More About Our Specials Teachers
Mrs. Lori Venturella
SEL/Art Teacher / lventurella@stjb.org
I am honored and excited to start teaching at Saint John School. I have been in education since 2008. I have worked for the Diocese of Madison since 2016. It is a privilege to work and teach in a Catholic school. I love introducing the students to art and see where their creativity takes them. I hope through art and social emotional learning that my students will get to know themselves better and see where their strengths lie. My goal is to teach them how to learn so that they may go on and become life-long learners.
I have been married to Nick Venturella since 2004 and we have two boys. We live in Verona, Wisconsin. I enjoy learning new things, reading, creative writing, and spending time with God and my family and friends.
Experience:
Resource/ Reading Interventionist at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monona, WI; School Counselor at Our Lady of Queen of Peace School, Madison, WI; Education Therapist at Wisconsin Institute for Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia (WILDD), Madison, WI
Education:
Masters of School Counseling, Concordia University, Madison, WI; Elementary/Middle School Certification with a minor in Religion, Edgewood College; Bachelor of Science in English with a concentration in writing, Edgewood College
Mrs. Lori Lokken
Music Teacher / llokken@stjb.org
Music education is a passion of mine. I look forward to learning new methods of teaching and introducing new music to students. My bachelors degree is from Coe College and graduate work is from Vandercook College of Music and Silver Lake College of the Holy Family.
Experience
Music Teacher, Saint John School, Waunakee, WI;
Music Teacher, Saint Peter Catholic School, Middleton, WI;
Music Teacher, New Century Charter School and Sugar Creek Elementary School, Verona, WI;
Music Teacher, Carter Lake Elementary School, Carter Lake, IA
Education
Bachelor of Music, Major Instrument: Voice, Minor Instrument: Piano, Coe College, Cedar Rapids, IA;
Orff Level I, VanderCook College of Music, Chicago IL;
Kodaly Levels I and II, Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI
Mrs. Lynn Mais
Library Media Instructor / lmais@stjb.org
I have taught several grades over the past 25 years. I have a Masters in Education Technology. My goal is to develop students to become lifelong learners and readers. I want them to learn to use technology as a resource to help them become critical thinkers. I want them to be Catholic leaders who serve in their community.
Experience
Library Media Instructor, Saint John School, Waunakee, WI, 2009-present
Elementary Teacher, Oak Point Intermediate School, Eden Prairie, MN, 1993-2000
Elementary Teacher, Willard Math/Science/Technology School, Minneapolis, MN,1992 - 1993
Elementary Teacher, Stratford Elementary School, Stratford, WI, 1990 - 1992
Education
Master of Science, Education Technology; Minnesota State University, Mankato, MN;
Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education with a Minor in Business Administration, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, WI
Mrs. Katia Bymers
World Language Teacher / kbymers@stjb.org
I’m originally from São Paulo, Brazil. I married an American who was in Brazil on a commercial assignment, and then moved to Waunakee in 1994.
I grew up speaking Portuguese, the native language in Brazil. My father is Italian and my mother Japanese, so I also learned a substantial amount of those 2 languages. I learned early on the importance of knowing different languages and I have always liked learning languages. I studied Japanese in Tokyo for one year while living there, and I’ve studied French, Spanish and English during other parts of my education.
My husband and I have traveled and lived in a couple of different countries and together we have raised two bilingual children!
Working in a Catholic School setting has been a great joy for me since I grew up in a country where 90% of the people are catholic. I love being able to teach the students the importance of learning a second language while also hopefully motivating them to travel abroad, be curious about different cultures, faraway churches, distant places and people.
Experience
World Language Teacher, Saint John School, Waunakee, WI, 2006-present
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, University Mackenzie, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Y.Waseda School of Japanese for English speakers, Takanodobaba, Tokyo, Japan
Miss Kathleen O'Connor
Resource Teacher / koconnor@stjb.org
I have the privilege of teaching in a school where children receive an outstanding education and are reminded of God in their everyday life as they learn, play and pray. i am honored to work with talented teachers, dedicated priests and amazingly supportive parents. Saint John School is more than just a school, it is a family!
Experience
1st, 2nd, and 5th Grade Teacher, Saint John School, Waunakee WI
Education
Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire WI
Ms. Nadine Kerl
Band Teacher / nadinekerl66@gmail.com
I have been teaching band in private and parochial schools in the Madison area since 1991. I hold a Bachelor of Music Education degree from UW-Madison. I grew up on a dairy farm in western Dane County and have lived on and been involved in farming most of my life. In my free time I like to rubber stamp, knit, crochet and play the piano.
Experience
St. Maria Goretti School, St. Ambrose Academy, Madison Waldorf School, St. John the Baptist School, St. Ann School, the Holy Family Homeschoolers; Administrator for Overture Band Programs, Inc.; Has taught band in private and parochial schools in the Madison area since 1991.
Education
Bachelor's of Music Education degree from UW-Madison