Trinity-St. John Faculty and Staff
Mrs. Dawn Mueller
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Dawn grew up in Michigan. She and Pastor met at Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI, and were married there. They moved to New Minden, where Pastor Mueller serves at St. John’s Lutheran Church. She enjoyed life as a stay-at-home mom with four sons filling the parsonage. Jacob, Paul, Daniel, and Lukas were blessed to attend T-SJ. When the boys were in school, Dawn taught preschool at Trinity, Hoyleton. Later she served in a ministry which provided funding and training for Lutheran schools in 20 countries around the world. She has also been able to edit and write children’s Bible story books which are used internationally. Dawn loves teaching language arts to improve the reading and writing skills of the fourth graders. Her delight with her own grand-treasures, (Sophia, Hannah, Xavier, Zachariah, Gabriel, and Abigail) has made the role of PreK teacher even more exciting. Seeing the little ones grow in their faith is a special blessing.
Dawn’s favorite Bible verse is Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” |
Mrs. Janice Lange
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Janice grew up in Bunker Hill, IL. She attended St. Paul’s College in Concordia, MO and then Concordia University in Chicago. She has worked at T-SJ for 35 years teaching second grade, pre-school, and kindergarten. She also teaches music to pre-kindergarten through fourth grade and coaches the scholar bowl team. She and her husband Steve have been blessed with three sons, a daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren. She enjoys sports, sewing, reading, playing guitar, and singing. She especially enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.
Jan’s favorite Bible verse is Romans 8:38, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” |
Mrs. Kim Fairbanks
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Kim grew up in Irvington, Illinois. She attended Concordia University Chicago and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a psychology minor. Later in her teaching career she attended Greenville University to obtain a special education endorsement. Kim met her husband, Chuck, at South Central Elementary School in Kinmundy, Illinois where they were both teachers. They were married in 1998 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hoyleton, Illinois where Kim attended church growing up. The Lord blessed them with one daughter, Cali, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri. This year marks Kim’s twenty-sixth year teaching and first year here at T-SJ. She brings with her a passion for teaching and a love for the Lord. Kim enjoys spending time with her family, attending craft fairs, and driving through the Smoky Mountains in Tennessee with her husband.
Kim’s favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” |
Mrs. Karen Stein
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Information coming soon!
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Mrs. Diane Backs
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Diane grew up in Prairietown, Illinois where she attended grades 1-8 at St. Peter’s Lutheran School. She graduated from Edwardsville High School before going to St. Paul’s Lutheran College in Concordia, Missouri. After earning an Associate’s degree, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. During her studies, she completed a number of courses in music which she has used throughout her teaching ministry. After graduating from college, she received a call to teach grades 3 and 4 at Immanuel Lutheran School Murphysboro, Illinois. In addition to teaching, she was the children’s choir director as well as the adult choir director. After serving there for six years, she received a call to teach third grade here at Trinity-St. John. This call also included both the adult and children’s choir. She is now in her 39th year of teaching. Some of her extracurricular activities include preparing students for music contests, directing musicals, and other music programs. When time allows, Diane enjoys scrapbooking and making notecards. During the summer she especially enjoys working outside in her flower garden. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchild. Diane and her husband Curt have one daughter, Katie, who graduated from the University of Illinois and now works at the Farm Service Agency in Nashville, IL. She is married to Shawn Knight. Together they all enjoy volunteering for the non-profit ministry, Basket of Hope.
One of Diane's favorite Bible verses is her Confirmation verse, Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” |
Mrs. Deb Lange
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Deb grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. After graduating from Lincoln Southeast High School, she went on to Concordia University, Nebraska (called Concordia Teachers College at the time.) After two years she transferred to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She then subbed in Lincoln while taking colloquy classes at Concordia to finish her Lutheran Certification. In 1991, she received a call from St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Minden to teach fourth grade at T-SJ. For most of her 25+ years here at TSJ she has been the fourth grade homeroom teacher, she currently serves as the yearbook editor and technology coordinator at T-SJ. She is thankful that the staff, school board and PTL have been willing to press forward to include SmartBoards, Promethean Boards, Chromebooks and other technology in the classrooms. Deb and her husband, Terry, have four legged children in their home. They are active in the church, in the non-profit Adult Congenital Heart Association and Deb enjoys reading and a group called the Zippered Sisters. They spend free time visiting her parents and sister in Nebraska, and siblings in Colorado, Indiana, Arizona, and Missouri.
