Teachers & Staff
Our teachers at St. Paul Lutheran School are all highly-qualified teachers with college degrees and certifications from our accrediting agency. And, as importantly, they are committed Christians who serve as exemplary role models for students, encouraging them in both faith and learning.
Mrs. Anna Zimmermann
3 Year Old Preschool
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Google Classroom Link
azimmermann@stpaulschoolfd.org
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About Mrs. Zimmermann: Mrs. Anna Zimmermann started with our St. Paul family in 1997 as our preschool associate. The position is one that she has thoroughly enjoyed. She feels blessed to be able to share Jesus each day with all of the preschool children.
She has been married to Rick for over 39 years. Mrs. Zimmermann has been blessed with three children who have given her five grandchildren.
Outside of her working hours, she enjoys going to all her grandchildren’s activities. Mrs. Zimmermann also enjoys embroidery, quilting, and doing puzzle books. She also tries to walk on a daily basis.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13
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Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.
-Psalm 37-5
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Mrs. Dawn Vought
4 Year Old Preschool
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Google Classroom Link
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About Mrs. Vought: Mrs. Vought has been the Preschool Director/Teacher here at St. Paul Lutheran for the past 20 years. Prior to that she was employed by another preschool for 12 years.
Mrs. Vought was born and raised in Fort Dodge and has continued living here most of her life. She has been married to her husband, Ron, for over 35 years and they had one son who passed away in 2010.
In her spare time Mrs. Vought is the guardian to a brother who was hurt in an accident almost 40 years ago and needs much care. She also likes to embroider, quilt, and make most of her own Christmas gifts.
Mrs. Vought has one little dachshund that rules the house. This little dog was a gift to her from a previous preschooler.
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
- Philippians 1:21
Mrs. Shawn Russell
Kindergarten
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Google Classroom Link
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About Mrs. Russell: Mrs. Russell has taught Kindergarten in Dayton and Fort Dodge for the last 32 years. She graduated from Algona High and came to Fort Dodge to attend Iowa Central and Buena Vista University. Mrs. Russell also has her Masters Degree from Viterbo University. She has been married to her husband Mike for 33 years. He drives for UPS. They have three children and one grandchild. Will, Reed and Elli and Amelia. Will lives in town and has a beautiful little girl Amelia who is 3. Reed lives in Fonda and is getting married to Renee in September of 2023. Their daughter Elli is a Kindergarten teacher for Des Moines Public Schools. They also have three dogs Roxy 16, Honey 9, and Jersey 6.
Mrs. Russell loves thrifting, decorating and redoing furniture in her spare time. As a family they love to spend time together going for walks or boating.
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A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed
-Proverbs 11:25
Mrs. Heather Roethler
First Grade
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Google Classroom Link
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About Mrs. Roethler:
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Isaiah 41:10
Mrs. Dianne Sporrer
Second Grade
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Google Classroom Link
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About Mrs. Sporrer: Mrs. Sporrer has taught at St. Paul for 5 years. Prior to teaching here, she taught at Y.O.U.R. Inc. Head Start as a Lead Preschool Teacher before taking some time off to raise her family. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Early Childhood Education and Reading (K-12). Mrs. Sporrer has been teaching for 9 years. She is married to Art Sporrer. They have 2 daughters: Lindsey and Rachel. Her favorite hobbies include spending time with family and friends, scrapbooking, watching Rachel play basketball, attending high school and college musicals and band/symphony concerts.
Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- Matthew 11:28
Mrs. Melissa Pedersen
3/4 Grade
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Google Classroom Link
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About Mrs. Pedersen: Mrs. Pedersen joined the St. Paul family in 2014. Prior to teaching here, she taught at schools in the Kansas City area, the Omaha area, the St. Louis area, and Boone, IA. She has been teaching in grades PreK-Grade 4 for more than 30 years. She has been married to her husband, Brad, for over 40 years. They have four grown children: Christopher (Nikki), Matthew (Jessica), Michelle (Tim), and Elizabeth (Jason); and 10 grandchildren: Chandler (Maggie), Topher, Bella, David, Andrew, Joseph, William, Emma, Lisa, and Joseph. Her hobbies include baking cookies, reading, sewing, playing the organ and piano, and spending time with her family.
