Hi! My name is Sarah Panozzo. I graduated from Saint Xavier University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and I’m currently working toward my Master’s in Reading at the University of St. Francis, which I’ll complete in Fall 2026. This is my fifth year teaching and my third year here at St. Patricia School. Before joining the staff, I taught preschool for two years at Saint Joseph’s in Manhattan, Illinois.
I love teaching preschool at St. Patricia because the school feels like a family. The students, families, and staff create a warm, welcoming community where everyone supports each other. It’s a great place to learn and grow together.
I love working with young children and seeing how much they grow in their skills, confidence, and curiosity over the course of the year. My goal is to create a classroom where students feel welcome, encouraged, and excited to learn each day.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, taking trips, reading, and trying new restaurants. One of my favorite places to visit is Door County, Wisconsin.
I’m looking forward to a fun and memorable school year!
Hello! My name is Susan Lang. I’ve been teaching for 32 years at St. Patricia School. I’ve always been passionate about working with children. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Education from St. Xavier University. I have two grown sons, married to two lovely wives, and seven grandchildren; who keep me very busy! In my free time, you’ll usually find me gardening, crafting, reading, and traveling.
I look forward to working with your child and getting to have some amazing fun adventures. I enjoy seeing their eyes light up when they discover something new. Working at St. Patricia has been rewarding. I love my job, as it allows me to make a positive impact on young lives, build relationships, and contribute to their academic and social growth. I am excited to work with you and your child this year! Blessings!
Hi! My name is Ms. Munoz, and I am thrilled to be your child’s first-grade teacher this year!
I’ve been teaching for 2 years and absolutely love working with young learners. I believe learning should be fun, engaging, and meaningful. I take great pride in helping students grow in both confidence and curiosity. I can’t wait to partner with you to make this a joyful and successful school year!
Hi! My name is Mrs. B-Rodriguez, and I’m so proud to be the 2nd grade teacher here at St. Patricia. Second grade is such a special year filled with exciting growth, hands-on projects, and lots of discovery—I can’t wait to share it with my students! I’ve been teaching at St. Patricia for over 16 years, and it continues to be such a rewarding experience.
Outside of school, I’m a proud mom of two boys, ages 13 and 9. Much of my free time is spent cheering them on at soccer games, enjoying family and friends, or sneaking in a little shopping. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with middle school endorsements, and I’m always eager to learn and grow alongside my students.
Hello, my name is Janie Gestautas and I am the third-grade teacher! My educational journey started here in the very same halls of Patricia. I participated in many different fun events during my time here like homecoming where I played basketball, volleyball, and soccer. I was also a member of band and the drama club. I graduated from St. Pats in 2015 and attended Mother McAuley Liberal Arts high school where I continued my musical journey with competition, concert, and jazz band! On the road to an education degree, I started at Marine Valley community college and then transferred to Eureka College.
My hope was to always come back to St. Patricia and in December of 2023, that dream was made of reality! Coming back to work at St. Patricia obviously has a different feel than being a student here but the love and support from faculty and staff has not changed. I truly am at home.
I am Mrs. Bitinas and I teach both 4th and 5th grades. Many of you already know me as Miss G however in the summer of 2024 I got married! This will be my 8th year teaching at St. Patricia, my alma mater. My husband and I recently bought a home in the Southwest suburbs and are slowly but surely making the house feel like home. We recently adopted a bernedoodle puppy, Kona. She definitely keeps us busy! I look forward to meeting everyone and to having an amazing year!
Mrs. Oszakiewski, known as Mrs. O, is a reading specialist and holds a Master’s Degree from St. Xavier University. She values the importance of daily independent reading and knows that it strengthens vocabulary, public speaking,and writing, all direct links to academic and life success. The 5th grade year is one of service to others and the continuation of their intermediate grade curriculum. This year provides opportunities for students to become leaders and positive role models. It is a transitional year where students strive to be independent learners using problem solving skills, critical thinking, and developing empathy for others.
Her favorite class projects include Project Sunshine, a year long monthly letter writing activity, the Charlotte’s Web Play, and Fresh Ink, a 4th-5th grade student published poetry book.
Project Sunshine: Students bring in names of active military personnel as well as family and friends that might need a little sunshine. Students form writing groups and send letters, artwork, joke pages, and photos to recipients every 4-6 weeks. Students experience being of service to others in the world.
Charlotte’s Web: The 5th graders perform a Charlotte’s Web play annually in their classroom for students in grades Pre-K to grade 4. They bring the iconic story of friendship and loyalty to life along with reciting poetry, playing instruments, singing and dancing, all showcasing the joy of reading. Students experience being of service in our school community.
Fresh Ink: Fresh Ink is a yearly poetry book written and published by the 4th-5th graders in Mrs. O’s language arts classes. Students choose the favorite poems they have written, design the covers, and publish! Students experience writing, becoming published authors, and sharing their poems with various audiences. Students experience being of service in their classroom and bring the joy of appreciating others and sharing their writings with various audiences.
Mrs. O and her husband Hank are active members of St. Patricia Parish. Their son Brian graduated from St. Patricia School. Brian lives with his wife Molly in DC, a frequent destination of the St. Pat’s O’s.
Renee M. Bartley-Bogard received an Associate of Science from Moraine Valley Community College in 1986; majoring in Biology and Psychology. She completed her Bachelor of Arts from National College of Education in 1986 majoring in Science and Education. In 2006 she received a Master of Education from National Louis University. She has two teaching licenses K-9 & 6-12; endorsements in Elementary EducationK-9 and Secondary Education 6-12, General Science 6-12 , Physical Science, Biological Science, Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Language Arts and Social Sciences. Golden Apple Award Finalist in 2020.
