Carlo Giannotta, Principal
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Experience: Carlo Giannotta has been the principal at Grace Christian Academy for the last 17 years. He has been part of GCA for 23 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 |
Mrs. Deyanira Gutierrez, Pre-K 3 & 4
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Email: dgutierrez@gcachicago.org Experience: Mrs. Gutierrez has a background working with Latinos Progressando for 15 years as an Immigration Specialist. She has dedicated her life to helping her community in as many ways as possible. She started off as a volunteer over 4 years ago and recently transition to our new Pre-K teacher. She is dedicated to teaching her class independence and life skills they can take with them where ever they go. She also loves the smile on all the students'faces when they finally learn something they didn't know. Outside of Grace: She enjoys time with her family, and traveling. What makes Grace Special: Starting the day teaching about God’s love to her students. The friendly and safe environment that Grace provides for students to learn and grow academically. A word of encouragement: Matthew 19:14 NIV "Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." |
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 |
Mrs. Arleen Diaz, Teachers Aid
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Experience: Mrs. Diaz has an Associates in Early Childhood Development from Northeastern Illinois University. As a former student, Mrs. Diaz loves being a teacher's aid, as she is able to give back what she learned as well as make learning enjoyable while creating relationships with students. Outside of Grace: Mrs. Diaz loves spending time with her famly, loves to work out, cooking up new recipes and enjoys shopping! What makes Grace special: Mrs. Diaz loves the values that GCA holds and their connection to the Little Village Community. She also enjoys teaching to the smaller class sizes! Words of encouragement: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phillipians 4:13 |
Mrs. LeSandra Nava, 1st/2nd Grade
Email: lnava@gcachicago.org
Experience: Mrs. Lesandra Nava has taught at Grace since 2015. She began her teaching career nine 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 2nd grade. 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. A word of encouragement: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” Proverbs 31:25 |
Mrs. Estrada, Teachers Aid
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Experience: Mrs. Estrada discovered her love of children while assisting at Grace Christian. She is an asset as a teacher's aid and looks out for the best for all the children who come under her care. Outside of Grace: Mrs. Estrada enjoys spending time with family, going to church, praying for others, and walking. What makes Grace special: Grace allows students and staff to share their faith through a Christian education. The small class sizes create space for individualized academic instruction. A word of encouragement: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 |
Emily Sweeney, 3rd/4th Grade
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Email: esweeney@gcachicago.org Experience: This is Ms. Sweeney's second year at Grace and her sixth in education. Formerly a reading interventionist in a public school, she is happy to be teaching all subjects at GCA. She is also completing a Master's degree in Bilingual Education at Dominican University. Outside of Grace: Ms. Sweeney enjoys attending church, time with her family, reading, exercising, watching movies and sports (she's a Cleveland native and a Cleveland fan!) and helping others as much as possible. What makes Grace Special: My students! I love being able to learn from and with them, sharing Jesus' love with them and watching them grow. I feel blessed that their families have chosen to share them with me and the GCA family. A word of encouragement: A word of encouragement: "For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps." 1 Peter 2:21 |
Mrs. Pamela Segal, 5th-6th Grade
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Email: pdsegal@gcachicago.org
Experience: Mrs. Segal has been teaching for 23 years. She has taught 1st Grade for 10 years and spent 10 years teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies at Eberhart Elementary School. She also taught 3 years at Eli Whitney as a 6th Grade Social Studies teacher. Outside of Grace: Mrs. Segal enjoys singing for her church worship team, painting, playing the piano, and spending time with her family. What makes Grace Special: Grace Christian Academy is special because it provides a Christian teaching, moral values, and a stellar education to the students. GCA also a great sports program including a basketball, cheerleading, and volleyball team. Grace also provides students an the opportuntiy to learn how to play an instrument. A word of encouragement: "The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 1-4 |
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 16 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 |
Kayla Torres, Director of Admissions & Community Outreach
Additional Staff:
Office Manager: Diane Perin
Email: admin@gcachicago.org
Director of Admissions & Community Outreach: Kayla Torres
Email: KTorres@gcachicago.org
Lunch Program/Drama Teacher: Belinda Bjorkland
Email: admin@gcachicago.org
Email: admin@gcachicago.org
Director of Admissions & Community Outreach: Kayla Torres
Email: KTorres@gcachicago.org
Lunch Program/Drama Teacher: Belinda Bjorkland
Email: admin@gcachicago.org