Elementary Faculty

DMin Organizational Leadership and Preaching - Asbury Seminary (2019) MDiv Wesley Seminary - Indiana Wesleyan University (2011) BTh Logos Christian University (2011)

Dr. Rodrigo Azofeifa joined Aurora Christian Schools in 2019. He currently teaches Pre-K/5th grade Spanish. Before he joined ACS, Dr. Azofeifa has taught Spanish every grade level from K-12 at Cornerstone Christian Academy (CCA) in Sycamore, IL, since 2003. Mr. Azofeifa is an Adjunct Faculty member at Indiana Wesleyan University- Global Academic Program and for Wesley Seminar. Rev. Azofeifa and his wife, Ricci, live in Malta, IL, and serve as lead Pastor at Real Connection Church in DeKalb, IL. They are blessed with their two sons, Jeremy and Josue.

B.S. Ed. Elementary Education - Illinois State University (1972)  

Mrs. Linda Behrens joined the ACS staff in 1999. She is currently team teaching 4th / 5th grades, but has taught every grade level from K-5 during her 48+ years of teaching. For a portion of her time at ACS, Mrs. Behrens was also the Reading Coordinator as the school launched a new Reading curriculum. Prior to joining ACS, she taught at two different Christian schools in CA starting in 1984, which began her career in Christian Education. Her first 10 years of teaching were in the public school systems of Yorkville and Joliet. Mrs. Behrens and her husband, Jim, live in Aurora where he is currently pastor of MorningStar Community Church. Jim and Linda are grateful for and proud of their two daughters, Kari and Kati, who are ACS Alumni, their two wonderful sons-in-law, and their 2 grandchildren - an adorable grandson, Micah, and a beautiful granddaughter.

Mrs. Fessler grew up in Aurora and is an ACS alumni. She attended Indiana Wesleyan University, where she graduated with her elementary education degree. Mrs. Fessler taught preschool for four years before taking time off to be home with her children. Mrs. Fessler and her husband, Zac, have four children and live in Aurora. Mrs. Fessler started teaching Kindergarten at ACS in 2020. 

B.S. Elementary Education - Illinois State University (1998)

Mrs. Monica Gum grew up in Elburn, Illinois.  She got her degree in Elementary Education in December, 1998, and immediately started teaching 5th grade in January, 1999, at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Sycamore, IL.  She continued her education and went on to teach junior high special education for a couple of years in the public schools. Once she started her family, she took time off from teaching to raise her three children, who currently attend ACS.  She has worked from home over 11 years, running a successful Longarm Quilting business.  Mrs. Gum lives in Dekalb with her husband and three children: Wyatt, Andrew, and Heidi.  The family attends  Dekalb Four Square Church.

B.A. Music Education - Augustana College (1997)
M.M. Music Education - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2003)

Mrs. Anne Hauser has been a member of the Aurora Christian School faculty since 2005.  Mrs. Hauser was born and raised in Menomonee Falls, WI.  She graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL with a degree in music education.  She taught 7-12 band in the Edgewood-Colesburg, IA school district for one year before heading home to teach.  Mrs. Hauser taught seven years for the Lutheran High School Association of Greater Milwaukee in the elementary band program.  While teaching there, she completed her Master of Music in Music Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  Mrs. Hauser is currently the 4-12 Instrumental Music Director at Aurora Christian.  While at Aurora Christian, she has coordinated the High School Band for the IL/WI ACSI Music Festival. She lives in Aurora with her husband, Jonathan, and daughters, Rachel and Rebekah.  She attends Immanuel Lutheran in Batavia.

B.A. in Elementary Education, Minor in English, Aurora University M.A. in Educational Leadership, Aurora University Type 75 General Administrative Certificate ELL/Bilingual Endorsement

Mrs. Mayra Johnson is the Preschool and Elementary School Principal at ACS. Mrs. Johnson started her teaching career in East Aurora School District as a 1st grade bilingual teacher. Since then she has continued her role as a teacher, Reading Specialist, Assistant Principal and Principal.  Mrs. Johnson has had the opportunity to study at Judson College, Aurora University, and National Louis University where she has acquired her BA, MA and ESL endorsement.  She has also had the opportunity to work in East Aurora School District, Wheaton Warrenville School District and Yorkville Community Unit School District.  Within these school districts, Mrs. Johnson has had an opportunity to also work with a variety of populations such as EL (English Learner) students, students in the Stars (Skills Training and Related Services) programs, students with IEPs and gifted students.  After numerous years in public education, Mrs. Johnson was looking for something different for herself and her daughters.  Mrs. Johnson was praying for God's guidance to what was next in her life and she and her family landed at ACS.  She is excited to see what God has in store for all. She and her family (Adam/husband, Madalynn and Hannah/daughters) live in Oswego and attend Harvest New Beginnings in Oswego, IL where they are active members and serve on the worship team.  In her spare time, Mrs. Johnson likes to spend time with family, exercise, compete in races, travel, and if time allows, cook.

