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OUR FACULTY - in alphabetical order

ACS-Cornerstone's mission is executed by our faculty. With a combined over 250 years of education experience, the average Cornerstone teacher is highly-experienced and highly-dedicated with over 11 years of experience, 9 of which are at Cornerstone. 

Mrs. Bartels
Kindergarten
julie.bartels@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Elementary Education - Blackburn College (1988)
 

Mrs. Julie Bartels is the Kindergarten teacher. She has taught at Cornerstone since 1999. She and her husband have two adult children.  She enjoys gardening, knitting, and reading. She attends Trinity Lutheran Church in Genoa, Illinois. 

Mrs. Blevins
2nd, 3rd Grade
kerri.blevins@aurorachristian.org
 

Mrs. Kerri Blevins has been a teacher since 2010. She enjoys all grade levels, but her passion is for the preschool to third grade levels. She started with Aurora Christian-Cornerstone in 2020 and she absolutely adores her mixed 2nd and 3rd grade classroom. When not at work, Mrs. Blevins spends time with her husband, Lewis, and daughter, Chloe or works out at the kettlebell gym! 

Mrs.  Cantrell
Art
rhonda.cantrell@aurorachristian.org
B.A., Educational Studies- Western Governors University, (2016)

 

Mrs. Rhonda Cantrell is the art teacher for kindergarten through 8th grade. She has been teaching at the Cornerstone campus since 2000. Mrs. Cantrell is married to Brian. She has two adult children and one grandchild. She has a passion for sharing the gospel with students through serving in kids and youth ministry at her church, Christ Community Church-DeKalb Campus. Mrs. Cantrell enjoys reading, gardening, and all types of art projects.

Rev. Edwards
5, 6-8 Bible, 6-8 Technology, 6-8 PE
robert.edwards@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Youth Ministry - Moody Bible institute (1995)
M.Div. Northern Baptist Theological Seminary (2001)
  
Reverend Robert B. Edwards has two children, Ainsley a sophomore at ACS and Avery an 8th grader at Cornerstone. I have been at Cornerstone since 2006. I have taught 5-12th grade Bible, 7 and 8 History, Middle school P.E., and Technology.  I have also coached Track, Girls Volleyball and Girls Basketball. I love that I have been able to teach and raise my children in a Christ-Centered school that teaches a Biblical world view. I have the best ministry in the world where I get to share about the Bible, and the Love of Jesus Christ every day.  For fun, I enjoy watching my kids compete in Athletics. I also am a Pastor in the small town of Manlius, IL and serve a great church.
 

Mrs. Gonzalez
4-5 Math, Science, Social Studies, 4 Bible
trisha.gonzalez@aurorachristian.org
B.S. Elementary Education - Northern Illinois University (2004)
 
Mrs. Trisha Gonzalez is the fourth and fifth grade homeroom teacher.  She teaches 4th and 5th grade Math, History, and Science and 4th grade Bible. She has been at Cornerstone since 2003. Mrs. Gonzalez enjoys reading a good book and sharing stories with her students. She lives in DeKalb with her husband Javier and their daughter Esperanza, who is in Kindergarten at ACS- CS.  
 

Mrs. Guio
Preschool
jenny.guio@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Communication Studies – Taylor University (1992)
 
Mrs. Jenny Guio has taught at ACS for 19 years.  She and her husband have three adult children.  Mrs. Guio enjoys reading, gardening, and a challenging puzzle with family or friends.  She attends Kishwaukee Bible Church in Sycamore, Illinois.
 

Mrs. Hanania
6-8 History, 6-7 Language Arts
penny.hanania@aurorachristian.org
B.S. Elementary Education - Olivet Nazarene University (endorsements in Language Arts and Social Sciences) (1995)
M.A. Curriculum and Instruction - Olivet Nazarene University (2000)
ACSI Lifetime Certification
 
Mrs. Penny Hanania is the Junior High History teacher as well as the 6th and 7th Grade English teacher. Before coming to Cornerstone she taught at Medinah Christian School in Medinah, IL.  Mrs. Hanania started at Cornerstone in 2014 and has been teaching since 1994. She has a passion for reading, learning about all things historical, and finding treasures at flea markets and garage sales.  Penny lives in Batavia with her husband, David. They both attend Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles.  
 

