School Staff
patrick dunklau
ABOUT
Principal
Fifth-eighth grade Spelling
P.E.
Social Studies
Seventh-eighth grade Reading
My wife, Carol, and I have two children. I enjoy going to sporting events and traveling. Each year, I look forward to seeing my students mature in their faith and academics.
EXPERIENCE
Mr. Dunklau graduated from Wayne State College in December 1982 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. Mr. Dunklau also has 30 Graduate Hours in History, 3 Graduate Hours in each of the following: Coaching, Philosophy and multicultural education all from UNK, Kearney, NE. He began his teaching career as a substitute teacher for Arlington and Blair high schools in the spring of 1983. Next, Mr. Dunklau taught and coached at Wheeler Central High School in Bartlett, Neb., Shelton High School, in Shelton, Neb., Scribner-Snyder Community Schools in Scribner, NE and St. Paul’s, West Point, NE. Mr. Dunklau began teaching at St. Paul’s in Arlington in the fall of 2022.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it” (Mark 7:13-14).
emily cotter
ABOUT
Fifth-six grade homeroom teacher
Seventh-eighth Science
Writing
Grammar
This is my 14th year in ministry. My husband Dustin and I have four kids. My hobbies include listening to my children read books, picking up large numbers of toys, folding laundry and enforcing bedtime. I love seeing my students grow in their abilities, knowledge and God-given gifts.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Cotter graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska and Concordia University, Oregon, for Masters Degree. Mrs. Cotter spent her first two years of ministry at Messiah Lutheran School in Longmont, Colorado, teaching a fourth/fifth grade combo classroom. She then accepted a call to Immanuel Lutheran School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She began in the fourth grade classroom before moving to a middle school position with an eighth grade homeroom. She taught a variety of subjects for the six through eighth grade students. Mrs. Cotter taught in Albuquerque for six years before accepting a call to St. Paul’s in 2018.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
Dana schmidt
ABOUT
Third-fourth grade teacher
My husband, Tim, and I have two daughters. In my free time, I like to read. Watching my students grow in their faith and academics is something that I really enjoy. I aim to be the best teacher I can be and meet my students’ learning needs. When they leave my classroom, I want to be sure they know all the educational requirements, but I also want them to be good citizens.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Schmidt graduated from Peru State College in 1993. She has been teaching at St. Paul’s for 27 years. Before that, she did a lot of subbing around the Washington County area. In addition to teaching, all core subjects for third and fourth grades, Mrs. Schmidt has taught physical education classes for kindergarten through eighth grade. Currently, she only teaches Kindergarten through fourth grade PE.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jer. 29:11).
shelly meyer
ABOUT
First-second grade
Third-fourth creative writing
My husband and I have four children. I enjoy kayaking, playing the flute and singing. I teach in the hopes that I can make a difference in the world. Children are the future, and we need the next generation to be God-fearing people with strong values and a great work ethic. I hope students learn to lean on Christ in all circumstances and to believe in themselves. Failure is a necessary part of learning and we grow so much from our mistakes. When we get halfway through the year, I love looking back at how much my students have learned and grown.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Meyer graduated from Midland Lutheran College in 1999 with a BA in Psychology. She returned for a year and a half to add Elementary Education to her received degrees. She then taught for one year at Grant Elementary in Fremont. She then resigned from that position to raise her first child. Her role as a parent grew into homeschooling her four children. She also taught various workshops during homeschooling coops. After 20 years away from a regular classroom, she accepted her current position at St. Paul’s in August of 2021.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength” (Phil. 4:13).
joyce dunklau
ABOUT
Kindergarten
Third-fourth handwriting
My husband, Tim, and I have two daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. I enjoy being a grandma, playing the organ, spending time with children and my family, and shopping. I enjoy the energy, enthusiasm and excitement of young children. These three E’s are motivating to me and they drive me to develop a relationship with each student. Once the children realize that I care about them, they are open to interacting with me and their classmates. It is my goal to have learning be a positive experience for my young learners. I invest a lot of energy in fostering a love of books and reading. Communicating with the parents also assures learning. Parents complete the learning triangle of student, teacher, and parent, with Christ being in the middle of our working relationship.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Dunklau graduated with a BS in Elementary Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Church Music. She first taught third grade and primary grade music classes at Grace Lutheran School in Pocatello, Idaho. Mrs. Dunklau’s next call was to develop the preschool program at St. Paul’s as well as teach preschool and kindergarten and teach the preschool program along with teaching kindergarten here at St. Paul’s.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Ps. 139:13-14).
