Prairie Catholic Staff

Contact Information

Prairie Catholic School and Parish + Prairie Catholic School Office - (608) 326-8624 Little Saints Day Care - (608) 326-8624 Prairie Catholic Kitchen - (608) 326-8624 St. Gabriel's Church Rectory - (608) 326-2404 St. John's Church Rectory - (608) 326-6511
Administration
	Monsignor Charles Stoetzel -- Pastor Dear parishioners and visitors, Thank you for the warm welcome as I come to be the new pastor here at Holy Family Parish. First, I want to thank Fr. James Weighner for all the great work he has done. He really accomplished much while he was here. Forming two parishes into one is a herculean task in itself. We want to continue the great work he started and build upon this great foundation. He is presently pastor of two parishes in a cluster in the Marshfield Deanery at which I was pastor for sixteen years from 1995-2011. We wish him our very best and prayers. Second, I come to you after being the rector of the Cathedral in La Crosse for eight years. When the Bishop had asked me last month if I would consider coming to Prairie du Chien, it didn’t take me very long to say yes after prayer and reflection. I am afraid I don’t know much about this area of the diocese but I will come to know it well as I am happy to be with you. I do ask for your prayers and support to Fr. David Bruener who was to come but requested a medical and personal leave. I look forward to meeting you in the next weeks. Let us pray and support one another in the Catholic Faith, and ask for the Lord’s blessings upon us all. Msgr. Stoetzel Pastor Since: 07/21/2019 fatherstoetzel@prairiecatholic.org (608)-326-2404
	Deacon Mark Grunwald -- Parish Deacon Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? dcnmark@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Brenda Spindler -- School Principal Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year! Let me begin by introducing myself. My name is Mrs. Brenda Spindler. I will be your new principal! I am looking forward to meeting everyone and hearing all about Prairie du Chien! A little about me! I have three children-Griffin (17), Rylee (13) and Bentley (7). I taught in the Chippewa Area School District for 15 years as a classroom teacher (grades 1-7) and Title 1 teacher. I graduated from the University of Eau Claire with my undergraduate work in Elementary/Middle School Education. I then graduated from Eau Claire again with my Masters in Reading. Last year, I graduated from the University of Viterbo with my Administration degree. Last year, I was the principal of a school in the Diocese of Superior for grades PK3-6. I am very excited to work with everyone to make this a Terrific School year! Yours in Faith Principal Spindler Staff Member Since: 08/01/2019 bspindler@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Sandy Halverson -- St. Gabriel's Church Rectory Office Manager, Cemetery Coordinator, Holy Family Parish Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? sgp@prairiecatholic.org
	Cecelia Vorwald -- St. John's Church Rectory Office Manager, Holy Family Parish Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? cvorwald@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Karen Fisher -- Administrative Assistant/Human Resources, Prairie Catholic School Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: 08/01/2018 kfisher@prairiecatholic.org 608-326-8624
Teachers
	Lisa Braudt -- Daycare Director Pending. Staff Member Since: 4/1/2022 lbraudt@prairiecatholic.org (608)-326-8624
	Mrs. Julie Schwager -- Early Childhood Class Teacher Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? jschwager@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	Nicole Tayek -- 3K - Kindergarten Pending. Staff Member Since: 8/1/2022 ntayek@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Janet Steiner -- Pre-Kindergarten Mrs. Steiner graduated from WWTC with an Associate Degree in Child Care & Development. She worked for ten years with the B.A. Kennedy Pre-K program before starting the program here at St. Gabriel’s. Janet has taught since 1988 at Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s and has an Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of La Crosse. Janet, her husband Dirk and their four children are all graduates of Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s School. Staff Member Since: 08/01/88 jsteiner@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	Nicole Schaefer -- 4K - Kindergarten Pending. Staff Member Since: nschaefer@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Mary Huser -- Kindergarten Mrs. Huser is a graduate of Viterbo University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education. She has over 40 post-graduate credits in the field of Education and also holds an Advanced Religious Certificate from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Huser has taught since 1983 and has worked her entire teaching career at Prairie Catholic . She taught first grade for 26 years and has been teaching kindergarten for the past 10 years. On numerous occasions over her career she has been nominated by peers and parents for the Kohl Excellence in Education Award. Mrs. Huser is a parishioner of Holy Family Parish and a graduate of St. Gabriel’s School. She and her husband have three grown children, all who have graduated from Prairie Catholic School. Mrs. Huser has made Early Childhood Education her life’s work because she believes strongly in the power of education. Staff Member Since: 08/01/1985 mhuser@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	Mrs. Lori Hemmer -- Grade 1 Mrs. Hemmer is a graduate of U. W. La Crosse with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She has 40 plus credits beyond her degree in the areas of Language Arts, Math and Science and has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Hemmer has been nominated by parents for the Kohl Excellence in Teaching Award on several