Carlo Giannotta, Principal
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Experience: Carlo Giannotta has been the principal at Grace Christian Academy for the last 15 years. He has been part of GCA for 22 years, teaching 5/6 for 3 years and 3/4 for 4 years before taking on the role of principal while also teaching 7/8. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Concordia University River Forest.
As principal, he finds himself wearing many different hats. Whether supporting his teachers, planning school improvements, coaching basketball, or tackling a variety of odd jobs around the school, Mr. G continues to enjoy getting to know many wonderful students and families. He is happy to be part of providing quality, Christian education to families in the community. Outside of Grace: When he’s not at Grace, Mr. G enjoys watching his Detroit sports teams, golfing, and spending time with his family. What makes Grace special: Grace has great staff, great students, great teachers, and great families. We all work together to give our students a wonderful Christian education. Word of Encouragement: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 |
Karen Crowder, Admissions/Community Outreach
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Experience: Ms. Karen Crowder joined the GCA staff part-time in 2013 as the admissions counselor. She studied Sociology and Spanish at Asbury College and spent a year in Guatemala City prior to moving to Chicago to pursue her Master’s in Social Work in 2008. Shortly after moving to Chicago, she came across the Little Village neighborhood and has lived and served in Little Village ever since.
Ms. Crowder joined Grace full-time in the fall of 2017 taking on the role of both admissions and community outreach. She continues to be a point person for both perspective families and current parents while also building relationships with various community and church partners and individual supporters of the school. Outside of Grace: Ms. Crowder enjoys experiencing the diversity and culture of Chicago. Whether hiking, biking, or kayaking, she tries to get outside as much as she can before the long, cold winters set in. She also loves travelling to see friends and family spread out across the U.S. and Latin America. What makes Grace special: Relationship is what sets Grace apart. You feel the difference when you are in a school where everyone knows everyone and the teachers and staff care about the well-being of both the students and their families. Teachers and staff are approachable and the community is very warm and welcoming. A word of encouragement: “He has told you, o man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8 |
Gloria Canjura, Pre-K 3&4
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Email: Acanjura@gcachicago.org
Experience: Mrs. Gloria Canjura has 32 years of teaching experience with 24 years at GCA. She attended college at San Carlos University in Guatemala and began her career teaching junior high and ESL. After moving to Chicago, she began teaching preschool for GCA where she has taught since 1993. She feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet many special families over the years and to be able to see many of her preschoolers go on to graduate from Grace as 8th graders. Outside of Grace: Outside of teaching, Mrs. Canjura enjoys planting her garden, making family scrapbooks, walking, and visiting her grandchildren. She has been a member of the Lutheran church since she was born and married a Lutheran pastor. She continues to enjoy being involved in church activities in her free time. What makes Grace special: Mrs. Canjura says Grace is a special place where people can feel secure with no concerns about differences in race or creed. But most importantly, at Grace, she loves that she is free to serve and teach about Jesus’ love to all children. Grace is a nice place to be with a Christian environment. A word of encouragement: “You are the light of the world” and “Let your light shine.” |
Jill Giannotta, Kindergarten
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Email: MrsG123@gcachicago.org
Experience: Mrs. Jill Giannotta (Mrs. G.) has been part of the Grace Christian Academy family for over 20 years. She attended Concordia University in Chicago to prepare for her teaching career. She has taught full time for 13 years including teaching 2nd grade, 1st/2nd grade, kindergarten, and extended care. While her children were still small, she led and taught the Title 1 tutoring program for 6 ½ years. In addition to her current role teaching kindergarten, she helps coach volleyball and cheerleading at Grace. She also makes time to teach Sunday School during the school year and lead VBS at her church during the summer. Outside of Grace": With her oldest daughter in high school, her husband serving as GCA’s principal and her youngest 2 daughters attending Grace, finding time outside of school can be a challenge. Mrs. G. says her free time is most often spent watching her children in competitions or concerts and taking them to practices. She enjoys time with her family and free moments to surf Facebook and Pinterest. Other hobbies include gardening and sewing although she admits she doesn’t get to do them much anymore during this busy season of life. What makes Grace special: Mrs. G. loves the freedom to share the love of Jesus and His salvation with all of her students. She has loved watching so many children grow up at Grace including her own! A word of encouragement: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 |
LeSandra Nava, 1st Grade
Email: lnava@gcachicago.org
Experience: Mrs. Lesandra Nava has taught at Grace since 2015. She began her teaching career seven years ago, teaching in early childhood programs from birth – 5 years old in addition to experience teaching with a teen parent program in Cicero and Berwyn. She completed her Bachelor’s degree at DePaul University in Early Childhood. She has been a great addition to GCA, teaching our 3-year-old preschool, and now teaching 1st grade and assistant teaching in the 1st/2nd combined classroom. She, her husband, and their three children live in the neighborhood and her youngest 2 children are students at Grace. Outside of Grace: Beyond the classroom, Mrs. Nava likes to stay active. She enjoys boxing, dancing, and walking the trails around the city. What makes Grace special: Mrs. Nava says the closeness of the staff, teachers, and students are what make Grace such a special place.