Ms. Quick was born and raised in Naperville. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education from the University of Dayton in 2018. She then taught for three years, two of those in Arizona. Ms. Quick returns to Illinois excited to see what God has in store for her here. You will always find her ecstatic to worship and discuss scripture with her classes. In addition, she loves to be outside and active. Ms. Quick also enjoys reading, studying scripture, and spending time with her friends and family.

B.A. Elementary Education - Judson University (1989)

Mrs. Kok graduated from Judson University with a BA in Elementary Education and an emphasis in art. After receiving certification, she turned her attention to art and began working at Crossway Publishers in the art and production department. Five years later, the first of her 4 boys was born and the next 12 years were spent focusing on her family and mothering her children. In 2009, she reentered the workforce, teaching preschool at Trinity Christian School for two years.  Following this, she worked at Prairie Point Elementary School in Oswego for 10 years;  4 years as a teaching aide with  deaf and hard of hearing children and 6 years as a reading and math interventionist. She has served at church in many capacities, including serving with the youth and planning summer mission trips. Mrs. Kok and her family live in Sugar Grove and attend Village Bible Church of Aurora. Mrs. Kok is grateful to be serving at Aurora Christian School, combining her love of teaching and art.

B.S. Physical Education-Bethel College (2006)
M.A. Kinesiology-Sam Houston State University (2007)

Mrs. Tiffany Lantz is a native Texan who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a master’s degree in Kinesiology. Her undergrad includes a minor in Educational Studies. Tiffany has led from a variety of positions in education including coaching and teaching. She has taught Special education, Kinesiology, Teen Leadership, and classes in an Early College High School program. She also served the past two years as a Pre-K teacher at a Christian School in Bullard, Texas. Mrs. Lantz has recently moved to Aurora from Texas where her husband Caleb is serving as the Associate Pastor at Crossroads Community Church. They have two children, Tenley and Carter, who will both attend ACS. In her free time Mrs. Lantz loves to craft, explore new places (especially coffee shops) and spend time with her 80-pound Goldendoodle, Biscuit.

B.A. Early Childhood Education ESL Endorsement - Northern Illinois University (2016)

Ms. Karianne Mora has a bachelor of arts in early childhood education with a special education emphasis and an ESL endorsement from NIU. She is also currently pursuing a master’s degree in organizational leadership from Judson University. Mrs. Mora began her teaching career with Cornerstone Christian Academy in 2016 in the preschool. Since then, she has taught in 3rd, 1st and kindergarten. Ms. Mora felt called by the Lord to work in a Christian setting, and she enjoys teaching some of the Lord’s youngest people. She lives in Sycamore with her three children and golden retriever. Ms. Mora attends Crossview EFCA church in Sycamore with her family. She has served many years on the children’s team there.   

B.S. Elementary Education, Northern Illinois University (2003)

M.S. Reading Instruction, Aurora University (2008)

Mrs. Oleson was born and raised in West Aurora. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Northern Illinois University and a Master’s degree in Reading Instruction from Aurora University. Mrs. Oleson taught 5th grade and 2nd grade in Oswego CUSD 308 for a combined 11 years. In 2014, Mrs. Oleson took a step back from teaching to be home full-time with her young children. She returned to teaching in 2020 and taught 4th grade in West Aurora SD 129 before pursuing a teaching career in Christian education at ACS. Mrs. Oleson and her family are members of Village Bible Church in Sugar Grove. She lives in Aurora with her husband, Lance, and their three children: Caleb, Gracie and Jocelyn.

Miss Lisette Orozco joined the ACS Staff in 2021 as the preschool classroom Aide. Miss Orozco serves this year as the current Kindergarten classroom aide. You may also find her running extended care time slots throughout the school year. She enjoys getting to know families and staff as she learns more and more about the wonderful ACS community. Miss Orozco grew up in the West Suburbs of Chicago and moved to Aurora about 4 years ago. She attends Impact Church, where she gave her life to Christ and has been following him firmly ever since. Since coming to Christ her life has transformed and she counts it a pleasure to be able to do ministry through her work and Church.

Miss Kelsey Palmquist has been teaching preschool and elementary music and middle school choir at ACS since the 2021-22 school year. She is a graduate of Music and Worship arts at Kuyper College and enjoys using her love of music to both teach and lead worship. She loves that at Aurora Christian, we can use every song we sing to worship God and declare His goodness. In her free time, she volunteers at a local Christian theater company, both on stage and behind the scenes. She recently moved back to the Aurora area and is excited to be a part of this community again! 

B.S. Early Childhood Education with a Reading Endorsement (2008), Wright State University
M.A. Reading Education K-12 (2012), Wright State University

Mrs. Amy Post was born and raised in southern Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education with a Reading Endorsement in 2008 from Wright State University. After graduation, Mrs. Post had several long-term placements in the public schools teaching small groups, intervention, 2nd grade, 1st grade, and aiding in pre-school. In 2012, she finished her Masters degree for Reading Education K-12 while working for a large Christian School in Louisville, Kentucky. Mrs. Post taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades before moving to Illinois with her family. After moving to Illinois, Mrs. Post took time off to raise her young children and walk alongside her husband Andrew's ministry, where he is currently serving as lead pastor at Crosspointe Church in Oswego. She has led the children's ministry at their local church for the last several years and has enjoyed being home with her kids... James, Hannah, and Josiah. They added a mini-goldendoodle to their family last fall named Jax. In her spare time, Mrs. Post loves to spend quality time with her family and friends, cook, serve others, play games, and be outside with her kids. She is looking forward to joining the team at ACS!
 