rhonda thompson
ABOUT
Preschool Teacher
My husband, Steve, and I have two children. I enjoy gardening and being with friends and family when I’m not helping the preschoolers grow and become the best versions of themselves.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Thompson graduated from Southeast Community College with a degree in child development. She spent time as a nanny in Pennsylvania and Missouri. Mrs. Thompson has also worked at Bryan Memorial Hospital in Lincoln in the Child Development Center, where she became a team leader in the program, working with toddlers and the preschool program. Following her time in Lincoln, she started an in-home licensed daycare program, which she worked at for 10 successful years. Before Mrs. Thompson became the preschool teacher at St. Paul’s she worked as a para in the Arlington Public School Program for 3 years. Mrs. Thompson has been the preschool teacher at St. Paul’s since 2010.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).
karen hartwig
ABOUT
Preschool through eighth grade Music
Math
Pre-Algebra
Algebra for seventh and eighth grades
Preschool para
Worship music coordinator for blended service
Director of the annual Christmas Cantata
I am married and have two grown children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson. I enjoy working on the Christmas Program music, reading historical fiction and other novels, baking, and going to car shows with my husband. I teach because I enjoy sharing the gift of music with children.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Hartwig is a 1987 graduate of Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska. She earned a BS degree in elementary education with a music concentration, with emphasis on organ performance. Mrs. Hartwig taught all subjects for fifth through eighth grades for ten years at Immanuel Lutheran School, Hooper, Nebraska. She then spent 12 years at Bergan Catholic Schools in Fremont, Nebraska, where she taught Math and Social Sciences for sixth and seventh grades. For two years, Mrs. Hartwig worked as an accompanist and substitute teacher in area schools. She began teaching at St. Paul’s in 2013.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Ps. 46:1).
karis duley
ABOUT
Part-time paraprofessional
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. I have a great passion for Jesus and sharing His truth with others. I love working with children and sharing God’s love with them. I also enjoy gardening, crocheting, reading, working on art projects, home projects and spending time with my husband and five wonderful kids.
EXPERIENCE
Karis studied at Concordia University, Wisconsin, where she majored in missions and minored in art. Karis has worked as a nanny, offered in-home childcare, homeschooled for three years, taught Sunday School and coached volleyball. In more recent years, she worked as a para at Arlington Public Schools and earned her substitute teacher license. Now, she gets the joy of serving as a volunteer para and occasional substitute at St. Paul’s.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).
Sarah Petersen
ABOUT
Kindergarten-eighth grade Art teacher
My husband, Brian, and I have four children who attend St. Paul’s. I enjoy spending time with my family doing a variety of activities. My hobbies include studying the Bible, doing art and craft projects, gardening and cooking. I love sharing my faith in Jesus and my passion for art and learning. I am very excited to be working with art students on a regular basis. In the art classroom I remind students that we are all created in the image of God and He has given each of us a variety of different talents. He also has given each of us the ability to be creative. I look forward to giving students the opportunity to experiment with new media and push their creativity while observing the world around them.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Petersen graduated from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska in 2008 with a BS in middle level education with concentrations in art and natural science. Following graduation, Mrs. Petersen taught 6th grade homeroom at Immanuel Lutheran School in Columbus, Nebraska. While there she also taught 7th and 8th grade P.E., computers, yearbook, assisted with school plays, and coached track. In 2011, Mrs. Petersen began teaching at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Arlington, Nebraska. She taught 5th and 6th grade for three years before leaving teaching to care for her first child. She has been a stay-at-home mom, substitute teacher, and volunteer at St. Paul’s Lutheran church and school for the past ten years. Mrs. Petersen has maintained her teaching certificate by taking online courses through the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Art of Education University.
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
““May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Mrs. beth beck
ABOUT
My husband and I have two grown sons and one daughter-in-law. When I’m not at St. Paul’s, I enjoy reading and sewing.
EXPERIENCE
Mrs. Beck has served as St. Paul’s administrative assistant for 18 years. Each new school year she looks forward to meeting new students and getting reacquainted with the old ones. She enjoys working with people who love Jesus!
FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE
“Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights” (James 1:17).