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Isaiah 41:10
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Start Children off on the way they should go and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
- Proverbs 22:6
Miss Robyn Kratz
Seventh & Eighth Grade
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Google Classroom Link
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About Miss Kratz: Miss Kratz began her teaching career with St. Paul Lutheran School in 1996. Before moving to Fort Dodge, she taught for 7 years at Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran in Milwaukee, WI and 2 years at Zion Lutheran in Chebanse, IL. Although being single, Miss Kratz has had many, many students who she considers to be “her kids”. Miss Kratz grew up in Portage, WI and is an avid Green Bay Packers fan! She grew up with 3 brothers who all still live in Wisconsin. Miss Kratz has many nieces and nephews and enjoys her summers visiting them and her great nieces and nephews. Some of her favorite things to do are spending time with family and friends, baking for others, rooting for the Green Bay Packers and the Milwaukee Brewers, and collecting giraffes.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13
Mr. Bruce Hartley
Principal​
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About Mr. Hartley: Mr. Hartley moved to Fort Dodge in 1988 and worked as a teacher, coach, and administrator in the public schools for 33 years. He was a principal at the elementary and middle school levels and coached at Fort Dodge Senior High. Having grown up the son of a Methodist minister, Mr. Hartley is excited to join St. Paul Church & School staff in helping students to grow in their faith and education. Mr. Hartley’s wife Tracy teaches in the business department at the Senior High and all three of his kids graduated from there. Thomas is starting a career in education, teaching at Highland Elementary in Riverside, Iowa, and Taylor and Grace are both students at the University of Iowa. They are both studying health related fields. A lover of all sports Mr. Hartley enjoys playing golf and attending various events. If not able to attend, seeing the Cubs or Vikings on TV will have to do. Sharing these times with family and friends makes them even better!
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
- John 11:25
Mrs. Lori Finnegan
School Secretary​
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About Mrs. Finnegan: Mrs. Lori Finnegan joined the St. Paul family as our school office secretary in 2012. She is a graduate of Iowa Central Community College with a certificate of Administrative Assistant, and an AA in Elementary Education.
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Mrs. Finnegan has been married to her husband Jim since 1992, and has two beautiful daughters, Katie & Miranda. Both of whom attended and graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School.
Mrs. Finnegan enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, and enjoying her favorite books.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
- Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Miss Julianne Sanford
Student Interventionist/Music Director
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About Miss Sanford: Miss Julianne Sanford is originally from Fort Dodge. God blessed her with a great big family. She has 5 older brothers and 1 younger brother and two younger sisters. All nine of them have names that begin with J and they all attended this wonderful school many years ago. She is an auntie to 24 nephews and nieces and great auntie to 24 little ones! Miss Sanford graduated from Fort Dodge Senior High, Iowa Central Community College and then Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. She was called to be the second grade teacher for 4 years in Pekin, Illinois. Then in 1990, St. Paul called her for a Kindergarten position. Later she taught second grade, first grade and is currently back to teaching Kindergarten.
Miss Sanford’s hobbies are singing, playing piano, reading, baking and talking to her long distance friends for hours on the phone!
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20
Mrs. Sheila Huebsch
Title I​
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About Mrs. Huebsch: Mrs. Huebsch has been with St Paul Lutheran School teaching Title 1 reading since 2014. She has been teaching for 27 years starting in North Carolina, 6th grade for one year, then Riverside in Fort Dodge, followed by Butler. She has taught 2nd, 1st, 3rd, and Title 1 for the Fort Dodge Community School District.
Mrs. Huebsch has been married for 24 years, she has 3 children, and 3 grandchildren. Her hobbies include horseback riding, reading, spending time with family, and being involved in her church.
You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great!
- Zig Ziglar
Mr. Aaron Phillips
School Band Director​
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About Mr. Phillips: Mr. Phillips joined our Saints family as our school band director in 2019.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13
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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- Philippians 4:13
Ms. Micheal Bacon
Church Secretary
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About Ms. Bacon: Michael Bacon has been our church secretary since 2013. She has two daughters, and four grandchildren. She enjoys family, and friends, likes to sew and working in the yard when she has time. She has been a member of St. Paul Church since March of 1981 and both daughters went to St. Paul Lutheran School.
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.
- Isaiah 41:10
Pastor Kendall Meyer
Senior Pastor​
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About Pastor Kendall: Pastor Kendall joined the St. Paul Lutheran Church & School family in November of 2019. Pastor Kendall came from Lutheran Church of St. John in Quincy, IL were he had been serving since 2015. He served as Senior Pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church & School in Des Moines, Iowa from 2009 to 2015. Prior to that, he served as Associate Pastor and Director of Adult Ministries at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Urbandale, Iowa. Pastor Kendall is a 2005 graduate of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and served in Iowa District West for over ten years. Pastor Kendall and his wife Lynn will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary in January, 2020. They have be blessed with three children: Michaela, Benjamin, and Abigail. His ministry passions include building relationships, mission work, and teaching Bible studies and Lutheran education. He feels a special calling to equip adults with the Word of God, so that their faith extends beyond Sunday morning, can be shared with others, and is intertwined into every moment of their week. He is an avid St. Louis Cardinal Baseball fan and enjoys playing golf and a wide variety of different sports.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go..
- Joshua 1:9
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.
- John 1:4-5