Administration

Rev. James C. Weighner -- Pastor

Mr. Wade Marlow -- Principal

Mr. Marlow was born in Decorah, IA and was raised in Bluffton, IA. He graduated from North Winneshiek High School in 1998. He played baseball at the University of Dubuque and graduated in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education. Mr. Marlow’s first job was at Notre Dame Parish in Cresco, IA as a Director of Religious Education. While in Cresco he married his wife Twyla and coached basketball at Crestwood High School and baseball at Turkey Valley High School. Mr. Marlow came to Prairie Catholic from the Dubuque Community School District where he was a physical education teacher. While in Dubuque, he earned his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Loras College. The Marlow’s also welcomed a daughter named Jocelyn last year.  He is looking forward to the excitement of a new position as an administrator and moving his young family into the area.

Mrs. Sandy Halverson

St. Gabriel's Office Manager, Prairie Catholic Parishes

Mrs. Lana Gratace

St. John's Office Manager, Prairie Catholic Parishes

Mrs. Deanne Mezera

St. Gabriel's Office Manager, Prairie Catholic School

Mrs. Rose Ziel

St. John's Office Manager, Prairie Catholic School

Mrs. Janet Nelson

Librarian, St. John's

Mrs. Annie Beinborn

Librarian, St. Gabriel's

Teachers (Click Here For our Teachers Email Addresses)

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 for 22 years at Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s and has Basic Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse.  In addition she has coached the Middle School parochial and public Volleyball Program for 14 years.  Janet, her husband Dirk and their four children are all graduates of Prairie Catholic/St. Gabriel’s School.

Mrs. Mary Huser -- Kindergarten

Mrs. Huser graduated from Viterbo College with a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is certified to teach Pre-K through Third Grade. Mary has over 35 post graduate credits in the field of education and has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse. Over the years she has been nominated by parents for the Kohl Excellence in Education Award on several occasions. She has taught at Prairie Catholic for 27 years. Mrs. Huser is a parishioner of St. Gabriel’s and a graduate of St. Gabriel’s School also. She has three children. All now attend or have graduated from Prairie Catholic School.

Mrs. Lori Hemmer -- Grade 1

Mrs. Hemmer is a graduate of U. W. LaCrosse with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She has 30 plus credits beyond her degree in the areas of Language Arts, Math and Science and has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse. Mrs. Hemmer has been nominated by parents for the Kohl Excellence in Teaching Award on several occasions. She has attended Southwest Academy for 10 years. Mrs. Hemmer has taught at Prairie Catholic for 28 years. Lori and her five children are graduates, or now attend Prairie Catholic School.

Mrs. Jennifer Wachuta -- Grade 2

Mrs. Wachuta is a graduate of Viterbo College with a B.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has more than 36 post graduate credits in the field of education, many in the field of science. She regularly attends Southwest Academy, a series of Math, Science, and Technology courses offered for teachers during the summer. She has advanced certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of LaCrosse. Mrs. Wachuta has taught for 28 years 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 serves as a board member of WEST  (Wisconsin Elementary Science Teachers) and participates 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.

Ms. Gale Carlson -- Grade 3

Ms. Carlson graduated from Upper Iowa University with a B.A. Degree in Elementary Education with an English/Language Arts endorsement. She is certified to teach Kindergarten through 6th Grade. She did her student teaching at St. Gabriel’s and was hired to teach 4th Grade in January of 2003. In 2007 Ms. Carlson was nominated for the Herb Kohl Award in Teaching Excellence by parents and students. Ms. Carlson completed her basic Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse and has 7 post graduate credits in the field of education. She has two children. She has taught 4th and 5th grade at St. Gabriel’s.

Mrs. Cecelia Becwar -- Grade 4

Mrs. Becwar is a graduate of Viterbo University with a B.S. in Education and a minor in German. She has taught in Catholic schools for 37 years. This is her 15th year at Prairie Catholic. Mrs. Becwar has Advanced Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse and has attended Southwest Academy for 8 years. She is a past member of the Hidden Valley Reading Council and served on a steering committee to establish policy on reporting child abuse and neglect in Grant County. In addition Cecelia has served on a diocesan wide visitation team for approving school accreditation. Mrs. Becwar has two adult children, both graduates of Prairie Catholic School.

Mrs. Joahn Post -- Grade 4

Mrs. Post graduated from U.W. Platteville with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. She did substitute teaching for seven years and has taught full time for 12 years. This is Mrs. Post’s 12th year at Prairie Catholic School. She has 24 post graduate credits in the field of education including a reading endorsement, and has attended Southwest Academy during the summer months. In addition she holds Basic Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of LaCrosse. Mrs. Post has two adult children.