Deb’s favorite Bible verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. It reminds her that no matter what is going on in her life, God is with her and has a plan for her. |
Mrs. Tabatha Wesseln
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Tabatha (Frederking) Wessein is the fifth and sixth grade homeroom teacher at T-SJ. She was born and grew up in Nashville attending Trinity Church and Trinity-St. John school. After marrying her husband, John, in 1998, she moved to Pinckneyville and currently resides there with her family. She has a daughter, Mackenna, and a son, Dayton. Even though they live in Pinckneyville, they attend church at Trinity, and her children have followed in their mother’s footsteps by attending school at T-SJ. Her education to become a teacher began right here at T-SJ. After graduating from T-SJ in 1989, she continued her education at Nashville Community High School. She moved on to Kaskaskia College and received her BS in Elementary Education from SIU-C. She also received her endorsements to teach middle school classes at that time. In August 1998, she began her teaching career at T-SJ. She is currently the fifth and sixth grade homeroom teacher, and teaches grades four through eight science as well as algebra and fifth and sixth grade computers and health. The 2021-2022 school year marks the beginning of the twenty-fourth year of her teaching career and the twenty-fourth year at T-SJ. Most of her time is consumed with preparing for her teaching duties, but during her free time she loves spending time with her family. Their favorite activities to do together are camping and hiking. She also enjoys repurposing old items and loves making things out of old wood.
Tabatha's favorite Bible verse comes from Matthew 19:14 where Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” It reminds her daily of what the Lord has called her to do at T-SJ. |
Mrs. Jennifer Kozan
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Mrs. Kozan is thrilled to be starting her third year here at T-SJ! This will be her 8th year teaching. Jennifer attended SIU-E where she earned a degree in psychology and later went back to earn a degree in elementary education. After teaching several years at the elementary level, she pursued endorsements in middle school social studies and language arts. She currently teaches fifth grade math and fifth through eighth grade language arts. Jennifer and her husband Michael reside in Nashville with their two lovely daughters, Iris and Adeline, and a brood of animals, both aquatic and terrestrial. Jennifer loves the outdoors, drawing, painting, gardening, and of course… reading!
Jennifer’s favorite Bible verse is 1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called his children.” It keeps the encompassing love of Christ in the forefront of her mind, reminding her to daily share the peace that comes with being a child of God with her students. |
Mr. Shaun Renth
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Shaun has taught here at T-SJ since 2002. This school year will be his 20th year at T-SJ, he has taught his entire teaching career at T-SJ. He grew up in New Minden and currently resides in Hoyelton with his wife, Shannon, and daughter Keeghan. He is a member at St. John’s New Minden, and went to grade school here at T-SJ. He graduated from Nashville High School and attended college at Kaskaskia College and SIUE. He received his teaching degree from SIUE with a major in History. During his years at T-SJ, he has taught a variety of subjects, but currently is teaching 5-8 grade departmentalized Social Studies, Math, Computers, Health, and PE. Shaun also serves as T-SJ's Athletic Director. When he is not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, golfing, woodworking and coaching.
Shaun's favorite Bible verse is Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” |
Miss Cheryl Zapp
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Cheryl has lived in Nashville and been a member of Trinity all her life. She grew up in a family of 3 sisters and one brother. She has one son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Taryn Zapp, and two grandchildren, Eli and Iylie Harris. She earned an Associate Degree from Kaskaskia College and all of her work experience has been in clerical environments. She is a member of Trinity's Handbell choir. Some of her favorite pastimes are reading and being a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. She truly loves watching and cheering on her grandchildren in their academic and sporting events, along with the local sport teams- Nashville Hornet and Hornettes, T-SJ Warriors, Raiders and Titans as well as watching the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Miss Cheryl’s favorite hymn is “Just as I Am” and her favorite Bible verse is Matthew 11:28, “Come unto Me all you who are weak and heavy-ladened and I will give you rest.”
