Teachers & Staff

Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Joanna Stack joins our outstanding Early Childhood team as our new kindergarten teacher. She brings a deep love for hands-on, curiosity-driven learning and a commitment to meeting each child where they are - nurturing growth, wonder, and joy in the classroom. She comes to Pilgrim from Pui Tak Christian School.

Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Smith loves serving as Pilgrim Lutheran School’s Kindergarten teacher in the mornings as well as working with Extended Learning in both pre-k and kindergarten in the afternoons. Mrs. Smith received her B.A. in Youth Ministry from Moody Bible Institute and her M.A. in Education from North Park University. Since graduating, she has been involved in early childhood education for over ten years. Before arriving at Pilgrim, she taught pre-k at Salem Christian School in Humboldt Park/Logan Square for seven years. She is excited to be a part of Pilgrim’s play-based program and to see students grow and explore while having fun in the classroom. She especially has a passion for teaching young students and inspiring a life-long love of learning. When not serving as Pilgrim’s Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Smith enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends and her husband, Tom.

1st/2nd Grade Teacher

Mrs. Stephens loves being the first/second grade teacher at Pilgrim Lutheran School. Previously, she served as the part-time preschool teacher at Pilgrim during the 2019/20 school year. Mrs. Stephens received her B.S. in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Management from Pennsylvania State University and later received her Masters of Education from DePaul University. Before joining the Pilgrim staff, she was the preschool teacher at Saint Luke Academy in Chicago. In regards to teaching, Mrs. Stephens is especially passionate about utilizing technology to create an interactive and enhanced learning environment for students. She also wants to pass along her love of reading books to her students in her classroom. When she is not serving as Pilgrim’s first grade teacher, Mrs. Stephens enjoys leading her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, participating in worship and activities at her church, hiking and fishing with her family, and relaxing at the beach in the summer.

3rd/4th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Barclay loves serving as the third/fourth teacher at Pilgrim. Before joining Pilgrim, Mrs. Barclay served as a first grade teacher in the Indianapolis Public School District. Mrs. Barclay received her B.S. in Elementary Education with a concentration in English Language Arts from Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Mrs. Barclay’s goal is to encourage her students and help them unleash their full potential. She uses varied learning methods and teaching strategies to facilitate the learning of all students. In her free time, Mrs. Barclay loves baking, spending time outdoors, and hanging out with her family.

1st/2nd Grade Teacher.

Mrs. Cardo is proud to serve as the 5th and 6th grade teacher at Pilgrim Lutheran School. Her first role at Pilgrim was as a lunchroom volunteer 19 years ago. Since then, she has worn many hats at Pilgrim including the Lunchroom Supervisor and the Operations Manager. After receiving her degree in education, Mrs. Cardo became the 5th and 6th grade teacher. Mrs. Cardo was first drawn to Pilgrim because her husband attended the school and his parents were members of Pilgrim Lutheran Church. She is proud to be part of two generations of her own Pilgrim family as all three of her children are graduates of Pilgrim as well. Mrs. Cardo is excited to share the gift of a Pilgrim education with the current generation of students.

7th/8th Grade ELA & Social Science Teacher/Advisor for High School

Mrs. Andreen loves her role as the 7th and 8th grade teacher at Pilgrim Lutheran School. She especially enjoys guiding the students to become independent thinkers who love to learn. She seeks to help her students build strong relationships with the wider community. In addition to her role as the 7th and 8th grade teacher, Mrs. Andreen has also taught 5th and 6th grade at Pilgrim. Before coming to Pilgrim, Mrs. Andreen taught at schools in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Houston. During three of her years teaching in Houston, she was the English Department Chair and had the honor of winning Paul Revere’s “Teacher of the Year.” Mrs. Andreen attended Louisiana State University, where she earned her B.A. in Literature and later obtained her Secondary Education certification. She is married and has two children, Riley and Connor. Both attend and love Pilgrim. She enjoys entertaining, cooking, crafting, reading, and most of all, spending time with family and friends.

7th Grade and Upper Grade Math Teacher

Mrs. Raabe considers her position as a faith nurturer and assistant in faith development, while serving as Pilgrim’s math teacher, a true vocation. She has taught in Lutheran schools for more than 25 years. Though Mrs. Raabe has taught in a range of grade levels and a variety of subjects, math has always been a central focus of her teaching and learning. She believes that everyone can learn the ideas of math. Everyone may not like math, and that is okay, but everyone can learn about numbers and how they work in our lives and world. Mrs. Raabe enjoys helping middle school students see the beauty and patterns of math, as well as make connections to other areas of life in general. In addition to her role at Pilgrim Lutheran School, she also works as an adjunct in the math education department at National Louis University. Mrs. Raabe is married to another church professional, and a math teacher at that! She is the mother of three independent Christian women. In her spare time (a rarity during the school year), she enjoys walking, working outside, and reading fiction.

Spanish & Upper Grade Science/Music Teacher

Mr. Yearick serves as Pilgrim’s Lutheran School’s Pre-K through 8th grade Spanish teacher, the 4th, 7th, and 8th grade science teacher, and the 4th-8th grade music teacher. Mr. Yearick graduated with a degree in Education from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Spanish and German. In the classroom, Mr. Yearick is a strong proponent of creativity and adaptability: “Each class has a wide range of abilities and learning styles, so I try to vary the presentation of the material to reach all students. If they’re having fun, my job is easy.” When not serving as the Spanish, science and music teacher at Pilgrim, Mr. Yearick performs as a folk rock musician and is the frontman for a progressive rock band.

