STAFF / FACULTY

Principal/ Seventh Grade Homeroom; middle school math and religion – Carol Smallwood Carol received her B.S. in Education from Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska in 1970. She completed her Masters degree in Educational Administration at Concordia University, Irvine, California in 2002. Carol has been teaching in Lutheran schools since 1972. She taught in five different schools before coming to St. Paul’s in 1987. Carol became the principal in 1997. God has called Carol to work with children. It has been her goal since childhood. Carol feels that children give her great joy and a fresh outlook on life. Lutheran schools give Carol an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ everyday, to deal with every situation as a Christian in the light of God’s forgiveness. Carol feels she can help each child use and develop the gifts God has given them.
Eighth Grade Homeroom; middle school language arts; school music - Judy King Judy attended Concordia University, Bronxville, NY for her associates degree and matriculated to Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, where she graduated with a BS in Education with a major in English and a minor in Sacred Music in 1971. Judy completed her Masters degree at Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY, and received a Master of Arts in Counseling degree in 1984. During her teaching career she also completed 30 credits beyond her masters degree. In1986 she was named Teacher of the Year for the Lutheran Schools Association of the Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church in New York. Judy been in the teaching ministry of the Lutheran church on the two coasts of the United States since 1972. She taught for 16 years in New York and then Providence, Rhode Island before moving to California. In addition to her teaching career Judy has pursued a career as a church musician and has been an organist since 1970. Her fifth grade teacher, Mr. Hollar was her inspiration to become a Lutheran teacher. He gave the students so many interesting activities that made going to school quite fun. She loved her time in Lutheran school and wanted to become a Lutheran teacher. She teaches because she gets great joy from helping students learn things. There’s so much knowledge in the world and if she can impart some small parts of it to students she feels blessed. She teachers in Lutheran schools because God has called her to this ministry. She can share the message of his love with students.
Sixth Grade Homeroom; middle school-science, social studies and Spanish– Shannon Lewis Shannon graduated from Vanguard University, Costa Mesa in 2003 with a BA in Psychology. In 2004 she received her California Teaching Credential also from Vanguard. In 2009 she received her MA in Counseling Psychology at National University, Costa Mesa. She began teaching middle school at St. Paul’s in 2006. She chose to teach at a Lutheran school because she grew up at St. Paul’s Lutheran School and loved the experience. Shannon says, “I now can give to children the love that I felt as I was a student. It’s a wonderful feeling to share the love of God everyday while educating future generations.
Fifth Grade - Jan Pinkerton Jan Pinkerton graduated from Concordia University, Irvine in 1989 with a BA in psychology. In 1990 she received her Lutheran Teaching Certificate and her California Teaching Credential. Jan began teaching at St. Paul’s in 2006. She has spent most of her teaching years educating 5th graders. Jan and her husband, Van have been active members in the ministry of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church since 1972. Their four children have all graduated from St. Paul’s School, where their grandson currently attends. Jan entered college while her children were still students at St. Paul’s. She was inspired to go into education after observing the positive influence her children’s teachers had on their lives. Jan enjoys teaching 5th graders. Her favorite subjects are math and social studies. For her, the best part of the day is when she shares Christ’s love with her students and teaches them to talk and listen to God.
Fourth Grade – Beth Clark Beth Clark attended Concordia University in Irvine, CA and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2005. She then went on to complete her fifth year of Teacher Credentialing. She began teaching at St. Paul’s in 2007. She became a teacher because she wanted to help children discover and reach their dreams. She became a Lutheran school teacher to be able to teach the word of God and share His message of love to her students and their families.
Third Grade – Julie Simon Julie graduated from Concordia University with a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Child Development, and a concentration in Elementary Education. In 1996 she started teaching at St. Paul’s Lutheran School after graduation while continuing her education at Concordia. She completed her Master’s program in Curriculum and Instruction in 1999. Julie loves teaching in a Lutheran school for so many reasons. She loves getting to know each student and their family and learning how to reach them as individuals. She finds it amazing to watch them grow intellectually, physically, and especially spiritually throughout the years.
Second Grade – Drew Seddon Drew graduated from Valparaiso University in 1998 with a dual degree in English and Theology. He then received his DCE certification from Concordia University, Irvine in 2000. He was placed in an internship at Holy Cross Lutheran in Cypress, and eventually accepted a full call to ministry there a year later. He was in charge of directing the youth ministry, adult bible studies, teaching confirmation, coaching, and teaching religion classes in the day school. He eventually began assisting a combined class of 2nd and 3rd grades during day classes, and decided to pursue teaching as a full time call. The classroom is never boring if you don’t want it to be, and even the most important of work can be fun. He took his first full time teaching position in 2003 at Salem Lutheran Church in Blue Island, Illinois. There he taught a combined classroom of 1st and 2nd grades. It was challenging, and also the point in his life when coffee stopped being a luxury and became a necessity. In 2005, he accepted a call to St. Paul’s to teach 2nd grade. It has been quite a blessing to have been here for three years now, and the three classes he’s taught have been full of memorable kids. He couldn’t imagine teaching anywhere, but at a Lutheran school; he was brought up in the Lutheran church, but unfortunately did not have a Lutheran school to be educated in. Knowing the differences between the public schools and Lutheran schools, he knows he’s in the place where the Lord wants him to be, and he’s very grateful to Him for that.
