Two area educators will join the staff of St. John’s Lutheran School (SJLSJ) for the 2023-24 academic year.

Dr. Tammy Lipscomb, of La Porte, will become Director of Student Success, and Jamie Remmel, of Michigan City, will teach fifth grade, according to staff appointments announced by SJLS Principal Julie Berndt. The principal also noted that Emilie Gross will become the school’s reading intervention teacher, after teaching fifth grade for the past three years.

“As I announce these new staff additions, I am looking ahead to the next school year as our enrollment grows to as many as 130 students in kindergarten through eighth grade,” Berndt stated. SJLS enrollment was 106 students during the school year just ended. “Our mission is always to help young people achieve academically as we share our love for our Savior, Jesus,” Berndt said.

Dr. Lipscomb will handle counseling duties, teach the Second Step social-emotional learning program, administer attendance policies, and assist ongoing efforts to meet and exceed state and local academic requirements. She recently completed a Ph.D. in educational psychology from Capella University, Minneapolis, and is licensed in adolescent psychology.

Lipscomb was the SJLS school counselor from 2018-202. She succeeds Miranda Bell, who was the school counselor during the past school year.

Berndt thanked the Healthcare Foundation of La Porte for providing a grant that helps support a counseling position at the school.

Jamie Remmel will teach fifth grade, filling the classroom formerly led by Gross. Remmel has taught for five years in public school classrooms and at St. Paul Lutheran School in Michigan City. She holds a master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University.

As a reading intervention teacher, Gross will oversee the reading curriculum for kindergarten through eighth grades and provide reading support for students in the upper grades. She is a graduate of Ball State University and taught for two years in public school before joining the SJLS faculty.

Berndt stated that expanded scholarship efforts help to make a Lutheran school education affordable to most families. Tuition scholarships are aided by the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program and local and district Lutheran financial grants.

“Staff will devote part of their summer preparing for the next year,” Berndt said, “For me, it’s always a joy to walk into this school and experience the love of God shown by our students, faculty, staff, and parents.”