STAFF

St. Joseph Staff

Administration

Father Greg Ihm, Pastor

Fr. Greg Ihm, Parochial Administrator, was born and raised on a dairy farm in Lancaster, Wisconsin along with 6 siblings where

we learned the importance of faith, bonds of family, and support

of community.

Father Greg was ordained a priest June 25, 2010, and have

served in the capacity of Camp Gray chaplain, Vocation

Director, Episcopal Master of Ceremonies, Office of Worship Director, and Pastor.

Father Greg's greatest joy is helping people encounter the

beauty of the love of Jesus Christ.

Fr. Tom Kelley, Parochial Vicar

Father Tom was ordained May 27, 1988. He has served in over 7 parishes, 4 as pastor for a combined 25 years. Father Tom grew

up on a farm in rural Fennimore, WI. He is happy to be back in

Grant County to serve the people who nurtured his vocation as a

parochial vicar.

Fr. Joseph Bellamkonda, Parochial Vicar

Father Joseph was born in India into a traditional Catholic family. He entered the seminary after tenth grade and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Warangal on April 26, 2011. Father Joseph served as parochial vicar, pastor, school principal, and correspondent. He came to the USA in 2022 and worked in Waunakee and Monroe parishes. He is now serving at Saint Dominic Parish. Father Joseph cherishes his priesthood and joyfully administers the Sacraments.

Miss Barbara Wills, Principal

This is Miss Wills 40th year at St. Joseph School. She was a teacher for 24 of those years and has served as the school's principal for the last 16 years.

She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where she earned a BS in Elementary Education. In 2014, Miss Wills earned her Masters Degree in Educational administration. Along with her teaching responsibilities, Miss Wills has earned both F.O.R.E.M and S.O.W.D.I certification in religious education through the Diocese of Madison.

Teachers

Mrs. Sally Perlewitz, 7th and 8th Grade Teacher

Mrs. Sally Perlewitz is our 7th and 8th grade teacher.

Mrs. Perlewitz lives in Western Dubuque County on a family Heritage Farm with her husband, Mark, her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren. They are in the process of remodeling to have a generational home.

Mrs. Perlewitz received her degrees from Clarke University in Dubuque with majors in Psychology, Elementary Education, and a Reading Endorsement. Sally's Master's Degree is in Special Education-Learning Disabilities. Mrs. Perlewitz started her teaching career in the Dubuque Catholic School at Resurrection. She then moved to the Dubuque Public Schools to work in the area of Special Education. She worked in many of the Dubuque schools as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, and an instructional coach in both general and special education. Following her retirement from the Dubuque School District, she has taught where needed, for teaching is what she loves to do.

Besides teaching, Sally likes to read, sew, and do activities with her family, especially her two grandchildren. Mrs. Perlewitz has a son who lives and works in Seattle, Washington, a sister and family living in the Des Moines area, and another sister who lives on the farm with her family.

Coming to St. Joseph School has been another inspiring teaching experience for Mrs. Perlewitz. She finds the students, parents, and staff amazing. After so many years of teaching, it is rewarding to teach in Southwestern Wisconsin in this wonderful Catholic School Community.

Sally can be reached at sperlewitz@stjosepscs.info.

Kathryn Mumm, 5th and 6th Grade Teacher

Our 5th and 6th grade teacher at St. Joseph School is Mrs. Kathryn (Kitty) Mumm. Mrs. Mumm has been at St. Joseph School for 5 years, but Kitty has been in education for over 25 years.

Mrs. Mumm's entire teaching career has been in Catholic Education, with the exception of when she took time out to be with her six children when they were young. Now Kitty and her husband Bob have the joy of 18 grandchildren and watching them grow.

Mrs. Mumm learned to play the harp with the Dominican Sisters at the Sinsinawa Mound when she attended the St. Clara Academy as a boarding student. Some of her classmates are graduates of St. Joseph School. The students of St. Clara Academy used to walk to St. Joseph School on a beautiful fall day for their annual picnic on the lawn. Mr. Mumm is grateful that her love of books, learning, and the arts was encouraged at St. Clara Academy. She had many good teachers to emulate.