First Grade – Laura Siegert Laura Siegert graduated from Concordia University in Irvine with a Liberal Arts degree and a Master’s degree in Education. She has been teaching since 1993. She started at St. Paul’s in 1995. She has taught children from Preschool to third grade and directs the handbell choirs. Laura enjoys working with children She enjoys helping them discover God’s love for them as well as how to use the gifts that He has given them.
Kindergarten – Lori Langston Lori graduated from Fullerton Junior College with an A.A. in speech. She received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development from California State University, Fullerton. She has been teaching kindergarten at St. Paul’s since 2001. Previously she taught prekindergarten for 15 years and special education for five years for the Orange County Department of Education. Since Lori was small she dreamed of being a vet or a kindergarten teacher. She is happy to have achieved her dream! When the county fired all their teachers, Lori returned to her former teachers at St. John’s Lutheran School. They encouraged her to work at a Lutheran School. It was the best advice she was ever given. She loves teaching at St. Paul’s. She is happy to go to school every day.
Preschool Director/Teacher – Marie Elliott Marie Elliot has an Associate of Arts degree with certificates in Early Childhood Teaching and Early Childhood Administration from Orange Coast College. Marie Elliott is a Director/Teacher at St. Paul’s preschool She has been teaching preschool since 1987and joined the staff at St. Paul’s in 1989. She started working as a teacher-aide of a 3rd/4th combo then returned to college to learn how to teach preschool. The desire to teach and share God’s Word with her students and their families is near and dear to her heart. At a Lutheran school she is able to tell a child at anytime that Jesus loves them no matter what they have done. Teaching in preschool is never the same because the children have new and interesting questions each and every day about everything.
Preschool Teacher - Gay McCauley Gay has 23 early childhood education units from Orange Coast College and Shasta Community College. She is currently enrolled at Santa Ana College and is working on her Early Childhood certificate and Associates degree. Gay has been teaching preschool since 1993 as a teacher’s aid and working her way up to a teacher. Gay began teaching preschool because of her love for little children. Gay has been teaching at St. Paul’s since 2007. She loves teaching preschool because the children are very pure at heart. For the most part Gay loves teaching and learning about God and His word with the preschoolers.
Preschool Teacher – Christina Le Christina received her AA degree at Golden West College in August of 2001. She later received her BA at Concordia University, Irvine. She started as a teacher’s aide and worked her way up. She enjoys waking up and coming to work to see the children’s humor and excitement for learning. Children need the extra push and support from teachers and love. The closeness with teachers, students and parents is what motivates her to teach at a Lutheran school.
Preschool Teacher – Paggy Chu Paggy finished her R.N. program in 1973. She completed an early childhood education program in 1992 and a master teacher program at UCI. Paggy has enjoyed being a teacher since she started teaching in 1990. She taught first grade for 6 years, then kindergarten and prekindergarten in schools around southern California. Teaching is Paggy’s passion and enjoyment in her life. The more she teaches the closer she feels to her Lord. Without Him, teaching has no meaning. She wants to use her short life to show students that Jesus Christ is the most important thing in their life.
Secretary - Erin Hishmeh Erin has worked as secretary for St. Paul's for almost five years now. Her motivation to work at St. Paul's is to make a positive Christian impact on everyone.
Book Keeper – Jamie Norton I have been the bookkeeper at St. Paul's since 2005. I am a wife and mother of three, two of whom graduated from St. Paul's. The best part of working at St. Paul's is seeing God's love shine through each of the children who come to St. Paul's. When I'm not working, I love to run, ride my bike, and go camping with my family.
Parish Ministry Assistant - Gina Lineberger
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Pastor - Rev. Mark Reschke
Vietnamese Lutheran Church Pastor – Rev. Kinh Vu Pastor Vu graduated from the University of California in Irvine (UCI) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and Biology. He worked as a research chemist in the pharmaceutical industry for 9 years and then went to Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) in Fort Wayne, Indiana to study Theology. Upon receiving a Master of Divinity from CTS and being ordained by the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Pacific Southwest District, he was called to pastor the Vietnamese Lutheran Church at St. Paul’s in Garden Grove, where he has served since 1995. Pastor Vu and his wife Anh have been married for 23 years. They have three children: a daughter, Mai, 18; two sons, Vinh, 14, and Khoi, 10. Pastor Vu considers it an honor to serve all of God’s children, and a privilege to work alongside the teachers and staff at St. Paul’s. His mission in life is to tell all people about God’s love and grace. Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
Good News Korean Church Pastor – Rev. Harry Moon