Suzanne Stewart is the upper grade art teacher in grades 4-8 at Pilgrim Lutheran School. She enjoys enriching and expanding each student’s art knowledge and skills while encouraging creativity and artistic expression. The students learn about elements and principles of art along with some art history. Mrs. Stewart received an Associate of Science degree in 3D Computer Animation from the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale. She has taught in the elementary department of Uptown Christian School for 14 years and is now teaching art part-time to the high school at U.C.S. For many years she has been on an art team at her church creating large artworks and installations. She has also taught workshops for children and adults at festivals and women’s events. Mrs. Stewart recently had two solo art shows and her work is currently on display at Baker Miller in Lincoln Square.

Physical Education Teacher and Athletics Director

Mr. Hagopian received his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University Chicago, where he also played college soccer. He then served as a Personal Trainer & Strength and Conditioning Coach for ten years, and spent six years as a Basketball Coach at Loyola Academy. He is proud to be following in his father’s footsteps, who was a PE teacher for 40 years. Mr. Hagopian loves fitness, strength, and teamwork! Ari is also Pilgrim's Athletics Director. In this role, he oversees Wildcat Sports - including volleyball, basketball, cross country, and track.

Interim Pastor and Head of School

Pastor Stephen Bouman brings a wealth of experience to the Pilgrim community. His dedication to supporting congregations like ours, particularly those in partnership with both church and school, is truly inspiring. And, he is no stranger to Pilgrim, as two of his grandchildren are proud Pilgrim Lutheran School alumni! During his long and distinguished career, Pastor Bouman served as the Executive Director for the Domestic Mission Unit of the ELCA and as Bishop of the ELCA Metropolitan New York Synod. He holds degrees from New York Theological Seminary, including a Master of Sacred Theology (1978) and a Doctor of Ministry (1980), as well as honorary doctorates from General Theological Seminary and Wagner College (2001). Pastor Bouman's leadership spans over two decades as a parish pastor in New York City, where he founded two Lutheran parochial schools. He is a respected author, with his recent books Baptized for the Moment, They are Us: Lutherans and Immigration (co-authored), and The Mission Table: Renewing Congregation and Community, which is widely used for mission planning in congregations across the church. He was also instrumental in founding Lutheran Disaster Response in New York following the September 11 attacks, and has served on the boards of several Lutheran organizations, including Wagner and Wartburg Colleges, Lutheran Services in America, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. Currently, he serves on the board of Concordia Place. Most recently, Pastor Bouman served as Interim Pastor at Saint Luke Church and School in Lakeview (2019-2023) and at St. Philip Lutheran Church in Glenview (2024). His home congregation is Grace Lutheran in River Forest. Pastor Bouman is married to Janet (Luce), and they have three children and four grandchildren. The Bouman family resides in the Edgewater neighborhood of Chicago.

Business Manager

As Pilgrim’s Business Manager, Johana Loeza brings many strengths and extensive professional experience to our community. Ms. Loeza has an undergraduate degree in Finance, and a Master’s Degree in Nonprofit Administration, along with several years of financial and organizational leadership. She is enthusiastic about being part of Pilgrim, and making a difference out of her Christian faith and her passion for serving in a loving and community-minded organization.

Office Manager

Coming soon!

Facilities Manager

Dave Emery is happy to serve as Pilgrim’s Facilities Manager. He works behind the scenes to keep Pilgrim operating smoothly. Students often find him opening the door for school in the morning or setting up for events. He is the proud father of his two sons, both graduates of Pilgrim.

Principal

Dr. John Murphy has served as Principal of Pilgrim School since 2023. With more than a decade of experience in educational leadership, he brings both expertise and vision to our community. Prior to joining Pilgrim, Dr. Murphy was Assistant Principal at Uplift Community High School in Chicago, where his leadership in recruitment efforts helped double the school’s enrollment. He is deeply committed to fostering student growth, supporting teachers in innovative classroom practices, and identifying new opportunities for Pilgrim’s continued success. A native of Arizona, Dr. Murphy earned his undergraduate degree from Tulane University in New Orleans, and recently completed his Doctorate in Urban Educational Leadership at the University of Illinois Chicago.

Early Birds and PAS Director

Arlene Calderone leads the Earlybird and After School programs. In this role, she hopes to provide a safe and welcoming environment to Pilgrim students.

Youth and Family Coordinator

Maggy Hovden is Pilgrim’s Youth and Family Coordinator. She is originally from Decorah, Iowa, and a graduate of the University of Iowa with a double major in Global Health Studies and Spanish, and with a minor in Latina/o/x Studies. After graduation, Ms. Hovden served in Americorps for one year, living and working in a homeless shelter with 7 pregnant and parenting women and their children. She resides in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago, and is studying for a Masters of Social Work at the University of Chicago. Ms. Hovden focuses on faith formation and service throughout Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School.

Administrator

The 2021/22 school year marked Heather Sexton’s first year as Pilgrim’s Communications Administrator. As the Communications Administrator, Heather develops communication materials for Pilgrim Lutheran Church and School. She also assists with marketing activities and manages Pilgrim’s social media channels. She studied English and International Studies at Illinois Wesleyan University, and spent many years working in corporate public relations. Both of Heather’s sons, Will and Henry, are currently students at Pilgrim. Heather has enjoyed serving as a parent volunteer with both the church and school in various capacities over the years. She has also served as the co-chair of the Marketing Committee and as a member of the Parish Life Committee. Heather also plans the annual PilgrimFest block party. In her free time, Heather loves exploring Chicago with her kids, taking photos, trying new restaurants, and being an extremely competitive member of her pub trivia team.

Church and School Musician

Coming soon!