Mr. Kurt Busse

Mr. Kurt Busse

Position:  Athletic Director & Junior High Math & PE

Mr. Busse has been at Trinity since August of 1995.  He was raised near Ft. Wayne, IN, attended Lutheran schools there (Wyneken, then Concordia H.S.) before attending Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska where he received his BS in Education.  In 1990 he completed his Masters in Administration at Concordia University, River Forest (Chicago).  He and his wife, Laura, have two grown children and have enjoyed serving together at Trinity.  Sola Deo Gloria.

Favorite Bible verse:  
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  

Contact Mr. Busse:
kurtbusse@trinluth.org

Mrs. Kathy Bahn

Mrs. Kathy Bahn

Position: 5th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Bahn graduated from Concordia University Irvine, CA in 1988 with a degree in Elementary Education. She taught in California for six years before moving to Bloomington with her husband Chuck. She spent time raising three children before returning to full time teaching at Trinity Lutheran School and has been here since 2004.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Contact Mrs. Bahn: 
kathybahn@trinluth.org

Mr. Dan Bell

Mr. Dan Bell

Position:  Junior High Social Studies 

Mr. Bell graduated from Concordia University Wisconsin in December of 2008. He began teaching here at TLS in August of 2009. In addition to teaching, Mr. Bell helps coach Varsity Boys Basketball, and is the Golf Coach. He has a loving wife Leslie, a daughter Cameron and a son Peyton.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 

Contact Mr. Bell:
danbell@trinluth.org

Ms. Kristi Collins

Ms. Kristi Collins

Position: Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Collins graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelors in Elementary Education. She has lived in Bloomington, Illinois her entire life and has a deep love for the community. Teaching is her passion and she feels blessed to be a part of Trinity Lutheran School teaching staff.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Luke 11:9
”And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Contact Ms. Collins: 
kristicollins@trinluth.org

Mrs. Toni Boomgarden

Mrs. Toni Boomgarden

Position: Speech Language Pathologist

Mrs. Boomgarden was a nurse before returning to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Speech Language Pathology at Illinois State University. Upon graduating in 2009, she has had the opportunity to work in both public and private schools. She and her husband, John, have grown children, Samantha and Jason, and a new daughter-in-law, Meagan. She feels blessed to be able to help God’s kids find their voice.

Favorite Bible Verse:
Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

Contact Mrs. Boomgarden:  
toniboom@trinluth.org

Mrs. Heather Grieshaber

Mrs. Heather Grieshaber

Position: Multi-Age Teacher; Half-Day Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Grieshaber graduated from the University of Illinois in 1999 with a degree in Education.  She taught and coached volleyball in Freeport, IL and South Lyon, MI for several years before staying home with her children.  In 2012 she began serving at TLS as the teacher aide in the Multi-Age classroom, and currently teaches both the Multi-Age and half day Preschool classes.  She and her husband, Chris, have been blessed with three wonderful children. 

Favorite Bible Verse:  
Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."  

Contact Mrs. Grieshaber:
heathergrie@trinluth.org

Mrs. Andrea Carrel

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Andrea Carrel

Position: 1st Grade Teacher

Andrea Carrel has taught first grade at Trinity Lutheran School in Bloomington, Illinois, since 2005. Andrea graduated from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She received a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Illinois State University in 2014. She completed coursework at the University of San Diego in 2016 to become a Certified Dyslexia Specialist in the Orton-Gillingham Approach. She and her husband, Jeremy, have two beautiful girls; Elly and Bella and two handsome sons; Asher and Tytus. Andrea enjoys teaching first graders and their love for learning!

Favorite Bible Verse:
Isaiah 40:31
“But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Contact Mrs. Carrel:
andreacarr@trinluth.org

Mrs. Lisa Matejka

Mrs. Lisa Matejka

Position: Assistant Principal & Junior High Science

Mrs. Lisa Matejka is a graduate of Eureka College and Illinois State University, with a bachelor’s of science in Mathematics (with Teacher Certification), and a master’s degree in Teaching and Learning, with a focus on using Design Thinking as a tool for integrated learning. Prior to joining the Trinity Lutheran School Family in 2015, Lisa taught mathematics, technology & engineering, and design; she is excited to bring each of those subjects into the junior high science classroom to enhance students’ understandings of the integrated nature of our world. Mrs. Matejka feels blessed by the opportunity to work with students, teachers, and families at TLS in order to help develop well-rounded, lifetime Christian disciples who have the skills needed to make a positive difference in God’s world. Mrs. Matejka and her husband, Wes, live in Bloomington, with their two children Nicolas (Cole), a 2021 graduate of TLS, and MacKenzie, a current TLS student. 

Favorite Bible Verse:  
Psalm 19:14
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Contact Mrs. Matejka:
lisamate@trinluth.org

Ms. Jenna Stevenson

Ms. Jenna Stevenson

Position:  Junior High Language Arts

Jenna is very excited to start her first year teaching at her former school! This is Jenna's third year teaching, and she is thrilled she gets to work at a school where she can spread the love of Jesus to her students. She loves spending time with her son T.J., going to the pool, and playing Minecraft together. Jenna is also a big fan of anything Marvel, Harry Potter, Doctor Who, etc.

Favorite Bible Verse:
James 1:1-2
“Consider it PURE JOY whenever you face trials of any kinds because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance.”

Contact Ms. Stevenson: 
jennastevenson@trinluth.org

Mrs. Julie Higgins

Mrs. Julie Higgins

Position: Band Director

Mrs. Higgins graduated from Illinois State University with her Bachelors of Music Education in 2011 and her Masters of Music Education in 2015. She taught band in Naperville, IL for 7 years before returning to Bloomington, her hometown, with her husband and two beautiful boys, Erik and Brendan. Their newest addition, Emily Anne, was born in August, 8 2021. She feels blessed for the incredible opportunities God has provided for her family in Bloomington, especially the opportunity to instill a love of music and God in the students at Trinity Lutheran School.

Favorite Bible Verse: 
John 15:12
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you."

Contact Julie Higgins
JulieHiggins@trinluth.org