Dear Parent/Guardian,
 
I would like to share with you some positive, exciting news about staffing as we continue to prepare for the 2018-19 school year.  Please be assured of my commitment to continuing the development and enrichment of our academic program.
 
Mrs. Lauren Duffy and Ms. Michelle Gross will be "moving up" to junior high next year.  Mrs. Duffy will teach junior high social studies, and Ms. Gross will teach junior high math.  I am very pleased and proud that these very bright, experienced, tech-savvy teachers are joining our junior high teaching team.  I wish Mr. Jonathan Malnar all the best after teaching junior high math the last two years.  We are also pleased to announce Ms. Sarah Berk has been hired to teach junior high science.  She is a teacher with a thorough science background, academic excellence, a strong Catholic identity, and she is excited about joining St. Cletus.  I also want to take this opportunity to thank Mrs. Gina DeVino for being our substitute science teacher since February.
 
Furthermore, I am happy to announce that Ms. Erin Fleckenstein has been hired as a teacher to continue teaching fifth grade alongside Mrs. Erin Gridelli.  Ms. Fleckenstein graciously agreed to substitute teach our Room 117 fifth grade students for the past few months until the end of this school year. 
 
Miss Lisa Gearen will move up to teach third grade along with her team teacher, Mrs. Carol Reckwerdt.  Ms. Hannah Tyk will move up to teach fourth grade.  I would also like to announce our hiring Ms. Katlyn Payne, who will be teaching first grade.  Ms. Payne is an experienced teacher who joins us from another Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Chicago and brings many wonderful skills and knowledge with her to St. Cletus. 
 
Mrs. Patti Madaras, who has been our preschool teacher's assistant for Ms. Lauren Rein's class, recently completed her Master's Degree and will become our half day pre-school teacher, taking the place of Mrs. Shannon Newsome, who is leaving St. Cletus to spend more time with her family.  We are in the process of hiring for the remaining fourth grade and first grade teaching positions. 
 
As you know, St. Cletus School is committed to academic excellence, Catholic identity, and our school motto of "Faith, Family and Future."  I am committed to strategically hiring teachers who will provide the best academic opportunities for our students and am confident we are moving forward to a great new school year in 2018-19.
 
Sincerely,
 
Thomas M. Chinske
Principal, St. Cletus School