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Mrs. Amy Kurtz
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Amy and her husband Mike are from Omaha, Nebraska and lived for nine years in Memphis, Tennessee before moving to Nashville. They have six children, ages 3 -27 years and keep busy attending their many athletic and music events thought out the year. Amy attended Concordia University in Nebraska for both her Bachelors and Masters degrees. She has also completed the School Leadership Development Program in St. Louis as part of her preparations to be a principal in the Lutheran Schools. She taught for 14 years in Iowa, Nebraska, and Tennessee, grades K-8 in a variety of subjects before becoming a principal. She enjoys reading, swimming, running, cooking, sewing, taking pictures, and playing games. The 2021-2022 school year marks Amy's sixth year as principal at T-SJ and 20th year in full time ministry. Mrs. Kurtz also serves as the 7th Grade Math and 5th-8th grade Art teacher.
Amy's favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 6:16 "For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Pastor Benning was born in a suburb outside of Chicago, IL the youngest of three brothers. In the late 1980’s his father took a call to teach at a Lutheran School in Springfield, IL. This is where he grew up going to the grade school where his dad taught and Lutheran High for high school. From there, he went on to Blackburn College where he met his wife before going off to study at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO. His family loves to camp and they take their 3 kids and sometimes the goldfish camping in their travel trailer exploring all that God has created.
Jesus claimed Pastor Benning as a baby when he was baptized at just 1 month old. He continued to shape him as child of God through the commitment of his parents and the blessings of Lutheran education. But it wasn’t until he went off to study abroad in Wales during college that God would call him to be a pastor. While he was in Wales God put him into daily conversations with people about the faith He has given him. This has led him to continue those conversations with anyone who will listen so that he might have the opportunity to share Jesus with them. In 2010 he graduated from Concordia Seminary and took his first call to Immanuel in Brookfield, WI. Eventually the Lord called him in 2014 to serve at St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Berlin, IL. While it was a blessing to come back so close to home the opportunity God gave him to pastor His people in a changing community was what brought us to Central Illinois. With their children growing older the Lord once again saw fit to change their lives by bringing them to Trinity Nashville where we pray they be able to continue His work in this new Family of Faith. As we encourage others to have conversations with the people in their life that lead to conversations about Jesus. Always being prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have. But doing so with gentleness and respect. (Paraphrase 1Peter 3:15 NIV) |
Pastor Tim Mueller
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Timothy Paul Mueller was born in Hankinson, North Dakota, near Lidgerwood, where his father served as pastor. He is number six out of seven children. When he was two years old his father took a call to Bay City, Michigan, where Tim attended grade school and high school. He graduated from Concordia College (now University), Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1983 with a major in Biblical Languages (Greek and Hebrew). On his first day on campus as a freshman he met Dawn Miehlke, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and they were married in Concordia’s Chapel of the Holy Trinity on May 6, 1983, the day before they both graduated.
They moved to St. Louis, Missouri, where Tim enrolled at Concordia Seminary. His vicarage (internship) was served in Le Mars, Iowa. He received his Master of Divinity in May, 1987, and continued on for two more terms with courses in Biblical studies toward another master’s degree. In January, 1988, he was ordained into the holy ministry and installed as pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church, New Minden, and St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Covington. As the pastor of St. John’s, he has been blessed to be involved at TSJ ever since. He and Dawn have been blessed with four sons: Pastor Jacob and his wife Julia, serving at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, MO, with their children Hannah, Zachariah, and Abigail; Paul and his wife Jessie, who with their children Sophia, Xavier, and Gabriel live in Kings, IL, near Rochelle, where Jessie works as a lab tech for Rochelle Municipal Utilities and Paul teaches part-time at St. Paul Lutheran school; Daniel, a computer engineer in Gaithersburg, MD; and Lukas, who lives in Denver, CO, and works in sales. In his spare time Pastor Tim enjoys reading, yard work, woodworking, and especially doing things with his grandkids. |
Mrs. Dana Haertling
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Mrs. Amanda Kozuszek
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