Our Team
The mission of Zion Lutheran School is to guide students toward academic excellence and to prepare them to be Christian Leaders.
Meet Mrs. Pamela Kleckner
Mrs. Pamela Kleckner has been serving young learners with grace, patience, and excellence since earning her degree from Concordia University, River Forest in 1995. With nearly three decades of teaching experience—including time at Timothy Lutheran School in Chicago and over 20 years at Zion Lutheran School—Pam has become a trusted and beloved leader in early childhood education.
As Zion’s Early Childhood Director, Pam is known for her ability to foster a warm, structured, and faith-filled environment where children are nurtured academically and spiritually from their very first school experiences. Her classroom is filled with music, joy, creativity, and a deep respect for each child’s development.
Pam is also an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, where she serves in the Handbell Choir and volunteers as a Vacation Bible School teacher. Her dual commitment to church and school life reflects her dedication to helping children grow in faith and flourish in community.
Families regularly share how Pam’s steady leadership and compassionate teaching style give them confidence that their children are safe, loved, and thriving each day at Zion. One parent put it best:
“It is a nice feeling to know that when you watch your children walk into the school, they are in a safe environment. Most everyone on the staff knows your children’s name and always takes great care of them. I can be at work knowing they are having fun, meeting new friends, and making memories at the Education Center.”
Meet Ms. Nicole Kienke
Ms. Nicole Kienke is passionate about creating a classroom where children feel safe, loved, valued, and inspired to learn. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and brings eight years of experience as a paraprofessional in the Highland and Staunton School Districts. Throughout her career, Nicole has developed a deep appreciation for helping young learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
Nicole is excited to continue growing as an educator while sharing her love of teaching with the students and families of Zion Lutheran School. She believes every child deserves a nurturing environment where curiosity is encouraged, creativity is celebrated, and a lifelong love of learning can flourish. Building strong partnerships with parents is also central to her teaching philosophy, as she values working together to help each child reach their full potential.
Nicole has called Staunton home for the past five years, where she lives with her daughter, Lorelei, her partner, and his son. Outside the classroom, she enjoys reading, creating 3D diamond art projects, and spending quality time with her family.
Nicole feels truly blessed to be part of the Zion community and is grateful for the opportunity to learn alongside her fellow educators while serving the wonderful children and families of the school. She looks forward to creating meaningful, engaging, and joy-filled learning experiences that help students grow both academically and in their confidence as children of God.
Meet Mrs. Rachel Seelbach
Mrs. Rachel Seelbach brings years of experience and creative energy to her role as Zion’s 1st and 2nd Grade Teacher. A graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education, Rachel has served at Zion Lutheran School across two decades—first from 1997 to 2003 and again from 2014 to the present.
She currently teaches 1st grade in the morning and combines 1st and 2nd grade instruction in the afternoon. Her calm and structured classroom environment helps young learners thrive as they grow academically, socially, and spiritually. Rachel is known for making learning fun through creative lessons, imaginative activities, and a nurturing teaching style that reflects Christ’s love.
Rachel is also an active member of Zion Lutheran Church where she participates in the Handbell Choir and helps with Vacation Bible School. Her faithful involvement in both church and school life reflects her commitment to building a strong, Christ-centered community.
Her colleagues admire her creativity, reliability, and collaborative spirit. One fellow staff member shared:
“Rachel Seelbach is always finding creative and fun ways to teach. She’s dependable and kind.”
Another noted:
“Rachel is always willing to share her knowledge and collaborate with others. She is a blessing to have on staff.”
Mrs. Seelbach is a steady and joyful presence in our lower elementary program—committed to helping every child flourish.
Meet Mrs. Michelle King
Mrs. Michelle King brings both experience and intentionality to Zion Lutheran School, where she teaches combined 3rd and 4th grade. With a background in teaching multi-grade classrooms, Mrs. King skillfully differentiates instruction to meet a wide range of student needs while fostering a cohesive, Christ-centered classroom community.
She earned her teaching degree from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana and has a strong foundation in both curriculum planning and faith integration. Her approach to teaching balances academic excellence with spiritual guidance, helping students grow as learners and as young Christian leaders.
