Isaac’s for 35 years, and their three sons are all graduates of St. Isaac’s. Mrs. Lapinski feels blessed to work in a Catholic school with wonderful faculty and staff and enthusiastic students!

Mrs. Kelly Rogers | Kindergarten instructional assistant

Mrs. Rogers has been teaching at St. Isaac’s for more than fifteen years. Her passion is music and she loves incorporating musical activities in the kindergarten curriculum. When Mrs. Rogers is not teaching, she spends time at home making music with her daughter and husband. She also loves to watch movies with her three cats!

Mrs. lisa miller | Fourth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Miller LOVES teaching and interacting with her students. Challenging her students to be the best that they can be as a whole person is something she is very passionate about. She graduated from Loras College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and received an ESL Endorsement from St. Francis University. Before staying home to raise her children, she worked with junior high students in Downers Grove and with 5th graders in Itasca. She taught Faith Formation for 3 years at St. Petronille and mentored 8th grade students throughout their Confirmation journey. Mrs. Miller worked with special education students for 5 years in School District 41 in Glen Ellyn. She also taught 3rd through 5th grade for 3 years at Our Lady of Peace and taught 4th grade for one year at St. Scholastica. One of her favorite subjects to teach is science. Mrs. Miller and her husband have 2 children. Michael is a junior and daughter, Skylar, is a sophomore. As a family, they love to go camping, playing board games and Friday pizza and movie night. She feels so blessed to be a part of St. Isaac's and looks forward to meeting all the wonderful SIJ families.

Mrs. Bridget gallagher | Third Grade teacher

Mrs. Gallagher is very excited to be a part of the St. Isaac Jogues community this year. After graduating from St. Mary's of Notre Dame, her teaching career began in a Catholic school in Carmel, California, then to Germany to teach children of American servicemen. After staying home to raise five children, being the Director of Religious Education at her parish in Wheaton, and substitute teaching in public schools, she decided to go back to her happy beginnings of teaching in a place where faith and learning come together to educate wonderful children.

Mrs. mary beth hicks | Third Grade Teacher

Mrs. Hicks has taught students in 2nd through 8th grades. This is her 5th year in a row teaching third grade. Mrs. Hicks received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications & Advertising and completed her Masters of Business Administration degree at Bradley University. Mrs. Hick's realized God was calling her to be a teacher. She then went back to school and earned her second Master's degree with a Teaching Certification Type 3 Certificate with middle school endorsements from Aurora University. Mrs. Hicks and her husband have three boys. They support each other wholeheartedly, as they work, play, and pray together. Mrs. Hicks has made her third grade class official honorary members of her family!

Mrs. Sarah Cruitt | Second Grade teacher

This is Mrs. Cruitt's sixth year of teaching 2nd grade at St. Isaac Jogues. Before coming to St. Isaac's, Mrs. Cruitt taught 4th grade for two years in the Archdiocese of Chicago. She graduated from Illinois State University, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Math, Science, Social Studies, and Language Arts. Mrs. Cruitt welcomed her first son, Grayson, in March of 2020. She enjoys decorating, shopping, and spending time with her family.

Mrs. Kathy Svoboda| First grade teacher

Mrs. Svoboda recently taught second grade at St. Raphael Catholic School in Naperville. She also taught second grade at Ridge Elementary School in Oak Forest. Mrs. Svoboda graduated from Illinois Wesleyan with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has also taken graduate classes at Lewis University and Benedictine University.

Mrs. Svoboda and her husband, Pat, have two daughters and live in Naperville. She is very excited to be at St. Isaac's!

Ms. Bridget McElroy | second grade teacher

Ms. McElroy is very excited to begin her sixth year at Saint Isaac Jogues. For three years, she taught first grade at St. Isaac's. This will be her third year teaching second grade. Before coming to St. Isaac's, Ms. McElroy taught first grade at St. Helen School in Chicago. She obtained a wealth of experience while teaching at St. Helen’s and is excited to share those experiences into her classroom at St. Isaac’s. She enjoys educating her students on an academic, personal, and spiritual level. Ms. McElroy attended St. Walter Elementary School, St. Viator High School and Marquette University. As a graduate of these schools she learned the importance of emphasizing a student’s religious and academic development. She enjoys providing this instruction for all students and will work to continue to provide these opportunities that only a Catholic school can offer. As a teacher, she loves being a part of an environment that will help shape students to become strong role models of the Catholic faith in their everyday lives. Ms. McElroy is committed to instilling in her students her Catholic values and will strive to build a strong Catholic foundation based on these values.

Ms. cathleen meade/Fourth Grade Teacher

This is Ms. Meade’s first year teaching fourth grade as well as her first year teaching at St. Isaac's. She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in South Bend, IN where she studied elementary education with a minor in special education. Ms. Meade grew up in Hinsdale and was a student at St. Isaac Jogues for grades K-5. She is really excited to be back and work alongside everyone this year!

Mrs. Vida Mueller/Fourth Grade Teacher

Mrs. Mueller has been teaching in inner-city schools in the Mexican and Mexican-American communities like Pilsen and Little Village for more than nine years. After her three children attended St. Ignatius College Prep, she found herself moved by the SICP motto Men and Women for Others. She attended Northwestern University and earned her undergraduate degree in communications. She attended Dominican University and earned a master’s degree in Education and certification to teach. She also has bilingual and language arts endorsements. She and her husband are empty nesters waiting for more marriages and grandchildren to add to the one marriage and two grandchildren they already have. For them, family and friends are everything. She is delighted to be part of the St. Isaac’s community.

Faculty & Staff - ​Elementary