occasions. Mrs. Hemmer has taught at Prairie Catholic for 30+ years. Lori and her five children are all graduates of Prairie Catholic School. Staff Member Since: 08/01/85 lhemmer@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	Mrs. Jennifer Wachuta -- Grade 2 Mrs. Wachuta is a graduate of Viterbo College with a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has many post graduate credits in the field of education, many in the field of science. She regularly attended Southwest Academy, a series of Math, Science, and Technology courses offered for teachers in the past. She has advanced certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of La Crosse. Mrs. Wachuta has taught since 1983 at Prairie Catholic. She has also tutored students and taught science at U.W. Platteville in the College for Kid’s summer program. In addition Mrs. Wachuta has been nominated by her peers and school parents for the NCEA Distinguished Teacher Award on several occasions. Jennifer served as a board member of WEST (Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers) and participated annually at the WEST Science Day in Stevens Point by holding workshops for parents and children. Jennifer has two children, both of whom graduated from Prairie Catholic. Staff Member Since: 08/01/83 jwachuta@prairiecatholic.org
	Madeline Wessels -- Grade 3 I am originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I attended Catholic school from preschool through college. I graduated from Loras College in May of 2019 with a bachelor's degree in biology. Before joining the Prairie Catholic family I was a substitute teacher in the Seneca school district as well as at St. Clement in Lancaster. My summers are spent running and instructing wildlife camps for the University of Iowa. I am so happy to be here at Prairie Catholic and cannot wait to spend the year with my students! Staff Member Since: 08/01/21 mwessels@prairiecatholic.org
	Sandy Lloyd -- Grade 4 Hello, I’m Sandy Lloyd, the new 4th grade teacher here at Prairie Catholic schools. I commute from across the Mississippi River where I live with my husband Bill on our dairy farm in rural Harpers Ferry, IA. We have four sons, Nic, Bill, Timmy and Joe. One of our favorite things to do, if we get time away, is to take weekend car trips around Northern Wisconsin. I am excited that in 4th grade Social Studies we get to learn all about Wisconsin so I get to take my students on virtual trips around the state! I also used to help my brother, Jack Libbey, give eco and history boat tours out of Prairie du Chien, LaCrosse andGalena Illinois which some of you may have rode with us on the Mississippi Explorer River Cruises. I will be bringing that history and love of the river into the classroom as well.This year I am also enjoying science with my 4th grade students. They have been working hard learning about different types of energy. Science is everywhere I tell them and I think they are starting to notice it. We have been focusing on Potential,Kinetic and Sound energy these past few weeks. They have found a lot of those examples on the playground as well as in the classroom. The Hot Wheel Lab and egg experiments may be their favorite so far.I think the thing most important to me besides my belief in God is the love of learning. My goal in my teaching is to instill the love of learning to all my students so they can carry that with them wherever God leads them!My life motto is: God puts me where I am supposed to be, what I do while I’m there is what makes the difference!Thank you for letting me teach your children! Staff Member Since: 8/1/2019 slloyd@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	Mrs. Michelle Kapfhamer -- Homeroom Grade 5 -- MS Math / English / Language Arts Mrs. Kapfhamer graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Elementary Education with a middle school math emphasis. She started teaching at Prairie Catholic in 2015. She lives in Prairie du Chien with her husband, Kraig and their two children, Ava and Jack. Staff Member Since: 08/01/15 mkapfhamer@prairiecatholic.org
	Ms. Ann Berns - Homeroom Grade 6 -- MS Art / Spanish, PreK through 8th grade Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: 08/01/20 aberns@prairiecatholic.org R S22
	-- MS Language arts / Civics Coming Soon! Staff Member Since:
	-- MS History Staff Member Since:
	Richard Palucci -- Music, PreK through 8th grade Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: 03/01/20 rpalucci@prairiecatholic.org
	Stephen Lechnir -- Religion Pending. Staff Member Since: slechnir@prairiecatholic.org
	Mike Wallace – Phy Ed / Technology Mr. Wallace graduated from Winona State University with a B.S. in Physical Education and minor in Coaching. He is married to his wife Brittany and they have two children. Staff Member Since: 08/01/16 mwallace@prairiecatholic.org
	Mrs. Judy Gillitzer -- Teacher Aide Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? jgillitzer@prairiecatholic.org
Lunch Program Staff
	Mrs. Janice Myers -- Kitchen Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ?
Custodians
	Mrs. Connie Lessard -- Maintanence Director Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? clessard@prairiecatholic.org
	Mr. Roy Myers -- Maintenance Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: 07/01/20
	Mr. Richard Tesar -- Cleaning (Churches and Daycare) Coming Soon! Staff Member Since: ? Dick is responsible for cleaning St. Gabriel's Church, St. John's Church, St. Gabriel's Daycare, and St. Gabriel's Rectory.
Other Contact Information Pastoral Council Secretary Finance Council Secretary Scott Kennedy -- Education Committee Sara Fuelling -- Home and School Patrick Nolan -- Website pnolan@prairiecatholic.org Knights of Columbus Sheila Eastman -- Scrip Program Coordinator scrip@prairiecatholic.org Pat Prochaska -- Dir. of Grade School Religious Education (CCD) ppccd@prairiecatholic.org

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