She began her career as a full-time substitute for the Midlothian School District teaching at all grade levels and then taught second grade. While working for the Archdiocese her main teaching areas have been science from fifth to eighth grade. In her career she has taught, all primary subjects, 5-8 Science, Reading, Religion, Geography, and Spelling. She is currently teaching sixth, seventh and eighth grade science, sixth grade World History, Geography and seventh grade America History/constitution. She has been teaching for 35 years, and has been at St. Patricia School since 1995/30 years.
She enjoys traveling with her husband, daughter, and friends as often as possible. She has a passion for reading and researching different subject areas. She is a plant lover surrounding herself with plants at home and at school, plus planting flowers and vegetables in her yard. She also has had many pets, currently one dog.
Hello, my name is Kim Bennett and I am currently teaching sixth through eighth grade mathematics and eighth grade U.S. History. My teaching career began after I graduated from Illinois State University in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in science and a teaching license (K-9th grade) with endorsements in Social Science, Reading, and Language Arts.
My teaching career has had a variety of adventures. My first teaching experience began with the Archdiocese of Chicago teaching first grade at St. Benedict the African. I then moved to Matteson School District 162 with an opportunity to teach Kindergarten. The following year, the district asked me to move to the second-grade level and I obliged. After two years in the public school system, I realized that I missed teaching in a Catholic school. I moved back to the Archdiocese of Chicago to teach at the Junior High Level at Divine Savior School in Norridge, Illinois teaching mathematics and Science. At this time, I decided to go back to school and obtain my specialty endorsement in mathematics for the Junior high and Intermediate levels. I remained at Divine Savior for five years. Unfortunately, Divine Savior School closed, and I had to move on; however, this is how I found St. Patricia School. I have been here at St. Patricia for 22 years. For the first fifteen years of my career at St. Patricia School, I was the seventh-grade homeroom teacher and instructing the junior high mathematics and social study classes. I then transferred to teach at the third-grade level for five years. Two years ago, I made a move back to the seventh-grade homeroom with the instruction of mathematics and social studies.
I have been married for twenty-six years to my husband, Bob. I have been blessed with a large family consisting of one son, two stepdaughters, one stepson, two sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and a total of six grandchildren (two granddaughters and four grandsons). Currently, I also have two dogs.
In my free time, I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy watching my grandchildren participate in their sports. I love to travel. Frequently on the weekends, I spend my time outdoors camping with my husband. My hobbies are bowling, gardening, and reading.
My name is Amy Catherine Barnard. I graduated from Saint Xavier University with my Bachelor’s in Elementary Education with a Language Arts endorsement in 2011 and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction in 2015. I taught junior high at St. Patricia School for six years before taking some time off to stay at home and raise my two wonderful children. I was then fortunate enough to rejoin the teaching staff and continue teaching junior high at St. Patricia School in 2023. This will be my ninth year teaching junior high Language Arts and Religion at St. Patricia School.
This school and parish hold a special place in my heart. It is where I attended grammar school, received all of my sacraments, completed my student teaching, and have had the privilege to send my own children. St. Patricia School is motivated by faith and service. I strongly believe that the environment fosters a love of learning.
I teach because I want to make a difference in the lives of my students. I want to help them develop and strengthen their writing, grammar, and literacy skills while deepening their faith as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Above all, I want my students to find joy in learning and become lifelong learners. I want them to feel prepared and confident when they enter high school.
I have an amazing husband of eleven years, two wonderful children, a boy and a girl, and a spoiled dog. I love spending time with my family, traveling, baking, swimming, movies, and music. My favorite color is green, and I absolutely love sweets! (Coffee too!)
I am so glad that you are in my class. We are going to have a wonderful school year full of laughter, learning, and most of all fun!
I have been teaching in Catholic schools for 27 years. This is my second year teaching computers at St. Patricia. Previously, I was the designated IT person at St. Odilo School in Berwyn, while also serving as the music teacher. I have many years experience using, building, and fixing computers, as well as setting up and maintaining networks, phone systems, security systems, and sound systems. I also am currently the music director at St. Odilo Church, and have played keyboards professionally in various bands around Chicago for many years.
Teaching at St. Patricia and getting to know the wonderful students has been a tremendous blessing for me. The energy and vitality of the school community, from the parents, the staff and the students is inspiring. I am happy to bring my experience and love of teaching to St. Patricia.
My name is Dawn Dion, and I am the principal of St. Patricia School. I am proud to be the product of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Chicago. I attended St. Odilo Elementary School in Berwyn, Immaculate Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Barat College of the Sacred Heart in Lake Forest for my undergraduate degree in Liberal/Performing Arts, and I received my masters in Instructional Leadership from Loyola University of Chicago. My husband Mike is an alumni of St. Domitilla in Hillside and Fenwick in Oak Park. We were married at St. Odilo Church, and our son Nick was baptized there.
Over the course of my career in education I have taught at all elementary grade levels, and in both public and private schools. I spent eleven years teaching 3rd grade at St. Odilo School, and eventually became principal there. I am now starting my second year as principal here at St. Patricia School.
My leadership philosophy is built upon three root beliefs:
I believe supported teachers make great schools.
I believe listening is the first solution.
I believe God always has a plan.
I also try, with varying degrees of success, to follow the words of Padre Pio – “Pray, hope, don’t worry.”