Mrs. Hauser
4-12 Band Director
anne.hauser@aurorachristian.org
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 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 at Aurora Christian, she has coordinated the High School Band for the IL/WI ACSI Music Festival.  Outside of school, Mrs. Hauser is a member of the Fox Valley Concert Band.  She lives in Aurora with her husband, Jonathan, and daughters, Rachel and Rebekah.  She attends Immanuel Lutheran in Batavia.
 

Mrs. High
Media Specialist Pre-K-8
donna.high@aurorachristian.org
Library Technical Assistant - College of DuPage
B.A. English - Medieval Concentration – Northern Illinois University (2011) 
M.A. Certificate Children's and Young Adult Literature and Media – Northern Illinois University (2014) 
 
Mrs. Donna High has been at Cornerstone since 2012; first as assistant to the librarian, then as the librarian since 2014. Before coming to Cornerstone, she had homeschooled her seven children for 25 years. She has two grandchildren, one who attends ACS Cornerstone. She has a passion for finding the right book for every reader and the Dewey Decimal System! Charlotte's Web is her favorite children's book. She enjoys traveling and has visited nine countries on three continents outside the U.S. in the last ten years. Her favorite travels include: a month-long study abroad experience at Oxford, England, and a mission trip to Chad, Africa.
 

Mrs. Lauriat
MS English and Math
byrle.lauriat@aurora.christian.org
B.A. English - Connecticut College (1976)
M.R.E. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (1978)
 
Mrs. Byrle Lauriat teaches middle school English/Language Arts and Algebra 1 at Cornerstone. In August 1988, she began teaching at DeKalb Christian School (now Cornerstone). She has taught there for a total of 26 years in middle school and 7 years in CCA’s high school. When she is not at school, Mrs. Lauriat and her husband, Dave, live in DeKalb and attend Bethany Road Bible Church, where Dave is an elder. She serves in children’s ministry and women’s Bible study and helps lead a home group. She and her husband have three adult children and four grandchildren.
 

Miss Leonhart
Principal, 7 PreAlgebra
amanda.leonhart@aurorachristian.org
B.A, in Elementary Education- Judson University (1992)
M.A. in Curriculum & Instruction- Concordia University River Forest (2006)
M.A. in Educational Administration- Concordia University River Forest (2017)
 
Miss Amanda Leonhart is the Principal at ACS Cornerstone. Before coming to ACS-CS she has been at Aurora Christian Schools, Plumstead Christian School (PA), New Life Academy (MN), and Wheaton Christian Grammar School working in the areas of special education, Student Services, and Curriculum and Instruction. She is very involved with ACSI in the area of school accreditation. Ms. Leonhart recently moved to Sycamore and attends Christ Community in DeKalb. She is West Virginia, born and bred and enjoys movies/games with friends, exercising, M&Ms, blueberries, and Coke Zero!
 

Mrs. Mason
1st Grade
amy.mason@aurorachristian.org
B.A. in Elementary Education - Carthage College (1991)
M.S. Curriculum and Instruction - Concordia University (1997)  
 

Mrs. Amy Mason is the current 1st grade teacher at Cornerstone.  Before coming to ACS-CS she taught at Hampshire Elementary school for nine years. She has taught at ACS since 2009, starting at preschool and moving up to first grade. Mrs. Mason lives in DeKalb with her husband and two sons. Her sons started attending Cornerstone at age three and have both graduated from the school.  She attends Sycamore United Methodist Church and her hobbies are scrapbooking and camping. 

Mrs. Miller
Kindergarten Aide
pam.miller@aurorachristian.org
 
Mrs. Pam Miller previously worked at Covenant Christian School in Aurora for 22 years as the preschool teacher. She has been at Cornerstone since 2015. She was a foster parent with DCFS for 20 years and has adopted five children. She has a passion for nurturing children. She attends Village Bible Church at Indian Creek.
 

Mrs. Moncrief
Resource, 6th grade Math
kim.moncrief@aurorachristian.org
B.S. Elementary Education - University of Phoenix (2012)
 
Mrs. Kim Moncrief feels blessed to have been able to stay home with her children when they were young. During this time, she operated her own daycare and preschool from home. Other previous positions include a private preschool teacher and an online ESL/English teacher. Mrs. Moncrief lives in Cortland with her husband and her three children, A.J., Lucas, and Aubrey.
 