Mrs. Beate Pryor is originally from Richton Park, IL. As a teenager, her family moved to California.  Mrs. Pryor has earned a Bachelors of Science degree at Sacramento State University, California and a Master's degree in Reading from Walden University. Mrs. Pryor has been teaching since 1997 in California and Oregon. She has taught 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade. Mrs. Pryor has also been a STEM coordinator for several years, primarily coaching teachers in the area of science and math.  Mrs. Pryor has returned to IL to pursue a teaching career in Christian education at ACS. 

Mrs. Pryor lives in Sugar Grove with her husband, Rob and son, Landon. She enjoys family vacations, hiking and card making. 

B.S. Elementary Education English and Science - Bradley University (2013)

Mrs. Rogers grew up in Lake Zurich, Illinois and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (K-9) with a dual concentration in both English and Science from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. She has been teaching Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade since graduating.  Before coming to Aurora Christian in 2018, Mrs. Rogers taught for 3 years in Woodstock, Illinois teaching 1st grade and coaching Girls on the Run. Mrs. Rogers currently lives in North Aurora with her husband, Derek, a local pastor at Flowing Forth United Methodist Church. Together they have a 4-year-old dachshund named Wrigley who loves to explore and cuddle (can you guess which baseball team we root for?). In January 2020, they welcomed their son Liam into the world. In their free time, Mrs. Rogers likes to explore new places, hike, playing with Liam, and spending time as a family.

B.S. Biology - Greenville College (1988) M.A.T.C. - Aurora University (2001)      

Mrs. Karen Schien grew up in Montgomery, Illinois and attended Aurora Christian School her junior and senior year of high school.  After having children, she decided to continue her education and get her master’s degree so that she could teach.   In 2002, she began working at ACS part-time and served for three years with the NILD program, then moved into the classroom having taught 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.  Her favorite part of teaching is getting to know her students, their interests, and what gets them excited.  

She is married to Mike and has three children, Jessica, Jacob, and Joshua.  She enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her family.  Mrs. Schien attends Christ Community Church's Blackberry Creek Campus in Aurora.

B.S. Secondary Education - University of Illinois (1972)

Mrs. Priscilla Talley joined ACS in 1985 as a kindergarten teacher, and taught 28 years in that position.  Currently, she teaches third grade.  Her three children, Adam, Mark, and Amanda, all attended ACS.  She is a lifelong resident of Aurora.  She and her family are members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurora, where she has been active in Women's Ministry, Meal Missionary volunteers, and ministry to senior citizens within her congregation and community.

B.A. Music Ed. K-12 Special - Carthage College (1981) Elementary/Middle School Certification K-9 - Judson University (2014)

Mrs. Janine Tognarelli has been with Aurora Christian School since 1981.  Mrs. Tognarelli was born in the original Copley Memorial Hospital in Aurora, Illinois, and was raised in North Aurora.  After graduating from West Aurora High School in 1977, she attended Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.  After graduating from college she was hired to teach kindergarten through 12th graders at Aurora Christian, along with coaching the J.V. and Varsity Cheerleading squads. In 2011, God began working in Mrs. Tognarelli's heart,  calling her into elementary education.  She returned to school in the summer of 2012, at Judson University, to finish her K-9 certification in education. At Aurora Christian, "Mrs. T." has taught elementary, middle school, and high school age students, taught in three different buildings, and is now using her gifts in teaching and love for students to impact the lives of students in an elementary classroom. She and her husband, Michael, live in Batavia and attend Batavia Covenant Church in Batavia, Illinois.

B.S. Elementary Education - Olivet Nazarene University  

Miss Rachel Weber grew up in Aurora and graduated from Olivet Nazarene University. Prior to graduation, she student taught in second grade at Aurora Christian.  She spent 4 years in an Oswego school district before returning to Aurora Christian to teach kindergarten in 2019. Miss Weber lives in Aurora and attends Trinity Church of the Nazarene. 
 

Bachelors of Arts - Western Illinois University

Mrs. Tracey Wright is the Elementary Physical Education Teacher at both the Aurora and Cornerstone campus of ACS.  She has taught Physical Education at Cornerstone since 2001.  She has had three sons that graduated from ACS, Jason, Jawanza, and Jeremiah.  Mrs. Wright is in the process of getting her bi-vocational ministry license with the Evangelical Covenant Church.  She has helped her husband Jerry as he pastors the Rock Covenant Church in Dekalb, Illinois since 2004.  She has enjoyed leading the Women of Shekinah Women’s Ministry for 16 years.  Along with teaching Bible study and Sunday school, she has had many opportunities to speak at church and women conferences.  Mrs. Wright loves the Lord with all her heart, and shares the goodness of Jesus to anyone who will listen.