Mrs. Mumm's first teaching position was at St. Joseph School in Fort Atkinson, WI. Kitty is delighted to be teaching now at St. Joseph School, Sinsinawa, WI. Mrs. Mumm can be reached at kmumm@stjosephscs.info.

Jessica Steines, 3rd and 4th Grade Teacher

This is Mrs. Steines's eleventh year of teaching at St. Joseph School. She graduated from Clarke University with a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education. She was born, raised, and lives in Dubuque, Iowa. Prior to coming to St. Joseph School, she was a para educator in the Dubuque Community School District, working in the Preschool room.

When not teaching, Mrs. Steines directs the Youth Hand Chime Choir through her church. This will be her sixth year directing these students, who are in junior high.

Mrs. Steines also enjoys playing tennis, singing at Mass, ice skating, and watching football! Mrs. Steines has a younger brother and a family who enjoys doing may things together.

Mrs. Steines is especially excited to be teaching at St. Joseph School because of being in a faith filled environment. It is rewarding watching the students and staff being able to live out their faith. Mrs. Steines can be reached at jsteines@stjosephscs.info.

Cynthia A. Hanley, MA, 1st and 2nd Grade Teacher

Ms. Cynthia A. Hanley, is the first and second grade teacher at St. Joseph School. This is her third year at St. Joseph School, but Ms. Hanley has been in the field of Education for over forty years. Ms. Hanley earned her BS in Education from Clarke University in Dubuque, IA. She las also earned her Masters Degree in Special Education plus 60 credits.

Ms. Hanley has taught pre-school thru high school with a focus on Reading and Dyslexia.

Ms. Hanely was born and raised in Dubuque. She has three fur babies as well as nine nieces and nephews.

She loves reading, playing cards, spending time with her three fur babies, family, and friends.

Ms. Hanley can be reached at chanley@stjosephscs.info

Mrs. Meghan Blackbourn, 4K and Kindergarten Teacher

Mrs. Meghan Blackbourn is our Kindergarten teacher. Meghan graduated from UW-Superior with a degree in Elementary Education and minors in Early Childhood and Special Education. She has spent her last 10 years working in childcare. In her free time, Meghan enjoys spending time with her family,

camping, and reading. Meghan and her husband Max live in Shullsburg.

Meghan also has two brothers, James (Amanda) and Terry (Nicki). She also

loves spending time with her niece and nephews.

Meghan's goal for her classroom is to make it a fun/safe learning environment.

She believes children should be able to explore and do hands-on activities to

learn new things. She also wants her students to be able to interact with others

and become more independent.

Mrs. Blackbourn is very excited to get to know all the students and families at St. Joseph School. Mrs. Blackbourn can be reached at mbell@stjosephscs.info

Mrs. Stacy Sheehan, 3K and 4K Teacher

Mrs. Stacy Sheehan as our 3K and 4K preschool teacher. Mrs. Sheehan earned her Early Childhood degree at NICC, and she has also earned her Montessori license. Mrs. Sheehan has been teaching preschool children for over 20 years.

Mrs. Sheehan lives in the Menominee area with her husband Tony and her daughters Lexy and Hailey. Their family loves to spend time together outdoors whether it is camping, hunting, fishing, or boating. Mrs. Sheehan also enjoys sports. She is very busy with her daughters being involved in basketball, volleyball, swim team, and softball,

Stacy's goal for her classroom is to have fun and learn skills through play and interaction with others. Stacy is a strong believer in children having respect for their things, their friends, themselves, and especially the grown-ups who surround them. She also believes that children should be independent or working on being independent. She encourages her students to try a task themselves first and then she will help them if they need it. This helps the students with their learning of new skills and also interacting with others.

Mrs. Sheehan loves getting to know the students and families at St. Joseph School. Mrs. Sheehan and be reached at ssheehan@stjosephscs.info

Mrs. Emma Drefcinski, 7th and 8th Grade Math Teacher

Mrs. Emma Drefcinski is our part time 7th and 8th grade math teacher. She is also a religion and math teacher at HG-IC Schools.

Mrs. Drefcinski is very excited to get to know all the students and families at St. Joseph School. Mrs. Blackbourn can be reached at drefcinskie@hgicschool.com