The staff at St. John Berchmans School is dedicated to serving the needs of the students and their families and would be happy to assist you in any way we can! You may contact staff members directly by email or by contacting the school office at 773-486-1334.

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School Administration

Fr. Ed Howe
Pastor of Blessed Carlo Acutis Parish
Email: [email protected]
Mrs. Peggy Roketenetz
Principal
Email: [email protected]
  • BA English Education; MA Writing; MEd Educational Leadership
  • Miami University, OH and DePaul University
  • Employed since 2007
Mrs. Julie Castelli
Director of Admissions and Enrichment
Email: [email protected]​
  • BS Mechanical Engineering
  • Marquette University
  • Employed since 2022
Mr. Louis Russo
Director Of Operations
Email: [email protected]
  • BA
  • Loyola University
  • Employed since 2019
Mrs. Claire Kenny
Director of Events
Email: [email protected]
  • BA / Juris Doctor
  • Marquette University, DePaul University College of Law
  • Employed since 2019
Mrs. Judy Ciukowski
Administrative Assistant
Email: [email protected]
  • Mundelein College & Universidad de Zaragoza
  • Employed since 1999
Mrs. Sydney Davis
Director of Inclusive Education
Email: [email protected]
  • Masters of Teaching
  • The University of the Cumberlands
  • Employed since 2023
Mrs. Andrea Nolan
Social Media Coordinator
Email: [email protected]
  • Employed since 2023
  • Fifteen Marketing
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Early Childhood PreK Faculty

Mrs. Abby Hill
Preschool - Ocean Buddies
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Elementary Education
  • University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa, AL
  • Employed since 2022
Ms. Kate Cowles
Preschool - Brilliant Butterflies
Email: [email protected]​
  • BA Early Childhood Education
  • Kent State University
  • Employed since 2024
Ms. Jenny Peters
Preschool - Ocean Buddies
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Elementary Education
  • Loyola University
  • Employed since 2010
Juliet Calderon
Preschool - Wise Owls
 [email protected]
  • Northern Illinois University
  •  Early Childhood Education (birth-2nd) and Early Childhood Special Education (birth-2nd) and English as a Second Language (Pre-Kindergarten – 12th)
  • Employed since 2023
Mrs. Cristina Gomez
Preschool - Wise Owls
Email: [email protected]
  • MSEd Childhood Education, MFA Acting, Alternative Early Childhood Certification (UIC), ESL endorsed (Concordia)
  • SUNY Purchase, CUNY Hunter, UIC
  • Employed since 2013
Ms. Crystal Sanchez
Preschool - Brilliant Butterflies
​Email: [email protected]
  • BS Early Childhood Ed, Minor Theater Performance
  • Dominican University
  • Employed since 2022
Ms. Becca Welch
Preschool - Zoo Crew
Email: [email protected]
  • BA in English, Masters in Early Childhood Education
  • Wesleyan University, DePaul University
  • Employed since 2022
Mrs. Mary Jean Zaino
Preschool - Zoo Crew
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Elementary Education, Minor Early Childhoood
  • St. Norbert College
  • Employed since 2011
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Primary School K-3 Faculty

Ms. Hannah Faucher
Kindergarten Teacher
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Early Childhood Education
  • Miami University
  • Employed since 2018
Ms. Allison Kotas
Kindergarten Teacher
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Early Childhood Education with an ESL Endorsement
  • DePaul University
  • Employed since 2017
Mrs. Julie Kurzynski
K-3 Religion Teacher
Email: [email protected]
Ms. Mary Kail
1st Grade Teacher
Email: [email protected]
  • BSW, MEd Early Childhood
  • Western Michigan University, DePaul University
  • Employed since 2020
Ms. Grace Gaspar
1st Grade Teacher
Email: [email protected]​​
  • BA Early Childhood Education
  • University of Dayton 
  • Employed since 2024
Ms. Maggie Armstrong
2nd Grade Teacher
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Early Childhood Education
  • Miami University of Ohio
  • ​Employed since 2024
Ms. Claire Conlon
2nd Grade Teacher
Email: [email protected]​​​
  • BA Elementary Education with an endorsement in Reading
  • University of Iowa
  • Employed since 2024
Ms. Jen Wilson
3rd Grade Teacher
Email: [email protected]​
  • Employed since 2024
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Middle School 4-5 Faculty

Mrs. Kerri Druckmiller
Grade 4 Homeroom / Middle School Language Arts
Email:  [email protected]
  • BA in Elementary Education, University of Illinois-Champaign
  • MA Reading Specialist, Concordia-River Forest, IL
  • ​Employed since 2022
Mr. Larry Schwider
Grade 5 Homeroom / Middle School Math and Religion
Email: [email protected]
  • BA Social Science
  • Northeastern IL University
  • Employed since 1995
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Junior High 6-8 Faculty

Ms. Loren Badzinski
Junior High ELA
Email: [email protected]​
  • ​Employed since 2024
Mrs. Ella Wood
Junior High Mathematics
Email:  [email protected]
  • BA Pre-Med and Anthropology
  • University of Notre Dame
  • Masters in Education from Dominican University
  • Employed since 2020
Mr. John Malecki
Junior High Science and Social Studies
Email: [email protected]
  • Bachelor's Degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC)
  • Employed since 2023
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Support Services Staff

Ms. Katie Basil
Curriculum and Classroom Support
​Email: [email protected]
  • BS Early Childhood Education
  • Illinois State University
  • Employed since 2020
Mrs. Ellyn Jones
MTSS Specialist
​Email: [email protected]
  • BA in Elementary Education from University of Colorado in Boulder
  • Masters as a Reading Specialist from Northeastern Illinois University
  • Endorsements to teach English as a Second Language and Special Education
  • Employed since 2024
Mrs. Magda Cardona
Attendance Clerk, 3rd Grade Aide and After Care
Email: [email protected]
Mr. Cristian Cardona
​After Care Staff
Ms. Aida Farias
Playground Aide
Ms. Virginia Perez
After Care Staff
Email: [email protected]
Isis Caraballo
Lunch Coordinator 
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Specials Faculty

Mrs. Evelyn Kim
Physical Education
Email:  [email protected]
  • BS Physical Education
  • Illinois State University
  • Employed since 2004
Mrs. Monica Parker
Technology / Spanish / Director of Athletics
Email:  [email protected]
  • BA Spanish
  • University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Employed since 2008
Ms. Taylor Varnado
Art
Email: [email protected]
  • BFA Graphic Design
  • MA Teaching + Learning in Art +Design
  • Employed since 2022
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Maintenance Staff

Mr. Andy Paredes
Maintenance
Email:  [email protected]
  • Employed since 2022
Mr. Robert Emerson
Janitor
Email:  [email protected]
  • Employed since 2018
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