At Zion, Mrs. King plans her Reading and Math instruction to be grade-specific, while integrating Religion, Science, English, and Social Studies on a two-year rotating cycle. This thoughtful model ensures both depth and continuity across both grade levels, maximizing student engagement and success.
Mrs. King and her family are members of Zion Lutheran Church in Bunker Hill, where they are actively involved in their congregation. She is known for her warm communication style, collaborative spirit, and commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all families. Her passion for Christian education and her ability to create a loving, structured classroom make her a true asset to the Zion staff.
Meet Mrs. Lauren Welch
Mrs. Lauren Welch brings a unique blend of leadership, service, and Christian faith to Zion Lutheran School. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in 2015 and later became a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in 2023, reflecting her lifelong commitment to caring for and serving others.
Before joining Zion, Lauren spent 10 years with the United States Postal Service, where she advanced to the role of Station Manager of the Springfield Southwest Station. Following her transition from the USPS, she earned her CNA certification and served residents at Gillespie Health and Rehab before answering God’s call to Christian education.
In addition to teaching, Lauren serves as Athletic Director at Zion Staunton and teaches Sunday School, demonstrating her passion for investing in children both inside and outside the classroom. She and her husband, Tim, have been married for 14 years and are the proud parents of two children, Olivia and Jimmy. Their family is deeply involved in the Zion community, with Olivia attending Zion since Pre-K and Tim serving as a coach for Zion athletics.
Lauren believes one of Zion’s greatest strengths is its commitment to nurturing the whole child—academically, spiritually, and personally. She is grateful to teach in a Christ-centered environment where students are known, loved, and encouraged to grow in both knowledge and faith.
Her goal is to create a classroom where every student feels valued, challenged, and inspired to discover a lifelong love of learning. She strives to help each child build a strong academic foundation while developing the confidence to use their God-given gifts to serve others and make a positive difference in the world.
Meet Pastor Philip Girardin
Rev. Philip Girardin is the Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Staunton. Rev. Girardin, more frequently known as “Pastor Phil”, has served Zion since January of 2023. Prior to this he has served congregations in Arkansas and Iowa since his ordination in 2017.
Officially, Pastor Phil oversees all religious learning at Zion Lutheran School, and personally teaches the religion/Confirmation class for the 7th and 8th grade students. He strives to have a challenging classroom that is open to questions and to the inquiries of faith, no matter what the Christian walk of the student.
Pastor Phil is engaged with all aspects of the life of faith at both the church and school and seeks to bring the totality of his skills into the service of the students in his care – whether it be from an old story in past jobs, or to a direct application of Scripture, Pastor Phil strives to bring Jesus to each and every student, to help them feel cared for, and to uplift and support the staff.
Meet Mr. William Ogden
Mr. William Ogden brings more than 25 years of educational experience to Zion Lutheran School, along with a passion for helping students grow academically, personally, and spiritually. Throughout his career with Edwardsville Community Unit School District #7, he has taught students in kindergarten, third grade, fourth grade, and middle school, giving him a broad understanding of child development and learning across all grade levels.
His teaching experience spans a variety of subjects, including mathematics, science, social studies, reading, writing, art, and career exploration. Mr. Ogden is known for creating engaging, student-centered classrooms where children feel supported, challenged, and encouraged to reach their full potential.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. Ogden has been a dedicated leader within his school community. He has mentored new teachers, collaborated in the development of middle school math, science, and social studies curriculum, and partnered with school administrators on continuous school improvement initiatives. He also played an instrumental role in implementing a school-wide social-emotional learning program designed to foster a positive, supportive environment where every student could thrive.
Mr. Ogden believes that education extends beyond academics. Throughout his career, he has invested in students through extracurricular activities by sponsoring the Middle School Garden Club, coaching middle school soccer and football, and providing additional academic support through tutoring. His commitment to developing the whole child reflects Zion Lutheran School’s mission of nurturing students academically, socially, and spiritually.
Mr. Ogden is excited to become part of the Zion family and looks forward to building meaningful relationships with students, families, and colleagues while inspiring a lifelong love of learning in every child.