Cathy Findlay graduated from Texas A&M with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and one year later received her Master’s of Education from the same university. She taught 7 years in the F.B.I.S.D. as a 2nd grade teacher and eight years at a Baptist preschool. She started teaching 1st grade at Faith Lutheran School in the fall of 1998. Cathy and her husband (also an Aggie) have 2 boys; one is a junior at Texas A&M and her other son works for Noble Drilling in Houston. Cathy loves to sail, scrapbook and read.

Elise Arango is a 2007 graduate of the University of Houston Downtown with a Bachelor of Science degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Minor in Communications. She received her Texas Teaching Certification from ACT and certified to teach EC-4 and ESL. Elise strives to grow professionally in her teaching abilities by attending grade related conferences and local seminars. She has been teaching 2nd grade for almost 3 years, and really enjoys it. She serves as co-coach of the FLS cheer squad, is co-director of the Annual Christmas Program, and co-coordinator of the speech meet.

Shelly Gardner was born in Denver, Colorado and grew up in southern Minnesota. She attended Northwestern College in St. Paul, Minnesota where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She began teaching 1st grade at Faith Lutheran in 1989. She moved to 4th grade in 1992 and then to 3rd grade in 2009. Her hobbies include reading and camping. Shelly is very active in volunteering her time to various ministries of the church and the school.

Cathy Evert has been teaching at Faith Lutheran School since 1996. She is a graduate of Concordia Lutheran College (now Concordia University) in Austin, Texas. She has been teaching at Lutheran schools since 1984, including St. Paul Lutheran in Wichita Falls, Mt. Olive Lutheran, St. Philip Lutheran, and Immanuel Lutheran, both in Houston. Cathy also taught Confirmation and directed the Preschool at St. Phillip Lutheran, Houston. She received her Master's of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University, Austin, in July 2009 and a specialization of Administration in May 2010. Cathy pursues her love of music and singing by leading praise and worship assembly each morning for the elementary students. Cathy and her family, husband Chris and children, Alex and Caitlin, are members of Faith Lutheran Church. Cathy and Caitlin serve as members of the 10:30am Music Ministry.

Elaine Yao was born in Houston and grew up in Sugar Land. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Texas in Austin with a Bachelor of Science in Textiles and Apparel Design and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology. She attended ACT Houston to receive her Texas Teaching Certification. Elaine has taught Kindergarten and fourth grade at FLS. She is currently teaching fifth and sixth grade Bible, Literature, U.S. History, World Geography, and middle school Mathematics. Elaine is a member of Chinese Lutheran Church in Houston, where she serves as the English Ministry Council Chair, sits on the Chinese Ministry Council, and has been the VBS Director for the past 3 years. When she is not busy with school and church, she enjoys reading, traveling, and scrapbooking.

Jennifer Zoch grew up in Houston, TX. She attended school at Trinity Lutheran School Downtown and Lutheran High North. She is currently an active member at Trinity Lutheran Church where she sings in the Praise Choir. She graduated from Texas Christian University in 2006 with a degree in Secondary Education concentrating in English, Language Arts and Reading. She has worked with special needs students at an Autism Treatment Center in Fort Worth, TX. Along with Secondary Education in English, she is also certified in Special Education. Jennifer has taught Middle School Math and Computer at Faith Lutheran School for two years. She is currently teaching Middle School Grammar in addition to 7th grade Bible and Texas History, 8th grade Literature and Computer for all grades. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, scrapbooking and reading.

Kristi Lange is from Rosenberg, Texas. She is currently teaching Middle School Science, 7th and 8th grade Literature, 8th grade Computer Science and 8th grade Bible Studies. Kristi serves as the Coordinator for Student Government. Kristi is a 2004 graduate of Concordia University in Austin, Texas. She has been teaching in Lutheran Schools since 2004, including St. John’s in La Porte, Indiana. Kristi’s experience with children includes working at Camp Dixie in Alabama where she was a camp counselor for two summers. She obtained her Master’s of Education from Concordia University in July of 2009. She is gifted musically – her talents include the trumpet, baritone, hand bells and choir singing. Kristi married Craig Lange in December 2008.

Jene Riggs was born in Chicago, but grew up in Houston/Missouri City, Texas. She is currently teaching K-8 Physical Education, and 6 & 7 grade Health. She also serves as Athletic Director, while coaching volleyball, and girls and boys basketball. She is a graduate of University of Texas at San Antonio with a degree in Kinesiology, where she received a full scholarship to play basketball for 4 years. She has been teaching at Faith Lutheran since August 2003. Some of her hobbies include playing volleyball, basketball, and spending time with her family. She also enjoys spending time with her husband of 4 years.

Maria Henkel was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with her family as a young girl. She is grateful to her family for helping her maintain her native language and the love for the Hispanic culture. Maria received her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from Houston Baptist University in 1980. She completed her internship at The Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine in 1981. She worked as a Microbiologist for many years in addition to teaching Medical Technology students , nurses and doctors during their rotation in that department. In 1998, she started the Spanish program at Faith Lutheran School and has taught for 12 consecutive years. Maria has written her own Spanish text, "Poco a Poco", which she uses to teach 6th grade students. She has been a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church for more than 20 years. Her hobbies include reading, gardening, crafts and rescuing abandoned animals.