Miss Jean Pelleymounter -- 5th Grade Homeroom
English 5,6,7,8 -- Science 5 -- Elective 5

Miss Pelleymounter graduated from Mount Mercy College with a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Music. She has Advanced Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of LaCrosse. Miss Pelleymounter taught for 5 years in Dubuque in the Catholic schools and one year at Bloomington where she also served as Principal. She has taught at Prairie Catholic for 25 years. In addition, she was nominated last year for the national Disney Hand Teacher Award. Miss Pelleymounter is also a Weather Spotter in the Prairie du Chien area for KCRG television in Cedar Rapids.

Mrs. Kathleen Igou --
Math 5,6,7,8 -- Science 5 -- Elective 5

Mrs. Luanne Atkins -- 6th Grade Homeroom
Reading 5,6,7,8 -- Social Studies 5 -- Elective 6

Mrs. Atkins is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in Social Sciences. She has also earned a Master of Education Degree in Professional Development from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. Luanne has taught at Prairie Catholic for 21 years and has Basic Religious Education Certification from the Diocese of LaCrosse. She has attended classes at Southwest Academy and has earned numerous additional credits from University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse, Viterbo University, and Cardinal-Stritch. Her Husband, Mike, graduated from St. Gabriel's school. They have two grown daughters.

Mr. Bill Huser -- 7th Grade Homeroom
Science 6, 7,8 -- Geography 6 -- Civics 7 -- History 8 -- Elective 7

Mr. Huser is a graduate of U.W. - LaCrosse with a B.S. in Education and a double major in History and Social Studies. He is a member of the Wisconsin Geography Alliance. He has been on the board of directors the past six years for the Wisconsin Elementary and Middle Level Science Teachers (WEST). In 2003 and 2005 he was nominated for Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers by former students. He has attended Southwest Academy the past five summers. He has taught at Prairie Catholic for 25 years and has advanced Religious Certification from the LaCrosse Diocese. He has 3 children, all who have graduated from Prairie Catholic School.

Mrs. Jean Jozefowicz -- 8th Grade Homeroom
Religion 5,6,7,8 -- Social Studies 5 -- Elective 8

Mrs. Jozefowicz has a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville with an emphasis in Language Arts. She has 20+ post graduate credits in the field of education and has attended Southwest Academy for thirteen years. Mrs. Jozefowicz taught nineteen years in Catholic schools in Potosi, Platteville, and Lancaster along with two years in the public schools in Illinois. This is her 9th year at Prairie Catholic. In 2008 Jean received a Lay Ministry Degree after four years of study in theology, church history, scripture, and spirituality. She holds Advanced Certification in Religious Education from the Diocese of Madison and LaCrosse and was listed in the book Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers on three occasions. Mrs. Jozefowicz has three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Mrs. Kerri Weber -- Pre Kindergarten Through 8th Grade Music -- Computer Science 5,6,7,8

Kerri Weber graduated from UW-Platteville in 1993 with a degree in Secondary Education and English. She began her teaching career at St. Charles Catholic School in Cassville WI teaching Language Arts. Following that year, she began teaching English in the Public School System in Eldridge, IA. She has also served as a substitute teacher in the Prairie du Chien School district. She is very happy to be teaching Pre K-5 music at Prairie Catholic after spending the last 10 wonderful years at home raising her children. Her musical background consists of 12 years of piano, four years of triple trio, madrigal, girl’s choir and musicals, six years of band specializing in playing the saxophone, percussion, and keyboard, and one year of symphony band at UW-Platteville. Some of her hobbies include playing piano, coaching volleyball, reading, running/walking, cooking, and vacationing.

Mrs. Michele Pattison -- Physical Education PreK through 8th Grade -- Student Council Advisor

Mrs. Pattison is a graduate of University of Wisconsin - Madison with a B.S. Degree in Kinesiology (the study of movement or physical education). She is certified to teach Pre-K - 12th Grade. This is her 9th year teaching at Prairie Catholic School. Michele is a graduate of St. John’s School and her children currently attend Prairie Catholic School.

Mrs. Jennifer Nack

Teacher Aide - St. Gabriel's

Mrs. Judy Gillitzer

Teacher Aide - St. Gabriel's

Daycare Staff

Mrs. Lori Jung

Daycare Director - St. Gabriel's


If you have any questions, or would like a tour, Mrs. Jung can be reached at 326-5383.

Mrs. Kelly Hamman

Daycare - St. Gabriel's

Mrs. Julie Schwager

Daycare - St. Gabriel's

Lunch Program Staff

Mrs. Elaine Moris

School Cook

Mrs. Kay Tesar

School Cook

Custodians

Mr. Mick Rooney -- Maintenance Director (St. Gabriel's and St. John's Parishes and Prairie Catholic School)

Mr. Rooney can be emailed at: pdccatholicmaint@gmail.com

Mr. Richard Tesar -- Cleaning (Churches and Daycare)

Dick is responsible for cleaning St. Gabriel's Church, St. John's Church, St. Gabriel's Daycare, and St. Gabriel's Rectory.