School Teachers | Pre K Teachers Plainview | Hicksville

Good Shepherd Lutheran School Teachers & Staff

Our Good Shepherd staff is a dedicated group of persons that work diligently every day in this important mission of our congregation. We give thanks for their commitment. The fine reputation of our school and its staff has inquiring parents tell us they keep hearing “Good Shepherd is THE place to send your children”.

Administrative Staff

Teresa Ratkowski
School Director

Teresa Ratkowski retired from the New York City Department of Education where she served as a teacher of first grade students for four years and then served as an administrator for twenty-seven years. She has a B.S. degree in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, a Master’s degree in Special Education from Columbia University and thirty hours of administration credits from Pace University. She has one son and enjoys spending time with him as well as playing the piano. She is thrilled to be at Good Shepherd Lutheran School for the second chapter of her career and is looking forward to assisting Pastor at chapels teaching children about the Bible and the love of Jesus.

Vanessa Bigam
Administrative Assistant

Vanessa Bigam holds a Child Development Associate Certificate and has been working in childcare for over ten years. She enjoys her job at Good Shepherd Lutheran School as the Administrative Assistant. Seeing the smiling faces of the children as she greets them at the door is what Vanessa loves most about being at Good Shepherd Lutheran School. She also loves spending quality time with her family—husband, Shawn, and children, Sofia and William.

Rev. Eric Olsen
Pastor

Maureen Cooke
Church Secretary

TEACHERS

Alison Carey

Alison received her Bachelors degree in Music from Hofstra University. She spent a few years singing on tours and in amazing places like Carnegie Hall. She loves baking and spending time with her husband and two precious children. Alison also assists couples that are hoping to adopt. She is thrilled to share her love of music and God with all of the children at Good Shepherd!

Francesca Giannuzzi

Francesca Giannuzzi has been working at Good Shepherd for three years as a teaching assistant and Lead teacher in SPLASH Camp. She recently received her Bachelors Degree from Long Island University in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology. She loves spending time with her family. Her favorite thing about being a part of Good Shepherd is watching the children grow, and seeing the progression of each child from the beginning of the year to the end.

Lauren Hunter

Lauren received a B.S. in Marketing and a minor in communications from Niagara University and also holds a CDA certificate for toddler and nursery. She worked as a co-teacher at Greenvale School in the toddler program for over 4 years. She loves spending time with her husband and son. One of the many things she enjoys about Good Shepherd is the community feeling.

Diane Kideris

Diane has been teaching Pre-Kindergarten at Good Shepherd since September 2009. She received her Bachelors from St. John’s University and received her Masters in Early Childhood & Special Education from Adelphi University. She enjoys cooking and gardening. What she enjoys most about Good Shepherd are the wonderful families who allow her the pleasure of spending her days with their children.

Amy Kuchynskas

Amy Kuchynskas has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Salisbury University and a Master’s Degree in Education from LI University/CW Post Campus. Amy is married with three small children and is also a leader of a Brownie Troop and serves as a Sunday School Teacher. In her spare time, she likes to run and do Pilates. Amy is so honored to be at Good Shepherd and she is dedicated to creating a positive learning environment where children will develop a love for learning.

Kathy Ocker

Kathy has been a teacher at Good Shepherd Lutheran School for over thirty-five years! She received her Bachelors from Concordia College. Kathy enjoys reading, being with her family and going on vacation to upstate NY or out East to visit her two granddaughters. Her favorite thing about being a teacher at Good Shepherd is being able to teach the word of God.

Melissa Saueracker

Melissa has been teaching Full Day Nursery at Good Shepherd since 2013. She has her Bachelor Degree from N.Y.I.T. and her Master of Science in Education from Dowling College. She loves spending time with her family, travel, and going to the movies. Her favorite thing about being a teacher at Good Shepherd is the warm family atmosphere.

Justine Sciortino

Justine Sciortino has served as a caregiver of children for seventeen years and has her Child Development Association (CDA) certification. She enjoys spending time with her husband, three children and two grandchildren. She is delighted to take care of all the “Little Lambs” in the newly established infant room at Good Shepherd.

Barbara Valenza

Barbara has been teaching at Good Shepherd for fourteen years. She received her Bachelors in Elementary Education at Adelphi University. Her interests are reading, cooking and dancing. She most enjoys the wonderful children & colleagues at Good Shepherd Lutheran School.