Ms. Morris
ES Music, MC Choir
bethany.morris@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Music Education K-12 - Trinity International University (2006)
 
Ms. Bethany Morris joined the ACS music department in 2019 directing the Middle School and High School Choirs, helping out with piano and guitar lessons as well. She comes to ACS after 4 years serving in Africa with Africa Inland Mission having taught 1-12th grade music at Rift Valley Academy for the last three years. Her career as a music teacher started in the United States and she taught pre-K through 12th-grade music for six years before serving overseas. 
 

Mrs. Paul
Middle School Science/Admissions Coordinator
dawn.paul@aurorachristian.org
B.S. Nursing - Purdue University (1994)
 
Mrs. Dawn Paul is the middle school science teacher and the Admissions Coordinator. She has been at Cornerstone since 2016. She first worked as a preschool assistant. Prior to being married and having children, she served with the ministry of CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 10 years, in Albania and Macedonia and at Purdue University and Northern Illinois University. She has a passion to see young people know the love of Christ personally in their lives. She is married to Ted and they have two children, Mackenzie (8th grade) and Matthew (2nd grade). They have a cute dog named Lexi. She enjoys reading, going for walks, drinking coffee (lattes are her favorite) and spending time with her family. She attends Kishwaukee Bible Church in Sycamore, IL. 
 

Mrs. Pfeifer
K-5 Spanish Teacher, Lunch Coordinator
gretel.pfeifer@aurorachristian.org
B.A. English and History/Political Science - LeTourneau University (1993)
 
Mrs. Gretel Pfeifer has been a Lunch Coordinator for the last five years and has expanded into teaching Elementary Spanish this year. She loves hearing her students confidently engaging her in Spanish dialogue. She especially enjoys when they speak in Spanish about how good the lunch is! 
 

Mrs. Potts
Lunch Coordinator
kristina.potts@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Operations Management - Northern Illinois University (2003)

 
Mrs. Kristina Potts is the lunch coordinator and has been at ACS-CS since 2015.  She worked at the Suncast Corporation before coming to ACS-CS. Prior to Suncast she enjoyed being at home with her two oldest children for two years. She has three children: a one year old, a 4th grader, and 5th grader – both school age children are at ACS-CS. She enjoys spending time with her family and attends church at Crossview in DeKalb, IL.  

Mrs. Soloff
2nd Grade
jacqueline.soloff@aurorachristian.org
B.S. Elementary Education – Aurora University (2010)
 
Mrs. Jacqueline Soloff worked for District 129 and has taught in two private schools before coming to Cornerstone in 2020. She admits, second grade is her new favorite grade to teach! She loves to volunteer and has a passion for organizing parties, crafting, and trying new things. She has been married since 2010 and has two children that attend Cornerstone in fourth and second grade. The Soloff family enjoys all activities outdoors and decorates their house for every holiday! They have attended Highpoint Church in North Aurora since moving to Batavia in 2016.
 

Mrs. Rose
Preschool Aide age 4
stephanie.rose@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Psychology - Northern Illinois University (2010)
 
Mrs. Stephanie Rose is the Aide in Mrs. Guio’s preschool class.  She started at ACS-CS in 2020. She worked as a Correctional Treatment Officer for the Illinois Department of Corrections prior to coming to ACS-CS.  She has a passion for helping people with special needs, disabilities, and mental illness.  She is married and has two sons.  Her oldest is serving in San Diego in the Navy and her younger son is a second grader at ACS-CS. She attends church at Christ Community in DeKalb with her family. 
 

Mrs. Wimberly
Preschool 3s
tracie.wimberly@aurorachristian.org
B.S. B.A. HR Management – University of Alabama in Huntsville (2002)
M.A. Human Services/Marriage & Family Counseling – Liberty University (2010)
 
Mrs. Tracie Wimberly is the Preschool 3s Teacher and this is her second year at ACS.  She and her husband, Robert, have been married for sixteen years and have two children, Bianca (a teacher in Kissimmee, Florida) and Josiah (fifth grade).  Her passion is serving and helping others and she LOVES music! Her goal is to live to reach others for Christ. Her family attends Cathedral of Praise in DeKalb, IL. 
 

Mrs. Wright
Elementary PE
tracey.wright@aurorachristian.org
B.A. Communications - Western Illinois University (1988)
 

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

 

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