Debbie Berg
I am looking forward to beginning this new year with your child.  I live in Hinsdale and have three children.  Our son Ryan will be entering 5th grade and starting Jr. High, Kyle is entering 3rd grade and our daughter Ashley is 4 and will be attending Zion’s Preschool.  My husband works for Gexpro and is a Finance Manager.
I hold a B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a minor in psychology.  I have been in teaching for 17 years.  I taught for 11 years at Zion before getting married and starting a family.  While at Zion, I taught 4 year olds and Kindergarten.  I also have taught 3 year olds in various Lutheran schools.

Karen DeMaio
My name is Karen DeMaio a former teacher at Zion in the 3 year-old classroom and am happy to be back! I have 3 grown daughters and 2 sons-in-law. We have the pleasure of adding more children to our family as now I have 2 grandchildren. I am loving every minute spending time with them. I hold a degree in Elementary Education with an area of concentration in Early Childhood Education. I am looking forward to being a part of His children's life here at Zion Lutheran.

Mary Ellen Dopp
I am looking forward to spending the new school year with you and your child.  I reside in Elmhurst with my husband and our two daughters.  I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from the University Of Illinois at Chicago.  My first year after graduating, I was an aide in a First Grade class.  I then got a job teaching First Grade in the public school system and I taught there for 7 1/2 years before staying home with my two daughters.
My first year back in the field of education I had the pleasure of being Miss Pahnke's aide with the three year old class.  I am excited to be part of the Zion Early Childhood staff as the K+ Enrichment teacher

Beth Giammarino
I have been teaching at Zion since 2003. My work experiences include teaching first and second grade as well as Kindergarten and Preschool. I graduated from Concordia University with a specialty in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. My husband and I have three daughters and we enjoy spending time together. I love working with children and feel very fortunate to have a job that keeps me smiling all day!

Rebecca Kowalski
My name is Becca Kowalski. I come from a large extended family and I’m the second born child of four. My siblings and I have been very blessed with two wonderful parents who brought us into the Lutheran Church and Faith by providing us with Christ-centered education, which helped us become Christian participants in our home, church, school, and community. Having been raised a Lutheran my entire life, I look forward to giving back to the Lutheran Church in my career teaching here at Zion. I graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 2007 with a major in Early Childhood Education. As part of my early childhood education major, I was placed in a preschool and first grade classroom at Saint Peter Lutheran School in Schaumburg for my professional semester of student teaching. After graduation I was a full time substitute teacher at the Christopher Center at Concordia University. During the summer months for the past several years, I worked as a camp counselor for my village’s park district.

Cathy Kupisch
I live in Downers Grove and have two children. Our daughter, Megan is attending graduate school and our son, Andrew is a junior at Augustana College. My husband has also made education his career and is a guidance counselor at Downers Grove North High School. I hold a degree in Elementary Education with an area of concentration in Child Care and Development from Northern Illinois University. I am a former first grade teacher in the public school setting and have been teaching preschool for many years. I enjoy spending time with my family and being a part of your child’s preschool experience.

Sherrie Smith
I come to Zion with many years of experience with children. My degree is from Concordia, River Forest and I have taught in Lutheran Elementary Schools and Preschools. My husband Bruce and I have 3 children. Our oldest daughter is a student at Concordia and we have a son and daughter in high school. I have had the privilege of doing mission work with God children in other countries, most recently Nigeria. Now I am looking forward to sharing the joy of the Lord with the families of Zion.