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Cathy Brown, 2nd Grade & 1st-2nd
Email: Cbrown@gcachicago.org
Experience: Ms. Cathy Brown has been a teacher for 13 years, teaching the last 11 years at GCA. She graduated from Concordia University and has experience teaching 5th, 6th and 1st/2nd combined. With the current enrollment, Mrs. Brown is teaching 2nd grade in the morning and leading the combined 1st and 2nd grade room in the afternoons.
Outside of Grace: When she’s not at Grace, Ms. Brown enjoys walking, dancing, and riding her bike. She also enjoys classical movies. She also describes herself as a TCM fan.
What makes Grace special: Ms. Brown says it is a real privilege to be part of the Grace Christian Academy family. She loves getting to know the students and having siblings come up through her classroom as families grow.
A word of encouragement: “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you!” Steve Jobs
Experience: Ms. Cathy Brown has been a teacher for 13 years, teaching the last 11 years at GCA. She graduated from Concordia University and has experience teaching 5th, 6th and 1st/2nd combined. With the current enrollment, Mrs. Brown is teaching 2nd grade in the morning and leading the combined 1st and 2nd grade room in the afternoons.
Outside of Grace: When she’s not at Grace, Ms. Brown enjoys walking, dancing, and riding her bike. She also enjoys classical movies. She also describes herself as a TCM fan.
What makes Grace special: Ms. Brown says it is a real privilege to be part of the Grace Christian Academy family. She loves getting to know the students and having siblings come up through her classroom as families grow.
A word of encouragement: “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you!” Steve Jobs
Trinity Lichter, 3rd-4th Grade
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Email: Tlichter@gcachicago.org
Experience: Ms. Trinity Lichter graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2015 where she taught in daycares throughout her college years in addition to gaining experience student teaching and volunteering at an elementary school in Milwaukee. She joined Grace Christian Academy for the 2015-2016 school year as the 3rd/4th grade teacher. She is now in her third year of teaching 3rd/4th grade and still brings lots of energy and enthusiasm to the classroom. In addition to teaching, Ms. Lichter has also served Grace’s students through coaching cheerleading and Girls on the Run. Outside of Grace: Ms. Lichter enjoys traveling and loves to use her travel experiences to enhance her teaching. She also has a love of reading that she hopes spills over to her students as she tries to read a variety of books and encourages her students to do the same. She also uses her free time for crafting, crocheting, and sewing and enjoys making time for running and working out. What makes Grace special: The community at Grace is a large part of why Ms. Lichter loves teaching at GCA. Teachers, students, and their families all work together to provide the best learning experiences possible. Ms. Lichter says the students are great and make her job enjoyable while support from parents and their commitment to their students is also very encouraging. She also knows she can count on the help and support of other staff when needed, making Grace a great place to learn and a great place to work. A word of encouragement: “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 Ms. Lichter says this verse always helps to calm her down in hard times and remember that no matter what happens in life, all we need to do it put our trust in the Lord. |
JoAnn Ohlrich, 5th-6th Grade
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Email: Johlrich@gcachicago.org
Experience: JoAnn Ohlrich joined Grace, teaching 5th & 6th grade this year. She returned to Chicago after over a decade of teaching in China. She attended college at the University of Colorado and has taught a total of 17 years, teaching every grade from 1st up through high school as well as swimming. She was also a principal for 3 years. Outside of Grace: Prior to joining Grace, Mrs. Ohlrich enjoyed her years of experiencing life in China. She has traveled to most countries throughout Asia as well as traveling in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Back in Chicago, she is enjoying going to hockey games, eating out, and spending time with her family. What makes Grace special: Mrs. Ohlrich loves her students and says they are what have made Grace special to her as she has joined our community. A word of encouragement: “But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5 |
Joseph Hansa, 7th-8th Grade
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Email: jhansa@gcachicago.org
Experience: Joseph Hansa returned to Grace Christian Academy after completing his teaching degree 14 years ago. He is an alum of GCA and has taught 7th/8th grade for his entire teaching career. He attended Concordia University River Forest and Concordia University Chicago. He also has prior experience as an instructional coach at Fleetwood and a summer camp counselor. Outside of Grace: Mr. Hansa enjoys life outside of school with what he describes as an ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge and fun. What makes Grace special: For Mr. Hansa, giving back by serving the community where he grew up in the school where he received his elementary school education are part of what makes his teaching experience at Grace so special. He says he loves that Grace is providing Christian education to the Little Village community and continues to offer small class sizes that makes Grace feel like a family environment. A word of encouragement: “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 |