Our teachers and staff are committed to supporting the students in their faith and education.
Staff Members
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Joy Reitsma
- Title: Principal
- 6th-8th Grade
Joy has over 36 years to teaching and administrative experience. She joined the Salem Lutheran School team in 2022. She has a BA in education from Concordia University, Chicago, as well as an MA in education from Florida International University. Joy has taught in Illinois, Louisiana, Florida and South Carolina. Her favorite subjects to teach are math and art. She enjoys helping with sports, music and drama. Her son plays ice hockey and is a Star Boy Scout. They are excited to be part of the Salem Lutheran family.
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Jackie Steinacher
- Title: Teacher
- 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade
Jackie is a lifelong member of Salem’s church family and a 2004 graduate of Salem Lutheran School. She earned her B.S. from Western Illinois University. In her spare time, Jackie enjoys spending time with her family, including her children Amelia and Henry, both of whom are students at Salem. She also enjoys travelling, trivia nights, concerts and all kinds of outdoor recreation.
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Deborah Steinacher
- Title: Teacher
- 1st and 2nd Grade
Deborah has been blessed to be a member of Salem Lutheran Church for over 50 years and a teacher at Salem Lutheran School for nearly 30 years. She is a graduate of Illinois College and earned her colloquy from Concordia College-River Forest. In her free time, Deborah enjoys working in her flower garden, camping, day trips and spending time with family. “My teaching career at Salem has been a blessing to me and family,” said Deborah. “We were truly blessed to be able to send our children to Salem Lutheran School from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.”
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Audrey Sprinkel
- Title: Teacher
- Kindergarten
Audrey earned her B.S in Elementary Education from Eureka College in 2022. She has worked with children 0-12 throughout college, and is excited to join the Salem Lutheran team! Audrey and her husband, Justin, live in Springfield. In her free time Audrey enjoys working on her photography, working in ministry with junior high students and watching movies with her husband and dogs.
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Mindy Lysaythong
- Title: Teacher
- Pre-K
- Age 4
Mindy has worked in the early care and education field for the past 20 years. She has worked with children, 0-5, in the private, non-profit and faith based communities. She has an Associates of Arts degree in early childhood education from Merced College. Mindy’s hobbies are gardening, crafting and cooking. Mindy, her husband and four children recently moved to Virginia, IL. She is proud and excited to join the Salem Lutheran School family!
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Blayre Petri
- Title: Teacher
- Pre-K
- Age 3
Blayre earned her BA in education from Monmouth College. She has taught both children and teens during her 12 years of teaching, but her heart is with the younger children. Blayre and her husband, Ben, reside in White Hall. They are the parents of two boys, Harrison and Jameson, both who are students at Salem. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers, and being involved with her sons’ extracurricular activities.
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Michelle Hathaway
- Title: Teacher
- Pre-K
- Age 2
Michelle has a bachelor’s degree in early vhildhood education, specializing in infant and toddler care. She has been teaching for almost 16 years. When not in the classroom she enjoys being the mother of her two amazing kids, Carlee and Braxton. She loves the color blue, watching movies and spending time with her family.
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Haley Sharrow
- Title: Teacher
- Pre-K
- Age 2
Haley has always wanted to work with children and made her dream come true when she received her Infant/Toddler Child Development Associate in 2021 and her Preschool Child Development Associate in 2022. She loves her job and seeing the smiles on all of her students’ faces when they learn new things. She wants every student to feel loved and welcomed in her classroom. When not in the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her 5-year-old son, Theo.
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